The summer heat is building in Haven, though luckily stiff ocean breezes keep it from becoming unbearable with the humidity. The Kumquat festival is in near full swing, and the smell of odd citrus is in the air. Merchant tents from all over ring the town. It's a wonderful time to explore.
The wharf is busy today, as more ships unload. Some are supposedly from Turning Point, others from the mysterious "Northern Reach" colony. Still others are just ignored, as if no one really wants to know of their true origins. It's a lively place to be, and on this partly cloudy day, a bare skinned individual is exploring the wharf.
Michael wanders down the busy road running alongside the piers, curiously peering this way and that, looking at what goes onto and off of the ships.
One ship is particularly busy, as large crates of cloth and other items are being hauled off. The otter captain is growling to his crew at the slowness of unloading as he mutters, "The locals promised some hired hands to help unload. Where are those fools?"
Michael leans over to look at the cloth, admiring the bright, vibrant colors.
One of the Captain's crew sees Michael walking along and points him out to the captain. The otter nods and chitters loudly, "You! You over there in the black robe. You good at unloading a ship?"
Michael picks his head up and looks around a bit before identifying the source of the question. He shouts over, "Me carry boxes off ship? Yes, I can do. You need help?"
The neatly dress otter nods, "I'm captain Samuel. We'd could dearly use a strong back to get this unloaded quickly. We can offer a good days wages."
Michael nods and walks over closer to the ship. "I will help."
Samuel grins, "Excellent. Jacob, you have a partner to help you with the crates."
Michael looks to the ship hand. "You are Jacob?"
A taller otter pads up and looks at Michael, "I am. You seem to be missing fur, s'not contagious is it?"
Michael replies, "I am without fur. It is how I am." He looks a tad confused. "What containers, these?" He points to a box of bolts.
Jacob nods, "These are ways of carrying cloth. We need to crate them up and haul them down the wharf to where the wagons are waiting for em. Are your hands clean?"
Michael says, "Ah, yes. I saw wagons down there."
Michael shows Jacob his hands. They are quite clean indeed.
Jacob blinks, "Almost no fur a'tall. Well, ye can help me load up the silk bolts then. Stuff gets dirty easy. Also, it's slippery, so don't drop it."
"dodedodedo..." mumbles Nipper, the popular salesfur of the bazaar. He glances this way and that as he strolls along the docks. Once in awhile he stops to admire a pretty female otter who passes by him before he shakes his head and continues on. "I know the silk ship's gotta be around here somewhere. Almost out of kites and it's a holiday, my best time for selling em..." he mutters to himself.
Michael runs a hand along a bolt of silk before hefting half a dozen of them on his shoulder. "Good cloth."
A pair of slitted eyes watches the otter from under the sails of a ship from the Northern reaches. A tail flicks with indecision.
Michael holds the bolts tightly and begins to make his way towards the wagons at the end of the pier.
Jacob shouts to Michael, "Silly, we need to load them into the crates for protection first!"
Nipper sees ship just a bit further up the dock. It looks like the ship that usually brings the silk to town. His pace quickens.
Michael looks confusedly. "Ah, yes. My apologies. I misunderstood."
Jacob hmmfs then grins, "It's ok. Make more sense to bring the wagons right up to the ship, but you know the rules around here."
Michael arranges the bolts delicately in the crate.
Nipper waves toward the captain! "Hello Samuel! 'orry for being late. Got caught up entertaining some kids in th bazaar. Hope ya still have some silk. I've run out."
Jacob nods and helps fill this crate with Michael, watching this odd creature in front of him.
Captain Samuel snorts, "I'm certain you were. Did you talk their parents out of any money too? ;)"
Michael quickly fills the crate in a couple more trips.
Nipper finally reaches the ship, "Oh...you know me. I'm an old softy fer the kids. Sometimes I give em a free toy or somethin. It's not much money outa my pocket or nothing. I do well enough to be able to do that."
On the Northern Reach ship one of the natives comes out. She looks like a feline with fur reminiscent of a mink. Her paws and feet are large and well furred, obviously for dealing with a much colder climate. She watches the wharf with interest, and grins at a grumble from under the sails, "I told you it was hot and sticky here. YOU were the one who wanted to come. I told you you wouldn't like it."
