CHAPTER 4
Ranapaw leapt out of the small cot like a salmon struggling to get over a waterfall.
With an empty bucket in his paws, Tashoal stood beside the bed. A small grin played at the corners of the old, grizzly, sea otter's mouth.
"Wot was that for?!" Ranapaw cried out through her chattering teeth and she vigorously rubbed her fur.
"Remember I told ye t'be up at dawn?" The older otter shook the last drops of water out of the bucket and stated bluntly, "Well, it's dawn."
Turning back towards the door of the small bedroom-like cave, Tashoal looked at his niece over his shoulder. "Get changed inta' some dry clothes an' come out for some mornin' vittles."
Creeping up behind her uncle, Ranapaw made ready to shake all of the cold water out of her fur, and onto her unsuspecting uncle.
"Don't even think about it, missie!" Tashoal didn't even look back, but continued on out of the cave.
Completely surprise, Ranapaw's jaw hung slack. Blinking, she wondered how he knew she was going splash water on him? Instead, she grabbed the towel Tashoal oh-so thoughtfully left for her on the rock ledge and hurriedly dried herself off. Her stomach rumbled reminding her she hadn't eaten since lunchtime yesterday.
Ranapaw joined her uncle in the main cave. Even though the sun was up, the cave still seemed dark. Water droplets echoed and the only real source of light was the reed torches around the cave. What better a place for an old sea pirate or so Nomsea told her, to live. Tashoal grinned at her, and waved for her to come over to the rock slab where he stood.
Handing Ranapaw a steaming bowl of kelp porridge, Tashoal grabbed his own breakfast of lemon-steamed salmon and set about devouring the fish. Ranapaw wrinkled her nose and looked disappointed at the chunky contents of the bowl. She glanced at Tashoal's plate and then back at her bowl.
"How come I get.... this? And you get salmon!" She put her bowl back down on the rock slab and crossed her arms stubbornly. "'Tis not fair!"
Tashoal sat down in a wooden chair and took a huge bite of his salmon. "Yer right, it ain't fair. But wot are ya' gonna do about it?" He asked around a mouthful and pointed his fork at her. "Do ya' see anythin' else you can eat?"
"Well..." The young otter looked around the cave, getting the feeling she was being tricked. "No..."
Tashoal took another huge forkful of his steaming salmon before continuing.
"Aye, that's me point. You can't 'ave everythin' ya' want." He swallowed, bobbing his head. "First step in becomin' a warrior, ya' 'ave t'learn to accept the world don't stop for you and life ain't ever gonna be fair. If'n the world was fair would there be such thing as galley slaves? 'Eh? So take wot you get, an' make something' out of it!"
Ranapaw nodded and scratched behind her ear, thinking to herself that wisdom often hid itself in strange creatures. The old, battle scarred otter didn't seem like the type of creature described as 'whimsical'. With a bit of a puzzled look, Ranapaw watched her uncle.
With a hearty chuckle, Tashoal handed Ranapaw the bowl of porridge back. Ranapaw still looked down at the porridge with disappointment, but swallowed another protest and swallowed a spoonful of bland porridge.
Sitting back against the ledge, Tashoal allowed a small, satisfied smile decorate his face. Willing, if not stubborn, he thought, finishing off the last bite of salmon. If only I wasn't so old, I'd teach her myself. The old otter slid down off the ledge and patted Ranapaw on the back.
Her cheeks puffed out full of unswallowed porridge, Ranapaw looked like a chipmunk with nuts in its cheeks. Closing her eyes, she choked down the foul porridge. She'd eaten a lot of porridge in her life, but nothing as bitter as Tashoal's.
"Whew, guess ya' can't be a sea captain an' a cook 'eh?" She sighed with relief, and looked at Tashoal. His one eye narrowed at her comment. Ranapaw chuckled nervously and quickly changed the subject. "How did ya' know I wanted t'be a warrior?"
