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P** art Seven: "The First Day of Sailing"**

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All of his thirteen year old life, Clampter had only heard from his parents about the greatness, the power, the splendor of humanity. Never before had he even started to believe that he'd have the honor if not chance to even catch a glimpse of a human during his lifetime. Yet here he was this morning, twenty-four hours since Nyrina's shark attack incident... looking at bold Ivan T'lore, his older sister's rescuer, the newest guest who would be sailing south with the Urchinhides for the next few weeks.

Seriously, not dreaming or anything, with morning's light of the newest day rising up from the east, here excited Clampter was following an actual young human man to and fro across the Dynamic asking question after question, only stopping every so often to take a much needed breath.

"Mr. Ivan T'lore, sir, are you one of those pilgrims traveling throughout Felldew? If so, how long have you been on your journey? My family has been adventuring for a lot of years, you know." The Urchinhide son said in rapid succession, watching Ivan's every move closely like it was entrancing in some way. "Say, are you a warrior that helps others like you helped my sister?"

"You could say that I'm both, Clampter. I'm both a pilgrim as well as warrior that hails from the northern kingdom of Norlinth." Was Ivan's cheery reply as he tried to keep up with the torrent of questions he was being asked, "As for how long I've been journeying throughout this world, I was sixteen when I started. So, I've journeyed, fought along with learned plenty for eight years now."

"You've fought? Like in a battle? Wow! What did you fight? Who? When?" The otter son eagerly inquired next, "Have you ever chopped anybody with that axe of yours? Have you shot anyone with your bow?"

"Well... I'm not so sure that the nature of my past conflicts is something that I should discuss with one your age, my little friend." Ivan explained calmly, looking wise all of a sudden about the conversation, "What I can say is that I've met many good warriors, made plenty of generous friends as well as learned that Felldew is always ready to take a stand against injustice. For heroes can be found most everywhere if someone is willing to look hard enough."

"Aw, you can tell me about your battles, Ivan, sir. I'm old enough. I'm thirteen. In a few more years, I'll be considered a grown-up." Clampter pouted, looking disappointed that he was being kept in the dark by the human due to his age, "Please? All of your kind are born warriors, aren't they? That's why humans fight evil in the north, right? Did you fight evildoers in Tundran?"

"I... Well, yes. Humanity's battles in the northlands are campaigns meant for the best. Those battles prevent bandits and the like from coming here to the south." The human man explained, looking a bit thoughtful over his past, "And to make things fair for my kind, every human signs up in the northern armies for at least one year. That way they, like myself, can say that they took part in holding back the enemies of Tundran."

"Did you serve in Tundran for a year then, sir?"

"Yes, Clampter, I did." Ivan admitted, nodding his head grimly, "I served three years aboard a ship, the Valiant, which fired fire and iron from its many cannons at its many enemies as well as conquered the towering waves of Onyx Bay. I raced with the wind aboard that frigate. I freed slaves, hunted down slaver ships and patrolled the coasts of the sea otters to keep them safe from slaver raids."

"Wow... Really?!" Clampter exclaimed, letting his imagination run wild after having heard the human's words, "Then my family aren't the first otters you've met then, right?"

Catching himself, regaining his composure, Ivan resumed speaking of simpler things than about his past - bloody - history against slavers in Onyx Bay, "Ah, yes, I've met many an otter before you, Clampter. All became memorable friends to me. All of them proved to be the best of companions. And I'm sure that I'll come to befriend your family in the future too. Don't you think so?"

"You saved Nyrina. You're going to be sailing south with us into River Country for a while." The otter son said back, bouncing in place due to excitement, "So, you're not a friend of my family's already?"

"Hah. Maybe I am, maybe I am not. I only just met all of you yesterday. Still, would you like to be my friend, Clampter? Would you accept a human as your friend?"

"Yeah! Duh. Why wouldn't I be friends with you?" The otter son exclaimed, running circles around the chuckling human, "Hey, is it true that you humans can lift over ten times your own weight like the ursine? Can you run as fast as the cheetahs of Summerdine?""

"Alas, no and no." Ivan laughed back, finding the questions from the young otter most entertaining as he next went about helping Hudder check the rigging for today's river sailing southward next, "We humans may be many things but we are not everything. We cannot lift ten times our own weight, we cannot outrun cheetahs, we cannot hold our breaths underwater like your kind. We can, however, spread the teachings of the goddess. We've been spreading her word for centuries."

