Chapter 21: Sailing to Port
Cyrus panted a little, pointing the tip of his wooden sword down to the deck so he could lean on it. Patty grinned at him, nursing a bruise on her sword arm. “See, you’re getting better. You actually managed to get a hit on me that time.”
“Yay.” Cyrus grunted, pulling his tongue back into his mouth and straightening up, looking around at all the other pirates watching them. Even the helmsman kept glancing down at them between course corrections. “You’d think I wouldn’t get so winded so quickly, after five days of this onshore and then ten aboard the ship.”
“Oh, that’s just normal. It takes months to get used to it.” She tapped his sword playfully with hers. “Ready for another round? Or do you still need a minute?”
“I think I’m okay.” He raised his sword, stepping back into the ready stance. “What happens if I manage to beat you sparring?”
Patty grinned at him and raised her own sword, tapping it to Cyrus’s. “Oh, then you get to be done for the day. Ready? Go.” She lifted her sword and started stepping slowly to the side, matching Cyrus’s pace as he started walking, keeping his eyes locked on her. After a moment, she batted his sword aside and jabbed in for a thrust.
Cyrus sidestepped the thrust and let his sword continue the arc she had sent it on, bringing it back around to bat her own sword aside before jumping back and stepping sideways again to try and get at her from the side. He poked her in the side of the belly with the point of his practice sword, jumping back again to dodge her wide swing as she recovered from her thrust and nearly losing her grip on her sword. The crowd of watchers cheered and jeered and laughed at the show.
“Good, you used my actions against me, and you got me in the side. That wouldn’t be a fatal injury in a real fight, but it would certainly slow me down.” She grinned at him and resumed circling with him. “Now show me how you would finish me off.”
Cyrus stepped, paw over paw, sideways, keeping his eyes locked on the captain as he watched her carefully. He knew she was very good at sword fighting; he would need to do something she didn’t expect if he wanted to beat her. After a moment, he lowered his guard, letting his sword droop a little to open himself up for a high strike. It was a gamble; in his first couple days learning, she had always responded to such a slip with a high jab toward his neck.
She did the same now, raising her sword and swiping directly at the side of his neck. He grinned and ducked under it, stepping in close and ramming his shoulder into her belly to knock her back onto her tail before putting a paw on her chest to push her to a lying position and lowering the point of his sword to her throat. He grinned down at her. The crowd was silent for a moment, and then there was a gentle round of applause.
Patty grinned up at him. “Well done. Next time, however… maybe pin me down by my sword arm.” She tapped her sword up against the spot where his legs joined up to become his body, making sure to be gentle. He squeaked and stepped back. Patty climbed back to her paws and reached out for Cyrus’s hand. “Good spar, Cyrus.”
“Thank you, Captain.” He shook her hand, then looked up at the lookout’s declaration that land was visible.
“All right, you lot, you know what to do. I wanna have a chat with the newbie, ready the ship to make landfall!” Patty shouted out at the onlookers, grinning as they scattered. “Make sure you raise the peaceful colors!”
Through the bustle, Patty grabbed Cyrus’s arm and led him to a railing, out of the way of the crew. “Cyrus… you’re not my prisoner. You know that, right?”
Cyrus blinked at her. “... What?”
“I mean, I’m not going to FORCE you to stay with my crew. I’m bringing it up because I know my methods seem a little harsh. I give the impression that you’re not allowed to leave. I do it on purpose so the newcomers think that this is their life and develop the autonomy I wanted them to have, but part of autonomy is deciding that you don’t like where you’re at and going somewhere else. If I were to keep you against your will, I wouldn’t be any better than the humans.” She leaned backward on the railing to look at him. “Do you understand?”
Cyrus hesitated. “So… the reason we’re going to a human port is…”
“To give you a chance to leave if you want to, yeah. Well… also to trade for some stuff. It’s always better to get it the legitimate way if you can. But mostly so you can leave if you choose to. I won’t make you choose now, but we only go to port every few months, so if you don’t go now, you’ll be stuck with us until the next time.” She nudged him.
Cyrus looked up at the continent they were approaching. He could make out the port they were headed to, a little way north, and he could feel the ship turning to head toward it. The waves making the ship sway back and forth didn’t bother him all that much anymore; he could walk with ease on the deck. “So I could go and try to find my dad- I mean… my human, if I wanted to.”
“If that’s what you wanted.” She shrugged and turned to face the railing, looking at the port approaching. It was probably still another hour before they got there. “You’d always be welcome back, of course, if you couldn’t find him. Just sail back here to this port and wait for us to come to trade.”
He looked at her, then down at himself. He hardly recognized himself; two months ago, he’d been a scared little dog, hiding below deck in a storm, scrawny and helpless. Now, he was fierce; he could fight, he knew how to work riggings on a ship and how to survive on his own. He had built up a good bit of muscle, too; he flexed his hands, watching the way his arm seemed to bulge.
There were a few moments of quiet contemplation between the two of them before Cyrus glanced over at the captain. “I’m gonna miss you guys, you know. It’s never going to be quite the same.”
“No, I suppose it won’t. Try not to fall back into your old habits for me? Keep practicing, be strong. Maybe teach some of the other pets you meet to be independent.” She nudged him. “Maybe you can captain your own ship some day.”
He gave a weak chuckle. “Yeah, maybe. I don’t know, we’ll have to see.”
They stayed there a while longer, watching as the ship lined up with the entrance to the harbor. Patty straightened up. “I have to go ready our berthing papers and communicate with the shore. You get ready to disembark.”
Cyrus hesitated, then started to take off his sword, knife, and pistol. “You’ll be wanting these back, I imagine.”
She shook her head and laid her hand on top of his to stop him. “No, those are yours to keep. Those, the clothes, and the earrings. Did you bring your extras like I asked? And your take from the last raid?”
Cyrus nodded. “They’re in my ditty bag.”
