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Prologue

It all began on a dark, stormy, and dangerous night. The island of Sampetra, still a popular hideout for the searats and corsairs, was being bombarded by heavy rains. The town was deserted except for the few fools trying to brave the torrent. The real storm, however, was brewing uphill in a mansion belonging to a resident who was well-off to say the least. The owner of this spacious building was a ferret captain. He had become restless. This stormy weather had been keeping him inside for weeks. Servants were avoiding him like the plague, fearful of what he would do if they got too close.

Meanwhile, in another part of the mansion, two innocent souls were hard at work. The bigger of these figures was on all fours as she scrubbed the floor while her young son caught leaks in buckets. They were odd creatures. They had the appearance of dogs, with dark brown fur and black spots all over their bodies. The young male had a darker coat than his mother. He seemed to take things in stride as if he didn't mind being in servitude so long as he had his mom. She laughed, as only a mother could, when he fell over trying to lift one bucket that had obviously become too heavy. Their brief moment of carefree laughter was broken by the sudden sound of the master's boots approaching.

She whispered to her son "Quick, Will. You must to hide yourself. He might want to hit you agin."

His voice came out as a whimper "M-m-Mama?"

She took him gently by his vest. "Shh, di nah let 'im hear you. Now go."

She kissed him on the forehead and he backed off slowly before running away. No sooner had he turned the corner than had the ferret burst in looking for somebeast to take his anger out on. His gaze fell upon the female crouched before him.

He spoke harshly "You dere! Spotty dog, where'z yer boy?"

She blinked nervously as she tried to think up a lie. "I had sint 'im to the kitchen. 'E was workin' hard, 'e deserved rest an' food."

He stared down at her, his head cocked to the side. The angle from which she knelt on the floor in this light made her... enticing to look at. "Dreadf'l shame, you'll haff ta do den."

Before her mind could register what he'd just suggested, he grabbed her by her neck and then dragged her off to his master bedroom kicking and screaming.

Will had watched the whole incident from behind the wall. He felt hate building inside him as he heard his mother's pained screams. Then her screams changed, becoming more rhythmic. Even at his young age, he understood too well what that sound was. He got up and walked forward holding back tears as he approached the room. He hid behind the corner before the bedroom. Two armed stoats stood outside ignoring his mother's pleas. He reached for his belt where he had a small sling and a bag of stones. He loaded two stones to his sling and let them fly.

Clack! Clack!

"Yaow!" "Fuck!"

They connected hard and true forcing the stoats to drop their weapons. He took this chance. He ran out from his hiding place swinging his newly loaded sling. He connected with their heads. They fell over senseless. Their combined weight pushed the double doors open. What Will saw was an image which would forever be burned into his memory.

That filthy old vermin on top of his mother. The old captain glared at the young hyena that had interrupted him. He stood naked as he wielded a saber. His semi-erect cock hung before him, dripping cum on the floor beneath him. His greasy headfur hung over his eyes as he beckoned the insolent child forth. Will conceded with no hesitation.

"Whut call did you haff for actink so rashly?"

He grabbed the boy by his black headfur and threw him toward the bed. Will opened his eyes and never shut them. His mother laid with her head in an unnatural angle her eyes staring into space or they would be if they still had color. Blood leaked from the corner of her mouth. She was bare, bleeding, violated and now she was dead.

"What? Wurr you tryn' ta help 'er? You stoopid liddle shit!"

He had hoped this would quell any thoughts of rebellion the boy might've had; he did not, however, see his eyes. Will swung hard wrapping the sling around the captain's blade and dove forward through the old one's legs. He stayed down on the ground as the ferret fell to the floor with his own blade in his groin. He stared daggers at the hyena standing over him.

"You mudderfucker! Who'd o' thought ya acshually had yer sum ballz?"

Will did not hear him. His attention was all on the blade sticking from the ferret's lower body. He grabbed the hilt and pushed. This caused the ferret to scream out in pain. Will enjoyed this. He twisted it sideways and then pulled it out. The ferret's innards spilled out onto the floor. His life faded as he watched Will raising the saber above his head. Will closed his eyes and let the blade fall. When he opened them the ferret's head had been all but severed from the neck. Will felt nothing.