Captain Samuel grins, "Well, I'm not as much of a softy, so don't get ideas. Jacob and a day worker are loading the silk now, over there. Let's go check it out."
Jacob hmms to Michael, "Ok, help me put the lid on and we can move this over to the wagons. Sound good?"
Nipper follows along.
Michael says, "Yes, sure."
Michael helps Jacob put the lid on the crate.
Captain Samuel leads Nipper over to Jacob and Michael, "So, my ole Nipper here needs to waste some more of his silk on some kites. What colors do you need Nipper."
Nipper's eyes widen when he spots Michael, "Great Gehosafat!" He stumbles backwards and almost into a crate, "What is that hideous thing??? It doesn't bite, does it?"
Michael cocks his head curiously and gives Nipper an appraising glance. "Only if it gets bit."
Nipper blinkblinks, "It talks!"
The feline woman tosses a few ice cubes at the figure under the sails and purrs, "Well, I have to go sell our cargo. You stay here and behave!" This elicits a mrrrrowl? from the figure and she grins, "Yes, you know what I mean. ;)" and she jumps to the dock and pads off quietly.
Jacob snickers, "Why Cap'n, I think we finally stunned Nipper. ;)"
Michael smiles proudly. "This is good?"
Captain Samuel shakes his head at Nipper, "Be nice. He's helping us unload."
Jacob loses it at Michael's comment and just nods at the human as he laughs loudly.
Nipper blinkblinks a few more times, "I, er, um. I just need the usual colors. Red/green/yellow/blue, etc. Nothing too silly. Can't sell em as scarfs if they're ugly."
The sound of laughter on the docks nearby his ship rouses interest, and the figure pads over to the rails and looks down at the source of the noise.
Michael pulls back the lid of the crate he recently filled.
Nipper rubs his chin, "Course, nothin is as ugly as that hairless thing...."
Captain Samuel sighs exasperatingly at Jacob and then at Nipper, "You obviously don't get out much. Er, I'm sorry lad, I didn't get your name in the rush to get your help. I'm Captain Samuel and you are?"
Michael drums his fingers on the crate lid quietly, calmly looking at Nipper. "That was not nice."
Michael looks over at the captain. "I am Michael."
Nipper ers, "Sorry Michael, jes never seen your kind before."
Captain Samuel nods, "Well Michael, forgive Nipper, he's still young. Can you get out the bolts that match the colors he wants?"
Michael smiles. "It is past." He looks through the crate carefully and pulls out the matching colors.
The figure on the Northern Reach boat gets a feral grin, and playfully bats the melting ice cube at the figures below.
Michael pulls his head back in surprise as the ice cube lands on a swath of green silk.
Captain Samuel blinks, "Blazes. Someone trying to ruin my cargo?"
Nipper inspects the bolts of silk, "Capt'n, I swear your silk quality improves with each trip. Were'd ya dig this stuff up? I almost hate to make a kite out of this...But what fine kites it'd make..." His eyes widen when the ice cube hits the silk and he eeeks!
Michael says, "Eh?"
Michael swats the ice off onto the ground.
Nearly 1000 pounds of muscle, bone and sinew covered in thick, heavy fur follows the ice cube, and plows into Nipper.
Michael yah's and steps back, the crate top clattering to the ground.
Nipper ufghs! and goes skidding backwards, slamming hard into another crate. He looks up, dazes, "Er, thank you for playing...please try again..." *thud*
Michael says, "That happens often?"
The figure there is a large tan feline. Huge in size, but with six legs. His muzzle opens wide, showing an impressive array of teeth and fangs.
Captain Samuel backs up in surprise, and Jacob just jumps into the water.
Nipper just lays there counting the birdies circling his head.
The cat is growling or purring loudly or something as he pads closer to Nipper, teeth showing menacingly.
Nipper sits up, his eyes almost crossed, "That you, ma? You gained a bit of weight." *thud*
Michael looks around at the other people on the dock.
