A/N: Cactus: So! Here we are! First chapter of this (hopefully) long story!
Shadow: Let's hope. That it'll be long.
Cactus: So, without further ado, get reading!
"How did you even afford this place?" Caia asked in disbelief as she looked around the apartment.
"I didn't," Milo replied with a smirk, "Mom and Dad is renting it for me, god bless them for that."
The apartment wasn't that big, but it was big enough to serve it's purpose, to stay in at night and to warm food at. It was located on the outskirts of savannah central, that was the only place that was cheap enough to rent.
"That's awfully nice of them." Caia commented as she sat up from the stained couch, the furniture that had came with the apartment looked like it had went through a blender.
Milo shrugged as he packed up his laptop along with the few other personal belongings that he actually kept in his "home".
"I suppose," he replied before strapping on his backpack and started to head for the door, "You coming? Or should I lock you in here?" He asked her with a goofy grin.
Caia gave him a look before smiling back at him, "First of all, the door is basically made out of plywood, even a bunny could kick through that, second of all you can unlock the door from the inside."
"Check and mate." She thought triumphantly as she read her friend's face.
"Hey!" Milo began, "That's breaking the law!"
"I'll say it was in self-defense." Caia deflected his argument.
"Yeah whatever smartypants, are you coming or not?" Milo drew out a sigh.
"Yup!" She stated as she picked up her own backpack and bounced towards the exit.
000
The sun was shining down on the two of them as they exited the brick-cube that housed Milo's apartment. They crossed the street and set their course for the small, green and rusty jeep that stood parked on the sidewalk.
Caia lept up to the passenger side with a single jump, she was too short to reach the door-handle, not that the handle worked anyways. The jeep was one of the older models that had no windows or roof, the batteries that powered it weren't that great either.
"When are you getting a new one?" Caia complained as Milo reached under the dashboard to try and start the vehicle.
"As soon as put mammals on mars." Milo retorted from under the dashboard. A whole lot of groans, awkward angles and effort later the radio flicked to life.
"Well that was real quick. I'm sure that we won't be out here under this blazing heat if you took any longer." Caia said, tone laced with sarcasm.
Milo gave Caia an annoyed look while sitting up in the driver's seat. "Next time you try it," he suggested.
Caia kicked up her feet onto the dashboard, "That wouldn't be as fun though," She snickered while tuning the radio.
Milo decided keeping quiet was his best move for now.
000
"A sea monster you say? Like a giant crab, or octopus?" Milo asked confusedly while putting the car in park.
"Could be, all it says is that there was a huge shadow that they saw in the storm." Caia explained while using her arms to emphasise how huge this monster was supposed to be.
Stepping out of the car and heading down the sidewalk towards the docks Milo picked up the conversation once more.
"That means getting a boat, and we don't have the cash for that I think." Milo voiced his concern.
"We'll figure it out." She reassured him as they finally arrived at the docs.
The docks we're filled with mammals of all species going about their business, every day huge cargo-ships would arrive and leave from here. But there were also plenty of smaller boats owned by sailing enthusiasts and fishers alike, not to mention the ridiculous amount of cafes and restaurants that lined the seaside.
"We can't afford anything here," Milo sighed as he looked at the display-cases showing the prices for renting boats.
The sun was now right on top of them, and the heat started to become unbearable for Milo. Scanning up and down the seaside-walk he spotted a small cafe within their price range.
"Let's go get a drink, please." Milo suggested while pointing towards the cafe.
Caia glanced over at the cafe "Tom's corner stop" and then back to the lynx next to her.
"You know, you really should get a trim, that can't be healthy for you." She said while following him towards the air conditioned indoors.
"Are you joking? I'd look ridiculous!" Milo said with a horrified tone. "Although that would be pretty nice." He thought to himself, but he wasn't going to let Caia know that.
Finding an empty table Milo let out a sigh, "Heat stroke averted," he chuckled.
Rolling her eyes at his comment Caia picked up the menu and began browsing what drinks that were available. She raised an eyebrow when she saw something she'd never seen before.
"What's this one?" She said quizzically while flipping the menu over for Milo to see.
"Buddha's hand? It tastes like lemons if I remember correctly." Milo replied while reading the menu intently.
"Hm, lemon huh? I'll try that." She said with an optimistic tone.
Milo smiled, "Sure, i'll go with cloudberry," he finished as he sat up to go and order their drinks.
"Cloudberry? Is that something you just made up right now or what?" the ocelot said while giving him a skeptic look.
"Zoogle it." He snorted as he walked away to join the queue.
Quickly reaching for her phone she typed in 'cloudberry', what greeted her was a small, yellow berry that looked as if someone had painted a raspberry yellow. "Well, the more you know," She whispered under breath.
000
"Remind me to bring water bottles next time," Milo said as he wiped his brow for the twelve thousandth time.
"I did," Caia deadpanned as she stopped in front of the last shop on their list.
"Michael's boat remtalls?" Milo asked as he gave her a confused look.
