Day 5 of Spring in the Year 514 AV
Location: Menagerie Aquarium
Time: One Bell After Midnight
Darkness reigned over the harbor that night. The clouds jealously horded the pale moon that hung delicately in the sky. Silence hovered over the city, almost as if it was holding it’s breathe in anticipation. The Laviku’s Wrath floated calmly in the waters of the bay, the splash of the small waves against the hull was the only sound that could be heard.
A lone figure sat on a barrel against the single mass of the thirty foot sailboat. The sails were secured, the boom moved out of the way, all was as it should be. The figure slowly ran a line of hemp through his hands, gently probing for any foreign objects, cuts or frayed edges. As he checked for any damage, he coiled the rope in a neat pile. Chimes continued to pass as he methodically worked. Every Svefra was trained from birth how to safely and properly manage equipment. Quality gear could be the difference between life or death.
He finally came to the end of the rope and wound the last remaining foot around the coil, tying it in a knot to keeping the rope from unraveling. He heft it in one hand and threw it beside the other coils.
A soft shuffling sound came from the helm of the ship, slowly growing louder. Jenkins slunk across the deck to where Kel was sitting and wound his way around his boots in a figure eight. The sea otter rumbled in his chest, content.
Kel looked down at his friend fondly. “Heya Jenkins. What have you been up to, ya lout?” He reached down and ruffled the otter’s fur. Jenkins made a noise and the Svefra scowled at him.
“Shadd’up you lazy vermin. If anyone should be bored it should be me. I’ve been slaaaaving over here while you did what? Sleep?” He scoffed and stood up. Kel cracked his back, feeling the muscles tighten from being stationary for so long. He had the ship to himself tonight it seemed. Which he felt was rather an injustice because at that moment, he could have done with some company.
Kel started walking to the cabin when he stopped and looked at Jenkins.
“Hmm, you’re probably right. It’d do us some good to stretch the ol’ legs out.” He looked out towards the city. “I don’t know where to go though, it’s only been what, five days since we’ve been here.” Kel sighed and tapped his foot, thinking. Suddenly he remembered something. He sprang into action and headed to the cabin.
A few ticks later, his head poked out from the doorframe. He looked around warily, making sure the coast was clear. He quickly crept across the deck towards the sea otter. He crouched on one knee and held up a crumpled piece of parchment. He glared daggers at the tavan.
“Know this, you breathe a word that I used this ratchet, bureaucratic, policy wield, scandal causing, people manipulating PAPER…” His voice rose as he spoke. He realized it and snapped his jaw shut. He leaned down so his nose was touching the otter’s. “...I will personally skin you alive and make a hat out of your tail.” He unfolded the thin paper delicately and held it out, trying to make out the words.
“Petching common…letters don’t even make sense…” Kel knew a few of his letters and could write his name and a few basic words but was my no means skilled even to read. He had learned when he was young but most of it had been forgotten. He rotated the map, hoping that the different angle would somehow unlock the mystery of the scribbles. He gave up and just looked at the pictures instead. He examined the shapes and followed the outline of what was clearly roads. He found a little open patch that looked like it could be a field or something.
He held it down to Jenkins to see. Kel pointed at the spot on the map, “Want to go check this place out?” The otter chittered. Kel leaped to his feet, indignantly.
“TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT NOW! I will NOT conform to their society just because I used their petching map!” Kel stormed off but returned a split second later, seething. “Fine! Just stay here! I hope you have an awful time while I do awesome things!”
Kel stomped over to the gunwale and jumped off the boat onto the dock. He strode off into the night, footfall growing quieter and quieter until it disappeared.
A few ticks went by before the clomping of boots could be heard returning once more.
Kel appeared and rested his hands on the gunwale, staring at Jenkins who sat motionlessly on the deck. There was silence as they glared at one another. Kel spoke up.
“Well, are you coming?” He gestured impatiently at his friend. Jenkins leaped up and scurried across the deck and onto the pier. The two strode down the dock towards the little oval shape that was marked on the map. Kel’s voice could be heard faintly as they walked farther and farther away.
