The Stoat, and The Otter.

Characters: Kentar, Aikuen

Location: Kentar's Cabin, Top of the Cliff

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The sun shows straight above the cabin. Midday it seems. Its a nice clear day, with a cool salty breeze blowing in from the ocean, sweeping inland. A light clink-clink can be heard from the porch. The older otter is outside while his wife takes her afternoon nap. He is working on that dang rock again. The letters are almost done being inscribed. The otter gently rocks back and forth in the chair Fira normally sits in while he chisels away. Aikuen smiles, as he hums a some old otter shanty. Its a nice day for it.

Coming down the stairs is the stoat pair +1. Garnet vanishes into the kitchen while Kentar comes outside and stops next to the sleeping lump of otter that's Fira. "Hey Aik." he says with a smile. "Whatch'ya doin?"

Aikuen looks up and smiles at Kentar, "Heyo Kentar!" he chuckles and little bit and rubs the top of the smooth stone, where tiny letter words can be seen "I'm finishing up my anniversary present to Fira!" he grins at his work.

Kentar oohs and smiles. "Wonderful!" he looks at the stone. "What is it? A rock? Your giving her a rock?" the stoat tilts his head and chuckles a little.

Aikuen eyes him, and shakes his head, with a chuckle, "No... Silly. Well... Yes, it is a rock. But that's not all..." he holds up the stone. The stone, about half the size of a paw fist, smoothed by the sea for countless seasons. Is tinged with green quartz, mixed into the brown rock. On the rock, on one side, clearly visible in tiny inscribed letters are Aik's vows to Fira. Then on the other side of the rock. Are Fira's vows to Aik. He grins, "I'm working at the last of Fira's... Then I'm going to inscribe a little... something-something on the bottom... just for her..."

Kentar wows and then nods slowly, smiling wide. "I'm sure she'll love it!" he chuckles then thinks for a few moments. "I haven't decided what I'm going to get Garnet for our anniversary yet...then again, its not for a few more weeks. I'm sure I'll pick out something by then." he chuckles and hrms. "Wonder if she likes pie..."

Aikuen nods, "Course she loves it. She loves me, and she already knows about it." he places the stone, and tiny chisel into his cloak, "She got it from me, when she was upset... so i told her..." That's more or less than the the truth. She actually kissed it out of him. But she was upset! That part is true. The otter tilts his head at him, "I don't know. Pie?" he grins, "I love pie... *Ahem*... Yes, anyway. She probably does. I mean. Who doesn't like pie?" he laughs, "I'm sure she will love her anniversary pie!" he knows he would.

Kentar hms and then laughs a little bit. "Actually, I think I've already got her present all picked out." he grins. "Want to see?"

Aikuen nods, "Yah! Of course mate!" he gets up and dusts his paws on his cloak before saying, "Where is it mate?" he looks around, expecting to see it.

Kentar chuckles. "Its not here! Follow me!" he chuckles, starting along down the path that leads to the village. "Come on, I really think you'll like it"

Aikuen blinks and watches him gallivanting off, "Oh..." he looks to the sleeping Fira, and plants a small kiss on her, "Love yah!" before chasing after the stoat, "Hey! Wait up stoaty! Slow down!" even though he already caught up.

Kentar laughs and starts down the path finally when his friend joins him. "Well." When they get to the village square, Kentar leads Aik up a hill that will brings them to the tip top of the cliffs.

Aikuen follows the stoat, wondering where the heck they are going. Top of the hill? Okay, fine. The otter looks down the cliff, "Oh boy... thats high..." he gulps and takes a step back and looks to Kentar, "So... What is it mate?"

Kentar hmms and then looks around. They get a GREAT view of the docks and the harbors here as well as a beautiful view of the eastern sea. "Where is it now..." he squints and then hahs! "There it is!" The stoat points out a HUGE ship coming into port. "The Marie-Elena. Biggest ship sailing the eastern waters right now. Jasper, after I agreed to something, said I could take one thing I wanted. Anything. Weapons, ships, land. Anything." he nods. "That's what I've been thinking of. Its a trading ship, despite its appearances." The ship he pointed to is a big, black painted galleon with white sails. "Either a ride on it, renaming it to her name, or actually giving it to her." he laughs a little. "Big I know. But...I want the best." he has that 'captain' look in his eye again.

Aikuen blinks as the stoat point. The otter looks out toward the ocean, seeing... what a normal harbor system should look like. He spies the ship, and nods. Until the stoat said that one part. He blinks and looks back at the stoat, "What?" he stares at him, then looks back at the ocean, and watches the ship come into harbor. He seems lost for words. After a bit he chuckles and pats the stoat on the shoulder, "Holy -" a little curse, "-mate!" he looks to him and chisels, "I'm guess you took it?" he shakes his head.

