Training at the Guns

[Carrow]

Carrow hadn't been expecting his companion to react so badly to Spender's attack - but the mouse found himself turning pale as the lid was slammed down on the marten's paw. Caden's cries had increased in volume and intensity just then, and... oh, great seasons, no, Carrow thought. That could mean that he's... broken his wrist...

By the third slam, the marten was in agony. His cries had reached almost howling pitch now, and they cut through the still morning air like a knife through butter. He was in excruciating pain now, that much could be seen clearly, even from a distance such as the one Carrow had been standing at. Oh, Spender, he thought sadly. You are going to suffer for this - and you'll deserve everything you get.

The mouse could feel his emotions cycling through all the various shades - vindication: he knew that the ferret would pay for his actions. Fear and worry were of course there too: what condition was Caden in, and might the rodent's worst fears be confirmed? Then there were other ones too. Ones that felt alien to the normally taciturn mouse.

As he hot-pawed it over to his companion's side, a burning rage began to swell within him.
He was angry. Confused, upset (as the tears now starting to flow down his cheeks showed) and angry, incensed at Spender for what he had done. He couldn't wait to see the state of the bullying ferret after his inevitable punishment had been administered. He would not gloat, or mock, as that was not his way, but he'd feel as though there were some justice in it all, knowing that creatures who antagonised and harassed others really did get what they deserved.

The wood mouse also found his opinions of Spender lowering even further. That idiot had outdone himself this time it seemed, and the more Carrow thought of the reverberations this could have... the more he found himself beginning to hate Spender Cielciosk. It was the strongest emotion of all, just ahead of his worry - and it made him think rather a lot.

Really?, he thought. Do I 'hate' him? Do I have it in me to 'hate' another creature? I can't help it. I cannot stand the sight of that ferret. He takes pleasure out of making others' lives a misery, and creatures like that really are the worst kind. So yes, he thought as he came to a halt beside his friend, yes, I do. Then the long-tailed field mouse said it again under his breath to make sure. "I hate you now, Spender..."

He listened to Horace's command, nodding almost automatically in response. He was shocked about all this, and he was having difficulty coming to terms with it all. But he could deal with that later, he thought. Right now, he had to make sure Caden was okay... as well as could be expected, with his potential broken wrist.

The mouse looked up and saw Ocean on his pine marten companion's other side. He spoke after receiving directions, conversing with the stoat, his voice soft, uncharacteristically deep, and carrying a slight quaver. "U-up one flight... r-right... how should we do this? I don't want Caden collapsing, so walking him up those stairs isn't an option... hmm. Perhaps carrying him might work? I'll take his legs and you put your arms around his waist, leaving the paws free. What do you think?"

He left the ermine to ponder his suggestion, transferring his gaze to Caden. Wiping a paw across his brown eyes, he gazed into the albino's pink ones, speaking softly to reassure him. "Hang on in there, mate... we'll soon have you looked at. Just stay with us if you can... please, Caden...," he pleaded, trailing off as the tears came again. It pained him terribly to see his friend like this. The pine marten's face was a twisted mask of agony, and he was clearly not all there. That's to be expected I guess, Carrow thought, trembling visibly himself. Please be alright. Hoping against hope, perhaps, but what can I do?

[Ladorak]

The crew were assembling nicely, and Ladorak found his resolve softening a bit. Perhaps he'd reduce it to the summary flogging reserved for boys instead of jacks. Spender might not be able to stand a beating on his backside after all. He could very well pass out. It was still Caden they were talking about however...but Ladorak knew he couldn't technically apply a cat of nine tails without an official court martial for Spender. Now if he were over 18...the ferret could be flogged with a cat no problem...but as it was...the stoat wasn't a sadist, and he didn't want his record marred by this either. He would have to reduce the sentence, if not the lashings.

Down below, Ocean nodded, agreeing with Carrow's suggestion. "OK right...I'll take his waist then. Here we go Caden...ready?" Caden only moaned in response, tears streaming from his eyes. He held his wrist, which felt as if it were throbbing and going to fall off. Wailing as Ocean held him about the waist, the ermine lifted the albino up so that they could get a good pawdle on him. Ensuring that the mouse had a good hold, Ocean began walking the injured marten aft, making his way up the forward companionway which wasn't too far off.

