Old Memories

[Zann'rajh Stormhowl]

Zann had wandered into a quiet little world of his own while his two senior officers were performing the mysterious process he obliquely labelled as "delegating". Having given up attempting to understand what they were on about quite early he'd drifted off into a daydream featuring booze, booze, singing, and more booze. He was shaken out if this happy mirage however, when the canonball slammed into the water before his eyes. He was stunned, but only for a few moments.

The wolf Bosun turned towards the crew. "Battle stations! Everybeast tae the sails 'n' guns! An' yew in the crow's nest!" he bellowed, turning his muzzle skywards. "Git doon here, Ah dinnae want a pair a' fightin' paws blown intae th' watter!" He turned back to the confused crew. "Wut yew'z lot starin' at?!" Zann yelled. "Anybeast Ah sea holdin a mop or a brush instead uvva rope or a weapon is gunna git such a kickin'! Noo GIT!" The crewbeasts ran for the cannons. They scrambled madly for their rapiers and guns. Mops and various cleaning implements were flung into the air and rained down on the deck as the beasts began to load the cannons.

Zann grunted and turned towards the apporaching ship. He didn't recognize the flag, but there was no doubt that they weren't coming for a friendly visit. He quickly unsheathed the broadsword strapped to his back; Blood Fang, his father's blade. And as an afterthought, he pulled out the pistol the wearet Splicer Skogstorm had fashioned for him; in honour of his friend, he had dubbed it the Big Skog...and it was a masterpiece. He stroked the handle lovingly as he cocked the gun in his left paw.

It was time to baptize his friend's gift.


((I updated my bio in regards to the pistol. ))

[Scarlet]

Scarlet quickly assesed the huge ship heading for her. It was definately a carrack, like the Nightpearl. It had four masts in full sail, each a billowing wave of cream colored canvas in reaction to the wind. Six cannons lined it in length, two of which had their ends pulled back into the confines of the ship to be reloaded.
As she listened to Mako's orders to turn the ship to her starboard side, she was a bit peeved. Who was he to be making orders? She quickly dismissed her feelings for Mako at the moment on a personal level and mentally agreed. He was right. They needed to turn the ship, and fast.

She ran over to the steerbeast, who had a confused and frightened look on his face. " Turn the ship you fool, to her starboard side!" She yelled, her voice tinted with anger at his agonizingly slow brain. He seemed to understand this order pretty quickly, though, and swung the helm around. Scarlet barely let her mind register the fact he had done this when she bolted off for below decks.

The crew was chaotic. Few knew exactly what was going on, for many of the others had been below deck when the ship had appeared. Most of these had figured out that this other ship was open firing upon them and that they needed to return the favor. The ten or so dolts were causing a riot, stumbling and stuttering stupidly as they tried to comprehend what was happening.

Scarlet ignored them, as did the rest of the crew. They didn't have the time to explain the obvious to these simpletons. She forced her way behind a cannon, shoving a ferret out of her path. She took over the cannon, and aimed precisely for the opposing ship's main mast. Another cannon was loosed from the ship, heading straight for the Nightpearl. Scarlet crouched low as the cannon shattered the helm of the Nightpearl. At least it hadn't hit any vital parts. She waited, somewhat calmly for the opposing ship to get just a little bit closer. Perfect. She fired the cannon, and it sailed towards the ship's main mast, just as she had wanted.

[Mako]

Mako ran below decks to the gun deck. He quickly maned an un-manned cannon, and grabbed a passerby to load it for him. Why was Mako on the gun deck? Why was he operating a cannon? That wasn't something a normal first mate usually does. But then again, no one ever said Mako was normal.

The ferret fired his cannon, a loud crack soudning aroudn him, his ears ringing. That kind of thing was still going to need getting used to. Smoke filled his nostrils and he waved a hand in front of his face, pushing it awayfrom him.

His hand went to his side, then quickly remembering he left his main weapons in his room. He quickly stood up, run above decks, past Scarlet and several others, then ran to his cabin. The key he had around his neck quickly unlocked the door and he walked in slowly. He grabbed his pistols, and put the belt with the holsters on them around his waist, tieing it tight. He then grabbed his bandane he picked up from some drunken seabeast before he joined the crew of the Nightpearl and became familiar with pirating.