She patted his arm. “When we dock, stay aboard. I want to say goodbye properly before you leave us.”
The Pirates of Freedom Island
Moderator: ArcWolf
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GingaDensetsuAleu
- Posts: 2042
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2024 10:10 am
Re: The Pirates of Freedom Island
Nimius pavor, non satis disco.
You will always be welcome here, no matter how long you've been away.
Check out my list of stories here.
You will always be welcome here, no matter how long you've been away.
Check out my list of stories here.
-
Amazee Dayzee
- Posts: 29538
- Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2014 6:24 pm
Re: The Pirates of Freedom Island
I think Cyrus is going to find that he will miss being with the Pirates more than he will want to be with his father again who most likely did get a replacement dog at this point. I get the feeling that people back in the 19th century weren't as attached to their pets and thought that they were easily replaceable.
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GingaDensetsuAleu
- Posts: 2042
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2024 10:10 am
Re: The Pirates of Freedom Island
Chapter 22: Resigning the Commission
The Boxer’s Bay sailed under partial sail, carefully and slowly navigating to a dock, where a half dozen humans waited to tie off the mooring lines. The ship slowly came to a stop, gently bumping off a bumper that was hanging off the dock. Patty lowered the ramp, and a human came aboard to check their paperwork and collect the fees associated with docking.
He looked huge on the ship, really driving home to Cyrus how small the ship actually was as he watched from where he was helping wind up extra ropes that wouldn’t be needed until they set sail again.
Once everything was sorted out, she turned to the crew and raised her voice. “Listen up! While we’re here, I want everybody on their best behavior! Shore leave is a privilege, and I am NOT against taking it away from those of you I hear about misbehaving! I want all of you back here before nightfall, you understand? Now go, spend your pay however you see fit, but stay OUT of trouble!” She stepped out from in front of the ramp, letting the crew file off the ship one by one.
Cyrus stayed behind, watching them all go, until he was alone on the ship with Clarence and Patty. He turned to look at them as they chatted, waiting for them to finish, and then watched as they turned to look at him. Patty smiled at him. “Hello, Cyrus. Did you have something you wished to say to me for the record?”
Cyrus hesitated for a moment before he realized what she wanted. “Captain, I wish to resign my commission and disembark the Boxer’s Bay here.”
She looked at him for a moment, then put out her hand. “Understood. I wish you luck in your endeavors.”
Clarence also reached out for a handshake, smiling. “It’s been a pleasure sailing with you, sir.”
“And you too, sir. Ma’am.” Cyrus nodded.
Once the handshakes had been done, Patty reached out and gave him a hug. “It was a pleasure to rescue you, Cyrus. Go and find your dad.” She smiled and pointed down the pier. “If his ship put in here, which it probably did, then you should find information about it down at the Office of Imports. Whether he stayed aboard, or disembarked, and where it was going to next.”
He looked where she was pointing, then nodded. “Thank you… for everything.”
Clarence put a hand on Cyrus’s shoulder. “If you can’t find him… please consider coming back to us over being a stray?”
Cyrus put his ears back and nodded. “I will, I promise. If I can’t find him, I’ll come back here and wait for you.”
“We’ll be here for a week, so if you need us for anything, or if you happen to find him, come back and let us know, okay?” Patty smiled weakly at him, then picked up his ditty bag and handed it to him.
Cyrus took it and offered the Captain and her First Mate one last salute before crossing the ramp onto the dock. He stood on the dock for a moment, feeling unsteady on solid land, before starting to walk down the dock. It was busy, bustling with sailors and workers moving cargo all over and pushing each other; he had to dodge this way and that to avoid getting trampled or bumped off the edge of the pier.
It took him nearly ten minutes to make his way to the far end of the pier and let himself into the office that Patty had indicated to him, where he took a moment to collect himself.
“Awww, you’re so cute! Dressed up like a little sailor! Where’s your owner, little fella?” A receptionist asked from behind a desk, leaning over to look at him. Her voice was high-pitched and obnoxious, in the way that many humans liked to talk to dogs, and Cyrus found for the first time that he found it irritating. He remembered liking it when people talked to him like that before.
He didn’t answer, walking up to the desk and pushing over a crate to stand on from a stack near the door before speaking. “I’m looking for information about a ship that was supposed to make it into port here, about two months ago. The SS Minnow? Specifically, I need to see the passenger manifest and, depending on what I find out there, maybe where its next port of call was supposed to be.” He paused. “And please don’t talk to me like that. It’s annoying.”
She hesitated. “I’m… actually not sure if I’m allowed to give that information out to dogs. I’ll have to speak to my supervisor. He’s in a meeting right now.” She gestured to a small waiting area. “If you’d like to wait a moment, I’ll see if I can ask him.”
Cyrus nodded and walked over to the waiting area, climbing up into the chair and setting his ditty bag across his lap while the receptionist crossed to a door. She hesitated, then knocked. A muffled voice sounded from inside, and she cracked it open, sticking her head in.
A shouting voice filtered out over the receptionist’s voice, and Cyrus’s ears perked as he heard it. “-Have been waiting here for almost two months! The Boxer’s Bay is out in the port right now, how is it possible that I can’t see the crew manifest?!”
Cyrus jumped down off the chair and walked closer. He heard another, tired-sounding voice speaking. “Mr. D’Angelo, that ship only came into port and moored an hour ago. We have to process the paperwork before we can allow the public to see it. There are twenty-seven ships docked, it’s going to take some time-”
The receptionist closed the door and turned, seeming surprised to see Cyrus standing right behind her. “Oh! Hello. I thought I asked you to wait-”
“That man in there.” Cyrus interrupted. He knew it was rude, but he didn’t care. His heart was racing excitedly. “Is his name Abraham? Abraham D’Angelo?”