After a few seconds of shock, bedlam breaks out on the dock as everyone runs away from the huge six legged cat that looks to be having an otter for dinner.
"Guards! Guards! Bring your weapons! Huge killer cat on the wharf!"
Nipper sniffs, "Ma...did you know you've got bad breath?" He tries to sit up, then realizes just what is in front of him and his jaw drops. He's unable to scream, though.
The "Huge killer cat" opens his mouth wider and moves towards Nippers head.
Nipper just manages to squeak, "........help...."
Michael's brow furrows for a moment, then begins to wave a hand slightly, leaving glowing traces in the air.
Further down the docks, the feline lady from the Northern Reach ship hears the commotion and runs back towards her ship.
Nipper sits there, staring down the throat of the large feline...
Michael waves his fingers a little more, then motions as if to push the little glowing weave towards the cat. A large, colorful bird drops from the sky, landing on the feline's nose, chirping.
The cat blinks, and bats a paw at the bird.
Nipper tries to scoot away while the cat is distracted...
Michael motions to Nipper with one hand, trying to get his attention and beckon him away from the cat.
The cat seems to be trying to decide, Nipper or the bird. Finally, he decides on the bird, and gives Nipper a playful slurp before trying to chase the bird off his nose.
The bird flies off the cat's nose and flits around the wharf at eye level of the cat, oddly keeping to the places where people are not.
The six legged feline bounds happily after the bird, and the birds odd avoidance of areas keeps it from doing any real damage to the wharf as it leaps around.
Nipper sits against a crate and pants, wide eyed.
With a huffing of breath in the high heat, the thickly furred feline lady reaches the group and can barely say, "Snowflake! No! I told you to behave, you silly Ket'pilar!"
Captain Samuel pads over to Nipper and chitters, "Are you ok? What was that thing?"
Nipper points in about ten directions at once, "It...cat...big teeth...smelly....lunch...me...eep."
Captain Samuel nods, "Not sure why it just licked you on the face, maybe you taste bad?"
The overheating female tries to get the large cats attention as she pants.
Nipper nods slighty... "Yeah...guess so."
Snowflake growls a few things to his mistress, and she purrs, "What bird? I don't see any bird!"
Michael waves his hand...The bird fades to nothingness.
Snowflake thumps onto all sixes as he looks around for the bird, then with a "mew" of apology pads over and leaps up on the panting feline and hugs her with his forelegs and middle legs, tail flicking as he gives her big sad eyes.
With a sigh she says, "Stop that Snowflake. You know those sad kitty eyes don't work anymore. You didn't listen to me!"
Michael leans against the crate of silk, watching the duo.
She sighs and looks at the crowd as the guard also approaches, "Did he wreck anything?"
Nipper looks over at the Captain, "I like my store... It's safe there."
Captain Samuel nods, "I like being at sea for the same reasons. Storms I can deal with."
Michael says, "There is nothing but scared people."
Nipper nods, wide eyed, "Yeah... I think I like my crabby customers now..."
Graffi, the young skunk in charge of this guard detail, calls them to a halt as he sees the "lady" and her "pet". He walks up to her, "So what happened here? Someone said a big cat was killing people on the wharf, something about otter treats. I assume this thing is it? Who did it attack? And who are you?"
Michael turns to Nipper. "You are not hurt?"
With a sigh, "I am Flurry of the Northern Reaches, and I am the k'eper to this ket'pilar. Snowflake just wanted to play."
Nipper shakes his head slowly, "Don't think so. Are my legs still attached to my body?"
Michael smiles. "Were that not so, you could not have gotten from there to here."
Graffi wrongly translates k'eper to mean "keeper" and nods, "Well, we'll see who's been hurt and what damages there are, and then you'll have to keep that animal on your ship."
Graffi shouts, "Who here was attacked by this beast?!"
Flurry hmmps, "He is no animal. He is my ket'pilar."
Nipper raises a hand, "He...he...jumped on me!"
Michael says, "He was playing. Not attacking."
Graffi nods and motions for Flurry to follow, "So, this creature jumped on you? And your name is?"
Flurry nods at Michael, "Yes, he just bored. Want to play, and I was too busy to play with him."