After carefully making their way up, their task helped by the fact that everyone was up top, the two made their way forward, toward the bow. There was a canvas bulkhead up ahead of them, separating the Sick Berth from the rest of the ship. It was held in pace by wooden beams and framework, and could be removed in the event of a battle.

Opening the door, Ocean and Carrow stepped into the front of the ship that served as the Sick Berth. Sick crew members were sleeping or moaning, resting in hammocks hanging from the ceiling. There were buckets placed on the floor for their vomit, and every gun port up here was kept open to keep the place well ventilated and bright during the day time. Ahead of them was a wooden bulkhead, with two doors leading outside. Out there was the bowsprit, and also the ship's "heads" or toilets, ensuring the sick always had easy access to them.

Ocean grimaced at the sight...he always hated being around sick beasts, but couldn't avoid it in this instance. Caden needed help after all. In the center of the room was a desk with a medicine cabinet sitting on one end. A scruffy looking marten sat at the table, taking notes behind his spectacles as his mates headed about the room, checking on the ill and tending to their needs.

This fellow was Dr. Gregory Kasal, the ship's Surgeon. Though he had a terrible bedside manner, he was brilliant, and almost considered ahead of his time. Working a ship wasn't the most glamorous job he could have found, but being a long time friend of the Captain and a desire to avoid his past had caused him to enlist. Looking up at the trio, he removed his glasses.

"Oh boy I get to treat the albino!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm quite false, though it wasn't demeaning either. "So what's Fugate's lad gone and done?" Kasal asked, not standing up due to his gimp leg. He hated standing and walking around unless he absolutely had to. He hated being here too, unless he was working on an extremely interesting case. He had been...trying to change however, and was showing up when he was regularly scheduled. "From the looks of things...something to do with this wrist. Lay it out on the table."

Caden did the best he could, yelling as it touched the wood. "Nasty...give me a second..." the older marten began to run his fingers over the tender spot, causing Caden to groan and sometimes cry out. "You have a fracture lad. Going to need to set that. We'll set you up with a bed here."

Oh blast! Caden started sobbing again, realizing he'd managed to accomplish receiving yet ANOTHER fracture in his life! This was two in the span of only a year! He broke down now, realizing what it meant for his job. He'd be unable to work! To learn! Ladorak would get angry! He'd not be able to see to his duties!

Ocean turned to look at Carrow as Kasal was going through his medicine chest. "Do you want to head up and watch Spender's punishment? I could stay with Caden if you do. Or do you want to stay here for the moment? If so I might head up there...get a view of my brother getting his desserts." the ermine stated.

Kasal withdrew some bandages and a splint. He set about feeling up Caden's wrist to determine the location of the fracture, causing Caden to wince in pain and call out as he rested his head on the desk. His wrist was turning purple, indicating the presence of blood with the bruise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The crew were gathered, and the First Lieutenant turned to report to the Captain. "All set sir."

"Good..." the stoat commander stepped forward, looking down at Spender. "Let me briefly address the crew. This is the first serious offense we have had on the Agamemnon!" his voice rang out in the still air. "As such, it is a boy responsible for violating the Articles of War. The jacks are dismissed...the boys must stay and witness the punishment. Any jacks who wish to stay may do so. I apologize for the summoning of the crew, but I have decided to reduce the sentence. He shall be flogged as a boy...not as a jack."

The crew began to dissipate, though the striplings all had to remain for this, including Peskers and Selvis. Some of the crew did stick around, figuring it was better than going back to work. "Strip him!" the Captain ordered, and Henley yanked Spender's pants down, removing them from the ferret. "Seize him up!" The Quartermasters grabbed Spender and dragged him towards the gratings, spreadeagling him as they did so.

His arms were stretched up and tied to the vertical grating, the knots made secure about his wrists. His foot paws were lashed down to the grating he was standing on, and thus was the ferret incapable of fleeing or doing much else. The knots were tied tight, to ensure a minimal amount of movement on the condemned's part.

