Chapter Text
"Alright everybody, we should head out!"
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After giving him some private reassurance, Buddy followed Filbo off the beach to catch up with the others. They never would've thought that the sight of distant office buildings could provide so much relief.
There were too many issues Buddy would have to handle after they returned home. Their boat needed repairs, they had to publish a good enough story to keep their job at GNN, and eleven Grumpuses depended on their support to readjust into society. Only Filbo was staying with them, but still. They weren't going to let Lizbert and Eggabell's sacrifices be for nothing by abandoning their new friends.
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Buddy's legs were starting to ache as they got closer to the city. They hadn't seen anyone besides Filbo during the whole walk, but he seemed to know the direction everyone else took. Buddy was willing to trust his judgement.
Buddy considered calling out to Filbo to request taking a short break when they felt something kick into their hip. They stopped for a second, eyes widening as a paw moved to touch their bag, resting over the barely visible lump responsible for the kick.
Oh grump. Oh shoot. Fiddlesticks, darn it all, curse them, how could they have been so negligent as to forget emptying their bag before leaving Snaktooth Island?!
It was only one Bugsnax, the one-of-a-kind Cappucceetle that Buddy could've easily remembered to let go with how much of a chore it was to catch. The snak was trying to escape right now, probably sensing that it was off its native island and desperate to return before being carried too far away.
Buddy couldn't let it go now, not with the threat it might pose to unsuspecting Grumpuses. They also weren't going to ask one of their friends to eat the creature as an alternative solution, despite how quickly it would fix the issue. Everyone had suffered enough.
It was 100% Buddy's fault the Cappucceetle was separated from its natural environment. Although it would be tough to keep a secret with Filbo's presence in their condo, Buddy was going to take responsibility and manage the snak while they figured out if there'd be any way to solve this problem in the future.
Buddy felt ceramic legs squirm again and they gave the lump a gentle pat.
"It's okay, it's okay." They cooed, far enough from Filbo that he wouldn't hear them. "Hold on a little longer. I'll let you out when I get home."
The squirming stopped and Buddy hoped the Cappucceetle understood what they said. Keeping their paw over the bag, they finally caught up with Filbo and the others to discuss what to do next.