On a nice summer day in Peak Country, life was going smoothly for Feathers and his family. He happily lived with his fatherly caretaker Slither Scale long before his adoptive siblings came along, and he was very proud to have his family. But one day, Feathers had not been in a good mood. Normally he'd feel depressed because of his incontinence, but it wasn't his incontinence. It was the night he had first met Ince, and how Ince had lost his parents, which made him feel so awful. The padded gryphon sighed as he swept the floor with a broom. He looked down the moment he stopped, sighing again. He went back to sweeping the floor, but then he dropped the broom as he sat by the wall, burying his face in his arms, sobbing.
"Feathers, you're not done sweeping the floor," Slither said as he slithered in. He suddenly noticed Feathers crying and approached him. "What's wrong, Feathers? You're not thinking about your incontinence again, are you?"
Feathers sobbed and wiped his tearful eyes. "N-no, sir," he sniffled. "I just couldn't stop thinking about Ince, how sad he felt from losing his parents. Really, it made me feel so awful...!" He resumed sobbing on his arms. "It's not fair! Why did he lose his parents so soon?!"
"Aw... take it easy, Feathers." Slither pulled out a hanky and gently lifted Feathers' head to wipe his crying eyes, and then he placed the hanky on his beak's nostrils. "Here, blow."
Feathers sobbed and blew his nose on the hanky. "I just felt bad, Slither. Real bad. No one as young as Ince should lose his parents like that."
"I know how you feel, Feathers, but there was nothing any of us could have done." Slither gently wrapped his tail around Feathers. "Look, sometimes fate has plans, and that's something we cannot mess with. Fate was when I found you and took you in. Fate was when Ince came to us after losing his parents. Fate was when we met Otis, Bess and Skylar. Fate was when Skylar met Otis. Fate was when Otis..." he trailed off, trying to figure out the concept. "Fate was when Otis... what was it?" He scratched his head, trying to remember. Then he did. "Fate was when Otis had been with the bad kids, and then met Skylar. Fate was when Skylar helped Otis out of his situation and away from the delinquents. Fate was when Bess lost her mother and then met Otis and Skylar. Fate was when we adopted Otis, Skylar and Bess." He tousled Feathers' head. "Think about it, my boy. Where would you all be if I weren't there?"
"I know what fate is," Feathers said as he stood up. "I mean, I really wanted to help Ince be happy again... but how can I? Back then, I still felt it was unfair that I have incontinence, how its aggression causes me to have big messes in my diapers, but now I think what was more unfair than that was how Ince lost his parents, and I don't know how we can help him!" His eyes tear up again. "If you got any ideas on what'll make Ince smile again, and to show him he's not alone and to show how much we love him as much as his parents had loved him," he hugged Slither, crying again, "I'm open to hearing it!"
"Shh, calm down, Feathers," said Slither as he hugged Feathers. "Crying won't help with anything. Shh..." he stroke Feathers' head and back.
Feathers sniffled as he wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry, sir. I just wish a Christmas surprise was enough for Ince to be happy."
"It did make him happy, my boy," Slither said, patting Feathers' head, "but sometimes enough wasn't really enough. I'll think of a way." He picked up the broom. "But in the meantime, take the broom, and get back to work."
"Yes, sir," Feathers said as he took the broom, and resumed sweeping the floor. "I wish there's something we could do for him."
"So do I, son." He slithered to the door, putting on his hat. "I'll be running to the store, and I expect the floors to be swept before Skylar and Otis can mop them. I'll see you later." He then left the house and shut the door.
Feathers sighed and resumed sweeping the floor.
The following day, while Otis and Skylar had mopped the floors after the sweeping was finished, Feathers went outside and sat by a tree, looking at the cloudy sky. He heard giggling and saw Ince and Bess playing ball. He smiled, knowing Ince was happy to be part of a family, but that smile dropped, as he wish he knew how to make him happy again. He looked down, feeling sadder than before.
Otis came outside after mopping the kitchen floor, and saw Feathers sitting by the tree. "What's wrong, Feathers?" He asked, approaching him.
"Oh, I was just thinking," Feathers said. "Ince was happy living with us, but I just can't help knowing how hurt he felt from losing his parents, and I wish that Christmas surprise was enough to know he's with us all the way, but sometimes enough wasn't enough... I just don't understand why."