He tied the bandane on his wrist, took off his ring, placed it in his drawer, re-assured himself by checking his back for the familiar feeling of the hilt of his sword, then ran back to the main deck.

He quickly steered his course to the left as he saw Scarlet rush by, orders being shouted out faster then he could breath. ''Need me on the boarding party, captain?''

[Scarlet]

Scarlet ran about, shouting orders fast as bullets. " Keep firing as fast as you bloody can! You there, stop fumbling about with that match!. And you, take more careful aim! You and you, back up to the deck with me!" She pointed at to big burly looking wildcats, each perfectly identical with the other. She would not have been able to tell them apart if not for the colors of their eyes. One had vibrant blue eyes and the other a sparkling yellow-green. They were both male, one named Viate, and the other Vatie. Their names were easily confused, but this seemed to amuse them at times, and sometimes they would pretend to be each other, which Scarlet found very annoying and ridiculous. They were both, however, excellent in combat; Scarlet would even deign to say they were closer to her level in quick-wittedness and skill than anyone else on the ship.

Viate and Vatie both followed Scarlet wordlessly to the deck. Scarlet quickly flicked her body back around to face them and ordered, " Vati, get twenty good fighting crew beasts, and Viate as well. You are both going to be in charge of these groups of beasts. " When they paused for a total of 2 seconds, Scarlet burst out in agitation " Well don't just stand there like idiots, go and rally your crew beasts!!" Viate and Vati both quickly and skillfully ran off. Scarlet ran about the deck, pointing randomly at crew members. " You, you, you and you, get ready to board!" The saluted and speedily checked that their weapons were in order.

Scarlet turned to see Mako.
" Yes, you will board with the first group. Vati and his group will follow directly after. Remember, we have to keep this battle from being on the Nightpearl. Force them back to their own ship, and kill any beast who tries to cross over first!" She said, speaking loudly enough for the crew beasts in her command to hear as well.
Vati and Viate both saluted, a mass of forty crew members behind them.

"Viate, your group will stay behind and guard the ship, while Vati's will follow after my own party." She spoke very loudly, for the remainder of the crew were still below deck, firing the cannons in succession. Viate looked a little disappointed to hear that he was going to stay behind, but he saluted obediently and took a step back.

Vati, on the other hand, glowed with excitement and saluted as well. Both ships suddenly jolted as they collided with each other, splintering the deck rails to bits in one place. Scarlet was thrown back by the force with which the ships ran into each other, but she quickly hoped back to her feet, as everyone else was doing.
"Get ready to board!!" Scarlet yelled, and lead her group over onto the opposing ship.

The battle had begun.

[Zann'rajh Stormhowl]

The Bosun howled like a demon as he somersaulted onto the enemy ship's deck. he landed squarely on his paw and came up slashing. The Blood Fang swung in a windmill of destruction, it's hefty blade smashing and cutting through everything in its path. He swung the gun upwards and pulled the trigger. He grinned with satisfaction as the fox he'd been aiming at went over the side and splashed into the dark waters.

A screech brought him back to reality, and he turned just in time to parry a blow from a large stoat with a battle-axe. He grunted as the aftershock of the blow juddered along his lower arm bone. On the plus side, the stoat seemed to be having trouble with its ridiculously large weapon of choice. Zann seized the opportunity; deftly ticking the Big Skog back into his belt he lunged, grabbing the stoat's throat and bringing down his hard forehead to collide with its snout. There was a satisfying crack, and the stoat keeled over.

He looked around. From what he could see the Night Pearl crewbeasts were had the advantage; optimism suggested this ship didn't have very skilled fighter, but common sense insisted the Captain was only throwing the disposable fighters at them. Zann groaned as he saw a muscular black wolf wielding a pair of shortswords creeping up on his Captain. Had Scarlet not been attempting to fight off three weasels and a ferret at the same time, the wolf wouldn't have had a chance. As it was...

Zann darted towards him, slashing as he went. Having reached the would-be assassin, he tapped him politely on the shoulder. " 'Scuse me, pal?" The wolf turned, his eyes widening stupidly a split second before Zann's clenched fist hit him between the eyes, knocking him out. But his work was not done. He turned to see that the Captain's opponents were attempting to circle her. He leapt, howling, and brought the flat of his broadsword down on the ferret's head. Now it was two to three...crappy odds. For the weasels.

