FSE

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25th of October in 1827

--

"We had overwhelming success last night. Under the cover of darkness, blessed with a new moon casting little light on the water, we managed a swift, powerful attack on the Black Feather. In the skirmish that followed, four of our foxes were lost, yet the hulking schooner went down soon after with all hands. A few of the armaments were salvaged, along with food, clothing, and other essentials. I was surprised by the speed in which we overpowered Captain Emil Brin and his band, all able-bodied, formidable foxes whom I would gladly want by my side in the heat of battle. We attempted to rescue a few of the survivors, but they were hopelessly tangled in wreckage and drowned before we could reach them. For now, everyone on board the Lace Anne is simply thankful to be alive. Although-"

There was a knock at the door and the vixen looked up from the table. "Yes?"

"Captain?" came the reply, "Are...is...is it safe to enter?"

Verona Sol Mason recognized the voice of her first mate, Jose Scotia, and smiled softly, putting down her plume. "What is it?" She stood up, fluffed up her tail, and smoothed down her silk breeches casually. A handsome russet-furred fox with brown and white patches across his face stepped inside. She saw the unhappy expression he wore and frowned as well. "Are they prepared?"

Jose sighed deeply. "They are, m'lady. The others would also like you to perhaps sing a song for their burial. Your voice is like an angel's, after all." He did try a smile but the vixen clearly knew his distress. One of the dead, John Amosa, had been one of the fox's best friends from the time they were todds.

Verona came up to the fox and rubbed noses affectionately. "They died fighting with us, Jose," she said softly, "And they shall never be forgotten."

Jose looked at her steadily and took hold of her paws. "Lady Verona, neither shall you." He hesitated then kissed her mouth gently, earning a warm, throaty murr in response. "You defeated our greatest adversary. All of Spain will welcome you with open arms once more. King Furdin will have no choice but to rescind the orders for your capture. You can finally go home. And..." His voice faltered and he pressed his nose to her cheek. "And we can be wed..."

The vixen smiled shyly and her tail came up to hug about the taller fox's waist, pressing their bodies together. "You still want me? After all this?" She felt him then, all of him, hard flesh wanting to burst from the confines of the tight pantaloons, wanting only to sink deep into her warmth. The black vixen made no qualms how much she loved and cherished her first mate. It had taken but a spark between them to ignite their passions over the three-year journey across the South Seas, and so great was their love that they eagerly shared their news with the crew. Despite some hard feelings, the other foxes had accepted the arrangement, and soon would tell jokes of how Jose Scotia would soon go from first mate of Verona Sol Mason, to becoming her only mate for eternity.

"More than ever, my love," he replied and the two kissed again briefly. He nodded towards her table. "Were you-"

"I was just finishing the log. Drop anchor. I want all hands on deck for the burial." The vixen looked distant for a moment, as though taking an interest in one of the small paintings on the nearby wall. "Jose, do you feel...anything?"

"I'm sorry?"

She plunged ahead. "I...I was just about to mention in the log. I've felt a bit out of sorts since the encounter with the Black Feather and I don't know why."

"Brin was a very fine fox, steadfast, loyal to Britain, and your friend, as I recall. A long time ago. Perhaps you still feel sorrow over having to end his life." Jose let go of her hips and looked into her steel-blue eyes. "I feel sorrow as well. It was regrettable, my lady, but it was our duty. A way for all of us to redeem ourselves over past lives and hard choices."

Verona looked down at the floor. "I feel sorrow and regret, yes. But...there is something else that troubles me, and yet I don't know what it could be. I just feel...e-empty."

Jose frowned. "Do not let feelings overpower you, my love, I beg you. We are going home soon, to a better life for all of us." He gave her a reassuring nose-lick. "I'll gather the others." As he left the room, he glanced back at Verona. "I do feel a little strange as well, but it may just still be the lingering thoughts over the losses we suffered. It was a fierce battle, love. Not something we will forget anytime soon, if ever."

Verona nodded and watched him go before sitting back down at the table and finishing her report. When she was done, she disrobed and changed into formal captain's attire, including a bicorn hat, red waistcoat, silk white breeches, sash, chemise, and black boots. As she finished dressing, she checked herself in the mirror by her bed. A beautiful charcoal-black vixen with piercing blue eyes and long cascading blonde hair looked back at her. And still-

"What is wrong with you?" she asked of her reflection. For some moments, she waited for an answer, and noticed her sharp blue eyes were slightly glazed and her fur seemed a bit paler, almost a deep, dark grey. When no answer came, she turned and left her quarters for the main deck.

