User blog:Wolf985/The Captain's Daughter

This is going to be a sequel to "A Tale of Two Rogues" so if you haven't read that yet you might get a bit lost.

Prologue
Thunder roared as bolts of bright white lightning ripped across the dark sky like angry scars. Heavy rain poured down from the heavens and onto the deck of a lone ship and the rough endless sea surrounding it. A cold winter wind howled through the frost covered rigging. The freezing deckhands pulled on heavy ropes to try and furl the sails so they wouldn't get damaged in the gale and so the ship wouldn't get blown off course. The Captain was among them, shouting orders over the gale to scrape the ice off of the sails and to keep pulling. His thick woolen cloak was frozen to his back with sea spray and his thick leather boots slipped on the wet icy deck. His paws were cut up and bloody from the ice covered rope, but they were so numb that he didn't feel any pain. "Pull, me 'earties! Pull! Get these sails up afore they're ruined!" He yelled.

With one last heave the sails were up enough to be tied down, but there was still more work to do.

In the Captain's cabin three female sea otters were trying to comfort two frightened babes. The ship's cook, Willow, held a frightened Adrian who was seven seasons old and the captain's wife, Clarice sat on the bunk trying to calm her newborn. The other female was sixteen seasons old and was tired of listening to her brothers cry. It's just a stupid storm. she thought. Why are they so scared?

Rose Danisham stood up and grabbed her coat. putting it on over her dress. she put on her boots and hat and was about to put on her mittens when her mother noticed and said, "Where are you off too?"

"Out to help dad. I hate just sitting here and doing nothing. Don't try to stop me!"

"Rosemarie Danisham do not speak to me like that. It's too dangerous to go out there."

Rose rolled her eyes and opened the door and a freezing gust of wind blew inside the cabin causing the tiny newborn to wail. She slammed the door behind her. Clarice stood up and handed the babe to Willow. "Clarice where are you going?"

She put on her heavy cloak and boots. "I'm going after her. Rose causes me a lot of grief. If she gets hurt out there I'll never forgive myself."

She left the cabin and stepped out onto the deck and almost fell on a patch of ice. Grabbing the railing she made her way down the stairs to the main deck. She saw Rose next to another young otter named Canvas Waveryder. Clarice started toward them, but the ship lurched sharply as it hit a huge wave and she slipped. She was surprised when somebeast caught her just before her head hit the deck. The otterwife looked up into her husbands face. His whiskers were coated frozen sea spray giving him a fearsome look. "Have you seen Rose?" she asked him.

"What? Is she out here? It's not safe!"

"I know! Help me find her!"

The two looked everywhere and soon found her climbing the rigging with Canvas. "Rose!" Nathaniel bellowed.

She ignored him and kept climbing. Nathaniel went over to a big muscular otter and pointed towards the two. Rigg Waveryder began climbing expertly up to retrieve the two young ones, but only made it up to his son, Canvas, when a big bolt of lightning struck the mainmast causing it to split in two.

Rigg grabbed his son and swung down to the main deck on a stray piece of rope. The crew watched in horror as the top of the mast fell taking the rigging and Rose along with it. The big timber beam crashed down onto the ships railing, splintering it. Half of the beam hung out over the edge. Captain Nathaniel Danisham ran over to the edge with his wife close behind. Rose was struggling for a pawhold on the slippery mast. Nathaniel climbed up onto what was left of the railing and reached out for his daughter. "Grab my paw!" He yelled over the wind and rain.

"I can't, I'll fall!"

"No you won't! Grab onto me now!"

Her paws slipped and she dug her claws into the wood as a gigantic wave swept over both of them. "Daddy!" she cried.

The captain climbed onto the broken mast and tried to grab her. "Grab onto me Rosie!"

"I'll fall!"

"No you wont! I will not let that happen, I promise!"

She reached up towards him and just when they were in paws reach another wave washed over them and her claws lost their hold on the mast. Rose screamed as she fell into rough freezing sea below.

Chapter 1 ~Port Kendall~
"No!" The captain yelled as he dove in after her.

Clarice leaned over the railing yelling, "Nathaniel!"

One of the crew members pulled her away from the edge of the ship, but she fought against him still shouting for her loved ones. The tears rolling down her cheeks blended in with the pouring rain.

Captain Nathaniel Danisham swam around in the dark icy water. He couldn't seem to find his daughter anywhere, This was not a good sign. Nathaniel knew that his body temperature was dropping rapidly and if he stayed in the sea for too long, he could die. He didn't want to give up his search, but he had to resurface for air. As he came up and broke the surface of the water a monstrous wave crashed over him, pulling him back under. He came up again ,but this time grabbed onto the nets hanging on the side of his ship and pulled himself up a few feet, then just hung there shivering uncontrollably. Two burly crewmen pried his claws from the nets and grabbed his arms, pulling him up onto the deck. Nathaniel's whole body was numb with cold, so much so that he could barely move. And if this wasn't bad enough, He was sobbing heavily and mumbling, "No, Throw me back! *Sobbs* I can't give up. My baby, I promised to save her!*sobbs* My Rosie!*sob*"

Clarice was released and she quickly made her way over to her husband. She gasped at the sad state he was in and lead the two crew members that were supporting him into the captain's cabin. Willow flinched as the door opened and she watched in silence as Nathaniel was brought in and put onto the bunk. Clarice shooed the crew members out and shut the door, and then went over to Nathaniel and took off his soaked cloak and shirt, and then pulled off his boots and went to the trunk in the corner and grabbed more blankets and covered him up in a desperate attempt to warm him up. She took one of his massive paws and put it in between both of hers and tried to rub some warmth into it. "I...I t..tried to s..save her! R..R...Rose...g..gone!" He said with his teeth chattering uncontrollably."I...I'm s..sorry, m...m..my l..love."

Tears flowed down Clarice's cheeks. "I know.It's not your fault."

"Y..yes it i..is. I..I b..broke m..m...my p..promise."

"What promise?"

"T...to n...not l..le..let her f..fall."

"Shh...Don't blame yourself. That wave came out of nowhere."

