Smiling Critters - Spring Spirits

III - Pizza or Adventure?

"Dogday!"

Hoppy and Kickin' quickly tailed Catnap, the easy-going friendly atmosphere shattered with grim reality - Catnap's best friend had suddenly arrived with a broken leg and in pain, just yesterday he was fine, he'd visited and called out to play, run happily on the outskirts to play fetch, so "What happened?!"

"I-" Dogday grunted and sighed, "sorry." A whimper as loud as a mouse squeak. Too loud for Catnap and Hoppy.

The green bunny never was good at this type of situation, it was awkward, it was sensible, and she honestly hated both of these things. But if her friend needed that, she would do so. "C'mon, let's sit down." Hoppy helped Dogday while Catnap stared, his expression even more unreadable than normal.

Bobby's paw reached for Catnap, the moment he was touched he jerked, and took a few steps away."Catnap?" 

Catnap stared at Bobby before giving her a thumbs up. "Not much in a talking mood? that's fine." The honest to 06 huggable bear went to help Dogday sit down while Bubba stared down at Kickin'.

"Picky will be a little late." Bubba rubbed his eyes, "So?"

"Yeah." Kickin' rubbed the back of his neck. "This is a bummer."

"Right. Come on." Both of them sat down, leaving a free spot at the side of Dogday but the cat in question never quite moved, it just stood there, staring down at the slightly better canine now that he wasn't standing.

It was that very same dog who broke the silence, "Catnap. Can you sit-"

"What happened?" A scowl slowly builds up on Catnap's face, his tail becoming more lively by the second.

"Now let's calm down a bit." Bobby said, slowly rising from her chair, "C'mon, let's get some drinks for everyone." She once more patted Catnap, he huffed, and turned around, "Do you guys want anything or just water?"

Silence.

"Water then."

...

"Dawg, what happened?" Kickin' was the first to ask once both left.

Hoppy bit her tongue and spat out the words stuck in her throat. "Shouldn't you be at the hospital, or I dunno, resting?"

"No, no. I'll be fine." Dogday spoke, his voice dry and tired.

Bubba huffed, "You certainly are not, we will call your parents if you don't get better-"

"No! Don't!" All the critters stared at Dogday, as his face slowly grew red. 

Bubba raised an eyebrow. "Do they even know that you're here?" And silence was all that followed.

"Not cool." Kickin' shook his head and reached for his phone, only for Dogday to try and grab it, falling into Hoppy's lap. "Definitely not cool." He began dialing.

"Wait- Wait! Let me explain first!" Kickin' held his phone up, a tap away from dialing. "I went to playcare-" Dogday's face scrunched up in panic, but it was Hoppy who stopped the chicken.

"Let's hear it out first." Hoppy finally helped Dogday back up. "We'll call later."

Bubba clasped both hooves and got into his thinking stance, "I'm quite curious as to why you would even attempt to go in there, alone - as no critter would willingly follow you - to a place that is falling apart."

Dogday bit the inside of his cheek and let go a very long sigh, "It called me." All the critters on the table stared at Dogday, "Like an irresistible calling. I just had to go there."

"Dog-"

"I know it's weird, I know it's crazy but..." Dogday quickly interrupted Bubba, "I just felt that way." His eye slowly becomes sturdier, "There was something in there. Magical of sorts."