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While at home, curled up and comfortable in her hammock, Kali rarely woke up early. Not once her clock has adjusted back to a cat's natural nighttime hours. She slept until dusk, and sometimes rose even later than that, as most residents of the Benz and even Dockside did. Nights in the desert were far easier on the pelt and eyes than daytime ever was.

But, considering current circumstances, she made an active effort today. The moment Kali felt the warmth in her fur dwindling and the light streaming in from her window started to dim, she forced herself to leave the cozy confines of her swaying bed. Despite yawning and rubbing at her eyes the entire time, she set her feet on the worn floorboards. She had to. On a day like today, she would do almost anything to get out of the house before Mikora woke up.

And, unlike Kali, Mikora tended to wake up earlier now. A better-paying job at a restaurant across town almost motivated her to wake up on time these past few days. That's what drove Kali to jump out of bed, with the early afternoon light still cutting through her curtains.

She checked over her bag, counting through her sets of clothes, confirming she had her travel hammock and all the odds and ends she'd need.

Extra scarves, a couple extra pairs of pants, for when sand inevitably got past the ankle ties. They were often unsalvageable once the sand got in, and trying to dust them off always resulted in making it worse rather than better.

She had her brushes tucked in at the bottom. Two of them. Again, for hopelessly trying to keep sand out of her fur. And she had a few more extra pairs of underwear, which she lacked last time. An unexpected turn of events with a certain colorpoint tom ran through them faster than expected. A little detail she kept tucked in the back of her mind this time. So she had packed extra. Just in case.

With everything accounted for, Kali hauled her packed bag onto her shoulder. She cast one last forlorn look at her collection of earrings and the incomplete necklace on her desk. If she wasn't in a rush, she might've dropped her bag and finished it before leaving. But time wasn't a luxury she currently had. Kali had to leave now, if she had any hope of sneaking out without notice.

She turned the doorknob slowly, easing the mechanism each way, and opened and shut her bedroom door without a single click. That was the simple part–as she recalled from the past few days. The harder part was getting downstairs.

With each step, she tested the boards underfoot. Ears pricked and listening intently for any faint squeaks or groans. She had found most of the squeaky spots and could dance around them, but with the added weight of her bag, she couldn't be too careful. Once at the stairs, she did the same. Easing her weight onto each step and shifting her footing if it seemed dubious. A couple squeaks, but she made it to the first floor.

The door was in sight.

A wave of relief washed over Kali's tensed pelt. The hard part was over. The first floor wasn't as squeaky, apart from one spot near the kitchen. If she made it this far without Mikora sticking her whiskers out of her room, then she was probably safe.

Kali checked the pails by the kitchen and made sure both were full. They still were, fortunately, and brimmed with enough water to last Mikora a few days, at least. She was glad she'd thought to refill them last night. One less chore to set back her early departure, and one less chance she'd get caught.

But she was in the clear now. Paws at the front door. Nothing stood in her way now. Her bags were packed, the pails were full, and her claws rested on the doorknob. The last barrier between her and the world outside—or so she believed.

A sharp creak, one of the many Kali avoided, sounded upstairs. Her ears whipped backwards. Claws still latched onto the doorknob, her fingers locked and ready to twist and throw the door wide open. Glued in place, but without the willpower to move. She didn't want to look, but she had to. And when she turned, Mikora, dressed in a loose shirt and pants, fur still tousled from getting out of bed, stared down at her.

“Kals?" Mikora's whiskers quivered. They strained against a frown–a snarl? Maybe both. “Were you actually going to leave without saying goodbye?"

Kali's ears swiveled. She dropped her gaze, looking at the bottom step of the staircase, at a worn chip in the corner. Mikora had tried to keep her voice steady, to pose the question as placidly as possible, but Kali heard it. The slight crack in her voice. A hurt that she couldn't hide.

“I–" Kali's ears lowered. Lying wouldn't help anything. Not when they both knew the truth. “I was," Kali muttered. “I didn't think I should, because I know what you're going to say." Her hand slipped off the doorknob. A light growl burned in her throat just thinking about it. Everything she knew Mikora would say, because she'd already said it before. Because they'd already had this fight before. “And I don't want to hear it."

Mikora's whiskers stiffened, straining against the same snarl that Kali tried not to bare. “I wasn't going to say anything."

“Yeah, right."

Mikora's claws dug into the handrail, dragging and leaving thin lines as they retracted. She sighed as she pried her hand free and flexed her fingers. “I'm not going to say anything, Kals. Not about that." Mikora made her way downstairs, frowning at Kali the entire time. She stopped once they were level, her tail low. “Were you at least going to eat something before you go?"

“No. You know that's a bad idea." Kali paused, one ear turning towards her bag, which had slid down her shoulder onto her arm. She grabbed the strap and hitched it higher. “You know the first day aboard is the worst."

“I know." Mikora sighed again. “I'd still feel better if you ate something before you went."

“You're fussing."

Mikora tossed up her hands. “I can't help it. I'm going to worry, even if you're mad at me."

Kali's ears flicked back. She looked down at her feet, at the worn spots on the floorboards. “And you're not?" Her tail flicked non-stop, the tip occasionally brushing against the door. “Mad at me, I mean."

“Well, yes, but that doesn't make you any less my kitten. I still want you well fed and taken care of."

“Ugh. Nevermind." Kali grumbled. Her bag almost slipped off her shoulder as she reeled. “You're so embarrassing."

“I can't help that. I'm just saying what's true." Mikora smirked. “Would you feel better if I walked you to the ship? You could hold on to my tail again, like when you were little."

“No! 'Mere, no. Don't do that! It was bad enough the first time."

Mikora's whiskers bounced, her laughter echoing on their home's thin walls. “Aw come on, Kals."

“No way." Despite Kali's indignation, her tail lashing and ears pinned, she felt a smile tugging on the corners of her muzzle. “Besides, you're just going to run when you see Tulaziya. Like always."

Mikora stopped laughing. Her lips pursed at the accusation along with a snippy lash of her tail. “I had to go to work," Mikora answered. “I wasn't running away."

“Sure, you weren't." Kali glanced at the window. She still had plenty of time. But every second she lingered, the anxious flicking of her tail worsened. “I'm going now," she declared. “So this doesn't turn out like last time, where I almost missed the ship."

“I can still walk with you."

“Nope. Bye, Mik–"

Kali let out a startled chirp. Before she could even reach for the door, Mikora leaped the distance between them and threw her arms around her. Kali didn't try to squirm or wiggle her way free. Mikora's arms were like steel bent around her. Like last time, when she left.

And, like last time, Kali heard a sniffle. “Mikora," Kali groaned. “I'm not a kitten."

“I don't care." Mikora buffed her cheek against Kali, ignoring every surly growl. “Be safe out there."

“I'm always–"

“Don't let Tulaziya push you too hard. You're just an apprentice."

“I don't–"

“Come home safe." Mikora rubbed her cheek across Kali's ear one last time. She took a quick step back and held Kali at arm's length. Her eyes glossed, but not spilling over yet. “Okay?"

“Okay," Kali said, nodding along. “I'll be safe. Just like the last time, and every time we sailed before that. I'll be fine."

She would've said anything she had to, anything at all, just to stop Mikora from crying. The moment a single tear slipped down her face, Mikora would turn into a sobbing mess. Then any chance Kali had at leaving on time would vanish. She'd be stuck there, with Mikora clinging onto her and mewling about everything they did together. The first time Kali mewled, the first time she walked, the first time she was on a ship, the first time she shot a bow—every little embarrassing thing.

