Chapter 1: The Travel South
"Ah, that was good leche, Marvin."
Puss's tiring return from saving two travelers from bandits took a heavy toll. He sighs in great relief. Every drop of leche he vacuumed in to get him back on his feet. Marvin, with his ink covered hands, calmly picks up Puss's shot. "You never tire, do you? You down for another one?"
"I do not think I will take another drink, nor I can afford another one." He spins his wooden stool around, resting his back and shoulders behind the bar table. Puss takes out his small stitched satchel with only two gold coins left, throwing it behind. Marvin picks them from the table and fills the shot with another leche. Sliding it quickly to Puss, with him catching it. "That's on the house you cat."
Puss carefully looks at the glass of leche, with an orthodox look on his face. That partial reflection of himself through the still liquid. Thoughts lavishly takes over his mind for a moment. Throughout the journeys he had made memories. Collections of ones he will keep in his heart, to ones he wishes to forget. But that's the truth about being a mercenary. It is why Puss adores it. A little balance of both. Exploring the world, doing deeds that not only fulfills his riches, but puts himself a place in the world. Whether it sees him as a hero, or a villain. Reminds him of his home.
He never thought of himself being in one side throughout his experiences being out there.
There are only two sides to the world, he thought. One light, one dark.
He turns his attention to the wooden, rotting door of the cantina, then back at the leche. It felt as if an hour has passed just thinking.
It hasn't.
Puss gave out only one chuckle. "What is with this?" He was curious of Marvin's sudden generosity.
"You going to question someth'n I'm givin out? I don't mind putting tabs for that if that'd you like." He flicks his cigarette, landing on the stone floor.
"No, I do not question your kindness mi amigo." Puss sniffs the ledge before drinking it.
"You won't count the many times I dun get any praises for many visitors young'un" Puss pondered what he meant by that. While he lands the empty glass back at the table. "Well, it turned into a habit for my many adventures" He cackled, "I appreciate it. You will not count the many times I do not get any free leches for many bartenders such as yourself."
Marvin expressed amusement by the cat's wordplay. "Well aren't you a smart one."
Turning around, the cat disappeared.
"He's a smart one."
The outskirts of town are lively. Many traders and travelers of the north anchors by this stop. A major area for exchanges of many world-renowned resources and items. Colors of tarps are put in arrays in various types and materials that is clunked together. Items from numerous origins passes through here. Puss casually treads through the tough crowd in a drizzling night. Conversations of many different languages, with Spanish guards scattered in instances for robberies. Puss wasn't interested to find anything.
Anything other than a ship sailing north.
Cruising through the anchored boats and ships is one with a sail painted black. A cross of two swords alone with a shield carrying an emblem Puss recognizes too well. He runs in using the shadows, hopping through many food crates and taking one cod from it.
Perhaps it will not be a big deal,
Returning my promise to my old friend will be.
Eating the cod, he hears the footsteps of the trader about to set sail to the Edge of the Archipelago.
Miles and miles of nothing but water for days. It isn't rough since the boat left town. A conglomerate of islands varying of sizes, sandy beaches, high and cliffy, many kinds.
It was quiet. The creak of the seaman's footsteps while he surveyed the cold-waters is loud enough leaving Puss awake. The rough sounds of the sea are the only white noise that sprinkles through their ears. Puss takes one long sigh of relief from the thousands of miles of travel. "Ah, Kitty Softpaws" He chuckled softly. Her at his thoughts made him check to make sure he has his small pouch of gold.
Yes, he does.
Puss swishes his sword out to the Viking's surprise, blocking his mace. He turned his hat, as if he wants to hide his identity. The feather glides effortlessly with the wind as he spoke. "is there a problem catching a ride senor?"
The Viking growled in anger, swings back his mace to hit him again. Puss jumped on his four behind crates of fruits and weapons. Sliding quickly to take cover only for the merchant to smash the crates to smithereens. Puss dodges right, grabbing a mace in the process. Swings it to the man, ducking quickly. The heavy swing caused Puss to shoot himself out, plucking through the black sail. Shots of blue lightning cracks in the dark clouds. Puss sees something different with the lightning strikes for a small moment while hiding behind another set of crates. The Viking taunted him.
"This is my life! My work! I ain't going to let the Inventionist get to me!"
Puss is rattled by the disgusting name the Viking is mentioning. "The God-Almighty Thor will blow you!"
What is he talking about?
"I think you have knocked your head or something mi amigo." Puss shouted, seeing the man gazing left and right trying to find him. "I really am just someone who wants a ride! I do not want to hurt you!"
"Really? How are you any more different than the other scavengers and those scaly beasts that tried to take my ship!"
Scaly beasts?
The man quickly runs to another crate, loading a crossbow with an arrow of green tip. Searching for the cat. Puss stares at him atop the sail. Jumping down on him, avoiding his helmet, catching the right horn and swinging, tripping him to the wooden floor. Puss retargets the crossbow to him, paw on the trigger. "I am not here to fight! I only came for a ride!"
"Alright! I concede!" The man staggers up, his hands in front of the bow.
"I have no knowledge of what you just talked about, but I am just here to visit the Edge of the Archipelago."
Puss slowly backs down the crossbow, the man got up, feeling embarrassed by his unusual reaction.
"That may have been a little ridiculous, aye?"
Puss chortles, helping him collect the fallen purple fruits. "Through many of my adventures mi amigo, yours is nothing special."
A sigh of relief, after they both sat down the edge as the ship continued. Once rough now calm, though surges of lightning strikes hurls in the horizon. A large island blocks the view for a moment. Suddenly curious of this natural phenomenon, Puss wondered if the man had any ideas of this weather occurrence. "Perhaps you can give me a name?"
A gloomy face turned to Puss, "Alvin Ichar, aye. Most notorious but honest trader around!" Standing and swaying his hands as if he's widely known. "And yours mate?"
"I am Puss in Boots, Alvin. I am an adventurer of many talents!" Alvin laughed hoarsely. "Can't say I disagree mate!"
He turns the talk back to the surge of lightning strikes. "Alvin, what is with the accurate focus of the lightning strikes?"
Alvin watches the horizon Puss points at. The strike is so strong that it creates a flash as if it also underwater.
"Ahh that Puss? Aye mate, that's no lightning strike." He responded.
"What do you mean?"
"Aye! That's a colossal beast. Usually passed down to us traders to keep a keen eye."
"But what is it?" Puss looks back, more astounded by what he's hearing. "Aye, I have no clue either mate. Legends say he was once buried in ice and awoken, still strong.
Puss sees the surge of lightning in a new eye. Alvin continued talking. "Many strange things have been happenin' the years I've put my life on as a trader. I put myself up through many interesting people. Ones especially from the Northern Markets. That place, it lost many merchants ever since."
Puss nods. Alvin quickly checks the compass seeing heading farther south. "We're in the right direction mate. I'm going to sleep until we arrive."
"Alright, Alvin."
