In the end, it was decided to go to the Hole to drop off the Hunter. That way, they would still be there when Karnage's parents showed up. As it turned out, Karnage's parents were already there.
Camdyn stared at the ship the two wolves inhabited. It was smaller than she'd imagined.
"What?" Roxie asked, noticing the vixens gaze.
"I thought it would be...well, bigger."
"Silly. Real pirates don't use galleons and stuff like that. Most of the time they use speedboats now."
"Speedboats?"
"Yep."
"Hey, Mad Dog!" Camdyn called. After being sure she had everyone's attention, she continued, "Do you think we could get some speedboats and turn into sea pirates?"
"Hell no. I hate water."
"Are you a dog or a cat?" Camdyn retorted.
"Meow."
"Haha. Funny, Mad Dog."
There were only a few other crews there, mostly they lived in the Hole. Camdyn had climbed up the ridge a few hours before just to see if it was truly a city in a hole and indeed it was. Now they were waiting for Karnage to find his parents and bring them back to the beach.
"I'm hungry." Will, Jr. stated flatly.
"You are always hungry." Sable muttered.
"Hey...I'm hungry too." Mad Dog said. He picked a beetle off the rock next to him and ate it.
"Aw that's sick." Will Jr. grumbled, covering his eyes with one hand and holding his stomach with the other.
"No. It's good. Could use some salt though...you got any salt?"
"Salt water." Camdyn said. "In a great big bucket. To drown you with."
"Now you're tryin' ta make me sick." Mad Dog said. He turned his attention to another annoying bug and ate it. Will Jr continued staring at him.
"So...um...what does it taste like?"
"Chicken."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Only the legs tickle on the way down. You oughtta try it." Mad Dog grinned.
"Uh...no thanks."
"More for me." Mad Dog said chewing another bug.
"Why do you eat the most disgusting stuff you can find?" Zoll asked.
"Cause no one else wants it."
"Well, I suppose that's as good an excuse as any." Zoll muttered.
Suki giggled at Zoll.
"You just don't appreciate good snacking."
"Heh. Like you'd go...and..."
Suki looked up at Zoll while chewing on a beetle.
"Eat something like that...no wonder you two get along." Zoll finished.
"Hello my worthless minions, your amazing and wonderous leader has return-ed.." Don Karnage announced standing at the top of a small sand dune. He flinched suddenly as his mother shuffled up beside him and poked him on the foot with her umbrella.
"Oh yes, I have decided to be gracious enough to introduce you to my parents." Karnage glanced at the old she-wolf out of the corner of his eye. "Where has-"
Abruptly his father came running over the hill and onto the ship.
What did you do NOW?the she-wolf snapped shaking her umbrella.
Nothing. What made you think I've done something?the tone of his voice obviously gave him away. He looked around shiftily.
Perhaps it was you fleeing for your life.
You stay out of this.the wolf replied, glaring at his son.
Before you set sail to parts unknown, maybe you would be so kind as to decide if this vixen is the correct one?the she wolf said grinning.
"Of course it is the right vixen." the old wolf huffed and walked around Camdyn in a circle.
"She is the same one who got kidnapped while you were attacking that idiot."
Camdyn stood still watching.
"Well? What else did you want to know about her?"
"I am NOT going to marry her." Karnage snapped. He looked somewhat sulky to Camdyn. Mina shook her head slightly and stifled a grin.
"Well, what is wrong with her?"
Karnage stared at his father for a few minutes. "She...she is part of my crew! A pirate captain cannot marry a lowly crew member."
Karnage's father translated for his mother and she promptly hit her son over the head with her umbrella.
"OW! What was that for?"
"She was a member of my crew." the old wolf said, smothering a laugh as the she-wolf whacked Karnage again.
"Aie! That is enough! My crew are watching! Take your whackety-smackety-"
She is a perfectly nice girl. Now you be nice or I'll give you another.
Karnage didn't say anything, merely glared at Camdyn, then his mother.
I suppose we can't make you marry the vixen if you hate her that much.
I don't hate her.
Well, what is all the fuss about then?
I don't want to marry her.
Then don't.
Fine.Karnage frowned and crossed his arms.
At this Karnage's mother chuckled. Sometimes he was still a bit like a sulky child.
"Well, if this is all settled, perhaps we ought to get out of here before that mob with the pitchforks catch up to me."
Camdyn couldn't help but notice that the old she-wolf rolled her eyes and followed the wolf onto the ship.
Bring her by the house sometime.
Karnage frowned at his mother as they cast off and started off. A chimp came running over the hill a few seconds later.
"Damn it. He got away, AGAIN! I told you imbeciles to keep an eye on him, but no...we have to let him distract us!" he fumed as a group of baboons came panting up the hill.
"We told you he was slippery..."
"Yeah."
"Not to mention that huge pile of bananas he-"
"Shut up." The chimp grumbled as they went back down the hill.
Camdyn and the rest of the crew looked at each other for a moment, then Mad Dog crunched another beetle.
"Wonder what got their banana's in a twist..." Camdyn muttered.
"Who knows? Maybe someone set some fruit flies on them." Zoll said. He made a face as Suki snapped up a particularly large bug.
Karnage noticed their snacking and made a face. Camdyn giggled and he glared at her.
"What?"
"Why are you two eating those disgusting buggitys?"
"Urm...because they don't run away fast enough?"
"Mad Dog?"
"Yeah, Cap'n?"
"You are an imbecile! Stop crunching those creeping-crawlies and at least try to be making yourselves into proper pirates."
"Vhy?"
Karnage looked like he would like to whack Dumptruck with his cutlass, but thought better of it when he glanced at Rayne.
"Because they are going to be taking a looky-see at the Hunter in a few minutos and you better all be on your best pirating behavior...or else."
There was a ragged chorus of 'ayes' and the pirates all got to their feet and began shuffling off.
"Um...where are we going, Mina?"
"To go make ourselves look like proper pirates."
"Well, isn't that a fine to-do?"
"Oh, would you shut up." Mad Dog grumbled from his place behind Zoll.
"Well, I mean there's only so many ways to look like a group of mangy, flea-ridden, low brow, half-starved flying lunatics." Camdyn said.
As one the crew turned and looked at her. Camdyn tried not to giggle, but lost the battle.
"Sorry, but you should have seen your faces!"
Mad Dog scritched his neck for a moment, then snatched Camdyn up in a bear hug.
"Hey! Let me go! Ooooo! I'll get you for that!" Camdyn snapped as Mad Dog dropped her on the sand.
"I thought you'd like to visit with my friends."
The crew laughed racausiously and Camdyn glared at them. Resisting the urge to scratch herself where Mad Dog's fleas were biting.
"Ooh...you just wait..."
AN: And we're actually nearing the end of this story! W00T! (Well, not w00t for you, the readers, but w00t for me for finishing one. :) Also...there may possibly be a sequel...)