A Fallen HomeKin

PART XXI

BlueShirt came the next day, bringing a bag with him. Fralith hurriedly licked the chock-o-let off his fingers and handed Tim the wrap-er so he could beep a greeting to BlueShirt.

"Beep to you too, Brave Buddy," BlueShirt replied with a chuckle and a hair ruffle.

He hummed happily and flashed BlueShirt a grin. Flicking his eyes down to the bag BlueShirt carried, Fralith pointed at it. "Beep? Lahnsavi?" What could be in the bag? Food? Chock-o-let? It would be amazing if it was chock-o-let — that stuff was soooo good!

"Yes, getting to that, curious lad." Rising the bag and setting it on the corner of the bed, BlueShirt reached inside, grinning at him with bright eyes that twinked with anticipation. "Look what I brought for you!" He pulled out a bundle of brown, yellow, and green clothes.

Fralith's eyes widened. Those were— those were— his clothes! "Illya!" He lunged forwards and grabbed them, pulling them to his chest. Shirt, pants, underthing, extra bandage, belt — but no sheath or knife, sadly — and his leather shoes! It was all here. All of his clothes were here! In his arms! A HappyBeak bird's cry exploded from his mouth and he wiggled, unable to keep the light flashing all around inside of him still.

He had his clothes! He had his clothes! Without any further delay, he threw off his shawl and wriggled into his shirt. It fit much better now that he had rounded out, and smelled like sharp flowers. Someone had stitched and patched the rips closed, and scrubbed it clean of dirt and sweat so that the colors shone as they should.

Yellow, yellow, yellow! His shirt was yellow! It was so good to see the familiar, hopeful color. Fralith wiggled again, chirping with glee. His shirt! He was wearing his shirt!

Still chirping, he grabbed his soft gray, wooly underthing and stuffed it under his blanket. It took some maneuvering, but he managed to get off the underwear he'd been wearing and slip on his own. Once that was done, he threw off the blanket and wormed into his pants, threading his belt through the loops.

Tying on the extra bandage to his left arm — careful of the now-pink-closed wound — and throwing on his shawl again, he grabbed his leather shoes, slipping the balls of his feet into the top section and the heel into the back section. Wrapping the straps around his ankle, he tied a StayKnot and sat back, wiggling his toes in his shoes.

Fralith looked down at himself, beaming. He had pants! And a shirt — and his shawl and his belt and his underthings. He was dressed! In his clothes! It couldn't be better. He was in his clothes and it was so soft and familiar and— he wanted to scream for joy.

Instead, he launched himself at BlueShirt — ignoring the circles that ripped off his chest, the tubes that jerked in his nose, the IV that pulled taught, and Tim's cry of alarm — and wrapped him in the tightest squeeze possible. "Amthlamisavou, Amthlamisavou, Amthlamisavounammi lumplithampha!"

"Oh!" BlueShirt put his hands on his back, voice startled. "Brave Bud!"

Turning his face up to BlueShirt, he beamed, unable to stop a wiggle. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

BlueShirt's face broke out into a grin. "Aww, you're welcome, buddy. I figured you'd love to get your clothes back, especially for today." He chuckled, patting his back. "By the wiggles, I think I am correct."

"Hooommmm," he rumbled, squeezing BlueShirt a little tighter before letting go, panting slightly as his lungs adjusted to the thin air. Clothes, clothes, clothes! A part of him sang. BlueShirt, BlueShirt, BlueShirt! Another part of him agreed.

Tim glanced over from the now — finally — silent BeepCorner. "Wiggles of sheer joy."

For some reason, the two found whatever they'd said hilarious, as they both burst into laughter and grins. Fralith cocked his head, tugging at his shawl and discreetly shoving PainBird away from his chest. What was so funny? Why were they laughing? He wiggled his toes, grinning despite the unknowns. If they were happy, he was happy.