Zach looked out over the landscape and sighed. It was calm, serene, and even he couldn't deny the beautiful painting that mother nature had made that day. He's nestled in his living room, content and comfortable as he snuggles up on his couch. His soft flannel pajamas feel particularly nice this evening. Everything felt nice this evening. So cozy and warm. For the life of him, Zach couldn't figure out why everything felt so different.

The day started as average as it could have. Zach had woken up early that day. Which honestly surprised him, it was quite the change from him waking up at around noon or so. Usually he saw no point in getting up at the 'proper time', so why should he? Why did he? Well he was up now, and strangely enough he didn't want to go back to sleep. So he didn't. He got up and got started on his normal routine. A nice long hot shower, a delicious gourmet breakfast, and sometime tinkering on his inventions.

The new motorbike he was working on was his prized possession at the moment. It was going to be the most efficient, the most speediest, the most sleek and sexy motorbike that had ever existed. At first Zack thought he would kidnap an animal to power it but... strangely decided against it. It was so unlike him, so out of character.

Perhaps those damn Wild Kratts had more of an effect on him than he thought they would.

It had been around 8 months since he joined the Wild Kratts crew. 8 months since that horrible accident. Have the Kratts really been that much of an influence on him? Zach hummed as he thought. He had noticed himself acting different lately. Nothing too drastic, but... still.

Zach had finally stopped working at around noon, him covered in oil and the motorbike far from finished. Zach felt very accomplished, satisfied with what he had done that day. And without a drop of alcohol no less.

He had actually started to drink less alcohol. What, with him adventuring with the brothers and whatnot, he had less time to. The many days he would come home drunk off his ass, depressed and cussing about how his inventions were always destroyed, scared him. He didn't want to be an alcoholic, but the buzz felt so right. It always felt right, to end up partially a vegetable on the couch for a few hours as he got high on whatever he could. Anything to distract himself from the numb feeling inside he loathed so much. The fact that he was slowly killing himself for years didn't bother him. It should have, he noted. It should have. Maybe it does now?

It really did surprise him as he realized he was drinking less. It's surprised him as he noticed a lot of things that was different about him. He was actually healthier, stronger even. Though Zach was still very weak, he was much better off than he was 8 months ago. Physically it didn't look like the man had changed that much. No longer extremely malnourished, but still quite thin. Although from his attitude you would assume otherwise. His bark was definitely meaner than his bite.

And his bite was becoming more and more ferocious.

After he cleaned himself up he traveled into town to attend a few business meetings. So boring and dull, but things like this were necessary. His company had taken a complete 180 from what it was after all. Even still, it took an impressive amount of Zach's willpower to keep him from bolting out the door and heading to the nearest bar. Hearing old white guys drone on and on about things that didn't even matter could break even the most hardened person. Zach had to make a mental note to fire those individuals. It was his company, he can make any changes he wants. Zach was all too happy when the meetings were concluded.

Zach sighed. The evening light poured in through the tall windows, it's golden rays bathing the room in a soft glow. It looked picturesque. The darkness of the room marrying the almost godly glow so beautifully. Outside was beautiful too, Zack noticed. He could hear birds. He could see a few flying around too. He could also see some coyotes, staying close to the tree line.

They looked warm. They cozied up together and they looked warm. Zach curled up on his spot on the couch, feeling the soft material in his hands as he grips. Zach's mansion was warm. He was warm. And when winter time comes around and it starts to snow his mansion would still be warm. And so would he. But what about the birds? And the coyotes? Would they still be warm? Where would they go?

Zach had noticed that a lot too. He started to think about animals differently. Think about their needs and whatnot. Started to finally realize that animals were alive. That they were living beings that could feel and think. Such a concept was foreign to him. So difficult for him to wrap his mind around, and he hated that. He always thought of himself as a genius. Difficult things were always easy for him to understand. And the fact that such a simple concept was hard for him to even grasp made him question so much. About himself, the world around him, everything.

Zach threw a sidelong glance at the clock on the far wall. It was almost time for Martin to come by and pick him up. He needed to be back on the tortuga by the end of the day. He completely forgot. He cussed as he ran through a quick list of things to do in his mind. Something he should have done earlier. He let his eyes slip closed as the low hum of a Zach-bot hovering over to him could be heard. The robot quietly approached, letting off a gentle beep as it pulled up a translucent image of Martin walking up to the door. Zach smiled as he watched the blonde ring the doorbell, a gentle chime that rang throughout the house. The Kratt stood by the door, bouncing in his spot happily with a cute little smile on his face. Zach felt a smile of his own pull at his lips, a deep blush spreading over his pale face as he speaks.

"Well do let him in why don't you!" He orders, and with a wave of his hand the Zach-bot departs. "I don't want him standing out in the cold".

His eyes slip closed again as he lets his head lean back on the couch. He felt warm. Comfortable. He didn't want to get up. He would have to eventually, of course. He would have to get up and get dressed, brace the cold for a little bit as they travel to that big flying turtle ship. But he didn't want to get up. He felt so warm and cozy. Maybe Martin would join him? Surely they weren't needed at that exact moment, yes? A little laugh escaped Zach's lips as his beautiful green eyes turn towards the window once more, letting a little daydream fantasy play out as he wished.

End

(Posted on my Tumblr November 30th 2021)