Expedition Private Side Adventure Completed The Urk Expedition: Breathing Room

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan chuckled, then winced as it constricted the muscles around the wound. "Nah," she croaked, "it feels great. Reckon everyone'll be walkin' around wiv' a hole in the chest once I get back an' show 'em how stylish it is." She grinned a bit weakly before adding, "Speakin' a' which, you rock that jacket. I'll 'ave t' get yeh one a' yer own. In th' mean time, y' can keep 'at one warm fer me."

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Finn couldn't stop himself from laughing -- though he tried to. He was frustrated with Morgan for making such a flippant joke after what he'd been through, but... But it just cut the tension in half, and laughing felt so good. The foxkit sat back in his chair and laughed more easily, before peering down at Morgan with the spoon raised in his paw. "Morgan!" he chided. "You should be ashamed of yerself! Makin' jokes like that after what you've been through! Y'really think y'should be doing that right now? ...all stuck here, with the honey jar in reach?" he said, a grin threatening at the corners of his muzzle. The foxkit made no movements for the honey though, and merely fed Morgan another spoonful of broth.

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan just grinned weakly, accepting the broth spoonful by spoonful. "Well," she remarked, "I don't think I'll be movin' for a bit anyway, so y' might as well get some more practice in."

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Finn put a paw to his face and laughed helplessly. Morgan was a lost cause, wasn't she? The fox looked away to hide his mirth, but his eyes looked out the windows at the island, and the smile faded from his face. The horizon was just starting to lighten, and the little twinkling lights in the shrew villages were starting to wink out. Finn could only count a few times he'd stayed up long enough to see the sunrise. If it weren't for the ugly reality of what they were about to face, it'd have been pretty to watch.

The foxkit swallowed, his brow furrowing. There were many things brewing in his mind, but there were too many for words, and too little time. Setting the bowl down by Morgan's head, he rubbed at his face. "Cap'n says we're leaving for the shore at the next bell..." he said, face burried in his paws as he tried to wipe the sleep and tearstains away. "'e's taking me'n Barrett, but that yer stayin' here. ...I wish y'could come with me."

The foxkit had a sturdy spirit, and seemed to welcome the challenge. And at the same time, Morgan'd be able to sense that Finn was apprehensive. A lump formed in his throat, and the kit swallowed hard before scrubbing at his face again.

 

[Morgan Liu]

Morgan reached out and took Finn's paw, squeezing it with what little strength she could muster. "Y' shoul' sleep," she murmured, her own eyelids starting to flutter as exhaustion caught up with her. "Yeh'll need her strength t'morrow. I need yeh t' be at true top of yer game so y' come back t' me, alrigh'?" She managed to squeeze his paw slightly better. "Y' gotta live, kit."

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Just from the way Morgan was talking, Finn knew she was fatigued. It would be good for her to get rest. But what was chewing him up so badly? His cluttered thoughts cleared out as Morgan took his paw.

That was it, that familiar feeling.

His ailing mother was always racked with worry whenever Finn went out into the market place... though she hadn't always been that way. Losing her husband was hard enough to bear, and the suddenness of it all had dealt her mind a mortal blow. Whenever Finn left, all she could think of was the chance that he'd never return.

Gates, he missed them.

Suddenly, the foxkit squeezed her paw back as his strength returned to him. Thinking of others helped him to not think so much about himself -- and he couldn't have Morgan worry now. Leaning over, Finn bumped his forehead against Morgan's. "Yeh, y'don't gotta worry about me!" he said, adopting a cheerful tone. "We blew their chief straight outta the water! Those shrews don't stand a chance."

Outside, the thin silver horizon had grown deeper into the sky, and warm flecks of gold teased at the edges. It wouldn't be long until the morning watch. "...d'ya mind if I stay here until the bell?" he asked... but he knew Morgan wouldn't say no. Resting his head on the edge of the cot, the foxkit promptly dozed off.

When Morgan woke again, he'd be gone -- the shore party now a small dot inching closer towards Urk.