As soon as Taylor woke up, he could tell something was wrong.
He didn't know what, but something...
And then he realised that it was quiet. Way too quiet for that time of morning.
He rolled over slightly in bed so he could look around the room. Nothing seemed to have changed, but he couldn't shake the gut feeling...
And then he heard a sob.
He quickly leant over the edge of his bed and looked down into the drawer that the fuzzles slept in.
"Meena?" he asked gently, "what's wrong?"
She didn't say anything, so Taylor looked over the others. They all seemed to be asleep, though the younger ones were a little wet around the eyes.
Then his eyes fell on Flavian.
"Oh no."
He fell from the bed, and - careful not to wake the younger ones - slipped his hands into the drawer to pull Flavian out. Meena continued to sob, as Taylor barely began to comprehend what had happened.
He was gone.
Isaac
Isaac leaned back in his chair and stretched. He had been continuing his study of powers and had inadvertantly made some interesting friends along the way, who also studied powers. Really, the kinda of things he was learning was truly fascinating.
In any case, it was time for a break. Isaac moved away from his computer and headed to the kitchen to get a drink.
It was then that it occured to Isaac that it was awfully quiet - he hadn't even seen Taylor yet, although that could have been because he had been at his computer all morning. He skulled the rest of his drink and decided to go looking.
Thus, a few moments later, Isaac was knocking on Taylor's door.
"Hey, Tay? You in there?"
Taylor
"Yeah," Taylor's voice cracked.
He was sitting on the floor, his back against his bed, with Flavian's ruffled body in his left hand on his lap. His right hand has been hiding his eyes until he heard Isaac at the door.
Isaac
Isaac frowned and opened the door slowly.
"Tay?" he inquired, poking his head in.
Then he saw that Taylor's eyes were red and puffy from crying.
"Tay? What happened? What's wrong?" he asked, his voice full of concern.
Taylor
Taylor just shook his head.
"Flav'," was all he could say.
He turned away, almost embarrassed at the way his brother had found him.
Isaac
Isaac stepped inside and knelt down on the floor next to Taylor. He put his arm over his brother's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he said.
Taylor
Taylor just closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Thanks," he whispered, rubbing his face.
He looked down on the fuzzles body again and gulped. He couldn't bring himself to decide what to do with the body yet.
Isaac
Isaac was quiet. It was a huge thing to lose Flavian - Taylor had the yellow fuzzle for years. He supposed it was Flavian's time to go, but that wouldn't make it any easier. Still...
"He was pretty long lived for a fuzzle," Isaac said. "Lived much longer than most."
Taylor
"Yeah," Taylor nodded awkwardly.
"And I guess... I guess that makes it hurt all the more, you know?"
Isaac
"Yeah..." Isaac said slowly. "I guess it would."
He paused for a moment.
"I'm so sorry Tay. I know how much Flav meant to you."
Taylor
"Yeah I know," Taylor nodded again.
He leant his elbow on the edge of the bed, using his hand as a headrest.
"He was..."
He knew he couldn't get the words out even if he tried. Already annoyed with himself, he sighed.
"I don't know what to do," he said finally.
Isaac
Isaac nodded.
"Well," he began, "well, umm, well, we could have a funeral for him."
Taylor
"The others would need it," Taylor agreed, somewhat reluctantly.
He bit his lip, looking down at Flavian's body again.
"Maybe this afternoon, huh?" he suggested, still not sure how he'd be able to let go by then.
Isaac
"Okay," Isaac said.
He sensed he may have to step up to making arrangements, uncertain whether Taylor would feel he was up to it.
"Okay," he said again. "Well, we're going to need a grave stone to mark the spot... what would you like written on it? And how about a wake? I'm sure that Flavian wouldn't want us to be sad. We can play some of his favourite games, and enjoy some of his favourite foods. How about that?"
Taylor
"Not here," Taylor insisted, straight out.
"We haven't been here for long and we don't know how long we're staying. We need to bury him somewhere significant."
Isaac
"I agree completely. Back at Mom and Dad's place?" Isaac suggested. "He grew up there, and I'll bet our family is going to keep that place for years yet."
Taylor
"Ok," Taylor agreed.
"Um... why don't you let them know we'll be over there later?"
Isaac
"I'll do that," Isaac nodded. "You just let me know of anything else that you want, okay?"
He gave his brother a pat on the back.
Taylor
Taylor nodded.
"Ok," he agreed, beginning to massage Flavian's body with his thumb absently.
Isaac
Isaac stood, if a little reluctantly, and left the room.
He headed for the nearest phone and dialed home.