Completed Dab Paws, Daft Tasks

[Kaii Nashirou]

Still recovering, Kaii finally was allowed to get back to work by the demon in Pine Marten form. Aside from a brief talk with the Duke that came from his little... escapade, the marble fox was bound to the infirmary bed until recently. He was in no way enjoying it, lacking mental stimulation needed to not slump into depths of his memories. Now however his was a free todd again! As such he instantly got back to work at the engine room, manning it with extra diligence and care, simply because quite many crewbeasts have died and any paws remaining had extra duties.

By the end of his shift, all of the tasks he was given were done. Needing a bit of fresh air, Kaii left the abdomen of the ship and went on to the main deck, trying to enjoy the fresh, salty, morning air. Looking into the see for a while, he was rather fond of seeing the sun, skipping the waves and basking them in reddish glow. He was wearing his work clothes, marked with coal, oil and soot, just like his white fur. Still, he cared little for it, after spending so long in sterile(ish) environment of the ship's infirmary, a bit of dirt was welcome as if it helped him to celebrate his return to work. Yet of course, it wasn't appropriate to walk around as such for too long, and he didn't want to soil his bandages if possible.

He moved to the nearby barrel meant for gathering rainwater, taking just enough to wash himself near the bandages. Suddenly, a loud sound of ripped cloth filled the air. Kaii took a look around and quickly found the source. One of the crewbeast, a young looking Ermine, slid down the sail, tearing it with claws while trying to hold onto it to avoid falling into the sea. He recognised them, remembering as they were nominally part of galley crew. Knowing the losses that were taken on Urk, the fox couldn't be surprised they had to substitute a few roles around.

Kaii moved to help, but even before he got to do so, there were already a few of more experienced sailors that were helping the terrified youngling down. He just sighed, knowing that this will probably result in extreme punishment for an attempt to save one's own life. Not a great thing, but Kaii didn't know why was the Ermine even falling. Was it just a case of inexperience? Bad luck? In no way Kaii could know. After finishing to wash himself, he started moving to the ladder leading down into the ship.

He got to the engine room again, waiting for Swifttail to come so he can go to attempt sleep. Having a moment of respite, Kaii took out a long needle, meant for engraving, and fidgeted it between fingers of his paw. Unfortunately, a very sour looking officer, one very mad vixen, entered the room and locked her eyes on Kaii. He stood his place as she stormed over to him and pointed at the needle in his paw. "Aww, ya having a break lad?" She started softly, almost with a purr, before yelling out: "RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE LACKIN' PAWS ON DECK?! Get yer tail before I whoop it and getta work. Yer gunna use that needle to patch me up a sail sum idiot shredded." She didn't wait for an answer before pointing at the engine. "And if dat's what ye 'neers are doing here, WHICH IS BUMMIN' 'ROUND, tell yer friends to join ye. After all, ya fix what makes us go forward." Kaii only managed to open his muzzle before she dug her finger into his chest. "Fix. The. Dammned. SAIL. THAT IS AN ORDER!" She yelled before leaving very confused and calmly mad Kaii alone.
@SwifttailTheFox

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail didn’t remember crawling out of the hammock. He just remembered standing beside it, half-dressed and aching. The pain in his paw had dulled from a jagged scream to a constant, sulking throb. Barrett said that was good. Healing meant pain, apparently.

He hadn’t spoken a word all morning. Not to the beast who passed him the sad excuse for breakfast, which wasn't more than a grey gruel with a single wilted green, and not to the quartermaster who nearly tripped over him on the narrow stair. The decks felt heavier than they had before Urk. Maybe it was the injured paws. Maybe it was grief. Maybe it was just he himself, and the weight of knowing that no beast was going to lighten the load these days. Not with so many less crew in a functional state, or now wandering the mysterious realm of the Dark Forest.

He descended the final ladder to the engine room, the familiar hiss and clank offering his tired mind no comfort. The heat hit him first. Then the stink of oil. Then...

“Ah!!!” he hissed through his teeth, narrowly avoiding collision with a beast in the dim lantern glow.

Kaii stood there, soot-smudged but upright, looking a fair bit better than he had when last Swifttail saw him in the infirmary, despite being just as exhausted as himself. Beside him, a vixen officer radiated fury like boiler steam.

Swifttail straightened as best he could. His ears perked, his shoulders tensed. He tried to put some steel in his tone, but it came out more like rust. "With respect, marm, I'm 'ere to relieve Mr. Nashirou at coalin' duty."

