Night was upon the Western Sea, the moon casting a stream of silver across the calm water. Out in the sea, yet still in sight of shore, a ship rode at anchor. The ship was called the Javelin, one of the most famous goodbeast ships in the sea. A three-mast brig, its lines perfect, it was known as one of the fastest ships in the sea. It was captained by Ryon Oakleaf, a squirrel that had a reputation even larger than his ship. A great captain, a fierce fighter, and an excellent sailor, the squirrel was known throughout the ocean. At the moment he stood on the bowsprit of his ship, disregarding pawholds. He looked to the shore, watchful for any sign of suspicious movement. Green eyes, dark brown fur, and an abnormally bushy tail decorated his strong, athletic body. A worn tricorn hat sat on his head, and a dark brown vest covered a white tunic. A sabre hung at his waist. Ryon turned and walked off the bowsprit as a door in the stern of the ship opened. A mouse came out. Ryon smiled when he saw that it was his first mate and best friend, Silver. The mouse was aptly named. Everything about him, from his ears to his tail tip, was silver. Even his eyes were colored silver. The mouse was holding a lantern, and stopped when he saw Ryon. He spoke.
"Couldn't sleep, Captain?"
Ryon shook his head. "No, Silver. You know I'm not a beast for inactivity."
Silver looked up in the air. "You'd have us sailing all day if you could stop the sun setting."
Ryon smiled and rumpled his friend's ears. Silver was younger than him, by only two seasons. "You're full of cheek, my friend." Ryon looked out to sea. "Dawn comes in an hour. Raise the ship."
Silver obliged, ringing the ship's bell. The crew, a mixed bag of a hundred otters, shrews, squirrels, mice, and hedgehogs, swarmed onto the deck, some trying to get clothes on as they rushed to fulfill their captain's orders, which ripped through the air almost immediately.
"Hoist anchor and lower the sails! Come about two points starboard and set a course for home! Move you bunch of pansy-pawed, milk-mouthed excuses for sailsbeasts!"
The crew rushed about the ship, some tripping in their haste. The ship turned, and then set a course west.
Silver stood next to Ryon on the bow. "You have a way with words, my friend."
Ryon smiled and rumpled Silver's ears again.
The Javelin rode the waves smoothly, its sails billowing in the wind, the sun reflecting off of every piece of metal on the deck. Ryon was in his cabin, his hat off, the windows thrown open to tempt a salty breeze. The squirrel wiped sweat from his brow. It was blazing hot on a sunny day like this on the sea, but on a ship, unless below decks, or in the bilges, there was no place to hide from the heat. At the moment, Ryon was figuring the fastest way to get back to his island. He would not be out here if every month a ten day patrol had to be carried out by all four ships in the island's navy. Ryon was confident that the place would not fall to pieces while he was gone. Sharpear and Blackreed weren't that hapless. The otter and the mouse were the garrison commanders of Vale Island's fortress. They were best friends, a land version of Ryon and Silver. Both were able commanders, and never lost their cool in battle. Ryon was the leader of the island itself, and conducted all affairs on it. He disregarded the title of Chieftain, thinking it too arrogant. Instead, he preferred the title of "Head Captain". His father before him had been the leader of the island, and had taught Ryon everything he knew before he died. The squirrel captain smiled. If only his father could see him now. The shout of the lookout interrupted his thoughts.
"Land hooooooo!"
Ryon raced out, fixing his hat on his head as he began bellowing orders.
"Take in sail and prepare the mooring lines! Ready the gangplank!"
