Setting Sail: No One Knows Which Direction We Are Going (except the captain)
Characters: Ella, Venei, Renard, William, Sebastian, Kentar, Aikuen
Location: Sea
Golden Pike
The ship is off once again. To another island. To another place. To another adventure. And the otters are out and about while the ship speeds through the water. Venei and Ella are out and about. And the funny thing about them. Is that over the past week. They have gone through another growth spurt. And are looking more and more like Fira everyday. Ella hum as she watches over the railing talking to Venei, "Do you think we will see a whale?" "I dont know... They say they are reallies big..." "Aye. Maybe..." they both giggle.
Renard began climbing to the crow's nest, puffing on a cigar as he made his way. Once at the top he looked around at the beasts on deck, chuckiling as he heard the two dibbuns discussing whales. He then turned his sharp gaze to the horizon.
William walks up behind the otter twins sneakily. "What're you two beauties up to?" he asks looking down at them. It wont be long before he'll have to look up at them, best enjoying being taller than them while still he can. If he's lucky they'll still view him as their big brother even when they're able to tower over him like the others already do.
The twins hum before Venei jumps at the Rat, "AHHH Brother! Dont be such a jerk!" she pushes at him with a smile. Ella on the other hand just bounces as she turns, "Oh hey Will! We are whale watching... Or. At least trying too..." she chuckles before pushing Venei when she pushes the rat.
Renard leans agains the rail of the nest, idly puffing away. It is a beautiful day for sailing. The sun shines down on the clear water, making each wave sparkle like a polished diamond. Suddenly he spots something. He can also see what appears to be a large rock braking the waves. Atleast he assumes it's a rock untill he sees a jet of misty watter spout from it!
William gives Venei a light push back automatically only checking himself enough to not put as much effort into it as usual, wouldn't want to push her over the side by mistake. He'd likely never hear the end of it if he did. Plus there could be sharks. "See any yet?" he asks making a show of leaning out as if to try and see better.
Venei grrs lightly as she is pushed back by Will. Giving him a bit of a smile. Then yips lightly as she is pushed to the ground by her older sister. She grrs loudly at Ella, showing fangs, before looking back at the railing. Rubbing the ends of her dress flatly. She shakes her head, "No... Not yet. But we have been only watching for a few hours..." She then tilts her head at the rock with water coming out of it. That's... Strange. Never seen a whale Before. Ella looks smug as she pushes her sister to the ground before going to look as well. Not seeing the rock at all.
William also sees the rock spurt water. Having never seen a whale either he watches the rock confused til it disappears under the water. "That was an odd little island. ...." he comments still watching the spot where the 'rock' had been.
Renard still eying the rock pulls out a telescope and takes a closer look. "Yup just as I thought." He called down from his perch, "Capitan. There apears to be a whale off our starboard."
Ella hums then starts to bounce, "WHALE! Where?" he blinks and looks around. Not seeing anything just yet. Venei points and bounces. Leaning over the rail, "There! Over there! That big... Thing!" she points off and giggles loudly. Aik (who is off on the stern deck) smiles and says, "Ayeaye! Thank you mister Renard" he grins as he goes over the railing in the back to look at it. Making sure they wont cross paths eventually.
William blinks, ".... oh so that island was a whale?" Or part of one anyway. But that was just part of a whale they must be HUGE, bigger than badgers or whatever those fat northern weasel things were. ".... What all do you two know about whales?" he asks the twins as he can't recall himself if they are dangerous or if it's only sharks a beast needs to watch out for when at sea.
Renard after scanning the horizon a second time decides to climb down and see what the others are up to. As he climbs he hears William's question and replies, "Well they won't eat ya if that's what your asking. But you don't want to accidently bump one either."
Ella just shrugs, so Venei is the one to answer. As she is the one to know, "Whale are big mammals. Like us. But they are like fish." she giggles, "They eat... Plankton..." she nods a bit more. Her mother told her.
