The Auburn Fox and the Rainbow Islands

Chapter 11: The Brown Room

Bricriu's voice echoed through Nova's mind. "Nova, are you alright? Nova?"

Mom?

Nova opened their eyes.

"Thank goodness," Bricriu sighed. She turned around waking Ikraam. "They're alright, my love. Our child is alright."

Ikraam stretched as he rubbed his eyes. "That's a relief, my love."
He got up from the chair and patted Nova's hair.
"That was a nasty fall there, kid. You might end up scarred, but at least you're alright."

Nova rubbed their forehead as they slowly took in the room.

Shiny wooden walls surrounded a dozen hospital beds. Only Nova's bed and the one closest to the wall on the other side of the room were still occupied.

The nurse meticulously changed the sheets of a third bed as Nova blinked away the bright sunlight: the wall facing Nova's bed had six round windows - each perfectly aligned with the beds - through which a bright blue sky, a burning sun and a calm sea were visible.

"Didn't the ship sank?" Nova mumbled.

Bricriu and Ikraam looked at each other for a brief moment and then laughed.

Bricriu caressed Nova's hair as she spoke: "There needs to be more than some rough sea to sink the Titania, sweetie, so don't worry. We're safe."

Bricriu then turned to Ikraam. "Go get Nova something to drink, my love, and fetch the kids."

***

Yugen, Yhule, Seren, Ever, Khalon and Boovoo raced through the door screaming Nova, Nova followed by Ikraam holding juice in his hands.

Yugen was the first to jump into bed and give Nova a hug. Yhule, Seren and Ever followed suit and by the time Khalon wanted to join, there was no room left on the bed. She thus threw herself over her siblings and pushed and pulled until she managed to secure a tight hug from Nova.

Boovoo found herself a nice seat next to the bed and high fived Nova over the heads of Seren, Ever and Khalon.

Ikraam walked around the bed still holding the juice wondering where to put it so none of his children would unknowingly spill it.

Bricriu signed him to sit down, so he sat down holding the juice in his hands.

Nova smiled brightly enjoying the hugs. It might have been tough, but at least their wish came true. Too bad they didn't have had a chance to properly thank J-Hope.

I wonder if he's alright...

Bricriu rubbed Nova's arm as Ikraam decided to drink the juice himself.

"Your siblings wrote you stories while you were unconscious. Do you feel strong enough to listen to them or do you prefer taking some time to rest first?"

"I'm good," Nova said. They then turned to Yugen, Yhule, Seren, Ever, Khalon and Boovoo. Their smile was brighter than the sunlight. "Who wants to go first?"

"Me! Me! Me!" they all screeched excitedly.

"Hmmm..." Nova held their finger against their nose. "What about you?"

Seren's eyes twinkled. "Ever, Yhule and me worked together on a story. It's caller Greener on the other side. Do you want to hear it?"

"I do."

Yugen, Khalon and Boovoo took place in the audience as Ever, Seren and Yhule proudly took the stage.

Seren scraped his voice.

When all was quiet and the nurse returned to his desk, the blanket of the bed on the other side of the room stirred as the occupant too gained consciousness.