Mikora answered with a mute nod. She couldn't speak another word. She was biting her lip, trying her best not to cry. And it wasn't working.

“I'll be back soon," Kali said. She took the chance to duck away from Mikora's hands and throw open the door. “Don't worry! Bye!"

Mikora's whiskers trembled. All stoicism lost the moment she saw Kali step outside. “Kals!"

“Bye!" Kali slammed the door, almost catching her tail. She slapped the idol in the doorway for a dash of luck, doing so harder than she intended to, but Elimere would understand. Kali had to run. Mikora was already sobbing behind the door. If she stayed a breath longer, she'd never get to leave.

Kali flipped up her hood over her ears, sheltering them from the few slanted rays that still streaked through the streets. She turned her ears away from her house, and Mikora's nonsensical weeping, and pointed her whiskers towards her destination. Back to the port, the ship, where her next job waited for her.

The slip of paper in Kali's pocket and the supplies on her back were all she needed. And that's all she arrived with when she reached the port. Alone, thankfully, and without a tearful Mikora slowing her down.

Kali weaved through the crowd gathered on the docks, making her way towards the familiar figurehead reaching over the boardwalk. Considering the early hours, the port was busier than usual. Kali paused at least twice to let loaded wagons pass by. She hopped over a stream of sand from one, which left a trail across the dock leading to the Duneprowler.

Kali's ears lifted higher. That explained why the docks felt so busy. Both ships prepared to embark on the same day, at the same time. A rare occurrence. The Duneprowler never anchored at Mjau as long as the Sandstalker did.

They ran a tighter schedule, dictated by the harsher sands they sailed on. If the winds were at all favorable, their ship abandoned port at a moment's notice. Despite the name, the Duneprowler never just prowled across the sands. It raced.

For whatever reason, it wasn't racing today. Neither was the crew who loitered around the docks in front of their ship.

Kali tried to keep her eyes on the Sandstalker, her whiskers pointed forward, but she couldn't help it. As she passed the Duneprowler's crew, she looked anyway, searching through all the burly sailors until she saw that white pelt.

And there it was.

A glimpse of a scruffy white furred muzzle. One that Kali couldn't mistake for any other. It was him.

Nazhir lounged on a crate surrounded by several other cats. She didn't recognize their pelts, but she recognized a couple of voices through the idle chatter. The same voices from the fight before, Nazhir's lackeys, stayed nearby their delinquent leader. They roughhoused on the docks not too far from Nazhir.

He saw her, too. Their eyes met for an instant, before Kali turned her nose back towards her own crew gathered by the Sandstalker. Her hackles bristled, a growl churned in her throat, but she kept her eyes and ears forward.

He wouldn't try anything on the docks. Cowards like Nazhir only picked easy fights. And, with the way he sprawled across a crate and lazily dangled his tail over the side, he seemed more interested in lounging and chatting than trading claws.

Kali brushed a hand down the back of her neck and tugged her scarf farther forward. Nazhir wasn't the only cat she needed to avoid. A few sailors she spotted among the Sandstalker's crew were familiar. Some friendly faces. Others less so. Grayed muzzles that had snapped at Kali before, because she looked at them the wrong way—because she looked at them at all with her errant eye.

An eye that stayed down, following the woodgrains on the boardwalk path until she heard Masede's laugh, which pulled her ears in the right direction. Though she didn't make it far. She turned, took two steps, and an extended arm blocked her path.

Kali's muzzle tensed, ready for a snarl and a growl to follow, until she saw the brown furred hand in front of her. A brown furred hand and dark sleeves that led up to the impressive, tasseled scarf that only the Sandstalker's captain wore–with a brand new tassel added from their last successful voyage.

Tulaziya glared at Kali from the corner of her eye. She didn't say a word. Only spoke with a look, with that icy, hair-raising stare.

Kali shifted uneasily on her feet. The act didn't fool her. She had the slip in her pocket–she checked again, creasing the paper with her fingers just to make sure. But Tulaziya's stare unnerved her, regardless.

Kali licked her lips. “Zi–" She bit down on her tongue, a quick correction, and tried again. “Captain Tulaziya," Kali said, a slight quiver in her voice. In her tail, too, which lifted with a stilted greeting.

“Kali."

Tulaziya's tail hardly budged. Kali did her best not to squirm, even with every hair on her pelt now prickling under Tulaziya's fierce stare. Her initial confidence fading, despite the slip of paper at her fingertips. Curled and thoroughly wrinkled now, as she worried at it. “I–I know I'm not off the crew," Kali said. “They would've turned me away at the counter."

Tulaziya's white whiskers twitched. A thin smile–still with that menacing stare. “For now," Tulaziya said, dropping her voice to a low growl. “But this is your warning. Punch another one of the rich kittens, and you're not stepping on Sandstalker again. Got it?"

Kali tucked her tail against her legs. She answered with a brisk nod.

“As long as that's clear." Tulaziya dropped her arm. She looked Kali over one last time, her piercing blue eyes scanning from Kali's scarf-covered ear tips to her toes. “And you're alright to sail?"

Kali's ears splayed at the question. “Yeah? I mean, yeah. I'm good."

“Good." Tulaziya nodded over her shoulder, gesturing to somewhere farther down the dock where Masede and the other apprentices were likely waiting. “Go join the others. I've got something to take care of."

Kali didn't wait around, in case Tulaziya changed her mind on the matter. She dashed over as directed, in the vague direction Tulaziya pointed her in, swiping down her hackles again with her palm.

Not exactly a great start. But, with Nazhir and Tulaziya behind her, Kali hoped the worst was over. Especially now that she had found the other apprentices and Masede along with them. Even if she half expected a similar, threatening lecture from him, too.

But she could lessen the blow, if she played her part right. A charming smile and perky tail counted for a lot with the old bosun. And Kali half-lifted her tail, ready to greet Masede as she neared, but she didn't get the chance. Masede looked at Kali, then at Captain Tulaziya, and he growled under his breath. “Ziya!" He shouted after Tulaziya's trailing scarf and tail. “Ziya, don't–"

Tulaziya didn't turn an ear back. If anything, she walked faster, strode more purposefully forward, despite his calling after her.

Masede growled his frustration and tossed back his scarf. He pointed a claw at Kali. “Don't go anywhere."

Kali took a quick breath, intending to ask if he meant her or someone else, but her question would have landed on his tail rather than his ears. He ran after Tulaziya, grabbing several sailors as he passed.

Kali watched them go, a frown on her muzzle and her perplexed ears still twisted to either side. Between her encounter with Tulaziya, and whatever just happened with Masede, too, she wasn't sure what to think. All she could do was watch as more and more sailors followed them. Until almost the entire crew had abandoned the Sandstalker's side, following their captain wherever she headed.

Kali stood on the tips of her toes, trying to see what was happening like several other apprentices did. She caught glimpses, through all the cats, of Tulaziya, and Masede as he elbowed his way after her, still calling her name over and over.

Then, through the sea of ears, Kali saw Tulaziya's target.

Tulaziya shoved her way through the Duneprowler's crew. Masede narrowly caught her in time, snatching her arm before she could throw a punch at Nazhir, who had dropped off his perch.

Kali buried her face in her hands. Tulaziya knew. She knew about the fight–knew Kali was involved. She had to have heard it somewhere. Either from gossiping sailors or idle chatter around the bars. And she had to know Mikora had intervened, and was hurt in the process, too.