"You don't have to worry about a Ince a lot," Otis said, as he sat next to Feathers. "We're all birds of a feather."
Feathers scowled. "What are you even saying? You don't know all the trauma Ince had. I knew what he'd gone through, the trauma he had from losing his parents."
"Aw, of course I do. You always told us how much Ince missed his parents, and we all felt sorry for his loss. I wish I knew how we could make him more happy than ever."
Feathers sighed. Then he thought of something, as it made him smile. "What if we plan a surprise for him? We have to show him that we're always here for him! Something for him to smile about!"
"That's possible, but how?"
Feathers pondered. "I never thought of that. I'll have to ask Slither when he gets back." He had spoken too soon when Slither arrived, carrying bags. "Slither! Back from the store!" He approached Slither. "Can I help you with the bags, sir?"
"No, no, I got this, Feathers," said Slither, "but thank you for asking. I'll need you to come inside anyway." He took Feathers into the house.
"But sir, I had just finished sweeping the floors," Feathers said.
"And Skylar and Otis mopped the floors after you," Slither said. "But listen. I just have a plan for Ince."
"What plan?"
"Shh. You probably don't know, but in the coming days..." he whispered into Feathers' ear, "...will be Ince's birthday."
Feathers' eyes widen. "Really?!" He smiled. "I'd be glad to set up the place for his special day! That'll make him much happy! I'll find a present for him, a snack, a gift, a hotdog, a birthday cake, and something so exciting it'll make him smile and..."
"Whoa, whoa, slow down, silly boy. Listen, this has to be a birthday surprise for Ince, to show we are all here for him, no matter what."
Feathers nodded. "Right, a surprise. No telling Ince."
"So, I'll need you to come with me tomorrow for some shopping, but don't tell Ince."
Feathers nodded. "Will do, sir."
The next day, Feathers went with Slither, Otis and Skylar to do some shopping, while Ince and Bess stayed home to play with toys, some of which were Feathers' from his chick days.
Inside the store from the town section of Peak Country, the group checked for whatever money can buy. Feathers checked for a onesie his size. While Slither checked for something, he noticed Feathers finding a onesie.
"I see you're wanting to buy a onesie, my boy," Slither said.
"Well, I've been saving my allowance since that fruitcake I bought you, sir," Feathers said. "But I can't find the right one. These are so expensive."
Slither pondered sternly, then it hit him. "I know just the right one that'll fit the price right." He checked the onesies and found a plain blue one. "Ah, just the right one."
Otis checked the books, wondering what Ince would like, and Skylar was checking for a suitable book bag. When they finish shopping, they were at the checkout with Slither. Slither checked Otis and Skylar's things. He nodded, and he paid for the things, including the onesie. Then they left the store, and they went home.
When they got home, Slither worked on wrapping the gifts, placing the onesie in a box, putting the school bag in a brown paper bag, and wrapping a few books in wrapping paper. "That should do it," he said, and he hid the gifts in a closet. "Now all that's left is for that birthday to come."
Feathers then realized something. "Can we invite Edward and Ezrah for Ince's birthday, like you did for my birthday?"
"If that's what you want," Slither said.
"Sweet!"
The following day, Feathers met up with Ezrah and Edward at the park, as he told them about Ince's birthday, and they're happy to attend.
"I just ask if you guys would attend Ince's birthday in a few days," Feathers said. "My brother could use all the support."
"Are you kidding? Of course we'd come!" Ezrah smiled.
"Yeah, your little brother deserved so much better after what he went through," Edward said.
Feathers smiled. "I knew I can count on you guys. Let's be there for Ince!"
The three high five. Then they went to the store, as Ezrah used his allowance on a softball set, and Edward bought a book.
"Softball?" Feathers asked. "Isn't that like baseball?"
"They're different," Ezrah said, "but I know how the game's played. I can teach you at the field sometime."
"Cool!"
After buying the gifts, they went to Slither's house, and Slither taught them how to set up the decorations, and they did so without making a simple mistake.
"I hope this birthday is worth Ince's happiness," Feathers said.
Days later, Ince's birthday came. Ince, of course, felt blue, as he knew it would be his first birthday without his parents, as he had lost them in that fatal storm. He sat in his bed that very morning, sighing sadly. He looked at his teddy bear, picked it up and hugged it, closing his eyes.
