The Cabin Boy

[Airan]

Character's name: Gordon Hagglethrump, a.k.a. Scully Craws.
Species: Hare
Gender: Male
Age: 13
Category: Cabin Boy

A three-cornered hat with ear holes, small-sized, for a leveret. A toy lead cutlass in a cloth scabbard. A set of three hollow wooden tubes, carved to look like a telescope.

Two puppets: one, a badger dressed in magnificent armor; the other, a hare. The standard Long Patrol uniform had been stripped off the puppet, and instead, it wore a pirate?s outfit, a ring through each of its long ears, and a bandana embroidered with a skull and crossbones.

More toys and scraps of worn parchment and wood - hand-scribbled maps, doodles - were tossed out of the oak trunk and onto the floor of the large bedroom. Gordon dug deeper.

A toy wooden ship flew through the air and shattered into pieces. He had no time to be careful. He was sailing in the morning.

Two brass nose-rings. A genuine leather scabbard.

An eyewitness?s drawing of a village burning: rat babes screaming in terror. Notes from an interview with a survivor, a ferret, a childless mother. The enemy?s brass belt-buckle found in the rubble, reading ?Waverunners?.

A new item, purchased from a stranger in a dark alley with his allowance: a burnt piece of a wooden sign, reading ?Iron Curt?. The blackened skull of a rat.

His mother never pried into his evening activities. Mrs. Hagglethrump assumed Gordon was doing homework for Brother Sage, the quiet mouse who served as his tutor. She didn?t ask why Brother Sage had been exiled from Redwall abbey. She didn?t ask what Brother Sage was teaching him for the hefty sum she paid: revealing the truth to him about Lord Atlas, about the money, the villages destroyed, the innocent deaths, the madness and the injustice and the reign of terror. 

She didn?t know that Gordon would be gone tomorrow, and that she would never see him again.

Gordon reached the bottom of the trunk. He found a small dagger. The dried blood had been scratched away to reveal, engraved, a hero?s name: Blade.

His father was busy with the administrative duties of a retiring Colonel maintaining his status in Salamandastron. He was busy with Cyril, ?bright and brave young chap?, the mature son, the military academy son, the son who would soon marry General Sapwood?s daughter. It was enough to know that little fluffy-cheeked Gordon played with dolls and read poetry. He didn?t need to know any more. He didn?t need to know who had been skimming through the record-books in his office. He didn?t need to know the identity of the Zephyr?s new Cabin Boy.

?A lonesum? orphan oi is, jus? lookin fer ways t? earn a meal wot t? fill me belly,? Gordon had told the recruiter, mimicking the accent of the lower classes. The recruiter bought the act, and added his alias to the manifest: ?Scully Craws, leveret, brown, C.B.?

Gordon finished re-packing the trunk with the essentials: extra food, lists of names and places, and his new Waverunners uniform. He was tempted for a moment to walk through the main entrance wearing it, so that his father - still sulking from their argument at the dinner table - could see it. How astonished he?d be that his poetry-reading son had secured a position on the Badgerlord?s own vessel! But Gordon knew better. This was not a game. He had a mission.

?Injustice appears as justice to its beneficiaries; justice, as injustice to those it sacrifices,? Brother Sage once said, teaching them of the ancient heroes, the assassins who toppled tyrants.

Gordon picked up the badger-puppet. Calmly, he severed off its head and tossed it away. Then, he put the dagger into his cloak pocket, slicked down the fur on the top of his head with a bit of grease, and crept out of the window. As he left, he overheard his brother giving a toast.

?To Lord Atlas! May he live for ever!?

[Airan]

The Character's name: Thaddeus Churchmouse
Character's species: Rat (thinks he's a mouse)
Character's gender: Male
Character's age: 24
The category you're applying to: Cabin Boy

?Name??

?Thaddeus Churchmouse,? said Thaddeus Churchmouse, contriving to look down his nose at Swiftpaw, who was a good head taller than him even while seated.

?Can?t say I recall you bein? part of the Waverunners, wot.?

?I have just arrived from Redwall!? Thaddeus proclaimed, in a voice which suggested that such an announcement should be accompanied by trumpet fanfare.

?Oh, that?s all right, then. We?ve a few Redwallers in the ranks, decent enough chaps. You have experience with the sea??

?I lack experience, but I will surely learn! I am sworn by the Fates themselves to embark on this mission!?

Swiftpaw, who hadn?t been consulted by the Fates, looked at the scrawny white-robed figure, in particular the lack of battle scars or requisite musculature. In fact, Thaddeus rather looked like a scarecrow playing dress-up. ?You don?t look like much of a fighter, old lad.?

?That is where you are wrong!? Thaddeus shrilled. ?I am a fighter of truest heart! My courage and warrior spirit are unmatched!? To demonstrate, he punched a barrel that had been innocently minding its own business. It didn?t explode as Thaddeus assumed it would, but his knuckles did make a sharp cracking sound and began bruising rapidly.

?Have you ever served in an armed corps??

Thaddeus scoffed derisively. ?My calling runs much deeper than affiliation with any mere army. I am an emissary of the Fates themselves!?

??Right,? Swiftpaw said, attempting to motion forward the next beast in line.

Thaddeus chose to take this as an invitation to launch into a soliloquy.

