ROUGH DRAFT - Coye 6.1 (Patreon)

Gonna post the rough drafts again this time around so you guys get a better sense of what I'm working on.

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This is a rough draft. Don't bother pointing out errors, typos, and the like at this stage. It will be entirely rewritten.

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Eschal was having a productive day, a miracle considering the ruckus that was going on upstairs. Even down in the basement of the Cransmere adventurer's Guild, the mysterious healer felt the continual shifting of the earth and the cheering of the ground above. It wasn't his prerogative to investigate. Eschal was uninterested in the clamor, only his work. If whatever was going on required his expertise, someone would find him. If he was invited, that would've been a different matter, but he wasn't so he kept himself.

He was in the midst of around of experimentation in the bottom level of the Guild, hidden behind a staircase in his office. This was his work room, his playground, and his sanctuary. It was frigid down here, his pale, clammy skin filled with goosebumps wherever he still had his original flesh .

He studied many things alone down here in the darkness, chief of which being death and how to combat finality. Eschal's current work saw him staring at a severed human arm kindly donated by one of his outpatients. Wherever it came from was no concern, it was vital to his work. He had it strapped to a strange device on a patient's table. The device used an ArcTech electricity generator that sent small pulses in preprogrammed patterns. This would make the dead flesh twitch with life, and every so often Eschal would mess with the settings and take a new round of notations.

It was fascinating technology, even if it lacked the most important factor required for resurrection. There was a market for soulless corpses, to be sure, but Eschal had little interest in playing at reanimator. He wanted true success- soul and all.

There was a knocking on his door from above ground, followed by a voice. It was the boss.

"Eschal? Are you there? Please, open up... This is important!" P-Dozing Manager called out to him.

Eschal had just treated Dorothy the other day and it was frightful, but unexpected. He'd warned her of the dangers of overworking many times in their long career together and was shocked it didn't happen soon. As her physician, it made Eschal feel lacking that he couldn't prevent it, but there's only so much a healer can do when their patient doesn't listen. He hoped for the best as he paused his experiments and returned upstairs, hiding the entrance to his true lab behind him.

"You've got till five till I break this door down with my axe, creep!" It seems that Dorothy wasn't alone. Curious.

Eschal opened the door and saw the whole host of people, Coco, Britni, Dorothy, Byng, the older woman from the other day, and P-Soft Boy back once again and looking worse than ever.

"Does this have anything to do with all that noise I heard?" Eschal asked as he studied Coye's poor condition, already mentally planning out every little thing he would need to do to heal the boy.

"It's a long story," Dorothy mumbled. Eschal saw her pupils dilate when she looked at Coye. Interesting. It went beyond worrying for one of her adventurers. He'd need to keep an ear out in case both of their files required updating in the romantic partner section soon.

Dorothy filled Eschal in regarding Coye and Auguris's battle along with the kind of damage Coye received. When he heard and felt the tremors, Eschal assumed it was just a standard earthquake. He didn't know that entire arena had been constructed in the backyard, but that would explain the cheering...

"Perhaps I should leave my basement more often," he rubbed the beak mask stitched to his face. Eschal felt left out far regretted not leaving experiments sooner.

"There's always next time, Doc," Byng shrugged. She was wearing Coye's hat.

"Will there be a next time?" Eschal wondered.

"Well, it's not like the arena was harmed..." Suzette looked Dorothy and rubbed her chin.

"Who cares?" Coco barked. "Heal monster heal Coye already! Make better!" She was showing her fangs at the man who she just couldn't fully trust because of his appearance.

"Of course, help him into the private examination room and I'll do what I can..." Byng followed Eschal's instructions and brought Coye into the room before she was promptly kicked out of it and forced to join the crowd.

There was a general feeling of relief now that Coye was in the hands of a professional, but a feeling of dread extended to everyone in the room, even the Pixie sitting on top of Byng's scalp for the first time. Shayla wasn't the most comfortable with her current situation, but the longer she sat, the less it bothered her. There were more important things to worry about, like Coye pulling through.

The only one in the room without any anxiety was Britni, who leaned against the furthest wall as Coco kneeled at her feet. Her arms were crossed and she was looking in the opposite direction from everyone else, who were sitting on a couch against the left wall. Coco fit in more than she did, as she seemed genuinely concerned and couldn't stop looking at the room Coye was in.