Nipper look at the guard, still a bit dazed, "I'm Nipper. I run a shop in the bazaar. Sell kidstuffs mainly, and a few other knicknacks."
Graffi blinks, "Oh, yeah. Acera told me about you. Are you ok? Did this thing hurt you at all?"
Michael says, "How do you keep ice here?"
Nipper shakes his head, "No..I'm okay. Just scared me outa ten years o' me life."
A voice from over the side of the docks chitters, "Hey. I know I swim well, but could ya throw me a line Captain?"
Flurry hmfs, "He's not a creature."
Flurry pads over to Nipper, with Snowflake behind her and purrs, "I am sorry he scared you. He didn't mean to harm you."
Flurry blinks at Michael, "We have large blocks packed in straw in the hold."
Captain Samuel looks over the edge and chitters, "Jacob? What are you doing in the river lad?"
Michael nods and looks over at the ship.
Nipper looks up at the feline and smiles, "S'alright, M'lady. No real harm done. Say...you'd look nice in an emerald scarf..."
Jacob chitters, "Not getting eaten, Capn. Mind getting me out if it's safe?"
Captain Samuel motions for the rest of the crew to throw Jacob a line.
Graffi hmms and looks at the huge six legged cat curling up at Flurry's feet and looks at Nipper, "Do you want any damages for the trouble her pet caused?"
Flurry blinks at Nipper's attempt to sell her a scarf.
Nipper shakes his head, "It's alright. Nothing was damaged. Just me pride. I don't have much to begin with, it's no loss."
Captain Samuel looks at the green bolt of silk, and sighs, "The water stain ruined about 2 yards of my best green."
Michael looks at Snowflake with curiosity.
Nipper finally stands up and dusts himself off.
Snowflake pads up to Michael and sniffs. He out masses Michael a great deal.
Graffi nods, "So how much is the damaged silk?"
The crowd has come back, a bit of curiosity about the odd beast. A few mutter as it looks like the owner will get off easy.
Captain Samuel hmmms as he looks at Nipper, then chitters, "A silver disk will do."
Michael smiles and reaches to scritch Snowflake under his chin.
Snowflake mrrss and snugs.
With a growl Flurry pulls out a chunk of silver and hands it to the otter, purring, "Well, at the very least, even if damaged, I want the silk I just bought."
Captain Samuel nods and says to Michael, "If you've got a knife, cut her that piece off."
Michael pulls out his bronze knife from his belt.
Nipper just watches, collecting himself. Figuratively, thankfully.
Michael points, "Here?"
Captain Samuel notes a hmmf from Flurry and purrs, "No, add about another handspan to it lad."
Snowflake sniffs at the silk and seems to growl something. Flurry chuckles, "Yes, I do look good in green. Silly ket'pilar."
Michael nods and does so, his naked hands being a tad wider than your average person's, and cuts through it carefully.
Nipper nodnodnods to Flurry.
Graffi nods, "Well, keep your pet in line lady. He seems nice enough, but if he hurts anyone people will want to have him destroyed."
Flurry takes the silk from Michael and growls, "To kill him, you must kill his k'eper first. He will not hurt anyone."
Nipper taps Flurry's shoulder, "Um, lady... He coulda hurt me if he landed on top of me."
Flurry blinks, "Well, he wouldn't do that. He knows better at his age."
Michael leans against the crate.
Graffi shakes his head and nods, "Fine. Just keep the furball under control."
The young skunk barks a few orders and the guards move off.
The crowds look at the female..talking? to her pet? They walk off muttering things about crazy foreigners.
Nipper hmms, "Lady...iffin you take that to a tailor, bet you could get a nice dress made. They could remove the stained parts easily. I think."
Flurry purrs, "I am sorry for the confusion and his scaring you. When you are done here for the day, please come to my ship afterwards, and I'll get you something cold to drink in way of apology. I am Flurry, k'eper to Snowflake, my ket'pilar."
Snowflake listens to Nipper then, as he rubs against Michael, growls softly.
Michael smiles and purrs back, with rather surprising skill.
Flurry hmms, "Maybe a green cape would look nice at that Snowflake."