The vixen’s eyes narrowed.

"That ol' codger Rugg an’ ‘is pet Kip are finally breakin’ a sweat feedin’ this ship." Her voice had the crisp snap of a sail in high wind. "The order stands. Brush up on yer seamstressin’ an’ FIX. THE. SAIL."

She didn’t wait for a salute. She turned on a sharp bootheel and vanished up the ladder, no doubt on the hunt for her next unfortunate soul.

Swifttail blinked, then turned slowly to Kaii with a look of such pained disbelief it might’ve been comical, if either of them had energy to laugh.

"Aye aye," he said to the now-empty air, his tone utterly devoid of spirit.

He watched the vixen’s tail vanish from sight, then looked down at his own wrapped paw. The bindings were tight. Too tight. They needed to be. But Vulpuz it hurt.

"Mate..." he muttered, lifting his eyes to Kaii, "How kin' I mend a sail in this state, let alone climb the riggin'?"

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii too looked at the tail of leaving vixen. Not in a way a common sailor would watch tails though. His stare would, if possible, both flash freeze and emblaze this tail. Only after the officer had left, Kaii put his paw over the top of his muzzle, quelling his fury in an instant. His paw dropped as his ears turned forward to Swift. After hearing his words, he took a look at him, and Swift was looking miserable. Just like him really, for Kaii too was exhausted, dirty and held by tight bandaging over his entire chest, back and in few more places.

Were it not for his steel resolve, he probably wouldn't even try to get out of the bed in this state. Mostly as seen by the fact his teeth were slightly clenched as he spoke. "Good morning Swift, good to see you are in somewhat functional state... Sadly Ms. Minister of Niceties didn't seem willing to consider that." His voice was dry and sarcastic. But he didn't smile, instead he just sighed and streched his arms, straining his muscles against the dressings, but managing to ignore the pain.

"Our poor state aside, albeit, I really do not think either of us can do much precision work now," He spoke again, now much more stoically and matter-of-factly. "do you know even how to sew? I myself have only seen it being done."

Kaii looked down at the needle, now with tired gaze. There were at least a few beasts he knew that could do that. Darragh being one of them. But he wasn't sure if they were even awake, besides, current load of duties must've been even harsher for others due to their position. It wasn't right to ask for help when they needed it themselves.

"I've seen what tore the sail. Claws of Ermine, one from galley crew, who tried to avoid falling from the height. I think we should ask for the sail to be dropped so we can work on it. At least... that would be a start." The marble fox suggested as he regain composure and focus fully, ready to do what was expected of him no matter his state.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail’s ears gave a faint flick at the sound of Kaii’s voice. It wasn’t much, but in the silence that followed the vixen’s fury, even a kind word felt like a rope tossed to a drowning beast.

His tail gave a sluggish little wag. "G'day, mate."

Kaii’s question lingered for a beat. Swifttail shook his head with a heavy sigh.

"Can't say I do. Ol' Mother Frilly used t’ do most the sewin' back 'ome. Her an' mum were friends, so I watched a couple o’ times, but never tried it me’self."

The thought dredged up a dim memory. One of sunlight through a cracked window, a warm hearth, and yarn baskets spilling like colorful tidepools. He blinked it away. No time for that now.

He listened as Kaii spoke again, the fox’s own tone no brighter than the dimly lit hallway's shadows. Swifttail nodded grimly.

"Havin' beasts do tasks they ain't accustom to is a quick way to ruin yer’ day," he muttered, his voice hollow with shared experience.

He eyed the needle in Kaii's paw before he let out a quiet grunt of resolve. He turned and started back toward the ladder, his boots dragging just a bit on the worn wood planks that betrayed the true age of the aged ship in gilding.

"Well, we best find some thick string too," he added, still thinking aloud. "Sails are thick, right? I'm thinkin’ the string gotta be 'eavy like too."

He paused at the top of the ladder and waited. The climb would be slower for marble fox, and despite the stoic and tough outer shell, Swift could see the pain he was struggling to hide.

"Mate... you think there's enough paws available what can lower a sail fer us?" he asked softly. "There ain't even a beast able to fix the sail 'sides us..."

