Djiamren: I'm glad you like Kessy so much- I'm loosely basing her on
myself. (If you notice I only changed two letters of my name- Kelsey) I'm
using the name Freya- many thanks!
Clara200: I'm using the name Friga- that's exactly what she'll be like too!
A1: Yes, squirrels are the best. Thanks for the compliments and you will find out about the romance latter- pretty obvious pairings though. I'm using a variation of Brina.
Okay here are some notes that will help with story comprehension: Freya- (new char.) a squirrelmaid who speaks cockney. I got the idea from Loamhedge. Horty calls Martha 'skin and blister' this is cockney for 'sister.' How cockney works is you get two words that are related like 'Cain and Abel.' This rhymes with 'table' so you use the first of the related words to substitute for 'table.' A sentence in cockney might be, "Set your tea on the Cain." You probably won't understand Freya- don't worry you will in time. She calls Jyda nine because 'nine, ten' is related and Jyda is the 'captain.' If anyone can translate Freya or write a review in cockney, I'll be very interested!
Some helpful boat terms: gunwales- ship's railing; standing rigging- sails, masts, and secured objects; running rigging- ropes; boom- the piece of wood a ship's sail is connected to
***
Of Plights and Fights
By: Catty Engles
"Looks like fun!" Chorls quipped dryly.
Ren ignored him, more involved in the three vermin who had undeniably noticed their escape.
Ren tugged on the severed oar that still bound Chorls to him, "Time to be scarce, pal. I've got an idea but I'll need some help."
Chorls tried to salute with his paw but only managed to painfully rap himself in the head with the oar. Ren grimaced as he started to drag the irrepressible hare toward the main mast. In tow, Chorls ambled along, blissfully unaware of the trio of vermin scrambling over the deck. "I'll lend ye some help matey. Anything for my pal o' pals. You could say we're peas in a pod, or stumps on a log, or two escaped slaves shackled to a thingamummywhatsit. Yessir I'll lend ya help, and I'll lend anybeast who tries to stop me two pops an' a pip!"
Ren found it difficult to scale the mast without free use of his paws, but he was a squirrel. Chorls, however, was not having such a light time. "Eh bushtail, mind slowin' down for one who isn't as jolly well gifted at climbin' up masts?" Ren rolled his eyes patronizingly and muttered to Chorls.
"Will you turn yer great floppeared head and take a gander at the vermin that are right on our tail?" Chorls whirled around. He was met with the sight of two rats and a stoat coming full tilt at the mast's base. Chorls yelped and bellied up the rest of the mast, surpassing Ren and dragging him along. He clung to the first sail he came to, precariously balanced on its boom. Ren hopped up beside him.
"Why're we up 'ere? Now we're as good as toads on a stick. What are we bally well gonna do now!?" Ren smiled at the flustered hare and grasped the grappling rope that was fastened to the boom.
"We slide."
***
Jyda was making quick work of the three rats that had tried to cut her off from the rest of the group. She parried the rats' sword strokes. One held a spiked mace, big and ungainly. It had crashed into the deck a number of times, Jyda skipping nimbly out of its way.
Three rats were a fair enough match, but a muscular ferret and a fat stoat with a split ear had joined them. Jyda found herself encircled by the fierce vermin. Hesitating only a beat, Jyda flung herself at the nearest rat, slicing into him with her stolen scimitar. She turned her attention to the ferret and stoat that had tried to take advantage of her unprotected back.
Ashlyn, noticing her dilemma drew a particularly straight arrow from her quiver. Notching it to her bow with a practiced flip, she leaped with powerful hind legs to land on a weasel's shoulders. Taking quick aim she loosed the shaft with deadly accuracy. The ferret fell on top of Jyda, muffling her cry of surprise.
Ashlyn quickly rammed her footpaw onto the weasel's head, hearing a satisfying crack. The weasel fell silently, his neck broken.
Ashlyn leapt free of the vermin and hurried to Jyda's side. Twyler and Kessy adequately held off the rest of the onslaught so Ashlyn could help her captain to move the ferret. She had just managed to free Jyda's upper body when a yell pierced the battle sounds, and something barreled into the both of them, sending the two sliding across the deck, a jumble of limbs.
***
Chorls clung to the mast, shaking his head vigorously. "No mate. No way are yer ever goin' to get this young handsome hare to risk life and limb just to bally well humor your cruel intentions. I'll be crushed and you'll be a bally murderer."
"You're a fickle friend, mate. First I'm your pal o' pals and now a murderer."
"Well one never knows with those squirrel types. Never the ones to be flippin' trusted, them." Chorls shot back.