He sighed heavily and closed his eyes. "A..are A..Adri..Adrian and C..C..Coty s..safe?" he asked.

"Yes, They're fine. Scared, but fine."

Nathaniel nodded and drifted off into a deep sleep. Clarice stood up and went to sit by Willow on the window seat. Adrian crawled into his mother's lap and snuggled against her. "Momma, where Rosie?"

This brought fresh tears to her eyes and she held her young son closer. "Don't cry momma. Rosie will be awlright. I knows it. We find her!"

She kissed his head. "That was exactly what I needed to hear Adrian."

Willow stood up with the baby and said. "I should be getting back to the galley. Here, Coty just fell asleep."

"Thank you Will." Clarice said softly as she took her infant son from Willow.

The cook nodded politely and grabbed her coat and hat. Before she left she looked over her shoulder to look at them. She had never seen Clarice this hurt. A stray tear slipped down her face as she left the cabin. Outside standing on the deck, Her coat blowing in the wind and rain, Willow touched the necklace she wore and her paw found the tiny pearl her mother had given her a long long time ago. She looked up into the stormy sky and whispered, "Mother, if you're there, please watch over Rose wherever she may be. Perhaps she is with you and father and Latika. Take care of her."

"Will?"

She jumped as she heard her name. Willow looked behind her and saw Jeremy. She sighed with relief. "Oh, Jem you scared me."

"Sorry love. What are you doing out here in the cold? Come on lets get below deck."

They walked down to the galley and Jem bolted the door shut to keep the cold out. Willow added more coals to the stove and hung up her wet coat and hat. Jem did the same and sat down at the table. Willow sat down on her small cot holding her paws near the warm stove. "So what were you doing out there? You looked like you were talking to someone."

"I was. I was asking my mother to take care of Rose."

Jem gave her a weird look. "In other words I was praying for her safety."

"Oh. That makes much more sense."

Willow smiled. "Get some rest. This storm won't be letting up anytime soon."

Jeremy Halloway didn't need any second bidding. He kicked off his boots and went to lay down on the bunk next to his wife. Wrapping his arms around her he asked, "Do you think your prayer is going to work?"

"I hope so. I really do."

The Next Morning After the Storm....

Two water voles were walking down by the beach to go check their fishing nets. It had stormed horribly the night before and they were worried they had gotten damaged. As they began pulling in the first net in one of the voles, named Tanner, began complaining. "Yeesh! This thing is heavy! I 'ope we caught one 'o those big fishes."

The other vole snorted. "Yeah right. We probably caught a load of seaweed."

Together they pulled the net in and Tanner gasped as he saw a paw sticking out from underneath a bundle of seaweed. "Neville, there's a beast in the net! Hurry, help me get 'im out!"

The vole, Neville, took his knife and cut the netting, and then they both threw aside the seaweed to reveal a young sea ottermaid. Tanner took her pulse. "She's still alive! Let's get her to Algernon, and fast. The other nets can wait."

They lifted her onto their shoulders and started towards town.

Captain Nathaniel Danisham awoke with a pounding headache and a sick stomach. He instinctively touched his head and felt cold drops of sweat on his paw. Wiping his paw on the blanket that covered him, he looked over to see Clarice placing a tray on the desk while trying to hold a squirming baby. She muttered something then turned to look at Nathaniel. Seeing that he was awake she said, "Come eat some breakfast."

The captain groaned at the mention of food, but he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bunk. He stood up and wrapped a blanket around his shoulders. "I think I'll pass on breakfast. Where are my boots?" he asked hoarsely.

"Over by the door. Darling you sound awful, are you feeling alright?"

He put on a shirt and his frock coat then sat down to put on his boots. "I'll be fine. You don't sound the best either."

"I know. I haven't slept for days because of Coty. He was asleep for ten minutes and then started getting fussy again. I was up all night." She yawned.

Nathaniel stood up and kissed her forehead. "Hang in there. He won't be like this forever."

And with that he left the cabin and went down to the main deck. The seas had calmed and the sky had returned to its normal steely gray, but the captain could care less. His attention was focused on the large piece of timber laying on the deck and jutting out over the side. In the light he could see tattered sails and broken ropes wrapped around and hanging from it. He walked towards the wreckage and something bright pink caught his eye. Caught on the splinters of the wood was a pink satin ribbon. Nathaniel gently freed it from the splinters and held it like it was a piece of precious gold. It was Rose's hairband. 'It must've blown off of her head during the storm'. He thought.

A tear slipped down his face as he tied the ribbon around the hilt of his cutlass. He wiped his eyes and went back to inspecting the wreckage. They would have to have the whole mast replaced including the removal of the bottom that was still attached to the deck. But to do this they had to find a port, preferably a close one, and find the right beasts that could fix it. A job like that could very easily take a season to finish and could be very costly. The steersbeast, Jeremy Halloway,came over to the Captain. "Sir, a port has been sighted. We'll be there in about three to four hours. Sir?"

"That's great Jem." He said distractedly.

Jeremy sighed and turned to walk away when the captain began coughing violently. Jem whirled back around to see Nathaniel on his knees and coughing. He knelt down beside his friend and patted his back. "It's alright. Get that sickness out of your system."

When Nathaniel's coughing had slowed, Jem helped him stand up and let the captain lean on him for support. They walked back to the captain's cabin and Clarice assisted Jem getting the captain to sit down and drink a glass of water. Clarice felt his forehead. "Nathaniel, you're burning up. I'm going to go get Willow. Adrian?"

The young otter looked up at her. "Yes momma?"

"Watch your brother. I'll be right back." Clarice left with Jeremy and Adrian went to sit by the basket that served as his tiny brother's cradle.

He picked up a silver rattle and shook it in front of Coty's nose. The babe squeaked and reached out for the toy, grabbing it with his tiny paws and pulling it out of Adrian's grasp. "Hey! you likkle terror. Stealin from your brudder isn't nice."

Coty giggled and started chewing on the rattle. "Yuck, now it bes all slobbered."