"Spender Cielciosk..." the Captain began. "You have violated Article 22 of the Articles of War. 'If any person in the fleet shall quarrel or fight with any other person in the fleet, or use reproachful or provoking speeches or gestures, tending to make any quarrel or disturbance, he shall, upon being convicted thereof, suffer such punishment as the offense shall deserve, and a court martial shall impose.' In this case no court martial is needed. You were observed by multiple crew committing this offense, and your guilt has been established. You have violated a law, and you are hereby sentenced to thirty lashes. However...because you are a boy and this is your first offense, I am commuting your sentence to twenty four lashes on the buttocks, with a five tailed cat with no knots. You shall serve your sentence effective immediately. As a reminder, the Articles of War are posted at EVERY mast on the ship for the crew. You had no excuse for violating them...save perhaps illiteracy, but even then that is no excuse. You are read the Articles of War three times a month during inspection...and thus we have every reason to believe that you willfully committed a most heinous breach of code against your fellow crew mate Caden Fugate."

The Captain paused, taking a glass of water and sipping it. "You must realize that your consequences have actions, especially if they violate the Articles of War. You WILL maintain discipline or you will be punished." The rather surprised Boatswain's Mates replaced the cat of nine tails and drew out from their bag the five tailed cat, or "reduced cat" as it was called. There were no knots on this one, so bleeding was unlikely, but they would leave the skin raw as could be, and give the ferret plenty to think about when he'd try to sit down for the next week.

"Furthermore, because you have brought grievous injury to a fellow crewbeast, your alcohol ration is hereby suspended for the entire month of August, and shall not be resumed until the first of September. In addition, you are hereby assigned to clean out the latrines at the bow of the ship every day until Volunteer Class I Caden Fugate's injury has healed, such time as to be determined by the ship's Surgeon. You may NOT strike your fellow crew mates Spender. Doing so reduces their ability to attend to their tasks and work...thereby reducing the effectiveness of the ship. You will refrain from doing so in the future or face similar punishment."

The stoat looked down at the first Boatswain's Mate, who held the reduced cat in his rodent paws (he being a rat). "Do your duty." the Captain said, and the Mate stepped forward. The Master-at-Arms prepared to count off the lashes, and the Mate offered the condemned ferret a knotted and crumpled piece of cloth.

"Want to bite down on this?" he asked.

[Carrow]

Carrow did indeed have a good grip. He was surprised how easy it was to help his pine marten companion along, though of course Ocean being by far the stronger of the two creatures helped the mouse considerably.

The pair padded slowly along, a sense of unreality beginning to descend upon the wood mouse's mind. This... this couldn't be happening, he thought. I cannot actually believe that... that ferret (he had to seriously work to keep himself from chucking in an expletive or two here) could actually do such a thing. He's a sadist, a menace, and a danger to us all...

Carrow felt as though he were sleepwalking now. He seemed to be in a kind of trance; this could be seen clearly by Ocean as they headed up the stairs and towards the bow. He was definitely struggling with this latest development, a feeling that was exacerbated by his 'changes'. He wept quietly, in full view of his two friends, unable to help himself in the slightest.

They soon reached the Sick Berth. Ocean was the one who opened the door, meaning that for a moment the long-tailed field mouse had had to keep a firm hold on his pine marten friend's legs. This he had done rather well, especially considering he had never been a strong creature in any shape or form. His hold was firm, yes, but as gentle as he could manage too.

The rodent smiled a little at Kasal, but remained silent otherwise as the older marten went through his pronouncement. That familiar sinking feeling hit him again as the worst-case scenario was confirmed. The tears came thick and fast now, splashing down onto his shirt. He couldn't bear to see Caden like this, and he wasn't ashamed to weep for his friend's misfortune.

Sounding a lot more confident than he really felt (because he knew from experience that it was crucial to have your spirits kept up after an injury - particularly after what amounted to a vicious assault), he murmured in Caden's ear, his voice sounding as soothing as he could manage, as the mouse tried to keep a pawdle on his emotions. "Ssssh... sssssh... it's alright... I know this means you won't be able to work, but, really, how could you be reprimanded for this? It wasn't your fault after all. Jal Kasal knows what he's doing. You're going to be fine, Caden... just fine. Kasal can help take care of you..."

