Chapter 45: Paths

By the time the sun had completely risen, the penguins were up preparing to leave for Talamaru.

Skipper was feeling jittery, and not just because he had had too many cups of coffee.

Private was finishing up a flower arrangement for Sequoyah, and Kowalski was giving Rico things to gulp down that they might need later.

"Let's move out, team." Skipper instructed as he slid the door open.

Everyone hopped out onto the warm sand, and they saw Jack down the beach, having a friendly swordfight with his First Mate, O'Harty.

He and O'Harty were more focused on their fancy footwork than anything. They had sparred many times, and knew each other's moves like clockwork.

"I've seen my nana step livelier than that, Jack!"

"Well she's quicker than you then too!"

The penguins waddled down the beach closer to the sailors, and Jack smiled when he spotted them.

It was that same truly delighted smile that brought light to his eyes in a way that could assure others he had meant to smile, that he was not pretending. A smile that meant he hadn't a care in the world.

That everything was all right.

Jack ended his spar with O'Harty, and bid him an informal goodbye before he closed the distance between himself and the penguins.

"Good morning!" The rusty-furred lemur greeted them warmly as he sheathed his sword.

"Morning, Jack." Skipper replied, trying his best to act normal. He just could not get his mind off of the AG8.
"Are you ready to go?" Private asked with a smile.

"Of course." Jack set his hat straight and looked towards the jungle. "Well, I've got to have a chat with Tira's mother. Not too keen on that, but it's only polite. You know how mothers can be."

The small group made their way up into the jungle to collect Julien on their way.

The lemur king greeted them excitedly, clearly ready to leave and see Isobel.

"Hello, neighbors! Come on, time is wasting, we have to be getting to the Celebration."

Jack circled around behind the penguins so he could walk beside Julien.

"Oy, aren't you supposed to speak with chief uncle today?"

"Sheikh." Julien corrected him. "Eh, yeah. If I do, he'll let Isobel and me be together."

"What do you mean?" Jack asked. "Together?"

"Like she can be my girlyfriend and no hot guys from her home can be asking her to marry them." Julien explained, and then added, "Only me."

Jack's eyes lit up. "Married? You're going to ask my sister that?"

"Well, uh, I already did a long time ago, but she said no." Julien shook his head and continued on. "But yes! Some other time."

"A wedding!" Jack smiled and threw his arm around Julien. "I love weddings."

"Me too!" Private, who was walking between Jack and Rico, piped up. "What about you and Tira?"

Jack let Julien go and looked ahead, a smile tugging the corners of his mouth. "We'll see about that, lad."

"Vhere are you going?!"

Everyone turned and saw an irritated Mikhailov trotting behind them.

He caught up with them and huffed, "I cannot believe you almost leave vithout me."

"Sorry about that, Mik." Skipper chuckled. "Guess we were too preoccupied with getting there."

"Ees okay." Mikhailov stepped in line beside Skipper as the group continued on. "I can't vait to see the party they have vor us."

"And also Miss Katia?" Skipper asked in a teasing tone.

Mikhailov frowned, but he begrudgingly told the truth. "Da. Eet ees a shame my antlers fell off already."

It was true; Mikhailov's majestic antlers had shed away, and he was left with jagged nubs that would smooth over again until next spring.

"She won't mind." Private assured him.

"Well, Private, statistically female Firebirds, according to what you have told me, do prefer impressive antlers on males." Kowalski noted out loud.

Private shot him a look, and Kowalski cleared his throat.

"You'll do fine, Mikhailov." He added quickly.

As the group made their way through the endless vines of jasmine into Talamaru, they looked up collectively, and were left in awe.

The sky was a vibrant, strawberry red with golden hued stars faintly dotting the way. Wispy clouds floated softly across the impossible sky.

Everyone thought it fantastic, except for Jack, who tapped his fingertips on the pommel of his sword.

Private looked back at him, noticing his discontent. "What's wrong, Jack? It's beautiful!"

