Chapter Text
Thunder. Footsteps. Distant voices. How many? She wasn’t sure. At least five. Machines. Lots of machines. She didn’t like the machines, they hurt her. Doors. A door opened, another closed. Breathing. Yes. She was still breathing. That was good. Right? She didn’t know anymore.
“Are you feeling better yet?”
Someone spoke. They were holding her.
“I don’t know.”
Another voice? No. It was her voice. She glanced at her hands and then at the face of the person holding her. She recognized him. He was her brother. Or at least that’s what they pretended.
“Does it hurt still?”
The boy ran his fingers through her hair as to comfort her as he held her close. He was older by a few years and a bit taller than her.
She nodded as she touched the base of the stump on her head where a horn once stood. She flinched as her finger grazed the rough surface.
“Am I still pretty Don?”
Don hugged her tightly against his chest and cried softly into her hair.
“Yes Katie . You’re still very pretty.”
Katie stared at her hands once again as she questioned the truth behind the statement. She looked around the room and saw another boy with yellow wings and black unkempt hair. He was asleep on his cot with his back turned to them. She knew him as well. He was older than her but younger than Don. But someone was missing. Her little brother. She tugged on Dons sleeve as he wiped his face.
“Where’s Ash?”
Don picked Katie off his lap and set her down on the cot as he stood up.
“He got taken to the big room after they brought you back here.” He knelt down beside Katie and looked at her. “He’s gonna be okay though.” He patted her leg and stood up.
Katie stared at her lap blankly as her long hair fell off her shoulders and into her face. “Why. I thought he went yesterday.” Katie looked up as Don grabbed a stuffed dog and handed it to her.
“I’m unsure.” He watched as Katie stared blankly at the stuffed animal. He sighed and placed it in her lap. “The little red one gave it to me.”
Katie touched the stuffed dog’s ears. Little red one. Katie knew he was talking about the little boy with the red hat and camera. “Tomato?”
Don nodded and walked over to the winged boys cot. “Tomate. But yes. He’s a strange boy. Very different from the others.” Don was referring to the Federation. Even though Tomate was a kid, he was being trained to become Federation staff.
Katie stared at the stuffed dog and smiled. “I think he’s nice.”
Don grinned watching as Katie slowly began feeling more happy again. He knelt down beside the winged boy and pulled a blanket over his shoulders.
“Is Quackity okay?” Katie stood up and walked over, peering over Dons shoulder as he pressed the back of his hand to the boys head.
“Yes. He’s still a little ill but he’s doing better.” Don patted Quackitys head before standing up and picking up Katie. “Come here.”
Katie smiled as she wrapped her arms around Dons shoulders. She was about to speak when she heard the familiar sound of the keypad outside. She looked at the door as it swung open and a tall federation officer wearing a grey suit and blue tie walked in holding Ash’s hand. “Hi Ash!” Katie waved as she watched the small boy walk into the room with a purple sucker. “Where’d you get that? I want one.” She looks at the Federation Officer as he hands her a handful of suckers from his pocket and nods. She grabs them and smiles as Don sets her down.
“Don’t eat them all Katie, okay? Share.” He smiles softly and ruffles her hair as she runs towards her little brother and gives him a hug, dropping a few suckers in the process.
“Are you okay Ash? Why’d they take you to the big room?”
Ash hugs Katie’s waist and nods. “I’m okay. They only asked me questions today and then FNG came and gave me some candies.”
Katie tilted her head to the side. “FNG?” She looked at the Federation Officer who had brought the candies and pointed. “Him?”
Ash nodded and wiggled out of Katie’s tight embrace. He watched the silent officer leave the room, shutting the door behind him. Don walked over and put a hand over each of them. “Let’s go lay down for a little while before lunch and recreation.” He gently pushed them towards the cots. “You both have had a long day today.”
Katie nodded and grabbed Ash’s hand, leading him towards the thin beds against the wall. She helped him onto his cot before climbing into the one next to him where the stuffed dog still sat. “What should we do during play time?” She laid on her stomach with her chin resting on her crossed arms as she looked at her little brother, waiting for his response.
Ash sat on the cot with his legs dangling over the edge. He looked at Katie and examined her now missing horn. “I want to draw.”
Katie smiled and nodded. “I’ll draw too then!” She turned to look at Don who was sitting at the foot of Quackity’s bed. “Don will draw with us as well.”
Don chuckled at the statement and nodded. “Okay sis. I’ll draw too. Maybe Quackity will want to draw as well?”
Katie and Ash both nod. “Yes!” They both break out into a fit of giggles as Don walks over to their beds.
“Okay, it’s time to rest now. I’ll wake you up when it’s time for lunch.” He gently tucked each of them in. Katie smiled softly as she hugged the stuffed dog to her chest, silently rubbing its ears as she closed her eyes.