It was about a third quarter of autumn. Ince had just gotten comfortable living in Slither Scale's house after losing his parents from a storm, happy to be Feathers' little brother. He still has trauma from losing his parents, but his new family seems to work out well for him. As much as he's happy to live with Slither and Feathers, though, he wasn't used to Slither being strict, regarding the rules and chores.
On that day, Ince was doing his homework alongside Feathers at the table. It was a history lesson about gold mining in the early days of Peak Country. It was a tough lesson, regarding the questions they had struggled to understand, but after using the book, they managed to finish their homework.
"Feathers, was there really a gold mine in Peak Country?" Ince asked.
"That's what the history book said," Feathers said.
"I suppose. But Feathers, I never thought Slither can be so strict, and his rules seem a little hard to get used to."
"Well, I'm used to them, for thirteen years ever since Slither found me. But you don't have to worry, because Slither is a very good snake who is wise and knows my well-being, even yours."
"So, he's strict AND wise? I never know that. And how come we do chores around the house?"
"Well, when I got older, Slither taught me things about responsibility, something we have in common. You'll understand as you get older."
"As much as you do, my boy," Slither said when he slithered in.
Feathers and Ince jumped to see Slither.
"Oh, Slither! How, how much did you hear?" Feathers asked nervously.
"Oh, I've heard plenty, Feathers. And Ince," he turned to Ince, "I can see you're not used to things around the house, the rules I have and stuff. But they're a responsibility we have to follow."
"I understand, sir," Ince said, "but my parents didn't have much rules, where I came from. It's just common rules we all have to learn, how to be respectful, be responsible, and how actions have consequences."
"And those are the common things you need to remember, child. All you have to do is follow the rules, like the rules I taught you in school."
"And I did my best to follow them, but I felt I was being... perfect."
Slither chuckled. "Nonsense. Nobody's perfect. Perfection comes from inside us, in there." He tapped Ince's chest.
"In my heart?" Ince asked.
"That's right. I told the same thing to Feathers ever since he had troubles adjusting his reality."
"Reality?" Ince turned to Feathers. "What kind of reality?"
"My diapers," Feathers sighed. "I wish I could explain how that was hard for me, but..."
"That's alright, Feathers," said Slither. "I will tell Ince another time."
The following day, Slither, Ince and Feathers were walking down the streets of the town, as Feathers smiled warmly while carrying his little brother in his arms.
"Golly, this town is so small, I can't tell if it's either that or a village," Ince said.
"Some call it a village, others call it a town," Feathers said, "but even I don't know the difference."
"Call it part town, part village," Slither said.
"Oh," Ince said. "But why would Peak Country be part town, part village?"
Slither sighed. "I have no idea. It was just something I've learned years ago from my grandpa, but even he had no knowledge."
Ince sighed, and he noticed something. "Feathers? You do have those big beautiful wings. Can you fly?"
"I can," Feathers said, "but I don't fly often. Slither did help me learn to fly a couple of years back, but one day I got carried away and went flying around Peak Country before I fell into the lake." He scratched his head. "I was pretty irresponsible back then."
"Indeed you were," Slither said. "I had to set a few boundaries regarding your flight privileges, so that you do not get yourself hurt."
They went down the street when they heard a clatter.
"What was that?" Ince asked.
"I don't know," Feathers asked.
"It must've come from the alley," Slither said. "Stay here, I'll check it out."
Slither moved his way into the alley, looking for the source of the noise. Then he saw a teenage horse, a fox pup, and a teenage hyena by the boxes. The horse is a palomino with a black mane and tail, wearing a purple buttoned vest and a diaper. The fox pup has reddish orange fur, and dark gray paws and feet, wearing a diaper too. The teenage hyena has gray fur and a cream belly, with spots.
The clatter came from the horse getting his upper body trapped inside a trash can, and the hyena was pulling the can to get him out.
"Quit squirming, Otis! Hold still!" The hyena grunted.
The horse grunted and said, "I'm stuck tight! Get me out!"
"Maybe I can help, Skylar," the fox said.
"I got this, Bess," the hyena grunted. "Come on, you stupid trash can!" She pulled hard before the trash can popped off of the horse, and she hit the ground. "Oof! Finally!" She sat up, dusting herself.
"Are you three all right?" Slither asked as he approached them. "You three look like you got lost in the streets."
The hyena stood up. "Yeah, we're fine."
"Are you from the adoption agency?" The fox asked.
"Certainly not," Slither said, "but you three look like you hadn't a home in years."
The horse got up as he dusted his arms. "Yeah, we don't have a home. I'm Otis, I am a horse. This fox pup is Bess, and the hyena that helped me was Skylar."
