The Golden Captain of The Golden Hide (Old VI Thread)

[Jeshal the Ironclaw]

(The crew of the Golden Hide celebrate Anithias Freedom's appointment to captain. Starring: Anithias Freedom, Julia Freedom, Brek Larks, Tomias Redford, Jeshal the Ironclaw, Xhavek Mokorai, Wisp, Enguil Albine, Sokea, Tanya Rainblade-Ryalor (now Keltoi), and a little cameo of little Vald and Aille)




THE GOLDEN CAPTAIN OF THE GOLDEN HIDE

First post Merry 27, Yr. 1729

Anithias Freedom/Julia Freedom
Anithias looked around the cabin nervously while Julia straightened the collar on his new jacket. His jacket. His new navy-blue captain's jacket. With all the braid and epaulets that went with it. The jacket that he had wanted for so long, and was finally wearing.

The cabin was still sparsely furnished, the Freedoms not yet having had time to move their furniture from their bunk. Reminders of previous captains still lingered around the room: a drinks cabinet probably left from Valdrisk's reign; a doily shoved into a back corner that could have been left by Tinker; and a bloodstain on the floor, which Anithias suspected was from Fafnir. Anithias shivered, wondering what gruesome surprises the former captain might have left for his successor. Anithias and Julia had agreed not to let Falun in the cabin until a team from the guard had approved the cabin as safe.

Anithias let out an involuntary shiver of nervousness as Julia did up the top button on Anithias' new jacket. "Relax," Julia said soothingly, running her paws over Anithias' shoulders. "You'll do fine."

That was the breaking point for Anithias. "What if I'm not good enough, Jewel?" he pleaded. "What if I blow the entire promotion?"

Julia shook her head, smiling in amusement. He suddenly sounded like the young, insecure sixteen-season-old he'd been in their youth. It seemed a cute reminder of days gone by. "Don't worry, Nithy," she reassured him. "You'll do fine. Just think of them as your brothers, that's all."

Apparently this was the wrong thing to say, as Anithias' face darkened. Immediately Julia realized her mistake. "Alright, not your brothers," she corrected. "How about brother-in-laws?" Anithias' expression lightened a shade. He'd always preferred Julia's family over his own, mostly because she didn't have six brothers who hated her.

Anithias put his paws over Julia's, holding them close to him as he looked at her gently. "I love you," he said softly.

Julia smiled, leaning forward to kiss him once. "Good luck," she whispered, straightening his epaulets one last time. Anithias sighed, straightening as he turned to the door. Suddenly he looked very much the captain he was: firm, respectful, and subtly caring. It was the role he had been born for; the sea was in his blood, and always would be.

It was strange, Julia thought. Both Anithias and Julia had come from seafaring families, and in other circumstances would have lived their lives dependent on the sea. Anithias would have become a merchant captain, and Julia would have been a merchant's wife. Both had run away from that path, taking their chances with an unknown future. Despite everything, their roles were fulfilled – Anithias was a captain, and Julia a captain's wife. Destiny will be fulfilled, Julia thought. Even when you run away from it.

Anithias opened the door, blinking as he stepped out into the light. It was a hot day in late Merry, the warmth descending on Bully Harbour as Bugs approached. Already Urel had begun trimming his black fur, allowing for a glimpse of pink skin beneath the bristles. Armina, used to cooler summers than the heat of Bully Harbour, had taken to the shade, along with most of the crew. It was only a small portion of the crew, those who could take the heat, who were out working today. As soon as there was work to do, Anithias would make sure that changed.

Anithias ascended the steps to the quarterdeck, ringing the ship's bell sharply one--two--three times. Allowing the clapper to fall, Anithias waited for the crew to assemble.



Brek Larks
Brek was already on deck, but he wasn't working. His strange way of personality had him liking the warmth of the day. He had ways of making something like the weather seem so nice hot or cold. But some other certain things he thought shouldn't coexist.

The child todd was sitting on the deck basking in the sunlight. His fur felt warm and comfortable. He found it humorous when some beasts preferred to stay below deck on a day like this. But that might be to how he was raised: his mother Ceram would yell at all of his siblings or himself if she caught one napping inside when they could be playing.

There was another reason Brek was out today, Anithias A. Freedom was being promoted to captain of the Hide today and Brek wanted to be one of the first to congratulate him.

Anithias and Brek were good friends, the two foxes met on Brek's first day. Brek understood how much old Nithers wanted to be captain. From the stories around the tables in the Mess the young todd learned how zealous Anithias was for the Imperium and all its rules, and how upset the former first mate was when Fafnir got the captain title after all Anithias went through to get it.

But today Mr. Freedom finally got what he deserved: to be Captain Freedom. Brek watched as the fox emerged from the officer's quarters, dressed in fine clothes and a captain's navy-blue jacket. A smile stretched on Brek's snout in his excitement. As Anithias reached for the bell Brek was on his feet, as he rung it he was running for the center deck.



Tomias Redford
Tomias was currently on the edge of sleep, almost asleep, but not quite there yet. So he was still partially awake when he heard the bell sound but the first time he ignored it, the second time he sat up, and by the third time the ring faded away he was already out of bed, and putting his shirt on. Due to the hot climate today, he chose a simple white shirt, and his thin brown trousers, he didn't bother putting on his boots, and as he walked to the door he quickly put on his tribal pendant and donned his trademark red cap, that he was almost never found without. Once he had made himself look decent he dashed up onto deck and over to where Anithias had rung the bell. He gave a quick salute and stood beside Brek, who had already made it onto the deck before him.

"It's a fine day today sir," he grinned, "the rain finally stopped, at long last."


Jeshal the Ironclaw
Behind the steps to the quarterdeck, the silhouette of the Golden Hide's bosun lurked. His fur bristled at the ringing of the bell, which was barely a yard away from where he appeared to be hiding. No contempt showed upon the Ironclaw's face as he watched the new captain call the crew to attention. He would only display solemn respect.

It had been a troubling few weeks. Although Fafnir's presence had caused a great deal of discomfort and muttered rebellion amongst the most part of the crew, his gradual seclusion and eventual resignation was perturbingly enigmatic. With the crew united in distrust and lost in the plausibility of mutiny, the copper fox had easily been able to weave himself into a position of relative acceptance between the main body of crew and the upper-ranked officers. His slow ascent towards the Admiral had been spiralling closer, and not from promotion's sake.

