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Catnap knew after waking up at 11:45 that something was up.
Normally he would get his near twelve-thirteen hours of rest via a nine hour long sleep and small naps through the day while relaxing with his friends. Normally the cause of this would be Dogday waking the cat up early, a habit the canine had formed throughout their friendship.
So when he walked out the door, noticing that Dogday wasn’t present he paused for a brief moment. Then he remembered why.
Today was a day they were all going for a hike. So Dogday would’ve made sure to get him up early unless he was sick-
Oh.
That’s why.
Catnap let his hand slap along his face and let out an annoyed sigh. Realizing that their leader is going through it. Wondering how exactly he got himself ill this time.
“Yo Catnap.” Said name turned towards the Kickin the yellow chicken critter. With a puzzled look on his face.
“You think Dogday’s awake?” He questioned, suddenly folding his arms. Only to be met with a deadpan glare. The purple cat not needing to answer that question for him. “Yeah, dumb question. How bad upu think it is? For the others.”
Catnap merely held out his two hands. One being five fingers, the other being two.
“Seven? What would make it higher?” Kickin questioned, the purple feline merely giving him a smug expression.
“Alright fine don’t tell me, ya mute cat.” He rolled his eyes as he suddenly kicked one of his feet into the door. The eyes of multiple smiling critters being drawn towards him, alongside catnap who slinked padt him and into the house.
“Kickin? Catnap?” Bubba, the blue elephant looked at the two of them in confusion.
“Sup dudes, Catnap told me our brave leader was down.” He gestures a thumb towards Catnap. Who was looking over the group, especially Dogday. “I thought we could help.”
“O-oh!” Dogday coughed as he laid back onto the couch, despite the clearly wet blanket. “Th-thanks you g-“ Dogday was interrupted by him covering his hands and coughing like mad as Catnap approached him.
“I already took his temperature Catnap.” Bubba remarked as Catnap sat on the edge of the couch next to Dogday, a hand resting atop of his forhead. Catnap wasn’t suprised at the warmth.
Catnap looked over towards Bubba, gesturing towards him, then Dogday. “103 Fahrenheit, I double checked.” The feline nodded then looked at the blanket.
“Erm, sorry.” Dogday stuttered. Clearly concerned for his friends. “A little uh, accident.”
Catnap immediately furned his head towards Hoppy, their local green sports bunny. Folding his arms, bemused. While Kickin whistled and looked away, no doubt embarrassed. Catnap sighed with annoyance as he took a step forward. Pausing really quickly as he looked down noticing he stepped on some paper.
“Oh! Sorry! I thought the picture would help.” Craft explained, the unicorn bouncing with excitement. Catnap smiled and was about to speak before Dogday intterrupted his thoughts.
“C-can you” Dogday coughed badly. “Fridge? It’s cute.” Catnap turned back and knodded, grabbing the picture and swiftly grabbing the blanket.
“Hey what are-“ Kickin was interrupted by the blanket suddenly hitting him. “..is that chicken noodle soup?” He looked down at the nlanket flabbergasted.
“Maybe?” Hoppy nervously grinned, unsure how to talk about this subject.
Catnap on the other hand simply gestured for Bobby Bearhug, their red cuddly bear to join him in the kitchen.
“It’s nice of you to help Catnap.” Bobby smiled as she watched him put a simple rectangular magnet onto the picture and rhe fridge. The purple feline looked over to her and knodded. “I. We tried but well.. we didn’t get far.”
Catnap smiled, letting out a sigh after a moment.
“It’s not so bad, I just..wanted to help him out, like he does for u-“ She was interrupred by the sudden weight up ziplocked bagged bacon being shoved into her hands.
“Wait what’s this for-“ She was interrupred again by Catnap pressing a hand onto her mouth, gesturing her to be quiet. Then pointed towards the microwave, releasing her mouth after a moment. “For Dogday?” He knodded, earning a warm smile from her.
“He’s going to love this isn’t he?”
Catnap grinned mischievously.
The bacon and soup were both done rather quickly, the bear looking ovwe the soup with small awe. Turning back towards Catnap who was now holding it carefully in his hands.
“You’ve done this before Catnap?” Bobby asked as he gently blew over the steaming bowl, wrapped up in napkins. Before he turned his head back to her, wordlessly knodding along.
“I’m glad you showed up, I wanted to help. We all did.”
“You are.”
Bobby blinked at the sudden smooth sounding coice as Catnap walked out of the kitchen, and back into the living room. Being met by the sight of everyone sitting around around Dogday, who was now sitting steaight up, though leaning against the couch. A pillow resting on the end of the couch, while his shoulders were wrapped up in blankets.
Dogsay suddenly felt his ears perked up. Sniffing around in the air.
