Murana was a bit unnerved. She had come to the hospital to apologize and spend time with Kyra after having beaten her senseless in the boxing ring a few days prior. She had stood alone in an empty room with a bed cleaned and fitted for the next patient when a nurse came by to verify whom Murana had come to visit. The wolf bristled when she heard Kyra was removed before full care and recovery could happen to a more "secured" location. What she needed was rest, not moved to some unknown place that wasn't classified as a hospital! What was even more strange was that a note was left behind for Murana by some "Seth."
Anxious and ready for trouble, she left and went to the address in the note. It seemed an unassuming building like any other down the apartment-laden street. Knocking on the front door of the complex, Murana noticed a camera perched outside above staring at her. She frowned at it. After a few moments, the door unlocked and opened. Hackles raised and senses alert, she stepped in with her bouquet of roses. The interior of the place did not look like the exterior at all. Sleek metal sidings and technological pipes filled with unknown liquids were strewn about the place.
A tall, female-looking giraffe approached Murana as the front door closed behind her, sending warning signals off in all directions in Murana's mind. The giraffe was dressed in a slinky dress of emerald. Hips swaying, she approached the wolf and bowed courteously. "You must be Murana, yes? My name is Rooks." She soothed with a soft, but deep voice.
Murana's trained eyes were scanning the entire place looking for traps and unseen villains. "Yeah, that's me. Is Kyra here?" She asked haltingly.
The giraffe nodded again. "Of course she is." She smiled, waving a hoof back behind her gesturing to follow. "I'll take you to her. She's been ever so excited to see you again."
"She has?" After a nod, Murana indicated the giraffe to lead. "Okay, take me to her."
The more Murana peeked into side rooms, the more alarmed she got. It appeared to be some sort of experimentation lab filled with apparatus, full body tubes large enough to fit a mammal like the giraffe in front of her in and other elements of secretive medical work most likely nefarious enough to not be sanctioned by the government. Just what the hell was Kyra involved in? She only hoped her friend was okay. This was not what she was expecting coming here.
Murana was finally led to a room where she saw the familiar face of Kyra. She looked to be in some sort of coma, IV tubes feeding into her body some unknown liquid that was not any sort of natural color. Across from her, navigating floating screens that were quite unlike anything Murana had ever seen was a tall leopard. On the monitors was a variety of schematics of Kyra's biology and the various effects whatever he was pumping into her was having.
Feeling an overwhelming sense of protectiveness, she stormed up to the large cat. "Excuse me, just what the hell are you doing with my friend?"
Calmly, he turned to Murana, looking down on her petite frame with a kind smile. "Me? Nothing bad, I can assure you. If anything, I'm healing the damage done to her body. Damage, I heard, caused by you."
If there was anger in his words, his expression and body language did not show it. Caught a bit off guard at the extreme hospitality, she looked over at Kyra. "Sorry...Is she going to be all right?"
"No thanks to that hospital she was put in." He turned back to his screens. "With Kyra's unique biology, their facilities were quite inadequate for the job and so I had her transported here, to one of my labs. The only place where she could fully recover."
Murana was miffed. "Just because she's not like other girls doesn't mean she couldn't be treated at that hospital. They wouldn't turn her away because of what she was born with!"
This caused the leopard to turn back around. "You're thinking a bit limitedly. I'm not referring to what Kyra has between her legs. I'm more referring to her unique genetic makeup within her body."
"But she's just a kangaroo." She looked at Kyra
"Is she?" He responded with deadpan.
Murana squinted. "Who did you say you are?"
"I didn't, but you barged in here accusing me of hurting Kyra when I would do nothing of the sort." He gazed over at the sleeping roo. "My name is Seth. You might have heard of my products: Seth's Pharmaceuticals?"
Murana blinked. She had heard of his brand. Seen it on store shelves, but never picked any up for herself. She never had need of the medicinal balms and solvents. "I have. So what is it you do here then?" She looked around at the advanced technology.
"I'm a researcher at heart, but I use my technical knowledge and expertise to advance cybernetic enhancement and medical breakthroughs. What we do here changes so many lives, even for those who've had less fortunate beginnings like my dear Kyra here." He nodded his head in her direction. "Speaking of, you should tend to your friend. She's been eager to see you again. She talks of little else."
"Really?" Murana wasn't buying Seth's explanation, but she couldn't ignore Kyra as she roused from her sleep. Turning from the leopard she faced and sat down at the foot of the bed, awaiting the roo to awaken fully. She would have to deal with her own personal investigation into Seth's dealings later.
Kyra sleepily rubbed her eyes and stared curiously at the visage of the wolf before her, a huge bouquet of flowers cradled in her arm. Sitting up a bit straighter, she gasped as she realized who it was. "Murana?!" She looked the tiny wolf up and down. "You look... you look so regal!"
Murana glanced down at her pin-striped suit, pressed and form fitting. Perched on her nose was a set of spectacles that helped complete her look. "Oh this? This is just my work attire. Nothing really special."
Kyra blushed looking down. "You look good. I can't ever seem to get those sorts of suits to fit me. I always look goofy in them."
"No, I don't think that's true. We just need to get you out to the mall and find you some clothes that'll suit you! I'll even help." Murana leaned forward and put a paw on hers.
Kyra's eyes bulged as she saw the huge stack of flowers. "Are those for me?"
Murana gently handed them over. "Of course. I had intended to come sooner, but work was busy. I felt so bad after what I did, I couldn't just leave it alone. I want to make it up somehow."
"You didn't have to. I never blamed you. Besides, I was the one who asked to fight you. If anything, it is my fault." Kyra tried to assuage.
Seth glanced back. "It's true. Kyra tends to put the blame on herself more often than not, even if the root cause was on both parties and how unequally matched they were in that situation." He gave Murana a knowing look, drawing a scowl from her. He just shrugged and went back to his schematics.
"So what the heck they feeding you, Kyra?" Murana noticed the dozens of jello cups next to Kyra's bed. "I'd be starving if that was all I was given for the last few days!"
"It's actually quite filling." Kyra explained. "Seth makes it specifically for me. It doesn't look like it, but they're made to curb my hunger and give me what I need. He really is very generous." Seeing the look on Murana's face towards Seth, Kyra steered the conversation back to her. "Will you be staying long?" She asked hopefully.
Murana put both paws on Kyra's now. "As long as you'd like. You know that one question a day thing? How about we ditch that today and just chat about whatever this time. I'm here for my friend." Kyra glanced over at Seth and saw him nod at her with a smile, his approval of her friend meaning the world to Kyra.