"Yep." She replied as she pushed the door and walked in.
"They can't even spell for fishsticks sake!" Milo thought as he read and re-read the run-down, rusted sign over and over again.
The walls inside were oily and torn at the edges, the floor was full of scrape marks and to top it all off everything smelled a bit stale. Caia confidently strode up to the desk while Milo lingered behind, looking about with wide eyes. He quickly tapped Caia on her shoulder.
"What?" She asked him.
"This place is sketching me out, let's go somewhere else." Milo whispered under his breath as he looked her in the eyes. Her look and posture signaled that she wasn't going anywhere. He prepared to dish out a reason for them to leave immediately when the sound of hoofs and a huff came from the back.
"Yes, yes, I'm coming." a grumpy old goat appeared behind the counter, glaring at the two on the other side. "So? What are ya standing there for? What do you want!?" he snapped and Caia felt her blood boil under her fur but she held her tongue.
"We would like to rent a boat."
"What's the range you're looking for?" the goat's quick and uncaring answer irritated Caia more. She took a deep breath. She knew that the goat would probably laugh or mock them later after she said it.
"800." there was silence, before the goat burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA! That's not even enough for the cheapest one, get lost!" Caia gripped her fist tightly, her claws digging deep into the flesh under her fur. The mammal behind the desk didn't seem to notice the shift in the ocelot's posture and carried on. "Maybe try getting a job at the strip club, i'm sure it runs in your family anyways." Caia had enough, something inside her snapped. She gripped the goat by his collar and shook him.
"So you think it's funny, huh? Well, I'll show you 'fun'," she said with a face of determination. She pulled back her fist and before the goat could say anything her fist smashed into his face.
"Stop! We'll get in trou-," but before Milo could complete his sentence Caia fist flew with power into the goat's a second time. A few teeth flew and the goat's eyes bulged a little as her fist made impact. The goat's chair rocked back and crashed, leaving the mammal in a heap.
The deed was done, there was no way to regret these actions, but even if she had a choice she would have done the exact same. She stood there silently and watched what she'd done now that the anger seemed to dissipate a bit, he was a jerk, he deserves it. It was best to leave it at that.
"We should get out of here, like, now." Milo gently shook Caia out of her trance.
Trying their hardest to look calm and collected they exited the store and headed for Milo's jeep, only looking back once or twice to check if someone entered the store. Either they were lucky or no-one ever rented that mammal's boats, because for as far as they saw the store no-one entered it, not that they could pin it on them either way.
000
"Well this was a bust, nice punch though." Milo sighed as he took a seat behind the wheel.
"Well, there's one last thing we could try." Caia said while smirking, she showed her phone to Milo.
"Could you drive here?" She asked.
Confused, Milo read the address, "...Fishing company?"
Caia's lips curled into a smile, "I have a cousin working there, he's a fishermammal."
"And?"
"Fishermammals work on…" Caia tried to nudge Milo's thinking in the right direction.
"Boats! You're a genius!" Milo exclaimed as he put the jeep in gear and started to head for the industrial side of the docks.
"I try my best," Caia shrugged, her muzzle a smug smile painted across it.
000
The car rolled to stop in front of the imposing warehouse, the way it was situated made it feel ten times bigger, much of that had to do with the looming shadow overhead. It smelled of fish everywhere, Milo thought he could even identify some of the smells if he'd tried hard enough.
He looked over to Caia who was unbuckling her seatbelt at the moment.
"So what are we going to say?" Milo said as he himself stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut behind him.
"That we'd like to borrow one of the boats for a week or two." Caia replied without breaking her confident march towards the building entrance.
"And you're sure this'll work?" Milo asked while hurrying to catch up to the smaller feline.
She turned her look to Milo and said with a big smirk, "He owes me big time, so yeah."
As they made their way up the small steps to the partially rusted door Milo began to calm down, he was still skeptic about how well this would go but if there was one thing he knew it was how stubborn she could be, the reassuring smiles and encouraging thumbs-ups also helped. He sometimes felt like Caia was like a calm sea but other times, like with the goat at the rental shop, she could turn very violent in an instant. It'll probably be fine he thought.
This was absolutely nuts. Caia internally grimaced as approached the slightly rusted door. You've got no choice. This is your last resort. Even if you don't like it. She reasoned and let out a sigh. Milo saw her sighing from the corner of his eye and tapped her shoulder.
"Hey Caia, what's wrong?" She forced on a cheery smile.
"Nothing much. Oh, and remember to step to the side when I open the door, kay?" Milo raised a brow at the strange behaviour of his friend but nodded his head. They went closer to the door and Caia breathed deeply, chanting in her head to assure herself and she opened the door. She dodged swiftly to the side and a ball of yellow and brown flew passed her, missing Milo only by a hairs breath. She peeked into the room and smiled.
"Hey there Grey. I see Kaira and Avie are doing fine." Caia turned her gaze on the two small figures behind, one an ocelot and the other a brown lagomorph. The two dusted off their clothes as an older ocelot smiled warmly as he walked up to Caia and gave her a hug.
