Also known as the Narrow Gauge Engine centric chapter. Man, this was simultaneously one of the funnest and hardest chapters to write for.
Peter and Falcon sat by the empty firepit and began picking at the leftover ashes while Rusty started pacing around. Renneas and Duncan - that was a surprise - had left to check on Shale again and even though some of the engines weren't equally as fond as the human, they couldn't help but feel worried.
Each of their heads turned up when they noticed Renneas walking back. Peter and Rusty immediately ran up to ask about their human. They hadn't seen seen what had happened but instead heard Shale cuss and crash onto the floor.
"So? What happened? Is Shale damaged worse now?" Peter asked, alarmed and worried.
"I... I'm not sure. Duncan shooed me out, but I think she's just really low on fuel."
"And you decided to leave her with Duncan?" Falcon snapped.
Renneas sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "It came as a surprised to me as well. But I'm sure Skarloey can handle him if something happens." Renneas moved over to sit by the fire pit. He noticed the makeshift fishing rod leaning against the log.
"We need to get more fuel for her so she'll repair herself faster." He stepped up to the fishing rod and picked it up.
"Hang on." Falcon held up his hand as a pause motion. "Do any of you guys even know where to find human fuel here?"
"Well, we know that there are plants that are poisons. So we should avoid all plants, just in case." Renneas said. He rolled the rod in his palms.
"So you've already decided to be the one to do the fishing. What are we gonna do?" Falcon folded his arms.
"Maybe we can try building a fire?" Peter said. "I mean, humans usually heat up their fuel before they eat it. Right?"
"True, but do any of you even know how to start a fire?" He asked. Rusty and Peter both looked to each other
"I think there's more than one way to light a fire, since I was a Diesel and the rest of you were Steam Engines." Rusty mused.
"Good thing we already have some fuel for a fire." Renneas gestured to the small pile of branches beside the logs they sat on. "Hmm, we may need more though."
"Got it!" Peter and Rusty nodded and ran over to the tree line to gather more branches.
"So, what am I supposed to do? Or do I finally get a break?" Falcon asked sharply.
Renneas though for a moment. "Perhaps you could find some way to light the fire? Try looking through the cooler, there might be something there."
Falcon just shrugged and pulled the cooler up to his feet and flipped it open. Renneas folded up his pants and waded into the water before casting out his line.
While waiting, he couldn't help but be struck with a sense of nostalgia. One of his earliest memories were of taking passengers to and from this very spot. Watching the humans from the tracks. "I've always wondered what this was like."
Falcon looked up from browsing. "What? You mean fishing?"
"Yes." Renneas broke a small smile. "I used to wonder why would the humans would always like gathering around the lakes."
"Yea, it's just like a big, open water tank."
"True, but I think I understand it now. It's a... well, it's a interesting feeling. I don't know how exactly to describe it but it just feels nice out here. Everything's so calm and quiet."
Falcon just rolled his eyes and went back to browsing through cooler. "Seriously? I hate it."
Even though he had mumbled his response, Renneas heard him anyways. "Really? What makes you say that?"
The younger engine ran a hand through his spiked hair. "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to get away from other humans. I guess I just don't like the quiet. Makes me feel ...I don't know, it just makes me remember a lot of stuff."
"Oh." Renneas didn't know what to thing of the younger engines words. So he just turned back to the lake.
Meanwhile, Peter and Rusty had made about half a dozen small piles of different branches. Each organized by different leaves, length and colours. Skarloey had stepped outside to see both younger engines kneeling in front of the piles, gesturing to each other and the piles.
"But Rusty, are you sure that these are the safe leaves? They don't look like the others."
"Well if they were dangerous then wouldn't we have seen some kind of reaction?" He pointed to his hand. "See, I'm alright."
"But we aren't human, right? So we might not be affected, but it still could damage Shale."
"Oh, I hadn't though of that."
"Yea, and the last thing we need is either of you puffballs causing one of us to breakdown." Duncan rolled his eyes behind them, casing both of them to jump.
"Ah! Oh, oh. Sorry, we didn't hear you." Duncan mumbled something under his breath around the lines of ' tch, whimps' Rusty gave him a flat look, but didn't snap back.
Skarloey just sighed "Regardless, we shouldn't take any risks."
"Could you show us the leaf Shale gave you Skarloey? Is she alright?" Rusty asked, opening his palm.
The older engine knelt down and pressed it into his hand. "Don't worry, she's just tired. Edward wanted to stay with her inside." He decided to leave out Shales self-deprecating comments. Even he didn't know what to make of it. Though if he were to guess, it came from her time on the streets.