**

"Foxes," Verona began speaking to the assembled group on deck, "We gather today to commend the souls of Ricardo Stonia, Este Juarez, Pedro Frio, and John Amosa, to the sea. We are told from the time that we are kits that the sea holds only secrets and never memories. For it is impossible for the sea to think, or to remember, or to reminisce, and so it is up to us to do these things. Our memories stay with us. We may hand over these fine souls to the great water, but our recollections, our thoughts, our stories of them, stay with us always. As long as we remember them, they will be a part of us." She paused to allow the four covered bodies to be hoisted up and carried over to the edge of the deck. "In the name of the Creator, all that is holy and just and peaceful, we allow these lost souls to come home at last to your loving arms. Amen."

As promised, the Captain led the crew in a rousing, enchanting song called "Foxes in the Moonlight", a beautiful melody about a group of foxes running in the forest during a misty night. She then stood aside and watched as the four bodies were pitched one by one over the deck and into the sea. As the last one, John Amosa, was cast, Verona and Jose moved to the deck railing to look down, and noticed with alarm that there were no bodies floating on the water.

"Andros?" Jose barked behind him, "Did you weigh the men down?"

A scruffy, grey-colored fox stepped forward, shaking his head. "No, sir. I did not. I-I followed proper protocol."

All the other foxes hurried to the railing but all they could see were misty ocean waves tossing small white froths back and forth. Of their fallen comrades, there was no sign.

"Rigor would have set in by now, Captain," Andros explained meekly. "It may have been enough to sink them fast."

Verona was about to point out that the white cloths that covered them would at least still be floating on the surface, when a wave of dizziness came over her, and she excused herself to return to her quarters.

**

26th of October in 1827

--

"After an uneventful morning, we weighed anchor and resumed our plotted course. We all seem to be in poor spirits since the battle with the Black Feather and no one desires to eat. The thought of food actually makes me feel nauseous. I did try to drink a little water earlier, but coughed it back out as soon as it touched my throat. One of the foxes, Hernandez, is feeling very low. He keeps talking about the encounter with the Black Feather, and how terrible he felt watching the foxes drowning before his eyes. Jose is doing his best to keep spirits bright, reminding us all that we are going home, back to those we love, and that there is no reason, none whatsoever, for us to feel sorrow, or regret, or guilt..."

**

Verona went out to the main deck to see her love standing at the railing and looking up at the star-filled sky. She smiled and put her tail around him, and he leaned against her to murr gently.

"Beautiful night." He smiled at her and for a moment there was a sparkle in his dark brown eyes. "I've checked the compass a dozen times but-" he pointed to a bright star not too far from the horizon. "That's North. I think it might be broken. The arrow hasn't budged from West since..."

Verona sighed. "Perhaps it was broken in the battle, my love."

Jose shook his head. "But not one single fox got aboard the Lace Anne. We took over the Black Feather in minutes, and the only fighting was there. John and the others died fighting on their ship, not ours. As I recall, we had to carry them back, remember?"

The vixen's eyes crinkled and she looked deep in thought for a moment. "I...I...I think so." She looked up at the sky again and trembled all over. "I'm finding it...hard to remember suddenly..."

Jose nodded. "I remember some things, but not others." He turned to her, troubled. "Like, I remember us finding the Black Feather, hoisting the Spanish flag, but...I-I don't remember much of the fighting and..." He paused and ran a paw across her cheek, tracing her whiskers. "Verona, I...I don't remember getting back on the Lace Anne when the Black Feather went down. It's strange, right? We should remember our victory and I just..."

Verona smiled faintly and took his paw. "Jose, let's just get home. Put this battle, this voyage, this whole sordid mission behind us. We've got to. Maybe we're not remembering certain things because we're not supposed to."

He chuckled ruefully. "By whose authority?"

The vixen smirked and dropped his paw. "How about starting with mine? I am still in charge of the Lace Anne, Lieutenant. I would urge you and everyone aboard this vessel to put what is past in the past, and focus only on the future for us all. There will be no more spoken about the Black Feather. Is that clear?"

Jose offered a mock salute. "As you like, Captain. But if we are indeed to return home, may I suggest we firmly agree on our proper direction? If the compass is broken, as you suggest, we should begin full navigation by the stars immediately."

Verona agreed. "Send Hernandez up to deck. He is very good with the stars, and I think he could use some fresh air. All he has done lately is stay in the bulwarks and sleep." She glanced up at the brightest star again. "It would still appear we are heading west. So we are bound to come across land very soon. We weren't more than a few days out from Madrid when we encountered the...the..."