She seemed startled, stammering for a moment. Cyrus put his ears back. “Please, I have to know. Is it Abraham D’Angelo? Is that my dad in there?!”
The door opened again, and Cyrus turned, looking up at the man that was standing in the doorway, looking down at him. There was quiet for a few moments as they looked to each other, and then Cyrus’s eyes filled with happy tears. “... Dad? It’s me, it’s Cyrus.”
“Cyrus…” The man spoke softly, his voice quavering. After a moment, he dropped to one knee and put his arms out. “My Cyrus, you’re alive!”
Cyrus ran forward and threw his arms around Dad’s body, feeling his arms wrap around him as Cyrus buried his chest in Dad’s shirt. He smelled of paper and ink, just like he always had, and Cyrus felt his tail wagging a little. “Dad! I missed you so much, I was so worried I would never see you again!”
“Cyrus! There were claw marks heading right over the railing, they said you washed overboard… What are you WEARING?” He pulled back and looked over Cyrus, pinching and tugging at his clothes. “You have earrings!” He touched them gently.
Cyrus smiled quietly. “I’ve got a lot to tell you, dad… I’ve been with some pirates.”
The Boxer’s Bay sailed under partial sail, carefully and slowly navigating to a dock, where a half dozen humans waited to tie off the mooring lines. The ship slowly came to a stop, gently bumping off a bumper that was hanging off the dock. Patty lowered the ramp, and a human came aboard to check their paperwork and collect the fees associated with docking.
He looked huge on the ship, really driving home to Cyrus how small the ship actually was as he watched from where he was helping wind up extra ropes that wouldn’t be needed until they set sail again.
Once everything was sorted out, she turned to the crew and raised her voice. “Listen up! While we’re here, I want everybody on their best behavior! Shore leave is a privilege, and I am NOT against taking it away from those of you I hear about misbehaving! I want all of you back here before nightfall, you understand? Now go, spend your pay however you see fit, but stay OUT of trouble!” She stepped out from in front of the ramp, letting the crew file off the ship one by one.
Cyrus stayed behind, watching them all go, until he was alone on the ship with Clarence and Patty. He turned to look at them as they chatted, waiting for them to finish, and then watched as they turned to look at him. Patty smiled at him. “Hello, Cyrus. Did you have something you wished to say to me for the record?”
Cyrus hesitated for a moment before he realized what she wanted. “Captain, I wish to resign my commission and disembark the Boxer’s Bay here.”
She looked at him for a moment, then put out her hand. “Understood. I wish you luck in your endeavors.”
Clarence also reached out for a handshake, smiling. “It’s been a pleasure sailing with you, sir.”
“And you too, sir. Ma’am.” Cyrus nodded.
Once the handshakes had been done, Patty reached out and gave him a hug. “It was a pleasure to rescue you, Cyrus. Go and find your dad.” She smiled and pointed down the pier. “If his ship put in here, which it probably did, then you should find information about it down at the Office of Imports. Whether he stayed aboard, or disembarked, and where it was going to next.”
He looked where she was pointing, then nodded. “Thank you… for everything.”
Clarence put a hand on Cyrus’s shoulder. “If you can’t find him… please consider coming back to us over being a stray?”
Cyrus put his ears back and nodded. “I will, I promise. If I can’t find him, I’ll come back here and wait for you.”
“We’ll be here for a week, so if you need us for anything, or if you happen to find him, come back and let us know, okay?” Patty smiled weakly at him, then picked up his ditty bag and handed it to him.
Cyrus took it and offered the Captain and her First Mate one last salute before crossing the ramp onto the dock. He stood on the dock for a moment, feeling unsteady on solid land, before starting to walk down the dock. It was busy, bustling with sailors and workers moving cargo all over and pushing each other; he had to dodge this way and that to avoid getting trampled or bumped off the edge of the pier.
It took him nearly ten minutes to make his way to the far end of the pier and let himself into the office that Patty had indicated to him, where he took a moment to collect himself.
“Awww, you’re so cute! Dressed up like a little sailor! Where’s your owner, little fella?” A receptionist asked from behind a desk, leaning over to look at him. Her voice was high-pitched and obnoxious, in the way that many humans liked to talk to dogs, and Cyrus found for the first time that he found it irritating. He remembered liking it when people talked to him like that before.
He didn’t answer, walking up to the desk and pushing over a crate to stand on from a stack near the door before speaking. “I’m looking for information about a ship that was supposed to make it into port here, about two months ago. The SS Minnow? Specifically, I need to see the passenger manifest and, depending on what I find out there, maybe where its next port of call was supposed to be.” He paused. “And please don’t talk to me like that. It’s annoying.”
She hesitated. “I’m… actually not sure if I’m allowed to give that information out to dogs. I’ll have to speak to my supervisor. He’s in a meeting right now.” She gestured to a small waiting area. “If you’d like to wait a moment, I’ll see if I can ask him.”
Cyrus nodded and walked over to the waiting area, climbing up into the chair and setting his ditty bag across his lap while the receptionist crossed to a door. She hesitated, then knocked. A muffled voice sounded from inside, and she cracked it open, sticking her head in.
A shouting voice filtered out over the receptionist’s voice, and Cyrus’s ears perked as he heard it. “-Have been waiting here for almost two months! The Boxer’s Bay is out in the port right now, how is it possible that I can’t see the crew manifest?!”
Cyrus jumped down off the chair and walked closer. He heard another, tired-sounding voice speaking. “Mr. D’Angelo, that ship only came into port and moored an hour ago. We have to process the paperwork before we can allow the public to see it. There are twenty-seven ships docked, it’s going to take some time-”
The receptionist closed the door and turned, seeming surprised to see Cyrus standing right behind her. “Oh! Hello. I thought I asked you to wait-”
“That man in there.” Cyrus interrupted. He knew it was rude, but he didn’t care. His heart was racing excitedly. “Is his name Abraham? Abraham D’Angelo?”
