"CHUMMER!"
The sound of my voice calling out to him with alarm is enough to awaken him from his slumber. He springs up from the nearby crate filled with all sorts of raw food, not even us ourselves can eat it.
You're probably wondering why I needed to wake him up so urgently? If you're wondering, it's because I woke up to see that the ship was floating slowly downward. I needed to wake him up and get us up back in a neutral level. By the time he has seen how high in level we were, he rushes to the wheel.
By the side of the ship, I can feel a rumble. One of the canyons have striked at the hull and made a tear into the hull. Every barrel, crate and cannonball on the deck begins to slide to the end of the side deck, some flying off towards the sands below. Chummer runs straight to the wheel, taking a firm grip onto it.
"Chummer, we're sailin' too low!"
"I know Capper, I know!" He responds to me as he is using all his strength to keep the wheel upward. "I'm-" He looks to be struggling with it. "-tryin' to keep us upright!"
He lets out a scream as the wheel given more strength, throwing my friend off and away from it. It continues to spin around, the ship dipping down further towards the sands. I narrowly had to avoid a sliding crate from hitting me when I ran upwards to Chummer. I can feel the deck attempting to slope me down to the front.
From there, I was almost shocked when the two hands who I recognized as my friend gripped onto me, hugging me rather tightly in panic as even I was as well.
"We're gonna crash!" I scream in terror as the ship is almost there to the dunes.
"Hang on!" was the final advice he gives me before the large impact, that I didn't think would launch us off on our feet to the air.
CRASH!
The next thing you know, we're buried in sand and even I've got a bit of that right in my mouth when we came through. The vision though is black since my eyes were closed. Only the sounds of the balloon that kept the ship afloat deflating are heard along with the sound of the quiet wind across the sands.
Then... silence.
Movement is heard though from above, but is muffled by the sand in my ears. It sounds like Chummer is coughing out the sands he had stuffed into his mouth. Then comes his footsteps from the left. I can feel his paws gripping onto the both of my legs and are trying to pull them.
"Don't worry Capper, I'll get you out from there!" He tells me, his voice sounding muffled as he is pulling me out.
As I felt myself being pulled, I can feel myself move upwards. My face is not any longer touching any of the sands and then comes the smell of air. I opened my eyes once again, letting my vision clear up... seeing Chummer there in front of me once again. I get up onto the both of my feet, taking in the smell of fresh air.
He placed his hand on my shoulder and looks at me. "You all right, Capper?" He asked.
"I..." I took in some breathes and out before finally getting the chance to speak. "I think so. We'll never get the ship flying again, though."
All he can do is smile though. "It's okay Capper," He tells me with assurance. "We still got each other, don't we?" That statement alone, makes me agree and place a smile onto my own face even when he takes his hand off my shoulder.
"C'mon!" He finally moves towards the wrecked ship as soon as the dust settled. There was only the ruins by the look of it as well as some bags. "Maybe there's something we can use in the wreckage!"
I had a better suggestion though, thinking of the past recent events before the crash. "We should get going, Chummer... We need to find somewhere to hide, and some food!" Hiding made sense because we never knew if the Storm army was still looking for their ship with us included. Let alone make us prisoners like the Captain we met hours ago. (Hopefully she made it out okay...)
Chummer though, doesn't hear my suggestion as he peeks and looks around in the hull of the wreckage, waving his kitty butt in front of me. Kind of awkward you could say... "Yeah, but you never know what you're gonna-" He was saying to me while on the look-out in there. I paid half-attention to him as my green eyes caught onto a set of white robes just for me and him.
"Hey now!"
I turn and see him crawling out backwards, and he appears to be holding some jewel with black chains in his left hand. It's green glow illuminates in the sunlight, but if it was night-time - I was sure it would give us more light. "Look at this!" He says to me, watching the shine inside of the jewel as I approach him with robes. "It's gotta be worth something, don't cha think?" He finally asked me.
I said nothing as he takes the white robes I offered to him. He turns and sees a dark blue bag fit enough for it to stay in. "Maybe we could trade it for something!" He suggested to me as he takes the bag and puts the strange jewel inside.
Exhaling a sigh and putting on my robes, I respond to him. "Sure, Chummer. Now... can we get going?"
He places his robes on him to protect him from the heat of the dunes, and slides the bag over his shoulder. "Yeah..." He takes to my suggestion, going in a different direction that would lead us away from the wreckage. Stay any longer and the Storm army will be coming for us or whatever is here.
Even as we walk away, our feet treading through the desert can't put aside my thoughts and worries of the Storm King. "Don't worry Capper..." I can hear Chummer say to me, as we move towards the unknown. "A coupl' a cats like us will always land on our feet!"