Byng wanted to start shit, as she always did, but it was surprisingly Suzette called out to the odd one out.

"You know, usually these sorts of things are limited to the patient's family and close friends. You'd think that someone who was threatening Coye only a few hours ago wouldn't be allowed."

Britni's nail dug into her forearm just below her silver arm let. She ground her teeth and looked toward Suzette, beautiful blonde ponytail swishing dramatically behind her. "Fuck off. None of you are strong enough to stop me from being here, so-"

'it always comes down to strength with her, doesn't it...?' Shayla sighed at the pattern.

"you realize that acting like a bitch isn't gonna earn you any points from us, right?" Byng replied much less nicer and Suzette.

"Byng, please..." Dorothy shut her eyes and felt exhausted. "I'm not going to be able to take another confrontation today. I'm so tired..."

"Ugh-" Britni reigned herself in as Coco's tail lowered and she frowned. "Look. Just... Forget about the shit I said earlier. I'm here for the same reason you guys are, to be there for him when he pulls through."

"When? Aren't you worried?" Coco tilted her head and looked up at the Mistress.

"No," Britni smiled. "It's gonna take a lot more than this to kill him."

"You talk as if you know him," Suzette observed. "Yet all I've ever heard is that you're nothing more than a pain in his side. A bully."

"Yeah, well..." Britni looked away. "I was wrong, alright? About a lot of things. I'm not trying to make excuses, but the way I was raised gave me pretty different values from other people. Things are different in Midgard."

"Midgard isn't shit compared to Grurguhrohk!" Byng flashed her sharp teeth at the bully. "Coming from a shitty realm doesn't give you an excuse to be a total bitch!"

"Byng please, I-" Dorothy could feel her eyelid twitching but thankfully, Britni chose to be the bigger man for the first time in her life.

"I said I was wrong, damn it! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have picked shit with Dorothy this morning and I'm, like, thinking about the error of my ways. I just want to be here for him. I'm not gonna beat him up, or bully him, or anything else like that... pretend I'm not here if it really bothers you, but let me stay. Alright?"

Byng backed down. Given how genuine and heartfelt her statement came across, on top of her natural charisma to sway others, Britni made her point and then some. Dorothy breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

"I suppose that settles that," Suzette place her hand on Dorothy's lap and smiled. "I don't think he'd want us to turn down such a pretty visitor, right, Byng?"

"Unfortunately not," she grumbled and crossed her arms. "You can stay, or whatever. Just tell Dotty your sorry."

'Byng, as your temporary advice Pixie, I have to tell you something I remind Coye of all the time. Stop playing with fire.' Shayla bopped Byng on the head.

Britni bit down on her lip. What would her uncle say if he saw her right now. The strong didn't apologize. Weaklings didn't have rights. Apologizing to Dorothy would've been the same as apologizing to meat before the slaughter. And yet... She wasn't as weak as Britni first thought. It was almost as if there were different types of strength beyond purely physical.

"I'm sorry," she managed to look Dorothy straight on long enough to say. "I don't expect you to forget all of the nasty things I might've done, but-"

"Britni," Dorothy interrupted and gave the troublesome adventurer a weary smile. "I won't forget. If you ever expect me to truly forgive you, you got a lot of making up to do. But... The fact that you here right now for Coye means a lot."

Britni considered that for a moment in silence before nodding her head.

"Coco is staying, no matter what! Not apologizing!"

"I don't believe anyone has a problem here with you," Suzette giggled in amusement, finding the Beastfolk girl to be the cutest thing she's ever seen. She lowered her hand and beckoned Coco forward like one might a dog.

Coco looked up at Britni as if for permission only for Britni to nudge her with the tip of her shoe. With permission granted, Coco went forward and stood before Suzette, sniffing her hand and offering it a inquisitive lick. Suzette responded by smiling even further and scratching behind Coco's ears. She must've done a good job, because Coco soon started making noises of delight.

"So why are you here, mutt?" Byng asked as she tentatively reached forward with her own hand.

"Because Coco wants to be! No special reason! Don't ask that question! Also, take hand away. Coco knows your stinky!"

"Not anymore," Byng smirked, gaining enough of Coco's attention to inspire her to give the green hand a few sniffs.

