Chapter 14

Hours passed as Ray and Basil were left to drift among the waves with no land in sight. As the sun climbed higher in the sky Basil already felt the effects of thirst settling in. To distract himself he tried to strike up a conversation.

"Hey, Ray?"

"Hmm," Ray grunted in response.

"What did Amber mean back there? That she was sorry for what she did to you…?"

Basil saw Ray flinch slightly and his ears lay back. "That night back on the island," Ray responded nervously, "I um… I-I tried to kiss her."

Basil blinked. "You… What?" Basil sank back against the boat and slumped down in his seat. "Wait, you said 'tried'…?"

Ray looked down. "She rejected me. I-I moved too fast and… and besides, she's in love with you."

Basil sighed but looked up again with a teasing smile. "Heh, you sure like to kiss the cute ones."

Ray glared at Basil, blushing furiously. "Hold din kæft. So what about you?"

"What?"

"Well, I told you my life story… how about yours?"

"Oh… not much to tell really," Basil shrugged, trailing his fingers down in the water as the current pulled them along. "Father disappeared at sea five years ago, mother died two years later, sister married a businessmouse, and brother works for the EITC. Byron tried to get me a position but it was too…"

"Boring?" Ray chuckled. "So you joined the navy to kill some pirates?"

"That's what I was hoping anyway," Basil answered with a smile. Although his tone became bitter as he continued. "My father Richard Brettman was a merchant sailor with his own business and ship and crew. I had hoped to join him someday when I was old enough, maybe even take over the business since Byron didn't have any interest even though he was the eldest child. Then one day he left home and never returned."

"He sounded like a great mouse," Ray remarked.

Basil nodded, looking out over the waves. "He loved the sea, always told me stories and legends about sea monsters and mermaids and pirates; taught me how to use a sword. Whenever he had to leave I would stand on the decks in London waiting for his return. When he disappeared I waited every day, just hoping to catch a glimpse of his ship's sails on the horizon. But that day never came, and after months of waiting we finally had to assume that he was dead. Mother took the news the worst. She had always been in bad health, and the strain of father's disappearance was too much on her. She died of tuberculosis two years later."

Basil grew very quiet at that, just staring out into the distance until he felt Ray's soft touch on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," Ray offered quietly. "I'm sure he is fine. Just… far."

Basil smiled, grateful for the encouraging words. He cocked his head curiously as a strange sound came from Ray. "Is that your stomach growling?"

"I can't help it, I'm so hungry!" Ray moaned, leaning back in the boat. "We didn't even get breakfast..."

"Looks like it might be a while before we get anything else again," Basil remarked grimly, though it was the lack of water he was worried about. A body could last a while without food, but with no water… He didn't want to think about it and lay back in the boat again and dozed off, thoughts of Amber on his mind.

"Ugh, I'm so booored!" Ray complained hours later, causing Basil to awake with a jolt. "Basil say rød med fløde!"

"What?" Basil replied sleepily.

"Say it."

"No."

"Come on, just repeat after me: rød grød med fløde."

"I said no."

"It's a simple phrase, Basil. Just say it."

Basil sighed and rolled his eyes. "R-Rø… Rø gr… say it again?"

Ray was already snickering. "Rød grød med fløde," he repeated.

"Rød grød meh fla…flooo…"

By this time Ray was rolling with laughter, hugging his sides.

"Hey, shut up! I'm not Danish!"

…

Another day passed and the heat only intensified as the sun rose higher in the sky. There weren't even any clouds in the sky this time to provide them with shade. Both mice in the boat watched the horizon for any signs of rain (or a ship's mast) but with no luck. The effects of dehydration were making them weaker by the minute.

As they sat back to back leaning against each other for support, Ray licked his parched lips, which was hard to do with a dry mouth and swollen tongue. As he opened his eye slightly he saw seagulls beginning to circle overhead.

"Ugh… seagulls."

"Great," Basil groaned thinking of the annoying familiar shriek they never stop making. "We're not even dead yet and… Wait, doesn't that mean there's land nearby?"

"How are we gonna get to it?" Ray answered, waving his hand carelessly. "We don't have any oars, remember? Are we going to catch a seagull and fly it to land?"

"I don't know," Basil replied irately. "It's gotten too hot, I can barely focus..." Looking up at the seagulls made Basil nervous as they circled lower. Rolling up his sleeves Basil leaned out over the boat and started paddling with his arms.

"You know that's not gonna do any good…" Ray said.

"It might if you get up and help me!" Basil snapped, though he was already panting with effort.

"Why bother?"

"Because if we keep sitting still like this those birds are gonna swoop down and start pecking to see if we're dead yet. I don't know about you but I don't want to be food for the gulls."

