The Start of Something...

[Skipper Of Sea Otters]

"And of course your welcome to bring any of your crew along with you. The Lancebreaker is large enough to hold however many you may have..." The Skipper said staring out at the rain. "Im sure we could use all we can during this storm aye?"

((sorry tis so short but I gotta post somthin'! ^_^))

[Scarlet]

Natasha brightened a bit at this, but she knew that this was probably not the best of ideas. " Thank you," She said " for the offer, but I don't think I should. It's more likely that disputes and full-out brawls would commence then that both our crews would even tolerate each other." She smiles as she says this. " I'm looking forward to the journey." And that was the truth. Such an adventure would surely please this ever-searching weasel captain.

[Skipper Of Sea Otters]

The Skipper turned towards the kitchen. "Undertaker!" He shouted in with a grin. Undertaker stepped just outside the door and looked to him. "Sir...?" he said. "Ready tha' crew. We shove off tonight...." He said evilly. The rest of the crew perked up and started growling cheers of agreement. Undertaker nodded and understood.

It was Madness! Shoving off to Sea in a torrential in a storm! And at Night! No beast in their right mind would do such such a thing! It was suicide!...but it was just what the Skipper liked...near death experiences, possible chance of death, and a whole lot of pain...some called him crazy, Others saying it was his Vermin upbringing as a dibbun.

[Scarlet]

Natasha was, surprisingly, not worried at all. She was the same as Skipper, loving near-death experiences that no fool would think to take a chance on. She smiled broadly. This was certainly going to be fun.

[Skipper Of Sea Otters]

"Go get watcha' need for the long trip, young miss." he said turning to view her. "Let your crew know whatever they need to know. They can stay in here if they wish. Some of my crew will be returning on another ship tomorrow so they'll have company...You can prepare here until dark and then we'll set off." he said before trotting off to his quarters to prepare things, such as a list of things to do for the returning crew, fetching his weapons and clothing etc.

[Scarlet]

Natasha nodded, and walked to the entrance of the massive cave. She took one last glance at it's pure massiveness, then made her way down the narrow pathway on the edge of the cliff. She looked down, and gulped. Long way to fall. She edged carefully along ledge until, finally, she was on safe ground, much to her relief. Now, which way did I come from again?.... Ah yes, that's the place! She thought to herself, before taking off at a swift walk towards the port, which she could barely see against the bright sunlight.

It would take her a couple of hours to get there, but Natasha didn't mind in the least. She walked, and walked, and thought and thought. This'll be such a challenge... I wonder if I can really trust this Skipper.... He seems an honest enough fellow, but still.... Ah, well. It would do me no good to be thought a coward and back out now. Besides, I'm sure Skipper is as decent a fellow as he seems, if a bit odd and slightly creepy.... Just like that massive otter whats-his-name... Ah yes, Undertaker, that was it.... Creepy name that one has... Well, it'll be an experience I'll not soon forget, I'm sure.

Boots thoroughly dirtied up and legs tired, Natasha entered the large port, which was called Floklen, and made her way to where her ship was docked. Her ship was beautiful, meticulous with wood that shone in the sun. The bright white canvas sails were furled, as it were, and the gangplank was lowered. The few vermin that were guarding the ship recognised Natasha at once, and the black, one handed ferret, was sent to fetch Pierre, Natasha's most trusted first-mate.

Natasha boarded the ship, and was met lovingly by what crew were still on duty. " Gooday, Miz Natasha!" " Welcome, Cap'n!" " Nice to be back, eh Cap'n?". After recieving a few hearty smiles and salutes, Natasha was interrupted by Pierre. " Welcome back, Natasha." He said with a smile and a slap on the back. He lead her to her cabin, where he proceeded to ask " So, where've you been then?" Natasha was sitting down on one of the comfortable sitting chairs that were scattered about her cabin, the plush red velvet seat welcoming after so long a walk. Pierre was still standing, as usual.

" I had the pleasure of making some rather odd aquaintances." She said, retrieving a flask of wine from the small table/cuboard that was nailed to th floor beside the chair. She took a sip, savoring the intense flavor. Pierre seemed to perk up at this. " Oh? Who would that be?" He was always waiting for Natasha to meet a special someone, and even though he knew the chances were one in a million of her abandoning her search for Andre and falling for someone else, he could still hope. It tormented him to see her so crazed and lost.

" A Skipper, who lives in a massive holt and commands a huge band of otters. He is a captain of his own ship as well. Very curious, too." She replied, thinking of the gruesome discovery in Skipper's quarters with a slight shiver. " Well?" Pierre asked, knowing the Natasha was keeping something from him. " Well," She began, " I've been invited to go with them on a journey to an island where they need supplies... And I've agreed." She added, placing the wine flask back in it's cuboard.

" What? You barely know them at all!" Pierre replied, simply apalled that Natasha would do such a thing. He loved her, so very dearly, and if anything were to happen to her, well, he would be lost. " No, you can't go, for your own safety I can't let you!" He said, crossing his arms matter-of-factly. " I'm sorry," Natasha began cooly, " But as I remember it, I am captain and I make the decsisions. And I've decided to go. You are in no position to oppose my authority." Her voice was tinted with anger, but mostly just a strong sense of command.