"Oh, and I'm sure you hare types are all for sprouting wings and flying at the drop of a paw." Ren glanced nonchalantly at the rapidly ascending vermin. Chorls began to get nervous. He shifted from paw to paw, his eyes flicking back and forth, consumed by indecision. At last, he made up his mind, albeit begrudgingly.
"All right, gerron wid it. Twill be far from a noble death for one oh so noble. Good bye sweet life, good bye sweet sea, goo-"
"Button your gob, Chorls, and hold on tight." As the first vermin reached the sail, Ren kicked him full in the face, sending the hapless rat flying to catch one of him comrades, flinging them off the mast. The second rat dodged both of the other vermin and hung on gamely to Chorls's footpaw, weighing him down. Chorls began to slip. The next events happened in quick procession.
Ren flung himself over the grappling rope, extending the oar that connected him to Chorls over it. Chorls pushed away from the mast, the rat still latched onto his footpaw. The added weight weighed down Chorls's side, levering Ren farther above the sea.
Chorls was stretched to the breaking point and he let everyone know it, "YAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Over the churning swells swung the daring pair and the unwilling vermin. Ren braced himself for impact. He extended his legs and pushed off of the ship's railing, sending him and Chorls soaring away from the line that had been attached to the gunwales. The rat's head collided with the hull, rendering a sickening thud. He fell like a rock into the sea.
Chorls and Ren had a soft landing, unfortunately it was directly on the heads of Ashlyn and Jyda.
***
Ren landed on his feet, but Chorls careened into his back, accidentally rapping Ren's head with the oar, knocking him out. Chorls jumped up to find his friend limp at his side. Taking in the raging battle, Chorls decided that this wasn't the place for an unconscious squirrel. Before Jyda and Ashlyn recovered from their shock, Chorls was able to drag Ren behind the for'c'sle cabin.
Jyda dazedly looked around. Ashlyn was holding her pounding head between her paws, grimacing. Jyda helped the taller hare to her feet and recovered her stolen scimitar from a place ten feet away. Jyda was bewildered. She had only remembered being hit and then getting up again.
She had no time to reflect upon what had happened, for an exceptionally ugly stoat had dragged his formidable bulk in front of Jyda. He was at least twice her size. She scowled at him and began to circle. Fortunately for Jyda, another squirrelmaid, named Freya, observed her predicament.
She bounded over, drawing a keen dagger from her belt. "Oi, gyp-jem, wot say you we connan yer ugly sheets and chuck you off the nanny all by yer jack, eh?" The stoat hesitated for a moment too long. Freya and Jyda cannoned into him, barreling him into a cluster of vermin nearby. Chaos ensued. Jyda took advantage of the brief lull to thank her crewmate.
"Thanks Freya. You really saved my skin there. Seasons be gone if I know what you said though." Jyda wiped perspiration from her nose tip.
Freya tugged her fore lock respectfully and answered, "Chitty chitty always comes in handy when you want to make a brown out of a twonk rather than have a dickie. Some barmies go eppy on me but you, nine, you don't act something picadilly."
Jyda smiled sagely, trying to look as if she never acted "something picadilly." She shook her head mournfully. Jyda would never understand cockney. She had no idea where Freya picked it up, but now that she had, she wouldn't put it down.
The vermin had taken quite a beating from the fierce Maids of the Sea and were now retreating to their own ship, tails tucked between their legs- all but one. Captain Milkeye, commander of the ship, Bloodrut, stood poised alone on the gunwales. The ferret was fiendish and well muscled. A crimson velvet jerkin was fastened around his hardened body. One eye was sightless, a foggy white orb that rolled continuously on its own accord.
He grimaced and fingered his jeweled scimitar. Stoats, rats, ferrets, weasels, and a handful of foxes, dragged themselves over the railing. Ropes were draped over the side of the boat for the beasts unfortunate enough to have taken an unintentional swim.
The two ships began to drift apart. Both sides breathing hard and licking their wounds.
Twyler found Jyda perched on a makeshift seat of running rigging. Twyler was supporting her close friend, Brini, another otter like herself. Most of the time the two were inseparable. Brini sported a shallow gash that ran from her shoulder to half way across her hardened chest. Jyda winced and motioned for Kessy and another mousemaid, Friga, to take the wounded otter to their makeshift infirmary.
Twyler leaned against Jyda's suspended bulk and sighed regretfully. "Well, that's it then."
Jyda shook her head resolutely, "Not that ship, not that captain, they'll follow us where 'ere we go. Don't you remember?"
Twyler nodded calmly, "Aye, how could I fergit?"
***
Ok, anyone up for a cockney review?! Can't wait to hear them!!! You'll get to know Friga and Brini better next chapter. I'm trying to think of a name that is lovable. Some sweet little creature that everyone likes. I'm debating on Shay and Nanda, you decide.