"They're not after us, they want fish," Ray said, sitting up and pointing down. "See?"

Looking in the water Basil did see what looked like a large school of silver fish swimming below them. "Still they have to roost somewhere so land must be nearby. Are you gonna help me or not?"

"Fine, move over," Ray growled irately as he did as Basil and leaned over the boat with his arms in the water. A few of the seagulls began diving around them, coming out of the water with fish in their beaks. Basil watched as they carried their catch away to their young, hoping to follow their course and eventually reach land.

As they rowed Ray suddenly yelped, drawing his arm back in the boat and falling back on his tail.

"What's wrong with you?" Basil asked.

"Something touched my hand! It was huge!"

"You're seeing things Ray."

"No, I saw the scales! Big shimmering red scales with a long tail—!"

"Maybe it was a mermaid," Basil joked.

"I'm not kidding Basil!" Ray shot back, glancing back in the water. "Something is in there!"

"As long as it's not a shark I don't care," Basil grunted, sweat running down his brow as he worked. "Just keep paddling."

Ray hesitantly went back to the task, still keeping an eye out for the mysterious creature but he didn't see it again. As the heat intensified Ray felt himself grow lightheaded and dizzy, and his arms felt like they weighed a ton. Unable to get the thought of mermaids off his mind he began to mutter to himself.

"Hvorfor hedder de egentlig havfruer? Jeg mener, er de alle sammen gift?"

"Ray..." Basil complained tiredly.

"I såfald burde de hedde havfrøkener... Det giver mere mening."

"Ugh, I don't have the slightest clue what you're saying…"

"Ville også være ret irreterende at svømme i døden for sådan en og så bare få at vide at de allerede er taget..."

"Ray! Shut up and keep paddling!"

Finally Ray grew quiet so that the only sound was the splash of water as they paddled onward. Though even with both mice rowing they made little progress, especially as weak as they were with hunger and thirst.

But at last it looked like their work might be worth it. In the last minutes before the sun set a dark shape loomed out of the water ahead of them where the seagulls flew. The sight filled them both with a burst of energy as they renewed their efforts and paddled toward the land. However, as the boat drew closer, their hope dissipated when they discovered the truth as the gulls settled in their nests precariously balanced on the rocky outcrops of the land, which wasn't even as big as the Felicia.

"That's it?!" Ray nearly screamed. "All this for a hunk of rock?!"

Basil was speechless as he stared up at the rock, which was so jagged that even if they could get the boat close enough without dashing it to pieces, there were no footholds wide enough for him or Ray to even walk or climb on. No water, no signs of vegetation… just a big rock.

With their hopes destroyed, both mice finally collapsed in the boat, too exhausted to continue. Ray moaned weakly, clutching at his chest as some of the salt water had gotten into the wound causing it to sting painfully. Tired and defeated, they were left to drift wherever the current would take them.

The next day was no better. Drifting in and out of consciousness the two mice simply waited, knowing it would only be a matter of time.

As he lifted his head, Basil saw a small dot on the horizon. Was that… could it be… sails? A smile spread on his face as the shape came into focus.

"A ship!" he cried, nearly whooping with joy. "Hey! Ray, look!"

Ray's eye shot open as he was startled out of sleep and he sat up to see what Basil was looking at. Only he didn't see a thing out on the waves. "What are you going on about?" he asked irately.

"A ship! Right over there, don't you see?" Ray just looked at Basil, staring at the mouse as if he were insane. "We're saved! Hey, over here!" Basil stood up and began waving his arms around, causing the boat to tip precariously.

Ray gripped the sides for dear life. "Stop it, din idiot! You're going to drown us!"

"But the ship—!" Basil insisted, gesturing wildly.

"There is no ship!"

"What? How can you not see it?! It's right there…" Basil trailed off as the ship seemed to suddenly disappear. "What the— I-I could have sworn…"

"It was a mirage, Basil," Ray replied tiredly. "The heat and the thirst is causing you to hallucinate. There's nothing there."

Feeling his heart sink again Basil sighed, wiping sweat from his brow as the heat was beating him down and the sun glaring down on them both. Ray did the same as he unbuttoned his shirt until his entire torso was bare.

"So, uh," Basil started a while later, trying to think of something to talk about to pass the time, "what was it like between you and Oliver?"

Ray glanced up lazily. "You curious?"

"Well, not like there's much to speak about," Basil replied a little sheepishly. "We're pretty much stranded."

"I've already told you most of it."

"I mean did you ever... uh..."

"What?" Ray asked, inching a little closer to Basil, who blushed embarrassedly.