Jeshal cared little for the power of status. Respect and fear from others were the powers he craved. It was no particular desire of his to take control of a ship, especially under the yoke of an empire. It was true that this beast felt not a pang of jealousy for Anithias. Eyes would be upon the golden saint, and many of them would be unfriendly because of what he now wielded.

The trouble was that the Ironclaw would have to tread more softly than ever before. One of Tanya's most trusted allies still barred the way to her, with yet more authority, more danger. The chill was almost pleasurable. It made him giddy. But he would have to work harder.

And if Freedom were to ever truly get in the way, well...the Ironclaw would just have to deal with that eventuality by one means or another.

Jeshal, clad in the formal attire of his black frockcoat and cavalier, stepped out from the shadows to remove his unwelcome intimidation and waited.


Xhavek Mokorai/Wisp
Xhavek stretched lazily in the warm sunlight of Bully Harbour. Though he had long become accustomed to being in a cooler environment than normal it was still nice to be free of the bitter cold. That and being warm like he was made Xhavek sleepily content and therefore less prone to anger. Though at the moment he'd like to take a nap in the sun he had other obligations. He yawned once before straightening his Second Mate's jacket sleeves. The well-cut uniform actually made him look like a naval officer instead of the average deckhand as his normal choice of clothing did. However the striking garb was made even more intimidating by the fact that he wore his heavy spiked steel gauntlets making his claws look even larger than they actually were.

At his side stood his younger rat blood brother who had helped him find all the parts of his uniform, being a pair of bachelors it was difficult for them to keep track of all of their belongings in their small apartment in the Slups. Though it wasn't official Wisp fulfilled the role of secretary and right-hand beast for his reptilian brother and he too had decked himself out if to a lesser extent. Will wore a well-made gray vest after the manner of his brother's and the pair of them made a rather dashing sight. However this didn't matter to either of them as Xhavek strode past his brother to take his place with the other officers. He grinned mischievously at Anithias, of whom the short monitor lizard was very proud. He leaned close to the golden furred fox and whispered. "Good day Captain Freedom. I bet Julia'z about ready to burzt vith pride."


Anithias Freedom
Anithias watched as the crew slowly gathered before the quarterdeck. Brek was the first to arrive, bounding forward even as Anithias was ringing the bell. Anithias smiled as the youngster approached. He had a soft spot for the lad, it was true. He had boundless energy, constant enthusiasm, and worked hard at all his assignments. He was exactly the kind of kit Anithias hoped Falun would grow up to become.

Then Tomias approached, commenting on the weather. Anithias grunted noncommittally. He had a personal dislike for hot weather, mainly because it was difficult to wear a heavy officer's jacket in such temperatures. Already he could feel himself beginning to perspire underneath the jacket.

Out of the corner of his eye, Anithias noted the appearance of Jeshal from behind the steps leading up to the quarterdeck. His somber expression and formal attire gave him the air of an undertaker. Anithias briefly wondered if he had just come from a funeral before turning his attention elsewhere.

The last of the officers to assemble was Xhavek, who walked aboard the ship alongside his blood brother Wisp. Anithias did a double take at Xhavek's dress – for once, the monitor was actually wearing his silver Second Mate's jacket. He looked very professional, a fact that made Anithias nearly burst with pride. Of all the navy, theirs would undoubtedly be the finest, the fittest, the tightest ship in the entire fleet.

Xhavek sidled up next to Anithias, a mischievous grin spread across his scaly face. He leaned close to Anithias, whispering, "Good day Captain Freedom. I bet Julia'z about ready to burzt vith pride." Anithias blushed furiously, instinctively glancing back over his shoulder. Julia was leaning against the doorway of the captain's quarters, a paw on her swollen stomach. In a moment of giddiness, Anithias realized that his kit would be born a captain's daughter. He didn't know why he'd said that, but for some reason he was sure of it – this would be his daughter.

Anithias turned, smiling at Xhavek. "Thank you, Mr. Mokorai," he replied quietly, crossing past him. Quickly Anithias climbed the stairs to the quarterdeck, so that he was visible to all the crew. Nervously he looked out over the crowd. The entire crew stood before him, peering up at him with disguised impatience. Licking his suddenly dry lips, Anithias attempted to remember the speech he had prepared.

"My fellow beasts..." he began, then stopped. No, no, that wasn't it. Clearing his throat, he tried again, this time without the address. "As you know, Captain Harlgren has resigned his post as captain of the Hide. I cannot state his reasons for this sudden move," Anithias inclined his head, "but I am certain it was no fault of the crew, who performed excellently during his regime." He gave them a quick smile. He truly was proud of them, both individually and as a group. They may have been the most crazy, dysfunctional 'family' ever to occupy a ship, but they truly worked as a team when it mattered most.

"Today," Anithias continued, "I met with our Minister of War to discuss the future of the Hide. As many of you have deduced– " he smiled at this; his promotion had been as secretive as the late Miles Mistofelee's balminess, " – Minister Sendoa has appointed me your captain. I know this will displease some of you," he shot a glare at Armina, "while others feel that this appointment should have come sooner." He glanced at Brek, who had made no secret of his near-idolization.

Anithias looked back to the crew. "For the former, I only hope that, with time, I can earn your trust. For the latter, I will warn you that I will not tolerate any ill talk concerning your former captain." He punctuated this with a sharp, sweeping glare. "He is still considered your senior officer, and is to be treated with the same respect you would award your admiral." Suddenly Anithias noticed that Tanya's face wasn't among those assembled below. His brow furrowed as wondered where she could possibly be.

Anithias shook his head, dispelling the question. He gave the crew a wide smile, dropping the formality a degree. "Of course, you're all waiting for the officers' list." There was a small chuckle among the crew, and one whoop from Jeb. Anithias' smile split into a grin. "I thought so. I'm afraid," his grin became an apologetic smile, "that you'll have to forgive me, as I cannot announce the officers at this time." The crew was silent, but not an unfriendly silent. This was to be expected; captains rarely chose the officers immediately upon their appointment.