Kentar thinks for a moment. "Not sure. I'm not entirely sure what Garnet will say when I tell her what I agreed to." he sighs a bit before grinning to the ship.

Aikuen ahs and nods, then goes to sit down at the edge of the cliff. Not, on the edge, but close enough. He stares at the harbor, "What did you agrees to?" not entirely sure, that he wants to know. So, he tosses a few rocks of the cliff.

Kentar hms and sits next to the otter. "I took back my rank." he says. "Got a new uniform and everything. I'm second in command of the guards here now. First is Jasper. Mainly because we'll be leaving soon. No point in having the first in command gone away."

Aikuen blinks. Not exactly what he was thinking. But along the same lines all the same. He rubs the top of his head, before slicking his headfur back again, "Why? I mean. Why did he offer that position?" he doesn't see the point. Of course the whole guard system here is a little screwy. From what the stoat has told him, "There is no real point in doing so... Unless..." he shakes his head, as it cant be that. That would be wrong. Might have to tell Garnet, himself, "I don't think you should do it... Or give it back..."

Kentar ahs a little and then tilts his head. "Unless what?" he asks. "There's nothing going on. I'm not staying. The only thing that changes is that now, if there's ever any problems here...I will have to come back. That's it. Also, if I keep the rank, I keep the ship. That's my ship there, Aik. I'll sail it to heck and back again with a loyal crew now. Which is why I wanted my rank. So I could give Garnet a ship." he smiles a little.

Aikuen nods a little and sighs, spurting his thoughts "Well... Yah. You would have to come back.... That's the problem. There has to be a reason why the gave you this position.... If they knew you would be leaving.... I think somethings is up... This isn't right..." he tries to explain it, "Okay... If no one broke the law, there be no need for guards right? Right. So... Why do you think they wanted you to make you part of the guard again. Even though they seem well stocked now... And they don't SEEM to be in any real trouble... Somethings up..." he takes a deep breath, "No ship is worth... what I'm thinking..."

Kentar hrms and eyes Aikuen before sighing. "Actually." The stoat says quietly. "There is something up." The stoat says simply. "But I'm not sure I should say anything." he should, he should!

Aikuen looks to him, "You, will, tell me... For Garnets sake..." he says quietly back. He picks up a rock, and rolls in it his paws, before tossing if off the cliff. Forcefully. He knew something is up! There just had to be!... Oh nuts... Why did something have to be up... crud.

Kentar sighs. "You remember me mentioning the hidden tunnel's that are in the beaches somewhere? The ones that are lost" he doesn't realize he never said anything. "Well. The owners were said to be gone, long ago. Long, long ago. Before I was born. And well..." he starts. "They've sort of. Found the village. We don't know who are in the village yet. And we don't know why. But we know they're here." he scratches his head.

Aikuen blinks at the stoat, when he said 'remember me mentioning'. No. He doesn't. But he doesn't say that, keeping the sure the stoat keeps jabbing on about it. When Kentar finishes, he nods slowly, "So... They want you back... just in case... the tunnel beasts-" That's what he is going to call them, "-Come back..." he nods again. Even slower. Doesn't even look like his is nodding. Just moving his muzzle into the wind. He sighs, "Are you going to tell her?" she needs to know.

Kentar nods. "But I told them that if they do come back. They'll just have to send someone to get me. Because I won't be here." he then sighs too, looking to the sky and laying back. "No. I won't. I know its breaking a promise. But. The less she knows right now the better. The safer." he then grins. "Anyways! Want a tour of the ship!?" he grins.

Aikuen sighs and stands up, "There. That's the problem... If it does happen... you will have to come back... and possible that you will get hurt.. or even..." he takes a deep breath at the next part. He cant stand this, "Listen. You will tell her. Even though it will only make her worry. She has to know. That's the point of getting married! You tell your other everything... everything..." he sighs and makes to walk back down the hill, "If you don't tell her. And you still keep your rank. I will..." he states, "And until you tell me... what you are going to do... I will not take a tour... of your... boat..."

Kentar watches him and stands, following. "Alright." he sighs. "I'll tell her. Tomorrow. When I show her the boat." he says. "It will be fully docked then and we can get aboard. Easy." he nods. "I promise."

Aikuen smiles at him and waits for him to catch up before patting him on the shoulder, "Very good mate... Communication is key, in any relationship... Though i, personally, would not like you to join up again with the rank. But I know there is now way to stop yah, when you got your mind set on it. But i would still tell her that you are. She might not like it. Then again..." he sighs and continues on down the hill, "Glad your telling her..."

Kentar nods a bit and then chuckles. "Well. I know. But you know what's for sure. I look great in a uniform." he laughs before going towards the docks. "So. What do you think of the ship idea?" he asks.