She seemed startled, stammering for a moment. Cyrus put his ears back. “Please, I have to know. Is it Abraham D’Angelo? Is that my dad in there?!”
The door opened again, and Cyrus turned, looking up at the man that was standing in the doorway, looking down at him. There was quiet for a few moments as they looked to each other, and then Cyrus’s eyes filled with happy tears. “... Dad? It’s me, it’s Cyrus.”
“Cyrus…” The man spoke softly, his voice quavering. After a moment, he dropped to one knee and put his arms out. “My Cyrus, you’re alive!”
Cyrus ran forward and threw his arms around Dad’s body, feeling his arms wrap around him as Cyrus buried his chest in Dad’s shirt. He smelled of paper and ink, just like he always had, and Cyrus felt his tail wagging a little. “Dad! I missed you so much, I was so worried I would never see you again!”
“Cyrus! There were claw marks heading right over the railing, they said you washed overboard… What are you WEARING?” He pulled back and looked over Cyrus, pinching and tugging at his clothes. “You have earrings!” He touched them gently.
Cyrus smiled quietly. “I’ve got a lot to tell you, dad… I’ve been with some pirates.”
Nimius pavor, non satis disco.
You will always be welcome here, no matter how long you've been away.
Check out my list of stories here.
You will always be welcome here, no matter how long you've been away.
Check out my list of stories here.
-
Amazee Dayzee
- Posts: 29538
- Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2014 6:24 pm
Re: The Pirates of Freedom Island
I didn't think that Cyrus would reunite with his father for a few more chapters but I knew that it was coming. Let's see if his father notices that he bulked up and is getting close to RIPPED. LOL
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GingaDensetsuAleu
- Posts: 2042
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2024 10:10 am
Re: The Pirates of Freedom Island
Chapter 23: The Voyage Home
Dad held Cyrus’s hand as they walked through the bustling port, weaving around other people. “Come on, Cyrus, we’re gonna miss our ship!”
Cyrus hefted his ditty bag and rushed to keep up. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” He started following Dad up a ramp. When they stopped for Dad to give their tickets, Cyrus got a chance to look and see what kind of ship they were boarding. He paused and gawped. “Whoaaa…”
The ship was enormous; it was at least a hundred meters long, probably closer to a hundred and fifty, with four massive masts and a single smokestack in the center of the ship. It was painted all black, with red below the water line, and the hull and masts seemed to be made of all iron.
Dad chuckled. “You like her? She’s an expensive ride, for sure. White Star Line, a luxury oceanic class ocean liner.” He took Cyrus’s hand again and led him up the ramp onto the ship.
Cyrus turned his head to look at the rigging. It was massive, going so high overhead that Cyrus wasn’t sure he could even see the top from the deck. “She’s beautiful. It must take a HUGE crew to operate her!”
“Crew compliment of five hundred and sixty.” A voice sounded behind them. Cyrus spun around to see a man in a snappy-looking uniform standing there, grinning as he looked down to Cyrus. “She’s a hundred and thirty-two meters long, with a four-bladed propeller attached to those steam engines.” He reached out to shake Dad’s hand, then knelt to shake Cyrus’s. “Sir Digby Murray. I’ll be your captain on this voyage.”
Cyrus shook his hand with excitement. “She’s a beautiful ship, sir. How fast can she go? What’s the fastest she’s made the crossing?”
Captain Murray chuckled. “She makes over fourteen knots in favorable weather. She’s made the crossing in seven days before, a record-breaking crossing indeed.”
“Wow, that’s so FAST!” Cyrus’s tail wagged.
“I see you’re dressed as a pirate. You’re not here to plunder my ship, are you?” He gave him a teasing grin.
Cyrus snickered. “No, not this time. Thought I’d take it easy on this voyage, just enjoy being a passenger.”
“Well, I’ll take your word for it, young man.” He ruffled Cyrus’s ears and stood up again. “Again, White Star Line is terribly sorry for the mixup, Mr. D’Angelo, and we’re glad that you were able to find your dog safe and sound.”
Dad nodded and gripped Cyrus’s hand, squeezing just a little too hard. “I have to go find my cabin.” He turned around without saying goodbye to the captain and tugged Cyrus along with him.
Cyrus looked up at Dad. “What’s going on? Why are you upset?”
“I got these tickets for free because of what happened on the trip here. Because they lost you overboard.” He snorted as he led Cyrus down the corridor.
“But… that wasn’t their fault, it was my fault. You told me to get below, and I didn’t.” Cyrus put his ears back. “I mean, I was going to, but then-”
“Enough.” He knelt and put his arms around Cyrus. “When I realized what had happened, I was very upset. You’re just a helpless little pup, and they tossed you out into the unforgiving ocean. It won’t happen again. You’re going to be okay.”
After a moment, he stood up and fished in his pocket for a key, opening a door to a relatively spacious cabin. “Here we go, this is our room. We’ll be staying here until we get home.”
Cyrus looked around the room. It was certainly plush; the bed and carpet were soft and luxurious, the lights seemed to be gas, and he could barely feel the ship swaying underfoot. He set down his ditty bag and climbed up on the bed, bouncing a little. “It’s really nice.”
Dad nodded. “It is. Now that we’re here… can you take all that off, please?” He gestured to Cyrus’s outfit.
Cyrus looked himself over and hesitated. “My clothes?”
“Yeah, it’s just… I want to forget this whole horrible ordeal ever happened. Where’s your collar?” He looked him over. “Is it in your bag?”
Cyrus shook his head. “The… uh… the pirates threw it in the ocean. Sorry.”
He sighed. “That’s okay, it’s not your fault. Just… please, take off the pirate outfit for now.”
“I’d… rather keep my clothes on, actually, Dad… I can put my sword and knife and pistol away if it’ll make you more comfortable.” He started unhooking the scabbard from his belt.