William nods to the fox, "Good t know. .... Thanks." Then his attention is back on his sisters. "How big?" he asks as the other information is't of much use to him at the moment.
Venei smiles and then blinks, "Mum said it was big... huge. Like... The size of Redwall even!" she uhhs and points out the whale at her sister. She smiles, "See! Over there Ellz!" Ella then sees it and blinks, "OH! I see it!" They both bounce up and down giggling. Not seeing the Fox just yet. Whale! Over there! Not over there!
Renard still puffing on his cigar chuckles, "Aye as big as Redwall, though gentle as can be." He scratched his chin then continued, "Well at least the ones I've seen."
Venei Ohs and looks behind her at the new beast, "Oh. Hello Mister Rennyard." she nods and curtsies politely. Before tuning back to watching, "They are as big as redwall? How many have you seen Rennyard?... Do they talk? Are they friendly?" as if she doesn't believe it until now. Ella just hum as she watches the whale.
And onto the deck comes a Badger...and a stoat! Sebastian walks onto the deck, followed by Kentar, the two smiling and laughing. Kentar and the badger head over with a bit of a grin each. "Hello there! What's so interesting!"
Renard looking to the arrivals replies, "Not much. Besides spoying a whale."
And Its Ella to discover the badger first. She grins big as she runs up to hug the badger on the arm, "You're better!" she grins big not letting go. So its Venei to spot the stoat next she waves and says, "Hey Uncle Kenty! We found a whale! A big ones!" says going back to looking out at sea.
Kentar hums a little and ohs with a smile, the stoat nodding as he heads over, peering out. "I saw a whale once." he nods. "Up close...I was on a rock when I was your age...in the middle of an ocean...came right up to me." he chuckles. Seb hums and tilts his head, not needing to struggle to see, the badger being too bloody tall. "I've never seen a whale before."
Renard blowing a smoke cring replies to the badger, "I've only seen three. Never up close though."
Sebastian hums a little bit and watches the fox for a few moments, nodding. "Yeah..." he hums a bit as he eyes the cigar for a few moments, chuckling quietly to himself before looking out to the sea.
William blinks several times at the information on the size of whales. Then the badger and stoat come up on deck. "Hey, Kentar. Sebastian," the rat greets the new comer.
Renard still watching the whale asks no one in particular, "So gentlebeasts. Where are ae heading to now?"
William uhs, "I have no idea. The old otter's in charge. Of course if we happen upon something interesting before we get to where he's going I suppose we could stop a while." He looks to Kentar for confirmation as he's second in command and may know more about where they're going than Will does.
The stoat and badger shrug at the same time as Seb toys around with the bandages on his head. "I don't remember if he told me or not." he nods. "I don't remember the entire island visit." he nods.
Renard shrugs himself taking draw on the cigar before throwing it overboard. He replies, "I wouldn't know myself what whent on a the island. Decided to stay on board for that one." He looked up at the now dimming sky and continued, "But if we are going to see the next island, I need to know which derection it's in."
"Be grateful," Will says to the badger. To Renard he says,"I thought Aik was at the helm. ....."
"Kentar already told me that." the big beast nods. "I was told its something I shouldn't want to remember." Sebastian sighs. "Which means it must have been bad."
Renard nods looking over the rail at the water. He licked his lips and replied, "Aye. Perhaps better I stayed."
The otter twins hum as the watch the whale. Gaping when the tail comes up and makes pretty much a tidal wave in the distance. They both Ooo loudly and bounce, before looking back. They have heard their dad talking about it at night. Ella hums and says, "Dad said its a port island..." All she really knows.
"I'll go check with the Captain and get back to ya Renard," the rat says heading off to find Aik and maybe where they're going.
Renard nods at William then looking to the other two says, "Well friends, I better get back on watch duty. If you'll excuse me." With that the fox litt another cigar and began climbing back up to his perch.
