40 Days at Sea with You

Prologue: Judgement Day

Wednesday, September  12th, 2104 BCE

The village was buzzing today and it wasn't because of the people around you. You waved your hand around your head, shooing away the gnats that were too close for comfort. It was the early hours of the morning and the heat was already beginning to rear its ugly-

"You herd of soul-less evildoers!"

You were shaken out of your thoughts as you herd the sound of someone shouting. Looks like another one of God's "prophets" was at it again. You used the term prophet loosely as you watched the small, red-haired man run back and forth shouting at the top of his lungs. "Great balls of fire and terrifying lightning bolts shall rain down upon the wicked and smite thee from the face of this earth-"

Aaaaaaaand I just tuned him out.

Along the pathway around the Bazaar walked you and four other men. Your uncle Noah, who was wearing a light brown cloth robe and sported a big, bushy grey beard that was tied in a knot on the end. Your clueless, but well-meaning cousins were there too. The oldest, Japheth, a tall and well-built man. The second oldest, Shem, was big, friendly and rotund. The youngest, Ham, was short and thin, although his feisty nature made up for his lack of height.

"These 'prophets' only end up confusing people." Your uncle Noah spoke up. You turned and looked at the wise old man. "Their Apocalyptical prophesies always spread confusion and panic rather than hope. I wonder what God would think of them..." He added. Suddenly, Noah freezes and simply stands still. You've gotten used to these episodes because its usually God talking directly to your uncle Noah. "Excuse me, Sir? What are we doing here in the Bazaar?" You asked as you gently nudged his arm.

Noah had came to you for help in moving his farm produce to trade to 'Farfan' and you had to resist the urge to ask if Noah knew who he was about to deal with, but you held back any comments. Anyway, you helped him anyway because someone needed your help.

[....]

"But Farfan. You said that with this last delivery, all debts would be satisfied." you grit your teeth and dug your toes into the bottoms of your shoes in anger. Farfan was almost the peotomy of Vile. If his blackened and greedy heart wasn't bad enough, his puke colored skin was MORE than enough to prove his true nature. The mere sight of the man was enough to make you queasy. How could you demand blood from a stone and drain people of almost all their coins? "The price of grain has gone down, Noah." Farfan said convincingly while his wife was watching with sadistic glee. "But, what's important now is that it's paid in full, so you can..." She was interrupted by her husband.

"So you can go back into debt again!" He said with a broken toothed grin.

Your eye twitch with anger at the man. "Is Noah aware he's being swindled, or is he simply too nice to do anything about it?" You ask Japheth. "He's always been like that." Japheth whispered back. Noah concludes his 'business' with the vile Farfan and they all left the building and we all went on our way.

[...]

A pudgy white bird huffed as he landed on a cloud to catch his breath. He took off again, bobbing and weaving through the clouds and finally into a jungle. He was battered by vines and leaves because he was flying so fast, he didn't have time to avoid them. He was flying at an increased speed because he had gotten lazy and was a day late on his messages. Valentino squinted his eyes and sucked in his gullet to squeeze through a open window. He held his wings against his sides...

"OW!!!" He exclaimed as he hit the side of the house only a foot away from the window. His head was spinning as he tried to stand, but fell back to the ground.

"-Won't forget what Queen Oriana said and-" a voice speaks inside the house.

The pigeon stood up on wobbly legs and wobbled his way into the room. He could barely focus as he seen the back of a VERY curvaceous, tan back in front of him. Before him stood a anthropomorphic lioness with very wide hips rocking back and forth. She turned and was scribbling on a clipboard while mumbling to herself. She didn't even know he was there until she almost stepped on the dazed pigeon. "Oh! Sorry." She says backing up. "Who are you?" she asked as she picked him up in her paws. "What happened to you? Did someone do this do you?" She asked cradling him to her chest.

She noticed his leg had a little slip of paper on his leg and took it out of its clip. She opened it while laying the pigeon on her bed. She read the paper and and her bright blue eyes widened at what she was reading. Her paws and jaw slacken and, as if on cue, she heard the ominous sound of thunder in the distance. "Oh...... Oh, no....." She whimpered.

[. . .]

"A great rain.... will fall upon the earth..... in forty days?" an old lion wearing a crown struggled to read because of the penmanship. "Yes, King Sabu. Please, read the rest of it sir." Said the lioness who brought the message to him. She watched with a worried expression as the old king was straining to read the message. The lioness was hopping foot to foot as she anxiously waited for her kings reaction to this terrible news. King Sabu's wife, Queen Oriana, wasn't fairing much better. Her face was knitted with worry as she begin to fidget in her seat. She couldn't deny it's truth with the dark thunderclouds surrounding the Eastern horizon.

"To those who are chosen to fulfill the Lord's will, we will meet you in the Jacarin desert past the forest. My Nephew, Y/N, will be waiting for you to guide you to your new home."

"May the Lord protect your flock." - Noah

".......Noah?"

"I WANNA GO!!!" 

The lioness' eyes roll and she lets out a unintentional groan at the voice. The entire council room goes quiet as the shrill, childish voice pierces the silence of the whole room. The lioness, Kairel, sees prince Xiro standing in the doorway with curlers in his black mane. He walks up to his dad and stands in front of the King and Queen. "If I'm not on the Ark when it sets sail, I swear on my life, I'll never forgive you, Dad!" he threatens.

"Really...? Are you sure this isn't just one of you 'whims' again, Xiro?" the king askes as his eyes narrow at his son. Prince Xiro is notorious to go different places and do whatever he wants. "No, Dad! I've thought about it. This is what I want to do. It's time to do what you told me and fly the coop and take on new challenges." Xiro says.

Xiro lunges at his dad and wraps him in a hug. "After all, I AM the son of the king." He adds before he lets the king go. His honeyed words were working on his father. "Anyone have anything else to add?" The king asks.

"Something's not right her." one of the council-lions spoke up.

"Not since the day you were born."

". . .Aren't those MY curlers?"

"Well!" Xiro clapped. "I'm going to tell Bombay the news."

"And I shall inform the other animals." The king exclaims. "Oriana, how about getting him a mate for a trip?" He adds. Kairel's ears perked up when two key words triggered her attention. 'Xiro' and 'mate', considering that she had been looking for a mate for some time now. 'Beggars cant be choosers, I guess.' She thought sadly.

"Kairel. . ." Queen Oriana said, addressing the lioness in front of her. Kairel's heart began to beat quickly as she tried to contain her excitement.

"It would be my honor-!"

"-Prepare an audition with all of Xiro's girlfriends." the queen says blankly. Kairel's heart shattered and her heart fell to her feet.

"H. . . Huh?" Kairel asked with tears in her eyes.

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I have been given this story by @Heavenlysoul2001. He gave me permission to finish this story, but I have to re-write the first 4 chapters with little changes here and there. I will give several chapters a week thanks to this Covid.