The mouse found himself smiling at his albino friend now as he gently clasped his good paw, his gaze remaining steady as he looked deep into Caden's eyes. He was going to try and comfort him as best he could. If he needed a paw getting some rest - and at this thought his other paw touched his pocket watch, something that he carried with him at all times - the Dibbun might just be able to be of some assistance.

He heard Ocean's deep voice in his ear, and he responded quietly, not once taking his eyes from Caden's. Never mind the physical condition he was in; when compared to the psychological impact something like this could have, it paled into near-insignificance - again, something that Carrow had been forced to learn at a very early age indeed. "I'm going to stay with him. You go up and watch Spender's punishment if you must, but being here for Caden's far, far more important to me right now. So I'm going to stay put," he told the stoat resolutely, his facial fur now matted with tears. Oh, this was terrible... truly awful...

[spender]

Spender's rage had dissipated, like a mist over the ocean. He'd been blinded, seeing shapes drift in and out of focus, but now he understood. Now he could see it all clearly. A worrisome smile trembled at the ferret's maw.

He would kill Caden.

And he would enjoy it.

Just as he was currently enjoying the nice breeze beneath his tail.

Once again, numbness was taking over. He barely felt the caning he'd received prior. Warm relief swept through his veins. The voices of the Captain, the officers, the mates—all sounded tinny and distant. He didn't so much as grunt as his limbs were tied. It was as if his brain had gone away on vacation and left the elderly next-door neighbour access to water the plants, only she'd gotten herself locked in and had run out of her prescription medication.

He'd stopped crying.

Various fantasies flitted through his imagination. His favourite one was where he ripped the pine marten's throat out with his bare paws.

"Want to bite down on this?"

Spender drifted down to reality for a few seconds. He shook his head. No way he was putting that thing in his mouth. Sure, he'd eat leftover cheese off the deck, but who knew where this cloth had been? There were a lot dirtier places than underneath a table.

Let them do their worst! He was in the right. No matter what they said. Caden had deserved it, and worse. Someone had to put that poncy albino freak in his place.

Suddenly, he thought of something very witty to say.

It was cut off by the first blow.

His breath hissed out of him; he'd nearly bitten his tongue. It was far worse than the cane. Far, far worse. The second blow had him whimpering. The third, crying. By the fourth, he was shouting, screaming in pain. By the sixth, begging:

"Stop, stop, stop! Please! Stop! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, please stop! Pleeeeeease! Oawowoooo, stopstop, muuuuum! Muuum! Help! Stop I'm sorry!"

And there were still over ten to go...

[Ladorak]

"I doesn't feel like it's a major break...only in one spot...probably on the ulna." Kasal murmured as he began to set Caden's arm and apply the splint to it. "Just keep it as straight as possible, and no strenuous work until at least a week after the splint comes off." This only caused Caden to sob further. "Probably four weeks, so you won't be able to use it until September."

"No..." Caden moaned, mostly in response to what Carrow was saying into his ear. "If I can't work I'll get in trouble! And I won't learn as much! I'm gonna be behind everyone else!" he wailed, burying his face into the desk.

"Not all bad...it's an excuse not to work..." Kasal mumbled, wrapping bandages around the swollen, painful extremity. This didn't cause a lifting of Caden's spirits. He felt despair, and a burning desire to obtain a pistol and shoot Spender dead on the spot if he could manage it. He had ruined his life! He had tried to kill him!

Some of these were exaggerated yes, but it mattered not to the injured marten. His mother's terrible temper was coming back to grip a hold on his heart with her dark tendrils, and it was threatening to consume him. He wanted to bite down into Spender's throat and pull out his trachea with his bare teeth...give in to his bloodlust and murder that ferret in cold blood. But...how could Ladorak expect him to behave when he was in so much pain!? How did Ladorak keep his anger in check? How did he expect so much of the albino? How could he get a pawdle on his feelings if he was so consumed with this...this feeling that he couldn't even fully explain!

It was like someone had dropped a match into his belly full of kerosene and the entire thing was now burning in a conflagration, though the jabbing pain in his wrist brought him back to reality. Kasal had just finished setting the injury and turned to one of his "loblolly" boys or orderlies that frequently helped him out in the berth. "Hey! Get this marten into a clean hammock! Let's go!"