By the time I turn around to see the wreckage one last time, we are already distant from it. Oh well, best keeping moving...
We continued to move through the desert as the sun rose high above in the sky to signal that it was the afternoon, and even with these robes on us - the heat is just killer. Worse is when we have this fur to absorb the heat. Our legs were beginning to tire, and we were without water for the walk.
No... I can't stand the fact that we don't have any water to drink on us. Without it, it could less than a day, possibly two until our fate is dehydration. Our tongues are practically sticking out in thirst for that kind of liquid. Not the traditional Abyssinian wines that was normally shared in the royal class as it was already bad enough. But I was feeling like I was going to collapse at any given second now.
I panted by each step I took next to Chummer. "I don't... know... how much farther... I can go..." I admitted, sounding tired and thirsty as ever before.
"C'mon... Capper..." He tries to sway me, but sounding just like me with a desire for thirst in his voice. "Just... one more... dune..."
We continue over one of the small hills, my legs nearly giving out and on the verge of me fainting as many do when they do not have enough to drink. I've seen it before in Panthera, the low-class heading to the tavern and going out later... stumbling on their feet until they passed out. That alone gave me and Chummer the opportunity to take for our gain, but this was different in regards of fainting. Natural causes, you could say.
"Maybe... we should've... stayed... in Abyssinia..." He tiredly suggested to me, still gripping onto the bag that held the jewel inside.
From over the hill, I thought it was a mirage at first... it almost looked like a canyon at first. No... there's more smoke coming from there. As well as a ship port on it's end to the left. A windmill in the distance as well. Please tell me that I am not being tricked at all, because I believe it's a town of some sort.
"Wait..." I admitted, lifting a bit from my tired and thirsty voice. "Hey, over... over there! I think it's... it's a town!"
The dust that blew by in the dunes is behind us as we can see one of the floating ships make a stop at the port. Probably making the delivery of imports whether its from what remains in Abyssinia or the nearby neighbour Equestria. Maybe the Zebra Kingdom or Griffon Empire? I don't even know at this point. What matters more is that I found a town where there is possible resources.
"Whoa..." I can hear Chummer in awe as I look ahead to the town. "Looks grim."
I moved forward, turning for a moment and signalling him to follow me. "C'mon!" There is no hesistation as we make our way towards the cliffside metropolis. I was already unaware for what would await us inside, but if any... could be our new temporary home if possible.
The gates don't seem guarded at all with only a pack of young child-like creatures running about and playing tag there. One griffon is fighting for a pack of apples from a group of other beings, but I don't want to break up the fight. Last thing I want is a scratch across the face that's quite bloody.
Past the gates, we could immediately find ourselves in some sort of marketplace. Well, at least what it looks like back in Panthera, our hometown. There were many booths set up selling a variety of items and foods galore, even broken trinkets for those who didn't plan to ask for more. Aside from the griffons, a few species caught our eye like the Diamond Dogs that are hard to come by... I swear I saw a few Reptile creatures at the booths as well, purchasing or selling away for money.
"Fruits! Getcher weird, exotic fruits here!" One shopkeeper carrying a pineapple calls out, his appearance of that resembled a turtle.
Another shopkeeper with these unknown figures also cries out. "Strange trinkets!" Can't say I haven't seen anything there of interest when me and Chummer were passing by. Not much worth there either for the taking...
"Rugs!" I can hear another voice cry out. Nope, rugs won't do either.
I look around at the marketplace, watching all the busy shoppers come and go with loads of fruit, vegetables outside from this desert. Some purchasing furniture for their own home here in this vast metropolis. A few of them turn an eye towards us, as if we are complete strangers here to their world.
"What is this place, Chummer?" I asked my friend right next to me, probably wondering about the same thing as I.
"I dunno..." He answers my question, sounding quite unsure of where we even were. "But I think it looks interesting-"
His attention was drawn away when he saw a green hand in what looks to be almost like the color of celery grabbing at the bag, containing the jewel we found. "Hey!" He shouts at the being who looked to have wanted to either take a peek at it or steal it. "Hands off!" He had to pull the bag away from the creature.
The robed creature grumbles in response and walks away, not uttering even a single word to neither me or him.
I was eager to know where this place was, and both of us were hungry while at it. I move over towards the fruit vendor, with Chummer following behind me and giving that creature we just saw... quite a dirty look if you ask me. After the alligator-like being with the older griffon moved away from there, I approach the vendor.
The shopkeeper looks to have a rough attitude judging by his shell, and his eyes just glare down at me based on his slightly higher size. "Hey mister! What's the name of this place?" I asked him out of curiosity.