He knew the answer. Felt it deep as the ache in his paw. They’d be climbing, a nagging voice in the back of his head prodded. He’d climbed once before with only one paw, with a sleepy fox bard slung across his shoulder. He could do it was a wrapped paw, he willed himself to believe.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii couldn't deny the obvious thing he didn't exactly account for while proposing to lower the sail. "You are right." He spoke with a tired sigh. "If they are getting us to do it, likely there is no one to help. Or at least no beast that would be any better than us." Putting his paw to scratch his chin, he took a moment to think it through.

One thing he wasn't too keen on was Swift climbing up. Not because he doubted his skills. More because he knew that with one paw, Swift would have to hold on to the rigging with his legs and tail. Not exactly the safest thing to do. He had many ideas, but he also had to consider his comrade in them. And if there was anything he had learnt from time spent with him, working and fixing the engine, it was that simple solutions were sometimes the best.

"Alright. As you've said, we need thick strings. Also, I only have engraving needles with me. I don't think they would suffice, but there must be some proper needles somewhere too... I would also like to get us a rope. Tying us together for the sake of safeguarding us from falling while climbing. With our conditions it is a necessary safety precaution."

Thus Kaii started moving, taking steps mechanically and politely gesturing for Swift to follow. "Come, let's get to it." He said, but Kaii's attention and thought process was focused on safety and finding the necessary equipment. Ropes had their special storages so it wouldn't be a problem. Needles for sails (if any) were possibly with the strings needed to patch them up. Going through each storage however would be tedious so Kaii opted to start with with the ropes.

After getting around the ship, helping the other fox as much as Kaii himself could, ending in one of the compartments close to the deck, one where just spare ropes were stored, Kaii looked around for rope that would for sure hold the weight of two foxes. "One thing secured... Do you have any idea where sewing supplies could be? I was thinking carpentry, along other repair kits and supplies. But I would rather not waste time now. And once we get those, We can try to climb and... improvise I suppose." Kaii wasn't as sure about it, and his voice relfected that. There were some ideas in his mind how to mend materials with thread. It was still all about the force distribution, nothing new to him. But practice and theory were two different things...

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail followed close behind, his wrapped paw clutched to his chest as they wound their way across the ship. He appreciated the way Kaii thought. It was always measured, careful, never rushing when it mattered. The idea of tying themselves together hadn’t occurred to him.

He kept his eyes on the deck as they walked.

"Couldn’t hurt to lash us up," he muttered. "If I fall, better you get dragged down with me, eh?"

The joke fell flat. Even he didn’t smile.

The rope store was musty, and the coils inside were still damp from sea spray, but the line Kaii picked looked sturdy enough to tow a whale. Swifttail gave it a test tug with his good paw, then nodded.

"One thing secured, aye."

At Kaii’s question, he frowned in thought, then squinted up at the low beams like the answer might be nailed to the ceiling.

"Could try carpentry, yeah... or maybe the quartermaster’s hold. They keep extra uniforms an’ canvas patches down there, don’t they? Maybe somethin’ for sailcloth too."

His ears twitched. A memory surfaced. A snatch of a conversation. Ralynn complaining about how mending sail was a punishment duty once, worse than swabbing the decks.

"Wait. I think I remember Ralynn gripin’ about sail duty before. Said they kept the thread next to the pitch, for when they need to seal seams on the small sails. Might be worth lookin’ near the tar barrels."

He didn’t sound confident. But he sounded awake now and focused, even if still weary.

He knelt to pick up the rope, taking a coil and looping his injured paw through the center, holding it on his left shoulder

"Improvisin’s half this ship, seems like." His eyes flicked sideways to Kaii. "Anyways...where to next?"

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Swift's joke was as dry as Kaii's humour tended to be. The main reason he didn't even smile was the fact he wasn't enjoying the mental image of potentially causing harm to Swift by his own incompetence or lack of skill. Taking a small note to also tie the rope to the mast or another solid element he chose the rope and tested it before passing it to Swift for his examination.

Kaii hummed with agreement to his friend's words. Perking up his ears and turning to them as soon as he said the word wait.

That was a reason why true cooperation always bore better results. One beast simply could not have all the knowledge, insights nor ideas in the world. Swift heard something and that was already a boon that could save them a lot of time.

"Why, to the tar barrels and then to quartermaster's. Better to have any, even vague idea than to search at random based on assumptions." He spoke as he already was leaving towards those new goals.

"And besides, if we are improvising, then there is no point in overthinking... something I may not be the best at. But I will try." Kaii gave Swift a small chuckle before entering the very dirty room where tar was stored. It was never a nice place to spend time in, but one that both foxes were familiar with due to their occupation.