The orderly moved over to Caden's side, and Ocean took that as his cue. "Right...well look after him Carrow. I'm heading up top." The orderly was assisted by Carrow as the ermine departed, exiting back through the door of the canvas bulkhead. Hoisting Caden up into an unused hammock, the marten was laid to rest upon clean mattress and clean sheets.

"I would recommend resting here for today. If you feel well enough to walk then technically...you don't have to stay here. But I need to see you twice a day. Once after breakfast and once after supper. Need to check your progress and record it in the log and all that good rot. You may sleep in the...gun room is it? As you're a Volunteer Class I...but if you sleep here...among the sick, I know it's not the most appealing...but if you stay here, at least there would be an Assistant Surgeon or myself here at all times in case you sleep on that paw of yours wrong."

Caden sighed, tears still in his eyes. He loved placing his paw under his pillow at night, or sleeping on his paw as it rested on top of the pillow...he would have to get used to sleeping in a different manner. The sinking feeling was hitting him. Another fracture...again...the SAME arm as well! It had been nearly a year since his last break...but here it was...all over again. It was so limiting...and back then he hadn't had a job on the line either. He stared straight up at the ceiling, his chest convulsing every time he sniffled. He was confined to a bed again...for who knew how long? And he might catch something if he stayed here as well, making him sick AND injured.

The thought made him close his eyes and begin crying again. He knew that Carrow was most likely standing right next to him, but words wouldn't come just yet to the marten's mouth...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fwap! "Seven!" the hedgehog Master-at-Arms had to speak up now as Spender had not opted for the gag and instead was wailing out, his screams and pleas rising in crescendo as he was beaten on his buttocks. Fwap! "Eight!" Fwap! "Nine!" Fwap! "Ten!" Fwap! "Eleven!" Fwap! "Twelve!"

And then...nothing. The blows stopped. The Boatswain's Mate withdraw, wrapping the cat around his paw, heading back to get a drink. It was customary to stop after every dozen blows, thanks to some particularly brutish creature having studied the way pain is inflicted, and determining that after twelve blows the afflicted area would begin to grow numb...and the torturers didn't want that now did they! So a brief break was called after every dozen lashes in order to let the pain sink in and the nerves a chance to realign themselves and feel the full impact of the next twelve.

Ocean was on deck now, jogging to join the assembled boys. He wouldn't be in trouble for being late, as Ladorak had been told by the Gunner that he'd assisted in helping Caden to the Sick Berth. Gulping, he could see Spender's bared rump, and that several blows had already befallen it. He quietly shuffled into place, standing at attention to watch the unfolding event.

A new Boatswain's Mate stepped forward, this one a rather tough and strong looking wolverine. He was one of the biggest crew members on board, and was known for being particularly hard with laying on the crew's backs with his starter. Grinning wickedly at the ferret as he looked at him and leaned against the grating, the large Mate held up a wooden cup of water. It was customary to offer the boys a drink after every dozen lashes, but the Mate held it just out of reach for the moment, swirling it around a bit as he spoke, his teeth curved and twisted at grotesque angles.

"So how we 'angin' in there love? All nice and tender yet? If ye aren't now...ye soon will be." he wiped his brow, prone to sweating in any kind of heat, and the Cobalt region was hot enough. "Heat's a bit much eh?" he was also left pawed...the Captain would often switch Mates between right and left pawed beasts to get a nice criss-cross pattern of bruises going on the whipped region. "But don't worry...'eat'll be the least of yer worries...har har har har!" he chuckled now in a not so kind way. He spoke very low, so that only Spender could hear. "Wah-wah-wah. I'm sooo sorry! Don't 'urt me! Mummy! Hahahah! Do the crime gotta pay the piper eh? All you blokes whine as if you'll never do it again...but that's the thing see...shoulda thought about that 'afore you went and did it, huh?" he punched the ferret playfully (though none too softly!) in the exposed ribs.

He held the cup of water just a tad beyond Spender's muzzle. "Nod yer 'ead if ye want it...or shake it for no."