"Pleasure's yours," Skylar said with a grumpy expression.
"You're a big snake," Bess smiled.
" I am called an anaconda, my dear," Slither said. "I am Slither Scale, the anaconda. Now, how long have you both been on the streets?"
"I've had no parents for fifteen years," Otis said.
"I'm from foster care of fourteen years, though I am being a rebellious hyena," Skylar said.
"I once had a mother, but I lost her in a fire," Bess said sadly.
Feathers and Ince crept behind Slither and hid behind trash cans to get a good look.
"Feathers, are you seeing this? They all wear diapers like we do," Ince whispered.
"Yeah, and they don't look like gangsters," Feathers whispered back.
"And how long had you known each other?" Slither asked.
"Otis and I met at a store with what little money I had saved for a coffee," Skylar said. "We then met Bess at a gas station, crying about losing her mommy."
"Skylar, can't you at least show a little sympathy?" Otis scowled.
"Hey, I've been acting tough with how foster care treated me. What do you think I would've done?"
"I don't know, learn your emotions?"
Slither cleared his throat. "Alright, enough. Look, I believe the streets are not the safe place for you kids. I think we can..." His tongue slithered as he narrowed his eyes. Feathers and Ince yelped and hid behind the trash cans. "Feathers, Ince, come on out." Feathers and Ince peeked out. "I said come on out. It's alright."
Feathers and Ince shyly approached Slither, and the three saw them.
"Hey, you two wear diapers like we do," Skylar said. "Guess we're not the only ones."
"Wow, a hyena, a horse, and a fox!" Ince exclaimed. "All in diapers like us?! That's exquisite!"
Skylar blushed at hearing that word. "E-Exquisite? Don't flatter me with that, kid!"
"Are you a spotted hyena?" Feathers asked.
"Yeah, so what?"
"Skylar, don't be rude," Otis frowned, but Skylar just crossed her arms with a huff. He then turned to the three. "Either way, it's good to meet you, and we could use help."
Slither nodded. "I agree. But I want to know the story from the three of you."
Otis fidgeted his fingers and tugged his diaper, but then he took a deep breath. "Okay. Ever since I was a foal, I had never known my parents. I was just lonely, had no one to turn to. I grew up on the streets from another town, eating scraps of food to live. I was picked on a lot for being homeless, and for wearing my diapers. No one helped me. Then these delinquents came to me, and they taught me on stealing to survive. I didn't want to be a part of the bad crowd, but when I had no one to help me, what other choice did I have? I reluctantly became a delinquent for two years, before I met Skylar."
"So how did you get out of that gang?" Ince asked.
"I wanted to leave the gang and be a better horse, but the delinquents didn't like that. Skylar and I had a fight with those delinquents, and we fled town after that."
"Well, I did tell you being a delinquent was a stupid idea," Skylar said, "but everyone who refused to help you was no better. Just a bunch of idiots who think that we don't matter. That's how I felt those days, why I became rebellious from foster care. I didn't know my parents either. I was just found on the house's front porch, no letter, just me in a bundle, blah, blah, blah, but everyone in foster care treated me like a joke," she smacked her own diaper butt, "and not just for wearing my diapers."
"Gosh, everyone in that town must've been very mean," Feathers said sympathetically.
"Very, very mean," Ince added.
Slither shushed the two, and turned to Otis. "Continue, Otis."
"Anyway, we had traveled down the highway by foot, with a little bit of snacks I had taken from the delinquents to share with myself and Skylar. Then we came to this town, and we found Bess."
"And how did you find Bess?"
"It's like this," Bess said. "I once had a mom, and we lived in a forest not far from this town. I've worn diapers myself, for six years, but she loved me just the same. Anyway, there was a terrible fire in the forest, and everyone was running to safety. My mom had tried to get me to safety, but we got separated when the blaze hit us. I didn't get burnt, but I had lost my mom, and I couldn't find her." She then sniffled. "I had to escape the fire, for my mom. Then I found myself wandering around this town. And that's when Otis and Skylar found me. The three of us stuck together ever since." She then covered her eyes, crying. "But I still can't believe I had lost my mom in that terrible fire! I miss her so much!" She sobbed as Slither patted her head sympathetically.
Feathers and Ince felt bad at hearing the story. Bess' story reminded Ince of losing his parents, and Otis and Skylar's stories reminded Feathers of not knowing his parents.
"Slither, would it be fair if we could have them adopted?" Feathers asked Slither.
"I'll leave that to the adoption agency," Slither said. "I suggest we have them placed in a shelter until then."