The crew snapped to, rushing about the deck. Ryon stood at the bow, smiling as Vale Island, his island, came into view. The island's only entrance was a narrow bottleneck, wide enough only for one ship at a time, which opened out into a large bay around which the village, called Vale, was situated. Three other ships stood at anchor near the entrance to the bottleneck, waiting for the Javelin to enter before they entered. Ryon ticked off their names as the Javelin passed them. The Sparrow's Wing had evidently come before the Javelin, as it was the third in the row. The Sabre had come before Sparrow's Wing, and before Sabre, the Hickory. The three captains of the three ships-two otters and a shrew-saluted Ryon before the three ships were obscured by rocks. Ryon turned, and walked down the deck. The ship's crew knew what to do. The Javelin glided through the pass, until Ryon smiled at the glint of sun on the polished wood deck. The Javelin rode into the cove. As the ship neared one of the six docks, creatures on the dock began running to and fro. The ship's crew tossed them mooring lines, and then dropped anchor. The gangplank was lowered, and Ryon and Silver descended first, followed by the officers, then the crew. As Ryon looked back towards the pass, the Hickory came out of it, followed by the other two ships. He dismissed his crew, and then gestured for the officers and Silver to follow him to the fortress, which was situated on a series of cliffs and caves in the canyon wall surrounding the cove and village. Like the village itself, it surrounded the bay, only on a higher level. Long walls, ballistae, and soldiers guarded the fort. The gates opened to the group, and they headed directly for the keep. A guard of forty snapped to attention as Ryon and the entourage entered. A mouse and an otter, Sharpear and Blackreed, respectively, waited for them. Sharpear, who had honey colored fur, walked forward.
"Welcome back, Captain Ryon."
Ryon walked on, the two commanders following behind him. "It's good to be back, Sharpear. What is the status on the other two ships?"
Sharpear turned to Blackreed. The otter was unusual because his fur was completely black. "The two sloops are nearly ready. We only need to erect the masts, and then you may name them, Captain."
Ryon nodded in approval. "Good. You haven't been slouching while I've been away. Are the flags for them ready?"
Sharpear answered this time. "They're both finished. In the same colors as the rest of the navy."
Ryon nodded again. "Good. You have both done much in ten days."
The two commanders nodded approvingly. As the group walked into the meeting hall, a large room where every officer on the island could sit at one long table, Ryon turned to Silver. "Ring the bell. I want to call a meeting." Silver nodded. Gesturing for a hedgehog to come with him, he ran for the fortress's bell tower. A few minutes later, the brazen tolling of a bell rang through the air. This was the signal that a meeting was to be called. A while later, every officer on the island, close to threescore, filled the table in the meeting hall. Ryon sat at the head of the table, Silver on his right side. The noise subsided as Ryon began to speak.
"These past seasons have been too quiet. We may have driven the searats from this section of the seas, but we all know that they don't give up easily."
There were general mutterings of agreement.
Ryon continued. "I fear that the Sea Hordes have returned."
There was instant uproar. Everybeast was shouting at once, from denial to questions.
"Impossible! The Sea Hordes were disbanded long ago!"
"You heard the Captain, sea vermin don't give up easily!"
"We should improve our defenses at once!"
"How can you be sure, Ryon?"
Ryon stood and banged his saber hilt on the table. "Silence! Everybeast, be quiet!"
Silence fell immediately. Ryon continued.
"As I was saying, the Sea Hordes have most likely returned. They are probably massing to take back the seas. This is why I ordered the two sloops built. We need more ships. We also need fast ships to take messages to the other islands in case the Sea Hordes attack or are sighted." The squirrel sighed and continued. "We also need more troops." He turned to Sharpear and Blackreed. "How many soldiers are being trained at the moment?" Sharpear sighed, and then spoke. "We have close to a thousand soldiers now, but by next month, we will have two hundred more." Ryon nodded. "That may not be enough, but with the help of other islands we may stand a better chance." He looked up at the assembled officers. "We can only hope that we are ready. You are all dismissed."
As the sixty officers filed out of the room, Ryon gestured for Silver, Sharpear, and Blackreed to follow him. He turned down a hallway, and then led them down it into a small room. The room had a square table in the center, with a map on it. The map was dotted with small flags mounted on stands. The flag of Vale Island was easily recognizable, two swords crossed over an upright spear, on a green field. Various other flags were positioned on other islands drawn on the map.
Ryon gestured to it. "You all know this room well. The war room. We will most likely need it soon."
The other three nodded. If the Sea Hordes were back, they would need the room. They would need it very much indeed.
Ryon is kind of like a cross between James Norrington and Jack Sparrow. And because I didn't put it up last chapter, here's the disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean or any of its affiliates and whatever other crap I need to put up for this. R and R!