"... Passable. You may pet." Coco wagged her tail as Byng joined in.

'Guess there's nothing better to do while we wait,' Shayla shrugged. She looked to Britni, who seemed mildly irritated that Coco was getting so much attention. As for why, Shayla didn't know.

Coco soon found herself back in front of Britni before too long. Byng and Suzette were strangers, and she preferred the company of her mistress. Britni had a few choice words per when she got back, though.

"Spill it, girl. Why are you so interested in him all the sudden, huh?"

Coco looked away and her tail lowered. "Coco is here because you're here..."

"Right," the bully smirked and narrowed her eyes at Coco. "Don't think you and I aren't going to have a talk about this later, cutie."

Something about the way Britni said it made Coco uncomfortable, and she nodded her head. "Yes, Britni."

Shayla's getting bad vibes from Britni, but it was hard to tell what they meant. Was she annoyed at Coco? Jealous of the attention she was getting? Something else? Britni was just one thing after another and Shayla wished she could figure it out.

From that point on, only light conversation was had and the two halves of the room mostly kept to themselves. Time dragged on and on and there was nothing but silence coming from the examination room. It dragged on everyone's patience, Byng's most of all. She was tapping her foot on the stone floor and looked to be on the verge of exploding. Before that could happen, Eschal emerged from the operation and stole everyone's attention right away.

"P-Soft Boy is now stable. He suffered various internal wounds, broken bones and severe bruising, most of which wont be a problem as long as he get some rest. Healing magic can only get you so far. I'm afraid I insist he rest here for a few hours and then at least for another day afterward at home. He's on some incredibly strong stuff right now, but the bones will heal extraordinarily fast because of it."

The room let out a collective sigh, save for Shayla who frowned at her inability to keep this from happening. Her healing magic was only for light wounds, and she couldn't help feeling inadequate. Whatever. She pushed her doubt down and focused on the fact that at least Coye was safe now.

"Just in time for the good news, I see," Tammy opened up the door and stepped in. "I'm done dealing with the front counter, boss."

"Oh," Dorothy had been so worried she forgot entirely about the betting desk and all the profits they made. "Did everything go all right, Tammy?"

"Mostly. A couple of people trying to back out saying the fight was bullshit, but I didn't issue a single refund. All bets are final."

"Ahaha..." She displayed a lazy smile. "So, um, how did we do?" Dorothy couldn't help thinking about it a little.

Tammy made the okay sign with her fingers and clicked her tongue while winking. Dorothy didn't know what that meant precisely, other than 'a lot'. She almost couldn't believe it, and it was all thanks to that broken boy in the examination room.

"I truly hate to do this, but on the subject of money..." Eschal started.

"Every fucking time-" Byng reclined back against the sofa, groaning as she melted into it. "It's always the same with you!"

"Don't hate the player, hate the game," the doctor shook his head as his long hair trailed behind him.

"How bad is it?" Suzette took on an indignant tone and crossed her arms. "Give it to us straight."

"It'll be over a hundred thousand-"

"what?!" Suzette was furious. "In what fucking realm-"

"Miss," Eschal placed his hands together and interlocked his fingers. "How can I possibly stress that medicine to regrow and mend over fifty broken bones within two days is not cheap without sounding rude? Then there's the cost of surgery. I had to go in there and pull out a lot of bone fragments, you know."

The horror of the reality she was in really hit Suzette and she looked Eschal in surprise. "You did all that just now? That fast?"

"It's what I'm here for," Eschal stated matter-of-factly.

Suzette lowered her head and her pride. "Be that as it may, there must be something we can do to lower the price..."

'Don't ask that, or else-'

"well," Dorothy started to speak up out of habit. "There are payment plans of course, with generous interest rates. Surprisingly, Coye isn't on one of the Guild's healthcare plans so I'm afraid he'll still have to pay the majority, so-"

"I thought you had him signed up for just about everything," Tammy joked.

"He always said a potion subscription was enough..." Dorothy frowned. "I tried pushing him on it multiple times because of how often he have to see Eschal, but..."

"Don't sweat it," Britni spoke up. "I'll take care of it..."

Shayla blinked and looked straight at the fashionable warrior woman, unable to parse what she just heard. She wasn't the only one.