Adrian watched his brother curiously. How could something so tiny be so much work? he thought.

He turned towards his father, who was blowing his nose with a rag and holding his head."Dad?" he asked.

Nathaniel looked at his eldest son. "What?"

"uh...where do babies come from? I know that Coty was in momma's tummy, but how did he get there?"

Nathaniel fidgeted with a charcoal stick that was laying on the desk. He often fidgeted when he didn't know what to say. "Uh..that would be a good question to ask your mother."

"But you has to know."

"Aye, but you're too young to understand."

Adrian sighed knowing that his dad wouldn't tell him. Clarice soon came back with Willow. Willow went over to the corner stove and began getting out different herbs from her satchel to make medicine. Clarice sat down heavily on the window seat and Adrian crawled up beside her. "Momma,"

"Yes Adrian what is it?" she asked wearily.

"Where do babies come from?"

Willow tried to stifle a laugh at Clarice's surprised expression. "I'll tell you when you're older."

"How much older momma?"

"Much much older honey, Now why don't you go play?"

The little sea otter sighed and put on his coat and boots, then left the cabin to find someone to play with. Willow turned to Clarice and said, "Well that was an unexpected question. Wonder what perked that interest?"

Clarice sighed. "He would've asked sooner or later. Oh Will, I don't think he's realized yet that Rosie isn't coming back. Adrian is so optimistic and carefree."

"Aye, Here give this to Nathaniel. It should help bring the fever down and take care of whatever else he has." she said as she handed the tired otterwife a small bottle of freshly brewed medicine.

"Thanks, whats in it?"

"I can't tell ye. It's my mother's recipe."

The captain had been listening to them and walked over to where his wife sat. "Thankee Will, I'll take it and try to get some rest. I'm sure you're needed elsewhere so I'll stop bothering you."

"Oh its no bother captain. Get some rest."

later that same day.....

The 'Phantasma' pulled into the port around late afternoon. Captain Nathaniel Danisham was sound asleep on his bunk while Clarice sat close to the warm stove in the corner and was nursing Coty. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Clarice pulled a blanket over herself and said, "Come in."

Rigg Waveryder entered. His face reddening with embarrassment as he saw Clarice. "Um...sorry miss I'll wait."

"Just tell me now Rigg. Nathaniel won't be awake for a while yet."

"There's a mouse down on the docks that wishes to speak to the captain about the docking fee."

"I'll be there in a moment. Tell him to stay."

Rigg saluted her. "Aye aye miss."

He left the cabin and back out onto the deck. Clarice finished nursing her son and placed him in his cradle. She smoothed her skirts and left the cabin and walked down the gangplank to the docks. There stood a bespectacled mouse dressed in an official uniform. "Excuse me," she said, "you wanted something about a dock fee?"

"Hmm..yes..er, er I asked for the captain of this vessel, not a female."

Clarice crossed her arms over her chest. "The captain is very sick, and this "female" happens to be his wife."

"I..I'm terribly sorry miss. My mistake. Um..about the fee. How long do you plan on docking here?"

"Until the mast is fixed. so about a season at most."

The mouse scribbled something down on his clipboard. "About three gold pieces should do."

"Wait here."

Clarice ran back up the gangplank and went into her cabin. From the desk drawer she pulled out a small change pouch and pulled out three large gold dablunes. She put the pouch back and went back to give the money to the mouse. "Here."

"Thankee kindly miss."

He turned smartly on his heel and began walking away. Clarice placed her paws on her hips and glared at the mouse. "Hmph! I've never met anyone as rude as him. Not wanting to parlay with me just because I'm female. The nerve of some creatures!"

She stormed back onto the ship and went down to the galley. There she sat down heavily into a wooden chair and sighed. Willow was standing at the stove making lunch when she saw the exhausted otterwife come in. She poured two mugs of tea and went to sit by her friend. "Oh Clarice you look exhausted. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Clarice shook her head. "No, it's just that I've been through so much these past few days. I lost my daughter and I haven't slept, and now Nathaniel is sick." She was in tears now.

Willow put her paw on top of her friends. "Clarice, I know how it feels to lose someone you love. It's hard."

The mid seasoned otterwife shook her head. "No you don't Will! You don't know what its like to lose a child!"

Willow stood abruptly and put her paws on her thin hips. "You think I don't know? I know very well what its like. I never told you what happened during my first season of marriage! I had a little girl, but she was stillborn. Dead." Will was breaking down into sobs. "How do you think I felt?"

Clarice got up knocking over her chair and spilling the tea. She ran back up to the main deck pushing past Jeremy who was coming down the stairs and went back to her cabin slamming the door. Surprisingly Coty didn't wake up and start crying,but it woke Nathaniel. He sat up slowly and saw his wife leaning against the wall, her head down, and teardrops falling to the floor. He got up and put his arms around her and pulled her close. Clarice buried her face in his shirt and began crying harder. "Shh, it's going to be alright."

Rose awoke suddenly. Her dark brown eyes searching frantically for anything familiar. She sat up and winced as a sharp pain coursed through her chest. Looking down she saw that the whole top half of her torso was wrapped tightly in thick white gauzy bandages. Suddenly she heard paw steps outside the door of her room. She held her breath as a large silver striped badger came into the room. he smiled and said, "'m glad to see you awake.I didn't know if you were going to make it or not. Sorry about the bandages young un, You may have a few cracked ribs because I had to use CPR to bring you around after we lost your pulse."

Rose exhaled and replied shyly, "That's alright sir. May I ask who you are and where I am?"

"I am Algernon and this building is my clinic. Now the town you are in is Port Kendall, biggest port town near Mossflower country. Just north of the island is Salamandastron. Tell me young un what your name is."

"I'm Rosemarie Danisham, but please call me Rose."

"I see. get some rest Miss Danisham. I'll have my assistant bring you some supper in a bit."