Dad rolled his eyes. “I have no idea why they’d give you toy weapons like that, you’re just a dog, you could get hurt.”
Cyrus hesitated. “Um… Dad, they’re not toys. They’re real.” He took his sword off and unsheathed it a little so Dad could see. “See? Real.”
He didn’t even look, leaning on the dresser to check the bags under his eyes in the vanity mirror. “That’s nice, Cyrus. Put it away, please.”
Cyrus sighed and stuck his sword and pistol in his ditty bag. “I feel like you’re not taking me seriously.”
He turned to look him over. “The vest, too. I guess the shirt and pants can stay. Get rid of the bandana and the belt. At least then you’ll look respectable.” He grumbled and walked across the room to set down his luggage. “I swear, dogs wearing clothes, what’s next?”
Cyrus grunted and took off his bandana and belt, looking down at himself. He guessed he looked alright without, though a little plain. “I sailed a ship by myself between islands. I survived on an island by myself for a month. I’m not that scared little pup that washed overboard two months ago, Dad.”
“Enough!” He snapped, turning to face him, his face a little red. “Stop! Just… stop. I don’t know what happened to you while those pirates had you, and maybe inventing these stories helped you cope, but you don’t have to pretend anymore. You’re safe now. So just… stop.”
Cyrus hesitated, then turned and climbed up on the bed with a grumble. “I’m not making it up, I actually DID do those things.”
“Whatever, bud. Just try to get some sleep. You must be tired from whatever those awful people did to you. I’m going to go see if I can’t find us something to eat.” Dad left the room, leaving Cyrus alone.
Cyrus sighed and curled up on the bed, laying on his side and grumbling. “He’s never going to believe me, is he? He’s going to treat me like I’m helpless forever.”
Dad held Cyrus’s hand as they walked through the bustling port, weaving around other people. “Come on, Cyrus, we’re gonna miss our ship!”
Cyrus hefted his ditty bag and rushed to keep up. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” He started following Dad up a ramp. When they stopped for Dad to give their tickets, Cyrus got a chance to look and see what kind of ship they were boarding. He paused and gawped. “Whoaaa…”
The ship was enormous; it was at least a hundred meters long, probably closer to a hundred and fifty, with four massive masts and a single smokestack in the center of the ship. It was painted all black, with red below the water line, and the hull and masts seemed to be made of all iron.
Dad chuckled. “You like her? She’s an expensive ride, for sure. White Star Line, a luxury oceanic class ocean liner.” He took Cyrus’s hand again and led him up the ramp onto the ship.
Cyrus turned his head to look at the rigging. It was massive, going so high overhead that Cyrus wasn’t sure he could even see the top from the deck. “She’s beautiful. It must take a HUGE crew to operate her!”
“Crew compliment of five hundred and sixty.” A voice sounded behind them. Cyrus spun around to see a man in a snappy-looking uniform standing there, grinning as he looked down to Cyrus. “She’s a hundred and thirty-two meters long, with a four-bladed propeller attached to those steam engines.” He reached out to shake Dad’s hand, then knelt to shake Cyrus’s. “Sir Digby Murray. I’ll be your captain on this voyage.”
Cyrus shook his hand with excitement. “She’s a beautiful ship, sir. How fast can she go? What’s the fastest she’s made the crossing?”
Captain Murray chuckled. “She makes over fourteen knots in favorable weather. She’s made the crossing in seven days before, a record-breaking crossing indeed.”
“Wow, that’s so FAST!” Cyrus’s tail wagged.
“I see you’re dressed as a pirate. You’re not here to plunder my ship, are you?” He gave him a teasing grin.
Cyrus snickered. “No, not this time. Thought I’d take it easy on this voyage, just enjoy being a passenger.”
“Well, I’ll take your word for it, young man.” He ruffled Cyrus’s ears and stood up again. “Again, White Star Line is terribly sorry for the mixup, Mr. D’Angelo, and we’re glad that you were able to find your dog safe and sound.”
Dad nodded and gripped Cyrus’s hand, squeezing just a little too hard. “I have to go find my cabin.” He turned around without saying goodbye to the captain and tugged Cyrus along with him.
Cyrus looked up at Dad. “What’s going on? Why are you upset?”
“I got these tickets for free because of what happened on the trip here. Because they lost you overboard.” He snorted as he led Cyrus down the corridor.
“But… that wasn’t their fault, it was my fault. You told me to get below, and I didn’t.” Cyrus put his ears back. “I mean, I was going to, but then-”
“Enough.” He knelt and put his arms around Cyrus. “When I realized what had happened, I was very upset. You’re just a helpless little pup, and they tossed you out into the unforgiving ocean. It won’t happen again. You’re going to be okay.”
After a moment, he stood up and fished in his pocket for a key, opening a door to a relatively spacious cabin. “Here we go, this is our room. We’ll be staying here until we get home.”
Cyrus looked around the room. It was certainly plush; the bed and carpet were soft and luxurious, the lights seemed to be gas, and he could barely feel the ship swaying underfoot. He set down his ditty bag and climbed up on the bed, bouncing a little. “It’s really nice.”
Dad nodded. “It is. Now that we’re here… can you take all that off, please?” He gestured to Cyrus’s outfit.
Cyrus looked himself over and hesitated. “My clothes?”
“Yeah, it’s just… I want to forget this whole horrible ordeal ever happened. Where’s your collar?” He looked him over. “Is it in your bag?”
Cyrus shook his head. “The… uh… the pirates threw it in the ocean. Sorry.”
He sighed. “That’s okay, it’s not your fault. Just… please, take off the pirate outfit for now.”
“I’d… rather keep my clothes on, actually, Dad… I can put my sword and knife and pistol away if it’ll make you more comfortable.” He started unhooking the scabbard from his belt.
Dad rolled his eyes. “I have no idea why they’d give you toy weapons like that, you’re just a dog, you could get hurt.”