“…you can go right back on the boat if you’re going to keep complaining you…”
Time: One Bell After Midnight
Darkness reigned over the harbor that night. The clouds jealously horded the pale moon that hung delicately in the sky. Silence hovered over the city, almost as if it was holding it’s breathe in anticipation. The Laviku’s Wrath floated calmly in the waters of the bay, the splash of the small waves against the hull was the only sound that could be heard.
A lone figure sat on a barrel against the single mass of the thirty foot sailboat. The sails were secured, the boom moved out of the way, all was as it should be. The figure slowly ran a line of hemp through his hands, gently probing for any foreign objects, cuts or frayed edges. As he checked for any damage, he coiled the rope in a neat pile. Chimes continued to pass as he methodically worked. Every Svefra was trained from birth how to safely and properly manage equipment. Quality gear could be the difference between life or death.
He finally came to the end of the rope and wound the last remaining foot around the coil, tying it in a knot to keeping the rope from unraveling. He heft it in one hand and threw it beside the other coils.
A soft shuffling sound came from the helm of the ship, slowly growing louder. Jenkins slunk across the deck to where Kel was sitting and wound his way around his boots in a figure eight. The sea otter rumbled in his chest, content.
Kel looked down at his friend fondly. “Heya Jenkins. What have you been up to, ya lout?” He reached down and ruffled the otter’s fur. Jenkins made a noise and the Svefra scowled at him.
“Shadd’up you lazy vermin. If anyone should be bored it should be me. I’ve been slaaaaving over here while you did what? Sleep?” He scoffed and stood up. Kel cracked his back, feeling the muscles tighten from being stationary for so long. He had the ship to himself tonight it seemed. Which he felt was rather an injustice because at that moment, he could have done with some company.
Kel started walking to the cabin when he stopped and looked at Jenkins.
“Hmm, you’re probably right. It’d do us some good to stretch the ol’ legs out.” He looked out towards the city. “I don’t know where to go though, it’s only been what, five days since we’ve been here.” Kel sighed and tapped his foot, thinking. Suddenly he remembered something. He sprang into action and headed to the cabin.
A few ticks later, his head poked out from the doorframe. He looked around warily, making sure the coast was clear. He quickly crept across the deck towards the sea otter. He crouched on one knee and held up a crumpled piece of parchment. He glared daggers at the tavan.
“Know this, you breathe a word that I used this ratchet, bureaucratic, policy wield, scandal causing, people manipulating PAPER…” His voice rose as he spoke. He realized it and snapped his jaw shut. He leaned down so his nose was touching the otter’s. “...I will personally skin you alive and make a hat out of your tail.” He unfolded the thin paper delicately and held it out, trying to make out the words.
“Petching common…letters don’t even make sense…” Kel knew a few of his letters and could write his name and a few basic words but was my no means skilled even to read. He had learned when he was young but most of it had been forgotten. He rotated the map, hoping that the different angle would somehow unlock the mystery of the scribbles. He gave up and just looked at the pictures instead. He examined the shapes and followed the outline of what was clearly roads. He found a little open patch that looked like it could be a field or something.
He held it down to Jenkins to see. Kel pointed at the spot on the map, “Want to go check this place out?” The otter chittered. Kel leaped to his feet, indignantly.
“TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT NOW! I will NOT conform to their society just because I used their petching map!” Kel stormed off but returned a split second later, seething. “Fine! Just stay here! I hope you have an awful time while I do awesome things!”
Kel stomped over to the gunwale and jumped off the boat onto the dock. He strode off into the night, footfall growing quieter and quieter until it disappeared.
A few ticks went by before the clomping of boots could be heard returning once more.
Kel appeared and rested his hands on the gunwale, staring at Jenkins who sat motionlessly on the deck. There was silence as they glared at one another. Kel spoke up.
“Well, are you coming?” He gestured impatiently at his friend. Jenkins leaped up and scurried across the deck and onto the pier. The two strode down the dock towards the little oval shape that was marked on the map. Kel’s voice could be heard faintly as they walked farther and farther away.
“…you can go right back on the boat if you’re going to keep complaining you…”
