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Ponk’s hand was empty.
Where there was meant to be the hand of their younger sibling, there had been nothing.
Something was wrong….
“Amica?” The teen had rasped as they looked frantically around the marketplace - each hollowed stalagmite seemingly the exact same in their panic and the crowd of hyrbids bustling about slowly became claustrophobic.
It had been Ponk’s idea to sneak out so they could explore the city below their hollowed stalactites without the presence of security tailing their every move. Then their little sibling, Amica, a sheep-hybrid like their mother, had caught Ponk sneaking out and demanded to join or else they’d go tell Father… he would’ve been furious. Children of high ranking council members, certainly make good bargaining chips.
But now, the little lamb was missing and it was his fault for letting them come along.
The human started to shout, “Amica!”
“Ponk!” A familiar voice cried out, “Help me! Please!”
That’s when they’d finally spotted the 6-year-old again. They were being dragged away into the shadows of the city’s underbelly (they’d later learn).
Their hyperthymesia never let them forget the way Amica’s outstretched hand and wild panic-stricken face was the last thing Ponk ever saw of their little sibling.
“Are you Ponk Drury?” The man in front of him inquired as the teen finally came back to their senses - the faint smell of coffee in the air, the gentle chatter of the others waiting near the reception desk, and dark feathers. Ponk nodded up at the number one hero, Angel, who then asked, “You here for the medical internship?”
The human shook their head before replying, “I was hoping to take a look at the civilian database.”
“Oh! Of course, right this way.” The avian led Ponk to a dim back room with several large holographic screens. “So what are we looking up?”
The teen hesitated for just a second. “A kidnapping case,” they cleared the lump in their throat before continuing, “like exactly a year ago today.”
Angel’s feathers suddenly flattened against his back but his face only softened before turning to type something in. “Did you know this person?”
“My sibling,” Ponk managed to choke out.
“Oh, my condolences… what’s their name?” The hero nearly whispered as if spoken any louder the human would break.
A spark of annoyance at the fragile treatment began to warm Ponk’s stomach but replied, “Amica Ovis Drury.”
The avian went back to typing. Images and text bubbles flew across the holographic screens as new parameters were filtered. Then finally, an unsolved ‘missing persons’ report materialized in front of them.
The two both stared at it.
Even after a year, there was nothing Ponk didn’t already know. They furiously wiped away the tears that had gathered at their brown eyes — anguish flaring up inside of them and crushing any hope they had left.
The Angel finally broke the solemn silence. “I’m so sorry…”
And then the pain was suddenly fueling anger. “I’m fine, okay?” Ponk snapped but the break in their voice was telling and the avian’s eyes grew sad. The fight within them died the instant the older man curled a dark wing over their shoulders and they broke down. “I was supposed to protect them!”
The hero let them cry - shutting down the holograms and sinking them both down onto the floor. “It’s not your fault.” He whispered into the newly dimmed room.
“I couldn’t save them,” Ponk sobbed. Clutching the man’s uniform like it was the only thing tethering them to the land of the living.
Angel sighed, “That’s what us heroes are for.”
Ponk mulled over the reminder for a second. “Can I be a hero?” They whispered between sniffles.
He whispered back, “How old are you mate?”
“Fourteen,” Ponk replied truthfully.
The avian seemed to consider them for a second. “How about you try that internship first.”