Anithias continued, "Since I learned today of my promotion I have not yet had time to assess each member of the crew to my satisfaction. Nor, do I believe, this is a choice that can be made within the simple span of a few days. You are all excellent crewbeasts, and I do not say that lightly." Anithias cast an admiring glance over the entire crew. "I believe that every one of you is worthy of an officer's position, and I regret the limited number of official posts. Moreover, I feel it is a compliment to you to state the difficulty I have had in even my initial considerations of the new officers' list. You are what could be called 'tight competition', and I can only ask for more time to consider the appointments.

"But," a mischievous gleam leapt into Anithias' eyes, "I am expecting the best of all of you during this time. I will be monitoring you all individually until the time of my decision, and how you carry on your duties will undoubtedly affect my decision. You all have the capacity for officership, and I would not want to see it lost due to mere laxness." His tone was not stern, but suggested sternness in the manner of explaining the difficulty of the challenge ahead.

"I hope you will all rise admirably to the challenge," Anithias concluded. He bowed his head once before descending back down to the deck.


Enguil Albine
Enguil walked toward the dock. He had been gone a long time. Too long, perhaps. After months of fighting with a guerrilla union, he had finally realized he couldn't live without the sea.

As he approached his old ship, he ran his claws over the hull. The Golden Hide was inscribed in aged, spidery gold letters. Enguil's face remained emotionless, but his heart was in turmoil.

How will they react to me coming back? What will Anithias think? What will Tanya think? Am I going to be accepted as I am, or will they want me to change my ways?

His head still spinning, Enguil stepped onto the gangplank. He walked up, his head bowed down, mind completely occupied.

Clang

Clang

Clang

The sound of the ship's bell snapped Enguil out of his thoughts. Three rings, that meant a message of importance, didn't it? He made his way toward the quarterdeck, interested in what was happening, yet determined to steel his face.

Anithias came out of a cabin. The Captain's cabin. He was wearing a new officer's coat. At least, it was new to Enguil. Anithias looked out over the crew. He began to speak.

My fellow beasts..." A brief pause. "As you know, Captain Harlgren has resigned his post as captain of the Hide. I cannot state his reasons for this sudden move, but I am certain it was no fault of the crew, who performed excellently during his regime."

Interesting. Tox was no longer the captain of the Hide. Apparently she had been succeeded by Fafnir, a side promotion. Or, perhaps Fafnir would have considered it a demotion from his previous ship, the Greengill.

Anithias continued his speech.

"Today I met with our Minister of War to discuss the future of the Hide. As many of you have deduced..."

Enguil suddenly realized what was going on. Anithias was captain! Despite his being so determined to stay emotionless, Enguil's expression temporarily faltered. Of course, it was no surprise that Anithias was captain. Indeed, he deserved it much earlier. Much more qualified than that monitor lizard. Yet he still felt a pang of jealousy for his former best friend. Former? Perhaps, perhaps not. Enguil was honestly stronger, quicker, more agile... the only thing Anithias had on him was brains. And experience, thought Enguil.

Oh well. They never stayed for long. Enguil was back forever, and his time would come soon enough. For now he had an obligation to find his friend, congratulate him and to make amends for the past.

Anithias stepped down from the quarter deck, apparently wishing to mingle with his crewbeasts. Enguil caught the todd's eye, his face again steeled. Enguil would allow Anithias to approach him, making the first move, playing the first card.


Brek Larks
"Of course, you're all waiting for the officers' list." The new captain Anithias spoke out in his mid-speech with a grin on his face "I thought so. I'm afraid," his grin disappeared, "that you'll have to forgive me, as I cannot announce the officers at this time." Silence fell over the crew, though no beast other than Brek seemed surprised.

"Since I learned today of my promotion I have not yet had time to assess each member of the crew to my satisfaction. Nor, do I believe, this is a choice that can be made within the simple span of a few days. You are all excellent crewbeasts, and I do not say that lightly." Anithias cast an admiring glance over the entire crew. "I believe that every one of you is worthy of an officer's position, and I regret the limited number of official posts. Moreover, I feel it is a compliment to you to state the difficulty I have had in even my initial considerations of the new officers' list. You are what could be called 'tight competition', and I can only ask for more time to consider the appointments.

"But," A mischievous gleam in Anithias's eyes set off the emotion noting instinct he somehow had. "I am expecting the best of all of you during this time. I will be monitoring you all individually until the time of my decision, and how you carry on your duties will undoubtedly affect my decision. You all have the capacity for officership, and I would not want to see it lost due to mere laxness." His tone was not stern, but suggested sternness in the manner of explaining the difficulty of the challenge ahead.

"I hope you will all rise admirably to the challenge," He concluded with a bow and descended to the deck.

So the captain now wanted to have a competition between the crewbeasts. And that gleam had to mean something. Perhaps Anithias wanted to see how the crew would perform under the pressure of knowing that a mistake could ruin a chance at an officer’s rank.

Brek knew two things: one, he would have to do better than his best to get a chance for an officer even to get by the fact he was still a todd of fifteen seasons (his chances were slim of that happening). And two, he would need to keep under control, show confidence and make the right decisions today and always treat others properly.

His plan for today was simple, he would do his daily chores on the Hide then plan something BIG. He didn't know what yet, but he would certainly want to go above and beyond. And since he did his chores first, he wouldn't worry about seeming lazy and forgetful. The excited todd rushed below deck to do his daily assignments with his head flowing with ideas for the surprise.


Anithias Freedom/Sokea
Anithias strolled among the crew, accepting a few heartfelt and a few muttered congratulations. Quite a few members of the crew were obviously angered by Anithias' institution of a challenge among the crew. Anithias could understand why; the very concept of a competition instilled tension and bad feelings among the crew. To them it was as if their captain had just asked them to fight to the death, and would award the survivors a place by his side. This had obviously not been Anithias' intention; he had merely wanted some time to assess the candidates and wanted to give them the chance to perform to the best of their ability. Anithias was considering going back up to the quarterdeck and clarifying himself when something caught his eye.

A flash of white at the edge of the crowd shone in Anithias' vision, bright in the sun. Anithias peered at this, trying to see past the crewbeasts. A large weasel shifted slightly to the right, and Anithias had a clear view. Immediately his heart lodged itself in his throat. It couldn't possibly be. Enguil had left a long time ago, transferring to the Skeered of Nothing. From there Anithias had lost track of him, the trail growing cold when he disappeared from the Skeered's roster.