"Erm... y-you know..." Basil trailed off as he saw Ray stare at him and swallowed nervously. "How was it? I mean, did you and Loran really...? Y-You know what, forget I ever said anything," Basil stammered, shifting uncomfortably under Ray's stare. Now that he was thoroughly embarrassed, he began to ramble. "It's just the heat getting to me. And the thirst. God, I'm so thirsty. I wish it would rain. At least it'll be nighttime soon so the heat won't be so bad..."

Basil trailed off again as he felt Ray place his hand over his, his eyes widening when he felt his fingers running along his arm softly. "Wait, wait, wait...!" He exclaimed grasping Ray's hand. "What're you doing?"

"Showing what it was like with Oliver. He'd feel me like this," Ray said gently feeling Basil's cheeks. "Like this," he continued, fingertips brushing down Basil's neck and chest causing him to shiver. "And like this," Ray whispered, his hand glided around his belt. Basil stared and swallowed again, entranced but nervous as Ray's hands roamed over him.

"No, wait," Basil panted. "You shouldn't do...this." Basil's ears perked down at the disappointed look on Ray's face and looked away from each other briefly.

"We're going to die anyway," Ray finally replied quietly, staring back into Basil's green eyes. "Shouldn't we enjoy the time we have left? Together?"

"I-I... Ray..." Basil let out a breathless sigh when Ray gently felt the back of his neck and whispered into his ear. He didn't understand what he was saying since Ray had lapsed into Danish, but whatever he said it made Basil feel entrapped by the other, in a loving embrace. He was lost in heat and pleasure as their bodies collided and shared the enticing heat.

Hours passed on and the two mice finally fell asleep until the light sprinkle of a rain cloud passed over them and sought over to the islands. Basil opened his eyes slowly, still feeling dazed from the lack of food or water. He looked down to see Ray lying by his side with his head on his bare chest as they were both covered by Ray's coat to guard from the chill of night. Basil's eyes widened as his thoughts suddenly caught up with him... Oh god, did we really-? Basil punched Ray on his shoulder in mild disgust, causing him to let out a startled squeak.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"For whatever the hell happened last night! I think you must have hallucinated that I was Loran again and—"

"No I didn't."

"What—!" That was the last straw for Basil. The whole situation of being marooned combined with the heat from the sun and exhaustion and lack of food or water and now this, his anger finally exploded. "What do you want from me?!"

Ray's ears flattened against his head. "What do you mean…?"

"You had sex with me because you wanted something, right?! Like you did to Loran!"

As soon as the words left his mouth Basil wished he could take them back after he saw the effect it had on Ray. The red furred mouse actually cringed away from him and Basil could see tears threatening to spill from his eye.

"You know I expect something like that from Bill or the crew," Ray replied bitterly, giving Basil a look of disgust, "but I never expected it coming from you." Basil opened his mouth to reply but Ray cut him off. "Ugh you are so dense, Basil!" he shouted angrily. "Completely oblivious! Did it ever occur to you that I might actually have feelings? That I don't do things for my own self gain?! What I felt for Loran, for Amber… f-for you…"

Basil stared shocked as Ray broke down and finally confessed after holding his feelings back for so long.

"I thought you of all people would understand feelings. You've been together with Amber, and yet...yet... you really think I'd give myself for what? Money?! Do I look like a harlot to you?! I just wanted... wanted to be loved by someone. Even if it was you... my expectations were too high. But if you think I'd give myself like that, why are we friends to begin with?!"

"Ray, I-I'm sorry," Basil apologized quietly. "I shouldn't have said what I did. I didn't mean to hurt you like that. I know you'd never give yourself for money."

"Then why did you accuse me?! What did you think I want out of you?! I know you're with Amber! And I can't ever be with her! You have more than I'll ever have! Rank means nothing at this point since we're both going to die!"

"I-I was just angry! But I'm sorry for taking it out on you. What I said isn't true, and I'm sorry I hurt you. We're all each other's got right now."

Even though Basil tried to make amends Ray grew silent again, laying in the bottom of the boat with his back to him. Any further attempt to talk to him was useless.

A few hours later some storm clouds began to gather, and Basil's heart picked up at the thought of water; until he saw red sails appear out of the mist. At first he thought it was just another mirage; but the vision just seemed too real…

"R-Ray," Basil stammered breathlessly, "tell me you don't see that…"

When Ray didn't answer Basil turned to see him staring in the opposite direction, his eye wide as he sat petrified with fright. His own vision wasn't of the Felicia, but rather the black ship of the Persephone, captained by the dreaded Fane cel Rau. Lightning flashed, lighting up the twisted grin of the stark white mermaid skeleton figurehead at the front of the ship. But it was the site of its captain at the helm that caused Ray's terror.