"You? Seriously?" Byng raise an eyebrow, unsure of what to make.

"Yes, me." Britni spat back. "Haven't I already made it clear I'm worried about him?"

"Coco will help too!" Coco insisted. "Has allowance from Britni!"

Suzette raised an eyebrow as well. "You control her finances?"

"It's not what it sounds like," Britni rubbed her forehead from stress. "She doesn't fucking understand how money works and when I let her spend her own money she comes back with the stupidest shit-"

"meat wagon is not stupid!" Coco barked at her Mistress, offended.

Britni rolled her eyes and said, "whatever. Totally not the point. I've got this, okay?"

"I say let her go for it," Tammy offered a knowing smirk. "She can definitely afford it. I can vouch for that. You made fucking bank today, girl."

Britni turned bright red and electricity started crackling around her fists as she pointed a finger it receptionist. "You didn't need to tell them that!"

Byng, Dorothy and Suzette exchanged looks that became a bit softer once they understood the implication. Byng leaned forward and smiled wide Britni. "Whoa there, awful generous of you! Can help but ask. Just how much did you bet on short stuff, huh?"

"None of your business, goblin!"

"Only a handful of people ended up betting on Coye," Tammy elaborated. "Hardly surprising. This girl right here though?" She pointed with two fingers at Britni. "She bet more than anyone else, period. On both sides."

"She's exaggerating!" Britni deflected. "It was a big bet, yes, but surely someone that more than me..."

"Not even close," Tammy smirked and watched as Britni suffered a humiliating meltdown in front of everyone else.

Shayla couldn't help but smile. This was the biggest sign yet that may be Britni wasn't such a bad person. It was hard to fault someone who believed in Coye to impossible degrees. She can't say she would've been all of her money on Coye, and she was his partner. Then again, Shayla was a realist.

"More importantly," Britni turned to Eschal who was keeping to himself and letting them argue the money thing out. "Are you going to let us see him, or what?"

"So long as no one touches him or otherwise disturbs him, I see no reason you can't pay a visit. However, it must be stated that P-Soft Boy is drugged up to frankly comical extent's at the moment." Eschal was not one for hyperbole, so this carried extra weight.

"How fucked up are we talking here?" Byng asked.

"Exceedingly." Eschal stated grimly. "You'll see for yourself."

Eschal opened the door to the examination room where everyone could immediately see what he meant. Over on the operation table was Coye, little more than his head was visible but he was inclined to sit up. He was wearing a blanket to cover the wounds and the traces of whatever surgery Eschal performed, but he didn't seem to be in pain. Far from it. Coye was smiling wide as possible and his eyes were gigantic, sparkling as he looked at the group of well-wishers with all the childlike innocence in the world.

"Hi everyone," he muttered tiredly, his voice low and dreamy.  Even though he was pumped full of drugs, this visage of him was a welcome one and most everyone smiled to see him. He looked at all the girls visiting him and was swallowed by positive emotions in his addled mind before realizing a certain somebody was missing.

Where was Shayla? Oh, wait. Byng was wearing his hat. Coye smiled wider and started waving straight at the hat without saying a word.

'Oh, geez... He looks higher than he got with Tiph the other day ...' Shayla hoped he wouldn't give her away, but out of instinct she started to nervously sweat and waved back at him. Byng couldn't help giggling.

"Did I win?" Coye asked all of a sudden.

"Not as much as Britni, apparently," Byng joked as she approached the table.

"Just let it go already," Britni grumbled with frustration.

Coye became more aware of the fact that Britni was actually here. Previously, he didn't put much thought into it but his happiness turned to a half serious half cute anger. He looked straight at Dorothy as he asked, "Hey. Is Britni being good now? She's not causing you trouble?"

"Um," Dorothy nervously sweat and looked at Britni before back to Coye. "No, she's... she's just here to see you and doesn't mean any harm, no."

"Hmm..." Coye considered this for a moment as Britni looked at him before he let up on his anger and smiled. "Good girl." He said.

Britni wasn't expecting to hear that and her face got red. You could almost see the steam flowing out of her ears. "Good girl? Are you fucking joking? That's..."

"Chill, it's obviously the drugs talking," Byng cackled.

"Yeah." Tammy agreed. "No way he would've called you that otherwise."