A cloud moved over the sun, and the light dimmed enough for Anithias to see him clearly. Yes, there was no mistaking that face. Anithias had spent much of his early days aboard the ship in the albino's presence. They had even sworn a pact to stand together as brothers. And how that turned out, Anithias thought bitterly.

The ferret was clearly not in a brotherly mood. He stood with his bag slung over his shoulder, glaring at Anithias in challenge. Anithias knew Enguil well enough to know that he would not break the ice that stood between them. That would be Anithias' job.

Anithias pushed away the last of the crewbeasts, his eyes remaining locked on Enguil's as he made his way toward the albino. Anithias stopped directly before Enguil, their snouts a mere few inches away. Neither one's gaze wavered as they stood looking at each other coldly. "Enguil," Anithias stated stonily. It was not a question but a prompt. Enguil would now have to choose what to do – come crawling back to Anithias on his paws and knees, or hold his ground.

However, he never had the chance to make that choice. A sudden high-pitched squeal echoed above the noise of the gathered crewbeasts, many of the crew turning to watch as a ferretess with faded blonde hair flung her way through the crowd. "Enguil!" she yelped happily, flying toward the area where she had heard her cousin's name originate. Enguil never had a chance to defend himself as Sokea wrapped her frail form around him, hugging him with all of her little strength. Tears of joy ran down her face as she buried her snout in his shoulder. "You came back!" she whispered happily. "My cousin came back for me!"

Anithias watched the scene incredulously. Sokea was Enguil's cousin? How had he gone all this time without knowing? Granted, Sokea had arrived just as Enguil was leaving, but someone still should have told him! Then again, perhaps it was for the best, he reflected. If he had known about their family relationship, he would have been tempted to treat Sokea coldly for her relation to his former friend. Anithias knew he had a tendency to be irrational when it came to his enemies and their relations, often grouping beasts together who were completely different.

Which was the conflict facing him now. The many months Anithias had known Enguil now played back in his head, every detail of their time together fresh in his mind. As Anithias watched this silent parade of memories he observed all the good times they'd had together – working together to repair the ship after a storm landed the Hide in the Cove of Lost Ships; Enguil agreeing to watch Armina, and breaking the news to his friend about Armina's forbidden night out; Anithias and Julia naming Enguil godfather to their kit. Through all of the memories, Anithias could not remember one time where he and Enguil had been forced to take opposite sides. Despite their separate allegiances – Enguil to MAUL, and Anithias to duty – they had always been on the same side, working for the common good.

Anithias breathed out slowly. This would not be easy. It went against all of his instincts to hold a grudge, to refuse his old friend forgiveness. He wanted to hold onto his anger, to nurture it and let it grow. But out of the corner of his eye, Anithias caught a glimpse of a black vixen looking at him silently. Armina. Just as with Enguil, waves of memories pounded Anithias, forcing him to look at their relationship. Anithias had done the same thing with her as with Enguil; he had never given her a chance. And that was what had destroyed any chance of a parental relationship with her.

Anithias sighed, looking back at Enguil. "Enguil," he said slowly, mastering his words with difficulty, "I apologize. And," he breathed in, trying to find the strength to say what he wished to say, "I would like you back in the crew."


Enguil Albine
Enguil looked Anithias dead in the eye. He expected something terribly cold. Perhaps 'Thias would turn him away from the Hide. There was a brief silence, and for a moment, Enguil thought that Anithias was just going to walk away.

But Anithias exhaled slowly, and spoke.

"Enguil, I apologize. And," Anithias paused, as if pained. Then he spoke again. "I would like you back in the crew."

Enguil thought he was going to weep. He looked at Anithias a moment longer. Suddenly, a streak of white flew threw the air, landing directly on top of Enguil.

"Enguil! You came back! My cousin came back for me!."

Enguil, utterly taken aback, chuckled and wrapped his arms around his cousin.

"I'm glad to be back," Enguil said. Then he looked up at Anithias, locking eyes with him, this time with warmth.

"I'm glad to be back."


Tomias Redford
Tomias listened intently to what their new captain had to say, and nodded. He honestly didn't consider himself the officer type, however since being an officer meant more money going into his pocket, he wasn't exactly going to say no if he was offered a position. Once Anithias had finished talking, Tomias walked over to the side of the ship and just gazed off out to sea, thinking about how everything would improve, now that Anithias was captain, and not Fafnir.

He spun around on the spot and looked over the now dispersing crowd, and saw a familiar face, Enguil. He thought he would never see his friend again, but things change. Tomias walked over to Enguil and grinned.

"Hello mate, long time no see eh," he chuckled, "well I switched ships now, so I guess we shall be seeing a lot of each other now."


Tanya Rainblade-Ryalor
(Autoing of captain and crew with permission to edit if needed)


Well, fashionably late was better than never, right?

It wasn't exactly her fault, either – more like the idiotic slave trader whose blood had taken until ten minutes ago to fully wash out of her fur; the new kind of soaps they sold at the market that promised to 'fastest away with any evidence stains' was worse than her usual brand, and no amount of scrubbing could get the metallic scent of gore from her paws. Nevertheless, she was presentable enough this morning now that work was over, and she stepped out on the harbour she knew so well, decked out smartly in her admiral’s uniform of blue and gold, feathered tricorn resting neatly between her one and a half ears and the Farrucan cutlass of hers strapped to her side. Another blade, however, longer and thinner and wrapped in cloth, was belted to the opposite hip, and it was this that earned the confused and wary stares from dockworkers who were yet to have such grand news filter down to them.

Anithias was captain. Captain! She couldn't help it, a burst of almost motherly pride for the golden fox she had taken aboard shone in her usually hollow eyes; back in the days when the todd had tried to smuggle his Julia aboard, quoting naval references and the like, she had seen in him something of an unusual nature amongst the rough and ragged recruits that usually turned up. He was unique, that was certain, and had proven himself a loyal and steadfast beast over the seasons. She had been proud to call him First Mate, and now Captain.