"Nice to see you too Caia. Kaira, Avie and I have missed you." The older ocelot nodded his head towards the two small kits and they ran up to her and latched themselves onto her legs. Milo "awww"ed at hw sight. "It's nice to see that-"
"Grey, you're not going to be forgiven. Nor is Kaira or Avie for for what you three have done to me. So please stop. I don't need your sugar coated words." Caia's words cut sharp like a blade and Milo was shocked. Caia had almost never been as emotionless as she had been then. Her eyes were as dead as a fish's, and her face was as dead as it could be and he couldn't figure out why. Grey slowly let go of her and his face saddened, the two at the teenage ocelot's feet didn't withdraw from their hug and only squeezed her tighter. Caia sighed. "Kaira, Avie." the two young kits shook their heads furiously, refusing to let go. Caia balled her paws into fists while her cousin looked at the ground, seemingly ashamed and defeated. Milo looked between the three, unsure what was happening. Luckily, Grey spoke up to break the silence as sighed.
"Yeah. You're right. Kaira, Avie, let go of your aunt." the two let out muffled whimpers. The young ocelot reluctantly let go but the you doe stayed glued to Caia. "Avie, be a good girl and let your aunt go." after what seemed like an eternity, the young doe let go of her aunt's leg, sniffling and holding back tears and she went to Kaira, the young ocelot's, side. Caia's body remained tense but her emotions seemed to resurface as she forced on a smile.
"Anyways, Grey. I would like to borrow a boat from you, if that's alright." Milo remained confused as his mind replayed what had occurred between the four just moments ago. The atmosphere turned from warm to extremely tense in an instant. Caia was stiff and the other three seemed very remorseful as well as saddened by the fact that she was so harsh.
I've never, for as long as I've known her, ever seen her like that. Milo thought as questions circled his mind until a sudden pat on his shoulder shook him out of his theorising.
"WAH!" his scream overlapped the chuckling behind him. He turned to see his friend chuckling while holding her tummy.
"What was that for!?" Milo asked as the ocelot breathed calming her pulse and laughter.
"I already called your name thrice and you didn't respond. Head off in the clouds again?" she asked teasingly. Her paw was now on her hip, looking at Milo with a slight smile. Milo's fingers fidgeted as he pursed his lips in thought. He knew that Caia was sensitive about the topic of family, being her childhood friend for years, he knew the consequences of asking her about it and he shivered at a memory he had long forgotten but now haunted his mind. Maybe now's not the best time to ask he thought and he forced a smile.
"Nah, nothing. Just thinking about some stuff." Caia raised her brow slightly with a quizzical look before nodding her head.
"Sure…." awkward silence blanketed them like a thick fog as they fidgeted and gave the ground more attention than it asked for, kicking up small dust clouds. Caia kicked up another small dirt cloud, the small pebbles kicked out of the way. She knew Milo was curious about what had happened between her cousin and new two nieces and knew that he wanted to ask about what had happened with them just now and honestly, she didn't want to hide it anymore. She didn't want to lie or cover it up anymore, she was really tired of it but she just….. couldn't really find the courage to tell him, or anyone for that matter, just yet. He might hate me after I tell him and I might lose my only friend. But he would find out sooner or later anyways. She thought glumly before she sighed. There was no way she wanted to be awkward with him any longer right now, she couldn't take it anymore. She looked up at Milo and as they caught each other's eye she smiled.
"Wanna head to my place? I've got some snacks we could munch on while we get our homework done and over before we sail and catch a glimpse of a real, bona-fide sea monster." Milo smiled and chuckled, relieved that the awkward atmosphere would blow away.
"Yeah, let's go." they picked up their usual banter again and chatted as they returned to the old and rusted jeep.
"Really Milo, when will you get something to replace that old thing?" Milo shrugged. His parents had bought it for him and he admit it wasn't in the best condition but he had grew quite fond of it over the years.
"It's working fine so why waste the money? Or would you rather we spent all our savings on a new jeep?" Caia looked at Milo and rolled her eyes.
"Fine, you win. For now." she smirked deviously as she skipped up to the jeep. Milo just strolled slowly, sighing in defeat and shaking his head as he looked at the figure of the small feline with a small smile.
Shadow: Okay! That is it for the very first chapter, woohoo! Thanks you folks for reading this and hope you enjoyed this chapter written by both me and Cactus.
*Pops some popcorn into her mouth*
Took us a while to finish it with Cactus forgetting he had to write the first half until I reminded him and me procrastinating a little and needing to do the cover for this fic. But we did it! Yay!
Cactus: *Squints eyes*Like you haven't been lazy too. But I'm glad we got one chapter off the ground at least. And many more to go, the horrible things haven't even happened yet!Hooray!
Shadow: Lol, no kidding though. The trouble is going to begin. Soon. But for now, that's it from us! Ciao~