The Navigator

[Airan]

Character Name: Dusker Tetch
Character's Species: Shrew
Character's Gender: male
Character's Age: 28 Seasons
Category: Navigator

"If you bluff one more time, I'm gonna whomp you so hard your pointy snout'll go flat in yer face and even yer ma'am won't know yeh from a scrawny vole."

Dusker slouched back in his seat and peered down the aforementioned snout and across the sticky card table at the otter. "You just try it, you hot-root sucking snorkeler. In case you forgot, bluffing is a part of the game."

"Not the way you do it," Keel snarled, baring his one remaining canine. That single tooth was big enough to do the job, and Dusker might have been nervous if he hadn't known Keel to be a bigger talker than whomper.

This was one of the bigger river towns, though, and most of the other beasts in the tavern were traveling up or downstream with cargo. They didn't know Keel like Dusker did. They all went quiet to watch the big otter go on. "If I didn't know better," he said, standing to loom over the table, "I'd think yeh were a dirty cheater, mate."

In a rush, Dusker leapt to his feet. His chair clattered back, too loud in the quiet tavern. "Oh, don't be shy now! Cut right to it! You think I'd cheat you, huh!" He spat on the floor. "You think I'm a cheat?"

Keel glared in silence, but his cards trembled faintly in his thick-knuckled paw. Dusker spotted the movement from the corner of his eye and, with a sinking feeling, realized he had misread this acquaintance. Keel was on the brink of beating him senseless and Dusker was no guerrilla tribe warrior, in possession of legendary fighting skills.

What Dusker did have was a world of preconceived notions about shrews and a very convincing poker face. He set his mouth in a fierce grimace and kept his unblinking stare fixed on the bigger beast. "Well?" he demanded, throwing his arms out to either side.

Keel worked his jaw and finally spoke. "It ain't just me that thinks it. Half the beasts workin' the docks have some story about yeh winnin' too much for a lucky streak, star-reader or no."

"Didn't know you lot were such a bunch of sore losers."

"And now there's been some scar-faced weasel askin' about yeh by name. Yeh told everybeast here yeh studied with the monks in that red abbey. So how'd that weasel get to know yer name?"

Dusker faltered for just an instant - they had found him again? Already? - then lied. "I read his stars a while back and he didn't like what I told him. Probably liked it even less when it came true."

Keel humphed and folded his brawny arms over his chest. "Yeh expect me to believe he'd come after yeh fer nothin' more than a bad prediction?"

"I don't care what you believe. We're done here." Dusker threw down his cards and scooped up his winnings, jamming coins in the pockets of his crisp new coat while he scowled. "But here's a tip. If you don't want to keep losing your wages to better gamblers, you oughtta just stop playing."

Keel only growled at him. As Dusker turned to leave, the shrew stared down anybeast who dared meet his beady eye.

The second he got out into the muddy street, though, he ran. If Rakeye and his cronies were here, there wasn't time to delay. Dusker had to get on a ship, didn't matter where to, it just had to be leaving now.

He had started to think this business was over. Just last week, he'd moved his stash of valuables out of its hiding place near the docks. Three seasons of scrounging and cheating, and it wasn't even a quarter of what he needed to get square with Rakeye.  If Dusker was going to survive - and keep all his easily-removed extremities - he was going to need a mountain of treasure.

[Airan]

Character Name: Robert Rosequill
Character Species:Hedgehog
Character Gender: Male
Character Age: 41
Category: Navigator

The ship?s deck was rife with shadows from the sun slipping below the horizon. Only two beasts were on board, one a gaunt hare and the other a bulky hedgehog. Each were laughing boisterously, a flask of ale between the two of them. The hare took a swig, wiped his lips with the back of his paw while passing it over to the hedgehog. The hedgehog, Robert, snatched it from him, chuckling.

?You know, Harold, we?ll be settin? sail on a Friday.? The hedgehog beamed as Harold guffawed, the hare almost falling over in his hysterics. Robert chuckled even more heartily. ?The worst kind o? luck wouldn?t you say?

"Awful news, friend, awful news,? Harold crowed, throwing his head back to guzzle some more ale, then almost choking as he seemed to remember something worth saying. ?Ohoho, remember Tobias??

Robert immediately doubled over. ?Heh heh heh! That poor little mouse! He jumped ship an? swam to shore when he figgered out what day it was!? Robert rolled his eyes, reaching out a paw for the flask. ?Fates, a Friday. What?s the fuss about Friday??

Harold shrugged as he handed over the drink. ?Storm?s brew on Fridays. If you set sail, you?re promised a rough sea.?

Robert rolled his eyes once more, taking the flask. ?Hmph. You know how many storms I?ve weathered??

The hare grinned. ?Too many to count but too little to brag about??

The hedgehog fell into another fit of throaty laughter. ?Heh heh heh! Righto, ol? boy, righto! And not a one of ?em to do with any day o? the week. You know the things some o? the younger breed o? these Runners say? If?n the sky?s red in the mornin?, no sailin?, ?cause that?s how accidents happen. You hear that? The sky?s why accidents happen.? Robert?s jovial smile faltered a bit, then he took another large gulp of ale. Harold shifted uncomfortably. A silence fell as the two watched the sky darken ever more slightly by the minute.

It was Harold who finally broke the quiet. ?I?m surprised, Rob.?

Robert, knowing what the hare was going to say, humored him anyway. ?And about what, friend??

?That you?re still out there.?