"I got your back, Captain," he grunted.

[Mako]

Listening to everything to everything told to him, Mako merely nodded. Time to kill.

HE hopped over the railing growling fiercely and killing the first beast he saw, a stoat. A fox ran up to him, hacking clumsily, and Mako ducked, and ran him through, laughing as he did it. He turned around, watching a wolf creep up on the captain. He laughed, waiting to see what Scarlet was goinbg to do to the wolf. Probably beat him up with he fist after annhilating the tree she was already fighting. Then, another wolf, the one with dread locks knocked the wolf clean out. Mako rolled his eyes, ran over there and stabbed downwards with his blade, killing the wolf. Turning to Zann, he growled, ''Next time finish the job, suck-up.''

Then the wolf jumped and smacked a ferret with his blade. Mako ran the ferret through, still snarling at Zann. ''You got a problem killing or something?''

Mako ''accidentally'' fell into Zann then ran for another enemy.

OOC: So sorry. Its not my best post. Im in a hurry and didnt wanna wait any longer.

[Scarlet]

Scarlet skillfully darted and parried any blows the ferrets attempted easily, playing at them perhaps just a touch as she flicked thier blades harmlessly out of the way, frustrating them. These three ferrets were no match Scarlets skills, but they did have an advantage; There were three of them and only one of her. The smartest of the trio quickly figured this out and motioned to his comrades to circle her. Scarlet snarled teasingly, and just as the three ferrets had circled her, Zann jumped in the ring, bashing a ferret on the head as he came. Scarlet rolled her eyes, then watched as Mako came up and finished the ferret that Zann had smacked with a quick slide of his blade.

The two ferrets that were left began ferociously attacking Zann and Scarlet, attempting to get past thier defenses. Scarlet just let out a bolstering laugh and, finally becoming bored with the two ferrets, dispatched of one with a simple slice across his brown furred thoat. Her eyes didn't even linger long enough to see if her blade had hit its mark. She knew it had, so she nimbly leapt over his lifeless body and swiftly took stock of what was going on. Both crew were fighting each other for thier lives, and it seemed as though the opposite crew was winning. Just as Scarlet was cursing her luck, she spotted the Captain of the opposing ship. She grinned wickedly; This was her chance to lower the opposing crew's motivation. If they saw thier Captain dead, they may lose hope.

Scarlet made her way towards the black wildcat, scattering corpses in her wake.

[Zann'rajh Stormhowl]

The last ferret screeched as Zann dispatched it with a ferocious thrust to the gut. He wrenched his broadsword free and looked around. He glared at Mako's back as the First Mate sliced and diced his way through the enemy. "D'heel'z his problem? Och well.... Back tae the killin' 'n' the bleedin' 'n' th' death...." As a dozen screaming searats attempted to swarm him, the wolf spun on the spot. The Blood Fang swung in a deadly windmill of destruction, as the sheer momentum of its unpolished bulk smashed through bones and tore through flesh. As it completed the circle he swung it upwards and brought to rest through the skull of a heavily tattooed weasel.

He grinned satisfactorily. "Awright, den, whuwuzzat? Thirteen in six secunds flat? An' no one wuz aroon' tae see." He scratched his snout in annoyance, leaning the bloodstained weapon against his right shoulder, and looked around. The surrounding enemybeasts were cowering, trying to get as far away as possible from the deadly blade and its wielder. Zann's tail twitched in annoyance. "Aw, come on! Yew tellin' me naene a' youse are gunna take a shot?" He snorted, and hefted the Blood Fang. "Muh, ya scurvy sons a' newts..." He whipped around as he heard a feline snarl to the right, only to see the Captain duelling a large black wildcat. From the looks of the things, the creature was the enemy ship's captain, and Scarlet had drawn blood. Chuckling, he strode a little closer to the fray, and announced to the trembling crewbeasts. "Awright yewz, yez see yon fox duellin' th' big kitty? Anybeast try tae get involved in this fight ah will personally cut that beast doon an' feed 'em tae the fishes." He wedged Blood Fang into the deck before him, and spread out his arms. "Anyone care tae try?"