Boarding without a sound, Admiral Tanya slipped amongst the crew like a moonbeam, flitting through the group unobtrusively as she prepared to make her speech. Although she strode the deck with ease, it was apparent that Falun’s death had impacted upon her physically; the angles of her body, even with the expensive clothing trying to round it, were sharper and she had begun to become more lean than scrawny – tougher, almost. Her strides, while filled with purpose, seemed to lack intent. She hopped up the companionway to the quarterdeck easily, back to where Anithias had given his speech, and smoothed the wrinkles on the coat about her stomach one last time.

The bell was rung again, just the once now that the majority of crew were assembled anyway, and she nodded to the golden captain for him to join her back on this platform. One he had done so, the noise level died again and it was time to begin.

"Ladies an' gennelbeasts..."

For a terrifying moment, with the expectant eyes upon her, she almost froze. It had been months since she addressed a crew of this size, her new station preventing her from making big talks and the Guard still being organised and saving her from a large Faction address, and for a moment it nigh on terrified her where once it came naturally. After an awkward beat, however, the knowledge was dredged back up and her muscles loosened. A toothy grin spread out on her muzzle, sunlight glinting off of the metal caps.

"Well, yeh all are fully aware of why ye all are gathered here, I'm simply 'ere ta make it official like.
I am sure all of you 'eard of Fafnir's resignation. He did a fine job as cap'n and I am sure all of ye would agree in sayin' that his reign was short yet memorable. 'Is work on this ship will be noted and is appreciated."

Lies, all lies, of course, but she had been told to say it, and who was she to deny the Emperor himself?

"Yet the pain of resignations can bring the joy of promotion. In 'is wake a new, inspirin' choice has been made. Anithias 'as shown himself over the seasons to be an intelligent an' talented sailor, mature an' skilled in captainin' whenever there has been an absence of officers above his own rank. He has always strived fer perfection, and I do not doubt that that is a quality he will bring ter The Hide. Although chances are he won' be as lax as me or Fafnir abou' lettin' you do what yer like, he is fair – listen to 'im and take care of yeh new cap'n, aye?"

A small flurry of chuckles and a moment for whispered conversation, and the vixen continued, pulling the long bundle from her belt with slow deliberation.

"An' so, in light of 'is recent promotion, I have been requested to present Mister Freedom with an object befittin' his rank..."

With a swift flick of the paw, the cloth was shed elegantly and the blade revealed. The rapier was of finest make – long and slim, the elegant curved steel blade shone with a definite gold tint in the metal, the Imperial crest engraved artfully near the broader base of the weapon. The basket hilt, also of a twisted gold, silver and steel, was twisted elegantly with a leather grip and fine diamond pommel set into the gaping jaws of a fox, the eyes chips of tourmaline. Although somewhat grander looking than the wide, black-bladed cutlass of the Admiral, there was little functionality in such a weapon – a show, really, of his rank and station. Her own, similar one fashioned with a green tinge as opposed to gold was still in her apartment, pegged to the wall. Tied onto the hilt of the weapon with fine blue ribbon was a scroll – his official documents – and sewn into the sheets was also his very own key to the Captain's Cabin; after all, who would want one Fafnir had used? Blegh.

Turning fully to Anithias, the light of joy on her face, she spun the weapon in a lazy arc once and twisted her paw to offer the hilt of the rapier to him with a gentle smile.


"So, take yeh station, Captain Freedom, an' may the blessin's of th' Emperor tumble down upon ye like a golden fog."


Anithias Freedom
Anithias felt a welling of relief as Enguil, too, came to terms with the past. A great wellspring of peace sprung up from within him, washing away the anger and bitterness that had before characterized their relationship. Now, as Anithias looked at Enguil he saw not an old enemy, but an older friend.

Suddenly the bell rung once, making much of the crew turn in confusion. Anithias himself swiveled on the spot, curious as to who should be ringing the bell at this time. The answer was given in a short, scruffy vixen standing on the quarterdeck, almost unrecognizable beneath her tricorn and admiral's coat. The fancy dress seemed to accentuate her frailty; Falun's death had undoubtedly had a negative effect on her health. Sometimes it seemed to Anithias that she was wasting away; other times, that her resolve to live had only been strengthened. The golden fox often worried about her. She had not been mentally stable even while Falun was alive, and his death could only have unhinged the vixen further. Then again, Anithias mused, half the crew was insane, and nothing ill had come of it so far. Well, it had, but nothing they hadn't been able to contain.

Tox nodded at Anithias, signaling for him to come up beside her. Excusing himself to Enguil and his cousin, who was trying her best to strangle the albino with her hug, Anithias pushed his way through the milling crewbeasts, at last making his way to the quarterdeck. Climbing up the stairs, Anithias stood beside Tox, feeling very awkward all of a sudden. This was truly a change in the generations; Tox was of the older generation of the navy, more seasoned than Anithias by far. When he'd first arrived on The Hide she was the captain, and he the simple crewbeast. Now here she was, Admiral of the Fleet, and he was Captain in her stead. Anithias could not be certain, but he could easily believe that among the crewbeasts and officers gathered below was his own predecessor, who would take the helm of the ship upon his promotion, resignment or death. It was both a fascinating and morbid moment for Anithias, realizing the momentous flow of time.

Looking out over the crowd, Tox breathed in deeply before beginning, "Ladies an' gennelbeasts..." Suddenly she froze. Anithias could sense her fear by the tension in her body, the panicked look in her eyes that said her mind had suddenly come up blank. Thankfully she recovered after a moment, her muscles loosening and a toothy grin spreading itself across her face.

"Well, yeh all are fully aware of why ye all are gathered here, I'm simply 'ere ta make it official like. I am sure all of you 'eard of Fafnir's resignation. He did a fine job as cap'n and I am sure all of ye would agree in sayin' that his reign was short yet memorable. 'Is work on this ship will be noted and is appreciated."

Despite his warning to the crew Anithias could barely stifle a derisive laugh. Fafnir's regime had been perhaps one of the worst in The Hide's history, competing strongly against Tinker's. It was all the captain could do to maintain a straight face.