Since he was already dirtied, Kaii decided, despite being a bit larger than Swifttail, to squeeze between the barrels. He huffed out with a small yelp as his wounded torso got squeezed, but he managed to get to the pitcher and pass it to Swift. There was a small issue though...

Tar was viscous. Very viscous. And the barrels were not exactly clean. Not even due to current beastpower issues. There was no point in wasting time to scrub them clean.

As such, Kaii, now stuck and unable to really move forward or backward, simply turned his head to Swift and with defeated look spoke much more flatly than usual. "Maybe... I actually should think at least a little before doing things."

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail ducked into the pitch store a step behind, ears flattening instinctively at the smell. The air was thick with tar fumes and old rope funk, the kind of scent that clung to your fur and refused to leave, even after a week of scrubbing.

His nose wrinkled as he stepped carefully over a loose coil of line. "Ugh. Smells like Rugg’s armpit in here."

Then he spotted it. Right there, plain as sunrise on a clear day, was a small sewing kit. A roll of thick thread rested beside it, tucked atop a bundle of sail patches. He opened his mouth to announce the find...

...and that’s when Kaii let out a sharp yelp and vanished into the shadows between two half-open tar barrels.

Swifttail blinked.

"Kaii, mate!?" he sputtered, lurching forward. "What are ye’ doin’!?"

The marble fox’s hindquarters stuck awkwardly out from between the casks, tail flicking like an embarrassed squirrel. One of his legs gave a faint kick. Swifttail bent down, ducked his head, and took the heavy pitcher's handle from Kaii’s outstretched paw. The stuff inside sloshed like bubbling syrup.

"I thought we were 'ere for thread. What’s the pitch for?" he asked, carefully setting it atop a sealed barrel with a squelch.

Then realization dawned. Slowly. Horribly.

"Oh no. Yer stuck."

The pitch clung to his good paw like tree sap. He wiped it on his tunic with a grimace and turned back to his friend, squinting at the narrow gap Kaii had somehow wedged himself into.

"Mate..." he said slowly, crouching low and peering down the fox-length furrow, "I get that yer tired, but let’s... I dunno... discuss things first before ye throw yerself into a tar trap?"

He braced himself and shoved against one of the barrels with his shoulder. Nothing. Not even a budge.

He tried again, gritting his teeth, the strain making his injured paw throb in protest.

"Gates, now what?"

He stepped back, wiping sweat from his brow, trying not to picture him explaining to the quartermaster how one of the ship's foxes had become part of the ship’s sticky storage room.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii obligated his mind to think before responding. Looking around the room he found literally only one thing that could potentially bring some help. The humble support beam over the heads of the two. indeed, moving around forward or backward wasn't doing it. Maybe the way out was up? Barrels were after all slightly narrowing towards the top.

With some plan Kaii got to speaking again. His voice slightly mumbling as his head was behind the barrels. Still it was very emotionless. "You've said it was by the pitcher before. That was the only one I saw here. But what was done is done. You still have that rope right? Could you maybe put it over the beam and then tie one side to me? With me pulling myself up and you putting your whole mass upon the rope by tying it around yourself and trying to fall... that may be the best solution to this."

The marble fox was banking on this potential solution. He was tired, dirty and there was still a lot to do after that, he didn't want to waste time on getting stuck and needing help. He didn't need to explain nor argue with Swift not he wanted to. He knew he messed up and it was from now on he decided to no longer try to wing it.

It wasn't his style and wasn't his way of doing things. That is what happened when he didn't think and tried to improvise. At least, it was a good reminder to have now.

Letting Swifttail to tie the rope around him he prepared himself to pull upwards, gravity was a thing but the friction from tar and barrels holding him were strong enough to not let him fall already, so with his effort and Swifttail mass pulling the rope he was at? There was a good chance.

"Just let me know once you start pulling." Kaii said as he grasped and got ready to push, his wounds be damned for now.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail squinted up at the support beam, then back down at Kaii’s tail-end, then up again.

"You’re serious?" he asked dubiously. "You wanna hoist y’self outta there like a bleedin’ sack of spuds hangin’ from a pantry hook?"

Despite his tone, he wasn't opposed to the idea, really. It just seemed that things had escalated quite quickly toward the absurd. Still, with no better idea and a fox jammed in pitch barrels, he got to work.

