what is that thing in the first panel?

Based on other comics of this artist, I think that's the left hand of the person on the left.

Hovering bratwurst.

That doesn't make the goddamndest bit of sense.

They are holding their hand palm up, as if gesturing to the subject of their sentence.

This artist doesn't do the floating hand thing though. Hands are always attached to the arm. It's also the wrong color. Unless this was just an error, which is possible.

Who?

My guess is a feather mid-fall. As in the owl girlfriend just flew over their heads, loosing a single feather, landed in front of them and now they're talking about her.

That's my headcanon anyway

I see an arm beneath the hand, wrist is on the right side of it from our perspective and elbow is below the frame

Who

there isn't many bird furries, is there

It's a feather foreshadowing the last panel.