Cyrus hesitated. “Um… Dad, they’re not toys. They’re real.” He took his sword off and unsheathed it a little so Dad could see. “See? Real.”
He didn’t even look, leaning on the dresser to check the bags under his eyes in the vanity mirror. “That’s nice, Cyrus. Put it away, please.”
Cyrus sighed and stuck his sword and pistol in his ditty bag. “I feel like you’re not taking me seriously.”
He turned to look him over. “The vest, too. I guess the shirt and pants can stay. Get rid of the bandana and the belt. At least then you’ll look respectable.” He grumbled and walked across the room to set down his luggage. “I swear, dogs wearing clothes, what’s next?”
Cyrus grunted and took off his bandana and belt, looking down at himself. He guessed he looked alright without, though a little plain. “I sailed a ship by myself between islands. I survived on an island by myself for a month. I’m not that scared little pup that washed overboard two months ago, Dad.”
“Enough!” He snapped, turning to face him, his face a little red. “Stop! Just… stop. I don’t know what happened to you while those pirates had you, and maybe inventing these stories helped you cope, but you don’t have to pretend anymore. You’re safe now. So just… stop.”
Cyrus hesitated, then turned and climbed up on the bed with a grumble. “I’m not making it up, I actually DID do those things.”
“Whatever, bud. Just try to get some sleep. You must be tired from whatever those awful people did to you. I’m going to go see if I can’t find us something to eat.” Dad left the room, leaving Cyrus alone.
Cyrus sighed and curled up on the bed, laying on his side and grumbling. “He’s never going to believe me, is he? He’s going to treat me like I’m helpless forever.”
Nimius pavor, non satis disco.
You will always be welcome here, no matter how long you've been away.
Check out my list of stories here.
You will always be welcome here, no matter how long you've been away.
Check out my list of stories here.
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Amazee Dayzee
- Posts: 29538
- Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2014 6:24 pm
Re: The Pirates of Freedom Island
There are the cracks beginning to form between Cyrus and his father as his father only does see him as helpless and someone who can't do ANYTHING himself. The only question now is will Cyrus sneak off without telling his father or will his father finally realize that Cyrus is self-sufficient and let him go even if he squeaks a lot like a squeaky toy? (Something I am surprised no other pirate told him he needs to stop doing because it makes him look like a pup).
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GingaDensetsuAleu
- Posts: 2042
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2024 10:10 am
Re: The Pirates of Freedom Island
And that's it for Cyrus's story. He may appear again sometime, but for now, we're wrapping it up. As always, thank you so much for reading, and I hope to see you again next week for a brand-new story!
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Chapter 24: The Final Storm
Cyrus stared at the ceiling of the cabin with a bored sigh, raising his hand to stare at the rubber ball he was holding. He squeezed it twice, producing two little squeaks, then grunted and let his hand fall to the bed again. “I can’t believe this thing used to make me so happy. I’m so BORED.”
He sat up and looked around. Dad was off somewhere, leaving him alone in the room. After a few moments, he left his ball on the bed and pulled his vest on, strapping his knife to his belt and looking himself over. He wanted to put on his bandana, but Dad had gotten mad the last time he’d put it on. They were three days into the trip, and Dad hadn’t let Cyrus leave the cabin even once. He knew it came from a place of love; Dad was just worried he’d lose Cyrus again, but Cyrus couldn’t take it anymore. He needed to DO something, or he was going to go crazy.
He gave a grunt and climbed out of bed, walking across the room and out into the hallway. There was nobody out there, so he turned and started toward where he remembered the hatch being, letting himself out on deck. He closed his eyes and breathed in the sea air, enjoying the feeling of the sunshine on his face for a few moments before he opened his eyes again and walked over to the railing to lean over and out to sea.
“Ahh, young Cyrus. A pleasure to see you out and about.” Captain Murray joined him at the railing to look out over the ocean. “I was beginning to think you’d stay cooped up in your cabin the whole trip.”
Cyrus nodded, putting his ears back. “Dad wanted me to, but there’s nothing to DO in there. I was so bored I felt like I would explode if I didn’t find something to do.”
“Ah, yes, cabin fever. Apparently, before we started adding steam engines to regular sailing ships, it was quite common. The wind would stop being favorable, and you’d be becalmed at sea for days, or even weeks. Now, if we run out of wind, we just fire up the steam engine and push ourselves under our own power.” He reached over and ruffled Cyrus’s ears. “No bandana today?”
He shook his head. “Dad doesn’t like it. He says it just plays into my delusions of what happened while I was lost.” After a moment, he gave a sigh. “He doesn’t believe me. He thinks I made it all up.”
“Made what up?” He looked over at him.
“Everything. That I sailed a ship between islands by myself, learned how to rig a ship, sword fight, navigate. He thinks I just made that all up because I was scared.” Cyrus eyed some dark clouds that were gathering on the horizon. They seemed to be approaching alarmingly fast.
Captain Murray eyed the same clouds. “Well… I can’t say for sure that you did all that… but on our last crossing, we DID see a ketch being piloted by a single dog alone.”
Cyrus’s ears perked, and he looked over at Captain Murray. “I didn’t imagine it. There WAS a ship on the horizon that night. THIS ship!”
He chuckled. “You drifted a bit close to shipping lanes for a pirate ship, kiddo. You weren’t flying any colors, we had to get closer to check that you weren’t adrift. Our lookout reported that you were taking measurements, so we let you be.”
Cyrus put his ears back. “Oh… did I? Sorry.”
He chuckled and ruffled his ears again, eyeing the clouds. “Don’t like the look of that storm. Think we’re sailing right into it.”
Cyrus nodded in agreement, looking at the clouds. They were close enough now that he could see lightning flashing under them and sheets of rain coming down. “Yeah, looks like it.”