"Ray, come on!" Basil urged as he started paddling with his arms again, trying to row toward what he thought was the Felicia.

"N-No, no, don't let him take me…!" Ray cried out, scrambling backward and bumping into Basil when he imagined he saw Fane smile at him.

"I won't let Ratigan hurt you," Basil replied, not understanding who Ray was talking about as he gripped Ray's shoulders and pointed. "But Amber is on that ship, and Dawson too! We have to help them!"

"No, n-no!" Ray yelled, jerking out of Basil's grip and curling up in the bottom of the boat trying to hide from Fane's roving bloodthirsty red eyes.

"Fine, I'll do it myself!" Basil shouted frustratingly, turning back to paddle toward the Felicia. He imagined he saw Amber standing at the bow, reaching her hand out and calling for him.

"I'm coming Amber! I'm coming!" Basil yelled above the roar of the storm, the wind and rain stinging his face as he paddled with all this might, his muscles burning and breath coming in gasps from the effort. He watched in shock as a whirlpool appeared and to his horror the Felicia was pulled into it.

"No! No, no, please! Amber!" Basil screamed, his voice scratching his throat. Just as the Felicia sank below the waters, lightning flashed again seeming to strike in the middle of the scene and when Basil blinked the whirlpool and ship were gone. He sat there in shock for a few moments, wondering if he had just imagined or dreamed the whole thing until lightning clapped again and he felt Ray latch onto his leg. Snapping back to his senses Basil pried Ray off his leg and held him tightly, holding Ray's coat over them both to shelter them from the rain as they huddled together in the bottom of the boat as the storm raged around them.

Hours later they woke up as the last sounds of thunder rumbled in the distance. Both mice sat up and looked around warily, but no signs of either ship could be seen.

"W-What just happened?" Ray asked shakily.

"I don't know; I can't tell what's real and what's not anymore," Basil replied tiredly. "Wait… which ship did you see?"

"Persephone," Ray answered confused. "Why did you keep talking about Ratigan?!"

"Because I saw the Felicia! I don't know which one is worse."

"Persephone," Ray quickly replied, a shiver running down his spine. "Definitely the Persephone."

"Fane is really that much worse than Ratigan?"

"More than you can imagine."

By the end of the day, the fourth one since they'd been tossed off the Felicia, both mice fell silent. Hungry, thirsty, and physically and emotionally drained, they tried to get as comfortable as they could in the small space. Basil felt himself nodding off to sleep again as Ray played his panpipe softly to pass the time and to take his mind off his growling stomach and dry throat, the quiet music drifting out across the waves.

Ray felt his own eye begin to close, but just before he fell asleep, he saw a quick movement in the water. Leaning over the boat curiously, he looked out over the waves. Probably just a fish, he thought. Hopefully not a shark…

However, when the creature came up to the surface, Ray was shocked to see the head of a woman emerge from the water. She gazed up at him curiously, swimming forward cautiously. And were his eyes playing tricks on him, or was that a fish tail he saw trailing behind her?

"Basil!" Ray whispered quietly. When the mouse didn't reply, Ray flicked him on the nose sharply causing him to yelp in surprise. "Basil, vågn up!"

"What is it?" Basil replied, rubbing his aching nose and turning over with a groan.

"Shh! It's a mermaid!" Ray whispered, trying not to frighten her away.

Basil moaned again and turned over. "It's just a manatee Ray. You're hallucinating again. Go back to sleep."

Ray scowled at Basil and huffed in annoyance. "Mirage or not, I'm going to enjoy this one," he replied, turning his attention back to the beautiful creature in front of him. Her long flowing golden hair trailed in the water behind her as she swam forward slowly. She seemed a bit nervous at first, her face just barely peeking up out of the water as she gazed at Ray. But then she grew bolder and came a tad closer to the boat. Ray caught another glimpse of her red tail as the moonlight shimmered across the scales.

"H-Hello," Ray said, leaning over side of the boat so he could see her better. To his surprise, she returned his smile. "Can you speak?" he asked curiously.

"Yes," the lady replied softly. "Are you the one who was playing the music?" she asked shyly, looking up at him through long eyelashes.

"Ja," Ray replied, nodding his head and showing her the instrument. She watched with wide eyes as he placed it to his lips and played a few notes, showing her how it worked.

"It's lovely," she said, giving him another warm smile.

Ray felt himself blushing in response. "D-Do you have a name?" he asked.

"Lucille," she replied. Such a beautiful voice… "And you?"