Britni didn't like this slight to her character and gave the receptionist a cold look only for Coco to speak up and insist, "must be drugs. Coco is the good girl." She was looking at Britni with jealousy.

This was all very amusing, but Suzette approached the table and smiled down at him warmly. "You scared me a lot today, Darling."

"I know," the drugged up boy frowned with exaggerated sadness. "But it was for good reason."

"Yes, well..." Suzette looked to Dorothy who now blushed and scratched her arm. "I just hope you'll be more careful about picking your fights in the future."

"Suzette, I'm not high enough to promise that."

The older woman sighed but couldn't help smiling. "I was afraid you'd say something like that. How are you feeling?"

"Goooooood..."

'I'll bet,' Shayla laughed.

Realizing that she wasn't going to get any answers from the boy, Suzette turned back to Eschal and ask about his condition. "You said we can bring him home in a few hours? Are you sure about that?"

"I don't say things unless I'm sure. My surgery tools are magical and top-of-the-line, in just a few hours, all of the stitching will disappear and his flesh will have been fully mended. At that point, it's safe to transport him home where he can enjoy the bone growth in the comfort of his own bed."

"Bone growth," Coye giggled causing Shayla to roll her eyes.

"Bone?" Coco's eyes widened almost as wide as Coye's.

"Wrong kind of bone, dummy," Britni chuckled, leaving Coco to tilt her head in wonder.

Suzette sighed relieved. "That's good to hear. Much as I'd like to stay by your side until you recover, I think I'm going to go and prepare the house for you as well as stop by the store to pick up a couple things. Is there anything special you'd like to eat tonight, Darling? You deserve nothing but the best, so-"

"do you have any cake right now?" Coye answered without hesitation.

"Cake?" Suzette blinked. "No, but I can stop by a bakery... Darling, I was talking about dinner foods."

"Are frosted sugar cookies a dinner food?" The lady asked me to sound like you genuinely didn't know.

"They most certainly are not," Suzette took a knowing glance towards the Pixie inside of Byng's hat. "But I will find you some all the same."

"Make sure there's chocolate, too..." Coye drooled. "Lots and lots of chocolate..."

"I can't recommend this diet, however..." Eschal stroked his mask as he looked at Suzette. "P-Soft Boy's body has unique demands." He kept his wording vague to not tip off anyone who wasn't in the know, but the implication was obvious to Byng, Suzette and Shayla.

Coye was picking up more Pixie traits. Shayla didn't know whether to be happy about that, since it meant the power of their bond was increasing as evident by the miraculous turnaround Coye pulled off during the fight, or worried. Either way, she saw a chance to capitalize on it.

'Make sure you bring enough for me, too!' Shayla insisted. Suzette sighed.

All this talk about sweets was irritating to Britni. Sugar was for the weak and children. Just hearing about it made her crave a sweet roll, one of her darkest desires. Maybe she'd sneak just one for herself later when no one was watching. No one but the All Father, of course.

Coco was drooling at the thought of sugar, as well. She wasn't allowed to eat chocolate, but that never stopped her. Neither did the after effects.

"You know I stand by my man no matter what," Byng reached up to softly tussle Coye's hair. "But I can't just let you eat only sugar for the rest of your life. I'm gonna stop by my camp and bring over some fresh meat, alright?"

"Sweet meat is good, too..." Coye pointed out. "You can glaze it in honey, and-"

"and to think we were worried about him," Tammy nudged Dorothy's elbow, eliciting some nervous laughs from the Guild Mistress. As lighthearted as things seemed, she was still worried about him even now. Him, and a lot of other things relating to him.

"Sorry, short-stuff. All I got is salt. Not as much as Auguris, though! You really fucking showed him, gahaha!" Byng raised her hand and was about to pat him on his shoulder before thinking better of it. "Whoops, forgot for a second there... Anyway, I didn't stop believing in you for a second."

"Thank you, Byng, I believed in me to. Or at least I trick myself into believing in me. I'm so stupid that it worked." Coye offered candidly.

"False courage is still courage," Britni mumbled in approval.

"Hate to admit it, but she has a point," Byng agreed. "Next time you make a big dramatic stand like that, I'd like it if you didn't leave me out of it, though. I don't want to be on the sidelines. I'm not that kind of girl. It goes against my nature to sit there and watch my man's ass get kicked without helping in, you know?"