"…red in the morning, sailors' warning." Jack spoke quietly to himself before looking at Private. "It's bad luck." He said dismissively as he continued walking.

Skipper raised his eyebrow. "Didn't realize you were one for superstitious nonsense, Jack."

Jack glanced back at him, a smile only in his eyes. "I'm a pirate, mate."

That was enough of an answer, and the group continued on their way.

As lovely and yet ominous as the sky was, the jungle had much more to offer. Flowers were in full bloom, bright and beautiful and sweet smelling, and they attracted harmless bees and flies to pollinate them. Birds of every color chirped away and displayed their luxurious feathers shamelessly in hopes of attracting a mate. Butterflies larger than anyone's heads and as colorful as kites rested on tree trunks or on sturdy flower petals.

Usually, the group would be on high alert for predators or wary natives, but today held a calm air that soothed even Mikhailov.

And that set Skipper's nerves on edge. He even began to wonder if Jack's prediction would hold true, that the AG8 would swoop in, rip the ruby from the earth and –

Skipper shook his head. He couldn't believe he was letting himself buy into nonsense like that. The AG8 were diplomats, he had nothing to worry about.

The group came upon the bustling village, and the first person that greeted them was Tira. She had a shawl around her as though she were cold, even though there was hardly a chill in the jungle.

"Tira." Jack smiled. "I thought you'd be getting ready."

Tira gave him a small, almost embarrassed smile. This was highly unlike her, as she was always so boisterous. Everyone noticed right away.

Tira reached out and took Jack's hand, leading him off to the side.

"What's her deal?" Skipper asked.

Rico shrugged, and Julien stepped beside Skipper.

"De women cannot be speaking with us today. It's a stupid rule." He explained. "But whatever, come on."

"I am going to look vor Katia." Mikhailov announced as he split from the group.

The village was alive with people setting up for the festivities, returning with baskets of food from either the ocean or the jungle, and young children playing with each other and running between the busy adults.

"Should we greet the sheikh right now, Skipper?" Kowalski asked.

Skipper nodded. "We'll do that and then leave him and Ringtail alone."

They looked across the village clearing and saw the sheikh pacing around, Sequoyah unsuccessfully trying to get him to stop.

Skipper thought it looked as though it might have been best to hang back, but Julien kept going, and so they followed without a choice.

"Great sheikh!" Julien proclaimed, arms outstretched. "We are here to be joining your Celebration."

Ajihad whipped around, at first only staring at Julien.

Skipper noticed immediately that even the feathers in Ajihad's headdress appeared to be stiff with anxiety and stress. But after a moment, as Ajihad visibly settled, so did the feathers.

Ajihad smiled at Julien, and welcomed him and the penguins up onto the royal dais.

Sequoyah gracefully stood up from her throne, and Private happily offered up the bouquet of flowers he had arranged.

"Thank you for inviting us. It looks lovely."

"Thank you." Sequoyah said quietly and with a light smile. She gave the flowers to a helper who added them to the arrangements already adorning the queen's throne.

The penguins exchanged diplomatic greetings with the sheikh, and then Sequoyah directed them back down into the village.

"We have prepared a morning feast for you." She said as she escorted them to one of the many tables. "Please, sit."

The tables were low, and required no chairs. Instead, the penguins sat on soft blankets. The top of the table was covered in white fabric, and each penguin had a wooden plate in front of him. There were also settings for when Jack, Julien, and a couple others could join them later.

Right away, young lemur girls with jugs of fruit juice and lemur boys with heavy plates appeared at their tables.

Each penguin received a small jug of juice, and their plates were filled with fruits like figs and pineapple, as well as indigenous Ta'li fruit like an Ambrosia berry; small, fresh whole fish and crab legs; jasmine rice; and banana leaf strips were given to them should they like to wrap their food with it.

Rico started cutting up his fish and rolling it up in the banana leaf strips with rice, ultimately making his own variation of a sushi roll.

Kowalski and Private both tasted the juice they had been given at the same time.