"The Black Feather, Captain."

"Y-yes." She sighed and offered a wry smile. "See? It has almost escaped my mind entirely." She started to leave but Jose cleared his throat. "Something else?"

The fox didn't answer for a moment, and leaned over the railing to look down at the water. "No, I guess that's all I wanted to say. Except that I love you very much."

Verona smiled in the darkness and nuzzled his shoulder. "Bring up Hernandez, please. And then, come to my bed." She traced her paw along his side, teasingly close to his tail-base, and turned away.

Jose smiled softly but then looked down at the water again. He had wanted to tell her something he thought was important but now he couldn't remember.

Something about the water.

**

27th of October in 1827

--

"Jose was late in coming to me last night, but as it has always, our love-making sustained our passion and our hopes, and quelled our fears and anxieties. He started to tell me something as we were lying together, asked me if I noticed anything strange about the water, but when I asked him to explain, he simply kissed me and we made love again...

I have just learned that Hernandez is gone.

All hands searched in vain for him in every corner of the Lace Anne, but we fear the worst. It was my suggestion that the young fox would feel better if he were useful to us in navigation. But now it is clear Hernandez was closer to the edge of oblivion than we dared realize. At some point during the night, possibly while Jose and I were swept up in our interlude, he must have jumped overboard and allowed the sea to take him.

We bade a very fond farewell to our navigator and immediately recruited another, Jiminez, to take his place. Despite nearly two days' journey however, Jiminez reports we are still a few days from land, according to the stellar charts. I'm troubled at hearing this, because we had been sailing due west for quite some time, and we should have seen land by now. Yet all we see is the never-ending blue in a cloudless bright sky.

Well, not quite blue. Jose pointed something out to me today. He told me that the water seemed strange and I didn't notice it until I took a closer look. The water is not clear at all. There is no sense of anything underneath. It seems as though there is a tremendous fog down there, but we know this is impossible. We checked and re-checked the maps, but there is no indication of reefs or protruding ice, or anything that could mar the water. I have instructed Jiminez to keep an eye on the water tonight, since we seem to still be heading west and there is no need to navigate at this time."

**

"Jiminez?" Jose approached the young fox, who was leaning so far over the railing his feet no longer touched the deck. "Jiminez!" The fox jerked and wiggled before coming back to the deck, shaking a bit. "Good God, fox, have we not lost enough of our men to the sea? What were you doing?"

Jiminez sputtered an apology. "I-I don't know what came over me. I...I heard a noise against the ship, and it sounded like..." He looked puzzled at Jose. "It was nothing."

"What did you hear?"

"Sir, please, I really-"

"Jiminez, out with it. Now."

The young fox looked down and folded his paws in front of him. "V-voices." He wouldn't lift his head. "They were voices, sir."

Jose grew alarmed and, fearing another ship had located them to do harm, hurried to the deck and looked down at the cloudy sea. But there was nothing around them, just water. "There is nothing here, Jiminez. Perhaps you were just lost in thought. Or a wave splashed against the ship in just the right tone."

In a shaky voice, Jiminez replied, "Of course, sir. That must have been it." He glanced back at the water again, and it looked grey and cold and unforgiving. "I was...trying to get bearings by the sun. But it ducked behind a cloud and I watched the water instead. And..." He struggled to take a breath and to Jose it seemed the young fox was close to tears. "I thought I saw movement below. I...I thought perhaps it was a shark, a large fish. But it didn't move like that."

Jose dismissed him with a wave. "The water is just playing tricks on you, fox. Stare at it long enough and you will see or hear anything it wants you to. Just do your duty, and help us get home. We still have many souls on this ship to account for. I would like them to have faith in our navigator." He winked and coaxed a smile.

"Aye, Lieutenant," the young fox nodded and turned back to watch the ocean.

Jose started to walk to quarters when something stopped him in his tracks. Almost abruptly he asked, "Jiminez, do you remember any of the voices?"

The young fox didn't answer at first and just shook his head. "It was nothing. It was the waves, just as you said, I'm quite sure..."

Jose frowned and walked back up close to Jiminez and stared out to sea. "Were there words?" He saw the fox's shoulder slump visibly and watched him shake. "Jiminez?"

Jiminez looked morosely up at the first mate again, and his eyes were wet with tears. "I...I heard...one voice...th-that I knew. I..." He composed himself and continued in almost a whisper, "It was John..."