Rapid footsteps made him turn. The ferret's guards stood in the doorway mouths agape at the sight of the blood-drenched youth standing over their captain still holding the blade. His eyes betrayed no feelings. He shook the blade splattering blood on the surrounding walls. This was more than enough sentiment for the guards to get out of his way. He had not gotten far down the hall before they regained some small courage and ran after him. He shouldered the blade and ran. He ran for the nearest window he could get to. He crashed through it and closed his eyes expecting a long fall. It was actually shorter than he thought. He landed in the water just missing the rocks. Gathering what strength he could, he released the blade and swam for an object moored to the shore. Through the rain, he couldn't tell what it was neither did he care. He finally got his right paw on something solid and wooden. Someone must've been watching out for me up there, he thought. He climbed into the boat. Trying to catch his breath, Will found a bit of burlap big enough to cover his body. He fell asleep exhausted.

...

The rain had let up by next morning. A beast in ragged white pantaloons stood on shore. His long furless tail suggested rat. He stared out at sea as if he wanted to welcome the sun back. His alert ears then picked up something. It was somebeast shivering. He sniffed the air. Over the brine, he picked up the musk of some unfamiliar creature. He followed it to a small boat. He peeked in and he had no idea what it was. It was some type of odd spotted dog. He could see it was a young one, though. He looked around to see if anyone was watching then hefted the young beast up over his shoulder and walked away.

Will awoke to dampness upon his forehead; he didn't open his eyes yet. He felt safe. He opened them gradually. He could see some figure in front of him.

"Oh, yo're 'wake now are ya?"

Her voice was clearly that of a rat. She was dabbing his forehead with a moist rag. She called to someone in the other room.

"Oi, Michael, dear; der lad's 'wakenin'!"

A voice rang out. "What've oi told yer ahunnid times afore already? It's Skintail when we've company."

She yelled back in a matter-of-fact tone "Well, I marryed ya, so yo're always gon' be Michael to me."

She returned her attention to her charge. "Ye'd 'ave to ekscuse 'im, dearie. Tinks 'es this great ol' cutthroat, but, 'e's really just a softie. I tink dat's why I luv 'im so much."

Michael came over from the next room. He kissed his mate silently telling her to leave him and the young one. She quietly obliged. He looked back at Will smiling.

"Heh, dat's me Miriam there." Michael sat on the side of the bed. "How's yo're arms then?"

Will spoke, "M-my arms?"

He tried to sit up, but found it a strain. He looked at his arms. They were bandaged.

"Yo're arms dey were all cut up when I fownd ya. Moi woife did the bandagin' cleanin' an' all." Michael decided to change the subject to calm the youth. He said the first thing he'd been thinking since finding the boy. "Young lad, if you don't moind me askin'; just what in the hell 'r' ya?"

Will looked up. None had ever cared enough to even ask him that before. He remembered his mother telling him about what manner of beast he was; he just couldn't recall the word.

"I'm... uh. I'm..." What was that damned word? He thought to himself. Then, he remembered. "H-h-h-" Then his eyes became serious. "Hyena." He looked back up to Michael. "I'm a hyena."

Michael repeated the word. "Hyena? Well, where'd yer come from? I ain't never seen der loike o' ya before."

Will thought again and then gave his best answer. "I don't know. I wasn't born when my mother..." Suddenly, images of the night before came back in an ugly flash. Will's eyes began to tear up. "Mama!"

He buried his face in Michael's chest. Michael patted the sobbing youth having seen this scenario many times before during his years as a searat. "Damn!" He muttered to himself.

Michael felt sympathy for him. He didn't to want cause him more pain from drudging up the past; at the same time, though, he wanted to help him. "Listen, uh..."

"Will!"

Michael eyes widened. "What?"

Will looked up, his eyes reddened from crying. "My name's Will... uh, Mr. Skintail, sir."

Michael seemed emboldened at his old searat name being spoken to him. "Will, could you tell me what 'appened to yer mum?"

Will's face made an instant transformation from sorrow to hatred. "He killed her."

Michael found himself shocked by the sudden change in Will's tone. "Who killed her?"

Will's mood darkened further. "That fucking ferret; she did not need to die. We were just in the way. He d-d-did her and he killed her..."

Michael felt sorrow at the hyena's plight. "Fuck... That's just terrible." A thought crossed his mind just then. "You said a ferret killed her." His thoughts came back to the place where he found Will. It was close to the home of his former captain. He held Will's head and looked him straight in the eyes."Did he have dark brown fur? Darker than any other ferret."

Will's eyes widened. He just described the old ferret perfectly. "Yes! But, how did you know?"