Perhaps it was related to her caretaker, Picks. Skarloey considered asking her about it once she woke. But decided against it, she'd already said enough. It wasn't his place to pry.
"Do you think we can use these for anything?" Peter picked up some vines and colourful pieces of flowers and leaves.
Skarloey smiled and kneeled down beside them. "Im not sure Peter-Sam. But I know you'll think of something. However, I don't think it matters what kind of branches we use. But we should be careful so the fire doesn't spread."
He gathered part of a pile and started walking back to the fire pit while the others followed in suit. Though Peter paused to look over at one of the canoe racks. The rack was mostly broken but there was one left surprising intact.
Peter dropped his bundle and went to pull up one of the canoes. One had already fallen of and it wasn't to much of a hassle to lift. He dragged it over to the branches and piled them in. Rusty had already brought his load so he was already walking back and noticed Peter loading the canoe.
"Wow, that's a great idea!" So Rusty joined him in loading the canoe.
Though it didn't take long afterwards. But when Rusty turned back, Peter-Sam was sitting in the canoe. Hogging his knees, smiling and fiddling with some vines. He didn't know how to react.
"Peter? Shouldn't we bring this back to the fire pit?"
The younger Engine scratched his face bashfully. "Well, yes. But do you think you could, uh, pull me over in the canoe?"
Rustys face settled between confused and amused. Then he breathed out a small laugh. "Alright, but just this once. Maybe we can actually use this out on the water. Did you see any paddles?"
"Paddles? Is that what these are?" Peter held out two large, somewhat splintered piece of shaped wood. "I thought that it was more firewood."
Rusty moved to the tip if the canoe and started pulling. "Well, be sure not to use it for that. We'll need that to steer."
"Alright!"
Then he paused. "Wait, do you know how to steer a boat?"
:========:
Renneas had heard his brother beforehand and had already turned to walk to him, smiling. "Skarloey! How's Shale, is she resting now?"
"Yes, she's starting to rest. I just hope we can find some fuel for her before she wakes up. Good to see you're already working on that."
"What? No credit to me?" Falcon muttered under his breath. "Wow, way to make me feel appreciated."
"Oh, sorry Falcon." Skarloey rubbed the back of his head. "Uhh, may I ask what are you doing?"
"Falcons been trying to find something to light the fire. I've been trying to catch some fish and," Renneas sighed "Well, so far it's been less than successful."
"Now that makes me feel better." Falcon pointed, wearing a lopsided grin. This caused Renneas to shrink and turn back to the lake.
"Falcon!"
"Geez, it was a joke." He just rolled his eyes and went back to browsing the cooler. Then he heard a dragging noise and turned to see Rusty dragging Peter in a old canoe.
To say he was confused would've been an understatement.
Duncan was the first to react. "The hell am I lookin' at?"
Falcon just rolled his eyes, this time with a fond expression. "Peter being Peter." He stepped up and helped to start unloading the branches.
Peter stepped out with a bundle of branches along with a armful of brightly covered foliage. He dropped his branches in the pit and sat back on the logs, going back to fiddling with the vines.
While the others unloaded the rest, Falcon sat beside him and looked over his shoulder. "Hey Peter, what are you makin' ?"
Peter smiled and held up the vines in front of Falcon. Now that he got a better look, it was actually a array of vines all tied together along with some bright red leaves and petals tucked in at random places.
"I'm not sure what it's called, but I used to see the other children make these for one another." He started to tie the two ends together to create a loop large enough to circle their heads.
"It's pretty, I'll give you that. Why'd you make it?" Falcon asked.
"Well, I wanted to give it to Shale. As a gift."
"Wait, the human?" He raised his eyebrow at that. When he saw his friends expression droop he softened his tone. "I... I'm sorry Peter. I just don't... don't understand how you can all be so calm around another human. Child or otherwise."
"I'm not sure. But I know she's not a bad human."
"Stuart, she agreed with Duncan. Duncan." He said in a mocking tone. Both if them shared a laugh at that. Even when said engine glared in their direction.
"Yea, but even so, she has good intentions. Even if she sound a little mean sometimes, she's not trying to hurt us. She's just telling us the truth."
"Huh, that is a good point." Falcons head hung low for a moment. "It's... not silly to still be anxious around her, right?"
"I don't think so." Skarloey gave him a sympathetic smile placed a hand on his shoulder. Even when Falcon flinched and pulled away. "We're all adapting to a new situation."
"If we are, then it's not showing from you." He retorted.