The rope, which was blessedly not covered in tar, was still looped over his shoulder from earlier. He unfurled it and gave it a quick shake, as if that would shake off the madness of what they were about to attempt. Then he threw the line up over the beam.

It caught on the first try.

Swifttail blinked at it in surprise, then muttered: "Right. One thing goin’ right today."

He fed one end of the rope down toward Kaii's outstretched paws, taking his time to avoid the stickiest bits of tar. The other end he wrapped snugly around himself in a makeshift harness.

"This is either a brilliant rescue or a two-fox funeral," he murmured, cinching the last knot with his teeth. "You sure you can 'ang on tight enough?"

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii in the meanwhile got to tying his end of the rope around his own chest, deciding that risking his ribs was more sound of an idea than once more causing haemorrhage in his stomach cavity, the rope was put under his arms. That way, he could be both pulled while also applying strength of his own.

With an assured voice he spoke back "If anything, make sure you are safe. I am as ready as it gets. Should anything goes wrong, don't risk it yourself." Kaii then let out as much breath as he could to make his chest smaller. "Go." He spoke before ridding himself of oxygen and prying upwards with all the strength he could muster.

Feeling as Swift was pulling him up, it wasn't pleasant to strain his ribcage again, but it was giving an effect, he felt as he was sliding upwards.

Slowly but surely, the higher he got, the easier it was. He was still holding his breath, or lack of one. His world started spinning from exertion, pain and lack of oxygen. Not a problem, his mind just numbed those one by one. This was not time for such little worries. His duty was at stake.

Eventually, due to the gap between barrels betting larger at top, as well as less tar smears being there. Kaii ended up freed. Something he celebrated with a long deep breath in before coughing up some blood. Surely the rope straining his chest caused some damage. Not a bother for now, he felt about as bad as before, aside from lack of oxygen burning his lungs.

But it was no time to idly rest. he pulled himself to the side. "You can put me down!" He exclaimed readying himself to be dropped. Once his paws had touched the floor, he slumped to the ground in order to recover a bit.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail leaned back slightly on the rope, testing its tension as Kaii secured his end beneath the arms. His own knot felt snug. Not elegant, but strong enough to do the job without slipping.

"Aye, I’ll be safe as Vulpuz allows," he replied, brow furrowing as he sized up the beam again.

At the fox’s clipped go, Swifttail let himself drop backward. The rope snapped taut, straining against his middle with a groan. Above, he felt the weight shift and Kaii moving.

Swifttail gritted his teeth and dug his boots against the planks, careful not to strain his bad paw. The rope dragged across his belt line, tugging at his tunic, but he held firm. Inch by inch, he could feel the tension lessen as the other fox rose.

He didn’t speak. Not until he heard Kaii call out: “You can put me down!”

Swifttail exhaled in relief and slowly worked his way upright, legs wobbling just a little. His back ached. His side was sticky. But it had worked.

"Comin’ down, then," he called, quickly loosening the rope from around his waist and letting the line slacken in his paws.

As soon as Kaii’s feet hit the floor, Swifttail was already there beside him. The marble fox looked like he'd wrestled a kraken inside a barrel of molasses and lost.

"You alright, mate?" he asked, brushing a loose bit of rope aside. "That couldn’t ‘ave felt good."

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii moved his head to stare into Swifttail's eyes. Right now, as his survival instincts kicked in, the gaze was emotionless. One wouldn't find pain, exhaustion, annoyance nor anything suggesting there was even life behind those two blue wells. There was some wish to show his state to his friend within, but the marble fox's wasn't allowing emotions to partake in any situation that was serious or dangerous. As such, he simply, and flatly, started to talk. "I do believe I may have strained a joint, broken one more rib and potentially upset my lungs. I am alive and free however and I can manage said meagre issues for a while. I can go on, so we can be done with this whole task rather sooner than later."

Kaii stood up, his body wasn't liking it but now that the mind was in charge, it mattered not. There was still task to be done and he couldn't afford to fail it nor leave Swifttail alone for that matter. "If you too are doing fine, we should gather the supplies if they are here and continue onto the main deck. At least my failure did show us that the rope will be enough to provide some safety and solutions should anything happen."

Taking a few steps, the marble fox was really behaving like nothing had happened. Only way to notice he was really not doing well was in the way he had moved, it was stiff, mechanical, forced, but he wasn't stopping now, instead he was making sure that he still has full range of movements.

