To avoid confusion about the joke 'Denial, not just a river'
I watched Kim Possible this one time and when they were talking about 'Denial'
This guy said 'more than a river on the planet- you know, the Egyptian river Nile? except you 'de' as the 'the' Nile?'
CHAPTER 21: BREADCRUMBS AND ARMADILLOS
Cocoum dumped the next beacon in the icy water the foggy night after. Most of the crew were still asleep, the only ones awake being himself, Argeth (still tied on the other side of the boat) grumbling, and that silent boar...Dobson, was it? Ah well.
He slid away from the side, watching the beacon bob out of sight as they drifted away. It was still a little dark, and that seagull creature was still asleep, so it was save to say he'd gotten away with it this time.
Cocoum moved along the side of the ship, whistling to himself quietly and tossing small pieces of ice into the water. Out of pure boredom, he ignored Gutt's first threat and began climbing slowly and carefully (oddly enough for an ape) all the way up to the tallest branch. It was thin compared to the others, and he didn't' think Gutt would be able to get him up here. Grinning at the thought of the older ape fallen from a snapped branch due to weight, Cocoum scanned the ship encase of anything interesting. He found it.
Clementine was awake, legs dangling overt he side of the ship, head bent. He bit his lip.
Hadn't she slept all night?
He began climbing down- but slipped. He managed to catch onto another branch before he spiraled to the icy ground and broke his neck, feeling foolish and humiliated.
Imagine if everyone was awake and saw that? er...
"Not the best at climbing, are you Junior?" Cocoum scowled, shaking his head. His stubborn hair fell in front of one of his eyes again; Something that kept annoying him. Brushing it away. he glared up at Gutt, who was leaning against the mast nearby.
"So? I'm a rubbish climber. It's not like it's a person offence..." The young ape was about to add on 'old man' but thought against it. Gutt gave a gruff laugh.
"Apes aren't 'rubbish' climbers, kiddo. If you wanna be of any use around here, I suggest you get better."
Apparently the 'no climbing' order was now over.
Cocoum didn't respond, but continued glaring at him stubbornly. Gutt's smirk faltered, as he was getting bored now. Turning to climb back up the mast, he added,
"Why don't ya go to sleep. You'll be less annoying that way."
Cocoum growled. "How was I being annoying?"
Gutt looked over his shoulder and returned the glare. "Throwing rocks and whistling when I'm tryin' ta get some shut-eye better not happen on this ship unless you want to know how fast the plank goes out. Now beat it."
"You can't tell me what to do!" Cocoum stammered, pointed up at him. Gutt snorted as he climbed high.
"Just did, junior. Now go!"
Cocoum groaned, turning around and sauntering away, fuming. Clementine watched him pass quietly and curl up nearby the ice rock embedded nearby, shielding himself and his possum friend (who was asleep nearby) from the rest of the pirates. It helped them feel a little more safe, she guessed.
"Feeling alright?" She asked softly when she noticed Cocoum's angry, trouble expression. He sighed deeply.
"Yeah...just...stuff, I guess. I think It would've been better if I just stayed where I was."
Clementine tilted her head and asked something she was meaning to ask for while now.
"Why did you leave? and where are your parents?"
Cocoum sighed, and she didn't expect him to answer until he began talking again.
"Hm. I left cause...well, I guess you could say bad memories. Didn't like being reminded."
Clementine's face fell in concern as he continued "And the second answer...yeah, Ma died when I was little. That's why I'm terrible at climbing I guess, I..."
"Never learned." Clementine finished softly. She smiled kindly. "You don't have to feel bad about that, you know."
Cocoum snorted. "Yeah. But the thing is...people sorta blamed me for what happened. I can't really remember much about her or how she died, but...I think she was trying to protect me form some sort of attack."
Clementine looked off to the side, staring down at the dark waters below. "Wouldn't blame her for wanting to protect you, Cocoum. You seem like a nice boy. And any mother I know would've done the same..."
