~ Moaning could be heard coming from a small patient laying in one of the emergency room beds, the young arctic fox boy with orange accents was in some pain as his right arm was extended onto a side table, a couple of metal plates sandwiched it with a couple of bandages wrapped around keeping them in place. "Now Ion, just one second and I can do something about the pain" a friendly female nurse gently told Ion as she stuck a larger needle with a few tubes attached to it into Ion's left hand causing him to let out a small yelp, "sorry about that but now I can give you some medicine that should dull the pain a bit" she continued with a smile. The nurse then quickly grabbed a small bag with some sort of clear fluid in it and hung it on a small pole nearby, attaching the long tube from the bag with the tube now inserted into Ion's hand, "there that feel a bit better?" She asked as Ion let out a small nod, "thank you doctor... doctor..." Ion started saying softly as the nurse smiled, "doctor Zaru!" she said in a cheer full tone, "nice to meet you!" she continued as she placed a hand on Ion's head. "Now then the surgeon will be back in a few moments with the x-ray they took of your arm and well will se just how much damage you did to it" doctor Zaru said in a more serious tone, "but I am sure everything will be fine, you didn't fall that far from the tree from what the paramedics said so it shouldn't be too bad of a break" doctor Zaru continued in a reassuring tone as she could feel Ion getting nervous from her last words. Not a moment latter a tall rabbit dressed in a different type of hospital wear opened the curtains around the bed carrying what looked like a black piece of paper that he attached to a piece of equipment on the wall, a light was turned on and the outline of the bones in Ion's arm could be seen on the paper. "Ok, the break is really clean so Ion. your arm should heal just fine" the surgeon started saying, "but to make sure it does, we need to do a little operation where we will put a few of these plates on the bone so that it can" the surgeon continued showing Ion these thin metal plates with holes ever so often in them. "How are you going to do that?" Ion asked in a nervous tone, "well... we have to make a small cut in your arm so that we can..." the surgeon started saying before he was cut off, "but won't that hurt, like a lot?" Ion cut in. "Don't worry, we will make sure you are fast asleep so you won't feel anything, it won't hurt at all I promise" the surgeon said in a reassuring tone but it did little to make Ion feel better, "well we need to get to work right away, doctor Zaru, can you take Ion to operating room three, I will await you there shortly." "Of course" doctor Zaru replied as the surgeon went on a head, "now Ion I need you to be brave for me but as the surgeon said, it is nothing to worry about, just take some deep breaths and relax" she continued as she started wheeling Ion's bed down the hall towards the operating room. Getting into the room, the surgeon was there waiting form them as he helped doctor Zaru lift Ion carefully onto the operating table, a side extension was pulled out so Ion's arm could rest on it it, a flurry of activity soon followed, as these devices were placed on Ion's chest and an oxygen mask was placed over his nose, Ion just continued doing as doctor Zaru said, taking deep breaths as the medical staff did their preparations around him.
"Ok Ion, I will see you when you are done!" doctor Zaru said with a smile as she gave a small wave before exiting out of the room, "arighty then, now Ion can you count back from ten for me" the surgeon softly said, "if you feel your eyes getting heavy don't worry that is normal, just let yourself fall asleep" he continued as Ion gave a small nod. "Ten... nine... eig...ht... se...ve...en... s...i...x... fi..." Ion started saying before darkness filled his eyes, the feeling was quite weird, Ion could see nothing around him but he felt like he was in a daze, like he was moving back and forth from small tunnels as small amounts of light outlined what looked like walls. The experience was dizzying as everything felt fast moving around him but soon the darkness started brightening, as Ion's senses started coming back to him, he was able to slowly open his eyes as the deep blue eyes of another stared right back at him as a voice could be heard "Hi there!" "Ahhhhh" Ion started creaming as the other boy pulled his face back away from Ion's, "hold on there is no need to be afraid, I am not going to hurt you" the other boy started saying as he pulled up a small stuffed fox that he was holding in his hand, "here maybe this would make you feel better, it always made me when I woke up from surgery, you have your own as well over there on the table" the boy continued as Ion calmed down a bit, quickly glancing over at the table beside him wee a small stuffed bunny sat. "Nice... nice... to meet you... hey it's you, your the one I saw at the waterfall last summer with those bunny poofs" Ion started saying as the boy gave him a curious look, "thats right, you are Flint are you not?" The boy then gave a big smile, "thats right I am, and if I am not mistaken you are Ion? Ion-Yggdrasil? Flint asked, "yep!" Ion replied, "I guess you were right there was a chance we could meet up in the city, though I would never expect it to be here, why are you here anyways?" Ion continued asking. Flint repositioned himself so he was kneeling between Ion's legs and pulled apart the top of his hospital gown some more revealing a large gash down the centre of his chest that was being kept closed with metal staples, "I have a bad heart... I was born with a rare condition that kind of causes me to have to undergo a lot of surgeries... thats why I said there is a chance we could meet in the city as I am here quite often, mostly in the hospital but sometimes I get taken out for a day trip while I am recovering and that is where I thought there would be a chance of us meeting again" Flint responded. Ion was kind of aback from Flint's statement, "sorry you have to go through all that" Ion said but Flint just smiled, "it's ok, I am quite use to it by now though it is not something you ever get fully use to... hey that tickles" Flint started replying but was cut off by the feeling of Ion's hand touching around his scar, "oh sorry" Ion replied pulling his hand away but Flint just waved it off, "no it is ok, I take it you have never had surgery before now so you are probably fairly curious, you probably have something similar under that cast of yours" Flint responded.