"It's Klugetown!" He says to me with a kind of rude tone in his deepened voice. "And that's the only thing you'll get for free from me! Everything costs in Klugetown!" How rude...
Goodness me, neither I nor Chummer have any currency that could possibly work here so I don't think even us could afford the fruit... wait! I have a clever idea just even after the shopkeeper answered my question.
He didn't notice, but I place my right hand onto one of the apples, and intended on making a distraction as there is water-like material in that kind of fruit. Enough to quench our thirst. "Well," I began picturing a being running away after having robbed him. "What about that guy that just took that fruit?" I asked him, pointing in the direction ahead.
"WHAT?!" The shopkeeper became enraged when he turned around in that direction. "Nobody steals from me!"
He proceeded to grab a broom from the wall behind him, leaving his vendor to go after the alleged thief that I made up about. He's not looking, so I took an opportunity to steal two apples. One for me, and the other for Chummer. He was out of sight at last, and we began to walk away in a different direction away from the vendor should he come back.
"Klugetown is going to take some getting used to..." Chummer admits to me, then proceeding to chomp down on the apple. A look of satisfaction crosses onto his face.
I could only just smirk, as my green cat eyes caught onto the sight of the windmill, its wheel not spinning even once. It gave me an idea for a temporary home for the both of us. "I like it already!"
"You sure it's empty, Capper?"
"Looks that way!" I admitted to him as I could see that there was no one home inside of the windmill house.
It took some persuasion to convince my friend to come with me up there once we had finished our small apples. Of course, it's a small treat but not enough to consider it dinner. We had no money, and even when this building was abandoned - we had nothing here. I enter the building with him behind me, as I can see the result.
"Though it looks a little cluttered..." I admitted, seeing all of the spider webs, cardboard boxes and covered materials in here. There are ropes as well, above us. Not really much of a decoration, but it feels a bit off in here.
"Are you kidding?" Chummer tells me, looking probably at the size of the place. "It's perfect! Just needs a quick cleaning, that's all! Then it'll be our place!"
We proceeded to take off our white robes that we got from the wreckage and place them down onto the floor. It's a bit messy there, but it'll be clean later as it'll be part of our 'laundry' as the upper class in Panthera called them.
I exhale a sigh as I sat down on the upside-down cardboard box with a bored yet tired expression on my face. Both of my hands are placed onto my cheeks. "I wish we were back in Abyssinia," I admitted out loud to myself, though I am sure Chummer is listening to every word I am saying. "I'm tired of running..."
"Aw, c'mon, Capper!" He looks like he needed to get my hopes up once again. "We were orphans on the street back in Abyssinia, too- Same as we are here!" I was beginning to have brief flashbacks of me and him running through the streets laughing as children, escaping from a raging shop owner, whilst stealing his fish and holding both bread and bottles of milk at the exact same time. "Remember running through the market stalls? Remember outwitting the guards and stealing what we needed? We've done it before, and we could do it again!"
The flashbacks for me ended as I look down to examine my hand. "Yeah, but how long do we have to do it?" I asked him, still sounding a bit down. "I don't want to be a thief forever. I just want to find a place where we can just... be."
I can feel two hands on my shoulders as I knew it was him right behind me. "Hey, c'mon buddy," He says to me with a happy tone in his voice. "Long as we got each other, we can make it anywhere."
That statement alone is enough to put a smile on my face, and even I felt my spirits lift up. He does prove a point after all. He releases his one hand from my right shoulder, gripping onto something leather which I figure is the bag we stored the jewel.
"And hey!" He admits to me, digging out the jewel from inside the bag. It's green illumination shines brightly for the both of us as I study it. "We might not have to steal, if we can sell this thing! Just look at it! It's probably magic too!" He studies it as well with amazement.
"I'm tellin' you, Capper. This thing is our good luck charm!"
For the past few days, while we were we plotting on what we were going to do with this green jewel - we resorted back to the old ways as we did in Panthera, our old home. Chummer still held onto the old tricks as well as I, and we had to gather enough food and money in order to survive here. Our best chance from here in Klugetown was to steal, and not get caught.
We performed all kinds of tricks and moves in order to gather enough of that such as when Chummer was showing a card trick to one of the shopkeepers that was that of what looks like a vulture. He kept himself distracted when I used my tail to pull myself down and grab onto a loaf of bread and reel myself back up when the shopkeeper finally saw what wonders the trick was, congratulating my friend for the entertainment.
All around town we went, crawling underneath moving travellers and citizens - taking from their pockets and taking their own pouchs at the same time. More tricks are made with Chummer being the one to show the tricks, as he's more talented at that skill than I. For me, it's more based pickpocketing. Neither of us have learned about lockpicking, but that was tough enough even for us.
