Yay! Rapp is back! I love Rapp... heehee. Anywhoozle, here 'tis. PH was a chapter hog this time, taking up over half the chapter, teehee. I think this is one of our shortest chapters, too, but I couldn't go any further without killing any suspense that the next chapter will have. Whoops I wonder if telling you there will be suspense gives anything away...

yes... Rapp is back. I hope you enjoy my attempt at funness... heehee, I didn't have much problem on this one though. twas fun I especially hope you enjoy my on the spot story! heehee!

It was the beginning of Summer in the Southsward country. And all the otters from everywhere were gathering together to have their quad-seasonal (annual) Hullaballoo, where they would gather with all the otters and swim all the streams that are to be swam, rivers too.

Currently all the otters were traveling in groups to the designated meeting spot yearly up North, where they travel down south. Rapp was with the Skipper's crew and several others from in the same general area. At the time he was conversing on how things had been going during the past year or so, since they had met together last, and how they thought the upcoming event would go for them.

"You wouldn't believe wot Tyde an' 'is little posse did at our celebration. The next afternoon when everyone was sleeping they went an' ate the rest of the food! All the soup, flans, soup, tarts, soup, drinks, and did I say Shrimp and 'otroot soup? And they were snoring away in their little tents with crumbs e'erywhere and stomach's bulging.

"When they woke up we asked them wot happened, they looked up slowly an' quick as lightnin' they pointed to the one to their right, with eyes as big as saucers. To do their time, we had them scrub all the pots clean, until they could trim their whiskers in 'em. Then one of 'em actually did, Rosco, the lil tyke, she went an' shaved 'is whiskers right off, He looked right funny."

At this the skipper broke down in hysterics, "Y' mean he actually carved off all 'is whiskers?"

"Yup, in fact 'e's over there with Tyde right now, take a look if'n y' want to."

Sure enough, Skipper looked over his shoulder to see a young male with no whiskers walking with Rapp's son.

"Well blow me barnacles if that ain't the funniest thing I've e'er seen. The thought! An otter widout 'is whiskers. Heeheeheehawhawhoo!"

From then the conversation took a pointless turn and went on to stupid things that had happened to them or they had done in their younger days, a few others even listened in when Rapp started talking about his deep sea days.

"When I went on my first voyage as a crewmate, I was most likely around 10 seasons old. Now, before you go badmouthin' sailors, the only reason that happened, was my daddy was the captain of the ship, so naturally I knew more than most others my age. Anyways, when I was on me first voyage, about the 10th day in we spotted a great big wallopin' shark. This one was a monster! He was about the size of the ship, a bruiser 'e was. The whole crew was starting to panic, even though we had done nothin' wrong yet as to disturb 'im. So I sez to meself 'Rapp, you wavedog you, yer gotta get that monster away from the ship an' save e'eryone'. So I started thinkin' real tricky like, an' got a fish that somebeast left out on the deck an' attached to a great big rock, and sent it to Davy Jones's locker. As predicted, the shark went helter-skelter and dove right after it, and we 'ightailed it outto there.

"When I told my pater wot happened, he laughed an' told the whole crew wot a smart pup 'e 'ad. He said we should celebrate by playing s'me games, by the end o' the night, I had half the crew's morning duties for three days."

When Rapp was finished he took in the size of the audience that had gathered around him, especially his son and wife, the former was looking in open wonderment, as only a 8 season old can, the latter with pride and admonishment for holding up the travelers. They continued after praise was given and stopped to camp for the night when the stars were spotted, a whole evening of story telling and star gazing followed.

The next morning, Skyborne was absent from breakfast, though hardly anyone noticed in the bustle of preparation for battle. Moge and Saloo were sitting with the younger warriors and trying –unsuccessfully– to sober them, telling them that war was a serious affair.

"I'll bet," one declared, in between quaffing enormous amounts of cider, "That I'll snuff out at least two score!"

"How vulgar!" Moge said, choking on his breakfast. "The very idea! Snuff out, indeed! Listen here, young chap--"

"No way!" another interjected. "I'll bet I can get a score, but all of them beheaded! Ha!"

"By the left, young thing!" Saloo cried. "War is not a game!"

"Weren't you just talking of mass killings last night, old bean?" Moge said under his breath.

Saloo narrowed his eyes but said no more.

"Young warriors, please! I'm sure you will understand what we're saying after this battle is done. Friends will die, maybe even the person sitting next to you!"

Everyone gave their neighbor a wary glance.

"Please go into this with a sense of duty, but not pleasure!"

The warriors were subdued as Moge ended his little speech. A cheerful young haremaid, Swiftbreeze, took a look around before whispering fervently to her two friends.

"Has anyone seen Sky?"

They all shook their heads.

"Let's wait for him; he might just be a little late coming down this morning."

They waited as long as they dared before hurrying off.

"Where do you suppose the jolly lad's got to, wot?" Ellie asked.

Before her companions could reply, they heard a commotion on the beach and rushed to the nearest window to get a look, joining the throng of hares who were doing the same.

"I can't see!" Dren and Swiftbreeze exclaimed.

"Hold on a tick," Ellie said, leaping straight up, to see over the heads of the hares crowding the window.

"By the fur! It's a flood of vermin!" she said in awe, hopping back up for another look.

"And armed to the teeth, too, wot! We better march down to our battalion leaders double quick!"

They raced down the stairs, pushing past mothers and crying leverets with many a polite "excuse me, marm, but we have to get through, soldiers..." The mother always moved aside and called for them to be careful to which they replied with a wink and a salute.

The vermin were acting precisely as planned.

Oh, sorry if I stepped a bit outof BJ's footprints during the young warriors's betting scene. Just... had to deviate for a bit. And, I repeat myself all over again (heh heh) when I say that you should REVIEW! But, I say it anyway. REVIEW!

YAY! juvenile badger boys! heehee, dons Captain Jack Sparrow hat now bring me those reveiws!