Robert shrugged, a twinkle in his eye. ??Course I am. One o? us has to be.?

Harold smirked in agreement. ?Aye. And better you than me, I?d say. How is it, anyways? Not knowing any of these new types??

Robert, finishing off the flask, stowed the empty container inside the folds of his clothes. ?Bearable, really. I?ve been meetin? the new kinds of us. I?ve met a little you, a little me, even some o? our ol? mates?ve got replacements. Heh heh heh. Replacements. That?s a good word for ?em, I?ll say.?

Harold laughed. ?Yeah. Perhaps for the best. I know I can?t do what I used to do. Can?t barely run, much less jump. Fightin?s outta the question.?

Robert wagged a finger at his friend. ?You see, that?s why you get a softy?s job like me. I just look o?er maps and the likes all day. Nary has a rope found its way into my paws these days. Too busy you see.? Robert winked.

?Then why still do it? You never were one to shy from getting? dirt on your paws and sweat on your brow, why now?? Harold inquired playfully, but genuine interest on his face.

?I must admit, it ain?t easy pushin? and pullin? anymore. But hey, you can?t beat that sea breeze.?

Harold nodded, convinced. ?I hear that, friend.?

With that, the last thread of sunlight sunk beneath the waves as the moonshine rushed to steal its place. Taking notice at the sudden darkness, Robert cleared his throat, grunting as he stood upright. ?Welp, I?d say that?s enough o? remenissin? for one night. I?d say let?s get off?n this rickety ship.? Robert grinned at the hare. ?I ain?t exactly got the permission to be throwin? parties on here you see, heh heh heh.?

[Airan]

The Character's name: Rail Crimsarre
Character's species: Australian Dingo
Character's gender: Male
Character's age: 28
The category you're applying to: Navigator


?That was the worst.? Rail Crimsarre attacked half of the apple balanced atop his knife with a single bite, his right cheek ballooning at the added girth. He paused, cocked an eyebrow, and shook his head. ?No, that ain?t right.?

Flixer jumped at a distant scream and rubbed at his damp shoulders. ?Rail, don?t you think??

?Lettuce-shredder,? Rail said, lost in his memories. ?Did that for a season?n half. I couldn?t stand anything green after that.? He chomped between reflections and swallowed hard. ?Pillow-fluffer for a duke?imagine how much you earn for that, mate? Chimneysweep in Allenport?that helped me land the spyglass-lense adjuster??

?Rail, we?re too close,? Flixer spoke up again.

Rail laughed and spat apple seeds into the water. ?Always made sure I remembered which end to put it back in!? He winked at the mouse.

?We should take cover, Mr. Crimsarre!? Flixer cried, cringing at a sudden shriek that ended as a wet gurgle.

A crimson splash showered down on the duo, and the dingo sat up quickly. ?What?s a matter, Flixxo?? A sly grin poked through his damp fur as he tossed the other half of the apple to Flixer. ?A bit jumpy??

?Considering our current situation!? Flixer said with a shiver, gesturing beneath him.

Rail kicked at the capsized vessel they sat on. ?Ah, the Dependable was not a good ship,? he said. ?She listed somethin? fierce, and had a foul mouth when you gripped the wheel too hard.?

?But she was our ship!? Flixer protested. He hid his head behind his knees at another scream, followed by another spray of blood. ?Besides, we?re still in battle!?

Rail looked out to starboard, where dozens of assorted vessels flying varying standards and flags tried very hard to ram each other into tiny burning pieces. Couched comfortably on a large sandbank far from shore, a large fort looked on the entire scene. Smoke and fog threatened to choke the sky, but the ships wouldn?t be deterred.

?Let ?em fight, the dags,? Rail said with a wave. ?We?re done for today.? He resumed his reclined position and offered an apple to Flixer. ?Bite??

Flixer struggled to straighten what remained of his uniform jacket and wiped at his headfur. ?That sounds like desertion, Mr. Crimsarre,? the mouse said, frowning as his paw returned damp and red.

Rail snorted, closing his eyes and folding his paws behind his head. ?They?re right out there ?bout a quarter league, if you?d sport another swim.? He chuckled at Flixer?s scoff. ?As I recall, you were struggling with your boots when I pulled you out the first time.?

One of the larger ships suddenly burst into flame in a brilliant display, the force rocking the topsy-turvied Dependable.

?Fates!? Flixer shouted. ?I hope that was one of the brigands?.?

?For Lord?n? the Fire Mountain!? Rail cried, his eyes still closed. A thought came to him, and he opened his eyes and leaned over the hull, stabbing into the floating barrel of apples within paw?s reach. ?Cheers.?

?Is all you do eat?? Flixer asked, shaking his head.

?Depends on the day,? Rail said, taking a large bite out of the fruit. He shifted onto his knees and gestured to the water. ?Here we are, Mr. Flixer?looks like we got more friends for our island.?

Flixer scrambled to aid Rail as several survivors swam up to the dead ship and scrambled to climb aboard. Flixer clapped several of the woodlander crew on the shoulders as they found places to sit, but stopped when Rail pulled several rats and a weasel on board.

?Explain yourself, Mr. Crimsarre,? Flixer ordered.

?Pullin? survivors out of the water, Mr. Flixer,? Rail said. He raised an eyebrow. ?Why??

?They?re vermin,? Flixer said with a growl.

Rail blinked. ??so I won?t give ?em any apples, then,? Rail said. He turned to the water-logged newcomers and winked. ?Welcome aboard the Dependable, mates!?