Decorations for the house are splendid as we found unused and ripped fabrics to use as curtains for the window, in the garbage cans. While the curtains remain closed each and every night, we would dig through the golden coins or bits as Equestrians call them - laughing away at the fortunes these people had in town.
I did have my suspicions though as sometimes in the shadows of an alley, there would be a pair of eyes from there. It would disappear every time I try to take a look, but I can sense something was wrong... by the appearance in the dark looked a bit tall, yet angry. I felt someone was watching us, and I think to myself that it could be a goon. Could be the only one, or could be more...
"And dinner is served!" Chummer's voice says to me, snapping me out of my thoughts as he looks at our plates. We had just wrapped up on our dinner for the night, for it was only fish, bread and a half-cut lemon on our plates. "Bone... appetit!"
"This is all you could get?" I asked him, looking at him as he patted his filled stomach full of raw fish.
"Yeah..." He says to me, the moon high above and shining down on both of us aside from the candlelight. "Things are expensive, and we haven't been able to make that much." He could only sigh and rest his head onto his right hand, formed into something like a fist, but more solely a pillow as he stares down with an almost annoyed expression, exhaling a long, yet tired sigh. "Klugetown is merciless. How are two street-smart, loveable urchins supposed to make it her on their own?"
"Plus, I think we're attracting attention," I admitted, placing my fingers onto my chin. Even so, still remembering the shadow of someone eyeing us. "Have you noticed a figure... a goon possibly, in the shadows watching us?"
I can hear chewing for a moment, so I turn around to see Chummer gnawing on the fish bones. "Yeah." He responded, spitting out the bones when I turned to look at him.
"We can't be the only thieves in this town," I take my fingers away from my chin and my expression looked to study the situation we were in. If there's someone watching us, there's got to be the one thing that watches everything well. "There's got to be someone running this place."
Chummer places his hands onto the clothed table while I look at the floor, thinking about the consequences of trouble we could be in if this continued. "You want to work for someone? A crime boss?" He sounded like I was going to betray him or something.
"Not quite!" I gave him some assurance, but I still had my thoughts on that figure by even a glimpse. "The way I see it, we need resources and we need to leave..."
The shine from the jewel across the room caught our attention. We both turn and see sitting there, out from the blue open bag and exposing its surface as another idea was crossing into my head. What if we can convince whoever runs this place to take it off our hands, so we can leave Klugetown together? ...Good thinking, Capper.
And I talked to myself again... thankfully in my mind because it would confuse Chummer and get him to ask what I am talking about. He should understand why after a good explanation.
"...And I think there's a way to get both at once!"
"Did you see their faces?" I laughed as me and Chummer begin to walk away from the entertainment district of town.
He too is laughing from seeing the act we just pulled off to a few griffon shopkeepers with the false products we were completely making up to them, and they totally believed it. They ended up buying something that was broken for a load of money... and we completely ran off with that as soon as they noticed something funny about it.
"I know!" Chummer laughed with a smile on his face. "I can't believe we pulled that off!"
On the wooden posts, there were papers on them that I noticed as we were moving ahead. One was a wanted poster of some sharp teethed thing from Equestria, with a crooked jagged horn in its descriptive drawing.
Equestria... neither I nor Chummer have ever gone there before, but from the whispers of the other felines in Panthera, I only heard the rumors there. Something about a different being there as tall as probably me... maybe taller? Not sure. If taller, I'd probably reach up to his neck since they told of his height. If I was to ever meet him, I'm sure everything will sort itself out on the description I pictured.
Next to the wanted poster though was a warning that caught my attention. "Beware of Cat Burglars" is what the headline said. Someone is probably already aware and decided to tell on us for doing these things. No picture though to my relief, so there is no general description on who they are.
"These Klugetown rubes wouldn't recognize a scam if they..." He continued for a moment before pausing. I was wondering why he exactly had stopped speaking for a moment. I turn my head towards him, but stopped when I saw coming out from the shadows of an alleyway, a figure that probably was following us...
...It's one of those that I was just thinking about. This figure that I was looking at had legs like any other creature, but was more based by its skin tone being almost tanned. It looks to be covered up though with black fancy-like shoes and socks whilst wearing black pants with a coal colored suit. He isn't wearing a hat, so his short blonde hair is exposed for the both of us to see. His eyes are in the color of green, kind of like mine. The only exception though is that it was more lighter in tone.
This wasn't an ordinary creature that can be seen in any part of Equus... this was a human. I'm not sure where they came from, but it's all a mystery to me. He looks slightly taller than us... ha! I was right! I really am up to their necks after all!