"I wish you were here, mom and dad," Ince sniffled. "I miss you both so much." He hugged his teddy bear more, crying a bit. He wiped his eyes, sniffling, and he put his teddy bear down before hopping off the bed. He went to the bathroom to brush his teeth, and after that, he walked slowly to the dining room, expecting breakfast, but when he got to the dining room, it was dark. "That's odd," he said, scratching his head. "Is anybody here? Hello?"
"Surprise!" Feathers cried, as the lights came on.
Ince gasped. He saw it was a birthday party for him. The banner read, "Happy Birthday", and he saw the dining table set up with gifts, a cake, pizza, and a bowl of punch. He saw his siblings, Ezrah, Edward, and Slither.
"Happy birthday, Ince," Skylar said.
"Is... is this... for me?" Ince asked, speechless.
"Of course, Ince," Bess said. "This birthday party is for you."
"Yeah," Otis said, "we set up this party to show we're all here for you, as a family."
"And as friends, little dude," Ezrah said.
"Yep, a birthday party for the cutest puppy like you," Edward said.
"I... But how did you know my birthday's today?" Ince asked.
"A little birdie told me, so to say," Slither said, as he lit up the candles he places on the cake. "Look, we're all sorry with what happened to your parents, and we know how traumatizing it was for you to lose them, but when I vowed to adopt you all those months ago, I knew I would do anything to take care of you, to give you a childhood you deserve. You're part of a family again, and that counts for something. Your parents would be proud to know you're in good hands, dear boy."
Ince was quiet at hearing him say those words. Then he smiled and hugged Slither. "Thank you, Slither. I'm glad you took me in."
Slither hugged back. "Me too, child." He took Ince to the cake. "Now make a wish, and blow out the candles."
Ince sat at the cake, as he closed his eyes for a wish, and then he blew out the candles, giggling. Then, as everyone was having cake or pizza, Ince had opened up his presents, and was amazed at the gifts he got. He pulled out the onesie and was amazed. "Wow! I always wanted to wear a onesie," he said. He placed it on and closed the flap that covers his diaper, his tail sticking out through the tail hole. "It's perfect!"
"That's my gift to you, Ince," said Feathers.
"Really?! You're the best big brother ever!"
"Yeah, just the only gift I can get." Feathers' smile faded, as his ears droop in sadness. "Ince, I..." he then sighed, as he fell sad, "all those times, I couldn't stop feeling bad about how you had lost your parents, and I get so emotional just thinking about that. I mean, when we first met that night, I felt so sick with sadness, and often wish I knew how I can make you feel better, even if that Christmas surprise wasn't enough." His eyes tear up. "No one as young as you deserves to lose parents like that, Ince. It's just not fair. I only wish I'd do more to make you feel better, and make you such a happy puppy. I'm sure your mom and dad would have wanted that." He hugged Ince, crying. "I love you, Ince! I just don't want you to spend your life feeling sad, traumatized and completely broken! You're our little brother, and I wanted you to be happy! I just wish I knew how to keep you much happier...!"
Ince could see how Feathers felt. He smiled and hugged back. "Bless your heart, big brother. But you didn't have to do much more to keep me happy."
Feathers sniffled and wiped his tearful eyes. "I, I don't?"
"No, of course not. It is true I'm still sad about how much I miss my parents, but I never forgot what Slither had told me. My parents are with me, in my heart. I'm just happy to be part of the family again, having you, Otis, Skylar, Bess, and Slither, as my family. And making friends with folks like Ezrah and Edward, I know I can be myself again, if I just remember what my mom once told me. 'If anything were to happen to me or your father, just remember to keep smiling, and make us proud.' Now I understand what she had meant. If more than ever, it was you guys that healed my heart, my trauma... because you made me see I was never alone, and I never will be again. So thank you, Feathers."
Feathers teared up again, but a smile grew on his face, and he hugged Ince, and Ince hugged back, and their tails wag as their diapers crinkle.
"Happy birthday, little brother," Feathers sniffled.
"Come on, let's have the best birthday party for our dear brother Ince!" Otis said.
And so the party continued, and it's not long before they head outside to play softball, as Ezrah would teach them how to play the game. It was the best birthday Ince ever had.
