Side Adventure The Interrogation of the Innocent (and Exhausted)

[FinnianBrightfur]

"Finn, leave him be. Let the poor mouse sleep."

"I am leaving him be!" Finn hissed in reply, keeping his voice low so as not to wake Elliot. The foxkit lingered over the mouse as he slept, tail swishing with curious excitement.

"No you aren't!" murmured Arthur in reply.

"Yes I am! I'm like... a whole foot away from him!" came the indignant reply. It had only been a day since they'd hauled the waterlogged beast aboard -- and all the crew was bristling with rumors about pirates, ministries, and escapades on the high seas. All this was more than fascinating to a young kit like Finn, and it was nigh impossible to pull the boy away.

Was he breathing? Finn leaned closer to check, eyes squinting.

"No, you aren't!" insisted Arthur a little more emphatically. "You've practically got your nose -- FINNIAN!" But the marten's warning was too late. Having caught a whiff of something uncerain, Finn began to root around for it's source. Before he even knew it, he'd pushed his snoot right up the poor mouse's ear.

SNUFFLE SNUFF SNUFF SNIFF SNUFFLE SNUFF.

Arthur groaned, and covered his face with a paw.

 

[Elliot Berkshaw]

Elliot was sitting on a grassy hill with huge white fluffy clouds scattered about a bright blue sky. He was alone out here in this strange space.

He didn’t quite know where he was - a dream? - but it was nice.

Except - there was something - invading the -

Flowers swept past him from a powerful wind. Some of these flowers brushed past his furry face, and he instinctually raised his remaining paw to swat them away -

Whatever he touched felt harder than a mere flower. It was fluffy, sure, but there was weight behind the …fur?

Fur? That wasn’t his, was it? No, then whose was -

Elliot blinked, and suddenly he was not on that grassy hill under the sky, but in a hammock in a ship’s infirmary. “…What?” He squeaked out, half asleep and bewildered.

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Finn was so engrossed in his (rather intrusive) examination of the mouse that he entirely missed the paw rushing up to swat him away. The foxkit made a noise not unlike a distressed goose, and stumbled backwards in surprise.

"Vulpuz's saggy left...! Oh, you're awake!" he cried cheerfully.

"Well, he is now..." said Arthur in resignation, paw still clasped over his eyes.

Oblivious of Arthur's displeasure, the foxkit quickly returned to the hammock, tail swishing with excitement. "How are ya feelin'? I've never met someone missing a WHOLE ARM! Does it hurt? Is it true there were pirates?"

 

[Elliot Berkshaw]

Elliot continued to stare up at Finn with sightly wide eyes as he ignored the fox for now and focused on Arthur. “… What time is it?” Something was bothering him, and the longer he laid there, the more he knew what it was.

“You…” His gaze flickered around the small wooden room, as if looking for something, the mouse unconsciously shifted in his given hammock.

Oh how he had always loathed asking for help, especially for something like this. Words failed him, instead, Elliot stared at the pine marten with almost pleading eyes, his ears flat against his head.

What made matters worse was the fox kit who would not leave him alone. Elliot felt slightly apologetic to the kit but he needed to properly wake up first. And eat and drink. And…

 

[Arthur Barrett]

Arthur slowly wiped his paw down the front of his face, attempting to regain his professional composure. "Good evening, Elliot," he said, pushing himself up to stand. "It has been only a day since we pulled you out of the water -- it is the second bell, five fifteen. You'll excuse my... Over eager assistant..." he said, leering at the young todd.

Grasping Finn by the scruff, Arthur lifted him an inch off the ground, and set him aside. "Normally I'd not tolerate such behavior in my infirmary -- but seeing as young Mr. Brightfur is now under the auspices of the captain, I can't exactly send him down to the bilge pumps myself. Though, the captain still may find some additional labor for him to teach him not to disregard the warnings of the warrant officers?" he said sternly with a side eye to the kit. Finn wilted appropriately, and opened his muzzle to apologize, but a sharp look from the pine marten said it may be best to wait until later.

Hearing the dry rasp in Elliot's throat, Arthur produced a small cup of water for the mouse. "Are you hungry? You should eat something to regain your strength..."

 

[Elliot Berkshaw]

Elliot gladly excepted the offered water. He supposed his discomfort could wait a while - he was rather hungry after all. “Evening?” he questioned. “…I do tend to sleep a lot regardless of circumstance.” the mouse mused aloud. “…Yes some food would be good, thank you mister Barrett.”

He eyed Finn. “I know you have a lot of questions for me, once I get myself situated, you can ask whatever you want, but not until then.”