Aikuen rolls his eyes, and shoves Kentar, "Yah. Cause that's what Garnet is going to think. That 'You look great in a uniform' When you tell her... " he then shrugs at the next thing, "I'm not... really sure what to say. I mean its a nice idea. But Dang. That's a big ole ship! ITS HUGE! The first thing the flew through my mind when i saw it, was... DANG, Where are you going to park this monstrosity!" he laughs, "Have you given any thought about what you are going to do with it... I mean. You are going to leave here..."

Kentar laughs. "I might get the crew to sail it to the rivermoss. It would fit. Barely." he chuckles. "Might take a little while, but it would be worth it!"

Aikuen blinks at this statement. Reminding him of story where a vermin captain, a long time ago, tried to sail it up the river. It got stuck, "Why?" he chuckles, "I would like a ship that i could sail on. Not just... be on..." he explains.

Kentar hums and then tilts his head. "Huh? What do you mean?" He asks, the stoat not having heard that story before.

Aikuen tilts his head back at him, "Have you never heard the story?" he shrugs. Its true, he himself only heard it from the librarian at the abbey, a few seasons ago. When she was teaching the little ones. He doesn't remember much, but he did remember the most important part, "Some vermin captain was sailing a ship... much-much smaller then the one you got now. Didn't realize that... even though the river moss is very wide. Its not very deep. And the ship got stuck in the mud. Never to be moved again. Said, it rotted there, and later was used to build the wooden bridge spanning the river moss now..." he nods, "That's why I assumed... when you said that. That you wanted to lodge the ship in the mud..." he shrugs.

Kentar blinks and shakes his head several times. "Never heard that before." he thinks for a few moments then shrugs. "Maybe we could have it sailed to the western shores...There's got to be away to get it there." he thinks. "Maybe." but then he shrugs again. "There's a dock, down shores a long way, that's closer to moledeep. We could set it there. Take about four or five days to get there though."

Aikuen nods, "Yep. The librarian at the abbey was teaching it to the little ones... And I was there also..." dont you dare laugh at him, like the little ones did! "Never heard about them being able to move ships from the east to the west shore. I'm sure it can be done. Just never heard, or seen it..." he enters town, slowing down their pace a bit, so not to seem conspicuous, "There yah go! But what will you do with it at dock. I mean. It has to be moving, or be used. Or lifted from the water. Barnacles mate!" Aik knows a lot about ships, "Also. Who would guard it? A nice prime vessel like that!"

Kentar blinks and sighs. "Maybe I'll just leave it here. Let the village use it when I'm not." he thinks. "Maybe a ship wasn't such a good idea after all." he scratches his head. "I'm sure I can find something else."

Aikuen stops and puts a paw on Kentar's shoulder, and gives it a little rub, "Well... You just didn't think of everything. Bet you were in shock when he offered it. Great thing like that! Remember, I want to buy that ship, on the west coast? Well, I've been planing on that sucker, for seasons. Since before i even became Wills Father... So let the Village use the ship. Still have them rename it after... whatever you want-" after Garnet, he assumes, "And find something else!" he feels sorry for ruining the stoats ship. But its Aik, and he plans for the future.

Kentar chuckles a little and nods. "The Garnet sounds nice for a ship, don't you think?" he grins. "Maybe a ring or something would be nice for her to get too...I think...yeah" he nods, smiling. "Back up plans!" hel aughs.

Aikuen grins, and snorts, "Yep! Its a great name... but i think anything is better than 'The Rusty Spoon'. What an odd name!" he laughs, "Yah a ring will be great! But make sure whatever it is, it comes from the heart!" he grins, and pats his chest, where the rock is stored in a pocket, "Always have a back up plan mate... Like with me and Fira... I have a back up plan, if when. I try to make her... umm... Not moody. And it fails... I have a back up plan to cheer her up!" he grins and make a direction change back to the cabin, "Which reminds me..."

Kentar huhs then tilts his head, following. "Where are you going, Aik?" he asks. "The ships not that way!" the stoat laughs.

Aikuen just keeps on keeping on to the cabin. The otter bats in the direction of the stoat, "We can see the ship later! Fira is most likely awake from her afternoon snooze. And if i don't give her, her afternoon munchies..." he sighs, "I want her to be happy..." not because Fira will be moody at him. But he wants her to be happy. Can't stand for her to be, any other way. He still feels bad about her carrying the child, and that she worries so much. He sighs, "I love her too much... not too..." as he walks up the cabin, and into the doors.

Kentar laughs and nods. He follows inside but then goes off to find his wife to let him know he's back. The stoat would get a slap though, in fact, that's what he gets, thanks to the fact he never told her he left. "Ow...sorry." Garnet hmphs and goes back to playing with Chris.