~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 3
Kit had been in New Fedora three days and already things weren't going right. He was hungry and had no money. He tried to find work by lying about his age, but people knew he wasn't 16 as he had said. He wandered the dark streets hungry and alone. The one time in his short life he thought he'd be happy…he wasn't. He kept walking, hoping to find a comfortable place to sleep for the night.
"Ah-ha-ha! Another successful pillage men! Gems, jewels and gold!"
A heavily accented voice startled Kit, who ducked for cover.
"Come on you ninnypoops! Back to the Iron Vulture!"
Thoughts were swirling through Kit's mind. He thought the men must have been thieves. And what was an Iron Vulture?
Kit stayed low as the men walked past him. He saw four of them. A large, burly dog, a small, lean ferret, a small brown dog, and a suave fox. He felt an urge to sneeze, but tried to hold it until the men where gone.
"Ahh men, I am so proud of this pillaging! It has been our best in awhile!" Kit saw it was the fox speaking and he looked extremely happy.
"So many rubies! I don't think I have ever seen that-"
"ACHOO!!"
"Bless you Mad Dog. Now where was I? Ahh yes…I don't think I have ever seen that many rubies in my entire wonderful life!"
"Uhh...Captain?"
"What could you possibly want Mad Dog?" The captain replied.
"I didn't sneeze."
"Is that all you wanted to tell me?! You interrupted me for that? I can't believe what an idiot you – hey wait a minute.."
"Yes, Captain, sir?"
"If you didn't sneeze and neither did these other idiots…who did?"
Kit knew he had been caught so he ducked even lower.
"Maybe dat vittle kid hiding in thee darkness can tell you." The large dog, with a heavy Swedish accent said to the Captain.
"Little kid? Where? Maybe we can rob him!"
"Vight there Cap'in."
The captain walked over and lifted Kit up by his collar. "Very small kid isn't he?" The captain eyed Kit over.
"Put me down," Kit yelled at the fox angrily.
"Feisty isn't he? Tell me your name kid."
"Kit Cloudkicker. And I'd like to be leaving now."
"I am the feared pirate Don Karnage. Master of plundering and pillaging. What is a kid like you doing out here at this time of night? You should be in beddy-bi, yes-no?
"Why do you care? LET ME GO!" Kit struggled against the fox, but was no match.
"How about you come with us little kid? This feared pirate does not give to charity cases, but you my boy, show potential. I like it."
Kit, wanting to feel accepted by someone, since he never was, sighed. "All right," he said.
"Oh goodie! A new pirate for me to mold in my image!" Don Karnage giddily jumped around. "Ahh…yes. I should introduce theses plundering idiots to you, yes-no?"
"Umm…" Kit was confused by all the excitement and new faces.
"Of course I should a-ha-ha! Even though they deserve no introduction."
The large dog stepped forward. "Vello there. I am –"
"Shut up you idiot! Didn't I say I was doing the introductions here?" Karnage slapped the dog across the face.
"Idiot numero uno here is Dumptruck." Karnage pointed to the ferret next. "This is Mad Dog." The ferret just nodded. Kit was confused about his name…Mad Dog, but he was a ferret. Kit's thoughts were broken as Karnage spoke up again. "The last one," Karnage pointed to the small brown dog, "is Gibber. He would never tell anyone any of my secrets."
Gibber whispered something to the Captain, who grinned as to show Kit was he meant. "Gibber says to tell you hello." Kit almost giggled. "Can't he tell me for himself?" Gibber once again whispered to Karnage. "No, my little fellow, he can't. That is why I trust him with my secrets."
Kit gave them all a skeptical look. "So I can join you guys?"
"Why of course my boy! I was always looking for a younger, not so idiotic partner." Karnage grinned. "So shall we head for the Iron Vulture?"
Kit nodded and they began walking again. He felt strange being with these people, but joining them would give him the sense of belonging he had always wanted to feel.
They walked along the street until they reached the docks. Kit right then knew what the Iron Vulture was. The large metal bird loomed up in front of him.
"All right men! Open the hatch," Karnage called out to the bird in the fog.
At once the beak of the giant metal bird opened, and Karnage and the others walked in. "Come on young fellow. Come see our wondrous home." Karnage motioned for Kit to follow and turned around and kept walking.
Kit walked in and looked around. He was in a giant room big enough to fly a plane around in.
"What do you think my boy?" Karnage was suddenly behind him which made Kit jump.
"It's nice," he replied cautiously.
"Yes it is. Come see your living quarters." Karnage put a hand on Kit's shoulder as to guide him in the right direction.
They walked up a plank into a hallway. Karnage knocked on the second metal door. "Come out my fellow pillager." A raccoon came to the door. "Is that you Captain?" The raccoon looked as he had been awaken from a comfortable sleep. "Who else would it be?" Karnage slapped him. Kit came out from behind Karnage.
"This is Kit, a new young addition to out wonderful plundering family. He will be sleeping in your room now. So that means, get out and find somewhere else, because this young pirate needs his sleep." The raccoon looked at Karnage, grumbled something and left.
"Welcome to your living quarters Kit. I hope you are comfortable. If you need me, my room is down the hall."
Kit nodded and thanked the Captain.
"No need to thank me! I should be thanking you! I am so happy to have a new face aboard!" Karnage patted Kit's shoulder and headed down the hall. Kit closed his door and flopped down on the bed. He drifted into a sound sleep, dreaming about finally being accepted and how his life would be.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Wakey-wakey young plunderer." A suave voice awaked Kit from his dreams. "We must not waste time! I need to show you the rest of the Vulture and take you on your first plundering." Kit didn't say anything.
"But first I have a present for you."
"A present?," Kit asked in a surprised tone.
"Of course! My new pillager needs to show his pirate pride yes-no?"
"Yes, I do!" Kit nodded excitedly. He was so glad to be finally accepted by someone.
Karnage handed a red scarf to Kit.
"What am I suppose to do with this?," Kit asked.
"Tie it around your neck. It is a symbol of being a pirate. Wear it with pride young plunderer." Karnage seemed to be happy and Kit didn't want to disappoint him. He groaned inwardly, but put a smile on his face and knotted the scarf around his neck.
"You are meant to be a pirate!" Karnage was again giddy and grinned excitedly. "Come on! You have a big first day ahead of you!"
Kit jumped off the bed and followed Karnage. In his mind he hoped he had made the right choice.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~