“What’s that smell? It’s really good~” DogDay let out as he looked around, the purple feline stepping closer with the bowl. “Oh! You made more soup? Thats uh..lovely.” Dogday cringed as he was given the bowl, expecting it to go flying somehow.
“More soup huh? You must really like that brand.” Hoppin commented on as their sick leader was handed a spoon.
“I can’t help it taste good and is cheap- Wait.” Dogday suddenly lifted the spoon. His tail slowly starting to wag. “Did, did you put bacon into my soup?”
Catnap shrugged as Dogday suddenly smiled widely. The others watching in awe as their leader, smiled even wider then he normally would, taking bite after bite of the bacon, chicken, noodle soup. Suprisingly not even a minute passed before the bowl wad just done. The cat handing the bowl over to a bemused Kickin and ordered via finger pointing and Bubba’s direction to get the kitchen and clean the bowl.
“Oh man, I didn’t realize how hungry I was. Thanks Catnaaaaaaap!-“
The others and especially Dogday didn’t get a word in as the cat roughly gripped along the canine. Yanking that blanket off. And forcing him to his side and onto the pillow, his hands swiftly dripping along the blanket and covering over the ill leader.
“That was, fast.” Crafty looked over to catnap who gave a mere thumbs up.
The others watched as he silently walked behind the couch, the jumped atop of it, laying on his belly right above the sick canine.
“You’re not seriously , gonna watch me till I’m asleep again are you?”
“Again? He’s done this before?” Picky, their food loving pig questioned as she watched on. While Bobby let out some silent squeals at the scene before her.
“He has, but I don’t think that-“
Catnap let out a grin, a small huff of air, the red smoke from his lings briefly a gust of wind forming before them. Quickly evaporating. While he folded his arms ahead of him, letting his head rest upon his shoulders.
“..You’re trying not to use the smoke on me.”
Catnap lazily gave the canine a thumbs up. His eyes not leaving Dogday, tail flockering. The group able to see Dogday’s tail wagging slowly despite this. The others looled over towards their local cat, who said nothing but continued to lazily watch over the canine.
“Shouldn’t you use the smoke? It’ll make him sleeping easier.” Hoppin ask in confusion, which Catnap said nothing too her besides a simply flick of his tail.
“That’s true, but maybe he shouldn’t do so during the day?” Bubba commented thoughtfully, all eyes turning towards him. “He’s only ever used it at night, we don’t know if using it during the day has any side effects.” Bubba answered.
“Nah.” Dogday spoke up, gaining everyone's attention as he reached up. A hand lightly patting along Catnaps head. “He just doesn’t want to rely on it.. That or he’s being lazy right now.”
“Just. Lazy?” Pickin looked over to the cat, who had just fixed this whole ordeal.
“Hey guys im back, blankets drying-“ Kickin walked in suddenly, glancing at Dogday and Catnap. “Why are Dogday and Catnap suddenly acting cute?”
Catnap glared at the group, an arm stretched out a light hiss coming from him in warning. Everyone present save for Catnap jumped, while he suddenly got up to his knees, and prepared himself to pounce. Letting out a warning mrowl, towards everybody.
The message was clear. Leave.
So everybody ran, right out the front door.
“Sorry! He’s just being protective right now!” Dogday called out with a cough as the last of his friends slammed the door shut, while Catnap got back into his original position.
“Did you need to scare them?” Dogday deadpanned at the feline who looked down, smugly. His question was met with a sharp push onto his chest, making sure he couldn’t get up. “That doesn’t answer me Catnap.”
The purple cats response? A simple paw resting itself, right atop of the canines head. Dogday’s reaction was immediate, a small whine in bliss as his head was pat and rubbed along gently. Claws digging in and lightly gliding over his head comfortingly in a repeated motion.
“Caaatnnnaaaaaap~” He whined embarrassed, but not having the strength to do anything as the feline continued to pet along him. Already feeling like he was getting tired, barely keeping his eyes open.
“Good boy.” Catnap muttered, that smooth as silk sounding tone echoing in DogDays ears. His head turning and looking right up at the cat caring for him.
How he wished the cat talked more, not just to him. For everyone in his group, the shy feline is embarrassed of his own voice yet always knowing what to do or say to help. It made the canine jealous in a way, but at the same time he was grateful to have a wonderful friend.
“Heh.”
Dogday let out a whine as he realized he said his internal thoughts out loud to the cat. His face having gone red entirely yer all he could do was whine.
More ammunition for Catnap to tease him with later.
“Now, please.” Catnap smiled gently, calmly. “Sleep.”
With that, Dogday found himself closing his eyes. Content in letting himself drift off into dreamland, the feline above him keeping a watchful eye as he slumbers.