Jose's eyes widened. "J-John...Amosa?"

The fox swallowed hard and looked down again, nodding.

"Jiminez," Jose began carefully. "We buried John. He is gone. Do you understand that? I fear perhaps you have been up here too long. You are relieved for the night." As the young fox trudged away, the first mate asked, more out of curiosity. "What did you imagine he said to you?"

In the darkness, Jiminez turned around again and sighed deeply. "He-he said...we need to come home..." He then left for the bulwarks to sleep.

Jose turned slowly to lean on the railing, looking defeated. "We're trying, John..." he whispered to the night sky.

**

28th of October in 1827

--

"Jiminez has reported no land within the last 24 hours and I am now worried we may somehow be circling, though the compass maintains we are true west, and we are heading into the sunset every day.

The rest of the foxes on board are in various degrees of sadness and confusion. Despite plenty of food and water, the galley remains empty. All anyone wants to do is spend the day sleeping or sitting on deck, staring at the horizon. There is no laughter, or happiness, or joy...or...hope?

No, I must not let this happen. We must go home. I am responsible for the sixteen lives on this vessel, including my own. If I falter from my own conscience, if I allow even the slightest bit of uncertainty and doubt to eventually overwhelm me, I invite mutiny - or worse.

Jose continues to come to my chambers in the night, and we make love, and it re-energizes me. Despite what any other fox on board the Lace Anne says, the two of us still have strength and vigor and hope.

I just wish we could eat something..."

**

29th of October in 1827

--

Our crew is down to ten. Jiminez and four others were standing at the railing, Jose reported. One of them pointed excitedly, cried out, and before Jose could stop him, jumped overboard. The other three and Jiminez, jumped over the side, Jose thought, to assist in rescuing the first. Jose told me that the four went down fast and were lost in the water below. He waited for some sign, anything to suggest they could be saved, but...no one came back up. It was as if the sea swallowed them, and left no trace behind. I pointed out to him that the ship must have been moving quite quickly or perhaps the foxes were caught underneath the bow.

We are extremely sad for this great loss and it now frightens me that we have no idea what is happening anymore. The same stars fill the night, the same sun rises and sets, and the Lace Anne goes forth, churning through clouded waves that hold no forms."

**

"Captain?"

Verona turned from her view of the misty sunrise to see Jose frowning and hurried over to him. "What is it, my love?"

"We should have seen...something by now. I fear our compass is gone, as you surmised."

She nuzzled his cheek. "Bring all hands on deck. Rouse them if they are sleeping but I believe it is time we talk amongst ourselves and try to find a solution. We can't be that far from home now. We just can't. A-a few more days, that is all. I'm sure of it."

Jose nodded and kissed her mouth. "If you're sure, then so am I. I would follow you into a maelstrom if that's what it took. You know this."

Verona found some humor in her and smiled, reaching up to rub an eartip. "You did once. Remember the time that terrible storm came up and you had to grab onto my legs to keep me from being blown over the side?"

Jose snickered and rubbed noses. "Mmm-hmm. I also remember you confining me to quarters soon after for taking what you called an impropriety of the situation."

The vixen laughed. "You pulled off my pants and left me half naked!"

Jose countered. "And what a view that was."

She blushed and looked at her feet. "Perhaps but it was very unflattering. Your punishment wasn't severe enough."

He moved against her then, wrapping his strong arms around her and pulling her away from the railing to kiss deeply. "Come," he said when they pulled away. "Let's talk to everyone."

About an hour later, all of the foxes were gathered around Verona and her first-mate in a semi-circle as the captain began. "Men," she said still-firmly, "I realize we are still on the sea. And we have had to deal with much loss." She reached for Jose's paw. "I want you all to know, I love every one of you as much as I love Jose. My love for you, my caring for you, holds no bounds. Together we are all strong, brave, and sure. But we must also be hopeful. I..." She looked at Jose before continuing. "We all have families to go home to, loved ones who want very much to be by our side. And that is why we must continue this journey now. We go on for them. But the journey seems like it is not ending, and we cannot think like that. None of us can. The sea doesn't just take secrets, but it also takes away hope. I fear the more we move, the worse we will feel."

She moved closer to the foxes and smiled. "I propose we drop anchor now. It is nearly sundown. If we don't want to eat, the least we can do is sing songs, talk about our lives, what we want to do when we get back home. While we are anchored we can also get a good, accurate reading of the stars and our direction, and know exactly where we are going. Are you agreed?"

The group nodded slowly.

Verona frowned. "I believe I am still in charge here. I expect an answer."

