Entwined

Chapter 8: Rain

"Are you sure I can't come with you?" Stormy Ark asked pitifully.

"Very, very, very sure," replied Fly-Fy.

"I wasn't asking you," Stormy told her pointedly. "I was asking Rain."

"Yeah, well, I'm sure she won't let you come. If I can't come, why can you?" Fly-Fy grumbled.

"Sorry guys, but the scroll doesn't say I can take any other fox," Rain mumbled, stealing a glance at the folded scroll tucked in a pouch they found at a Weak-sensed den thing.

"It doesn't say you can't take another fox," Stormy said.

"Think about it, though. How would you get back? And it's ought to be very dangerous," Rain said.

"Yeah, yeah. Can't we PLEASE come, too? PLEEASE?" Stormy begged.

Rain glared at her, and Stormy wilted. "Fine," she muttered.

"Well, I hope you have a successful journey, and bring back souvenirs, please!" Fly-fy said, before breaking down in giggles.

Rain rolled her eyes. "So. Where's the boat thing again?"

"Turn left, turn right, go forward, turn right, turn left, turn more left, turn right, go forward, turn left, turn right three times, turn left nineteen times, go forward, and you're there!"

Rain stared at Fly-Fy blankly. "Um. I didn't quite catch that," she said.

"Nevermind, I'll just take you there," Fly-Fy started padding off, so Rain had to hurry to catch up.

"Wow. Is that the boat? It's huge," Rain marveled, observing the ship. It was unlike anything she'd seen before. Bigger than the biggest foxes combined, the ship was manned by dozens of Weak-sensed, some of them holding thick, snake-like coils that were a tan, brownish color.

"I have to go up there?" Rain muttered to Fly-Fy. "What if they catch me?"

"Don't stress about it," assured Fly-Fy. "I've watched them for about a week now. They usually all go down underneath the ship at about sundown.

"SUNDOWN?" Rain yelped. "I can't do sundown! That's impossible! Are you out of your mind?"

"Um, I dont think so. Why can't you come at sundown?" Fly-fy replied.

"BECAUSE! I won't be able to see anything, and- and I- I uhh," Rain stuttered.

"That's the world's lamest excuse," grumbled Fly-Fy. "I think you're just afraid of the dark. Don't be silly. Your eyesight's fine, and every fox can see in the dark. There's nothing to be afraid of. Don't chicken out now."

"Nice pep talk. Uh... must I do this?" Rain shivered, anticipating the coming dread.

"Rain..." Fly-Fy said carefully. "Remember what the letter said? 'If you fail, you will see the world in doom and darkness' or something like that. I know, ominous, right, but think. If you don't even try- well. Kiss good-bye to what's left of the world."

"But why me?" Rain moaned. "Why not Flowing Winds? Why not Soaking Winds? Why me?"

"Oh, come on. Hey- if Stormy an' I come on with you, would you be okay?" Fly-Fy asked.

Rain shuffled her paws. Bringing Stormy and Fly-Fy along with her would be dangerous to them, and she didn't want them in danger any more than she wanted to get on the boat, no matter how magnificent it was. Then again, she'd feel more comfortable. Fly-Fy knew how to weave past Weak-sensed and hide from threats, that was true. But Stormy... she was still too small to be able to come along.

"How about you, but not Stormy?" Rain proposed.

"EXCUSE ME?" Stormy growled from the far side, where she was swatting at a butterfly. She'd been quiet for so long, Rain almost forgot she was there.

"But you're too small," Rain and Fly-Fy protested.

"Yeah, I may be too small, but I can defend like you can't believe. I can be helpful, I promise!" Stormy begged.

Rain and Fly-Fy exchanged a glance. They both knew the risks. Then Fly-Fy muttered, "It's your quest. It's up to you to decide, but hear me out. I think bringing Stormy along might provide useful."

Rain frowned, thinking hard. Finally, she drew out a long breath. "Alright, Stormy, you're in."

The sun was setting over the horizon, and the dying beams of light reflecting on the sea made Rain feel calm and content. That is, until Fly-Fy said, "Okay, one at a time. Jump on the boat, and wait for my instructions. I know how to find a way to the bottom. Rain, you first."

Why me? Thought Rain as she scramble-leaped aboard. Fly-Fy soon followed suit, and Stormy came after.

"Great. Now, see that weird little bumpy thing over there? It's called a ladder, and you have to climb down it to get to the bottom," Fly-Fy told them.

"What! But I thought you said that the Weak-sensed were down there, too," Stormy pointed out.

"Yeah, whatever. Follow me." With that, Fly-Fy hopped down, skipping rungs and almost tumbling towards the bottom deck.

Rain and Stormy just stared at her. "Y'know, I'm starting to doubt our guide," noted Stormy as Rain giggled.

The two foxes slid down the ladder, snickering quietly. Fly-Fy stood at the bottom, among satchels filled with rice and barrels filled with some weird liquid.

"Why are you two smiling?" Fly-Fy asked, scowling.

"Because um. This is fun!" Rain said.

Fly-Fy shot them an unamused glance, then sighed and turned away. "So, now we sit and wait and hope to not be found."

"What if we do get found?" Rain wondered.

"Let's leave that to figure out when it happens. For now? Just rest, mkay?" Fly-Fy patted a bare spot on the ground, then curled up next to it.

Rain sighed, then settled down near Fly-Fy, Stormy on her other side.

Rain raised her head, noticing that the room she was in was still dark. Fly-Fy and Stormy lay next to her, both sleeping soundly.

Rain shook out her pelt, then padded over to the ladder that led to the second, higher layer of the ship. Peeking up, she glimpsed a few beams of sun trying to make their way down below where Rain was standing.

Suddenly, footsteps began stomping downwards, startling Rain and rudely jerking Fly-Fy and Stormy awake.

"What is that?" whispered Stormy.

"Weak-sensed! Hide!"