Of course, Tulaziya knew.

“What's going on?"

Kali pulled her face from her hands. She scowled at Joyana. “Nothing. Wait–"

Joyana didn't wait. She was already rushing over to spectate with the other apprentices. Kali slapped her hands onto her muzzle and growled into her palms.

Maybe she should've let Mikora walk her here after all. This? This might end up even more embarrassing than any of Mikora's fussing.

But she wouldn't know for certain if she didn't see for herself. Against better judgment, Kali sighed and followed the crew over, wiggling her way through until she could half-see and half-hear what was happening. Which were mostly enraged growls and hisses from Tulaziya, who tried to wrench her arms away from Masede and the sailors that clung onto her. “Let me go, Masede!" Tulaziya roared. “Let me go, now!"

“Ziya!" Masede pleaded. “Calm down–"

“Yeah, Ziya. You should listen to your bosun."

Just Nazhir's slimy voice itched at Kali's fur. She couldn't see the sneer on his face, but she could hear it in his voice.

“You!" Tulaziya hissed. “I'll kill–"

“No, oh no, you won't," Masede said. He dragged Tulaziya back another step, his ears flattening when she turned and hissed at him. “We're not starting another fight with Duneprowler. We're better than this."

“Because you'd lose."

That was one of Nazhir's lackeys. Kali winced. He didn't pick his words well, considering the ears they fell on. Now Masede's hackles were bristling, too.

“Because I'd claw out your throat," Masede growled. “And the Duneprowler wouldn't have any rotten crew left if we tossed claws."

Nazhir's lackey let out a single, jabbing laugh. “You'd try."

Masede's ears flattened. “Oh, I'd do more than try, you disgusting louse–"

“Masede, focus!" Bomae's voice cut in. Now she had grabbed onto Masede's arm. “We're not fighting here. They're not worth it. Captain, please!"

Tulaziya stopped struggling. Instead, she had a hold on Masede now. A single hand set on his arm, stopping him from attacking Nazhir's cowardly lackeys. Because he would tear their throats out, all of them, if she didn't. Though Tulaziya's eyes stayed fixed on Nazhir—as did her snarl.

“Excuse me, is something the matter?" A different slimy voice this time. From a more svelte cat than Nazhir, a thin tom wearing a decorated scarf like Tulaziya.

Fewer tassels sewn onto it. Far fewer. But he was a captain–the captain of the Duneprowler. One who wasn't half as prestigious as Tulaziya. Especially with the nasty cats he maintained on his crew—the only cats in the Benz that would risk their tails sailing the shark-infested rapids for gold and glory. Thieves and cheats. Just like their greedy captain, with his slicked back, long fur and crooked grin.

Tulaziya grabbed the end of her scarf and slung it across her shoulder. She didn't spare a glance at the Duneprowler's captain. Tulaziya ignored him entirely and pointed a clawed finger at Nazhir. “You touch any of my cats again," she hissed. “You touch a single whisker on any of my sailors, my apprentices, any of them, ever again, and I will kill you. I'll toss your hide into the sand, and I'll let the grit rip the fur off your bones. Do you understand?"

Nazhir was silent. Everyone was silent. All waiting for a response. Suddenly, Nazhir didn't seem so smug and confident. Kali wasn't sure if it was his captain being within earshot or Tulaziya's genuine threat that made him tuck his tail. “Understood." A cold answer with the tips of his teeth bared. “Captain."

“As long as we're clear," Tulaziya said, making far less of an effort to hide her teeth. Her tail whipped, like she contemplated throwing him off the docks, anyway. The Duneprowler's captain loudly cleared his throat, finally drawing Tulaziya's ear. A reminder that, if she did, there were plenty of witnesses—and a seedy captain that could cause her trouble.

Tulaziya hissed one last time, and then she turned to her crew. “What are you standing around for? Get your tails on 'Stalker! We've got work to do."

The Sandstalker's crew scattered. Like nosy kittens caught eavesdropping, the sailors turned and rushed back to their duties. They flooded up the gangplank onto the ship, several grabbing crates and bags and hauling them onto the deck. They all hustled under Tulaziya's stern eye, and they scuttled out of the way when she strode towards them. Her irritated tail still lashing, and warning every cat ahead and behind her to stay clear.

Nazhir and the sailors of the Duneprowler also moved their tails, prompted by the same command from their own captain. By a similar, unspoken threat that, if they didn't, they'd get left behind on shore.

“Apprentices! On the deck!"

Kali's ears twisted around, tracking Masede's gruff voice. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, turned, and hurried after. By his gruff tone, he wouldn't tolerate any tardiness or fooling around. The cat from the Duneprowler had already ruffled his fur, and Kali didn't want to irritate him any further. Otherwise, she might get banished to the galley and stuck scraping out crabs with Bomae yet again.

She found the apprentices lined up along the port side. Kali hopped into place, ignoring a sidelong glance from two of the other apprentices. They could give her all the strange looks they wanted. Kali refused to be last. She wasn't getting stuck with galley duty on day one. Not this time.

Kali waited, trying not to fidget while the last apprentices joined their snaking lineup. All familiar, colorpoint faces. Most of them she saw on their last excursion, though she didn't recall most of their names. Except one was missing.

Kali leaned forward, checking the end of the line. She saw Joyana picking at her claws and a couple other chatting Dockies at the end.

Cerinnia wasn't among them.

Curiosity curled Kali's tail, but she wasn't too surprised. Most Dockies dropped after one or two trips on the sand. She didn't know if Cerinnia quit, or if Tulaziya had a say in the matter. Though, with how much Tulaziya valued their parent's money, that seemed unlikely.

Given how stubborn Cerinnia was, Kali hadn't expected her to give up after a single split lip. Not that Kali would complain. That was one less nuisance she had to deal with on the ship. A realization that brought a cheery perk to her tail, which lifted only higher when she glanced towards the front of the line.

Tall brown ears and a brown muzzle stood out from the rest of the colorpoints. Along with a quick, sneaky smile at Kali, when he caught her looking. An infectious smile that lifted Kali's whiskers, too.

Masede looked at each of the cats gathered, his lip half-curled. Disappointed, once again, at the number of pedigreed cats in attendance. As he always was, when he had to look at each dismal round of apprentices. “Alright," Masede grumbled. “Pay attention while Captain does her announcements. Once she's done, we'll go over your next assignments."

Kali looked to the stern, at the stairs leading up to the quarterdeck, where Tulaziya waited. She assessed her crew, an idle flick to her tail, and tapped her claws on the railing. Until, finally, the cats flooding onto the ship's deck slowed to a trickle. With everyone gathered, Tulaziya flipped back her scarf. She stomped once, a sharp sound that caught every ear, and the deck fell silent.

“Listen up," Tulaziya called out to them. “It's another fine day on 'Mere's sands. We've got a good breeze, and I want to ride it while we can. I'm making this quick." Tulaziya's ears lowered at some snickering, which a chilly glare silenced. “This sail is different from the usual. We're picking up our traps from last round, then we're headed to one of the isles–" Tulaziya held up a hand. “Don't hoist your tails up. It's not one of the fun ones. We're picking up kelp for the palace."

There were several groans. Kali pinned her tongue between her teeth to keep from laughing. Tulaziya knew, the moment she mentioned an island, all the sailors were thinking about a different sort of greenery that they might enjoy while abroad.