[Carrow]

"You'll get in trouble?" Carrow scoffed at this assumption. "Surely the higher-ups here aren't as compassionless as you're making them out to be? You're only not going to be working because you're physically incapable of doing so, mate - it's not your fault. We both know who was responsible for this...," he murmured, still keeping a gentle hold of Caden's paw. The poor pine marten, the mouse thought. He looks exhausted, and I wouldn't blame him.

"Pretty much every creature on board will know by now that you were the victim of an attack. You'll be out of commission for a while, yes, but you'll be incapable of doing your tasks under exceptional circumstances. That's what they are, you know - don't kid yourself for a moment that it's anything otherwise.

"Look." Here, the rodent's tone became softer, as he tried reasoning with his incapacitated companion. "You have goals aboard this ship, Caden. Me, I'm going to take whatever it is I can get; I'm lucky to be here after all. But you, you're ahead of the pack, and you know it. Sure, you're going to lose ground as a result of this, but I'm confident that you'll be able to make it up in double-quick time once you're all better."

Carrow's voice still carried a slight tremble, but it also radiated sincerity. The belief that the wood mouse had in his friend was such that he was not going to listen to any protestations that the pine marten might have had. There was no point in him running himself into the ground because of this, absolutely none at all.

He nodded at Ocean as the stoat addressed him. "I'll do all I can for him, you can be sure of that," the youngster murmured. "Take care - let me know how Spender gets on, will you?," he asked, perking up slightly for a moment as thoughts of the ferret's punishment (which was taking place even as he spoke) flashed through his mind.

After the ermine had departed, the long-tailed field mouse turned his attention back to his friend. The mouse noticed that Caden had been placed into a hammock, and he smiled a little as he thought of how he could turn this to his advantage if the albino needed some rest. After a moment of (thankfully comfortable) silence, he spoke again.

"There's nothing you can do for now, save eat and rest to regain your strength. You're going to come out of this better than you were before; there's no need to assume the worst. Sure, you'll be here for a while, but you may as well make the best of it. And you're not going to be alone, either. I'll be here whenever I can, checking in on you a couple of times a day."

He was about to say more when he saw Caden beginning to tear up again. He fell silent, letting his friend cry out his pain and frustration, but keeping hold of his good paw all the while to let him know he was still there. I won't see you lost, Caden, I promise. After a while, the marten's sobs began to decrease in intensity, and the mouse decided to put forward a proposition that had come to him.

His voice softened as he whispered into the pine marten's ear. He was unsure he'd be allowed go through with it, but he was sure as Hellgates going to try. He didn't want to leave him until he absolutely had to. "Listen... it's dinnertime soon, right? I know you'll have to have your food brought up here, so I was thinking: how about we have dinner together? I'll see what I can do as regards getting permission. What do you think?," Carrow enquired softly, knowing that Caden would probably be grateful for the company.

[Ladorak]

Caden was only half listening to the mouse as he had been moved into his hammock, and wasn't listening at all when he had broken down and started crying again. Fortunately for him, Carrow hadn't been speaking. The mouse had been silent while Caden had wept.

Carrow had made some points, but the marten had been bitterly closing his ears off due to a combination of pain, bile, and despair. He had taken bits and pieces from it, and was now just letting it all go. He cried for several minutes, trying to get a hold of it and get it under control. He rarely cried...and couldn't remember the last time he had been this bad.

The ceiling was obscured due to the tears in his pink eyes, and he rubbed the back of his good paw across them, trying to clear them. Gradually, after untold minutes, the marten finally was reduced to sniffling with an occasional tear streaming out to dampen his fur. Carrow started speaking again, suggesting about bringing his dinner back up here and eating with the albino.

He felt warmed by this thought, and looked out the open gun port at the sea. They weren't moving, and were quite idle. A nice breeze was blowing in though, ruffling his fur. He was facing away from Caden, closing his eyes and thinking about this. Of course he wanted Carrow to eat with him...he would be away from the mess for quite some time after all. Not that he'd want to eat with Spender again. He wanted to move for the ferret getting tossed out of their mess at the earliest opportunity. Maybe they could get Ocean in instead of Spender.