"...stepped in it?" Chummer finishes the sentence, almost confused for a moment.
Neither of us know what to say when he was approaching us with a serious look upon his face, almost as if we committed a crime... oh yeah... the scams. He looks rather angry, but has this attitude that he will do what must be done, no matter the cost.
"You two thieves," He spoke to us. His accent sounds rather different, but to our surprise, he doesn't even sound that angry when he spoke with us both. He moves behind us. "Come with me, please."
I made no resistance and neither did Chummer unlike what he did when we were first introduced to Celaeno by what seemed to be... a few days ago? I'm not even sure what day it is anymore. He grabbed both me and my friend from behind, by our fur and began to carry us off to a building that was a couple of streets down from where we were.
Two tough-looking mole rats standing on their two feet, stood right there at the wooden door... like some sort of crime lord lived in there and this was all part of a catnapping or something... no, Capper. This isn't a time to panic since the human or the other two haven't threatened us yet.
One of them opens up the door and we entered into the room from the outdoors. Pressure is building up on our backs from the human hands gripping onto us, and needless to say it is quite uncomfortable.
Looks like a studying room inside, the kind you would see where the philosophers in Panthera would go to write down some details they thought of, ensuring that they would show it to their other pals that were interested in the same thing. Most of them are in the rich class though, so we couldn't care less about what the details were. Other than that, there is a sign on the desk that was called 'The Boss'.
I can feel my butt being slammed down onto a chair with a thunk while Chummer landed flat onto another chair next to me. "Sir, I found the two that you've been keeping an eye on." I can hear the human speak behind us towards the chair that looks to have been turned around. Probably going to surprise us in a way.
"Excellent work, Jack. You may go on your lunch, and take as long as you want." We can hear another voice speak, though it came from the chair.
"Thanks sir!" We hear the human called Jack as his footsteps move off the carpet below us and out the door. There is a sound of it being shut, and then the chair turns around. Only us and whoever this 'boss' is.
Didn't see it coming either, but it's another mole-rat that features a top hat on his head and is wearing glasses along with that fancy suit of his. "So..." He leans down on the desk and clenches his hands together. "...You boys have been pretty busy in my town."
The both of us can only gulp as his dotted eyes in the glasses are staring at the both of us. Clearly, we shouldn't make any mistakes or try and run away. It could risk us probably getting killed... maybe. You never know! He takes his hands off from the table and raises his right hand, pointing an index finger upward. "My name's Verko," He introduced himself. "I own Klugetown. Every lowlife, knave and villain who ever picked a pocket here answers to me."
Just when I thought all seems well when seeing his right arm lowering back to the desk, he raised his left hand, pointing directly at us. There is a bit of a glare by the look in his eyes. "Except for you too," He continues. "You two think you can just waltz into Klugetown and start robbing everybody?" He lowers his hand, turning in his chair and getting up off from there. "Two cats can't make it out on the streets." He finished, sounding rather strict about that - just as we heard it many times.
"Actually, Mr. Verko," I finally spoke to him, putting on this clever smile and turning my eyes to Chummer for a moment. "We don't want to be in Klugetown either, and with your help, we can leave and be out of your hair forever." Chummer puts a smile on his face rather impressed with my choice of words.
"Me? Help you?" He asked, his hands behind his back as he moves between the telescope and the desk in question. "And what do I get out of it? Everything costs in Klugetown."
"Well, for starters, you'd be helping two poor, innocent lost children escape this hive of thievery and villainy... but you'll also get a lot more." I kept myself seated as I cross the both of my arms. "Take a look at the windmill, won't you?"
Verko moves towards the telescope and begins adjusting it. "And what am I looking for?" He asked me.
"A small, shiny prize." I confirmed. Chummer continues to smirk at me as I was telling him the description of the jewel as we recalled hanging it outside by there. "We've got a gem to sell, y'see," I offered to him. "And before you get any tricky ideas, look where it is. Your big strong henchmen would be too heavy to cross the plank! Not even your human bodyguard could get it either!"
He paused for a moment, as we could see only shock on his face. Not sure if he went blind or something by the illusion the jewel created... but it must have also crossed with a look of surprise. "That gem?!" He responded in that same tone as his expression. "You're selling it?"
"Sure!" I said to him as I share a smile with Chummer. "We figure it's worth a few copper pennies or so..."
"COPPER PENNIES?!" Verko sounded quite outraged to hear how low standard that it sounded from our offer. But hey, we've been living here for a while where the currency is quite low, so it would make sense to ask that, right? "ARE YOU NUTS, KID? THAT'S THE MISFORTUNE MALACHITE! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT GEM IS WORTH?!"