Nipper smiles, "Um, sure. Jus gotta buy some silk and stuff for my kites and I'll be ready to go."
Flurry listens to the growling from Snowflake and looks at the human and purrs, "Snowflake says you are invited too Michael, when you are done loading the crates. I agree, you smell rather nice for someone with so little fur."
Nipper looks at the Captain, "So, how much for a bolt of each color? That should last me."
Michael blinks and smiles, "Um, thank you, I think. Where am I invited and how do you know I am helping with the crates?"
Captain Samuel grins at Nipper, "A gold per bolt for you my friend."
Flurry looks at Michael, "My ship over there (points to the ship nearby) and Snowflake was listening to you from the deck of the ship. He told me."
Michael smiles. "Ah..."
Nipper blinkblinks, and goes to the usual haggling with the captain...
Flurry waves and heads back to her ship. As the sun gets low in the horizon, Michael finally finishes his work on the docks and Nipper gets back from storing his silk goods. The wharf is quieting down as the two arrive at the ramp to the Northern Reaches ship.
Michael strides purposefully up the ramp. "Hello?"
A growl, then a purr from Flurry, "Oh yes, Michael. Come on up. And Nipper too if he is there."
Michael beckons to Nipper as he climbs up into the ship.
Nipper trots up the ramp, "I'm here..." He keeps a wary eye out for that cat thing that jumped him...
Up on the deck, Flurry is putting out several pitchers of iced juices and some shaved ice with fruit juice poured over it. Snowflake is lapping from a bowl of milk in front of him, playing with the ice cubes floating in it.
Michael waves hello
Nipper heads toward Flurry with the usual otter hyperness, "Hello again lady, and, er Snowflake."
Michael shakes his head a little, taken a little unawares by the drop in temperature on the deck of the boat.
Snowflake licks his muzzle and grins at Nipper, tongue hanging out a little. Flurry motions to several cushioned benches and purrs, "Please sit. Help yourself to the refreshments. I was hoping to talk to a few locals here anyhow."
With a flourish of her tail, the feline hostess sits on the back of Snowflake, her tail curling around his playfully.
Nipper hops onto the nearest bench and looks over the drinks, "Hmm."
Michael wanders over to a bench and looks at the drinks curiously.
Flurry purrs, "I buy the fruit here, the ice is ours. One of the many things we sell. But we also keep some on board for our own comfort."
With a grin, she purrs, "Please, help yourself. It is nice and cold for a hot humid place like Haven. I assume you two are very familiar with Haven?"
Michael says, "I was to ask how you stay cool."
Nipper ohs and sniffs at a pitcher, "I'm th local knicknack merchant and toy dealer. I sell lotsa silk kites and such to the local children."
Michael says, "I'm not very familiar."
A quiet frown at Nipper before purring, "I see, I would like to see these "kites" soon. But I was curious. A few people who travel the wilderness have been spreading rumors. Something about a "golden dragon" in the hills."
Michael cocks his head. "Oh?"
Michael says, "That is something new for Haven. I think."
Nipper eeps, "Dragon...?"
Flurry looks at Michael then at Nipper, "Yes. From the old legends. Large winged reptile types. Seems a few fleeting glimpses have been reported in the wilds around Haven and Turning Point. I sail to such warm places because it gives me a chance to learn, and to learn about a real dragon. That would be marvelous."
Snowflake growls something and Flurry giggle, "You'd let me go tramping off by myself and stay here sleeping on our ice, wouldn't you silly ket'pilar?"
Michael hmms, a little distracted in thought. "Yes. It would be."
A purr from below decks, "You might also get yourself killed by the fools that want to catch it Flurry."
Michael says, "I am here to learn too. I no heard of a dragon."
Nipper blinks, "I'm not sure how I could help you, Lady Flurry. I'm just a local merchant, ya know."
A male, darker and a bit taller than Flurry pads up above decks and scritches Flurry's ears before sitting on a bench near Snowflake, "Good, let the other fools chase after this imaginary beast. I'd prefer you stay safe with the ship Flurry."
Michael cocks his head. "Hello!"