"The shelter?" Ince gasped. "But Slither!"
"No buts, Ince. Besides, I cannot just adopt them right off the bat. Adoption requires paperwork and things like that, like how it took for me to adopt Feathers before you."
Feathers lowered his head, knowing Slither had a valid point. Then an idea popped inside his head. "Slither? Perhaps there might be a youth shelter they stay for the time being," he smiled. "That way, we might know if they'll be ready for adoption."
Slither's eyes widen as his tongue slithered. He turned to Feathers. "Feathers, what a brilliant idea! Some youth shelters can allow adoption!"
"Can they really allow it?" Otis asked.
"Well wait and see," Feathers said, "and who knows? You guys might find a family that'll accept you for who you are!"
"You seem to know something from somewhere," Skylar said, grinning slightly with a raised brow. "Well, what have we got to lose?"
"A family to take me in?!" Bess said, smiling with hope. "That'll be great!"
"Splendid!" Slither said, clapping his hands. "Now, let's get you three settled at the youth shelter right away!"
Within a while, everyone was at the youth shelter, while Slither spoke to the guidance counselor.
"Feathers, this youth shelter's a brilliant idea," Ince smiled.
"Yeah, you really saved us," Bess said. "But I hope we do get adopted."
"Give it time," Feathers said. "I know we just met and all, but..."
"It's fine, Feathers," Otis grinned. "You really gave us a safe place."
"Only for now," Skylar huffed, "but I hope it's worth it."
"Like I said, we'll wait and see," Feathers grinned.
Otis then hugged Feathers, as Feathers hugged back. "Take care, Feathers," he said.
"Best of luck to you guys," Feathers said.
Feathers, Ince and Slither then left the youth shelter.
"So what did the counselor have to say, sir?" Feathers asked.
"Yeah, what's next for them?" Ince added.
"Now, now, boys. There's no need to rush," Slither said. "I will leave it up to the adoption agency."
"I hope things go well in the end," Feathers said.
"Remember what you said, Feathers. We'll wait and see."
Feathers blushed at this, as he chuckled. "Right, wait and see. Thanks, Slither."
A few days had gone by, with Feathers and Ince going to school, playing games with their friends, and then going home for homework and chores. But one Friday, Feathers had to stay after school to clean up the desks and the chalkboard, and then he mopped the floor as the last part of the job.
"Phew, that's it for today," Feathers sighed, wiping his head. "Slither would be proud to see the school looking all clean for Monday." He then grabbed his bag and flew for home. "Boy, felt good to use my wings again after such a while." But then he thought of something. "Hm, I wonder why Slither had me stay after school to clean up the place, though? Seems odd." He pondered, but then shook his head. "Nah. Probably just Slither training me for some responsibility."
Feathers finally arrived at Slither's house and landed on his feet. Adjusting his diaper, he went to the door and knocked on it. But no one answered, as he scratched his head. He turned the knob, and the door opened. "Hello?" He called as he went inside. The room was dark. "That's funny. The house shouldn't be empty." He closed the door as he walked in. "Slither? Ince? Anybody home?"
"Surprise!" Ince's voice called out as the light came on.
Feathers' eyes widen at the sight. He saw Ince and Slither at the fireplace. He also saw Otis, Skylar and Bess as well.
"Wh-What's this?" Feathers asked.
"It's a surprise, Feathers," Ince smiled. "Slither had planned this for you."
"A surprise? Really?"
"Indeed," Slither grinned. "I had spoken with those three for some time. They decided they wanted to live with us, and yesterday I had decided they're more than welcome to be part of a family again."
Feathers gasped as he covered his mouth. "But that must mean... m-more siblings?!"
"Hey, we were just paying you back for finding us that shelter for safekeeping," Skylar said.
"Yep," Otis smiled. "Besides, you've been Slither's gryphon for thirteen years, and we figured you deserve much more, family related."
"And now that we're a family again, we're gonna be one big happy family!" Bess said.
Feathers was touched. "I... I... I don't know what to say..."
"It's alright, my boy," Slither said. "Everyone deserves a family, with love, support, kindness, and guidance."
Feathers teared up and sobbed as he hugged Slither, as Slither hugged back. "S-Slither... thank you! You're the best!" He sniffled as he looked at the three. "And you guys... welcome to the family!"
Ince, Otis and Bess hugged Feathers as he sobbed. Skylar just crossed her arms with her eyes rolling, but after seeing the others hug Feathers, she thought about it, and then she grinned as she joined the hug.
Feathers was so happy at first with having Ince as his little brother, but now he was much happier with having Otis, Skylar and Bess onboard, leading to a brand new chapter for his family.