Rolling over to look at the mouse, his face was somewhat emotionless, with hints of sadness mixed in...until he smiled. "OK...I'd like that. If I'm going to be confined here may as well take advantage of that eh? Oh...speaking of which...I'd like to get some of my books up here too. My haversack is down in the gun room...which I know you can't access. But maybe if you speak to the Gunner, he'd let you in. I'm sure he'd understand. It's resting aft of the cabins, on the...starboard side. I may as well try and study as much as I can while I'm bedridden."

He sighed, then opened his mouth to speak again. "Thanks by the way...I do appreciate this...it'll be hard not being able to wander around and see everyone I want to see." he said, some sadness evident in his voice.

[Carrow]

Carrow's face lit up at Caden's response to his suggestion. The wood mouse had of course been hoping the pine marten would answer in the affirmative, but it surprised him just how enthusiastic the mustelid was being about the whole proposal. Yes, that was true: he'd have to make the best of the blow he'd been dealt.

Good for you, Caden, the rodent thought as he smiled slightly, patting his companion's paw in a reassuring manner. "Of course... of course. I can arrange that right away if you'd like. See, you're looking on the bright side already! There's no reason why you shouldn't keep yourself occupied with study and other such things while you're here!

"I know how much you want this, after all, and it'd be better if you got going as soon as possible. You're going to catch up in no time at all, Caden, I just know it!" His brown eyes sparkled as he met the marten's gaze again. Eye contact always helped to calm him down, and Carrow wanted to see how his friend reacted to a similar tactic.

"You're going to be alright, mate, never fear. Now then, about this whole having-your-lunch-brought-up-to-you business. I'm going to head down now and have a word with Horace; we'll see if I can't get permission to stay with you, heheh." The mouse chuckled softly as he squeezed his friend's good paw.

"I'm going to try and make it a regular thing for the next while. At the very least, it'll be until Spender gets transferred to a different mess. I'm actually going to move to have him removed, as I just wouldn't feel comfortable in his presence - or rather, even less comfortable around him than usual," he added, trying to make light of relations with the bullying ferrret, even though, deep down, he saw him as the lowest of the low.

"Well actually, no, scrap that. If I can manage at all, I'll come up here and take lunch with you every single day you have to stay here. I want to spend as much time with you as i can of course, so I'll see how that goes. You'll get your books, and you'll get your lunch, then we'll see how things go from there, alright?"

The Dibbun wood mouse smiled at his companion once again. He was going to be there for the stricken albino pine marten as much as he could - just as he knew he would want if the roles were reversed. He valued Caden's friendship above the others', and it was more than just the fact that he was the first of the growing circle of friends that Carrow had met. They were polar opposites, personality wise, but they were really quite the pair!

[Ladorak]

Caden smiled, even if he didn't fully believe Carrow. He would fall behind...he just knew it. But he would have to work with what he was given. He would have to study as much as he possibly could while he was confined to the Sick Berth, and try and start memorizing things early. His Lieutenant's exam was years off...but no sense getting caught sleeping. The earlier he started studying, the better.

The eye contact did reassure him though, and made him think of how grateful he was to have at least one friend here with him. He wanted to see Ladorak quite desperately, but knew he would have to wait on that. The stoat Captain would have his off time soon enough...and maybe he would pay the marten a visit.

Memories of staying at Ladorak's house flashed through his mind. He had had a broken arm then too, and he remembered Ladorak reading to him as they sat on that couch underneath the large living room window. It had helped him get through that time, and work on rehabilitating his arm had commenced once his sling was off.

He knew pining for the stoat was no use, so he would keep as busy as he could with Carrow. "Thanks mate..." Caden said gratefully and in a soft voice. "Oh...you won't need to talk with Horace about the food...I meant talk to him to get access to the gun room, where my personal effects are. For the food I reckon you'd need to speak to the Purser about that, as he's the one who pawdles all the food related stuff. He'd need to know you're taking the food up to me for his inventory after all."