Flurry snorts, "You are always too protective Drift. Drift, this is Nipper and Michael. Snowflake pounced them today. Michael, Nipper, this is Drift."
Drift nods to the two visitors and looks at Flurry and Snowflake almost wistfully.
Nipper waves to Drift, "Hiya! Are all of your culture named after snow?"
Michael smirks.
Drift purrs, "Hello to you too. I have never seen one of your race before Michael. I am k'eper to Crystal, my ket'pilar. But she did not wish to come this time. (a small chuckle) Only those of us with old fashioned parents Nipper."
Flurry grins at Nipper, "Are all otters named for their teething habits?"
Nipper chuckles, "Well put."
Michael says, "I am from far away. Too, I not seen one of you."
Drift purrs, "Well, we're from the Northern Reaches colony. Very far north from here, near the top of the world."
Snowflake purrs and Flurry giggles, "Well, you and I may think it's the only place to live, but these two might disagree."
Nipper ooohs, "Long way from here. Way too cold."
Michael ah's and nods.
Snowflake hmmpfs, and Drift grins, "Your ket'pilar thinks this is way too hot. I tend to agree, though it is so green here no matter when we visit."
Drift looks at Snowflake and sighs, "Maybe I can convince Crystal to come with me next time. You say that you are not from here Michael? Where are you from?"
Michael says, "Me? I am from very very far away..."
Michael turns and looks around, tries to point in the direction, but has trouble deciding which way.
Michael says, "I...don't know..."
Michael shrugs.
Drift chuckles, "You're as bad as Snowflake at navigation my friend. That's ok. Maybe someday you will get to visit us, if you don't mind the cold. We do have a summer of sorts. Things actually grow in the valleys."
Michael says, "We had very cold winters."
Michael reaches his hand up into the air. "Tall and windy mountains."
Snowflake growls to Flurry who grabs his ear and tugs, "Yes, it sounds like a nice place to visit. But why would THEY want to buy ice?"
Michael smiles, "It is far from water, too..."
Michael says, "Snowflake is very smart, I see. But is he as smart as people?"
Both Drift and Flurry start at that and Flurry purrs, "I personally think he's smarter than a lot of people I know. He did choose me as his k'eper."
Nipper waits, "You're THEIR pets?"
Drift blinks, "No, no one is a pet."
Michael says, "k'eper? What is?"
Flurry purrs, "I am k'eper to Snowflake, as he is ket'pilar to me. Drift is k'eper to Crystal, as she is ket'pilar to him."
Nipper ohs, "Much clearer." He sticks his tongue out.
Michael says, "You are mates?"
Michael looks curiously between Snowflake and Flurry.
Drift and Flurry both nod at Michael's statement.
Michael says, "So you are the same kind, too, then?"
Flurry shakes her head as Drift purrs, "No, we are k'eper. He is Ket'pilar."
Michael says, "Oh...so it is mates, but not sex-mates?"
Flurry blinks, "I am mate to him. When my time comes, we have cubs."
Nipper says, "Mate to who?"
Michael says, "Then the cubs look like who?"
Flurry scritches Snowflake and purrs confusedly, "Cubs look like cubs. Some k'eper, some ket'pilar."
Michael says, "I understand now..."
Michael smiles.
Drift nods, though looking nervously at the two visitors. Last time this was explained the people got rather upset.
Michael says, "So do k'eper ever mate k'eper?"
Drift hmms, "Some try, but it doesn't work, end up taking a ket'pilar mate. This is something that people of Haven don't like to hear. As a favor to us, would you two please not speak of it?"
Flurry blinks and realizes maybe she was a bit too forthright about their race.
Michael shrugs, "As you wish." He doesn't seem to be bothered much at all by any of this.
After a round of goodbyes, and one slurp from Snowflake, Michael and the really confused Nipper walk off the boat while Flurry and Drift and Snowflake make sure the ship is secure for the night before heading to their respective rooms. And in the Proud Falcon, the booze enhances the story of the value of this "Golden Dragon" some have claimed to see. Though eventually, night claims sleep from even those braggarts, and Haven is deceptively peaceful again.