Rose nodded and Algernon quietly left the room, shutting the door softly behind him. The young ottermaid rested her head on the pillow and sighed. She wasn't tired or hungry, instead she felt alone. This was an unfamiliar place and her parents were probably hundreds of miles away. She felt tears welling up in her eyes at the thought and then shook her head. No. No tears. She had to stay strong in this place. She got up and put on a pale yellow robe that was hanging on a wall rack and then went over to the small window. Rose pushed open the shutters and a shiver ran through her body as a wintry wind blew in the room. As the shiver past she stared in awe at the night life of Port Kendall. Lights, warm and inviting filled the little houses and shops. Along the pier she could she the faint outlines of ships through the misty lantern light hanging from rigging lines. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and she jumped into bed and said, "Come in."

A thin lanky otter came into the room carrying a tray of food. He had reddish brown fur streaked with silver. He wore a long sleeved blue tunic with a plaid scarf around his neck. The square spectacles on his nose were crooked. "Brrrr, Why do ye have the window open lass? Do ye want tae freeze tae death?"

He set the tray down on the bedside table and went to close the window. When he turned around he said, "Well, eat up. I dinae bring that food up here tae get cold."

Rose grabbed the tray and began nibbling at a piece of bread covered with honey. He nodded approvingly at her. "A bonny lass like ye needs tae eat or else ye'll just be skin an bone. Now tell me what is your name?"

In between bites of food she said, "Rose, Rose Danisham."

"A Danisham eh. I 'aven't eard that name for many seasons. Do you by chance know an Andrew Danisham. A braw ole beastie he was."

Rose shook her head. "I never knew him personally, because he died way before I was ever born, but my father tells stories of him every once and a while. Oh, and what is your name pray tell?"

"Marcus, i've worked for Algernon many seasons now. What are ye starin at lassie?"

Rose had been temporarily fascinated by the highlander's dark gray eyes that looked so familiar. She quickly looked down at the tray of food on her lap. "Sorry, I didn't mean to stare."

Marcus patted her shoulder gently. "It's alright lass. I'll be doon stairs if ye need anythin."

The kind highland otter left leaving Rose alone once again.

Chapter 2 ~The Search~
The next day Captain Nathaniel Danisham awoke before the dawn and walked down the pier deep in thought. What if Rose survived? Surly someone would know about a poor sea otter maid adrift at sea, right? He sighed. The captain's breath was visible in the cold morning air and it swirled around for a few seconds like silver smoke before dissapearing. Nathaniel came to the end of the pier and sat down on a cargo crate. Out of his coat pocket he took out a pack of cigarrettes and stuck one in his mouth. He lit it with a match, then took a long draw from it, blowing the smoke form his mouth. Captain Nathaniel Danisham rarely smoked, but he was stressed. Smoking was just another bad habit that he had picked up from his father, Andrew, After meeting Clarice all of his bad habits had decresed dramatically.

As he sat there on the crate, smoking and looking out at the mist shrouded sea, he thought about what his father would do in this situation. 'Probably get the mast fixed and then ship out again without a care about his child.' he thought.

'Dad never cared about me. The crew raised me, not him. When he tried to teach me to swim he took me out in a longboat and pushed me in expecting me to swim. I was only five then.'

Nathaniel finished his cigarette and started heading back to his ship.

Clarice was awakened by the sound Coty's crying. She sat up and groaned. Why wouldn't he let her sleep? She got up and went over to her son's cradle and picked him up, holding him close. "Shh...It's alright." The babe started to calm down. "There now, you're alright."

Clarice went to go lay down again still holding the babe. Putting him beside her she began to drift off to sleep again when Nathaniel burst into the room and sat noisily down at his desk. Clarice glared at him. "Really? You just come in here loud as can be without a concern about another creature?"

"Huh?"

"Ugh...Nathaniel James Danisham, what am I going to do with you?"

"Chop off me rudder and hang me by my toes from the mainmast...I know. Your threats don't scare me anymore."

"They should."

He chuckled. "I won't be here very long anyways. I need to go find a repair crew and a dry dock so we can get the hull scrubbed. Is it alright if I take Adrian into town with me?"

"It's alright, but don't do anything stupid. I don't want Adrian picking up bad habits at the age of seven."

He nodded and stood up, slipping something into his pocket. As he was walking out the door he said, "We'll be back before dark."

Canvas Waveryder was scrubbing the deck of the ship with his friend Renji. He hadn't said a word ever since Rose was lost and Renji was trying to get him to talk. "C'mon Canvas, It's not your fault."

Canvas's face was hard and he kept on scrubbing the deck harder as if trying to get rid of frustrations. "I killed her." he mumbled.

"No you didn't the st..."

"Yes I did Renji! It's my fault that she went into the rigging in the first place. I killed her!" Canvas snapped.

He threw the scrubbrush a the younger river otter and got up off his paws and knees and stormed off toward the pier. Renji Halloway sighed and tenderly rubbed his shoulder where the scrubbrush had hit him. Why was his friend letting the situation eat him up inside? He knew that Canvas had loved Rose but seriously, her death had been hard on everyone.

Canvas had stalked off into town. He ducked into a small tavern and took a seat at the bar. The bartender, a hedgehog, looked at him suspiciously. "Ain't you a little young to be drinkin?"

"I'm old enough. I'm nineteen, an adult, now please get me something strong."

The hedgehog glared at him, but went to go fix the drink. Canvas sighed and took off the woven necklace he wore. On the woven string there were two plain gold rings, nothing special, but to him they were valuable. He had bought them at the last port that they had stopped at. Both had cost all of his money, but it was worth it. But now after the storm, neither ring would get a chance to be worn. The bartender came back with the drink and put it in front of canvas. He handed the hedgehog a copper coin and watched as he walked off to tend to other customers. He took a drink from the tankard and was satisfied when he felt the strong alchohol burning his throat. He finished the drink and put the woven cord back around his neck and left the tavern, and went walking alone through the busy town of Port kendall.

Nathaniel Danisham was going through the bustling marketplace in Port Kendall. His young son Adrian held tightly to his father's paw so they wouldn't get seperated. They went over to a merchant that was selling fresh fruits and bought a sack of oranges for the crew. Next he went over to a cart where two voles were seling fish and other organisms from the sea. it was obvious thet they were fisherbeasts. "Hello, good sir, what can me brother and I do for you?" said one of the voles.