"Yes, Captain," came the muttering replies.

"Very well." She clapped loudly and showed more vigor than she had in days. "Step to it! Take down the sails! Open hatches! Jose, round up some flutes! And drop anchor!"

"Aye aye, Captain!" The foxes jumped to their feet and, with more enthusiasm, started their chores.

As the main sail billowed and then folded down she called out to one of the foxes on deck, "Alvarez! Drop anchor!"

"Aye!" came an encouraged shout and the chained anchor at the side was sent down, splashing through the water.

Everyone stopped shouting and went immediately silent as they heard a faint but audible "thunk" a few seconds later.

"Alvarez?" Verona asked curiously of the fox. "Did we reach bottom?"

"That's not possible, Captain. Perhaps a reef?"

The vixen scanned the horizon. "But that would likely mean we were close to land, wouldn't it?"

Alvarez smiled. "Aye, it would, miss. Possibly."

Verona walked to the railing and looked down at the chain. "Weigh anchor again."

"Captain?"

"We will drift some but that is fine. I just want to know how large a reef this is."

"Aye, Captain." The anchor was pulled up and in a few moments sent back down again.

And as before, they all heard the same sound of metal hitting-

"That...that did not sound like a reef..." Alvarez said softly.

Jose walked over to the railing and joined Verona in peering down, trying to see through the fog that lay just beneath the surface.

"Could it be another vessel?" he asked her and a chill ran up his spine though he didn't know why.

Verona shook her head. "We were the only ship in the area apart from the..." She had forgotten the name entirely. "The one that the king had...had...ordered..." Now she was confused. "I c-can't remember..."

Without another word, the vixen bent down and removed her boots and leggings, then unbuttoned her chemise and took off her hat until she wore nothing but breeches.

"What are you doing?" Jose asked.

"I'm going down to look, what do you think?"

"Captain, I can't allow you to-"

She turned on him, suddenly angry. "And I can't allow you to disobey me. While I'm gone, you are in charge. If it's indeed a ship, it was likely not supposed to be here and hasn't been reported. And it's not very deep, which leads me to think the bottom is very close. And if that is the case..." She looked out at the horizon again. "Then we can't be very far from home, don't you see? I must go down!"

Jose backed away and nodded. "Alright, love, but please be careful."

She smiled and kissed his cheek softly. "I will be." As the other foxes assembled, the vixen climbed up atop the railing and, after a few deep breaths, dove over the side and vanished without a trace.

**

30th of October in 1827

I have not told anyone what happened to me. I still cannot believe all of it and am convinced I was dreaming, that when I was brought on board coughing water, shaking, and naked several minutes later, I must have suffered some sort of blackness.

It was not very deep but it was like swimming in dense fog. I could hardly see a thing down there. It was as if the water was swirling wisps of whites and greys and blues. And it was so cold. I swam blindly deeper, holding the breath in my lungs as best I could, feeling the sea trying to pull it from me. I was only underwater approximately half a minute before I reached what I thought at first to be the bottom. I reached out and felt something smooth and hard.

Wood.

The water mercifully cleared enough for me to get a better look at my surroundings and I could see that it was indeed another vessel, and based on the amount of seaweed and algae that covered her, she must have sunken quite long ago.

I swam the length of the long, wide hull, fascinated at my find. I could still not make out many features of the stricken vessel at all, except that there was a huge hole along one side. Obviously a cannon had found its deadly mark. I floated down to the giant hole, and it seemed to beckon me to swim inside. I paused from exploring further however, suddenly mindful of my lungs. I could stay underwater a considerable amount of time, but worried venturing inside, becoming hopelessly lost in the maze of corridors and rooms, or trapped by debris and drowned.

As I floated in front of the vessel, I suddenly felt something soft wrap around my foot and jerk me backwards. In the confusion, I struggled and turned around - and screamed.

In front of me, all naked and smiles, were Ricardo Stonia, Este Juarez, Pedro Frio, and John Amosa. The four brave foxes we had lost during our final battle. They no longer looked bruised and battered and bloody. They looked angelic and handsome and pure. I looked at them in disbelief as they floated closer to me, running transparent, smoky paws along my body. One of them, John, bent his head down and circled my left nipple with a warm tongue, while another, Este, hooked his teeth around my right and suckled me tenderly.

I burbled hard, suddenly lost in ecstasy as the four foxes continued to pleasurably assault my form. One of them sank down and playfully yanked off my breeches, and I was as naked as they were. John pressed himself against me, his mouth clamped over mine, and suddenly I was breathing! I looked at him in shock as I felt cold water rushing down my throat, filling my body. I had never felt a sensation quite like it.