"Well it is a really cool scar though, it makes you look like you went through a tough battle" Ion started saying, "yes but I don't like it" Flint replied, "it keeps reminding me of the condition I have and everything that comes with it, I can't wait until my thicker chest fluff grows back to hide it once more" Flint continued, "oh sorry again", Ion responded but again Flint waved it off. "Don't be, again it is what it is, I can't change anything, just keep moving forward the best I can" Flint said as Ion kind of wanted to change the subject to keep Flint's mind off his condition, "so, we the only kids here?" Ion asked. "You got it" Flint replied and he sat on the side of Ion's bed, "normally I am here all alone, not many kids come to this hospital as it has a special cliental so it gets kind of lonely, thats why I was excited when the doctors wheeled you in here so sorry I startled you when you woke up with my excitement" he continued. "It's alright, everything worked out in the end so it is ok" Ion replied as Flint smiled, "I see you boys are getting along well" a voice could be heard as Ion and Flint turned their heads around to see doctor Zaru walk into the ward, "hey doctor, yes I am just glad there is someone here to keep me some company" Flint replied. "Thats good but sorry keep that short" doctor Zaru started saying, "Ion will be staying overnight with us but he is expected to be released tomorrow" she continued while taking Ion vitals. "Aww" Flint responded with some annoyance, "guess it is going to get lonely again" he continued as Ion kind of looked sad as well, "well at least you have tonight, just think of it as a little sleepover party" doctor Zaru responded, "well everything looks good, I will come back and check on you guys again a bit latter but for now just relax and enjoy each other's company" she continued before walking out of the ward. Ion started yawning as he was starting to feel kind of tired, "sorry Flint, I don't know how much company I will be as I feel like I am going to fall asleep any moment" Ion started saying, "well since you are only going to be here one night, do you mind if I cuddle up beside you?" Flint asked as Ion started to blush. "Well about that... I don't know... you see... I am... kind of..." Ion started saying while having a hard time getting the right word out as Flint look at him more curiously, "oh I see, are you nakey under the sheets?" Flint asked. Ion blushed again, "yes I don't have a gown yet like you are wearing so it might be kind of awkward" Ion replied, "that is normal for just coming out of surgery and maybe they are not giving you one since you are leaving tomorrow but no matter I think I have a way for it to be more comfortable" Flint said as he started undressing.
"Hey what are you doing?" Ion blurted out asking, "what?" Flint replied, "it won't be embarrassing if we both are nakey and besides you don't have anything I don't have so do you mind scuttling over a bit?" he continued as Ion gave in and slid over a bit in the bed to let Flint in. "Thank you" Flint said, "no... problem..." Ion replied with a pause as at first he felt a bit uncomfortable but as Flint just curled up beside him the warmth he felt was kind of nice. "Thanks again for just letting me be here right beside you" Flint said, "don't mention it" Ion replied with a small smile as he could see Flint yawing, causing him to yawn himself, "good night Ion" Flint said in a tired voice, "night Flint" Ion replied in the same sort of tone as both boys quickly fell asleep. A few hours passed as doctor Zaru walked into the ward again to check up on her patients, she let out a small smile when she found both of them fast asleep cuddled up together before taking note of Ion's vitals and quietly leaving the ward once more. "So how are they doing?" a voice asked doctor Zaru as a tall arctic fox and an older Fennec fox walked into sight, "they seam to be getting along quite well Ivan, right now they are fast asleep cuddled up with each other, it is so cute" doctor Zaru replied, "Ion will be ready though for you to take him home tomorrow morning." "Well about that" Ivan started saying, "I talked with elder Ember here and with the rest of the medical staff and I think we will be leaving Ion here for a little bit, he doesn't have many friends if at all himself and young Flint is alone all the time here, so I think it would be best for the both of them to have someone their age around them for a bit" he continued as elder Ember just nodded. "I see, well I know Flint will be happy to hear the news, but what about Ion?" doctor Zaru asked, "I think he will be fine, again from what I hear from Overseer Ivan, he also doesn't have anyone around his age that can keep him company, if the both of them are getting along well, it would beneficial to allow their friendship to grow wre they can be together for the moment" elder Ember responded. "I see then, well I will make sure they are both taken well care of" doctor Zaru replied in a cheerful tone, as with that moment the bond of two friends had their first solid ground to grow on. ~