Michael stood up. "That ferret be none other than me ol' cap'n. Captain Brownfurre, the bastard, he's known to like takin' any priddy girl 'e wants ta 'is bed, whether dey want 'im or not. He's why I left piratin' in the first place. I could no longer stand the screams comin' from his cabin." He looked up from the floor and towards Will. "If it's 'im that's dun it, then, Oi'm only too 'appy to help yer..."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, there came a loud clamorous banging at the front door. Michael turned to see Miriam answer the door. A stoat stood at the door with worry in his eyes.

"Marm, where's Skintail?"

Michael motioned for Will to stay where he was and walked to his old crewmate.

"Screweyes, wot brings ya 'ere?"

Screweyes looked at Skintail his expression unchanging. "Oh, it's unb'liev'ble! The captain, Captain Brownfurre, 'e's bin k-" Screweyes acted as though he didn't want to believe it. "Somebeast has murdered th' captain; chopped 'is head clean off!"

Skintail felt a cold sweat upon his brow. He thought back to Will. No, it couldn't be, he thought. This boy's...

"Hey, Skintail, snap out of it!" Screweyes shook his shoulders.

Skintail looked back at his crewmate. "Come, we can talk outside." Both beasts exited out the front door.

Will crouched by the wall separating the room from the kitchen as he gathered his thoughts. He knew already he could trust Michael and Miriam. Miriam didn't seem the violent type and Michael had already made clear his distaste for Brownfurre. But this stoat, Screweyes, Will had seen him before at the mansion. He was a trusted friend of the old one. Something had to be done.

"Wot moar ken ya tell me 'bout the cap'n's death?" Skintail inquired.

Screweyes was inconsolable. "Wot moar ken I tell ya?! I've tol' you all dere is! Some fuckin' monster went in an' 'e took the captain's insides out, 'e cut his head off an' 'e- 'e cut his- he chopped the cap'n's willie! Wot manner o' sane beast does that?"

Skintail listened with intent hiding the relief he felt inside.

"I seen 'im moiself! Oi didn't want ta believe it! Th' guards say it were some spotty whelp dat did et."

This seemed to confirm Skintail's fears. Will had killed Captain Brownfurre. He was about to say something when he spotted Will standing out in the open.

Screweyes followed his gaze and he saw him too. He pulled violently away from Skintail his left paw to his dagger. "Wot is th' meanin' o' this, Skintail? You been harboring a murderer in yore 'ouse?"

Will spoke, "Stoat! If you'll be havin' words with anybeast, you'll be havin' them wit' me."

Skintail cried out "No, Will! You have to leave!"

Screweyes drew his blade and stuck Skintail in the shoulder. Then, as his crewmate cursed in anguish, he withdrew it and struck him over the head with the handle.

Will stood with rage overtaking him as he saw this kind rat who had just helped him not too long ago now on the dirt, knocked senseless and his arm bleeding.

Screweyes eyed him with contempt. "You kilt my captain, you bastard!"

Will returned his gaze tenfold. "Well, he 'kilt' my mother. How else would you expect me to act?"

Screweyes did not feel like answering such an impudent youth nor did he much like him mocking his accent.

"I'd seen you around the mansion all the time, stoat. You were friends, I'd wager. I understand you're being upset for what I've done. If you feel like acting on those emotions, however," he lowered his eyes at the stoat. "I'm ready."

Screweyes walked forward slowly keeping his attention on any small move the hyena made. "You spake awful good for one yer age."

Will nodded at the compliment. "My mother taught me how to speak first as a gentlebeast for appearances, second as a slave to avoid drawing attention."

The stoat chuckled. "You've some balls on ya too. Challengin' me the way ya just did out 'ere in the open knowin' I'd be unable to turn ya down. Ye've got yerself a challenge, right here, right now!"

A grin formed on Will's black muzzle. "Good. I hope you don't mind if I do this unarmed, I lost your captain's sword falling from his mansion in to the sea. It was a harsh night and I needed both arms for swimming." He said this with a hint of taunting in his voice.

Screweyes sheathed his dagger. "Fine, then we'll both go unarmed. Come on, then, you have the first move."

Will raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure about that?"

Screweyes looked back at this youth. He couldn't believe the boldness he was being shown. He barely had time to blink when the hyena ran up to him chomping down hard on his left wrist. "Ahh!!! You fucker!!!"