?Vermin are putrid moist offal, expunged ingloriously from the bowels of the earth!? Thaddeus thundered, his voice quavering with righteous indignation. The words slammed into place like a flurry of blows from a seasoned boxer, having long since been committed to rote memory. ?The Fates decree that all such beasts must be put to the sword in order to purge their filthy stains from Mossflower and its environs! I am their envoy, and I will not rest, I will not sleep for an instant until every last vermin is rent in twain and sows the sward with their entrails!?

?Er,? said Swiftpaw.

?Thus, I compel you on behalf of the almighty Fates themselves, let me accompany the Zephyr that I might serve as an instrument of righteous judgment and smite the wavescum into rubble!?

?I, er, have never seen a Redwaller so? consumed with passion,? said Colonel Swiftpaw, choosing his words very carefully.

?Indeed you have not!? howled Thaddeus, paws windmilling. ?That lot of so-called ?Brethren? want nothing more from life but to sit about in their rose-gilt fortress, firmly bound by the serpentine coils of complacency and sloth, while all around them vermin conspire in every hovel to bring about their doom! No matter how fervently I urged them, they could not be persuaded to follow the divine ordination and purge the vermin menace! Mark my words, they will sorely regret having ignored me!?

?Well, your attitude certainly lines up with Lord Stormstripe?s position on vermin-woodlander relations,? Colonel Swiftpaw remarked dryly. ?I can?t see you  being any good at cooking, healing, or navigation??

?I navigate by the divine path which The Fates predestine!? Thaddeus crowed.

?Right. Do you think you can handle cleaning cabins??

?Would this in any way allow me to dispense terrible retribution upon my sworn enemies and all of their offspring??

?Once you get there, probably.?

?Then I shall consider it a privilege to occupy such a lofty position aboard the Zephyr. In my leisure time, I shall continue spreading divine proclamations against vermin of all shapes and creeds, in order that my crewmates may loathe verminkind as much as I!?

?Stellar,? mumbled Swiftpaw, already pitying the other crew members.

Thaddeus marched off towards the gangplank, snout held proudly erect.

?I say,? said Swiftpaw, wiping his brow. ?What an odd fellow.?

I wonder if he knows he?s a rat?

[Airan]

Character Name: Efith Delwigger
Species: Rabbit
Gender: Male
Age: Fairly young, old enough to be a cabin boy
Category: Cabin Boy

The self-proclaimed Lady of Bluetree extended her right paw toward the young rabbit, her sapphire ring reflecting the light much the same way it was said her eyes did when she smiled. Had he the presence of mind to consider such things, Efith would surely have looked into her eyes to see if itw as true. With this being the first time he'd been allowed to approach the maiden, it was everything he could do to keep his own paw from shaking as he took hers in his own and gently pressed his lips against the delicate white fur.

When he looked up, she appeared no different than before. Unlike so many stories, she did not gaze upon him fondly, nor swoon at his touch, nor giggle softly with girlish delight. Even with all the tenderness he could muster, he had not won her heart with this simple gesture. He was not greatly surprised by this, but it remained a mild disappointment nonetheless.

Efith released Lady Crown's paw and stepped back to join his peers: an overzealous hare named Aberforth who possessed no form of volume control, and another rabbit named Ronstin who's goal in life was to become the next Martin. The three youths had run together for several years, getting themselves into all manner of trouble and out of the repercussions if they could manage that as well. Efith counted himself fortunate to have such stalwart companions, as they had been rather difficult for him to find.

?And what are your names, my young ruffians?? the Lady inquired.

Aberforth and Ronstin responded with all due enthusiasm- the hare's voice left the delicate mouse's ears twitching after he spoke. When his turn came, the skittish lad put on the bravest face he could and forced out, ?I'm Ef-f-f.... Ef-f-fith D-d-d-delwigger, your l-l-ladyship.?

Crown's long eyelashes fluttered at his voice. ?Dear me, you are a rather zealous bunch!?

Her words floated into his ears like flower petals into his head, leaving a fragrant impression long after her voice ceased. He smiled and nodded, pleased by the compliment. Every gentlebeast their age who'd heard of the Lady had sought to win her heart ? every male, that was ? but she had refused them all. She'd met practically every person in Bluetree by this point, and it Efith knew it was only a matter of time before he and his cohorts would get that same chance.

?We're not wasting your time with words or presents, Lady,? Abeforth blurted out. ?The three of us got the best and brightest future ahead of us!?

The Lady's eyes narrowed and this time she did giggle. ?Is that so??

?Yes ma'am,? Ronstin stated.

Efith nodded in accord with the other two.

?Well... if you three are the obvious winners, then I'll have to decide a way to choose between the three of you.? She paused for effect. ?I seek... the perfect kiss.?

?Pardon?? Rontin asked, though Aberforth seemed eager to demonstrate

?You will each seek a maiden and kiss her, but you must return to me with a story to tell. Adventure and daring is what I seek, and to win my heart you must go and get it for me!? She stepped close to the lads, her lavender perfume filling their heads with ideas. ?The one with the best tale of their prowess will win my heart.?

Crown's friends who stood nearby covered their mouths in shock at the suggestion. The three didn't notice, what with a dozen plans half-forming in their heads. Rontin was the first to respond: ?You won't be disappointed!?

--

Mali Winsford would not be shipping out as cabin boy on the Waverunner's new expedition if he had anything to say about it. It didn't matter that Efith knew about as much about sailing as he did sword making... It was simply the story that mattered.