Updates coming a bit slower now XD No, I haven't given up on the story, in fact I have a huge chunk of plot in my head… I'm just a bit busier so I don't write it down as fast. It's still coming along though : )
And many thanks to FoxyJosh for reviewing to almost each chapter (and Ri2, Jarkes, etc, and anyone else who just left a note along the way (sorry if I didn't type out your name)). Based on my Stat thingummy, I'm pretty sure there are at least a few more people who read my story. I know a lot of authors go through this rant but… if you read this, and you enjoy it, I'd really appreciate a review. If you don't then… well, I'd update the story nevertheless, but it would be nice.
Alright! Land ho then!
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"Land ho! Land ho!" squawked Gully as the Seatunder slid onto the sand.
Flint jumped off and tied the ship's rope to a large and sturdy rock. "Its all clear, Skip!" he called.
It was as the rest of the crew was descending when everything went wrong. Everybeast froze as a wild hoot came from the forest. The next moment, Flint was rolling in the sand, wrestling with a wiry, long limbed creature. The Totodile was strong, but the other beast had a firm hold on his arms; he could not reach his knives. A rare look of anger burned in Skipper's eyes. He dashed towards the foe with frightening speed.
"It's just a Mankey! Don't kill anybeast, Skip!" Torq cautioned.
The Buizel heeded the Vaporeon's warning and, instead of running the monkey-like creature through, dealt it a blow that sent it bouncing and skidding. He helped the gator to his feet, "Are ye alright, mate?"
Flint scowled, "I had everything under control till ye came and conked him out like that!"
Skip grinned, "Of course ye did, mate, of course ye did."
The crew approached them, concern painted on their faces.
Fwsh!
"Watch out!" Dorian caught Torq around the middle and the two crashed into the sand. A stone tipped spear lied buried right where the maid was standing. Then, a hair-raising roar, the stomping of paws, and they were surrounded.
They were no more than Zigzagoon, Treecko, and other small, not-so-threatening creatures. But they all carried spears with wicked points. And, Skipper noted, they greatly outnumbered his crew. He opened his mouth to parley but…
"Put your weapons down, now!" Torq stood, chin up and frosty eyed, as she glared at each and every one of the spearbeasts.
A Sandshrew jeered, "Ooo, a Vaporeon maid, I'm so scared!"
The others laughed cruelly.
"Why you scared? She's not so scary! Not scary at all!" Gully questioned, oblivious to sarcasm.
Torq narrowed her eyes, "I, Torq, daughter of Lord Ignaceous, order you to put your weapons down!"
The laughter died immediately. Even their spears seemed to drop a fraction. They looked at each other with uncertainty.
"Torq? No way… ain't she dead?
"But this maid be a Vaporeon…"
One beast muttered to the next. No one was sure what to do.
"Torq!!"
The crowd parted as a young Eevee maid in a cream colored frock dashed toward the Vaporeon, who beamed, "Bell!"
The fox maid hurtled into Torq with such force that she fell backwards. "I missed you, sis!" she sniffed. They laughed and hugged on the sand, tears in their eyes.
The Sandshrew looked sheepish, "Er, right then. Welcome back, miz Torq. I suppose I'll take you lot to see his lordship now… no sudden moves, ye hear?" He signaled his mob to lower their weapons.
Skipper took control, "Alright, crew, let's move out!"
"Wait!" the Sandshrew called. But Skip and the others were already heading into the forest.
"B...but! You can't just…!" the grumpy shrew huffed and ran to catch up.
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Bell sat on Torq's shoulders and giggled, "Heehee, I like him! What's his name, Torq?"
"That's Skipper," the Vaporeon replied, "Captain of the Seatunder."
"The ship?" asked the little Eevee in amazement.
The water maid stifled a laugh and nodded.
"The whole thing?!" pressed Bell.
Skip chuckled and turned his head towards her, "Aye, all of it, even the flag at the tippy top!"
The fox maid pondered the thought wide eyed, "Wow, even the flag at the tippy top…"
Torq went on to introduce the rest of the crew, "That one's Flint. There's Dorian over there. Gully's the loudmouthed bird flying above us. And this is Buso," she patted the faithful cook walking beside her, "Oh, and Tottle! He's around your age, a little older maybe."