"Well, I was wondering if you had any...oomph!"

A sea otter maiden had shoved past him. She was tall and lanky with dark fur and the trademark blue eyes of a Galedeep. "I'm sorry sir, I need to speak with these two for just a moment."

The fatter of the two vole brothers crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the maid. "Miss Layla, can't you see that we have a customer?"

"I know and i'm so sorry, but mother wants an order of fresh mussles for her party. Also I came to give you this. She gave an envelope to the vole while the other one was filling a rucksack with clams. The voles eyes widened. "You mean that we're invited? You hear that Tanner, We're invited to the annual masquerade!"

"No kidding?"

Nathaniel cleared his throat. "Excuse me, but I don't have much time. Can I get two sea urchins?"

"Yes sir, sorry sir."

The maid named Layla paid for her things and stood off to the side talking to the vole whom she had given the invite to. "So any good gossip floating around town these days?" she asked.

"Yeah, other fisherbeasts have seen the legendary ship, PHANTASMA in the port. They're sayin that ole Andrew Danisham is back from the dead. Now I don't believe that, but there are some that do. Anyways Tanner and I have had our own interesting thing happen to us."

"What's that?"

"Well the other day we found the strangest thing in our net. A young sea ottermaid had been brought in with the tide and got tangled in the netting. She was barely alive and I'm glad that we got her to Algernon when we did or else she would've died. poor thing. She should still be there recovering."

Nathaniel had heard every word and wanted to know who Algernon was. The vole, Tanner, Gave him his sea urchins and he paid for them, then the captain turned toward the maid. "Sorry for eaves droppin but who is Algernon?"

"he is the best doctor in the port. Algernon is an ancheint old badger who knows how to cure almost any ailment. I happen to be studying under him to be a nurse."

He nodded. Layla looked at a small brass pocket watch, "Oh, dear i'm late! I'll see you later Neville."

She hurried off and didn't realize that she had dropped an invite. Nathaniel picked it up and put it in his pocket. "C'mon Adrian." They started to leave, but Nathaniel stopped and turned back to the vole, "By the way, I own the PHANTASMA."

The voles jaw dropped and Nathaniel smirked. Then they began their way back to the ship to drop off their goods. Nathaniel had gotten the information he wanted. Rose was alive.

Arriving back at the ship he gave the sea urchins to Adrian so he could take them down to Willow. The rest of the crew eagerly waited in line to receive a peice of fruit. It was a rarity to have fresh fruit aboard the ship and it helped prevent them from getting sick. Once everyone had received a peice, Nathaniel took the extras into his cabin and put them in a bowl on his desk. Clarice was awake and looking much better. She was sitting on the floor giving Coty a bath. "Hey, you're back sooner than I expected. Did everything go alright?" she asked.

"Of course it did. Better than I thought actually, I um...found some stuff out that you might like to hear."

Coty giggled as he slpashed around in the washtub, the bubbles tickling his nose. Clarice smiled. "What stuf did you find out?"

"Well,I think Rosie is alive. I 'eard two beasts talking about a sea otter maid being washed up on the shore. Said she was taken to some doctor named Algernon. For some reason his name sounds familiar. Anyways I think it's Rosie."

"That's wonderful, but...what if it isn't her?"

He stayed silent for a while. Finally saying, "Then we'll keep on looking."

Clarice pulled her infant son out of the bath and wrapped him in a towel, scrubbing him dry. Standing up she handed him to Nathaniel. "Hold him for a moment while I get some clothes for him."

Coty stared up at him with big brown eyes. "What?"asked Nathaniel. Coty reached out a paw and pulled on his whiskers, giggling. "Yowch! you little terror! Don't be hurtin your daddy like that."

He pried his whiskers out of the babes grasp. "You may be cute, but that was just cruel." He said with mock pity. He ruffled his sons headfur gently, but then noticed something strange about his fur. "Hey Clarice, have you noticed this?"

"Noticed what?" She came over with the clothes.

"Tell me if i'm seeing things, but is it just me or is that a patch of red fur?"

Clarice looked at her son's head. "Huh, that's odd. Look theres another patch on his back. He must be changing fur colors. Wonder how he got red though."

"Well it's not from me. No Danisham has ever had red fur. It must be from you're side of family."

She shrugged. "It's possibe. I never knew my parents."

Nathaniel kept picking through his son's fur, looking for more red. "Are you sure he's my kid?" he asked jokingly.

"Of course i'm sure!" said Clarice. "Now give him here so I can dress him. "

He handed her the babe. She dressed him in a clean smock and placed her son on a blanket that she had spread on the floor. Giving him a few toys, Clarice went back over to Nathaniel and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Looking over him she saw that he was reading a letter of some sort. "What's that?" she asked curiously.

"Nothing."

"Well it's obviously something.Who's the letter from?"

"Its not a letter. it's an invite. And lets just say that I aquired it by chance." he said.

"Why do you always hide things from me? At least let me know what we're invitded to."

"A Masquerade party. Here i'll read it." He cleared his throat and began, "You are invited to attend Anitra Galedeep's third annual winter ball. This year's theme will be masquerade so be sure to wear a mask. The ballroom is located at the center of the Galedeep mansion, atop the big hill. The ball will start at eight 'o clock in the evening. Please come. P.S. I apologizze for last year. I do hope you come. Sincerely, Layla Corrin Galedeep."

Clarice furrowed her brow in confusion. Why would this Galedeep girl apologize to them when they didn't even know them. Seeing the envelope on the desk she grabbed it and read the name scrawled on the front. BROOKEBATTLE. "Nathaniel James! this is not our invite. I can't believe you stole it!"

"I didn't steal it, I found it. And besides. If this couple wasn't happy last year I doubt that they'd go again. Also..do you know who Anitra Galedeep is?"

" The host of the party?"

"Yes,, but she is also my mother."

Clarice was taken aback. "She...She's your mother?"