“Don’t worry, a storm like that won’t bother a ship like this all that much. If the deck gets a bit slick for you, you can always go back down below.” He straightened up. “I have to go direct the crew to start preparing for that storm.”
“Okay. Thanks for chatting with me. I know you’re really busy.” Cyrus looked up at him.
“It was my pleasure.” He tipped his hat and walked off. Cyrus turned to watch the incoming storm with a sigh.
“Cyrus! There you are!” Dad’s voice sounded from behind him. Cyrus turned and found himself wrapped in a firm hug. “I told you to stay in our room. What if you wash overboard again? You won’t be lucky enough to survive a second time.”
“Dad, I’m not gonna break. I’m fine, I promise.” Cyrus hugged him back. He loved Dad, but he was starting to drive him crazy with his overprotectiveness. The first few raindrops fell, and Cyrus pulled out of the hug to look up at the storm clouds.
Dad looked Cyrus over and scowled. “You’re wearing that stupid pirate outfit again. I thought I told you to get rid of that knife!”
Cyrus huffed. “I’m gonna keep the knife, Dad. I like the knife. It’s useful. I can use it to protect myself, or cut things.”
Dad huffed and reached for it. “You’re gonna hurt yourself with it, is what you’re gonna do with it. Give it here!”
Cyrus grunted and turned his hip away, pushing Dad’s hand away from his knife. “Stop it. It’s mine and I’m not giving it to you!”
“Cyrus!” Dad snapped, glaring at him and snapping his fingers. “You’re being a very bad boy right now. Where’s that nice, obedient dog I had when I got onboard that ship at London?”
“He doesn’t exist anymore.” Cyrus stomped his paw, splashing a little in the water that was starting to run across the deck toward the scuppers. “I’ve been telling you- I learned to take care of myself! I’m not that scared little pup that fell overboard two months ago! He’s GONE, and he’s not coming back!”
Dad paused, stunned, then scowled and grabbed for the knife again. “Give me that. You’re grounded.”
Cyrus stepped back and shoved Dad’s chest. “STOP IT!”
Dad slipped on the slick deck, staggering backwards. He stared at Cyrus, stunned for a moment at the shove, then went over the railing. Cyrus’s eyes went wide, and he shouted out. “Man overboard!” He turned and grabbed a life ring off the nearest wheelhouse wall, securing the rope to the railing as fast as a flash, double-checking his knot before tucking the life ring over his shoulder and diving overboard.
He spotted Dad in the water as he fell, and kept his eyes on him. As soon as he hit the water, he started swimming toward him, ignoring the shouts from sailors overhead as they looked over the railing at him. Cyrus grabbed Dad by the arm as he struggled to keep afloat in the rough seas, jerking him toward him and making him grab the ring. “Hold tight, don’t let go!” He could feel the ring starting to tug, pulling them along with the ship, and someone started lowering a longboat down toward them to rescue them.
Within minutes, Cyrus and Dad were huddled together in the longboat, a blanket thrown over them to keep them warm until they could get back onboard the ship. Cyrus put his ears back and leaned into Dad. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you overboard…”
Dad put his arms around Cyrus. “You… jumped overboard to rescue me.”
“... Of course… I love you, I don’t want to LOSE you. Even if you don’t believe me.” He watched the top of the ship’s hull climbing gradually closer and closer as the longboat was hoisted back up.
“You… did you also secure the rope? I didn’t know you knew how to do that.”
“I told you I did. I learned while I was gone.” He nuzzled into Dad’s chest, closing his eyes quietly. After a moment, he took his knife off his belt and offered it to Dad. “Here… you can have it. It’s… not worth fighting over.”
Dad stared at the knife for a little while, then shook his head. “You can hang onto it. I mean… if you’re sure you know how to use it responsibly.”
Cyrus gave a little smile. “We’re going to have to get to know each other all over again, aren’t we? Just like when I was a pup and you brought me home.”
Dad chuckled dryly and ruffled his ears. “Well… I think we can manage. After all, you’re a pirate.”
THE END
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Chapter 24: The Final Storm
Cyrus stared at the ceiling of the cabin with a bored sigh, raising his hand to stare at the rubber ball he was holding. He squeezed it twice, producing two little squeaks, then grunted and let his hand fall to the bed again. “I can’t believe this thing used to make me so happy. I’m so BORED.”
He sat up and looked around. Dad was off somewhere, leaving him alone in the room. After a few moments, he left his ball on the bed and pulled his vest on, strapping his knife to his belt and looking himself over. He wanted to put on his bandana, but Dad had gotten mad the last time he’d put it on. They were three days into the trip, and Dad hadn’t let Cyrus leave the cabin even once. He knew it came from a place of love; Dad was just worried he’d lose Cyrus again, but Cyrus couldn’t take it anymore. He needed to DO something, or he was going to go crazy.
He gave a grunt and climbed out of bed, walking across the room and out into the hallway. There was nobody out there, so he turned and started toward where he remembered the hatch being, letting himself out on deck. He closed his eyes and breathed in the sea air, enjoying the feeling of the sunshine on his face for a few moments before he opened his eyes again and walked over to the railing to lean over and out to sea.
“Ahh, young Cyrus. A pleasure to see you out and about.” Captain Murray joined him at the railing to look out over the ocean. “I was beginning to think you’d stay cooped up in your cabin the whole trip.”
Cyrus nodded, putting his ears back. “Dad wanted me to, but there’s nothing to DO in there. I was so bored I felt like I would explode if I didn’t find something to do.”
“Ah, yes, cabin fever. Apparently, before we started adding steam engines to regular sailing ships, it was quite common. The wind would stop being favorable, and you’d be becalmed at sea for days, or even weeks. Now, if we run out of wind, we just fire up the steam engine and push ourselves under our own power.” He reached over and ruffled Cyrus’s ears. “No bandana today?”