"Me, what?" Ray asked in confusion.

"Your name!" Lucille replied with a laugh.

"O-Oh, of course," he quickly replied. She was so mesmerizing, he couldn't even think straight. "Um, Ray; my name is Ray. Ray Lehmann."

"Ray." The mouse's heart fluttered as his name rolled off her tongue. She propped her arms up on the side of the boat, bringing her face closer to his. "I like that name."

Ray blushed again, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. As he did so Lucille tilted her head curiously, and he froze as she reached out and pulled back some of the fabric of his shirt. He breathed out slowly as she touched his wound gently, her fingertips brushing his fur lightly.

"You're hurt," she remarked with concern.

Trying to appear tough Ray only shrugged. "Just a flesh wound…"

"Lucille!" Ray jumped as another female voice called out nearby and was shocked to see yet another mermaid appear behind her, one with white fur and a blue tail and wearing gold jewelry, including a small golden circlet around her head as a crown.

"What?" Lucille asked innocently as the other grabbed her arm and pulled her back away from the boat.

"We shouldn't be so close to them," she reprimanded sternly. "We could get in serious trouble..."

"Oh you're one to talk, Kitty," Lucille scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're the one who saved that one from drowning; a pirate captain, no less!"

"W-Well, I couldn't just leave him to die," Kitty muttered. "Anyway, we need to go. If my father finds out that we came to the surface, we'll really be in trouble.

"H-Hey, wait!" Ray called out, leaning out over the boat and reaching a hand out toward them. "Don't leave!"

Disturbed from his sleep, Basil finally sat up with a groan and rubbed his temples in annoyance. "Ray, who the deuce are you talking to—?" He stopped as his eyes fell on the two mermaids in the water. "Is… i-is that…?"

"Told you," Ray replied with a grin. He elbowed Basil in the ribs. "Don't just sit there gawking, Bas, say hello!"

"U-Um…" Basil stuttered, for once in his life, completely speechless.

"Did you call me a manatee?!" Lucille asked, her green eyes flashing at Basil dangerously.

""What?!" Basil stammered, his cheeks turning red. "No! No, I mean, I didn't-!"

"Lucille, we need to go," Kitty urged, tugging on Lucille's arm.

"No, wait!" Ray exclaimed again, nearly tipping over the boat again as he reached out towards them. "Maybe you can help us!"

"Shut up, you'll scare them away!" Basil hissed, pulling Ray back down until he fell on his backside.

"Scare them? Two seconds ago you didn't even believe they were real!"

"I'll believe anything if it means we have a chance to get to land!"

"Why should we help you anyway?" Kitty demanded, crossing her arms irately.

"Because he's hurt," Lucille answered, pointing at Ray as she noticed the bamboo in his chest and the slow way he was breathing.

"But aren't you pirates?"

"Well—" Ray began.

"No!" Basil hastily interrupted. "We were captured and forced to work on a pirate ship. We attempted a mutiny but were caught and the Captain set us adrift as punishment."

"That's awful," Lucille said horrified.

"How do we know they're telling the truth?" Kitty replied skeptically.

"You can't," Ray said honestly. His gaze shifted to Lucille. "You just have to trust us."

Kitty still looked doubtful, Lucille looked at her imploringly. "We have to help them. Please, Kitty?"

"Ugh, fine. Hold on, you two. Don't want you to fall over board."

"What… Hey!" Both mice yelped as the boat suddenly lurched forward, cutting a path through the waves. Basil glanced over his shoulder to see Kitty waving her hands in a repetitive motion as if she were manipulating the water herself. Ray gripped onto the side of the boat as tightly as he could, feeling a bit sick. But he watched fascinated as Lucille followed close by, cutting through the water swiftly with ease. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt Basil shake his arm.

"Look!" Basil shouted excitedly. "Do you see that?!"

Ray broke out in a smile, relief and hope flooding through him. "Land…"

Author's Notes:

Long chapter this time! And lots of craziness in this one... hunger and thirst will do that to you... ^^;

Basil, Dawson, Ratigan, and Kitty (the showgirl from the Rat Trap in the movie) (c)Eve Titus and Disney
Amber Mus and Fane cel Rau (c) Me
Ray Lehmann and Lucille (c)NightMagican

Cowriters: NightMagican and CherlnIDA
And thanks for the help from Mimmime for ideas of the seagulls and for Ray and Basil's hallucinations of the Felicia and the Persephone ^^

And a little advertisement: Check out mine (ALS123) and NightMagican's galleries on deviantART for illustrations of this story. And if you're curious about more of Loran's story, see CherlnIDA's fic "The Sea's Archangel" for more info on that ^^