"I'll try and remember that," Coye laughed weakly. "But I have doubts I'm going to remember like... Any of this... I'm so high..."

Byng smirked, leaned down and gave him a kiss on his forehead. "Fair enough, Murrakhar," she teased. "Lucky for you, I can't shut up for more than a few seconds. I promise I'll remind you often enough."

"Sure thing," Coye smiled and then looked up at his hat on her head. "That looks nice on you."

"Thanks," Byng smirked again. "Bit heavier than it looks, though."

'I don't want to hear that coming from the chick with an ass as big as yours,' Shayla snarked, Byng smiling and holding herself back from laughter. After teasing the Gengaggi was out of the way, she spoke directly to Coye. 'As for you, good job, big guy. Lot of crazy shit happened back there and I think we are going to need to have a talk about it soon. Not right now though, just nod your head and don't say anything.'

Coye did exactly as he told which was a great relief. 'I'll stick with Byng for now. You need rest. Rest, and alone time with a certain someone. Just don't get weird with her, okay?' Shayla glanced at Dorothy, the catalyst for all of this.

If Shayla the one who pushed Coye into the first steps of change, Dorothy was the one who inspired him to bring it home. They both played significant parts in his development, just as Suzette and Byng did, and Shayla had to respect that. She smiled softly as she looked at Dorothy, wondering where things would go in the near future.

Coye took Shayla's advice and looked at the group at large. "Thanks, everyone. I'm really glad you all showed up, even you, Britni-"

Britni stopped to smile softly even if she still couldn't look him in the eyes. Coco popped over the edge of the bed and asked, "and Coco?"

"Especially you," he laughed to make her feel even better about herself. "But if you guys don't mind, I, um... kind of want to talk to Dorothy alone."

"W-What?" Dorothy didn't expect to be called out. She was mostly keeping herself during this entire encounter. They were closer now, much closer, but she didn't have the rights that Byng and Suzette did come up and start comforting him even if she wanted to. "I don't know if that's the best idea right now. You're not very lucid, and you need the rest..."

"So what if he's high?" Britni's voice was sharp and direct, tinged with a hint of jealousy. "He did all of that for your sake. You should show more appreciation and do as he asks."

"Now, now..." Suzette sternly talked down Britni. "She's still recovering from her recent trauma, as well. Trauma that you ridiculed and exacerbated."

Britni clenched her teeth tighter and dug her nail into the skin behind her arm hard enough for it to bleed. She'd already apologized, but she knew it wasn't enough. Uncle Bjarte taught her to never grovel, never to seek forgiveness or act with regret. Vikings only looked to the future and the gates of Valhalla. Every act of weakness was just another excuse for the Valkyries to pass you by upon your death, and yet...

She opened her mouth to further apologize, but Dorothy removed the need. "It's all right," Dorothy quieted down Suzette. "She has a point regardless of how she put it... It's true that I'm not feeling the best right now, but if you really want me here for you then there's nowhere else I'd rather be."

"Hmph," Britni grunted in approval and turned around for the door.

"Leaving so soon?" Tammy teased.

"I won't be far," she said. "Come on, girl." Britni patted her thigh and expected Coco to follow after but the pup hesitated and continued staring at Coye from the foot of his bed.

"Today was amazing. Changed everything." She mumbled under her breath at Coye. "If Coco can ever do anything to help-"

"actually," Coye interrupted, his huge eyes focusing on Coco's huge fluffy tail. "There's a favor I'd like before you go... Something I've always wanted to do to you."

'Oh, God...' Shayla mumbled. She knew this wasn't going to be good.

Coco blinked awkwardly and waited several seconds before leaning further on the bed. "Tell! Will help if Coco can!"

"I would feel a lot better if you put your tail in my face... I don't think I can move my arms right now-"

"I would strongly advise against it," Eschal confirmed.

"So I can't hug it, but I bet it was still really feel nice. I've always wanted to feel it against my face ever since we met..."

First, there was silence, and then scattered laughter as Coco grew embarrassed at the request. "What? N-No, Coco can't, I... She..." As she so often did, she turned to Britni for permission.

