Ash's Journey

Chapter three- shuttlebug's return

Ash slowly faded into the waking world, groggily looking up to see what had woken him. It was a large paw on his shoulder, gently shaking him awake. He could tell by the soft blue fur and the feel  of scratched pads that it was Foggy.
'Good morning, Foggy.'
He said with a yawn. Foggy dipped his head in response and gave Ash an affectionate nuzzle.
'Breakfast is in the dining room. Sunny said to let you sleep, but I knew you'd want to be woken.'
Ash smiled. 'Thanks, Foggs. You know my feelings on cold porridge.' He stood up and walked down the hall to the dining room, Foggy at his side. His first week on the goodship balloon had been good. He'd learned the ropes, settled into the ship's routine, and had started to get to know the crew. Gingersnap had sent out his Shuttlebug to  map the area and hopefully track down Varmint's ship, and Comet had continued to help YellowJack in the kitchen. Whenever Ash returned aboard with fish, seaweed, and other ocean supplies, he saw Kit lifting ropes or curled up by the fire, reading stories to the kittens. Even Foggy had found a place he could help: tying knots, raising the sails, and helping Kit carry the heavy ropes.
'Looks like your family's fitting in alright.'
Sunny had said one night, as she looked around the main room at everyone milling around, eating, and playing cards.

'Yeah, it's nice.' Ash replied. 'We have you and the others to thank for being so welcoming.'
Sunny purred. 'It's no problem. That's how the goodship is, yknow? Most of the people who end up here don't have anywhere else to go.'
Ash looked over at her quizzically, motioning for her to elaborate. She sighed gently before gesturing across the room.
'Well, Shadow over there was a ratter on the docks for most of her life until we found her. Mind as sharp as a needle, she took to engineering like a fish to water. As you know, WaterSong was on Varmint's crew when the kitnappings first started. His conscience caught up with him a couple of weeks in and he snuck off the ship one night and tried to find a place to stay. Nearly every boat and lodge turned him down because most of them knew of his involvement with Varmint. Those who didn't thought he was bad news because of his bad manner and cold nature and refused him as well. WhackJaw was the only one who saw him for what he was- a right ass, but an ass with a good heart. He's a gifted medic and not having to return to shore any time somecat breaks a leg or catches heavy cough is a blessing and a half. Frosty needed somewhere to have her twins where she wouldn't be hunted by their father, Hatch lost everything to his gambling addiction, we found Twiggy in a cardboard box... the list goes on. WhackJaw, YellowJack, and a few of the elders are the only ones who were born here.'

Ash nodded slowly. 'What about you? How did you end up on board?'
Sunny had looked away with a heavy sigh.
'I'll tell you that story another time. Come on, let's go get tea.'
She hadn't said anything since then. Now, as Ash looked at her from across the dining room, he couldn't help but wonder what she was hiding behind her bright smile and carefree demeanour. He grabbed the porridge bowl that Foggy had set on the table for him (he knew it was his because 'ash' was written messily along the top in maple syrup) and sat beside her as she ate.
'Morning, Ash. How'd you sleep?'
She asked, looking over to him with a smile.
'Oh, alright. I'm finally starting to get used to sleeping in a hammock.'
Sunny purred with amusement. 'Yeah, you can get a pretty sore back before you've found a good position. I was the same when I arrived. I don't know if I could sleep any other way now though.'
Ash ate a spoonful of porridge, smiling as he enjoyed the familiar flavour. Sunny looked over.
'You always seem to love that porridge Foggy makes. Can I try it?'
Ash shrugged, setting the spoon down in the bowl.
'Sure, if you want'
She grabbed the spoon, picked up some porridge, and shoved it into her mouth.
'Wow, it's really sweet!'
She said, her mouth full of porridge. Ash purred.
'Yeah, Foggy's cooking isn't for everyone. It's... an acquired taste.'
Sunny laughed. 'Something tells me that goes for Foggy in general.'
Ash chucked in agreement. 'I guess you could say that.'

Sunny looked across the room to where Foggy was sitting on his own, munching on dry and slightly burned toast.
'I think he's sweet. If a little odd. It's nice how he looks out for you.'
Ash nodded. 'We've been friends since primary. He didn't like me at first, yknow. Thought I was a real teacher's pet. Didn't trust me because I was popular. But I wouldn't give up and well... after a week or two he let me in and we've been inseparable ever since.'
'That's adorable!'
Sunny said with a smile. 'You guys must've been friends even longer than me and WhackJaw.'
She looked over to him and paused, clearly stifling a laugh.
'What?' Ash asked, confused.
'You've got a lil- it's fine, I'll get it.'
Sunny grabbed a napkin and gently wiped his chin. 'The food's meant to go IN your mouth, you silly sea snake.'
Ash flushed red under his fur, searching for words. Just as he was about to say something, he felt someone grab his shoulder.
'Uncle Ash! It's back! The Shuttlebug!'