“We're docking at the third isle out," Tulaziya continued. “We're taking a roundabout route, so we can avoid the rapids. Let Duneprowler have those shark-infested waters. They can have the glory. We'll take the gold and keep our tails on our hides. So let's catch this wind, before it slips from our claws, and steer clear. Is that agreeable with you lot?"

A resounding agreement echoed from every corner of the deck. Tulaziya grinned. “If that's settled, then we'll get started proper." Tulaziya pulled her scarf from her shoulders, loosely wrapping it around her hand. She held it up to the clear, rosy sky, letting the end flutter with the breeze. “Say it with me, those who know! Loud and proud, so Elimere might hear us, wherever he may be, so he can bless our sails.

Today we sail the sand, your grand golden seas.

Bless our glorious ship, may it cross with ease.

Elimere, so guide us, we follow in your wake.

Give our hull the strength we need, for all the riches we'll partake! Mjau yah!"

“Mjau yah!" Kali shouted along with every sailor gathered on the deck. With yet more strange looks, from the confused Dockies on either side of her, and several rolled eyes. But she knew at least one of them knew the cheer, and, if her ears didn't deceive her, he said it with the rest of them, too.

“Now get our Sandstalker moving!" Captain Tulaziya snapped. “Raise the anchors and get our sails up. We're not going to let Duneprowler beat us out of port, are we? Move!"

“You heard the captain!" Masede shouted, turning to the apprentices with a snarl. “That's your first job, apprentices. You three, go help with the foremast! The rest of you get your tails to the mizzenmast. Kali–"

“Main. On it," Kali answered.

Half of Masede's whiskers twitched. He fought off a grin, maintaining his authoritative snarl. “All of you, drop off your belongings and get back on deck. I expect every claw out here hauling lines. Anyone who skips out on this also skips dinner, got it?"

That perked several of the Dockie's ears. With a renewed sense of urgency, they darted towards the stairs leading to the lower deck. Kali let them rush ahead with the other sailors. She weaved left and right, trying to spy the pointy tips of brown ears, but she lost track of them amid the relative chaos.

“Same goes for you, Kali," Masede growled.

“I know, Masede–"

“Bosun!"

Kali laughed. “Whatever." She ducked under the lazy swing of his hand and trotted after the last couple of sailors, squeezing through the stairwell into the narrow halls below deck.

She hugged the wall, avoiding the several cats that were already returning to the main deck. She passed a couple of apprentices on the way, who had already forfeited dinner by how casually they strolled and prattled now. Though the couple of new ones didn't realize it yet. They probably thought Masede was bluffing.

Eventually, Kali made her way to the crew quarters. Most of the tall posts already had hammocks slung between them, and she had to weave through the maze to reach the empty end, where several sailors were setting up their temporary bunks.

Now came the tricky part—finding somewhere she could sleep without getting growled or hissed at.

Her usual nook wasn't available. A vicious sneer from a molly with a torn ear deterred her from trying. As did the cautionary hisses when she wandered towards the opposite wall. Kali tugged her hood forward as she passed a few apprentices, who flapped their hammocks and swatted at each other rather than tying them onto the posts.

Kali traveled farther back, past the last few cats. To an empty corner, without sailors or Dockies around. Kali frowned at some of the sand on the floor, which meant there was a leak somewhere. Likely from when it last stormed, when the winds and sandy sea battered the hull. Not a great sign, since they usually weathered at least one or two sandstorms while at sea, but there weren't many other places she could set up. “So this is it," Kali mumbled to herself. “Might as well make the best of it."

Kali dropped her bag. Either way, some sand would get in her fur and clothes, and she might as well accept that now. If a sandy floor bothered her, she wouldn't last a single day on the Sandstalker–or in the Benz.

Kali pointed her whiskers up at the top of the post. She crouched, her tail tensing as she prepared to jump. But just before she did, a sandy scuff caught her ear.

“Hey."

Kali frowned, confused. She straightened up, loosening and lashing her tail. She turned to Rinzaan, her ears skewed much like his were.

Rinzaan waited a moment, his tail growing agitated when Kali didn't answer. He tried again. Another greeting, with a more uncertain bob of his tail. “Uh, hey."

Kali glanced at the other sailors around them. They were busy rushing to get their hammocks up so they could get to work. None of their ears were directed towards Kali, but she still lowered her voice. “You already said that."

“Oh, um, yeah." Rinzaan itched at the back of his scarf, which started slipping off his shoulder. He caught it before it hit the floor and tugged it back into place. “I guess I did."

Kali's whiskers twitched. She tried not to smile. Though it was hard, with Rinzaan's tail twitching and fidgeting like a nervous kitten. “So?" Kali asked. “Did you need something?"

“I was, uh, just wondering if I could–" Rinzaan bounced the bag on his shoulder. “You know. Wondering if I could sleep here?"

“Here?" Kali chirped. She saw an ear twist, and she cleared her throat and lowered her voice again. “Is that really a good idea?"

“I mean, it's a little sandy compared to the other spots, but I think it'll be okay higher up."

“No, I mean–" Kali sighed. She waved over at the other apprentices. “Shouldn't you stay with them? For appearances or whatever?"

“Appearances?" Rinzaan swished his tail and scoffed. “I don't have to do all that. It doesn't really matter what they think. I'm a palace cat now."

“Don't say that too loudly," Kali said.

Rinzaan's ears twisted as he recalled the sailors around, and his tail twitched again. “But, um, anyway, I can–I can do this. It's fine. If–" Rinzaan shifted uneasily on his feet. “If it's okay with you."

Now Kali's tail was the one doing a nervous wiggle while she considered her answer. Not that she could turn him down, with his pretty, pleading gray eyes. She just needed to figure out how to do this without attracting unwanted attention.

She looked at the posts behind her, tail lashing as she pondered. “I guess." His tail was already lifting, and she hadn't even agreed yet. A sneaky smile crept across her muzzle. “Just set up there." She pointed at a set of posts spaced a couple of steps away. “And I'll allow it."

Kali spun around, looking up at the post she eyed before. She took her hammock in her teeth, crouched, and jumped, clearing halfway up. Her claws hooked into the wooden pillar, finding purchase in grooves carved by sailors before her. Her hand only slipped once, on her way up, but Rinzaan didn't seem to notice. She tied the first end and dropped, landing on her feet. She scaled the second just as easily, secured the other end, and dropped back in front of Rinzaan again, who stared at her with wide, round eyes.

“How did you–"

“I've had a lot of practice." Kali answered with a casual toss of her tail. “Mikora always made me hang our hammocks."

Rinzaan's tail had an optimistic curl to it. “You wouldn't, uh, be willing to do the same for me, would you?" He asked, a dazzling smile brightening his dark muzzle.

“Nope."

The immediate plummet of his whiskers and tail made Kali laugh. A little too loudly, from a wary glance from one of the late sailors still setting up their hammocks. Kali lowered her voice, though she still had a wide, smug grin on her muzzle. “It's every cat for themselves here. You know that." She took a step closer, her voice a smooth whisper. “Besides, you'll have to break your palace kitty claws back in."

She sauntered past, a casual sweep of her tail brushing across Rinzaan's thigh. “I'll see you on deck," Kali said. “Maybe."

“Maybe?"

Kali shrugged. “If you can get your hammock up before sundown. So, yeah, at this rate?" Kali grinned. “Maybe."

Rinzaan cocked his head to the side. “And, if I don't?" He asked with a worried waver of his tail.