Nathaniel nodded. "She left my father and I after I was born. Ran off with some rich Galedeep. I'm assuming that Layla Galedeep would be my half sister. So are you coming with me?"

"To where?"

"This party. I want to talk to her. Please go with me?"

"I don't have a dress, or a mask."

"Then i'll buy you one. After we get the dress we can go straight to the party."

Clarice folded her arms over her chest. "Who's going to watch Adrian and Coty?" she asked.

The captain had to think about this. "Well...Willow hasn't been well lately, so how about Rigg's eldest...what's his name again? It's a weird name too."

"You mean Boom? He's the middle son remember. The eldest left and got married."

"Yes, yes Boom. He's responsible."

Clarice sighed. It looked like there was no other option. She took Coty below decks with her and found Adrian playing pirates with Renji. "Where's Boom?" she asked.

Adrian put a claw to his lips. "Shh...he's sleepin. O'er dere in da 'ammock."

"Don't worry Mrs. D, we'll get 'im up." said Renji.

"Ok little buddy this calls for operation sneak attack. We have to surprise evil Captain Boom and then steel his treasure. Are you in matey?"

"Aye, aye shipmate."

"Alright on three...one...two...three Charge!"

The two young uns raced over to where Boom was asleep and tackled him, causing all three of them to land on the wooden floor of the deck with a thud. Boom groaned and rubbed his head ruefully. "Ouch...You two can't you see I need my beauty sleep?"

Renji chuckled. "If you want to get beautiful you're going to need a lot of sleep."

"Speak for yourself." he then turned his head and saw Clarice standing there shaking her head in dissaproval. "Oh hey Clarice!"

"That's Mrs. Danisham to you. I need to talk to you about watching the boys for me tonight."

Boom stood up and walked over to her. "Of course, Where are you goin tonight?"

"Just on a date. I'll be back late with the captain. Coty's been fed already, but if he gets hungry he can have tiny bits of cooked fish mixed with greensap milk. Are you sure you're okay with watching them?"

"Yeah, they'll be fine. Go have fun on your date. You deserve a break"

"Thank you Boom.." she said as she handed Coty over to him. "By the way where's your brother?"

"I've been wondering the same thing. renji said he stormed off earlier. Haven't seen him since."

"Okay, well take care of them." She gave coty a quick kiss and tried to give Adrian one, but he refused saying that pirates didn't get kisses from their mums. She went back abovedecks and went with Nathaniel into town.

~Chapter 3 The Masquerade~
Rosemarie Danisham was sitting in the study reading a book while Marcus was at his desk filing medical records. He yawned and turned his head towards where she sat. "What are ye readin lassie?"

She looked at the cover of the book. "The Anatomy of sea otters. It's has a whole section on how my body would work. Quite interesting except for the long words."

The highlander smiled. "I'm glad ye take an intrest in it. Maybe ye could be a nurse."

She shook her head. "No, I'm not that smart. I couldn't remember all of this."

"Nobeast can. That's why there's books with everythin ye need tae know lass."

"Hey what's this?" She said to herself as she turned the page. She took out a folded piece of yellowed parchment and opened it. it looked like a letter and began reading it to herself. "''Dear, Marcus O' Leary,

I am sorry for the loss of your precious daughter. What Miranda did was unac''..."

For as old as he was Marcus moved very quickly. He jumped up from his chair and snatched the letter from her. "M...marcus. You never said you had a daughter. Who is Mir..."

"Don't say that name!" He snapped.

His gray eyes blazing with hatred. "Don't say that name. Ever. Now get out o' 'ere afore I force ye."

Rose left the room. The book still in her paws. She went down to the parlor and sat on the sofa. She opened the book again, but was too confused to read. Who was Miranda. Why did Marcus get so mad about her name? Why didn't he mention a daughter? If he did have a child she would have to be about the same age a her mom. She had to know more! Just as she stood to go back up to the study, Algernon came into the parlor followed closely by a sea otter maid A few seasons older than herself. She had to be in her early twenties at most. She wore an elegant burgundy dress with a gold necklace. She surley wasn't poor. "Ahh, Miss Danisham. This is Layla Galedeep. She's my student."

"It's nice to meet you Layla."

"The same to you...Um."

"Rose."

She nodded and took a seat in an overstuffed armchair. Algernon seated himself in another larger armchair closer to the fireplace. "Where's Marcus?"he asked.

Rose answered. "Upstairs in the study. He kind of got mad at me when I found an old letter in this book."

Algernon nodded. "I understand. Miss Layla, will you get what I asked you to buy?"

She nodded and left the room. She came back with three packages. Layla placed them on the coffee table in front of rose."Uh..Algernon...Y..you didn't have to get me anything."

"Of course I did. You can't wear a bathrobe all the time. Open your gifts."

She opened them. The first package contained a pair of lace up boots.The second had a plain blue dress along with a prettier white one. The third package contained a beautiful black coat with silver buttons. Rose looked up at the ancheint badger. "Oh Algernon, this is much too much. I'll never be able to repay you."

"Miss Danisham even if you could, I wouldn't let you repay me for anything. These are gifts. And I suggest you take them."

She nodded in understanding. "Thank you, for everything."

Layla cleared her throat. "Well Rose, I've already told Algernon, but I wanted to invite you as well to my mother's winter ball tonight."

"I'd love to, but what will I wear? i mean these dresses are lovely, but certainly aren't ballgowns."

"No, but I have a dress you can wear from a few seasons ago. It doesn't fit me anymore, but i'm sure it'll be perfect on you."

"thanks. I'll go upstairs and get dressed so we can go. Do you think Marcus would want to come to the party too?"

Algernon shook his head. "I'd give him some time to cool down. His temper is unpredictable and when it flares up it takes a while to get him back to normal. don't be too hard on him for yelling, i'm sure he didn't mean it like he said it. He's had a hard life."

"Oh, what happened to make him like this?"