He shook his head. “Dad doesn’t like it. He says it just plays into my delusions of what happened while I was lost.” After a moment, he gave a sigh. “He doesn’t believe me. He thinks I made it all up.”
“Made what up?” He looked over at him.
“Everything. That I sailed a ship between islands by myself, learned how to rig a ship, sword fight, navigate. He thinks I just made that all up because I was scared.” Cyrus eyed some dark clouds that were gathering on the horizon. They seemed to be approaching alarmingly fast.
Captain Murray eyed the same clouds. “Well… I can’t say for sure that you did all that… but on our last crossing, we DID see a ketch being piloted by a single dog alone.”
Cyrus’s ears perked, and he looked over at Captain Murray. “I didn’t imagine it. There WAS a ship on the horizon that night. THIS ship!”
He chuckled. “You drifted a bit close to shipping lanes for a pirate ship, kiddo. You weren’t flying any colors, we had to get closer to check that you weren’t adrift. Our lookout reported that you were taking measurements, so we let you be.”
Cyrus put his ears back. “Oh… did I? Sorry.”
He chuckled and ruffled his ears again, eyeing the clouds. “Don’t like the look of that storm. Think we’re sailing right into it.”
Cyrus nodded in agreement, looking at the clouds. They were close enough now that he could see lightning flashing under them and sheets of rain coming down. “Yeah, looks like it.”
“Don’t worry, a storm like that won’t bother a ship like this all that much. If the deck gets a bit slick for you, you can always go back down below.” He straightened up. “I have to go direct the crew to start preparing for that storm.”
“Okay. Thanks for chatting with me. I know you’re really busy.” Cyrus looked up at him.
“It was my pleasure.” He tipped his hat and walked off. Cyrus turned to watch the incoming storm with a sigh.
“Cyrus! There you are!” Dad’s voice sounded from behind him. Cyrus turned and found himself wrapped in a firm hug. “I told you to stay in our room. What if you wash overboard again? You won’t be lucky enough to survive a second time.”
“Dad, I’m not gonna break. I’m fine, I promise.” Cyrus hugged him back. He loved Dad, but he was starting to drive him crazy with his overprotectiveness. The first few raindrops fell, and Cyrus pulled out of the hug to look up at the storm clouds.
Dad looked Cyrus over and scowled. “You’re wearing that stupid pirate outfit again. I thought I told you to get rid of that knife!”
Cyrus huffed. “I’m gonna keep the knife, Dad. I like the knife. It’s useful. I can use it to protect myself, or cut things.”
Dad huffed and reached for it. “You’re gonna hurt yourself with it, is what you’re gonna do with it. Give it here!”
Cyrus grunted and turned his hip away, pushing Dad’s hand away from his knife. “Stop it. It’s mine and I’m not giving it to you!”
“Cyrus!” Dad snapped, glaring at him and snapping his fingers. “You’re being a very bad boy right now. Where’s that nice, obedient dog I had when I got onboard that ship at London?”
“He doesn’t exist anymore.” Cyrus stomped his paw, splashing a little in the water that was starting to run across the deck toward the scuppers. “I’ve been telling you- I learned to take care of myself! I’m not that scared little pup that fell overboard two months ago! He’s GONE, and he’s not coming back!”
Dad paused, stunned, then scowled and grabbed for the knife again. “Give me that. You’re grounded.”
Cyrus stepped back and shoved Dad’s chest. “STOP IT!”
Dad slipped on the slick deck, staggering backwards. He stared at Cyrus, stunned for a moment at the shove, then went over the railing. Cyrus’s eyes went wide, and he shouted out. “Man overboard!” He turned and grabbed a life ring off the nearest wheelhouse wall, securing the rope to the railing as fast as a flash, double-checking his knot before tucking the life ring over his shoulder and diving overboard.
He spotted Dad in the water as he fell, and kept his eyes on him. As soon as he hit the water, he started swimming toward him, ignoring the shouts from sailors overhead as they looked over the railing at him. Cyrus grabbed Dad by the arm as he struggled to keep afloat in the rough seas, jerking him toward him and making him grab the ring. “Hold tight, don’t let go!” He could feel the ring starting to tug, pulling them along with the ship, and someone started lowering a longboat down toward them to rescue them.
Within minutes, Cyrus and Dad were huddled together in the longboat, a blanket thrown over them to keep them warm until they could get back onboard the ship. Cyrus put his ears back and leaned into Dad. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you overboard…”
Dad put his arms around Cyrus. “You… jumped overboard to rescue me.”
“... Of course… I love you, I don’t want to LOSE you. Even if you don’t believe me.” He watched the top of the ship’s hull climbing gradually closer and closer as the longboat was hoisted back up.
“You… did you also secure the rope? I didn’t know you knew how to do that.”
“I told you I did. I learned while I was gone.” He nuzzled into Dad’s chest, closing his eyes quietly. After a moment, he took his knife off his belt and offered it to Dad. “Here… you can have it. It’s… not worth fighting over.”
Dad stared at the knife for a little while, then shook his head. “You can hang onto it. I mean… if you’re sure you know how to use it responsibly.”
Cyrus gave a little smile. “We’re going to have to get to know each other all over again, aren’t we? Just like when I was a pup and you brought me home.”
Dad chuckled dryly and ruffled his ears. “Well… I think we can manage. After all, you’re a pirate.”
THE END
Nimius pavor, non satis disco.
You will always be welcome here, no matter how long you've been away.
Check out my list of stories here.
You will always be welcome here, no matter how long you've been away.
Check out my list of stories here.
-
Amazee Dayzee
- Posts: 29538
- Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2014 6:24 pm
Re: The Pirates of Freedom Island
Wow that was a really amazing final chapter that you put together and I did enjoy reading all of it as it was a great read! I will say though that I didn't think that Cyrus would stay with his father and expected him to leave and go back to the pirates so that was an awesome twist.