Pierre looked into her eyes, and there was, to his dissapointment, that sense of determination that he could not change, no matter how hard he might try. " Okay," He said quietly, a look of sadness in his eyes. Natasha, having won, smiled, but the look of worry in Pierre's eyes did not go unnoticed. " It's okay, Skipper is a decent enough pirate." She statement sounded a bit laughable, for what pirate was truly decent? Anyway, she hoped it would calm Pierre somewhat.

" Well," She started, standing up," I need to pack a few things. You are in charge whilst I am gone." She looked at Pierre, whose eyes still betrayed that worry and sadness. She gave him a hearty embrace, and a small kiss on the cheek. He returned the kiss, and, holding Natasha’s head between two strong paws said “ Be careful.”
~
An hour later, Natasha was all packed and ready to leave. Giving one last embrace to Pierre, she whispered “ Be back in a month… Make sure you’re still here, aye?” With a smile, she set off for the two hour walk back, a haversack on her back and her freshly polished daggers on her belt. She left behind a very merry crew; A whole month being on break on shore! They were going to get into trouble, that’s for sure.
~

Natasha stepped back into the massive cave.

[Skipper Of Sea Otters]

As the light of day faded from the outside, the crew was just about ready to head to The Lancebreaker. The Skipper Stood by the door as Scarlet walked in and greeted her with a grin and a hefty pat on the back. "Ready matey?" he asked handing her a towel to dry off the rain. "We'll go as soon as tha' sun leaves our sight...." he said staring out, an occasional lightning bolt striking.


The Undertaker grabbed what he could from the kitchen. He wasn't the best cook in his eyes but most would disagree...he was the best in their eyes. He grabbed pots and pans and a few special ingredients with the help of some of the other beast around. He checked himself making sure he had everything he would need in a seconds notice. His massive meat cleaver. He gave an internal grin as he pulled it from his cloak and spun it around in his paw before putting it back. He went outside the kitchen to meet with the others.


The Skipper looked outside seeing that the sun's light was just about gone. "It's time mates! Everybeast outside if ya' don't wanna be left behind!" he shouted echoing the cave. His footpaws kicked up mud as he ran down the sloop at a dangerous speed, weaving inward and out of rocks and jumping from small ledges. It was a good long way down to the ship and he didn't waste anytime getting there...

[Scarlet]

Natasha returned Skip's hearty welcome, smiling widely. She gladly accepted the towel which Skip offered her, and dried her head and shoulders off quickly. She had been so immersed in her thoughts that she had not even noticed the rain, much less thought of drying off. Her boots, throuroughly muddied and wet, she now noticed squelched with each step she took. The sound was rather annoying, but what was she to do? She would have to endure this slight embaressment for the time being. Lucky, she brought an extra pair which was stuffed in her haversack.

"Yes, quite ready!" Natasha replied, grinning in that charming way of her's. She was indeed a very beautiful weasel indeed, her chocolate brown fur nearly black with the rain, emerald eyes sparkling with excitement. It was no wonder that she had been loved by whom she imagined was the best creature in the entire world. If only... She thought, her smile turning bitter, tears threatening to fall from those large green eyes. She quickly choked down these feelings, determined not to let Skip sense anything wrong. She was set on having a fun adventure, even if all the while she would be afraid that her immense grief would show to anyone onboard, and that she would be watching out for Andre the whole time.

[Skipper Of Sea Otters]

After two miles of sprinting the steep, rocky, incline, they rounded the corner and there it was! The holding place for the Skipper's ships! The biggest one in the middle, The Lancebreaker. One of the largest ship anybeast would lay their eyes on. with 20 guns on each side and 2 tri-shot cannons at the front. It was as deadly as it looked. The Cave itself was massive as well and could hold 2 other smaller ships. One was already out at sea and would be returning the next day. "There she is matey..." he said pointing at it. "The Lancebreaker. See there?" he said pointing to the Hull. "Tha' hull 'as a thin plate of iron over it...Lets us ram tha' ship without 'urtin' our own. We have to weigh down the back of the ship so we don't go sinkin'...Its not terribly 'eavy...but just in case...." He said stepping onboard. There were already otter's onboard loading the ship with supplies. He headed to his cabin. "Make yerself at 'ome!" He said closing the door behind him.

[Scarlet]

The two miles down to the ships didn't bother Natasha at all. In fact, as usual, she loved walking, because it gave her time to think. She carefully followed Skip's every pawstep, her long, twisted dagger swung slightly with every cat-like step she took, the hilt studded with a single clear emerald that sparkled when little rays of light shone in it's glassy surface.

Th smell of salty water assailed her nostrils as they made their way onto the ship, along with a mix of wood and blood. The Lancebreaker was indeed a fantastic sight. It was huge, near two times larger than her own, and at least four times better equipped in the way of weaponry. It was the most heavily armed ship she had ever seen, in fact. She ran a paw along the railing, before following Skip to his cabin.
"Make yerself at 'ome!" Skip said, before promptly shutting the door practically in her face. Natasha hestitated, then opened the door again. She walked in, and shut the door behind her, pulling the haversack from her back as she did. She set it down against the wall, and then just stood there, not knowing what to do.