Kali shrugged again. “I guess you'll be skipping dinner," she said, as she drifted away, step by step, towards the exit. “And I don't know what you'll do with your spare time, then."

Rinzaan's tail perked a slight at the suggestion. Kali pivoted away, grinning from ear to ear. Though she tried not to let her tail show it too much, bouncing and waving as she headed back upstairs to the main deck.

She paused in the doorway, blinking twice to let her eyes adjust. The sky was darkening, and a blanket of stars emerged overhead. One by one, they followed the last dwindling rays. And, with nightfall, every hand and claw was at work on deck.

“Kali!" Masede called from the base of the mainmast. “Grab a halyard!"

“On it!" Kali bounced her whiskers with a quick nod. She picked up her feet, hurrying over to one of the thick ropes where two other sailors waited. She sank in her claws, and they did the same. Together, they hauled on the line, dragging it out a step at a time. The sail unfurled above them. Old, pale fabric rippling and snapping in the wind until it stretched out at its full height.

The sailor at the end tossed a loop over a solid iron hook driven into the deck. Masede did the same for the other line. But before they had a chance to celebrate, Masede clapped his hands together. “Mizzenmast next! Let's help those slackers. We're not letting Duneprowler get out on the sand before us!"

Every sailor ran to the next mast, but Kali stayed where she was, staring up at the mainmast and its massive sail. She felt the hull groaning beneath her feet as the wind drew the Sandstalker forward. Out onto the sand, where she'd spend the next few weeks. Hauling traps, cleaning crabs, and eating yet more sandy clam chowder every day.

But it wasn't so bad. The thought of more work didn't take the perk out of her tail like it usually did. Not like the first time, when she dragged herself, exhausted, and barely made it into her hammock each night. Because this time she had company in her misery. Company that she didn't mind at all.

“Kali! Mizzenmast!"

Masede's gravelly voice ripped Kali away from her cheerful fancying. Back to the reality that, no matter what cute toms were on board, this was still a job. She sighed, almost rolling her eyes, as she answered, “I heard you the first time, Masede!"

“That's Bosun–"

“Bosun Masede! Whatever!" Despite her snarky tone, Kali grinned as she headed to the next halyard, where a couple apprentices tried to set the sail without hurting their claws. Kali didn't blame them. It took time to harden up the quick and get strong enough to climb masts and haul lines.

They'd get there, eventually. Or they'd quit, like Cerinnia, and most other Dockies did.

But Kali wasn't quitting anytime soon. As long as the pay was good, since it was the only pay she could get, she was going to stay on the Sandstalker. She'd keep sailing until a few more years passed and she could earn her own palace job. A royal guard of Mjau–a Mjauzi.

She'd scrub as many rusty crab traps as she had to, even work in the galley every day, and scrub all the crabs down there, or work on the main deck and scrub the sand off that, too. No matter how many uneventful sails as it took to reach that goal. To someday earn her spot in the Mjauzi, in the palace, where Rinzaan would be, too.

Or so Kali believed, as she helped the apprentices secure the sails on the mizzenmast. Since this trip out onto the sands seemed like any other. The same stars overhead, the same wind at the sails.

With the last two sails secured, all three full and billowing as they propelled the Sandstalker forward, sailors across the main deck started cheering. Cheers that were cut short, as Tulaziya called out, “That's enough, all of you! We might've beat the Duneprowler out of port, but there's still work to do. Get to your posts!"

Though Tulaziya's words had a growl to them, Kali still saw the smile on her muzzle. The same smile that lifted every cat's whiskers, as they parted ways and headed to their assigned tasks.

“Apprentices, you know what that means," Masede said. He clapped his hands together, drawing the couple of errant ears. Then he looked at the cats there, Kali and the others who bothered showing their whiskers, and he frowned as realization crossed his muzzle. Even fewer Dockies showed up for hoisting the sails compared to last time. “Well," he continued with more of a growl. “You four–" A particular growl at that. “You know what's next. Go scarf down dinner and get your tails to bed. We've got an early start tomorrow." Masede tossed up a hand. “Tell the rest of those slackers, too."

The Dockies left, hurrying after the few sailors that also sought an early dinner before getting to work. Kali started after them, but Masede called after her.

“And Kali," he said. “Actually get some rest, got it? If the winds are right, tomorrow is going to be a big day."

Kali's ears skewed. “What's that supposed to mean?"

“It means what I said. That's all, apprentice," Masede scoffed. “Go get your dinner."

Kali almost rolled her eyes, but she caught herself. She straightened her ears and tail too, as she answered with a proper, if not slightly mocking, “Of course, Bosun."

The first couple of days with Masede were always the toughest. She learned that the first time she sailed as an apprentice, and the friendly cat she knew turned into a sourpuss. A few days working with unruly Dockie apprentices, and he wouldn't be so unbearable. He'd be back to jokes and swatting at Kali like he normally was.

Though she wasn't so concerned about his high and mighty Bosun attitude at present. Whatever he meant about a 'big day' was far more worrisome on Kali's ears. She couldn't tell if he was joking or not. For all she knew, he was preparing her for another multi-day slog shucking crabs in the galley.

Kali shuddered at the thought. She whipped her tail, trying to smooth out her ruffled fur as she headed back into the belly of the ship. She could only hope his sentiments were genuine and find out what he possibly meant at dawn–painful, bright and early dawn.

She lifted her nose as she passed by the galley. Though she wasn't particularly hungry yet, a cat couldn't help a curious sniff. Even if it smelled like what she expected. Crab. More crab. The cheap stuff they stocked to feed a ship full of sailors, since quantity was more important than quality. Especially with cats like Masede, who could eat two full pots of crab and still reach for more.

Though there was a more earthy scent along with the crab. A slight bitterness on her nose. More leafy vegetables in the stew and the air, as there usually were at the voyage's start. Bomae had to cook them up before they went bad. The sand kept crabs fresh, but it didn't do the same for anything else.

Tempted as she was, Kali passed the galley without stopping. Memories of her punishment were too fresh. They rather soured her appetite for crab at the moment. She would rather try to get a few naps in before dawn, if she could. Start the painful sleep-schedule readjustment now and get through the worst of it.

She lowered her muzzle, pointing her ears and whiskers forward again. Just as the absentee apprentices rounded the corner.

They traveled together, as they often did, like a flock of gulls. Squawking the entire time, with an occasional piercing laugh. Kali hugged close to the wall to let them by. She didn't even bother turning an ear towards them, but she heard a sharp scoff in passing.

“Watch it, weird-eye."

Kali's ears did turn, then, along with her frowning muzzle. She stared at Joyana, who had made the comment and rolled her tail with a sarcastic swish in passing. “Anyway," Joyana continued. “Like I was saying. The tailor completely botched the hem, and it was awful. Completely ruined it. We made him start over from scratch."

Kali frowned, eyes following them until Joyana had led her newfound flock away. Somehow, all the Dockies now followed on her tail as naturally as if they'd done so all along. It seemed, with Cerinnia gone, Joyana was taking charge. And that included throwing insults at Kali, apparently.

“Figures," Kali muttered. “At least she forgot the bastard bit." She shook her head, again letting the last of her nerves leave her fur. Tulaziya's warning echoed in her ears. Don't punch the rich kittens.

Rather than dwell on what was a pretty bland insult, Kali resumed her way across the ship, leaving the other apprentices to their gossip and the scent of warm crab and greens behind her.

As expected, the crew quarters were abandoned. With the Dockies and sailors gone, there wasn't a single whisker in sight. The crew had strung up all the hammocks on their posts and similarly tied up their belongings alongside.