The anchient badger sighed and rubbed his temple. "Well, he lost everything that he held dear to him. His daughter and his wife. North of the mountain Salamandastron is a small otter holt where he had settled down in after traveling for many seasons alone. There he met a maid named Miranda. From what he told me about her, she was quite pretty and very nice. Anyways they fell in love and married, not long after that Miranda was going to have a child. Marcus was ecstatic of course and when the babe was born was even more excited. It was a tiny female that they had. I believe he named her Temperence because of her rambunctious spirit." Algernon chuckled to himself then settled back into a frown. "A few days after the child's birth both Miranda and the babe dissapeared. Marcus was frantic, searching everywhere. Poor creature didn't sleep for days, he stayed awake at night sitting outside the holt with a lantern, waiting for them to return. About two weeks went by and he was about to give up when Miranda came stumbling back to the holt. Her clothes dirty and torn and her body thinner. Immeadiately Marcus began questioning her. 'Where's my daughter?' 'What happened?' 'Why don't you have Temperance?' She broke down into tears and said that vermin had captured them both after she was going on a nightly stroll with the babe. She said that the vermin had killed their daughter and that she was lucky to be alive. At first he believed her, but as time went by he began suspecting that she wasn't telling him what really happened. He went to the Skipper and they both questioned her again. This time she let them know her disturbing little secret. She laughed as she said that she had been the one who killed Temperence. She said that she had left the child to drown when the tide came in and tore and dirtied her clothes to make him believe that vermin had done it. Skipper had to hold Marcus back from trying to kill her then and there with his bare paws. Later skipper sentenced her to be hung for her unspeakable crime. The rest of the holt supported his descision and did everything they could to try and comfort Marcus. He wouldn't accept their sympathy and left the holt after the hanging. He came to the port looking for a better life, that's how he came to work for me."

"How awful!" exclaimed rose.

Algernon nodded and said, "Go get dressed. we don't want to be late to the party."

Rose went to her room and dressed in the blue dress, the boots, and the black coat. Out of curiosity she went down the hall to see if Marcus had calmed down. Pushing open the door and stepping inside the room, Rose found Marcus at his desk with his face buried in his arms. She could hear the sobs that wracked his thin frame. The young maid went over to his side and placed a paw gently on his shoulder. Marcus stiffened and looked over his shoulder at her. His glasses had fallen off and tears still streamed down his face. "Go away. I donae want yore sympathy."

"Marcus...I'm sorry for what happened with your daughter. Algernon told me about your past and its hard to believe that a mother would do that to her own child."

"Well its true. She wasn't right in the head and I failed tae notice it until twas too late. Please go I wish tae be alone." he said.

"Okay i'll leave, but I want to say that one part of the story stood out to me. When Miranda had LEFT the babe to drown on the tideline...it reminded me of what happened to my mother. She was abandoned as a babe and was found on the beach in front of Salamandastron by a hare. Her name is Clarice though, not Temperance."

Marcus stood up and faced her. Bringing himself to his full height. "My daughter is dead. She has been for over thirty seasons! Now go!"

Rose sighed and left the room. She went back down to the parlor and was caught off guard as Layla grabbed her arm and began pulling her towards the door. "Come on! I have a coach waiting for us!"

She pulled the younger maid towards a carriage being pulled by a small roan mare was parked. The driver, a mouse, tipped his hat to Layla as they climbed inside the coach. Layla Galedeep knocked on the roof twice and Rose had to catch herself as the coach jerked foreward and began to move. "What about Algernon?" asked Rose.

"He's coming later. We needed to leave so we could get dressed." replied Layla.

Rose looked out of the small window and stared at the snow covered streets and warmly lit shops. Everything seemed so perfect here. No vermin, no pirates. Only good and caring creatures. Before she knew it the coach was taking them into the higher society of Port Kendall. Bigger houses and even mansions arose in front of them. At last they pulled up in front of a gigantic mansion that made all of the other homes look small. Rose followed Layla out of the coach and stared in awe while she paid the driver. The white brick mansion had marble stairs leading up to the solid oak door. She jumped as Layla tapped her shoulder. "Like what you see? Just wait until you see the inside. Just don't go into shock on me."

They went up the grand steps and walked into the house. The red carpet was plush and soft and the walls were decorated with gold accents. Large gold and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Layla led her up another grand set of stairs to the second level and then down a long hallway. The hall was lined with paintings of past Galedeep lords and ladies. Layla stopped in front of one of the paintings and said, "This is my father, Lord Lucian Galedeep. He is the current Galedeep lord." Lucian Galedeep was big and broad shouldered with dark gray fur and the same blue eyes as Layla. In the painting he was dressed in an elegantly tailored suit and leaning on a glod hilted sword that was studded with blood red rubys. He looked every bit the royal figure. Layla sighed heavily. "My room is to the right. I should get your dress so you can try it on."

"C'mon Clarice, let me see the dress."

"No. I think I look bad." shd said from behind the curtain.

"I doubt that. besides if we don't hurry up we're going to be late."

"Fine, but tell me if I look fat or not."

"I really don't know why you think that you've gotten fat. You have a good figure. Wow...you look great!" he said as Clarice came out in a silver gown.

"Good. And I think i'm fat because I haven't lost all of the weight that I had gained from being pregnant with Coty yet. So do I look royal enough? "

"You my blossom look like a princess out of a fairytale. What do you think of my royal attire."

"It's great, but the hat is a bit much isn't it?" Clarice asked with a furrowed brow.

His hat was large with a long feathered plume sticking out of it. "No, the hat is the most important part, it makes the disguise believable."

"Whatever," she picked up their masks "Lets pay for all of this and start heading to the party."

They paid for their things and caught a ride from a coach heading towards the "rich" district. The coach let them off about a block away from the Galedeep mansion. As they came up to the estate they were left standing in awe at the huge estate that almost looked like a palace. They were brought out of their trance when a servant came up to them and asked for their invitation. Nathaniel gave it to the squirrel servant and followed him into the estate. He left them at the entrance of the ballroom and went to go usher more guests in. Nathaniel and Clarice put on their masks. "Are you ready?" He asked his wife.

"As i'll ever be darling."