"Well, we didn't- but it seems like you think it's a lot!" I said to him, remaining quite calm while I pointed at him with a smart look on my face.
He is quite speechless for a moment, but manages to get himself under control. "All right, kid. It's a lot..." He says as he turns towards the window and past the telescope. I can see his reflection from the window. "But it's not just about the money. That gem is cursed, they say. It's toppled empires and started wars."
The curtain on the left side is pushed to the side by his hand as he observes all of Klugetown from there. "I buy it from you... I'm risking my neck. That gem could ruin me, put me out of business... forever."
He paused for a moment there, but turns around to look at us with quite a smile on his face. "But, I mean, it's really a lot. So... sure, I'll buy it."
"Really?" I asked him with joy flowing in my veins.
Chummer looks delighted. "Yeah!" He cheered.
"I know some dealers who would be happy to get such a treasure," Verko admitted, turning around and moving towards the front of the desk. Though he now looks to be a bit curious judging by the look on his face. "Of course that raises the question: How do two kids get ahold of a treasure of the Abyssinian Royal Family?"
Chummer kept his smirk, looking at me as he responded to the mole-rat. "It's a long story, Verko."
"So what do you boys want for the malachite? Because it's worth a lot more than just a ticket out of Klugetown."
Chummer looks to be overthrown by the offer and statement Verko shared with us, especially when he leans back on his desk and crosses his arms. I have amusement on my face when he gave us this offer of anything we wanted for the worth of the gem. "Huh?"
"That gem is worth plenty. I can get you your own airship with all the trimmings for its price. So... how much?"
Ideas for our ship began running through our heads on how we were picturing the skyship, and we almost were quite reminded of Celaeno and her crew that inspired us to draw out and speak our minds to Verko. Seeing the money signs in Chummer's eyes really gave it off as well when began to almost sound excited by how loud the volume of our voices were.
"A skyship!" I shouted quite excitedly.
"Fully loaded! With cannons!" Chummer followed afterwards, shaking with great joy.
"And- and clothes! Uniforms!"
"Cutlasses and compasses!"
"Maps and globes!"
"Everything a pirate needs!"
That night...
The moon was at the crescent period past the Eastern horizon as me and Chummer lie down in our own separate beds. A small candle is lit by Chummer's bed to keep things alit until it was time to rest.
The Misfortune Malachite is outside where it had been set up even before our deal with Verko, and it looks like it has turned out to be a success. We spent the rest of the day, celebrating with some of the money we previously stole to purchase our dinner which is... fish like usual. Everything a cat likes after all.
My bed and pillow is in a cardboard box, but it's better than nothing at all or the floor. Chummer's bed on the other hand is in a basket weaved in the color of turquoise. All the both of us, can just cuddle ourselves into our own blankets and stare up at the wooden ceiling in silence. At least until one of us breaks it with our voices.
"Hey, Capper?" I can hear Chummer question.
"Yeah, Chummer?"
"I keep thinking about what Verko said," He tells me, sounding a bit worried. "About how two cats can't make it, out on the streets. But the two of us, we've always been there for each other." He paused for a moment, letting the sounds of the night time ambience outside fill in the silence. "We wouldn't have gotten this far without each other. We need each other... don't we?"
I thought for a moment about the statement that Verko made. "Maybe Verko doesn't think that way," I said to him, even thinking about the tone of his voice when he said it. "Maybe he thinks... friends are a distraction. Maybe he thinks, if you're alone... you can be free."
"...Oh."
"Like, if you don't have to help anyone, or you don't rely on anyone... you only have to worry about yourself..." I turned over to the side in the bed and gripped onto the cardboard with my hand. "I don't like that. I like being with you, Chummer."
"Me too, Capper." He responds, looking at me.
He puts his arms around his back, continuing to stare up at the ceiling again. "When we leave Klugetown... where should we go next?"
"I don't know, Chummer." I said to him as I flop onto the other side with my chin on the pillow. I cross the both of my arms and lay my head above them, sounding a little tired from the day. "I don't want to keep running and stealing... I want to find a place where we can stop," I exhale a long sigh. "I want to find a home..."
There is silence for a moment between us again. Then from there came quite a jolly laugh from my friend. "What do we need a home for?" He chuckled lightly. "We got each other! We can keep stealing and livin' on the streets forever! It's what we're good at! Chummer an' Capper, best thieves in the land!" His chuckling grows weak and begins to sound tired again. "Yeah..."
I closed my eyes and snuggle my head to my pillow. "Yeah... but I'd rather just be Chummer an' Capper..." I said to him following by a small tired yawn. "...Friends."