She still wasn't sure what any of it meant. Masede's cryptic warning, Joyana becoming the new queen apprentice. Either way, she was here now, and she had to work.

At least she could get some peace tonight, while she rested for whatever Masede had planned tomorrow. Or so she thought, until she saw Rinzaan's hammock hanging just below hers, instead of the posts a few paces away. Contrary to where she told him to set up his bed.

Kali wasn't sure if he was being brazen or naïve. More likely the latter, given how air-filled his ears seemed to be sometimes.

She would tell him to move it later. She still couldn't afford to get caught fooling around. Hanging his hammock so close, when every other cat on the ship avoided her, was a little too obvious. Even Joyana might catch on.

She climbed up, but she paused once she was at eye-level with her old, green fabric hammock. It only struck her then, as she stared at the lumpy shape, and when she looked at Rinzaan's suspiciously empty hammock below. She hadn't seen any white and brown colorpoints among Joyana's clowder. Kali grabbed the edge of her hammock and yanked it aside.

She wasn't surprised to see Rinzaan there. Though Rinzaan seemed surprised to see her, as he lurched upright. If she hadn't dug her claws in, the hammock would've rolled and thrown his tail on the floor.

Once Rinzaan saw Kali, and he was upright and relatively stable, he smiled. “Oh, hey."

“What part of put your hammock over there–" Kali pointed at the farther pair of posts, where she instructed Rinzaan, earlier, to set up his hammock. “Did you not get?"

“Wait, were you serious about that?"

“I definitely was. We still can't get caught. And, speaking of, you shouldn't be in my hammock, either." Kali glanced down. Her ears flattened, now that she actually looked at him. The smooth, pale fur running from his neck down to his bare chest—his bare legs, too. Kali sighed. “Are you actually naked?"

“Yeah, well." Rinzaan laughed nervously. His tail pulled from his side and wrapped across his lap. “I, uh, thought it might be easier, if I already was?"

“What if someone else had come up here to check on you?"

Rinzaan's ears whipped forward, his eyes wide. “I didn't think about that. I don't know." The fear in his eyes, and on his muzzle, was replaced with a relieved smile. “But you found me first, so it's fine."

Kali sighed through her nostrils. As much as she wanted to stay annoyed, she had a difficult time with all of his light whiskered smiles. Particularly while his fur was bare with only a curl of his modest tail preventing a complete view.

“Are you okay hanging there like that?"

Kali chirped. Drawn out of her wandering, somewhat wanton thoughts, she looked at her hand and feet. Her claws were still digging into the post, keeping her anchored where she was. “Yeah?" Kali shrugged—to the extent that she could while she dangled there. “I guess so. I didn't really think about it."

“Doesn't that hurt, though?"

“I've been climbing my whole life, so not really." Kali shrugged again. Though she felt a residual ache in her hand from clinging for so long, it couldn't be as bad as whatever Rinzaan imagined.

“Oh."

Kali's tail swayed behind her, lifting with a slight curl. That's not the answer he wanted, with how his ears swiveled away. His tail likely would've twitched too, if he weren't holding it in place. “If you want me to join you," Kali said, “you can just ask."

The tip of Rinzaan's tail flicked up along with his ears. “Do you want me to?" He asked, a sly smile stretching across his muzzle. “Or, uh, would you like to join me?"

He let go of his tail. Confidence restored by Kali's backwards invitation, he offered his hand with a sultry swish of his tail.

A gesture that would've dumped them both on the floor, if she accepted. Instead, Kali grabbed the side of the hammock and carefully stepped in, whipping her tail to counterbalance until she had both feet in place.

The moment she did, Rinzaan grabbed her arm. He pulled Kali down, dragging her into the hammock and shoving his muzzle at her neck. A nonstop purr in his throat, as he nuzzled his cheek against her fur. “It's been so long–"

“You always say that," Kali said, laughing as his stiff whiskers tickled her shoulder. “Every single time. It hasn't even been that long."

“But it's true." His warm breath spread across her skin, bristling the fur at her neck and shoulder. “I've been waiting for this. Especially after last time–" Rinzaan tugged his nose from Kali's fur, his ears sinking slightly. “I hope you weren't in too much trouble."

“Me? In trouble? No way," Kali answered. A forced, chirped laugh following that sounded strange even on her own ears. “No, it was fine."

“She seemed really mad."

“Mikora? She's always like that. It's fine." So she claimed, at least. Though Rinzaan didn't seem convinced. His ears stayed low and a concerned frown dropped his whiskers. A small trill bubbled in Kali's throat. Even when he worried, he was no less charming.

She squirmed, struggling until she could roll onto her back. She reached up and grabbed Rinzaan's ears. A light press, and they lifted back to where they should be. Up high, lifted and at ease, just like his smiles that she enjoyed so much. “It's fine," Kali said again. “I mean, yeah, she was mad. It's not the first time. Won't be the last, at this rate."

“And you're fine with that?"

“If it's for you–" Kali hesitated, her half-pinned tail attempting to lash. “Yeah. I'm good," she said quickly. “Don't worry about it."

Rinzaan's ears lifted, without Kali's help this time, and he laughed. “Does that make me special?"

“No. Definitely not."

“Sure," Rinzaan said. “Whatever you say."

“I mean it!" Kali said, despite the smile perking her whiskers.

Rinzaan laughed again. A long, rumbling laugh that warmed Kali's ears. A warmth that reached deep into her chest when he leaned down and pressed his nose against hers. “I don't mind being special."

“Says the palace kitty." Kali rolled her eyes. “Obviously, you don't."

“Well, yeah, there's that," Rinzaan agreed. “But this is different."

“Is it? This doesn't seem much different from the attention you get at the palace."

“It's different." Rinzaan's tail swished behind him, hitting the side of the hammock. “This sort of attention is better. Besides," he said, “you're pretty special to me, too."

He kissed her. Only once, quick enough to cut off the rippling trill at her lips. Long enough to silence whatever toothy comment might have followed. And then he smiled again, his high tail still dancing through the air. Lifted by a newfound arrogance, making Kali almost regret saying anything. Almost.

She grabbed Rinzaan's neck and dragged him back down to her lips. Trilling the entire time, as she ran her fingers through his fur. A soft feeling she missed, too, as much as he missed hers. And he missed her fur enough to risk getting caught naked in her hammock, apparently.

She smirked as she felt his claws plucking along her shirt. A faint, growled objection when he couldn't find a loose end to sneak his fingers under. Not while her tongue distracted him, pressed past his teeth and rasping sandpaper surfaces together with each lick.

His claws dug fruitlessly into Kali's shirt. They pressed through her fur and she felt the sharp tips against her skin. A grin pulled at her whiskers, a laugh in her chest, but her muzzle stayed fast against Rinzaan's. She enjoyed his flustered, futile clawing no less than she enjoyed the nervous habits of his tail.

Amusing as it was, after a few more lusty licks, she had to agree squirming against him wasn't half as satisfying with a barrier between them. Kali ran her tongue across Rinzaan's one last time before taking it away. With only a slight, hitched growl from Rinzaan when she did. Since he rather guessed what she was up to, by the clever glint in her eyes. “Remind me," he said, already a touch breathless. “How did we do this last time?"

“A lot of elbowing," Kali answered. “Elbows. Knees. Jabbing and flailing."

“Right."

“Let's not do that again."