He took her arm on his and pushed open the large doors of the ballroom. The room was an elegant sight! White marble floors with dull gold and gray swirls, high ceilings, and one large glass chanlelier that illuminated the whole room which was full of creatures, both vermin and goodbeasts alike. Clarice felt Nathaniel tense at the sight of the vermin. "Calm down, if you go off on a killing spree then you won't meet anitra." she whispered out of the side of her mouth.

He took a deep breath. "Sorry."

"So what does Anitra look like?"

"From what I was told...she has green eyes, tall, and dark furred."

"Then lets start looking."

Back at the ship...

Renji and Boom's babysitting job was getting boring. Coty was asleep in Renji's armsBoom was on the floor helping Adrian draw a picture of a ship. "You a great artist Boom! Can yous help me make a picture for mama?"

"Sure little buddy."

Suddenly there were loud footfalls coming down the stairs andCanvas appeared at the bottom looking ragged and smelling heavily of alchohol. "Where have you been? Dad's gonna ground you for life."

"Shut up."

Boom quickly covered Adrian's ears. "Language!"

Canvas slumped down in his hammock. Little Adrian got up and went over to Canvas's side. "Canvaas! You need a baff. If my momma caught me stinkin like dat she'd chop me rudder off."

"Go away Adrian. I want to be alone."

"Whys you so grumbly? You sound like my daddy when hes grumbly, he grumbly lots! Proby cuz he don't sleep nough."

"I said go away!" Canvas growled, baring his teeth.

Tears welled in adrian's big gray eyes and he broke down into sobs. The young otter kit ran back to Boom who scooped him up in his strong arms and stood up. "You should be asamed of yourself! Making a child cry. Come on Renji."

They went back above to the captain's cabin away from Canvas.

Once there they were surprised to see a group of three crew members come storming out of the cabin followed closely by Jeremy. "Please wait! You'll get your pay I promise! The captain will be back." he yelled, but the crew members kept on walking to the gangplank and off into the port. Jeremy growled with rage. Fifteen crewbeasts had been lost in just the past few days. The blonde furred first mate glanced at Renji and Boom almost yelling at them but thought better of it. He sighed heavily and stormed off towards the galley.

Unbeknownst to him, Willow was down there already sitting on her cot fretting about the what she had just found out. Her nerves were on edge even more than usual as she thought of how she was going to tell him. Oh what would she tell him? She was startled as her husband came storming down the stairs, obviously unhappy. He grabbed a bottle of rum off of a shelf and sat down at the small table. Willow stood up and went over to him. "Uh...Jem what is wrong?"

"Many things my darling. Without Nathaniel around nothing has been going right." He took her thin paw gently in his. "If I didn't have you i'd be insane."

She smiled a bit. "There's something I need to tell you something...important."

"What is it?"

"Well I...um. How do I say this?"

His sapphire blue eyes looked expectantly at her. "What's bothering you Will? Is something wrong?"

"No, well maybe. I just can't find the right words. Here."

She grabbed his paw and placed it on her stomach. He still looked confused. "What are you trying to say? Are you...?"

"Yes, i'm going to have a baby. Our baby."

Back at the party...

Clarice and Nathaniel were still on the search for Anitra when a tall slim seaotter wife in a burgundy ballgown and a gold mask began tapping a spoon on the side of a wine glass to get the attention of all the guests. Everything fell silent. "Thank you all for being here at this years festivities. Let us officially start with the first dance, shall we!"

Clarice stepped out onto the floor with the captain.The music began and they started to dance. "Was that her?" Clarice asked.

"Aye. I pictured her differently though. She's almost my height."

"So what. At least we found her."

He nodded. "Now we just have to get to her. To do that we have to get there." He said indicating the other side of the ballroom where Anitra was talking with a young ottermaid that resembled the one he had met in the market. They began dancing their way through the crowd and once they were out of it began heading towards Lady Galedeep. Layla was the first to spot them. She smiled and said, "Hello! Are you enjoying the party?"

"Oh yes, very much so." Clarice replied. Nathaniel didn't say anything as he stared at Anitra. He couldn't believe she was right here, so close to her, his mother. Anitra looked at the couple like they weren't worth her time. She said, "It was nice meeting you but I really have other things to attend too." She turned to leave.

"Wait!" Nathaniel blurted.

Lady Galedeep turned back to him. "Yes? What is it?"

"Wh...Why did you do it?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Why did you leave my father and I?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Who are you?" she asked suspiciously.

Nathaniel removed his mask and said, "Do you not recognize your son?"

Her green eyes widened. "You...It can't be. How did Andrew not kill you?"

"Believe me, he tried on more than one occasion. I blame you for his drunkenness though. You left him with a broken heart and a long lasting anger." He replied.

"Mother..." Layla said softly. "Why didn't you tell me I had a brother?"

"He is none of your concern Layla. I do not claim him as my son nor will I ever."

But mom, he said..."

Anitra glared daggers at her daughter."Go to your room Layla."

"No."

Anitra slapped the maid. "do not talk back to me. Go to your room, now!"

Layla placed a paw on her cheek as her blue eyes filled with tears. "No! I won't! You lied to me, to everyone! Why did you get rid of him but not me? I was an accident too wasn't I? You didn't want me either, but you kept me for show!"

"That's not true!"

"Than what is mother? or should I even call you that?"

Anitra turned back to Nathaniel, "I have heard enough from both of you, Now you get out of my house, and Layla if you hate me so much go with them."

"Fine. " she stepped down by her half brother and said to him, "I'll be right back I have to go find someone."

While Lady Galedeep was causing a scene in front of the other nobles by fighting with her children, a small group of assorted vermin gathered at the back of the room planning to get the royal and highly valuable, Galedeep family jewels. A weasel named Xander was the one who came up with a brilliant idea in the vermin's eyes. "We need 'ostages! Close in family if at all possible. Dat otter gal in da dark blue dress is da daughter. I heard Now I 'eard she 'ad a son too, but he looks strongdon't mess with 'im. He got a little wife with 'im though. She'd be a good 'ostage."

"Good idea.