When I finally closed my eyes and flipped myself to lie down on my back for rest, I knew it was time to call it a night before the big departure tomorrow. "Good night, Chummer." I told him one last time before letting myself drift off to sleep.
"G'night, Capper." I can hear Chummer say to me, followed by the sound of a candle being blown out to darken the room.
That morning...
We almost ended up forgetting about the skyship by the time that we had our breakfast in the morning, especially when the rooster had finally crowed. Once we realized it, we began to pack our bags, filling it with supplies in the blue bags we had around our shoulders.
The Misfortune Malachite was off from the plank where we placed it, and we had it stuffed into one of our bags. I know that Chummer handed me the bag where they had the gem inside, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem when Verko asks for it in return of the ship. I'm actually looking forward to seeing the ship myself.
We ran past the side of the dock building, catching our breath when we stopped in front of Verko and his human bodyguard Jack. We don't know too much about him, and frankly we don't really care at this time.
The appearance of the skyship is what surprised us the most... The hull of the ship looks almost in appearance like a regular ship you'd see afloat in the skies, featuring square holes in them that were meant for firing cannonballs out. For the balloon on top, it was in a bright red toned color with supports in the color of coal black. Included that shield in front of it as well, and is rather unique that way.
Our jaws dropped when we looked at one another, and Verko looks to have quite an impressed smile on his face even with the crossed arms. "Well, boys?" He got our attention, and we ensured that our jaws weren't even dropped anymore. "Is it everything you wanted?"
Chummer's face turns to look at me from the side for a moment, but then turns back to look at the ship. "It's perfect, Mr. Verko!"
"Yeah!" I agreed alongside him. "It's everything two pirates could ask for!"
My friend moves towards the ladder made completely of rope, making his ascend upwards to the deck on top. The rope moving a bit by each step he took, until he paused halfway to turn and look at me.
"I'll go up and check it out," He offered to me. "Capper, when I give you the okay, give them the Malachite."
All I can do is smile and turn my eyes towards Verko who watches him going up on deck. "Right!" I responded to him, as he continues to climb the ladder.
"That skyship's nearly brand new, you know," Verko commented behind me to the right, getting himself ready for the Malachite we're going to give him. "Cost me a pretty penny from Judge Errant. So you boys had better make good use of it."
I turn to look at him, sounding satisfied in the tone of my voice when I pointed at him with a smile. "We will, Mr. Verko!"
Having seen Chummer go up on deck, he remained silent for quite a short amount of time. Perhaps he's quite busy looking at the architecture inside of the hull and at the cannons... ugh. I should ask how it looks nevertheless as we shouldn't waste more time. "How's it look, Chummer?" I called out to him, placing the side of my left hand near my mouth - almost sounding like a speaker. You know, like those things back in Panthera during a public event.
Only thing is... I didn't expect for the ladder to fall down from there. I was caught off-guard, but I could see Verko catching it in his own hands. I must have gone blank for a split moment when I saw it falling, but I could sense something was wrong.
"What's going on?" I sound quite alarmed, knowing that something was wrong if Chummer had cut the ropes.
Jack moves to the side, pointing up at the ship. "He cut the rope ladder!" He shouts at both me and Verko.
Now the Mole Rat himself was quite furious over this as he held the rope in his hands. He turns to look at me, the tone of his voice sounding quite angry. "What are you trying to pull, kid?" He signals Jack towards me, now having lost his cool. "Grab him! Grab the gem!"
I can feel myself getting grabbed from behind by Jack's left hand on the shoulder. "Wha- hey!" I was completely thrown back when I was held in place and couldn't resist, letting him grab onto the blue bag around my waist and digging into it.
He finally dug something out, and I was quick to turn around to see if it was the Misfortune Malachite... "It's just a rock!"
"WHAT?" I was drawn in complete surprise and total shock over what I was seeing in Jack's right hand. Just a typical stone that was sold in the shops of Klugetown without even a single glow to them... just dull itself - not even close to the Misfortune Malachite. Then that means that... CHUMMER!
"The other cat's pulling a scam! After him!" Jack yells at me from there as my eyesight turns towards the ship, already starting to move away from the skyport.
No hesitation inside, I began to sprint forward towards the loose rope that was dangling by the ship's side. The wood can be heard below my feet by each sprint I made. "Chummer, hold on! I'm coming!" I called out to him in panic.
I made the leap off from the dock, and latched myself onto the rope. "Chummer, please!" I called out to him, making my climb upwards and grunting in the struggle to get up on deck. "Wait!"
My hands move over the railing of the ship, and I can see Chummer standing there with his hands on the wheel. He looked absolutely panicked by the expression on his face as if he was in a hurry... which seemed to be true by my own fear. "Chummer, stop the ship! Please!" I begged to him.