Rinzaan's ears skewed, and his lips pursed with a surly pout. One that brought yet more laughter from Kali, when she realized why. “That's not what I meant," she assured him with a pat on his chest. “I meant the taking-off-clothes part. You can fix your ears. We're just going to do that part differently."

“How?"

“Switch places with me." Kali shoved Rinzaan to the right. A hint that she thought he'd pick up on faster than he did. Instead, he half wiggled and thrashed, shoving back. A far less graceful twisting and maneuvering than Kali intended, but it worked. She pulled her arm free, finally straddling him, taking a quick breather while the hammock settled back into a gentle sway.

“Now what?"

Kali lashed her tail, seeing the smug, haughty smirk on Rinzaan's muzzle. “Now, I take off my clothes, clever-cat. Obviously." Kali leaned down, her nose hovering over his. She saw a flash of his claws as she lowered her hips. A slight rub against his bare sheath. Kali smirked, and she rolled her hips more purposefully. Lightly dragging against him. Rinzaan let out a sharp gasp, and his claws sank back in, wringing the hammock.

Kali paused, a grin spanning from either ear now. When he pried his claws free, he reached up towards her shirt. She batted his eager hands away. “I don't need help," she said. “Just wait."

She leaned back, letting her tail help until she was used to the hammocks shifting underneath. While she had the chance, she glanced over the edge of the hammock to make certain. The crew quarters were still empty. As they were bound to be, until the sailors came back to sleep in the morning.

Kali tugged her scarf off her shoulders and slung it over the bit of rope at the far end of the hammock. As she often did, before she went to sleep at night. Then she picked at her wrists, plucking at the ties until the knot came loose. Slowly. One at a time, gradually unraveling the ends.

She ignored Rinzaan's writhing under her. The eager wiggle of his hips, and the flexing of his claws again when she unfastened her belt. The ends of her shirt slipped free. Kali swatted his hands again when they wandered towards her stomach. “Do you want this?" Kali asked, smiling despite her stern tone. “Or not?"

“Can I just–"

“Nope." Kali said. “You can wait, or you can get kneed and elbowed again."

“I'll take knees and elbows."

He reached up again, and Kali grabbed his hand before it drifted any farther. Smiling and laughing again at his yearning fingers. “Don't be so impatient," she said. “Or is that just a Dockie thing?"

“I'm impatient? I recall plenty of times you ripped off your clothes way faster than I did."

“I don't remember that." Kali pushed his hand away. She grabbed the edge of her shirt and tugged it over her ears. Without any assistance from Rinzaan, despite his continued pouting.

She tossed her shirt aside and waited, with a patience Rinzaan claimed she didn't have, ready to deter another sneaky grab. But he didn't try it again. His hands stayed where they were this time. Only his eyes rested on her, following the white fur on her chest down to her waist—to where her deft fingers unfastened the button on her pants.

He probably had a smart remark about this, too. Even Kali wasn't entirely sure how she would take her pants off while positioned like this. But he only observed, as instructed.

Kali inched forward and leaned down, adding a playful flip of her tail as she lifted her rear. Something to distract Rinzaan while she struggled to pull her pants down. But with some wiggling, and more kicking than she intended, she managed to escape her fabric confines.

One last twist of her ankle, and Kali kicked her pants off. Finally free, her bare fur against Rinzaan's. A privilege neither of them often had, and one she took full advantage of as she slid her hands up along his chest and dragged her stomach against his. Chuckling, when she felt the delighted rumbling purr underneath her. Even though she held up her hips, and her taunting tail wagged over her back, “I told you this would be easier."

She expected praise or any sort of commendation for her efforts. But Rinzaan only smirked. “Was it? That didn't look so easy from here."

Kali huffed. The smug palace attitude clung to his pelt worse than the stench of catmint. Yet she wasn't deterred in the slightest. If anything, her tail was only lifted higher by Rinzaan's self-assured smile.

He pulled her down, rubbing his cheek against hers with one last purr. His claws pricked against Kali's neck, and she yielded with an eager trill. Sliding forward, at the coaxing of his fingers, until her nose pressed into Rinzaan's neck. A warm breath at her ear sent a shiver down her spine to the tip of her tail.

“Turn over for me," Rinzaan whispered.

Kali's breath hitched, cracking her steady purring into a startled chirp. She felt another shiver run down her tail–and down her thighs. Kali pulled her ear away, flicking it to rid the tickling warmth that radiated through. “Turn over?" Kali asked as she looked down at Rinzaan. “So the palace cat thinks he can boss me around now?"

His fleeting confidence vanished in an instant. His ears skewed, and Kali felt the familiar nervous flick of his tail hit the side of her leg. “I, uh, not really," he said. “You don't have to. Don't have to turn over, I mean. Not if you don't want to."

A quick stifled laugh puffed Kali's cheeks for an instant, rippling her whiskers. He had her fooled for a second. She thought, perhaps, he might answer her snide remark with something with more growl to it.

But his fretful heart was the same as it always was.

A few days in the palace wouldn't change that–a few months? Years? Even a lifetime might never make a difference. Not where Rinzaan's flighty tail was concerned.

Kali leaned into his arms again and pressed her nose against his. “You're ridiculous."

“What? Did I do something wrong?"

Kali laughed. She couldn't hold it back this time. “No, you didn't. But you know you don't always have to tiptoe around. We've been doing this for a while." Kali flipped her tail, the end curling as she looked into his eyes. “You can be a little bossy, if you want. It's okay."

“I can be–oh." Rinzaan's ears spun forward. “I can? Then, uh, roll over?"

Kali smirked. She set a hand in the middle of his chest, keeping him pinned when he tried to twist. “Not today," Kali said.

Not like that. He couldn't be very bossy with the little quiver in his voice and his nervous tail giving him away. That's really what she meant. But with Rinzaan's tail still flicking and his ears stuck at awkward angles, it didn't feel like the right time to tell him that.

For now, while he was already pinned under her, she didn't feel like letting him have his way. She enjoyed his squirming too much. Especially when he shifted his legs, and she felt a brush against her thigh. The smooth fur of his thigh rubbing against the dampening fur between her legs. Along with the occasional prod from his rigid member, which she sought with more purpose, as she slid back.

She dragged her hands across Rinzaan's chest and ruffled his fur as she went. Until her hips pressed firmly on his. Rinzaan dug his claws into the hammock again. Another little gasp when she wiggled her rear and rubbed their slick fur together, coaxing the last firm length from his sheath.

Kali paused, her tail swishing high. She leaned back slightly, though she kept his member pressed underneath her hips. “You're in my hammock this time," she mused. “I think I'll keep you just like this."

“I don't mind." Rinzaan's hands left Kali's neck and slid down to her stomach, his fingers tracing circles on her fur. “If you don't, I mean. Otherwise, we can–"

Kali leaned forward and kissed away whatever else he was about to say. Her tongue shoved between his teeth. A coarse lick, which Rinzaan eagerly returned. His chest lifted, despite Kali's hand on his shoulder, and he pressed his muzzle hard against hers. Drinking up her every kiss, his claws easing their way into her fur as his fingers kneaded into her stomach.

Kali would've trilled if her tongue weren't preoccupied. Wedged against Rinzaan's, stroking and licking as she moved her hips against his. Shifting herself forward and sliding a hand between them, just to feel how hard he was against her leathery fingertips. How slick he was, as her palm slid down the shaft. As much as Kali was from all their grinding together.