"I should at least remove some of that tar from myself. It is a lubricant after all... in a way. And I would rather get a good grip on the ropes and needles later. I don't want to waste time but If we could stop by the washroom, that would be both reasonable and potentially soothing for us both to take a splash of water." He explained, still as deadpan as before, waiting for Swifttail by the door while removing one sizable blob of tar from his fur.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail just stared back into Kaii’s guarded eyes. The blankness there gave him pause. No pain. No sass. No spark of complaint. Just raw endurance, like a fire burned too low to be seen but still smoldering underneath. It chilled him more than a cry ever could.

"Gates..." he murmured, voice low.

He gave a soft sigh and straightened his back, rolling his sore shoulders and ignoring the way his own paw throbbed.

At the mention of washing off, he gave a small nod. "Aye. No use climbin’ tarred up. Galley’s got the strong lye soap..."

He glanced down at his own paw and forearm, fur sticky as a toffee apple, and wrinkled his nose.

"Let’s clean off proper. Then we’ll face the riggin'."

Swifttail led the way through the corridors, his steps quieter than usual. The hum of the ship accompanied them. Wood creaking, equally disheveled beasts toiling away with subdued voices, the steady heartbeat of a vessel still afloat despite everything.

The galley was strangely quiet. No pots boiling. No clatter of tin. Just empty benches and the faint smell of the morning gruel.

"Huh..." he muttered, glancing around. "Hello...?"

He didn’t linger on waiting for a reply. He crossed to the wash basins and reached for the blocky bar of lye soap nearby, already crusted and cracked from use.

"Here we go," he said, dropping it into the basin with a dull thunk. He gestured for Kaii to take first go, then leaned against the counter with his good paw, quietly watching for any signs that the marble fox might need help, even if he'd never admit it aloud.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Nodding his thanks to the other fox, Kaii first and foremost decided to clean his muzzle. He took a long look around, ship's galley was not a place to wash oneself normally. In fact, reasonably Kaii thought one had to be clean to come here. But also, work at the kitchen was always in some way bringing a risk of getting dirty. Thus, he came to the conclusion that in fact, at least some beasts did their cleaning there. Besides, water could be replaced just after the fact. Not that it was a deficit commodity on the ship like this one with the whole piping system.

After filling the basin with water, taking the bar of soap, he removed his tar stained shirt, revealing his still bandaged torso. The bandages were mostly to make sure his wounds wouldn't reopen that easily, but they too were now stained. After taking a moment to remove them, trying to be as efficient as possible despite the pain of his chest now deepening as it lost some of the support from the bandages, he did put his whole head into the water.

Taking it out he cleaned it. There was no delicate or pleasant movements. He worked to get himself cleaned as soon as possible. After the fur on his head was much closer to his natural white, he finally spoke. "Now that I can smell anything but the tar again, Swift, my ribs are broken. I cannot reach to my sides or back without risking harming myself more. If you aren't comfortable with that, I understand, but it would be faster should you help to clean the fur on my back. Just enough to get rid of the tar, I will cleanse myself properly afterwards."

While waiting for Swift to act or not, Kaii already was cleaning his chest and arms. To say he was efficient was an understatement. He wasted absolutely no time to enjoy this. The goal was to be clean, that mattered. He also threw his bandages and the shirt to the water tub nearby to let them at least get cleaned a bit passively.

That is when there was a sudden gasp that made Kaii turn his head sharply. A young, yet adult hedgehog lady, one holding a ladle and wearing waxed apron that signified her position a cook. She wasn't looking too happy with the two foxes cleaning up for sure.

Kaii did manage to say "Hello, sorry for intru..." Before the hedgehog, one that Kaii remembered as Essie Spiketurn, interjected with a voice that was both terrified and dissapointed. "You... What are you two doing here? Why are you so dirty!" Her eyes widened as the spikes on her back and head stood up in agitation.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail stood nearby as Kaii scrubbed his head and chest, letting the sound of splashing water fill the quiet space between them. When the marble fox asked for help, Swifttail gave a small nod.

"Aye, mate. ’Ere, turn around."

He took the bar of soap in his good paw and set to work on Kaii’s back and sides, careful to avoid pressing too hard against the already battered ribs. Tar was stubborn, clinging to the fur in thick streaks, but bit by bit the white beneath came through.

For just a moment, Swifttail’s mind drifted, appreciating, in an entirely unromantic way, the lean strength Kaii still carried despite injury and exhaustion. His lithe, muscular form definitely made this young fox quite the looker.

