Oh How The Creeks, They Cried

Art & Code by Rex 2023
"Speech!"
Iki had been away at the creek when haydee called. His brother's funeral. Oh yeah. He should be there. He didn't want to though.

He felt like it was his fault. He should of been able to help better. To make Cette feel better. That was what he was supposed to be good for. Making others happy and feel better. How had he failed? Did he not let Cette pick on him enough? Not been the butt of the joke enough? Or was he just not smart enough to do what he needed to?

He moved. His treasured gnaw bone in his maw. Only he hadn't gnawed on it since Baecette had passed. It had been such a hard concept for him to understand in the first place that his brother was actually gone and not coming back. That this wasn't some elaborate prank. His ears pressed. Mom wasn't even mad, and dad seemed different but not mad.

He hadn't been able to sleep where he normally did without remembering seeing his brother lifeless. So he had moved. He'd found a really nice place close to a bunch of the yummy candies. Only he hadn't been able to stomach them lately. He was sad. Food didn't help, and Gav seemed to have disappeared. It made him more sad.

Iki hated feeling sad.

He entered the spot for the funeral and moved slowly. Tani was near Gav, and mom and dad were with grandma and aunt haydee. He stopped by the body of Cette and placed his gnaw bone on the stretcher next to Cette's muzzle. " you can have my favorite chewing bone, kay Cette? I don't feel hungry anymore for it....." he let tears fall down his face. He turned and moved towards his mom and moved quickly, aiming to press his whole self against her. He was so sorry. It was their fault and he knew it. He pressed his face into the crook of Lucette's neck and did his best to stay quiet.