Billy Shoepack spotted Zorran while he was on his way to pick up dynamite from the munitions factory. Billy waved a claw to flag Zorran down. Zorran's crimson eyes gave Billy a sharp glare as he slowed to a stop, careful not to come to an abrupt stop so the barge wouldn't ram into his stern. Billy was unphased by the Zed-Stack's glare. He knew Zorran wasn't always like this. It was as if he was hiding behind a mask while working.
"What is it?" Zorran snapped at him. Billy winced slightly at his harsh tone, but quickly recovered, reminding himself that the Zed-Stack actually didn't mean any harm to him. He locked eyes with Zorran, a feat few are brave enough to do. Zorran narrowed his eyes at the alligator tug. His eyes looked him up and down as the Zed-Stack analyzed him.
"I saw Zebedee with a kid, a young girl. Captain Zero doesn't have any kids of his own, does he?" Billy asked. Zorran's expression changed from one of anger to one of shock. Billy gave the Zed-Stack a curious look, having to look up to see his face.
"No.. Where is he? Zak told me he caught a strange scent around Zebedee. We can't risk getting in trouble for kidnapping. That'll ruin us!" Zorran snarled, as he lifted his anchor-like claws out of the water and sank his claws into a nearby pier. His claws easily sink into the concrete as it cracks. A scare tactic. It was a show of strength. Billy remained calm yet the unbridled rage hidden behind those crimson eyes made him shudder.
"Last time I saw him, he was upriver. He's probably on his way back now. Do we need to go to the authorities?" Billy asked. Zorran shook his head. No surprise Zorran refused to let the Coast Guard get involved. Captain Zero had too much dirt on him. Zorran couldn't risk losing his Rider. Of course, not everything was what it seemed. There was something behind Zorran's eyes that hinted something much darker. Corruption? Sadness? Billy couldn't pinpoint it. The Zed-Stack wasn't exactly one for friendly conversation outside of his fleet.
"No! I'll handle it myself. We can't risk Captain Zero getting discovered. I have to protect him. He's my Rider." Zorran's expression faltered at the mention of Captain Zero. Billy could sense a shift in the air. Whatever Zorran was hiding it was related to his captain no doubt. Zorran stormed off with a growl. As much as he wanted to take care of the situation first, he needed to finish the job Captain Zero, his Rider, had given him.
…
Zebedee had stopped not too far from the city to hunt and to allow Wildmask to stretch her legs. He kept a watchful eye over the surface of the water, paying close attention to any disturbances he felt in the water beneath him. He spotted a small glint of silver. Fish. He immediately reached into the water, creating a large splash as he snatched a clawful of fish. The remaining fish scattered as they fled. Oh well, he can find more to eat. For now, he had to make sure Wildmask was fed. He plucked one large fish from his claw before using the sharp tips of his other claws to pierce the fish behind the head and killed it.
He downed the rest of the fish. It was nothing more than a snack to him. Of course, he didn't worry about it. His main concern was making sure Wildmask was well fed so she can recover her strength. He carefully used his claws to peel off pieces from the fish's body. He did his best to pick out any remaining bones. He didn't want to risk her eating any as he knew she wasn't exactly made for that, unlike him. A tug's gastric acids were much stronger than a human's and were capable of breaking down bone. This allowed a tug to feed at their leisure without having to worry about consuming the bones of their prey and to get as many nutrients as possible from their meals, giving them the energy they need to fuel their massive bodies.
Once he was sure he had picked out all, or most of the bones, he tossed whatever she couldn't eat into his maw, swallowing it down within a split second before lifting up the pieces of meat to his lips. He opened his jaws ever so slightly before lifting his tongue and exhaling. The venom oozing from his fangs ignited as a spark leapt up from his lower jaw, creating a steady stream of fire. He made sure to be mindful of how long he cooked each side of the pieces of meat, not wanting to burn them, but cooking them enough so they would be safe for her to eat. Satisfied with how they were cooked, he cut the jet of fire off with a snap of his jaws, smoke billowed from his nostrils as he offered the pieces of meat to her.
Wildmask carefully touched the pieces of fish meat, testing to see how hot they were. Once she was sure they were cool, she ate each piece, giving him a grateful nod as thanks. He made sure she ate enough before gently picking her up and grooming her like a giant cat. He was careful not to apply too much pressure and scratch her skin with his rough tongue. She giggled and tried to wriggle away, but he made sure she wasn't able to slip out of his grip. Once he was sure she was clean, he lifted his hat before gingerly placing her under it before lowering it over, hiding her once more. Now that she was fed, he could take her back home. He turned and began to make his way back to the Zero Docks.