...And then the moment shattered.

A sharp gasp cut through the galley like a dropped knife. Swifttail glanced over his shoulder, only to freeze as a young hedgehog in a waxed apron stood glaring at them.

Essie Spiketurn’s eyes widened as the quills on her head and back stood up in perfect agitation. In one paw, she clutched a ladle, though before Swifttail could blink, she swapped it for a heavy kitchen cleaver.

"You... what are you two doing here? Why are you so dirty!"

Her voice rose with each word until it felt like the walls were quivering.

Swifttail instinctively stepped back a half pace.

"Tar and food do NOT mix! If you need a scrubbin’ so bad, you go to the infirmary! Not my wash tun! Hell’s teeth, I ought to chop your tails off and serve ’em to the crew for dinner!"

Swifttail drooped under the verbal battering. That made two beasts today who’d dressed him down. Neither without reason, but still enough to wear on him. It seemed everybeast aboard was running hot today.

"Ma’am, the infirmary’s still full o’ injured beasts! Surely you can understand! B’sides, I’ve done it before..."

Her eyes snapped wide, and her grip on the cleaver tightened.

"You’ve used me wash tun t’ bathe before!?"

Swifttail swallowed hard, ears flattening, and promptly cowered behind Kaii.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii not only wasn't in mood to deal with this nonsense. He also still was in survival mode, meaning that his social inhibitions did not exist. He stood up, covering Swifttail with his taller form, Still half-naked, his torso was covered wounds from Urk. From the tar barrel incident, one was slightly opened and left a few smears of blood over his white belly fur. He stared into the hedgehog's eyes, his own being cold as the island they've just returned from.

"Miss Essie. Just some time ago, i saw an Ermine from the Galley deck ripping apart the sail. It is because of that we are even here. If you want to spend your time yelling at someone for dirtying some water, to which I shall remind you, you have almost infinite access, please find your friend from the previous shift and tell them all of the words of choice you have. Now excuse us, we don't have time to waste."

And not waiting for the answer, he returned to cleaning, focusing on his tail, now that his upper body and head were clean.

The Hedgehog went through many emotions in the meanwhile, disbelief, fear, anger, confusion, just to name a few. It took her a moment to regain any composure and once more yell.

"Gates' WHAT ARE YA TALKING ABOUT?!" She panted, as her spikes were now fully erect, her eyes almost leaving their sockets. Pointing her cleaver to the two foxes, she took a step forward. "Who do ya think yerself ya two?"

Kaii to that theat reacted instinctively. He reached to his bag by his clothes and pulled out the longest engraving needle he had, holding it like a dagger. "Two Engineer's Mates. One of the most difficult positions to replace on this ship. If that is not enough, close friends of officer Silvertongue. If that is not enough, I am a Gentlebeast under the Duke Talinn himself. Think before you will attempt using that cleaver."

The hedgehog went pale, it wasn't clear which part was the one that caused such reaction, or if it were all of them combined, but she did end up retreating just a bit, as well as withdrawing both the ladle and cleaver. She still was mad clearly, but her expression had faltered.

"Uh, yeah. Still ye have made whole thing covered with tar! 'Cause of ya I 'tis gonna take me now ages to get whole thing good for dishes!" Essie was still adamant to show her displeasure. "I should have ya two to clean 'em tuns and replace me t' water!"

Kaii, still continuing to wash his tail, flatly answered without even looking at her. "Then go and override the order of a certain vixen officer who sent us to fix the problems one of you, galley crew, have caused. Also, tar mixes poorly with water but alcohol slightly dissolves it. I recomend giving those tubs a wash with a bit of grog, while making sure your Ermine friend does the scrubbing."

This fox couldn't care less about pleasing the hedgehog. Right now, he was good at either giving solutions or pointing out flaws in judgement. He did both multiple times. Now he was just about to finish with his tail and let Swifttail to clean himself some.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail stayed low behind Kaii at first, ears flat, heart thumping more from the cleaver than from Essie’s shouting. But as the marble fox spoke, he felt the knot in his gut loosen. By the time Kaii was citing Duke Talinn and suggesting tar-cleaning methods, Swifttail’s tail was flicking again, and the faintest smirk tugged at the edge of his muzzle.

"Aye... what he said," he added with a quiet but growing confidence, stepping out from behind his taller friend.

