When the small baby you found the previous night literally inhales an entire watermelon, you know it's not going to be a normal day.
Feeding the small baby puffball was proving to be a challenge. No matter what Rick gave him, he didn't seem to get full, not one bit.
"Maybe we should stop... it doesn't seem like he'll get full anytime soon," Rick said, "we need to eat too.'
"Rick, we can't just let him go hungry. He's just a baby, and babies need-"
"I think I should probably go look for his parents. See ya, Pick!"
Before Pick could object, Rick grabbed the puffball and bolted out the door. Pick yelled something at him, but he was out of earshot.
For convenience, he let the little puffball ride on his back.
~~~~~
It boiled down to him asking "do you know whose baby this is?" to everyone he saw, each time getting told no. Eventually, he had gone through the entire population of the village.
"...th-there's no way someone just... ditched this kid alone, right?... but... unless he somehow just appeared out of nowhere, but... is that even possible?... *sigh* Guess you're staying with me, little buddy."
However, there was one problem: Feeding him that morning was already a challenge. Rick had no clue had to raise a child. Assuming no one would come forward as his parents, well... Rick has already grown attached to the little guy.
He was going to need some help.
...
And he knew just who to ask.
~~~~~
"Glad you all could come! This is... well-"
"...is that a kid?"
Rick had invited a few of his friends for a "meeting" by the same tree he had found the puffball near. Those friends were Kine the fish, Coo the owl, Pitch the bird, ChuChu the octopus, and Nago the cat.
"Why do you have a random kid with you?" Coo asked.
"W-Well, y'see... Last night I was going to pick some apples from this tree, and I found this little guy in a bush nearby. No one knows who he is, so... what else am I gonna do with him? He already likes me! See?"
The child had fallen asleep while still clinging onto his back. He seemed to be quite comfortable there.
"Aw, he's so cute~! What's his name?" ChuChu asked.
"Uh..."
"Well, if he doesn't have a name," Kine said, "I can help you come up with some! I have a list."
"Why the heck do you have a list?" Pitch asked.
"What?? I think I'm responsible enough to be a parent! And now, looks like I'm getting that opportunity!... kinda."
He quickly pulled out a piece of paper, presumably the list, and looked through it.
"...hmm... Kristen, Katie, Kyle... how about Kirby? Looks like a Kirby to me."
"Sounds cool to me," Nago said.
"Everything sounds cool to you, Nago," ChuChu said, rolling her eyes. Nago just shrugged.
"Well, I like it!" Rick said. "Does anyone here not like it?"
No one said anything.
"Then it's settled! This little puffball is Kirby, and we're gonna have to take care of him!"
"GOT IT!!!" they all yelled together.
