Expedition [Urk Climax #1]: The Long Watch

[Vilde Isdatter]

How alien it was to be among these creatures she did not know, as though she were intruding upon all of their grief. Vilde helped to carry beasts who had passed, holding them with respect, covering them with available shrouds. This had always been the worst of work after a battle, discovering who had left for Mørkskog, preparing to mourn them on pyres or fire-boats. These were heavy losses indeed and it was unnerving being among people who were not celebrating the glory of battle. She supposed it had not been a full victory, and their mission had not gone as planned, whatever it had been. There would be time for the celebration of survival and slaughtered enemies soon enough.

A strange people these Vulpinsulans were, uniformed and disciplined. Yet, so many of them seemed inexperienced in the shock of battle. War was part of Vilde’s life, her culture. It was freedom and joy, and grief and struggle. What was it to her new allies?

The sad song reached her ears and clutched her heart. Beautiful, something she might expect at the funeral to come. Vilde worked quietly, keeping busy. There would be time enough later for beasts to wonder who in Hel she was and what she wanted.​

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Tultow saw young Mr. Brightfur only as an orange blur in his peripheral vision, at least until Finn lifted his head enough for him to see clearly. The fox's voice, the cheerful optimism in it, was to his ears like honey poured on the lieutenant's lips. He chuckled, fighting through the pain that the sound placed on his chest. "Aye lad," he croaked out. "Y' did good. Made us all right proud. Ye'll be a captain and a hero a' legend one day, mark my words." It was the most painful thing he'd ever done, but he raised one paw and rested it on the youth's forearm. "Y' saved the crew, lad. You gave me a las' chance t' be a soldier. Don' forget that."

Finn's ears flitted backward at the praise, and his optimism faltered. A last chance? Finn didn't like the sound of that. As the stoat reached out with his paw, the fox's eyes welled up, and he coughed dryly as a lump formed in his throat. "What're you goin' on about, Mr. Tultow? Was just luck, really! Yer the one who held the ramparts!" he replied, dismissing the compliment with a weak smile. Finn looked off over the gunwhale, and wiped his face with the back of his forearm. "We got Honeytail aboard. Mr. Barrett made sure we didn't leave him on Urk..." he whispered hoarsely.

"Mr. Brightfur!" called out Mr. Barrett, with a relaxed sense, masking the urgency of the situation. "Come aboard, we must tend to the Minister!"

The foxkit looked down at his mentor, and rested his paw over the stoat's breast. "I gotta go, Mr. Tultow... Mr. Barrett needs me!" he said, the cheer returning to his voice. "I'll see you when you get to the infirmary, ok? We'll get you some hot loblobby and you'll feel much better..."

Slipping away carefully, Finn leapt up onto a rope ladder, and hauled himself up onto the deck.