The flavors of berries and pears and a nectar they could not quite put their flippers on exploded on their tongues, and they agreed it was one of the best drinks they'd ever had.

Skipper liked the juice, but what he really wanted was –

"Coffee?" A serving girl asked him sweetly.

Skipper looked over as the girl held out a steaming cup of coffee. The cup was rather small, but he assumed he would be able to ask for a fill up.

"Thanks." Skipper smiled, raising the cup to the servers before taking a big gulp.

Immediately, he regretted it. His eyes bugged out, and his team looked at him worriedly. Skipper glanced over at the staff, who were looking at him hopefully. He dutifully downed the coffee.

"Holy MacArthur's momma!" Skipper coughed afterwards, slapping his flipper down on the table.

"Is there something wrong with it?" the serving girl asked timidly.

"No it's good!" Skipper said a little too loudly. "Perfect!"

The serving girl did not mind, and smiled. "It helps the digestion. We will come back later to see if you need anything."

The servers left, and the team asked Skipper what was wrong with the coffee.

"Pure espresso beans." Skipper announced, gazing into the small cup. "Nothing like the joe at home. I won't be needing a second cup."

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Tira had led Jack to a small clearing away from the village and all its noise.

"What's wrong, love?" Jack asked, a hint of concern in his voice. "I know you can't talk to me until I speak to your mother, but –"

"Jack." Tira finally spoke.

Jack was silent immediately, and waited for her to continue.

Tira glanced down at her feet, wrapping the shawl around her tighter.

She sighed audibly and placed her hands on her hips before settling them back over her stomach.

"Estoy embarazada."

Jack glanced up and smiled. "I don't know Spanish, Tira."

Tira waved her hand up. "Never mind, I'll teach you more later, so… So our baby can learn too."

Jack nodded. "Right. Wait." He did a double take at Tira, this time really looking at her. "Say that again."

Tira smiled. "I'm pregnant, Jack."

"Ha!" Jack covered his smiling mouth excitedly. He was shocked, but clearly excited, and Tira laughed in relief.

Jack took off his hat and ran his fingers through his fur. "Pregnant. Pregnant, Tira!"

He put his hat back on and swept Tira up, giving her a quick kiss before setting her back down.

"Is this why you have the shawl?" He moved her arms away from her stomach. "Are you hiding a softball in their already?"

"No, estupido!" Tira playfully slapped his hands away. "I just found out this morning. No, my mother thinks I'm going to get a chill and upset the baby."

Jack nodded, clearly still shocked and excited. But reality set in, and his eyes widened. "Your mother! I – how? How am I supposed to talk to her now?"

Tira smiled. "You'll do fine! She was happy when I told her, she just really needs to meet you. And my brothers too."

"Brothers." Jack sighed as they began walking back to the village. "Of course."

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Ajihad and Julien had walked away from the royal dais and down a secluded path.

Julien had already spilled everything to Ajihad, and anxiously awaited his reply.

Ajihad began to nod, contemplating everything Julien had told him. "You love my niece?"

Julien nodded vigorously. "Yes. She will be making the best queen anyone has ever seen. Um, except for Queen Sequoyah, obviously."

Ajihad glanced at him, only a small smile on his face. "It's more than that. You will love her… No matter what happens?"

Julien thought this an odd question. "Well, yes. I don't really know what would happen though."

"And help her watch over my people… When the time comes?"

Now Julien was getting weirded out. Ajihad was usually one for keeping it light, but something was clearly bothering him.

Julien decided, out of nervous habit, to try and lighten the situation himself. "Of course! But, who are we even kidding now? That won't be for forever! Am I right?"

Ajihad noticeably bristled, but he nodded quietly.

The two kings stopped as Ajihad looked down a dark trail. Julien did not want to go in there, as it looked way too creepy.

"I will allow it." Ajihad looked at Julien, his emerald eyes serious and even pleading. "I think Isobel will be happy beside you. Go back to the village and join the others. I have to speak with someone."

Julien watched, concerned, as the sheikh journeyed onto the dark path, fading from view.