We're Only Animals: Book 2 - Part 1: Building the Tower

Chapter 17 - Happy Birthday, Legosi/Hello, Louis

A few days later, Sunday, the 9th of April, Louis the red deer was released from the hospital, his clothes, and jewelry given back to him. He didn't put the ring back on. His bandages were removed just the day before and he felt the warm sun on his fur as he stepped outside.

Before he left, he had asked for directions back to the Hidden Condo, and now he was following them mentally. The day before, he determined that he still wasn't ready to see Legosi and that he was going to have to stay somewhere else. After much thinking and debating, he finally decided. He just needed to go home and get some clothes.

He was glad it was Sunday because that meant Legosi was at work and this would be easy for him...The thing that bothered him most was that he couldn't stop thinking about how it was Legosi's birthday and seeing him again would be an amazing present. But he wasn't ready, so he came up with another idea as he traveled home.

Louis' nose wrinkled as he walked in, blinking. It smelled awful. How did it get so bad so fast? He walked in further and saw that the futon was just rolled out on the floor, not folded up like it usually was during the day. The house was also a mess, with takeout food boxes on the floor, some clothes around, and the bags of dirty laundry that never got done right where Legosi had left them. The deer was now really afraid of the wolf that was waiting for him.

The deer looked around, sighing. In all of this, the wolf probably had forgotten it was his birthday. He elected to write him a card. It was the least he could do.

He went to where they kept their paper, taking out a sheet and a pen and going to the table, writing his letter.

Dear Legosi,

I'm sorry that I've put you through all this. Happy Birthday.

Louis looked down at his note, hoping it wasn't too short. At least he was probably the only animal that remembered, besides maybe, Gosha.

He gathered a suitcase full of clothes and then went to the door, looking back to their former home. He really thought he could do it...

With one last sigh, he left, leaving the door unlocked and making his way to the only place he could think of to go.

=^.^=

Legosi stepped through the doors and into the Hidden Condo. Today was the first day he had left it since visiting the hospital. That morning, Gosha had come to pick him up and take him out to eat for his birthday, which Legosi had completely forgotten about. Afterwards he drove him to work, attending each of his presentations for support. The whole day he didn't mention Louis at all, treating everything as if it were normal. It felt wrong.

Mel was surprisingly upset at hearing the news, and Legosi was monotone and low energy during each bug exhibition, clearly boring the audience each time. After work, Gosha took him out to dinner and then dropped him off at home.

From the lobby and through the halls, Legosi's nose twitched. He didn't think much of it until he was at the door to his apartment. His ears perked up and he threw the door open, rushing in and sniffing.

Louis had been there.

He looked around, frantically. The room was empty, and all of Louis' clothes were gone. Legosi ran out the door and down the steps, back to the reception area. "A-ah! Excuse me! Was Louis here today?"

The avian looked up at him from behind her glasses. "Why, yes. He came by but left shortly after."

"When? When was this?"

"Oh, it's been hours now. I don't think he's coming back. He had a suitcase with him."

A deep whine formed in the back of the wolf's throat. There was no scent outside of the building, as it had no doubt gotten blown around and mixed up with all the other animals outside. He went back to his room, collapsing into one of the chairs. The past few days had been very rough, and he had even clawed up his other arm (but with bandages and alcohol at the ready as per Pina's advice).