She loosened her grip, lightly brushing her fingers along the barbed tip. Rinzaan's hips pushed forward against her hand. A frustrated growl at her lips, which brought a smile to Kali's. She shifted forward, squirming her legs into a better position, then she leaned back into him.

His member glided across her palm. A slight pull, as she guided it into her folds. An excited quiver in her tail as the tip pressed in. A slow, steady recline into Rinzaan's hips, despite his claws digging into her thighs, trying to push her back.

Kali had trouble keeping her own claws sheathed. The sheer delight from feeling him between her thighs again, the warmth spreading up her chest, was intoxicating. She lowered, wiggling her hips once she reached the hilt. She intended to sit there, savor it for a minute even as Rinzaan's claws pricked her thighs. But those same claws had other plans. They held her down. His hips bucked under her.

Kali's breath hitched, stolen with a delighted throb. She fell forward, catching herself before her muzzle smacked into Rinzaan's. Though he might not have even noticed, if they had bumped noses. His attention was elsewhere, buried firmly between Kali's thighs.

Rinzaan wrapped an arm around her back, holding her chest to his. The thrusts he could manage, even with his feet sliding on the hammock's fabric, sent sparks through Kali's hips, down her legs and even up through her tail. She pressed her muzzle into his shoulder, biting down on her lip. All she could to not moan and yowl into his fur as her hips moved with his, sliding up and down his length. With each steady stroke of his barbs sending pleasured twinges up her spine.

Kali's tail shivered with delight, locked in place in the air. Her claws sank into the hammock, forcibly driven into the fabric with each thrust. Every muscle tensed until she couldn't move. Not even a playful wiggle. Every throb, every pulse of pleasure, bringing a soft whine into Rinzaan's shoulder.

She could feel his every breath at her neck, panting as he plunged into her. The points of his teeth brushed against her neck. His claws bit into her locked legs. Feet planted, he pushed harder in. Longer thrusts. Faster. Kali moaned into his shoulder. All sense of secrecy and silence gone, as she pushed back against him–pressed for that final, aching release.

His claws lurched from her thighs and wrapped around her rear instead, pulling her down. Kali's tail whipped wildly, and she yelped into Rinzaan's shoulder. He thrust into her, rocking their hips together, the barbed tip scratching at her tender depths, until she couldn't breathe. A tension building, twisting and burning deep between her legs, until she yowled into his shoulder. Leaned hard into him, as her back arched, and her claws clung desperately onto the hammock. Rinzaan moaned with her. A final pulse between her legs, as he thrust one last time. A warm wave rushed between Kali's thighs, a heat that seemed to rush up to the tips of her ears.

She lay on top of Rinzaan, panting for a solid minute, until the pleasurable haze lifted. She didn't want to, but she had to move. She unhooked her shaky claws from the bottom of her hammock and grabbed the side, lifting her muzzle over the edge. She only looked for a second. No movement caught her eye. That was good enough.

She dropped back down, collapsing back onto Rinzaan's chest with an exhausted sigh. “Not bad," she said. “For our first time back."

A weak chuckle rumbled in Rinzaan's chest. “Yeah. I don't mind," he said, with a witty smile. “I don't mind letting you do all the work."

Kali laughed. She swung her hand, batting at Rinzaan's cheek. “Yeah right! We both know you made up for it at the end there."

“Oh, I know," Rinzaan agreed. He grabbed Kali's hand and held it to his face, a light purr in his throat as he rubbed his cheek against her palm. “But you know–" he paused, looking down at Kali with the same smart grin. “I'll have to be on top next time. Otherwise, the entire ship is going to hear you."

“What? No, they won't," Kali scoffed. “This was a one time deal, since everyone is busy. A special occasion. It's not like this is going to happen every time."

“Uh-huh."

Kali's ears flattened. “I'm serious. I can be quiet."

“When your face is stuffed into a pillow, maybe."

Kali's tail twitched. Too tired for an irritable lash at his snarky comment. Instead, she took her hand away and picked herself up. “Fine. We'll just have to see," Kali said.

The end of Rinzaan's tail perked. “Are we going another round?"

Kali laughed, hearing the sheer optimism in his voice. “No," she said. “I'm going to sleep. Masede said something about a busy day tomorrow."

“Oh."

The disappointment following was audible as well. Kali smirked. “So–" She jerked her chin over towards the edge of the hammock. Rinzaan's brow furrowed, clearly not picking up on whatever she meant. To clarify, Kali waved her hand with a little flourish. “So you can go now?"

“Go? What do you mean go?" Rinzaan asked, ears now twisted and his muzzle scrunched.

“We're done for now. You can go back to your hammock. Some of us have to work tomorrow."

“You're kicking me out? Right now? I don't even get a quick nap first?"

“Nope." Kali flicked her fingers at him, shooing him away.

Rinzaan's muzzle scrunched higher, showing the white tips of his teeth. He hauled himself up with a few kicks and some flailing of his arms, uttering a series of grumpy growls until he was upright. Then he pulled on the side of the hammock, looking down with a frown. “Are you sure?"

“I'm sure."

“But we could cuddle for a little while, at least."

“No, I might make too much noise."

Rinzaan huffed. “You're seriously mad about that?"

“No, I'm not," Kali assured him with a laugh. “But I thought it was pretty funny."

Rinzaan's ears turned forward. “So can I–"

“Oh, no. I'm serious about that," Kali said, a toothy smile adding some emphasis to her words. “We're not getting caught together in a hammock on day one–or any day, really."

“You're still kicking me out."

“Absolutely."

Rinzaan groaned. “But I'm naked." He waved at his legs, at his damp thighs and sheath. “You're going to make me climb down there like this?"

Kali's whiskers twitched as she tried not to laugh again. A feigned seriousness that failed her. “You crawled up here naked. You can crawl back down."

Rinzaan raised his nose, pointing his muzzle up at the ceiling, and he sighed. Even that wasn't enough to sway her. When he looked at Kali again, she smiled and nodded over at the edge.

With yet more struggling, Rinzaan got to his feet. Kali grabbed onto the sides of the hammock, doing her best to counter the sharp sway as he leaned out and hooked his claws onto the post. Still growling and grumbling as he climbed down, naked. Eventually, he reached for his own hammock. He stretched out one clumsy foot at a time, like Kali had, though with far less grace. Then he lurched forward, falling in with a hard thump. Again, Kali had to bite back her laughter.

“Next time, we're doing it in my hammock!" Rinzaan's half muffled voice shouted up to her. “Since I'm not mean enough to throw you out."

“Whatever you say," Kali answered. She flopped back into her hammock, still grinning from one ear to the next. A cheerful air to her tail, even as she curled it around her legs.

A fine start to another voyage. Just the sort she was hoping for when she stepped onto the Sandstalker again.

Kali shut her eyes, listening to the loose tossing and shuffling fabric as Rinzaan got dressed. Something she, too, would need to do eventually. But her shirt and pants were within reach. She didn't need to rush.

Instead, she let her mind drift away, her ears turning away from Rinzaan and towards the soft hiss of sand against the hull. The occasional whistle of the breeze. Distant voices of sailors, shouting over each other, as they worked on the main deck.

Merely resting, since she couldn't fall asleep. Not with a grin still on her muzzle, her heart still racing, and her mind stirring with possibilities. Ready for whatever tomorrow might bring, since, whatever Masede might have planned, she wouldn't have to face it alone. And even if she did, she'd still get to see Rinzaan at lunch, and they could complain or laugh about it after. And that made all the difference.