Open The Docks The Uncouth Arrival

[Helskyge Icinheart]

After sailing from the Northlands on a rowboat, Helskyge Icinheart came across a smaller sailing vessel of several explorers in service to The Vulpine Imperium. While he was initially mistrusting and aggressive toward these sailors rescuing him, resulting in him being locked up in the brig, he eventually came to trust them a bit as one of the members took time to teach him some basics of Vulpinsulan. Eventually, he was let out of the brig to be put to work moving cargo around and fetching items.

Eventually, the ship docked at Bully, and from here Helskyge decided to disembark. He was greatly overwhelmed by the scale of civilization and was unsure of where to head off to. He received several strange looks and many people he tried to approach would run away from him, and as he was wandering the market, he was accosted by a few guards who were suspicious of him.

"You there, you don't seem to be from around these parts, have you gone through immigration?" one of them said to Helskyge.

Helskyge does not understand much of what they are saying, and he is starting to get nervous as he expects trouble from their demeanor, preparing to ready a weapon.

 

[Morgan Liu]

"Hey, lads, c'mon," a femme's voice wheedled, "no need for that." A sandy ferret wearing a jacket of dark leather, impractical metal studs that did nothing to improve it's protective qualities placed across its surface, stepped forward and put a paw out between the two sides. "Look, we're all friends here." She glanced to the wolf and put a paw on her chest. "I am Morgan," she introduced herself. She held the paw out toward him, asking, "What is your name?"

 

[Helskyge Icinheart]

"Morgan?" Helskyge said a bit slowly, finding the name a bit unusual given the naming conventions of his homeland. His eyes darted around between Morgan and the guards before easing up a bit, deciding that Morgan likely means no harm.

"Now madam," one of the guards said to Morgan, "we do have a responsibility to look after this city and check in on newcomers. We can't just let any brute stroll in without knowing their purpose here."

Helskyge looked to the guards again, only understanding a few words here and there. "What do they want?" he then said to Morgan in broken Vulpinsulan.

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan looked to Icy, noting his accent, her mind already spinning. Her own accent shifted subtly, getting closer to his. "They want to know who you are," she stated. "They want to know why you come here." She watched for signs of comprehension. Many languages shared cognates with Vulpinsulan, or at least with a language she spoke. She'd been able to make good use of that... the Shrew Incident notwithstanding, that was.

 

[Helskyge Icinheart]

Helskyge nodded his head to show that he could understand the gist of what Morgan was saying, and begins to respond "I have come from my... home in..." he pauses for a moment, not sure of a precise word in Vulpinsulan, "looking for work." Is, imm-ig-ray-shun work?"

"Ah, so you haven't been to immigration have you? I'm afraid you are going to have to come with us sir," one of the guards said as he motioned for the others to get ready to escort Helskyge at spearpoint.

 

[Izakis]

Izakis walked around the market. Looking for a very specific kind of oil. It was had being a reptile in this climate, but she had to keep her appearances immaculate. Her line of work required it, especially considering the wealth of her clientele.

She however spotted something... new. A creature larger than most around and seemingly lost. She knew many of those in this city. Luckily she also knew that helping them wasn't beyond her.

Swaying towards him she just decided that at least she could help him a bit. the guards seemed a bit too on edge for her taste. So she turned to them with her dashing smile and slow, delicate voice.

"Boys... don't wave your sspears around like that. sssSomebeast may get scared... I wouldn't want to be afraid of such cherished and handsome fold like you do." She took a somewhat meek posture, fluttering her eyes in an attempt to work the guards like she usually would if there was any trouble.

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan started to panic as the overzealous guards started to lower their spears. 'Gates, if her mum could see this lot, she'd probably tan their hides for such sloppy work. Never lower a spear at someone if you don't intend to thrust it, or something like that, had been Eirene's life advice to Morgan. This lot's mums had apparently never served in the guard.

The ferret blinked as a lizard, of all beasts, sashayed into the mix. Morgan's preferences were pretty broad, admittedly, but normally she'd have said that lizards were outside of those preferences. This beast was enough to make her rethink that distinction. It wasn't just the style of her clothes, which were brave in a way that made even Morgan, who'd been stripped down to nearly nothing in front of a ship full of crewmates, feel self-conscious. No, it was this lizard's confidence that was magnetic, that made Morgan want to curl up with her head in her lap and let this lizard soothe her worries away.

"C'mon, guys," she agreed, gesturing to the lizard in accordance with her point. "You don't really need to do that, do you? Tell you what, how about the lovely lady and I escort him to the immigration office? I'm sure we can keep him from getting lost, no spears required."

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

It was market day in Bully Harbor. Swifttail padded through the stalls with a small woven basket looped over his arm, his tail swaying cheerfully behind him. He had a modest list in mind: fresh bread, a bit of waxed thread, maybe a tin of oil for his lantern. Nothing urgent, but enough to justify the small pleasure of browsing.

A sudden voice pulled his ears upright.

“...Morgan?”

He blinked, turning toward the sound. There she was. Morgan, unmistakable, standing near the harbor’s edge.

His paw went halfway up in a wave when he stopped, caught breathless by the towering figure beside her.

A wolf.

No...it couldn’t be. But it was. Broad-shouldered, fur like wind-swept ash, taller than any beast had a right to be. Swifttail’s breath caught. He hadn’t seen one since... since Iskatyut.

Heart racing, curiosity overtaking caution, he trotted forward.

“Hey, Morgan!” he called, weaving around a fruit stand, basket bouncing against his side.

He was nearly beaming by the time he reached her, until he took stock of the scene. The wolf was tense. There were furrowed brows and uncertain glances. Morgan’s stance was also too firm. A stoat nearby had a steely gaze. The very air felt heavy.

Swifttail slowed, his smile dimming to a careful, quiet presence. His eyes flicked from Morgan to the strangers around her.

He cleared his throat softly, offering a sheepish nod.

“…Did I miss somethin’?”