Cocoum sighed again, closing his eyes. Clementine took this as the end to the conversation. She rested her chin on her paws, feeling incredibly tired but unable to sleep.
"Hey Girlie, sup?" She turned her gaze to the right and found Squint was standing nearby, half asleep and rubbing his eyes. Whoops. They must have woken him up...she'd forgotten that he had big ears (and thus good hearing) too.
She seemed awake a second later, zipping over and sitting down beside her. "Whatcha doing?" She shrugged, for once not wanting to run off when he approached.
"Thinking. As usual."
Squint rose a brow in a lop-sided way. "'Bout what?"
"Hm... nothing much. Just worrying about Argeth, that's all..."
Squint didn't know why he was slightly irked by that. "Why? he's not dying or anything."
Clementine shook her head once. "No. He seems oddly quiet and...well, less sarcastic."
That alone's something to worry about...
Squint shrugged, scratching his ear as he said "Well, maybe he's just getting it into his brain that Captain in charge, Girlie."
Clementine didn't respond for a few minutes. Then, she asked something unsuspected.
"Squint...is it really too much trouble for you to call me by my name for once?"
His eyes widened. Oh yeah...
But it would be so weird calling her by her name! it would be like he actually knew her properly! He pulled his ears in frustration at the sappy-ness, earning him a slightly unnerved look from the other rabbit.
He groaned a little. "Fine...Clementine."
It was too much.
She burst out laughing at his indignant expression. His nose began twitching in fury.
"Hey!"
"Sorry!" She gasped, forcing herself to quieten down. She sighed, looking a little more at ease. Squint followed her gaze and stared at the water, seeing nothing really interesting.
"Er...Clem, what are we starin' at?" No answer. He looked over. "Clemen...tine...?"
She'd fallen asleep, and to make matters worse, she was leaning against his shoulder peacefully. He stiffened, eyes darting around encase anyone saw.
Gulping, he placed an arm around her shoulder and just watched her sleep for a while.
Boy, he had to get outa here before Gupta saw this...
"Man, these dares get more dangerous every time."
Guver grinned down at his wide-eyed friend, grinning mischievously and spoke in a now slightly broken voice:
"Is the lil' armadillo scared?"
Argeth glared up at him. "Course not. Just don't want to almost lose my eye again."
Guver rolled his eyes. "It's just stealing from the sabers. And anyway, it's not like they'd miss that rock they always kick around..."
"It happens to be the smoothest rock on the island, or so they say..." Argeth muttered as they drew near to the watering hole, where a group of teenage sabers were kicking around the smooth rock in question.
"They look like a bunch of pansies." He added. Guver laughed lightly.
"What are ya doing?"
They gasped in unison, whirling around at the sound of the familiar, high voice. Argeth's little sister Lily was staring at them blankly, holding a small piece of fruit in her paws
Guver promptly face palmed, Argeth groaning quietly.
"I thought you said that you'd gotten her to stay home!" The ape hissed. Argeth shrugged.
"I tried! How was I supposed to know that she'd fallow me, man?"
Lily rolled up to her brother's side, hugging him around the waist. "Please can I play, too? pretty please?"
"No!" Argeth growled "It's too dangerous..."
"Then why are you playing it?" Lily pouted, frowning up at him. Argeth glared at Guver a little.
"Good question...but still, go home!"
"But Argie!"
"Just go! these things could kill you!"
Guver raised a paw. "He's right, shorty. Better go home, now."
Lily moved away, glaring at the floor as she went. Argeth sighed in aggravation.
"She always follows me around, Guv. I can't shake her."
"She almost would've blown her cover with that loud voice of hers...lucky she didn't come in later when we were too close..."
"Yeah..."
Argeth woke up the next morning, feeling stiff, sore and numb in the mind.
Yeah, he thought silently, eyes lidded and foggy.
But not lucky enough...
Please review!