While the other foxes nuzzled and licked my breasts, and dipped their tongues into my heat from front and behind, John slowly pushed me up against the hull of the sunken ship. Lust overcame me. I wrapped my legs around him, moaning, needing his heat, and he pushed his whole member into me. I grimaced at first as his thickness impaled me. It was so hot, like I was being penetrated by a branding iron fresh from the fire. I mewled like a kit and hugged his shoulders tightly, kissing him hard, fervently, giving over completely to the most urgent, basic desire.

He came into me in moments, filling me with hot, syrupy seed that seemed to stick to my walls. John then kissed me again, a long, deep, searching kiss that filled my passion anew. He pulled away from me and smiled, and words formed amidst a trail of silvery bubbles.

"Come home..." he said, and I heard, quite clearly. The other foxes smiled and grabbed my paws, tugging at me, trying to lead me forward and down with them into seemingly endless depths below.

But just then my lungs started protesting. The urge to breathe hit me again like a mallet to my gut and I wiggled out of their grip and clawed for the surface.

But before I did, I looked down again, and through the suddenly clear water, I saw the vessel - and stopped swimming entirely.

It was the Lace Anne. I knew her colors, the deck, every inch of her. There was no doubt.

It was my ship.

Whether the shock overcame me, or I blacked out from lack of air and drifted to the surface, the next thing I remember seeing was cloudy sky against the sting of salt water in my eyes and mouth. Jose and the others dragged me back aboard and found a warm blanket for me. I tried to drink offered water but again retched as soon as I took the first swallow. In time, I stopped shaking enough to be led back to my quarters..."

**

Jose stared at Verona after he finished reading the log and then slowly put the book back down. "Verona..." he said gently, as if speaking to a child, "You've been under a great deal of stress. I know this. We've all been through it. But this-" he nodded to the table. "It's obvious this was some, what do they say, some grand illusion. You went too deep, or came up too fast, blacked out, and had a dream."

The vixen got up from her chair. "I'm sure you're right, Jose. But...it was all too real for me. I-I remember so much of what happened down there - and hardly nothing of what has happened to us."

Jose snatched up the log. "We know what happened! We have this here. Right here, it's all written down! We attacked the Black Feather under orders of King Furdin and we succeeded and we..."

"Love," She came to him and hugged him tightly "That is just it. I cannot remember having actually fought anyone. No Black Feather, no battle, not even-"

He pushed her away. "What are you saying!? Do you realize what would happen if the others heard this lunacy!?"

"Then perhaps we should tell them! Every single word!" She came to him again and touched his cheek. "Listen to me. We-we don't eat. We just sleep or wander the deck. I don't know if you've noticed but the others, they seem so different. So sad. They don't seem like they are..." She fumbled for proper words and found none. "They just don't seem...here anymore." She took his paw and held it to her muzzle to kiss. "My love for you has kept me from understanding anything. But, Jose...I...I think I understand...everything now."

Jose's eyes glistened and he shook his head. "It can't be. We saw the Black Feather go down! We tried to save-" he stopped as he thought for a moment and his eyes widened. "I-I...I tried to save John...he-he was sinking, and I tried to save him and he was trapped inside the Black Feather and drowning and-"

Verona touched his mouth. "I remember. You dove in after him. And-and when you didn't come back up, I...I dove in and...tried to find you and...I couldn't...and..."

They looked at each other, silent for a moment, their eyes filled with tears.

There was a knock on the door and they quickly composed themselves, allowing Alvarez inside.

"Captain," he said meekly, "What are our orders? Should we weigh anchor and be on our way?"

Verona looked at Jose steadily and he nodded. "Weigh anchor, Alvarez. Hoist all sails. And steady as she goes."

"Aye, sir."

"Alvarez?"

"Sir?"

The fox smiled brightly at Verona and his smile was as bright and as cheerful as Alvarez had ever seen. He looked like a fox in love. "Please inform the men...we'll be home soon..."

Alvarez' face burst out into a huge grin. "Aye, sir!"

Paw in paw, the two foxes left the captain's quarters and returned to the deck to be with the crew one last time.

**

October 31st of October in 1827

--

Jose and I will be the last to leave the ship.

We want to embrace one another one more time, to look into each other's eyes, to feel warmth and passion, and to say "I love you" one last time.

Strange how we're not afraid anymore.

But why should we be?

We are finally going home...

**

END