Rose

"...Hello? Are you lost?"

Rose jolted at the other's voice. She turned, hand on her chest over her heart.

"Oh! I didn't realize someone else was here." Taking a deep breath, she gave the other a smile.

Rose wasn't about to end cuddle time, especially not when Duck initiated it.

When Duck let go, Rose has a cheeky grin.

"I thought I annoyed you at first." So much for not mentioning that... still, her tone indicates she's just being goofy.

Rose coughed again, but this time managed to speak:

"I can't move, something's on my leg. It hurts." She was positive Duck wouldn't let her go exploring for a while, now. Not that she could until her leg healed, but for his own mental well-being, she'd stick to the island.

Normally she could talk for days, but with the pain, her mind was drawing more blanks on subjects to talk about.

There's the sound a the slightests shift, and then some small button click. Russ and his contraptions came in clutch for a solo moment like this- these extendable posts to keep everything supported were perfect. Yonny had to be careful to not move anything drastically, after all, to avoid a cave in.

"My left leg is stuck under something heavy. It feels like it's being crushed." Well, that leg had been her bad leg for several years now, no surprise it was getting injured.

Rose wasn't completely sure how she ended up in this situation, surrounded by rubble with something heavy on her left leg. Her body wasn't listening to her brain.

Get to the hospital. Just use vines to lift the rubble. Come on, do something!

Despite her desperate thoughts, she couldn't bring herself to use any of her magic.

"Again- you need to hold still, but say something, so I can pinpoint your location!" he's closer now, looking over the rubble carefully. If moved incorrectly, it could cause further collapse... he had to be methodical.

His voice is calm, despite the urgency of the situation. He's assessing before acting. That was supporting that, but this small piece... a tiny shift to see how things are affected.

Rose coughed again, but this time managed to speak:

"I can't move, something's on my leg. It hurts." She was positive Duck wouldn't let her go exploring for a while, now. Not that she could until her leg healed, but for his own mental well-being, she'd stick to the island.

Normally she could talk for days, but with the pain, her mind was drawing more blanks on subjects to talk about.

Despite being a cat, and a creature very prone to taking naps, Duck didn't usually sleep in. Though, on some of his days off, there was a rare chance that he would. And Dasu knew when Duck wasn't up at his usual time, that they had more time to work on their little plan. When Duck finally crawled out of bed, looking groggy and barely functional, he paused. The rare moment he caught a whiff of something. The faintest hint of something pleasant before his sense of smell gave up on him. He slowly made his way to the kitchen. Standing there with no expression at first, just taking in and processing everything first. His ears perked up, and his tail wagging slowly behind him. Duck made his way over, slowly, sitting down in his seat. The pancakes were still warm, and his apple juice was made just how he liked it. That slow tail wag quickened. Eyes wide, and a purr rumbled from deep in his throat. Those pupils dilated as his eyes pricked with tears. Though Duck didn't often show it in his expression, his other reactions often did. He was happy. Very happy. It was nice feeling loved.

"It... looks really good. Thanks."

Rose smiled softly. He looked so happy.

"Happy father's day, Duck." she said. She'd take any chance to celebrate her fiance. He had done so well raising the boys so far, and now he didn't have to do it alone any more.

Tortus was restocking some of the displays as Rose came in. He perks up, looking at her with a look of surprise. It had been sometime, hadn't it? He didn't even register right away that she had hugged him. Though, that pause was only for a second or so. A wide grin soon appeared and he pulled her into a tight hug.

Rose let him go when she felt his grip loosen.

"Sure, if you've got a moment!" She wouldn't want him to close shop just because of her, though spending some time with her father-figure would be nice.

Rose nodded. "Yeah. I wanted to find more places to go to, places that might be more accepting of Others. It'd be nice to take Duck- that's my fiance's name- and the boys on a trip somewhere, but it can be difficult at times. Namely because they have visual differences that can be hard to hide- cat ears, cat tails, and Damien has a third eye. Maple Island is a safe place, sure, but there's so much out there. I don't want them to feel... trapped, I guess." Rose rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

Rose wasn't completely sure how she ended up in this situation, surrounded by rubble with something heavy on her left leg. Her body wasn't listening to her brain.

Get to the hospital. Just use vines to lift the rubble. Come on, do something!

Despite her desperate thoughts, she couldn't bring herself to use any of her magic.

Rose recognized that look. He was worried. His question broke her heart.

Rose wasn't about to end cuddle time, especially not when Duck initiated it.

Carefully Rose picked up the little guy, gently holding him as she began to head to see Razz.

"Razz can be intimidating at times, but I promise, he won't hurt you. He's gonna find a way to help me help you get back to who you used to be." She said as she walked. Not even knocking, she walked in to Razz's office, gently petting the little ferret.

Little ferret eyes looked up at Rose as she spoke, and she only gets a chitter in response. Though, the noise didn't sound distressed, so it was probably a confirmation that he understood her. His little head looking forward again soon after.

Razz's office was often dark or dim— as his kind preferred low light. But it seemed he turned on the lights for his guests this time. Rose wasn't joking when she said the man was intimidating. Those deep maroon horns, extremely muscular build, and bright eerie green eyes made him look like some sort of devil. The smirk, that knowing smirk after the thought passed Garry's mind didn't help matters either.

'So, this is the little guy, huh? Cute.'

Rose jolted a bit at the voice in her head. That wasn't Razz's voice. It didn't take much for her to put two and two together, and she smiled at Razz.

"It's up to you, Duck. I just don't want you to feel like you can't ask for hugs, or feel forced to hug me when you don't want to." It really was his call.

Rose recognized that look. He was worried. His question broke her heart.

While Razz reviled in scaring and annoying folks, there were times he took things seriously. Besides, he was confident scaring the little guy was only going to make helping him a little difficult. Besides, he wasn't the type to kick a guy while he's down. Maybe tease him for being on the floor as he helps them up.

—----—

"Hey there. I have a friend who can read minds, including minds of animals. He offered to help translate your thoughts to me." She explained.

"If you're up for it, I'll bring you over to him." She added.

He takes a breath and slowly moves off of his comfortable spot and right up to Rose. A tiny little paw reaching out to her.

Okay. I'll trust you.

A voice enters Rose's mind soon enough. That same intimidating voice that she had come to know as much, much less intimidating than he'd like to be.

Carefully Rose picked up the little guy, gently holding him as she began to head to see Razz.

"Razz can be intimidating at times, but I promise, he won't hurt you. He's gonna find a way to help me help you get back to who you used to be." She said as she walked. Not even knocking, she walked in to Razz's office, gently petting the little ferret.