Ch.34

Island Arrival Pt.2

Thank you to those who reviewed/voted on my poll! Joan and Hardy are tied for first with two votes while Edith and Keith are tied at second with one vote. Someone needs to break the tie, so please vote! Just a reminder, this chapter is a continuation of Keith's flashback. Please update!

The skunks that saved Keith were quite friendly. In a matter of minutes, they were conversing as if they had known each other for seasons. Keith was not sure if it was because he was talking to other skunks for the first time in a while, but it didn't matter. After about a fifteen minute walk through the dense woods, Keith and the other skunks found themselves entering a fair-sized community filled with small houses made of various materials.

Keith could only utter a single word. "Wow."

"Welcome to Mephia!" exclaimed a puny skunk walking with Keith. "So, you hungry?"

An obese skunk walking with them nodded as he licked his lips. "You took the words out of my mouth!"

The puny skunk smacked the hungry skunk in the back of the head, though he had to jump to do so. "I'm talking about Keith, not you tubby!" The rest of the skunks were soon seated in front of a large fireplace, a sort of public area for socializing. Keith could not help but think back to his days at the abbey. Mephia reminded him so much of Redwall with its kind faces, the melting pot of different species, not to mention that young ones practically attacked him while he ate. Despite this, the newcomer could not help but feel a bit awkward due to the multitude of staring faces and whispers. News of his arrival was spread fast than a hare spread jam on bread. Keith didn't know if this was a good thing or not.

Keith's question was soon answered as a somber-looking skunk approached him. "You must be the foreigner the village has been talking about. The King would like to see you now." He gave a stern look to the rest of skunks with Keith. "Only the newcomer." The rest of the skunks sat back down crestfallenly has the stern skunk walked off, closely followed by Keith.

Keith had expected the King to live in a great palace filled with riches, but the messenger skunk had brought him to a stone house. Although it was significantly bigger than the other homes, it was not castle. Nonetheless, there was a guard skunk who opened the door for the two visitors.

After only a few steps, Keith and the other skunk found themselves standing before two other skunks. One was surprisingly old, hunched over and using a cane to support himself. His black fur had faded to grey while his white stripes shone with a sliver glisten. The other skunk stood with an air of importance and respect. His tail was arched high, but in a non-threatening way. Along with his dark green robe and jeweled crown, he looked every bit a king.

The messenger skunk quickly knelt before his superiors, delivering a quick glare to Keith so he would do the same, but the elderly skunk shook his head, his scraggly bear swinging slightly. "That won't be necessary." He hobbled over to Keith before grasping the younger skunk's paw. "Welcome to our village. My name is Alberic, Advisor to King Hernes."

"It's very nice to meet you sir," replied Keith. "My name is Keith. I've traveled a great distance to come here."

The King approached Keith and looked as he was about to speak, but he quickly turned his head, coughing into his arm. "Pardon me. I hope the trip wasn't too troublesome," He gave a nod to the messenger, who quickly left the room. "I heard that you ran into a group of vermin on your way here. I hope you weren't injured."

"Don't worry," answered Keith. "I'm fine."

"Perhaps I and the creatures of Mephia can show you a more welcome greeting then those vermin did," said the king. "Tonight is the anniversary of when our ancestors first arrived on this island. I hope you aren't too tired from your traveling to join in the festivities."

Keith shook his head and smiled. "Of course not. I'd be honored to attend!"

"Father! Where are you?" A female skunk who looked to be Keith's age entered the room hurriedly. "Father I…" Upon noticing the foreign skunk in the room, the female skunk stopped in her tracks, a slow smile plastering her features. "Hello there."

The foreign skunk smiled back at her. "Hello."

Alberic walked over to the female skunk. "Keith, I'd like to introduce you to Princess Camilla. Princess Camilla, this is Keith. He's traveled from a land over the great sea. He'll be at the festival tonight as well."

"Speaking of the festival," said the king hurriedly as he quickly walked over to his daughter. "I think it's about time we started getting ready for the festival." He grasped his daughter's shoulder, turning her towards the doorway where she came from. "I know how long females like to take on there fur. I'm sure you wish to look your best tonight, so I won't keep you from doing so." Hernes led his daughter halfway to the doorway before looking back at Keith. "I'll see you at the festival."

The elderly skunk rolled his eyes as he walked over to Keith. "Ugh, he can be so overprotective of the princess sometimes, though he can't be blamed for doing so." A toothless smile crew across his wrinkled face. "Do us all a favor and dance wit her tonight. She needs a bit of freedom." He winked at the younger skunk. "Don't worry. I'll make sure that overprotective father isn't looking."

As soon as the sun began to set, the festivities began. A large bonfire cooked delicious foods, performers entertained the crowds, skunks of all ages enjoyed games, and music was played.

The obese skunk from earlier stood by the puny skunk gnawing into a cooked fish on a skewer. He was too busy enjoying his meal to join the other skunks dance. The smaller skunk simply scoffed. "Dancing's for girls and kids. I'm not joining in, that's for sure!"

"I thought it was because you had two left paws," replied the chubby skunk between bites. Keith couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the small skunk hop up in order to smack his friend in the head.

"Well, if you two don't mind, I'm going to go ask Princess Camilla to dance." The two skunks stopped their fighting staring at Keith before breaking into laughter.

"Don't make me laugh while I'm eating," said the rounder skunk, his stomach jiggling as he chuckled, holding shocking similarity with Isaac's stomach when the Highlander laughed. "You'll make me choke."

The petite skunk lost his footing and fell on his back holding his sides. "Dance with the Princess! That's a good 'un! You almost made me spray myself! He picked himself off the ground and dusted himself off. "Look Keith, no males, not even males of a different species, has ever danced with her before! You know why?" Keith shook his head. "Because the king doesn't like," replied the small skunk. "I remember a couple seasons back, a poor skunk tried asking her to dance, boy was that a dumb move! I tell ye, I've never seen such a horrified face on anybeast! I thought he was…" However, Keith was no longer standing by him and walking towards the princess.

Like a hawk, the King sat in his chair, keeping a watchful eye on Camilla. His tail shot up in alertness as he saw Keith approach her. However, Alberic placed a restraining paw on his shoulder. "Don't worry yourself. He's not doing any harm."

"Are you kidding me?" asked Hernes. "Do you see the way he's holding her?"

"Yes, you typically hold another beast that way when you dance with them," replied the elderly skunk. "See? She's having a good time!"

However, the advisor's words did nothing to alleviate the concerns of the king. "Yes, it's all fun and games now, but I can see him undressing my daughter with his eyes. I knew she was asking for it by wearing such a short skirt!"

"The skirt goes below her knees," noted Alberic. "I don't consider that short. See her laughing sire? If you've forgotten, laughing is something a beast does when he or she is having fun, something Camilla's needed for quite some time now." The king was about reply when he began to cough hoarsely, covering his mouth with his napkin.

His advisor slowly rose to his paws before helping the king up. "Oh dear, you shouldn't be out with such a nasty cough. I'll walk you home and see if we can get somebeast to make you some soup, okay?"

Meanwhile, on the dance floor, Camilla and Keith were all smiles and laughs as they swayed side to side.

"I don't know if father will like this," noted Camilla before chuckling. "But I don't give a rat's ass what he thinks. Still, how'd you pull it off?"

"Alberic's helping me out," replied Keith as he pulled her in closer. "You should thank him."

Camilla nodded. "Later." She grabbed Keith as she led him off the dance floor. "But not before we talk."

I know it's not one of my better chapters, but we all have our hectic days and I'm definitely having one. More of Keith's flashback will be in the next chapter. Don't forget to vote on my poll and R&R!