| Subject: PART TWO |
Author:
Dakkan
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Date Posted: 02:20:44 09/30/03 Tue
In reply to:
Dakkan
's message, "PART ONE" on 02:17:40 09/30/03 Tue
The ferret’s first reaction was to curl up in a defensive posture; those harpoons had caught him completely off guard. He tried to plead with the otters not to hurt him, but only a low croaking sound came.
“Silence!” ordered Salpik in a calm, even, but dangerous voice. The croaking ceased. “Who are ye, and what’re ye doin’ here, ferret?”
The young beast cleared his throat several times, and replied, “I’m Kib, sir. I was washed up ‘ere by the storm last night.”
Rockspar, Brine’s father, folded his paws skeptically. “What, did yore cap’n toss ye overboard, or did ye just blunder off the deck?”
Kib looked confused. “No…”
Rockspar continued. “Or were you herdin’ slavebeasts up the beach an’ get dragged in by a big wave?”
The ferret’s expression remained unchanged. “Why would I have slaves? I’m…”
Breaker interrupted. “…a nice, law-abidin’ beast, wouldn’t ‘urt a fly. We know; we’ve heard ‘em all, mate!”
Kib began to see what was going on. “Hey, are you accusin’ me of…”
“Being a vermin? Aye, if ye want it the blunt way!” growled Rockspar, hefting his harpoon. “What’ll we do with this piece o’ garbage, Skip?” he barked at Salpik.
Salpik looked deep into Kib’s pleading eyes. He searched for a hidden vice, a hint of evil, but was baffled when he saw none. “We take him with us an’ offer him some grub,” the sea otter said quietly, still gazing at Kib’s eyes.
Rockspar began to protest, but Breaker silenced him. “I think if Skip trusts ‘im, he’s okay.”
Salpik stretched out a paw and helped the bedraggled ferret stand. “He’s going to see Old Brokerudder.”
Kib did not know what this meant, but he was grateful that he wasn’t decorating the end of any of those harpoons. Limping slightly, he walked alongside Salpik and toward the holt.
Otterwives gasped in shock and gathered their young to them as the three warriors escorted the ferret into the holt. “What’s that…that vermin doing here?” cried one with a ladle in her paw.
Salpik raised his paws calmly. “He’s no threat, we think. I’m having Old Brokerudder see him.”
They walked briskly down a long tunnel, passing many side tunnels with kelpweave flaps over them to act as doors. Toward the end, Salpik, Rockspar, and Breaker stopped. The Skipper pounded on the flap, causing the dried strands to rustle loudly. “We need yore help,” called Salpik.
“Enter,” came a smooth voice from within.
Kib was pulled into a small room with his guards. A pair of torches burned at the head of the large hammock in the corner. On a driftwood chair sat Old Brokerudder. The old otter was lean and muscular still, but his fur was pure white with age. His thick tail had an odd kink in it, leading Kib to believe that it had once been broken but never set. The old one’s blue eyes were intense as they swept over the ferret. “What is this vermin doing here?” Brokerudder asked quietly laying down a scroll that he’d been reading.
Salpik answered. “That’s just the thing, mate. This ferret claims he isn’t a vermin. That’s why we need yore skills.”
Brokerudder turned and fixed his gaze right on Kib. “Listen to me, ferret. I once ruled this holt. They have always used me in minor disputes because just by looking a beast in the eye, I can tell if his story is true. It’s been tested, and I’m never wrong. So choose your words carefully. Tell me how you came here.”
Swallowing nervously, Kib began his story. “My name is Kib, sir. I once traveled on a ship with my family. We didn’t do any looting or plundering like this otter, Rockspar, seems to think. Nor did we trade slaves. We sailed the sea and searched for treasure.” He paused, letting Brokerudder process what he’d said.
“Go on,” prompted the white otter.
“Anyway, we found an old rat a few days ago when we put in for food supplies. The creature had gone mad. We thought maybe he’d been marooned by a pirate crew a few seasons back. When we talked to him, he spoke of a great treasure buried by the most ancient of Badger Lords. It was supposedly in a rock cave near the huge mountain they rule, buried by the first badger to live at the mountain. We brought the rat with us and left him at the mainland where he could find a band to run with. Then we set off for the location of the treasure.”
Kib sighed despairingly. “But we were barely halfway there when the big storm hit. The waves were high and we were baling out furiously just to stay afloat. The whole family was down there, sending buckets of the stuff out. They sent me above deck to try and spot land that we could strike for. As soon as I reached the railing, a huge light blinded me and the world exploded. I was in the sea then, trying to swim and find my family. But I never even found a piece of the boat bigger than my leg. I think lighting must have struck and blown the whole thing up. Since I wasn’t inside, I was thrown clear.
“I could see a faint gray line on the horizon, even through the rain, and I knew it must be land. I swam as hard as I could. I’m not sure how I got on shore, but when I lost consciousness I’m sure I felt sand under my paws.”
Brokerudder sat still for a moment, studying Kib’s eyes. Finally sitting back, he looked up at Salpik. “This ferret is telling the truth.”
Rockspar shook his head. “I wonder how a whole family of ferrets could escape the evil that normally taints their kind.”
Kib smiled slightly, turning to face him. “I can help you with that. You see, I don’t know who my real parents were. My family wasn’t a bunch of ferrets. I was raised by otters.”
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