He paused, his smile still remaining as he rested on the pillow. "I don't think there's much time left before dinner is piped, so you'd best get a move on. Oh you may as well grab me half a pint of rum as well, as I'll probably need it for this pain." he said, gesturing with his good paw at the bad one. "Other than that...I'll take whatever meat they're dishing out, skip the vegetable, as well...'m a marten after all. Oooh and try to get me cheese. Helps with the bones and all that." he said, smiling again. "I think this works nicely, because if I recall you were taking your turn as mess cook this week anyway, so you can pawdle all our orders. And...thanks...Carrow." the marten added, as way of appreciation.

If only he could pay him back some day...but as it was he was sure he'd get the opportunity. They were going to be together for years at this rate. "Well you'd best get going. Surgeon Kasal!" Caden called out, and the older marten looked over at him from his desk. "What time is it?" Kasal glanced at the pocket watch on the table top.

"11:50" he responded simply, and shifted his attention back to recording Caden's injury in his logbook.

"Yeah...ye got ten minutes mate. Should be enough time to get my stuff and then get to the Cook for dinner. I'll be fine here...I'll just look out the port. I'll try to see what the Rosferians are up to." he said, cracking yet another smile, this time more playful than before, even though his voice remained low. They were right off Rosferia's major southern naval base after all, keeping a close blockade of it. Since Caden was resting on the larboard side of the ship, he could see out the open gun port to the coastline. It would be a good distraction for him until the mouse returned.

[Carrow]

Carrow smiled softly as he squeezed Caden's uninjured paw again. "Right, mate, coming in loud and clear. First Horace to try for access to the gun room, and then over to the mess to get the food for both of us. Sir, yes sir!," he responded playfully, saluting the injured mustelid good-naturedly.

"Okay, so, going over it again, you want....a half=pint of rum, and meat and cheese. Okay, that's fine. I might be having the exact same myself, now that I think about it. You'd need it to help with the pain, as you said, but as for me I think my stress levels need seeing to. I'd rarely ever drink, but I think it's more necessary this time out."

The first few hours of the mouse's day had been full to the brim with incidents of all kinds, and the tension in his body had the rodent about as tight as a coiled spring. He needed to relax a little, in the company of his best friend, and he was going to do whatever he could to help, including indulging himself and having a little alcohol, even though he'd never had any before in his life.

"I'll try and be back here as soon as possible. I'm on the Afternoon Watch after lunch, so I certainly won't be hanging around down there. You need your vittles after all, mate. You can rely on me." The wood mouse fell silent awhile as his companion enquired about the time, and he felt himself tensing up even further when he heard the older marten's response.

"11:50?! Well, I did say I was going to try and be back here as soon as possible - looks like I have even more reason to now." He paused, smiling as Caden's quip reached his ears. They'd actually have a pretty decent view of the coastline from here, which was rather convenient in the long-tailed field mouse's case, who hadn't had all that much time to take in his surroundings back home. In fact you could say he was now making up for it.

"Yes, you do that, mate. Right then, I'd best be off on these errands of mine," he murmured, winking mischievously at the albino. "Not going to keep you waiting any longer than I have to!," he promised, nodding his thanks to Kasal before turning and jogging out of the Sick Berth, desperately trying to take stock of his surroundings.

So, right, where to first? The gun room? Where was that again? The mouse thought for a second, and then it dawned on him. Ah, but of course! That must be one flight down from where he currently was. Yep - the lower gun deck was where the gun crew had been earlier for training. He headed for the flight that would take him down below, careful not to be too hasty where he put his footpaws. Not many knew it, but the rodent wasn't that good with stairs.

However, such thoughts proved unnecessary, as he soon found himself on the lower gundeck without any fuss at all. He then headed in the direction of the rear of the ship, He was picking up new lingo every day, and now knew that 'stern' meant the rear of the vessel. The youngster soon spotted the canvas bulkhead that denoted the gun room, and smiled too himself. He was becoming a proper little explorer it seemed.

He spotted Horace - the otter was no doubt taking a breather after the stressful events that had marred the morning's training - and jogged up to him. He addressed the tall mustelid in his newfound deeper voice. "Er, hello, sir. I was wondering if you could do me a favour and allow me access to the gun room? I'm here on behalf of Caden, see. He's up in the Sick Berth now, and wants me to fetch him his books - wants to lose as little time studying as he can, you know how he's aiming for Lieutenant and all. I won't be long, sir, I promise."