He took the soap back into his paw and began scrubbing at his own tar-smeared fur. Compared to Kaii, the mess was minor, and the strong lye cut through it quickly. The sting wasn’t pleasant, but after the morning he's had so far, it felt almost refreshing.

Essie’s quills slowly sank back down as the exchange wore on. Whatever mix of titles, logic, and sheer force of will Kaii had brought to bear, it worked! Her cleaver clattered to the counter, and with a last huff of indignation, she stomped off toward the larder, muttering about ruined wash tubs and “fox-tailed troublemakers” under her breath.

Swifttail glanced after her, then to Kaii, shaking water from his paw.

"Remind me never to get on yer bad side, mate," he said, half-grinning. "Now let’s finish up before she comes back with reinforcements."

Swifttail gave his fur a final rinse and shook off what water he could, the droplets catching in the faint light as Essie’s muttering faded into the larder. He exchanged a quick look with Kaii before setting the soap aside and heading for the door.

When they stepped out onto the weather deck, the change was immediate. The wind carried a sharper bite than it had below, threading through fur still damp from washing. A thin, milky fog hung low over the rails, muting the gold of the morning sun into a pale glow. It softened the edges of everything from the deck lines and the sails, to even the faces of the few crewbeasts moving about.

Swifttail’s gaze lifted toward the rigging, the ropes vanishing upward into the shrouded masts. His ears twitched back.

"Mate... I dunno if I..."

He cut himself off with a sharp sigh, forcing his shoulders to square.

"Let’s just get it done quick-like...."

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

The platinum fox comment broke Kaii out of his desensitised state just enough to let a small chuckle. "I would rather not have to speak with you in this way either. I tend to be more patient with those I care for however." He added as his mind was taking over again, flattening his expression.

Kaii took a moment to at least sluice his bandages and shirt out. After that he shook off the water and put them on best to his ability, getting Swift's help with tightening swathes around.

And following him to the deck, Kaii twitched his nose at the fog. Sun was something he was keen on seeing in those circumstances, especially as he knew that the two will need their sight for the task ahead of them.

Sadly, while he knew that a pair of glasses made from yellow-tinted glass would help them by a lot, there was no way for Kaii to get those, any other solution also didn't seem to be available for now.

Swifttail's voice cut his considerations short. He nodded and walked over to him, explaining the plan he conducted. "I think it would be for the best, If I were to climb first. I may be wounded, in pain too, but I have all limbs available. We need to drop the course sail. I still am of the opinion it would be better to do the sewing on the deck. Primarily because we aren't great at it."

Pointing at the Topsail, Kaii continued while holding up the rope. "Once there, I will put the rope around the mast, using the arms as the fulcrum, dropping one end to you. With that, you will be able to climb up while I will get down to the sail we want to take down, all while being held by the tensed rope. Once we somehow" There was unnatural emphasis on this word in Kaii's rather emotionless speech. "get the sail down, I will again climb up to get you down and then you can safeguard me on the descent. Is that plan sound in your opinion?"

While Kaii did ask for opinion, he was already putting the end of the rope around himself, gauging the pathway he would have to climb to get where he wanted to be.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail’s ears perked as Kaii laid out the plan, and with it came the first flicker of a genuine grin in what felt like days. His tail loosened from its tight tuck and gave a slow, approving wag.

"I knew ye’ had a plan, Kaii! Clever fox!"

He glanced back up at the rigging, the lattice of rope and wood no longer seeming quite so menacing now that there was a method to the madness.

"Aye, it’s better than anything I’d thought of... other than ‘climb an’ don’t look down.’"

As he shifted his stance, something caught his eye near a coil of rope. It was a small satchel, slouched like it hadn’t been touched in a while. Curious, he bent to pick it up. Inside, nestled in the bottom, was a needle kit so battered it looked like it had been to war and back. The needles were bent, the awl handle cracked. Clearly, the previous beasts who had been unfortunate enough to be sent up to patch the sails had a bad time of things.

Swifttail let out a short laugh and held it up for Kaii to see.

"Look, mate… this ain’t forebodin’ none."

Shaking his head, he tucked the kit back into the satchel and slung the strap over his shoulder, settling it diagonally across his chest so it wouldn’t slip in the climb.

Stepping closer, he extended his good paw to Kaii.

"Since yer climbin’ first, gimme everythin’ we need. I’ll carry it up in the satchel. I hate seein’ ye do anythin’ but bed rest, but since orders is orders, I might’s well help all I can."