He turned around to face Gingersnap, who was holding the little mechanical ladybug in his white paws. Sunny placed her paws on Ash's shoulders and peered over top of him, trying to get a look at the small creature.
'Oh, it's so cute! I'll go get WhackJaw and we can see what it found.'
'Yes, she is adorable. I'm sure she'll have plenty of information.'
'Oh, sorry Ginger. I didn't mean to upset her.' Sunny leant down and reached out a paw to the robot.
'I'm sorry, lil bug'
She was cut off by Gingersnap pulling away suddenly.
'Don't. She's tired. Just get WhackJaw already. And don't call me Ginger when you barely know me.'
Sunny rushed off to do as she'd been instructed. Ash looked at Gingersnap.
'Keep your fur on, Gingersnap. She's just trying to be friendly.'
Gingersnap flicked his ear, his tail twitching.
'It's bad enough I have to live with all these cats I don't even know. I don't need them touching my equipment and calling me nicknames like we're some kind of family.'

Sunny returned a moment later with Whackjaw in tow.
'What's the news, Gingersnap?'
Asked WhackJaw. Gingersnap didn't respond, instead softly set the shuttlebug down on the kitchen table. He gave it a quick stroke on the head before gently pulling up one of it's wings to reveal a small compartment inside. It was full of minute pieces of paper which Gingersnap grabbed with one claw and spread across the table.
'Looks like she got some photos for us. Should show where Varmint's boat was and give us an idea of where he's going.'
Ash tipped his head.
'But those are tiny! We can't see them.'
Gingersnap rolled his eyes, pulling a monovision goggle from his bag and placing it over his head. He fiddled with the knobs on the side for a second before smiling softly. His smile disappeared as soon as Ash spoke again, disturbing his focus.
'I thought you only wore that because you think it looks cool'
'It's a magnification goggle. And it DOES look cool. Anyway. I'm happy to report that she did, indeed, get some good shots of the ship.'

WhackJaw looked at Gingersnap thoughtfully.
'May I?'
He gestured to the glasses. Gingersnap smiled.
'Thankyou for asking so nicely. You may not.'
Instead, he grabbed a magnifying glass from his bag and handed it to the raggedy tom.
'Here, use this.'
Ash purred with amusement. 'So, you didn't even need the fancy goggle.'
'I already TOLD you, it looks cool. Do you recognise where the ship was in any of the photos, WhackJaw?'
WhackJaw nodded.
'Aye, I've been through this reef many a time. Judging by the direction of his ship and the fact he also went past sandy island, I'd say he's heading to the midpoint.'

Ash gave him a quizzical look, but he seemed lost in thought. Sunny noticed and decided to explain.
'The midpoint is a patch of water that's rarely sailed due to the fact it's turbulent and unpredictable. Not to mention there are many legends of sea monsters. It's called the midpoint because it's owned by no country- due to the number of disappearances, no one wants to claim it. It's just a stretch of ocean that 99% of the time, we just don't touch. He's probably going there because most travellers don't dare to so no one can intervene.'
WhackJaw flicked a tattered ear in dismissal.
'I've been over it a couple times. There are bad things in those waters, I'm telling you. There's something very wrong with that place.'
Ash felt disappointment start to tug at his chest until WhackJaw continued.
'Still, nothing's actually ever attacked us there. Perhaps whatever unnatural creatures dwell in those depths have no quarrel with us.'

Ash perked up a little at this.
'So we can go?'
WhackJaw sighed heavily, a weary trepidation in his eyes.
'I suppose we have to. Set a course, Sunny.'
Sunny nodded and sprung to her paws, jogging out of the dining room towards the navigation deck. WhackJaw followed at a slower pace, clearly still lost in thought. Ash turned to Gingersnap, reaching up to ruffle his fur.
'You did great, Ginger. I don't know where we'd be without you.'
Gingersnap smiled proudly for a second before his expression darkened. He pushed Ash's paw away and stared towards the door.
'Don't celebrate yet.'
He said as he left. 'We both know this battle has only just started.'
Ash nodded as his nephew left the room, sobered by the ominous words.
He reached down towards his bowl, eyes fixing on his half-eaten breakfast.
The porridge had gone cold.