"Believe me, I'm scared to. But it won't do us any good if we can't keep a level head. And I'd prefer if that burden didn't have to fall to any of you. I'll admit that I'm still slightly wary of Shale, but I suppose that fear comes from previous experiences with other humans. I'm willing to bet you feel the same. But... but I believe that Shale needs us as much as we need her."
"What makes you think that? She said it herself, she's been surviving even before she found us."
"True, but Shale is still a child. And while she has been surviving, it certainly would not have been easy. Even with the help of that 'Picks'. But when she discovered that he was harming others for there benefit, she decided to leave him because she didn't want to be associated with him. But like I said, we'll all be here for each other. And now we need to be there for her."
The younger engines frown softened and he turned up smile. "Thanks, and I'm sorry for bein' a bit of a prick sometimes. Guess that's my way of adapting."
"Finally, he admits it." Duncan called out.
"To bad I can't say the same for you yet!"
That made the other engines laugh. Even Duncan, who just scoffed. As for him, Rusty and Renneas were pushing the canoe out onto the lake. Fishing Rod and Paddle already loaded.
"I hope you know what your doin', old timer." Duncan groaned
"So do I." Renneas mumbled, more to himself than anyone else.
Once the canoe was at the water, each of the engines jumped in. While the canoe wobbled in the water for a moment and the engines had to catch themselves on the sides, they didn't tip over.
"Alright, both of you grab a paddle and try to push us forward." Renneas grabbed
Duncan pulled up one the oars hastily pulled one, almost smacking up Rusty in the face. "Hey!"
He held up the oar and turned it around in his hands. "How are we supposed to do that?"
"Uhh, I think your supposed to row with the oars at the same time. So we don't end up spinning in circles." Renneas moved to the edge and cast out the line again.
When both engines started row, they argued back back and forth about there pace. Renneas tried to ignore the, but he had to intervene since the extra motion was causing the boat to rock.
While this happened, Peter, Falcon snickered to each other at their friends position. Skarloey tried to hide his amusement, but he couldn't help but find it a little funny.
Falcon had payed out some items to use for lighting a fire. He couldn't remember much, it he recalled something his driver said about striking two kind of rocks together. Or was it two pieces of metal? It was starting to become frustrating.
Skarloey noticed his frustrations and sat by him. "Falcon? You can take a break if you want. I'll try to find a way to light the fire somehow."
He pushed back some stray hairs before smiling back. "Thank you Skarloey, I'd have blown a piston if I kept this up."
He stepped up and let Skarloey take his seat. Falcon move over to Peter, who was giggled while watching his friends trying to steal the canoe without capsizing. Peter had finished his vine-crown and now fiddled it with his hands.
"That's real nice of you Peter." He commented.
His friend was confused for a moment before he understood what he was referencing. "Oh, well, I just though it'd be something nice for her. I just hope we can catch some fuel for her soon."
And at that moment, they all heard their friends screaming escalate before hearing a loud splash. They all turned to see that the canoe had somehow tipped over and Rusty was left splashing around and grasping at the edges of their canoe.
As for Duncan and Renneas, there was a flurry of bubbles before both of them poked out for the water. Each holding their button-up shirt and vest respectively. The trio managed to drag each other to shore. The others were immediately by there side and help them up.
"Renneas? What on earth happened?" Skarloey was shaking slightly as he patted his brothers back to try and cough up the water.
"I'm sorry, this was my doing, I managed to reel something in but I didn't expect it to be so sudden. So I tripped over the side and... well. You saw the rest." Renneas said downcast. "But, we did manage to catch these!"
He unfolded his and Duncan's shirts to see two fishes laying inside. Duncan looked up to the Elder with a triumphant grin, even in his droopy hair fell in front on it.
"Well, while I'm glad that you managed to gather some fuel you need to be more careful next time." He squeezed his brothers hand, concern written clear over his face.
"So, did ya figure out how to light that fire yet?" Duncan asked.
"Well, not yet. I don't suppose you could recall anything your driver told you about." He held up a rock and a piece of steel in his hands, rubbing them together of-handedly.
Though he didn't notice how it started to create sparks. Some fell towards the branches while the others started to catch on his jacket.
"Skarloey!" Renneas slapped the rocks from his hand and pulled his brother away from the fire. This happens so fast that Skarloey was left in shock.
"Wait, what? Renneas! What are you doing!?" He jerked around frantically, though this caused then to fall backwards towards the water again. Leaving both of them soaked.
They all stared, before breaking out into laughter again. And while the older engine were still stunned and frankly, a little embarrassed, they couldn't help but laugh as well.