"Yet the pain of resignations can bring the joy of promotion. In 'is wake a new, inspirin' choice has been made. Anithias 'as shown himself over the seasons to be an intelligent an' talented sailor, mature an' skilled in captainin' whenever there has been an absence of officers above his own rank. He has always strived fer perfection, and I do not doubt that that is a quality he will bring ter The Hide. Although chances are he won' be as lax as me or Fafnir abou' lettin' you do what yer like, he is fair – listen to 'im and take care of yeh new cap'n, aye?"

Anithias glanced at Tox, unsure how to take this last part. He didn't view himself as a 'strict' captain. True, he couldn't imagine himself allowing the crew to run amok in the fashion of previous captains, but he could easily make concessions. Kayla's Sage, for example. Anithias opposed the substance on principle, yet he saw no beneficial outcome of forbidding her to use it. Also, Xhavek's form of disciplining the crew. It was undoubtedly more harsh and unethical than Naval law permitted, but if it kept the crew in line he would not object.

Tox recalled attention to her, ending the quiet laughter and whispering. Anithias focused his attention on the admiral, more specifically on the mysterious, cloth-covered weapon by her side. "An' so, in light of 'is recent promotion, I have been requested to present Mister Freedom with an object befittin' his rank..."

Like a magician revealing the sudden appearance of a roach beneath his hat, the admiral revealed the treasured weapon. Even as the fabric snapped with the motion Anithias' jaw began to drop. It was beautiful. Even Anithias' own blade, the elegant captain's cutlass he had inherited from his eldest brother, could not compare to this masterwork of bladesmithing. The blade appeared to be steel with gold mixed in, a combination that would substantially weaken its strength. That much alone told Anithias that this was an item for the mantelpiece and not the battlefield. Still, it did not detract from the splendor of the blade.

Anithias' examination of the blade was cut short when Tox turned to face Anithias, spinning it a slow arc before offering Anithias the hilt. "So, take yeh station, Captain Freedom," Tox told Anithias, a smile upon her lips, "an' may the blessin's of th' Emperor tumble down upon ye like a golden fog."

Anithias reached out his paw, slowly wrapping the digits around the leather grip. With his other paw he delicately removed the documents of his promotion from the hilt, as not to crush them. Carefully Anithias raised the weapon, savouring every detail. With a surge of pride and honor the captain realized this blade must have been specially created for his promotion, either by Tox's orders or that of Mar'kan himself.

Anithias was still consumed in humble reverence, both for the rapier and for the flag officer before him, as he spoke. "Thank you, Admiral. Good crew," he turned to face the assembled, the golden blade flashing down by his side. Pride and light shone from him as he reflected both. "Today is a glorious day for The Hide. But more than that, it is a golden day. I do not mean the color of our fair ship, nor the color of my fur, for both are unimportant in the grand scheme. No, today is a golden day, for it is the birth of our legacy.

"In time, every one of you will move on from this vessel, taking your separate courses to destiny. Soon the youngest among you," he looked specifically at Brek, Armina, and Tomias, who were the youngest of the full crew, "shall be the oldest, and shall see a new generation of the navy ushered in. The names of old captains – Tinker, Ryalor, Harlgren, Freedom – will fade away into history and memory, and the captains of the future will rise to take their place. But it is my dream that our crew, those of you gathered here today, will remain in the legend of The Hide long after we are gone.

"Ironclaw. Mokorai. Albine. Redford. Larks. Locke. Blake. Ashpaw. Wanderpaw. Chaos. Kesey. Raposa. Simon. MoonShine. Rogue. Tyttonimi. These are only a few of the names which will pass on into history, the great voyagers of His Majesty's greatest ship, The Golden Hide. We are on a great journey, my friends," Anithias proclaimed strongly, his voice like thunder as it rolled from the quarterdeck. "Let us go forward to legend!"

With thunderous applause, either real or imaginary, rising around him, Anithias bowed to the crew of his ship before descending from the quarterdeck.


Brek Larks
Brek had taken a short break from his chores as he listened to Admiral Tox then Anithias speak. He had a bag full of broken bottles that had found their way to the bottom of the ship from all the rocking.

Brek was truly touched by both of their speeches, and the blade that was given! It was the most magnificent thing he had ever seen, something that was perfect for the Hide's captain. He doubted his father, Varde, could create such a weapon.

The young fox's tender heart broke over the speech, he was glad it hadn't been hardened by the life of the sea so he could enjoy this moment. The climax of the speech came when the new captain raised the weapon and said "Ironclaw. Mokorai. Albine. Redford. Larks. Locke. Blake. Ashpaw. Wanderpaw. Chaos. Kesey. Raposa. Simon. MoonShine. Rogue. Tyttonimi. These are only a few of the names which will pass on into history, the great voyagers of His Majesty's greatest ship, The Golden Hide. We are on a great journey, my friends." The todd was distracted by the mention of his enemy's name. He glanced around the deck and couldn't see the horrible marten. Part of him was grateful, the other in a strange way... worried. He hadn't seen the marten for a few days now and was actually wondering where he was.

Brek's thoughts were interrupted as the Anithias concluded his speech in a thunderous voice that made Brek jump and look out to the see if there was an approaching storm, "Let us go forward to legend!"

Brek dropped the bottles as he clapped along with the crew. The captain bowed and once again came back down. Brek had forgotten his original plans to congratulate the captain personally when he became busy planning his big surprise (which he still hadn't thought up yet). He picked up his bag of bottles and walked over to the fox, "Congratulations Anithias, I'm really proud of you." Then he leaned in close and spoke quietly, "And just between you and I, I'm glad Old Fafnir is gone. Mainly 'cause I don't like fearing for me life every time I see an officer. By the way, wonderful blade."


Anithias Freedom
Anithias felt himself glowing with pride as the crew applauded him, unable to keep an abashed blush from coming to his cheeks. He never handled accomplishment well, either letting it go to his head or becoming embarrassed. Now, moving among the crew – his crew – and shaking paws, he couldn't help but feel a mix of the both. It was true; he had fought long and hard, had done his duty well, and never (well, rarely) strayed from the path, and it had paid off. In just over a year he had become captain, a short time in the military service for any beast to go from a mere recruit to a commanding officer.

Still, there was the small moral side of Anithias that warned him against taking too much credit for it. It had mostly been through the support of Tox, Julia, Kayla, and the rest of the crew that Anithias had gotten this far. Anithias' pride acknowledged this voice with a nod of its head, assuring the conscience that it would take these matters into consideration.