The twins wave a bit at Renard before following the rat, "Dad is at the helm. Race yeah!" they giggle and grr before heading off toward the stern deck. Dodging around the stoat and badger. And bumping and hitting everything and each other as they climb the short ladder. Aik is in fact on the stern deck. But not steering. He is over with Fira who seems a bit. Off. But she smiles when she see her kids opening her arms wide for them. Aik smiles at them before looking over at the rat, "Yo, son!" he smirks.
Sebastian hums a little bit and watches the twins head to their father with a chuckle. He slowly follows and climbs the stairs with a nod. "Hello Aikuen." he nods with a smile, chuckling quietly to himself at the twins.
William grins at his parents, "Renard wanted to know where we're heading from here?" He tilts his head at Fira, "You alright Mum?" he asks. He hasn't seen her up on deck much but figured she was off helping Garnet in the galley or with the twins somewhere teaching them to be ottery or something.
Sebastian nods a little. "Yeah...but I don't remember what happened on the island..." he nods. "Sort of...black." he nods before taking a hold of the railing all of a sudden. "Maybe I should go lie down." he nods.
Aikuen hums and nods, "Hey Seb! Heard, and saw, you were up and about again! And... We are heading for Illp Will. On the map it states that its a port town. So. Restock and shopping." he snorts before looking at Fira when she is mentioned, "She is still not felling well since the island..." Aik hums and doesn't notice that Fira turns exceedingly red when he speaks. Then she says "Thought i'd get some fresh air..." she says slowly.
William nods, "Ok. Hope ya feel better soon Mum." "What's kind of port is it?" he asks Aik.
Aikuen goes over and Kisses Fi on the head before saying, "She got sick early on the landing. Something on it or something... She has been sick ever since..." he hums a bit before looking to Will, "Well. According to map it said 'Free Port' So im guessing. It might have... Less then wanted people. Pirates... For example" he then nods at Seb, "Maybe. Do you feel dizzy?"
Sebastian stands up properly and nods. "Yeah...I do. Really...dizzy." he shrugs a little bit. "I'll head back to the infirmary." he nods as he heads slowly down the stairs.
Aikuen nods and waves, "Well Okay. Hope you get better! Ill check up on yeah tonight..." he hums as he mumbles, "Hope you do feel better..." he then looks back up at the Rat, "Well. We can always use more help. But we would have to be careful." he points his claw up in the air, "There shall be no mutiny on my ship! Of any kind..." he snorts.
Ella hugs her mum just nuzzling up to her before seeing Aik put his arm in the air. Hey look! A swing! Ella grins as she runs up and jumps grabbing his arm and hanging there, "Yay! Daddy swing! They are better than normal swings!" she grins as she... swings. Aik ergs and is brought back at bit as his daughter pulls him down, "Whoh there! Go bug your brother eh?" he laughs.
"Noooo," Will laughs backing away from the otters, "Don't throw me to the otters!"
The otter twins grins as Ella says, "Throw you... To? The otter? How about... We throw the otters!.... AT YOU!" Ella launches off his arm and runs up at Will. With Venei slowly behind her.
William acks, "What? No! Do I look like Christopher?!" He's still smiling but he would rather they didn't try to jump him. They're getting a bit old for that kind of behavior in his opinion.
They are twins. They are girls. They are only four. And they are otters. They will never grow out of that kinda behavior. Ella grins as he attacks his arm. With Venei doing the same with the other arm
William sighs as his arms are immobilized. "Now what?" he asks them the smile gone. When he was their age he's sure he wasn't this .... this .... whatever this is.
You mean fun and exciting? You got that right. Both otters pulls at his arm before looking at eachother and winking, "One... Two... five!" They both yell out as they pulls both his arms behind him. Then push the rat forward.
William braces himself when they start counting but it's not enough. If the twins have let go the rat will have gone sprawling onto the deck. If they hadn't let go he'll fall and they on top of him more than likely.