Clara200: I'm using the name Friga- that's exactly what she'll be like too!
A1: Yes, squirrels are the best. Thanks for the compliments and you will find out about the romance latter- pretty obvious pairings though. I'm using a variation of Brina.
Okay here are some notes that will help with story comprehension: Freya- (new char.) a squirrelmaid who speaks cockney. I got the idea from Loamhedge. Horty calls Martha 'skin and blister' this is cockney for 'sister.' How cockney works is you get two words that are related like 'Cain and Abel.' This rhymes with 'table' so you use the first of the related words to substitute for 'table.' A sentence in cockney might be, "Set your tea on the Cain." You probably won't understand Freya- don't worry you will in time. She calls Jyda nine because 'nine, ten' is related and Jyda is the 'captain.' If anyone can translate Freya or write a review in cockney, I'll be very interested!
Some helpful boat terms: gunwales- ship's railing; standing rigging- sails, masts, and secured objects; running rigging- ropes; boom- the piece of wood a ship's sail is connected to
***
Of Plights and Fights
By: Catty Engles
"Looks like fun!" Chorls quipped dryly.
Ren ignored him, more involved in the three vermin who had undeniably noticed their escape.
Ren tugged on the severed oar that still bound Chorls to him, "Time to be scarce, pal. I've got an idea but I'll need some help."
Chorls tried to salute with his paw but only managed to painfully rap himself in the head with the oar. Ren grimaced as he started to drag the irrepressible hare toward the main mast. In tow, Chorls ambled along, blissfully unaware of the trio of vermin scrambling over the deck. "I'll lend ye some help matey. Anything for my pal o' pals. You could say we're peas in a pod, or stumps on a log, or two escaped slaves shackled to a thingamummywhatsit. Yessir I'll lend ya help, and I'll lend anybeast who tries to stop me two pops an' a pip!"
Ren found it difficult to scale the mast without free use of his paws, but he was a squirrel. Chorls, however, was not having such a light time. "Eh bushtail, mind slowin' down for one who isn't as jolly well gifted at climbin' up masts?" Ren rolled his eyes patronizingly and muttered to Chorls.
"Will you turn yer great floppeared head and take a gander at the vermin that are right on our tail?" Chorls whirled around. He was met with the sight of two rats and a stoat coming full tilt at the mast's base. Chorls yelped and bellied up the rest of the mast, surpassing Ren and dragging him along. He clung to the first sail he came to, precariously balanced on its boom. Ren hopped up beside him.
"Why're we up 'ere? Now we're as good as toads on a stick. What are we bally well gonna do now!?" Ren smiled at the flustered hare and grasped the grappling rope that was fastened to the boom.
"We slide."
***
Jyda was making quick work of the three rats that had tried to cut her off from the rest of the group. She parried the rats' sword strokes. One held a spiked mace, big and ungainly. It had crashed into the deck a number of times, Jyda skipping nimbly out of its way.
Three rats were a fair enough match, but a muscular ferret and a fat stoat with a split ear had joined them. Jyda found herself encircled by the fierce vermin. Hesitating only a beat, Jyda flung herself at the nearest rat, slicing into him with her stolen scimitar. She turned her attention to the ferret and stoat that had tried to take advantage of her unprotected back.
Ashlyn, noticing her dilemma drew a particularly straight arrow from her quiver. Notching it to her bow with a practiced flip, she leaped with powerful hind legs to land on a weasel's shoulders. Taking quick aim she loosed the shaft with deadly accuracy. The ferret fell on top of Jyda, muffling her cry of surprise.
Ashlyn quickly rammed her footpaw onto the weasel's head, hearing a satisfying crack. The weasel fell silently, his neck broken.
Ashlyn leapt free of the vermin and hurried to Jyda's side. Twyler and Kessy adequately held off the rest of the onslaught so Ashlyn could help her captain to move the ferret. She had just managed to free Jyda's upper body when a yell pierced the battle sounds, and something barreled into the both of them, sending the two sliding across the deck, a jumble of limbs.
***
Chorls clung to the mast, shaking his head vigorously. "No mate. No way are yer ever goin' to get this young handsome hare to risk life and limb just to bally well humor your cruel intentions. I'll be crushed and you'll be a bally murderer."
"You're a fickle friend, mate. First I'm your pal o' pals and now a murderer."
"Well one never knows with those squirrel types. Never the ones to be flippin' trusted, them." Chorls shot back.
"Oh, and I'm sure you hare types are all for sprouting wings and flying at the drop of a paw." Ren glanced nonchalantly at the rapidly ascending vermin. Chorls began to get nervous. He shifted from paw to paw, his eyes flicking back and forth, consumed by indecision. At last, he made up his mind, albeit begrudgingly.