"Oh, a warrior can tell another warrior from a mile away," Tashoal settled back in his chair. The look on Ranapaw's face indicated her curiosity. "I saw ya' more than once stand up fer others. Like when you gave Sealily a clout in the nose when she was going t'dump a pail 'o fish guttings on Nomsea's wee lad. Remember that? Even though you were the one who got punished ya' did the same thing again after. Do y'know why?"
Ranapaw fidgeted with her bracelet, wondering if she just kept quiet Tashoal would answer the question for her. After a moments silence, Ranapaw shrugged. "I dunno.."
Tashoal nodded, watching her with his single eye. Eventually she'd be able to answer that for herself. "C'mon Rana, 'tis time you got t'work."
A little confused, Ranapaw blinked and watched Tashoal disappear behind another door. She half expected him to come out with another bucket of cold water to dump on her.
After listening to Tashoal rummage through things in the other room, curiosity over came her. Quietly she crept to the door, and peeked around the door and finally walked in.
With a wild cry, Tashoal leapt at Ranapaw from behind the door. Squeaking in surprise, Ranapaw dropped to the floor, allowing for Tashoal to pass right over her. She jumped up, ran out of the room and slammed the door behind her.
With her heart lodged in her throat, Ranapaw leaned against the door. Maybe uncle Nomsea was right about Tashoal being a crazy old sea captain. Too much sea water between the ears!
"Good job m'dear!" Tashoal exclaimed happily from behind the heavy door. "You can let me out now matey."
"No way, ya' crazy barnacle brained sea dog!" Ranapaw yelled back, bracing her back against the door. "First ya' dump cold water on me, then ya' make me eat that..that..gruel, and then ya 'ttack me!"
From behind the door, Ranapaw could of sworn she heard Tashoal chuckle quietly. After a few minutes of complete silence from behind the door, Ranapaw stepped away from it. Something fishy is going on, she thought as she looked at the door. Shrugging the feeling off, Ranapaw turned around to but her back against the door once again, but there was Tashoal, with a huge grin splitting his face.
Ranapaw stared at the Tashoal for a moment, then back at the door.
"Wha? How did you....in there...?" She floundered with words, before finally clamping her mouth shut.
"Just testin' yore reflexes me gal." His grin didn't diminish at all. "Not too bad, I must say so meself. Though I could 'elp improve it."
"Why are ya' testin' me?? Ranapaw asked, trying to make her voice sound more commanding and demanding of an answer. "I want a straight answer, not any o' yore tricks."
"Rana, Rana, Rana," Tashoal spread his skinny arms wide. "I've got t'know wot yore skills are like 'fore I start t'train ya'."
Ignoring the fact her uncle said it like she was daft, Ranapaw's eyes twinkled with excitement. She bobbed her head up and down. "Yore really gonna train me?"
The old sea captain nodded, "Since I can't teach ya' everything, I'm going to take ya to a place where I think you'll fit in shipshape." Tashoal stroked his whiskers. "'Fore ya' get yoreself inta' a knot an eel couldn't get outta, are ya sure you don't want t'go back home matey?"
The excited bobbing stopped and Ranapaw shoulders slumped forward. She didn't want to spend her life in a fishing Holt, but she didn't want to just forget about her family back at Holt Kelpda. Resolutely, she lifted her chin, she couldn't let herself regret this chance if she let it slip away.
"I'm goin'!" She stamped her tail hard against the floor to accent her words. "I'm not goin' back!"
"Alright then mate, we leave today." Tashoal regarded Ranapaw proudly. "After lunch o' course though."
CHAPTER 5
On the horizon, from somebeast standing on the shore, the many dots ontop of the water could hardly be seen. By morning however those dots would drift closer, ominously, like thunderheads over the water to show their fearsome appearance.
