The Northwestern was steaming to their second string, way down south, a 9 hour stream.
The crew of the boat were sleeping, trying to recharge their tired, aching, broken bodies.
When a thud from the deck woke the Captain and deckboss up.
Edgar and Sig Hansen emerged from their dead sleep, walking out of their staterooms. Confused, but worried about what it was.
Walking out in deck in nothing but his socks, joggers and a t-shirt, Edgar went to see what happened on deck. But when he opened the metal door, he didn't expect go see two glowing blue eyes look back at him. And a tall, lanky furred body, with a scabbed over neck wound.
"Hey, I got the fish, 9 of them." Silver chimed, holding 9 large fish. Each about a foot and a half long.
"Hey." Edgar replied in his surprise, not noticing his brother behind him, until Silver looked behind the light brown headed man. Edgar almost shit himself when he turned around to see his eldest brother standing there.
"Their freshly caught too. Their still alive. Can I come in?" Silver tilted his head at Edgar's suprise to see Sig. Sig only shook his head, turning back to his bunkroom. "Sure thing."
Edgar's eyes followed his brother to the Captain's room.
Silver stepped in, ducking to avoid hitting the metal door frame, holding the fish in his arms.
"Y'know, I never got your names." Silver said, stating a fact. Edgar closed the door, and led the Silver to the galley. "Well. I'm Edgar Hansen, the blonde guy that almost scared me to death is my oldest brother, Sig, the shortest guy is Norman, second eldest brother, and Jake, or Fox, he's our youngest brother."
"Theres's Matt Bradley. And finally Nick Mavar." Edgar replied, opening a drawer full of knives.
Silver put the fish into the sink, trying to maneuver his large body in the small space. "Oo, thank you." Silver replied, removing himself from the kitchenette, sitting at the wrap-around breakfast table, watching Edgar begin to prepare the fish to be cooked.
"Why d'you even get us fish in the first place?" Edgar asked, filleting the fish, glancing back at the man? watching him. "Well, 1, for not letting me die, and 2, for not shooting me. You don't know how many times I've outmaneuvered a bullet." Silver replied, a slightly terrified tone in his voice, as anyone would have when somebody tried to kill you.
"Well, you're welcome." Edgar once again glanced back to the boats visitor. Silver had curled up on the chair part of the breakfast table, watching Edgar intently.
"Question, 'cause I'm curious, when was the last time you ate something cooked?" Edgar asked, raising a light brown brow at Silver.
A flash of pain ran across Silver's furred face, Edgar immediately feeling guilty for asking, "Sorry..." The second youngest Hansen spoke quietly.
"A long time ago." Silver finally said, sighing. "But I'd love to try some." The sea monster perked up, looking pointedly at the filleted fish.
"In about 10 minutes, go wake Sig up, he'll get the others up. 'Cause Norm would likely shoot you out of surprise you're in the boat." Edgar pointed a knife at their buddy, saying the instructions slowly and sternly.
"Yessir." Silver mocked a salute, watching as Edgar began frying the fish fillets. The smell of frying fish filling the galley, and it smelt good.
A few minutes later, was when Ed had told Ver to go wake Sig up. So Silver quietly opened doors til he found Sig's room. "Um, hey, uh, Edgar told me to wake you up." Silver poked the veteran Captain's arm, waking him up, almost instantly. "Huh, ah, okay, agh.." Sig groaned, but caught the smell drafting around the boat.
Silver had sneaked out of the room and back to the galley by the time Sig had gotten dressed.
Silver padded into the galley, sitting back in his original spot. By now, most of rhe fish was friend, and a salad was made with it.
By the time it was done, all the crew had gone and sat around the table, although most were weary with having Silver there.
Silver watched as the crew and Captain began eating, skratch that, not watched, observed. For over a decade or more, he had eaten with his paws.
So he forgot how to eat with a fork.
So he silently sat and waited. A few compliments here and there about the fish being good, about it being naturally salty and delicious overall.
"Hey, why aren't you eating? Edgar asked, being seated right beside the warm, furred body.
"Well uhh... I, umm, kinda forgot how to eat with a... fork." Silver lowered his head in embarrassment. And it hit the crew like a train.
Silver had been so cut off from society that he forgot basic human instincts and natures. Although he wasn't physically human. He was mentally and emotionally human..
Edgar stared at the dragon-like creature for a second, before grabbing the extra fork.
"Gimme your hand- paw-" Edgar ordered, holding his hand out for Silver to put his paw onto.
Silver did as ordered, and Edgar placed the fork in the position people held it in, enclosing the padded digets around the metal. "Stab it."
Silver did as so, and his ears propped up, a relief coming over him. He tore a bit of the fish off with the fork, and ate it. "Thanks, man." Silver smiled, slightly showing his sharp teeth.
Norman sighed mentally, maybe this guy is just lost, and really is a man inside.
"Thank you. For this, and for letting me inside, it's not nice getting your energy drained just to stay warm in some cold ass water." Silver chuckled, some of the guys laughing.
"You're a good bunch of guys."