"All right, gerron wid it. Twill be far from a noble death for one oh so noble. Good bye sweet life, good bye sweet sea, goo-"
"Button your gob, Chorls, and hold on tight." As the first vermin reached the sail, Ren kicked him full in the face, sending the hapless rat flying to catch one of him comrades, flinging them off the mast. The second rat dodged both of the other vermin and hung on gamely to Chorls's footpaw, weighing him down. Chorls began to slip. The next events happened in quick procession.
Ren flung himself over the grappling rope, extending the oar that connected him to Chorls over it. Chorls pushed away from the mast, the rat still latched onto his footpaw. The added weight weighed down Chorls's side, levering Ren farther above the sea.
Chorls was stretched to the breaking point and he let everyone know it, "YAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Over the churning swells swung the daring pair and the unwilling vermin. Ren braced himself for impact. He extended his legs and pushed off of the ship's railing, sending him and Chorls soaring away from the line that had been attached to the gunwales. The rat's head collided with the hull, rendering a sickening thud. He fell like a rock into the sea.
Chorls and Ren had a soft landing, unfortunately it was directly on the heads of Ashlyn and Jyda.
***
Ren landed on his feet, but Chorls careened into his back, accidentally rapping Ren's head with the oar, knocking him out. Chorls jumped up to find his friend limp at his side. Taking in the raging battle, Chorls decided that this wasn't the place for an unconscious squirrel. Before Jyda and Ashlyn recovered from their shock, Chorls was able to drag Ren behind the for'c'sle cabin.
Jyda dazedly looked around. Ashlyn was holding her pounding head between her paws, grimacing. Jyda helped the taller hare to her feet and recovered her stolen scimitar from a place ten feet away. Jyda was bewildered. She had only remembered being hit and then getting up again.
She had no time to reflect upon what had happened, for an exceptionally ugly stoat had dragged his formidable bulk in front of Jyda. He was at least twice her size. She scowled at him and began to circle. Fortunately for Jyda, another squirrelmaid, named Freya, observed her predicament.
She bounded over, drawing a keen dagger from her belt. "Oi, gyp-jem, wot say you we connan yer ugly sheets and chuck you off the nanny all by yer jack, eh?" The stoat hesitated for a moment too long. Freya and Jyda cannoned into him, barreling him into a cluster of vermin nearby. Chaos ensued. Jyda took advantage of the brief lull to thank her crewmate.
"Thanks Freya. You really saved my skin there. Seasons be gone if I know what you said though." Jyda wiped perspiration from her nose tip.
Freya tugged her fore lock respectfully and answered, "Chitty chitty always comes in handy when you want to make a brown out of a twonk rather than have a dickie. Some barmies go eppy on me but you, nine, you don't act something picadilly."
Jyda smiled sagely, trying to look as if she never acted "something picadilly." She shook her head mournfully. Jyda would never understand cockney. She had no idea where Freya picked it up, but now that she had, she wouldn't put it down.
The vermin had taken quite a beating from the fierce Maids of the Sea and were now retreating to their own ship, tails tucked between their legs- all but one. Captain Milkeye, commander of the ship, Bloodrut, stood poised alone on the gunwales. The ferret was fiendish and well muscled. A crimson velvet jerkin was fastened around his hardened body. One eye was sightless, a foggy white orb that rolled continuously on its own accord.
He grimaced and fingered his jeweled scimitar. Stoats, rats, ferrets, weasels, and a handful of foxes, dragged themselves over the railing. Ropes were draped over the side of the boat for the beasts unfortunate enough to have taken an unintentional swim.
The two ships began to drift apart. Both sides breathing hard and licking their wounds.
Twyler found Jyda perched on a makeshift seat of running rigging. Twyler was supporting her close friend, Brini, another otter like herself. Most of the time the two were inseparable. Brini sported a shallow gash that ran from her shoulder to half way across her hardened chest. Jyda winced and motioned for Kessy and another mousemaid, Friga, to take the wounded otter to their makeshift infirmary.
Twyler leaned against Jyda's suspended bulk and sighed regretfully. "Well, that's it then."
Jyda shook her head resolutely, "Not that ship, not that captain, they'll follow us where 'ere we go. Don't you remember?"
Twyler nodded calmly, "Aye, how could I fergit?"
***
Ok, anyone up for a cockney review?! Can't wait to hear them!!! You'll get to know Friga and Brini better next chapter. I'm trying to think of a name that is lovable. Some sweet little creature that everyone likes. I'm debating on Shay and Nanda, you decide.