The head of the fearsome ships loomed in size far greater than that of the other ships of the fleet. On the for' deck, the high general of the fleet (as he liked to call himself) stood surveying the expanse of water. Barax Leechpaw deeply inhaled the fresh salty air. He commanded the sea, ships loyal to him sailed the seas, plundering for him, conquering for him. Each ship in his great fleet were 'persuaded' with effective means to join his great fleet, which numbered over 200 ships.
A grim, evil smile crossed Barax's face. Now that he had the sea under his fist, it would be only fitting that the land were to become his also. If he could conquer the sea, with it's sudden squalls, and great expanse, he could conquer the simple landlubbers.
The stoat's thoughts of domination were pushed back to a corner of his mind as his keen eyes sighted one of his fifty Bloodbearers slowly walking towards the forward deck.
Their long, crimson capes and long black robes could easily identify Bloodbearers. All Bloodbearers were mysterious and no beast knew why they were called Bloodbearers. Barax commanded a total of fifty Bloodbearers, who each commanded four ships. No beast ever dared to disobey the orders of a Bloodbearers, not even the ships' captains. To disobey a Bloodbearer meant instant, and painful death. Every fleet member had seen what torture a Bloodbearer could execute with the twin short swords that hung from their red silk belts.
"Ahh, Searclaw," Barax's smooth as steel voice beckoned the Bloodbearer. "My Bloodbearer, what can I do for you?"
For a moment, Searclaw studied the high general. Even though Barax Leechpaw wouldn't be considered tall for his species, he still cut an imposing and impressive figure. His steel grey eyes could pierce anybeast to the soul. Always alert, searching, scanning, those eyes never seemed to miss anything. Barax's grey tunic perfectly matched his eyes and his deep brown fur.
Few scars decorated his brown coat, with the exception of his paws. Furless white circles covered half the surfaces on both paws. On the fur that remained, tattooed images of leeches circled the scars. Both scars and tattoos the source of Barax's name.
"My Bloodbearer," Barax's eyes burned into the black and red robed rat. "You have come to tell me something, when do you plan to tell me? Or will I have to drag it out of you?"
"Of course not, my general." Searclaw bowed low and pushed back his black hood. "Sir, the WaveSmasher needs to repair her sails and some riggings. The other three ships under my paws also are in need of repairs."
The stoat raised an eyebrow. "Did you just come to tell me things I already know of?"
"No sir," The rat bowed his head once more and mentally kicked himself for stepping on the high general's paws. "Mearly I came to ask if you think it would be wise to find shelter to repair and rest the fleet?" Searclaw flinched slightly as Barax's razor sharp claws dug into the side of his neck.
"Searclaw," Barax's voice even though it held the same tone as before was suddenly very calm, yet dangerous. He started to close his fist around the rat's neck. "A Bloodbearer's duty is to-" The stoat stopped suddenly, turning his head slightly. Searclaw let out a small, silent sigh of relief.
Out from Barax's personal cabin, Ripteeth clung to the shadows, sure that no beast saw him. In the weasel's dirty claws was one of Barax's silver chalices. The weasel, new to the fleet, held a deep grudge against Barax Leechpaw for taking over his prized ship, the Ebony Blood, and his crew.
Ripteeth clacked his jagged, broken teeth together like a squirrel who just found a cache of nuts. Hah! All he had to do was coat a bit of puffer fish flesh around the inside of the cup. Then he would take his own ship back and go back to pirating the coast.
Sticking to the shadows, the rotund ex-captain gently shoved the silver chalice into the fold of his rags. Glancing around to assure himself that no beast saw him, Ripteeth's face cracked into a crooked grin, and the weasel loped off like a dibbun with a pawful of candied chestnuts.
Barax chuckled, and released his vice-like grip on Searclaw's throat.
"Of all things, Ripteeth steals my chalice, 'eh?"
Searclaw massaged his neck, unsure of what to say. Instead, he just nodded.
"Bloodbearers, raise the flags to order the fleet to drop anchor. I want all the Bloodbearer's on the this ship before dinner." He told Searclaw, watching Ripteeth walk away.
~*~