"Heehee, Tottle! That's a funny name!" Bell smiled at the turtle, who blushed shyly.
The walk through the wood was brisk and comfortable. It wasn't long before they reached a small village, hidden in its little forest. Straw huts lined the clearing in a grid like manner. Here and there, young ones ran about. House wives swept the fronts of their abodes and chatted casually with each other. A few warrior types sparred with wooden poles. All in all, it was a quaint and humble place, undisturbed by the outside world. The first words that ran through Skippers head were "organized and self sustaining," then "isolated," then "boring." He settled on "boring."
"Welcome to Ayon," Torq whispered to her crewmates.
The hustle and bustle of daily life stopped as the villagers fell silent and watched the newcomers; seldom do those arrive in this concealed glade. Then, as they saw the Vaporeon, stunned glances were exchanged and whispers drifted like ghosts.
"Is that Lady Torqoise?"
"My god… I think it is!"
"What, Lady Torqoise has returned?"
Skip sniggered, "Lady Torqoise?"
The water maid fumed, "Shut it!"
But Gully was already ahead of himself, "Arckk! Lady Torqoise! Lady Torqoise of the Seatunder!"
Unbeknownst to the Chatot, Torq felt a rush of pride within her as he said that last line.
A larger-than-average hut stood at the end of the village. And in front of it…
"Mommy! Daddy! Look who I found!" Bell slid off her sister's shoulders and rushed happily to her parents.
Torq's father was a large and regal Flareon, wearing terracotta pants with matching a tunic, shining red flames woven onto the sleeves. The mane around his neck was parted and tied into two ponytails behind his back, making it look as though he were wearing a short fur cape. Beside him stood who could only be Torq's mother. An elegant Espeon, she tied the silky tufts of fur under her ears into ponytails as well, and wore a silver coronet with a pale golden veil attached to the back. Her dress was also silver; with a ruby stone buckle on one side of her waist, holding more gossamer golden material around her other side.
The Sandshrew gasped for breath as he pushed ahead of Skipper to announce their arrival, "Lord Ignaceous and Lady Sera, your daughters Torq and Bell arrive with a ship's Captain and his crew!"
"Smarten up, lads," Skipper mumbled.
They stood a little taller and straightened their backs.
"Shut yore beak!" Flint hissed to Gully, who blew a raspberry at the gator before perching on Buso's hat.
Torq walked ahead and approached her parents, "Mother," she curtsied, "Father," she curtsied again.
"Oh, Torqoise!" Sera broke down and embraced her daughter, crying uncontrollably into her shoulder.
"Mom, call me Torq," the Vaporeon muttered, quite embarrassed.
"Calm yourself, Sera," Ignaceous put an arm around his mate and gently pulled her back. Then, his face broke into a craggy smile and he, too, embraced the water maid, "My dear Torq, you have returned."
Torq drew back and raised a paw toward her friends, "Mom, Dad, this is Captain Skipper of the ship Seatunder, and his crew."
The Flareon frowned as he looked the group up and down. "Step forward, boy," he barked at Skip.
The sea weasel twitched his nose. He fully intended on paying full respect to Torq's parents, but here they were, looking at him as if he were dirt!
"What's that you said, Iggy, ol' chum? Better call me by my proper name."
Lady Sera gasped. Flint snorted as he held in a laugh. Ignaceous looked outraged, "How dare you speak to me like that, boy!"
Skipper responded coolly, "I'll treat you with as much respect as you treat me, old man."
The fire dog bristled and stepped forward, but was stopped by his daughter, "Father, please. His name is Captain Skipper, address him as that, will you not?"
The Flareon growled, then reassessed himself, "Very well. Step forward, Captain Skipper of the Seatunder."
The Buizel bowed deeply, "Lord Ignaceous of Ayon, my crew and I have traveled far across the oceans and have docked on your island in search of supplies. Your village seems alive and thriving, and if your lordship would kindly stock our ship and pardon our intrusion, we'll be on our way shortly."