He backhanded the hyena who then swept his right leg tripping the stoat. He ripped the dagger from Screweyes' sheath and placed his right knee over the corsair's neck.

Will proceeded with a growl. "I said I was going unarmed, I never said anything about staying unarmed. When you were watching my limbs you should have been watching my eyes. Your captain made the same mistake."

A crowd had formed by then. They seemed about as surprised as the stoat.

"How'd you move so fast?"

"I'm a hyena, we're known for our speed where I'm from. That's what Mother taught me, she also told me about us having jaws like steel. I know you've felt that." He poked Screweyes tenderly with his own dagger around the face. "Now what do I do with you?" He thought for a second. "What was your relation to the ferret?"

Screweyes gulped "Oi... was 'is first mate."

Will eyes widened with wonder. "Really? Then, that would make you captain now, right?"

Screweyes didn't have to say anymore. His expression was enough.

Will looked up at an all black ship moored to the docks. "Captain to her, right?"

Screweyes allowed a squeaky "Yeah?" to pass his lips.

Will leaned forward. He whispered "Not anymore..." He put one paw over the stoat's mouth and he jammed the dagger in through the side of his neck. He just sat there watching the stoat fade away. Four long minutes passed before Screweyes finally died.

Michael had awoken by then and crouched by Miriam as he watched in horror. Will stood up wiping the blood off on the ground. He stared back at the two rats. He said with confidence "And there you have it, I'm captain now." He turned his attention to the vermin gathered around him. "Unless, anyone would like to contest that?"

One exceptionally tall weasel stepped forward. He stood with eyes planted firmly on the youth. His right paw went to his belt where he had a peculiar circular weapon. Will wielded the dagger ready for anything. Instead, the weasel bowed before him on all fours keeping his eyes level with Will's.

"I'm yours ta command, my captain."

Will nodded. "Good." He turned to Michael. "Mr. Skintail, sir, I'll be needing a first mate."

Michael stood with his wounded arm firmly around his wife and shook his head. "No thank you, I've left that life a long time ago, I already told you. Besoides," he said briefly returning to his searat dialect, gently placing his uninjured paw on his wife's belly "Oi've got me a liddle 'un on the way."

Will smiled for the first time since the night before. "Well, good tides to you then, friend. I'll need somebeast, though."

The weasel spoke up. "I know of such a beast." He placed two digits to his mouth and whistled in the direction of a nearby tavern. He then yelled at the top of his lungs "Hey, Dan Freers! You get yore lazy whelpen arse out here right now!"

There came a loud clamor from inside and outside ran a red fox who looked to be about Will's age. His clothes seemed slept in and his fur mussed up far underscoring the splendor of his species. He stopped right before the weasel bowing his head to him. "Yes, sir?"

The weasel reached forward with his large right paw. Dan winced ready to be hit. The weasel instead placed his paw on the fox in a friendly manner. "Say 'ello to yore new cap'n."

Dan's eyes shot open. He seemed dejected. "Y-you mean you'll not have me on your ship anymore?"

The weasel let out a hearty laugh. "Of course you'll still be wit us, where would a ship be wit'out th' first mate?"

Dan mouthed the last two words. He shook his head fast thinking he was in some kind of dream. He backed away slightly. "Wait! I don't understand!"

"Now don't you go insulting our new captain, Freers; you know how I feel about that." He pointed a claw from his left paw as he explained "This crafty young bastard over here has killed both our captain and first mate Screweyes in the space of hours. By all rights, Stella belongs to him now."

Dan turned his attention towards Will. "You've killed Screweyes and Brownfurre?"

Will remotely looked to the side. "You can see for yourself, the stoat lies before you there."

Dan turned slightly and indeed, he saw Screweyes slowly collecting flies. His sight returned forward to suddenly find the hyena standing in his face. Will was only slightly taller than him but, his darker color made him more intimidating than even the weasel, Marko. He grabbed the fox's paws and shook them.

"Great to have you on board, Mr. Freers! I do look forward to having a marvelous career with you by my side!" He turned to Marko. "And you too, my good sir."

Marko asked eagerly, or as eagerly as a large beast could sound "So what do we call you then, Captain?"

Will took a step backward and he shouted loudly and firmly so that all present could hear him. "I am Willard Robard!"

This was how it came to be that Captain Willard "Earring" Robard in the space of one night and one day went from being a pitiful slave to becoming the youngest pirate captain in the known history of Sampetra.