The puppy's Mistress was a mix of amused and annoyed. She didn't mind if Coco did this for him, but it annoyed her that he seemed closer to her pet then she was initially aware. He didn't ask her for any favors to make him feel better, but whatever. He'd get Coco soon enough, there was no point in denying him her tail.

"Go for it," Britni crossed her arms and leaned against the door. "Give him what he wants."

Coco didn't expect Britni to sign off on this and it only increased her flustered emotions. She looked around the room, seeing Byng smiled smugly at her, Suzette gently supporting her and even Dorothy giving her a crooked smile. Coco balled her fists and summoned her resolve to see this through. She said she would do anything to help them, she didn't want to be a bad girl and go back on her word. Still, it was embarrassing. And Coco wasn't one who got embarrassed over much.

"Fine!" She grumbled and walked up the side of Coye's bed, turning her petite little butt to face him. It was obscured by her tail which was massive, fluffy and curly. It was the ultimate in dog tales, the be-all and end-all, and Coye was fascinated by.

"You promise this is really going to make you better?" Coco asked as sweat started pouring down her face. Why was this so hard, she wondered? Of course, she knew the answer. It was difficult because it was just a few steps shy of presenting herself to him as a prospective mate.

"I promise," Coye responded with hazy determination to get a face full of fluff.

"Okay..." Coco shut her eyes and raised her tail over his face. "But only because you were really cool today! That's the only reason Coco is doing this! Here! Feel better and get even stronger and cooler!" After a deep breath, the pup purposefully wagged her tail exactly where he wanted it.

Coye was inducted into the heaven of fluffiness, and it was everything he ever wanted and more. Soft didn't begin to cut it. It was softer than soft- every strand of fur nothing short of purest perfection. Rather than smelling like an outdoor dog, she smelled of expensive shampoos. Britni must take real good care of her, he realized. He kept breathing in which unsettled Coco but she closed her eyes as this all occurred. Neither of them said anything for over a minute, until Tammy could no longer constrain her curiosity.

"So, is this a sex thing, or-"

"Coco is done now!" She hurriedly announced and scampered off to join Britni at the door. "Feel better, because, um... n-not doing that again anytime soon!"

"Sooner than you might think," Britni mumbled low enough for only Coco to hear it as she reached down and scratched her pet behind the ear.

"Woof?" Coco didn't understand her meaning and did vaguely unsettled her but she followed after Britni all the same.

"She didn't let me answer..." Coye pouted. He seemed very disappointed at the sudden lack of fluffiness in his face.

'Not like we don't already know the answer,' Shayla rolled her eyes as the Gengaggi carrying her around made for the door as well along with Suzette.

"Will be back for you later, okay short-stuff?" Byng smiled. "I've got some direwolf pelts with some real fluffy tails by the way, if you want me to bring some for your bed!"

"It's okay," the delirious boy frowned. "It won't be the same..."

Suzette was amused and on her way out she tapped Dorothy on the shoulder. "Do your best, dear. Don't rush things."

"Thank you," Dorothy smiled at the kindly older woman, happy to have some reassurance from someone more experienced than herself.

"I guess I'll go back upstairs and keep visitors away. There crowding the lounge right now, you know. Everyone wants a piece of your hero." Tammy teased.

"Ahahaha..." Dorothy gulped. She knew she would get a lot of flak for the way she addressed Coye publicly a few times, but even now she didn't regret her phrasing. "I appreciate it, Tammy. And everything else you did today, too."

"I'd do it again. It was fun." Another smile, one less person in the room. All that was left was Eschal and Dorothy, and the doctor soon removed himself from the equation as well.

"I'll be in the next room over if anything happens to his condition," Eschal warned. "I know there's a lot might want to say to him right now, but I'd advise you to keep it tasteful for now. For both of your sakes."

Dorothy appreciated his tasteful advice. Even now, he cared about both his patients and knew that Dorothy was in a compromised emotional state. Sure, things are looking better than ever, but you don't just instantly move past a huge ordeal like the one Dorothy went through.

"Thank you, Eschal," Dorothy smiled softly and looked to Coye. "But I'll be fine. Really."

He took her at her word and left, leaving just the two of them alone in the cold, dark examination room lit by blue flame candles which flickered in time with the nervous beating of her heart.