The fire lord was taken aback by the sea weasel's sudden change in behavior, but hid his surprise. He closed his eyes and thought long and hard before replying, "Allow me time to consider your request. Meanwhile, I insist that you stay here on our island…" "As guests," he added, seeing how the crew tensed, "Kito, show them to their lodge."
From the large hut emerged a lithe looking Jolteon. He dressed more simply then the Flareon and Espeon, wearing only a short leather tunic over his light blue, short sleeved shirt and white pants. However, he did have a blue, belt like sash around his waist. But besides his clothes, the thunder dog was undeniably handsome. Whereas Skipper has a roguish appeal, this one had a stoic, yet dashing look about him.
Skip gave Torq an inquisitive look, to which she replied, "Kito, my older brother."
The Vaporeon met her brother's eyes, causing him to look away, almost apologetically.
"This way," he said, leading them to their hut.
Their lodging was small yet snug. Two hammock chairs and a single wooden desk filled the first room, which was connected to the bedroom where three bunk beds were crammed into the compact space.
"Top bunk!" Flint and Skipper called out at the same time.
Gully flew from Buso's hat and claimed the last. The cook was only too happy to take one of the bottom beds, which didn't require him to climb. Tottle looked unsure.
"Here, you take this one, kid," Dorian stated, "Torq, you can have the last bed. I don't mind sleeping on the floor."
Skip leapt up, "Ah! Where are my manners…I won't have any of my crew on the floors! Dory, you can have mine. I'll take good ol' terra firma."
"That won't be necessary."
They turned to face the speaker, Kito.
The thunder dog continued, "Father has requested that Torq sleep in our hut tonight."
Torq acted as if she hadn't heard him and instead turned to the Buizel and the Golduck, "Thanks guys, but I don't mind sleeping on the floor at all. You two go ahead and take the beds."
Her brother sighed, "Torq, mom and dad said…"
She faced him and snarled, "I don't care what mom and dad said! I belong here, with my crew!"
"Torq." The Jolteon grabbed the water maid's wrist as she turned her back to him.
The Vaporeon jumped, and said with a voice of pure malice, "Don't. Touch. Me." She tried to pull away but his grip held strong.
In an instant, Skipper had his blade drawn. He tapped it lightly against the thunder dog's paw. "You heard the lady; methinks you should let go now."
Kito growled, "And who are you to order me around?"
The sea weasel narrowed his eyes, "As Captain, it is my duty to see that no harm comes to any of my crew. Release her or you lose your paw."
The Jolteon glared, but loosened his hold enough so that Torq was able to withdraw from his grasp. She stormed out of the room in high temper. The Buizel raised an eyebrow at her uncharacteristic behavior, but said nothing of it.
"Now that was easy, wasn't it?" he said casually while tucking the rapier back into his belt.
"Mind your own business, weasel. I could knock you out with a flick of my paw." The thunder dog did not want to start any trouble with the sea Captain, especially in front of his sister. But how dare this rogue interfere with their personal matters, much less threaten him? He took a step towards the Buizel who, like Torq, was a head shorter than him.
"My crew is my business, mate. And don't think your type gives you an advantage! I've sailed through thunder and lightning before, aye, and laughed at it too!" Skipper challenged, a smirk on his lips.
"That's bold of you, but not very wise, captain." Kito replied. His face hardened. "Either way, just stay away from my sister. She doesn't belong with the likes of you."
"And what's that supposed to mean?!" Flint flared, but the Jolteon was already leaving.
"Hehe, don't let him get to ye, mate. The only beast Torq wants to stay away from is her dear ol' brother," the sea weasel jeered.
The thunder dog heard him, and the quills around his neck bristled with rage. The Buizel was right though; his sister wanted nothing to do with him, all because of what happened that day…
"I have to make things right," he told himself, and ran to catch up with the water maid, "I know where she'll be."
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Ah, a bit of brotherly-sisterly tension. There is a reason behind this, which will be explained in the next chapter. I really like my character Kito, and you'll learn more about him as well later on. For now, if you want to see a (really rough) sketch of him,
canyx . deviantart . com /art/Kito-80800081 (just get rid of spaces)
Well, things are about to unfold in Ayon, and of course, it'll lead to something even bigger. Stick around and see ; D
Canyx