From somewhere among the crew Brek popped up, pushing through the milling beasts. "Congratulations Anithias, I'm really proud of you," he said enthusiastically. Leaning in closer, he whispered, "And just between you and I, I'm glad Old Fafnir is gone. Mainly 'cause I don't like fearing for me life every time I see an officer. By the way, wonderful blade."

Anithias considered telling Brek off for speaking disrespectfully of the former captain, but dismissed the thought easily. The warning had mostly been to prevent the crew from muttering amongst themselves about how bad Fafnir had been, which would have been too much disrespect for Anithias to tolerate. Still, he saw no reason to completely ignore the fact that Fafnir had tried to terrify the crew and break their spirit. The evils of the past had to be acknowledged to prevent them from being repeated in the future.

"Thank you, Brek," Anithias replied, smiling. "I certainly think things will be getting better from now on."


Jeshal the Ironclaw
(Permission to auto Tox’s kits granted)

Better? It was certainly one way of looking at it. All a matter of perspective as they say.

Jeshal eyed the proceedings with a composure that might have been mistaken for pride. He stood to attention only a few feet away from Captain Freedom whilst he gave his position’s introductory speech. The copper fox smirked a little as Anithias bade the crew not to speak lowly of Harlgren. It had been no secret how ill the new captain thought of his predecessor.

The Ironclaw was mildly surprised when Freedom announced that he was not ready to choose the order that was to succeed him in rank, but it made sense. The golden todd had a head on his shoulders, that was for certain. Unlike poor Beany the rat...

He blinked his thoughts back to the officer list. His ‘fellows’ had been somewhat drifting in nature since he had come aboard. Times were hard and many beasts had needed to take leave or make some sort of journey. Some of them had simply just disappeared. Idly, Jeshal wondered if it had anything to do with Harlgren. He had heard a few unsettling rumours about Miss Locke. Those beasts that did stay had done well in impressing Anithias. Larks and Redford in particular. Although sometimes a little slack when it came to the general maintenance of the ship, they were almost invaluable in a crisis and were unwaveringly loyal. They had worked hard for and deserved a rank someday. They deserved more than this creature. They had good hearts.

Jeshal, however, was not wicked. He did not believe in anything so contrived as the concept of ‘true evil’. He had managed to prove himself as officer material, although he was not entirely certain what his method had been. He was nothing spectacular, merely getting on with the job and being lucky enough not to make any unforgivable mistakes. A few of the crew did not really trust him, which was a perfectly understandable reaction to a fox with a metal claw and an unreadable grin, but there was no solid grounding to make a complaint. Jeshal was just... there. Like an old boot that no one ever bothers throwing away. Perhaps because there was something creepy crawly inside with a nasty bite…

After Freedom had finished, the golden fox moved down from the quarterdeck and was approached by... a face that the Ironclaw had not seen in a good while. Enguil Albine. The white ferret had been bosun when Jeshal had first come aboard as a deckpaw. He had had very little contact with the beast before his departure and suddenly became aware of the faint fearful tingle that led him to wonder if he had matched up to the required standard. He dismissed it with a snort and soon found amusement as Sokea launched herself upon the returned albino.

Jeshal started as the bell was rung again close by. He had to restrain himself from gasping at how quietly the admiral had managed to steal aboard and take up the position on the quarterdeck that Freedom had vacated. How far she had come from being the unblemished vixen that had haunted his thoughts for all those years. As she stood there in the sun, grinning wildly; mischievously; proud... the Ironclaw was fascinated. Her speech rang out, and for a good portion of it, his attention was focused solely on her.

Until he was abruptly seized by two little shapes that pounced out and wrapped about his legs –

“Unc’e Jesh!”

The Ironclaw looked down with a raised brow at Vald and Aille who were clinging like limpets to the top of his boots. He made a half grin.

“Hush, yer rotten liddle whelkshells, an’ listen ter yer ol’ lady.”

Vald snickered. “Don’ ‘ave ter. We’s an adm’l’s kits. C’n do what we like.”

“Even adm’ral’s ‘ave ter be followin’ orders sometimes,” whispered Jeshal. “Even more so if they be bindin’ tergether the legs o’ somebeast what would give ‘em somethin’ ter shut their gobs if they were ter let go.”

The kits released him instantly and looked up with overtly adorable eyes. Jeshal simply smirked and looked back to Tanya. There was a tugging at his coattail. He glanced down his muzzle at them.

“Aye?”

“Wan’ a sweekie,” mumbled Aille.

“Will yer button yer lip afterwards?”

“Don’ ‘ave a bukkon.”

“’S an expression, kit. Will yer shut yer pretty little faces an’ let yer mother speak?”

Rigorous nodding ensued. Sighing in mock exasperation, Jeshal slipped a paw inside his coat and retrieved a pawful of candied chestnuts, no doubt ransacked from a woodlander village. He tipped them into the kits’ waiting paws and resumed watching to the sounds of contented crunching.

Soon enough Freedom accepted his honorary effects and once more addressed the crew with a rousing finale. Without even realising it, the Ironclaw had been stung into applause along with a great many other beasts. It faded, and the new captain escaped the pulpit. Jeshal gave Vald and Aille a satisfied nod before he slinked around the stair rail and ascended to the quarterdeck, only a few feet away from Tanya. He presented her at first with an eerie stare, toying with her resolve, before he dipped his head in an acknowledging bow. Then, the copper fox stepped up to the balcony and cried out in a louder voice than he had ever thought he could manage:

“Ter Cap’n Freedom!”

Jeshal bunched his paws together and raised them high in a style almost reminiscent of revolution. To his delight, some of the crew roared in cheerful reply. Beasts enjoyed being sheep sometimes. Even he.

The Ironclaw faced the crowd below with his enigmatic grin.

“Well, what’re yer all lookin’ at? Get back ter work!”

He cast one sidelong glance to the Admiral, left the trace of a smirk, and slipped off back to the maindeck.


Brek Larks
(Autos with permission)

It was hours later after the big celebration onboard the Hide. Brek had seemed to disappear from the crowd to attend his secret mission of the glorious surprise he had in store for the captain.