"NO!" He shouts at me in even that panicked tone in his voice. He turns his light blue cat eyes to look at me as I hopped over the railing. "Verko was right! Two cats can't make it on their own!"
In a fast pace, I was walking towards Chummer in hopes of keeping him calm about this. Of all the times me and him were together on the streets of Panthera, he's never acted like this before. "But we could make it together!" I said to him.
"Get off!" He steers the wheel to the right. I can feel the ship move to the right, and myself beginning to slide right down onto my butt as he did so. To the left he turned the wheel, sounding quite angry. "You never wanted to be a thief!"
I fell onto my butt, hearing a smash on the deck. The lantern looks to have fell from the ropes above, setting the wood alit with flames that were slowly beginning its spread. As I slid down towards the railing on the left side of the ship, a red coat loosened from the boxes of clothes is set loose and becomes attached to my right leg, gripping on it.
Flung with force off from the deck, I had to make a firm grip to the railing - unwillingly to let go in denial of Chummer trying to leave me behind. I let out a surprised shout when I saw how far up from the surface I was.
Footsteps are heard up on the deck and I look up to see Chummer standing there with a morbid expression on his face. "Chummer," I called to him, struggling to hold on tight as my nails scratch the surface of the wooden railing. "Please! Help me!"
"You shouldn't have come after me, Capper!" He says to me, as the fire continued to spread more around the deck. "We could've been free! We could've lived our own lives! We don't need each other!"
"I need you!" I begged to him, feeling like I was going to let go and fall at any given moment to the ground below which looks really high up from here. "I need a friend!"
His white furred hand finally grabs onto my orange hand that was still holding on. I can feel pressure from there, and I wasn't sure if I was able to talk sense into him or if he wanted to stop. That is... until he spoke the final words to me. "You were going to leave me, Capper. So I'm leaving you first."
With the force of his hands, he threw me off from the railing. Everything seemed to go into slow motion as I can feel the wind blowing past me in the fall. I was flying downward in a way, the red coat from the ship still attached to my right leg and flapping about as I go distant and away from the ship, left alit and burning. Smoke is now seen as I can only lament silently of what was left in the friendship I had with him, that which he had abandoned.
Seconds of feeling nothing but the air felt like two minutes had slowly passed by, followed by the soft impact into something that was behind me. It feels a lot like... a mattress of some sort. Guess I had only a small amount of luck right there, but I cannot take my eyes off from the smoke as I can hear the sound of footsteps running towards my location.
"What has he done?!" I can hear Verko's voice filled with rage while I stuck in that position. Too struck in the moment that was to see that my friend... my only friend in the world had betrayed me. "Your idiot friend just stole from all of us!"
I began to slowly get up, taking the red coat off from my right leg. I move my back off from the foam rubber mattress - which seemed to be part of a wholesale convention. Aside from the shock, I can hear Verko practically screaming at me. "Now I'm out the gem, the ship, the supplies- the way that ship is burning, it won't even make it out of the desert! I'm out two fortunes, and you're the only one left to blame!"
Realization had finally struck me on the inside, even when I had placed my hand onto my own chest. Chummer leaving me... his words of him framing me for trying to leave him when I wouldn't...
"...What?" I turned around to look at the mole rat boss himself, as he still looks enraged. I pick up the red coat that I had with me when falling from the ship above, not becoming distant. Its smoke trail still left there for the minutes to pass.
"I said..." Verko started up once again, his anger calm but still feeling quite that way. "...you friend has ruined us! He betrayed us both!"
My eyes took ahold of the red coat in my hands, as I look over it. Felt like leather, and it has a black patch on its right side... hmm. Looks good, but I now can finally see it for what it really is. A reminder of what happened to this very day, and what shall not ever be repeated again from the betrayal.
"No... you're wrong." I exhaled a sigh and responded to Verko. He looked like he wanted to say more, but couldn't just find the words in him to let it out. He just places his hands in his pockets while his bodyguard Jack stands there and watches everything I am doing.
I became to put the coat on me, slipping my arms inside and fixing up the collar on it. A sharp glare began to appear on my face, turning my eyes towards the windmill that I stayed in. No thoughts of my friend were there as I begin to shut him out from my mind, forgetting the day that I ever met him.
What shocked Verko and Jack themselves is the words I bitterly mused to them and myself at the same time. "He was never my friend."
Neither of them dared to move after me, and I began walking away towards the windmill. Only the sounds of the wind and the back of the coat below it moving are the ones I hear. After all, to bury a past... you must sometimes forget that past even existed.
Klugetown, I believe it's time for a new Capper in town...