The twins are not going to let go. That's the fun! They push him forward. But the hold him back as well. So it arches the rats back as they run him toward the wheel!
William is not amused. "Let go you two," he growls trying to pull free of the otter twins' grasp. This is not his idea of fun. He's an adult beast and these dibbuns are treating him like a big doll. His one good eye glances around noting they are a good distance from the wheel still and from the sides of the ship. His tail twitches lashes out against Ella's footpaws. He doesn't want to hurt her all that much, he just wants them to let go and play a game where he isn't 'the ball' as it were.
When the rat growls. They were just going to let him go. Buts its the tail whip which does it. As that's pretty much what it is. Ella trips and lands on the ground. Which makes Venei instantly let go the rat as well. Ella quickly stands and grrs viciously at the rat. With spittle and everything. Venei sees this and immediately attacks Ella pinning her larger sister to the ground. Aik frowns a bit at Will before going over to the pair. Pulling Venei off Ella. Then picking up Ella by the scruff of her neck. She begins to whine loudly as it REALLY hurts. Aik just grunts at her, "I think it time you had another time out young lady..."
William sighs, "Sorry, El, but you two play a little too rough. Not every beast is an otter you can't play as rough as you do with each other an Pa with me an Chris," or most anyone else but that doesn't need to be said. "I didn't want t do that but I not gonna be used like a rag doll with you two." He's trying to be nice and keep in mind the twins are still dibbuns despite being nearly as big as most of the adults at Redwall.
Ella is not happy. And she crosses her arms with a frown. Not answering the rat. Aik hums as her returns her to the ground, "Go help Garnet with tonight's meal..." he hums. Ella twitches lightly before heading off toward the galley. Grumbling. Aik sighs and looks to Will. Running his paw through his hair, "They know... They really do. They just like to have fun. Otter fun... But next time... Instead of attacking them. Just be a bit firmer with your words." he chuckles, "They are our kids. They do listen to reason." he smirks. Venei has her ears thrown back as she goes over to hang with Fira. As there was a buzzkill that happened.
"I told them to let go. I didn't have much time to do much I wasn't sure what they were planning but ...." the rat shrugs. He doubts whatever the girls had been planning to do wouldn't have been very good for his health. "I .... I hope you two can find other ways to play before we get back to Mossflower," he says addressing Venei now instead of Aik. He'd hate to think of what would happen if they tried to play like they just had with Amy. That would not be good with her tendency to attack and her strong affection for the twins. Even if she didn't fight back he's sure it wouldn't go well. Worse if she did fight back. As much as he misses her he's thinking it may have been for the best to leave her at Redwall afterall.
Aikuen still frowns at Will, "If they had hurt you... If they could. Then i will punish them appropriately and severely. But. As i told Amy. And as i told everyone else. If you hurt my kids. For whatever reason. I must punish the ones who hurt them... I don't care if it was their fault..." he hums. Venei just hums at Will before looking back at Fira. She is not happy.
William nods briefly. "I understand," sigh, "Guess I'm not that good with kids." Oh well. He waits to see what sort of punishment the otter will met out.
Aikuen nods, "Its okay. It grows on yeah. And its different for every species..." he then thinks about it for a sec, "Do you know a crew called Poplif? He is a rat. Tall and lanky. Dark grey fur. Anyway. Tell him he is off tonight from guard duty. As you will be taking his place tonight as watch... as well as his other chores..." he nods. He is not going to hurt the ratty. As it was mostly Ellas fault.
The rat nods again and saultes Aik, "Aye, Captain." Will's a little relived to be getting off so lightly as he knows what the otter could do to him. He half hopes the port island will have some villainous sorts around as he doesn't have as many diversions to help keep his temper in check onboard ship. With the drinking ban lifted the rat does have one more diversion than he'd had in seasons. Will walks off to locate the crew rat and inform him of his good fortune.
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