It was a hard job he had done. But he had some help from volunteers from the crew, some he blackmailed into helping him, and he paid a few beasts from Bully Harbour's streets for a reasonable price. As he sent off the helpers and told them to keep silent of this job, Brek walked onto the ship.

Anithias was still chatting up the day with a few beasts and shaking paws with many. Brek walked up to the new captain and cleared his throat. "Ahem." When Anithias turned his attention to Brek the lad gave a quick bow and said "Captain I would like to congratulate you on your promotion, and hope that you will become the greatest captain to ever sail this ship – Nay! The seas! For you are one of the most skilled beasts I've known and... a good friend." Brek gave a warm smile to Anithias.

"And so, since I could not give you a gift that was as remarkable as the handsome blade of yours, I have given a gift to your ship. For as you are captain now, I believe a deed to your vessel is a deed to you. So, if you would follow me to the docks for my gift is better seen there. But first!" Brek drew a blindfold from his person. "The element of surprise should be with us."

"So if I may sir? For if you say 'Nay' it shall ruin the fun."


Anithias Freedom
Anithias was surprised when Brek returned from several hours' absence. Anithias had wondered where the lad, usually so cheerful and full of words, had gone to. His disappearance could not have been coincidence, but at the moment the captain was content to let Brek do whatever he wanted. In the meantime, he had paws to shake. Sokea had abducted Enguil, happily chattering about life on the Hide, her knitting, and occasionally peppering him with a question about his recent life. Anithias chuckled, sympathizing with his re-found friend.

Suddenly Brek reappeared, clearing his throat behind the captain. Anithias turned, wondering what the young todd had been up to. Brek immediately bowed, launching into a speech. "Captain I would like to congratulate you on your promotion, and hope that you will become the greatest captain to ever sail this ship – Nay! The seas! For you are one of the most skilled beasts I've known and... a good friend." Brek gave him a warm smile.

"And so, since I could not give you a gift that was as remarkable as the handsome blade of yours, I have given a gift to your ship. For as you are captain now, I believe a deed to your vessel is a deed to you." Anithias suddenly felt a surge of worry. He doubted the small fox could have repainted the ship without his notice, but with the young lad's enthusiasm he was sure he could pull off anything. Brek continued, "So, if you would follow me to the docks for my gift is better seen there. But first!" Brek pulled a blindfold from within his pocket. Anithias' worry and suspicion increased tenfold. "The element of surprise should be with us."

Anithias sighed. He might as well humor the lad, and wait until later to tell him off. Assuming he would need telling off, that was. "Very well, Mr. Larks," Anithias said resignedly. He took the blindfold, tying it tightly around his eyes. "Lead on," he instructed, placing himself at the mercy of the young todd.


Brek Larks
"Very well, Mr. Larks," Anithias said "Lead on."

"Yes sir," Brek grabbed the captain's paw and led him to the docks. When they stood on the wooden floor Brek turned Anithias by the shoulders and pointed him to the ship's direction.

"Now sir if you would please take off the mask," Brek said with his excitement ready to burst as he waited until the blindfold was off the captain's eyes so that the project the todd had done would be revealed. The Golden Hide glimmered and seemed to sparkle on the waves, "I have taken the liberty to fix up the Hide's hull sir. With the help from volunteer’s from the crew, and a few people I paid to help from shore, we have replaced broken wood boards where it seemed weak or had holes. Also we have applied a new layer of oils to prevent water logging and it does give a nice hue if I may say so. After all, now the Hide does look a little more golden from the oils. And finally we have repainted in the letters of the ship," Brek pointed to the shining letters that read The Golden Hide.

"If you are wondering how I managed to learn how to fix a ship's hull I must confess that I have been making rowboats in my spare time. Which reminds me, I have eight finished rowboats that are no need of mine as of now. I was planning to sell them on the market but never got around to it. So, Cap'n, if you would like, I could give them to the Hide as another gift."

Brek breathed in slowly to calm his excitement, "So Anithias, would you be so kind as to tell me what do you think?"


Anithias Freedom
Any doubts Anithias felt vanished the moment he removed the blindfold. The newly-appointed captain had seen the Hide in many stages – from a beaten-down wreck relying on a cannibalized mast and a leaky hull to get them home, to a proud flagship, ready to depart for battle in the Alkamarian War. Still, in all of these moments Anithias had never seen her looking so glorious. The rotten boards where leaks had infiltrated the hull were now gone, replaced with fresh wood; Anithias had no idea where the lad had gotten the necessary supplies, and wasn't going to ask. The new coating of oils did indeed add a golden tinge to the 'hide', a sight that nearly brought tears to the eyes of the darkly-yellow fox. Even against this similar background the grand, fine script of the designation shone in the light, the sun seeming to gleam from within the lettering itself.

Anithias barely heard Brek's offer of donating rowboats to the Hide. Still entranced, he barely shook his head. "No need, Mr. Larks. What you have done is gift enough." He turned to face Brek, still looking very stiff and military in his captain's uniform but unable to disguise the pride in the young lad who stood before him. "In the future," he warned Larks, "I would prefer notification of repairs to the ship be directed to one of the officers before proceeding. However," the smile broke through, "I feel in this instance it is not necessary. Well done, Mr. Larks."

This last part was said with a softer affection, like Anithias might direct toward his own son. Yes, Larks held promise, that was for certain. Anithias would keep a close eye on this one, for to lose him would be the greatest shame he could imagine. Only time would tell what the captain had in mind for Brek, but he was certain that there was a glorious future waiting for the young todd.


Brek Larks
"In the future," Anithias warned Brek, "I would prefer notification of repairs to the ship be directed to one of the officers before proceeding. However," the smile broke through on the new captain's lips, "I feel in this instance it is not necessary. Well done, Mr. Larks."

"Well, sir, I was planning to notify an officer, but I couldn't find old Fafnir," Brek said cleverly. "But no worries Cap'n, I will not take your words lightly." Brek's own lips broke into a smile full of the sense of accomplishment from a long day's work, pride in something his captain appreciated, and the own glory the Hide gave now.

"Well, I suppose we'd be getting back aboard now. But if ye please to stay down here for a moment I would understand, sir. If ye would excuse me I'll be going to the mess for dinner."​