"Yeah, yeah, I know that. Humanity protects Felldew from evil. Ivan, sir, why is it that mankind guards the north? Are there really always enemies for your people to fight up there? Don't you get any kind of break?"

"Ah, well, what you speak of, my friend, is not exactly the best side of my race." Ivan explained, moving on from examining the main mast's rigging on the sails to looking at sturdiness of the raft's protective side railings, "Mankind fights for peace every day in the north not because we feel good about it but because it is required. Our efforts protect families like your own from bloodshed. Still, where most everyone like you sees our battling there as valiant... we sometimes do not see it that way. From time to time, we grow weary what we do in the northern parts of this world."

"You do?" Clampter wondered at once, feeling bewildered, "Why? Humans are the coolest warriors, you know. You have sticks that shoot fire and iron against bows and arrows. You've been outnumbered so many times but still won against the odds."

"Indeed. Our enemies have sometimes had numbers on their sides. However, their numbers were easily matched thanks to our higher wit as well as technology. Truly, each victory in the north is a good victory. Peace is the reward every time." Ivan explained, looking solemn about the subject of his fellow humans of Norlinth monitoring the wilderness that was Tundran, "Yet, every time a battle is fought there... it only reminds mankind, me, of our own evil."

"Your... own evil?"

"We humans taught your kind war." The human said uncharacteristically grim, suddenly not looking like himself but three times older, "We forced you to learn its ways during the era of the Reckoning War because you would have otherwise lost your freedom. In turn, where some of the anima came to despise the teachings of battle during those dark days... others were seduced by it. And now, in the north, my people fight that same taint almost every day."

"Why sound so sad about fightin' that taint, mate? Ye' make it seem like all o' humanity is to blame for the wickedness in this world of ours." Hudder abruptly cut in with a reassuring tone, having overheard the depressing turn of the conversation nearby, "What ye don't seem to be talkin' about is how the goddess's world was tainted by wicked humans of old, not by the ones of today. Mind, Ivan, it wasn't all of your ancestors who brought war into this realm of ours'."

The otter father next approached his human guest, patted him on the shoulder and then firmly said, "No, t'was the rotten side of yer forefathers that brought on war, ye' know. And those anima who favor war over peace nowadays, well, they're just as rotten. Not ye' or yer kin who have to keep putting them in their places. Not my sea otter cousins who are helpin' ye' every so often."

"Yeah. How can you be rotten, Ivan, sir, when you saved Nyrina yesterday?" Clampter put in, meaning to do well with his words, "How can you say that your kind isn't proud fighting evil in the north so that all of us in the south can be safe?"

"That's enough out of ye', ye' little rip. It's not that the humans are ashamed of what they do in the north. They just get tired of havin' to deal with the thickheads that keep poppin' up like weeds up there. I'd get tired of crackin' wicked skulls too if they just kept comin' my way. But bless them , humans keep doing it day in and day out so us simpler folk can live free." Hudder growled for Ivan, playfully cuffing his over-curious son around the head, "My son, as I've told ye' for years now, we otters are otters for a reason while humans are humans for their own reasons. You askin' Ivan so many questions this mornin' isn't goin' to change that. Now go on. Give our human guest a break from talking."

"Aw but father-"

"Ye' heard me, my little oyster! Don't argue with me. Run along now. See if yer mother has anything useful for ye to be doing rather than grinding away the patience of Ivan here. We're about to ship off south, you know. You do want to see yer ol' Uncle Mudder and his family by the end of next week, don't ye?"

"Of course!"

"Then hop to it, bucko!" Hudder laughed, pushing excited Clampter towards Mistdrop who had just appeared from the hut after having treated Nyrina inside, "Ye' know, I believe I see your mother bringing out some fish nets in need of untanglin'. Go grab a hold of them and begin untanglin' those beauts' with her so that we can cast them out by noon and snag us some freshwater shrimp for lunch. You like shrimp most of all, don't ye, son?"

Without needing to be told twice, very much liking shrimp above all other foods in the world, Clampter was quite quick in joining his mother's side near the center of the raft where they began to untangle the said fish nets beside the cooking fire pit. Next, with a wink of his bushy eye and a wide grin, Hudder gestured for Ivan to follow him to the tiller where they stayed awhile to talk over things.

"I apologize for my little Clampter's hassling ye', Ivan, my friend." The Urchinhide father mused, testing the control of the tailfin of the Dynamic as he spoke, "I hope ye' understan' that my boy meant no harm in talkin' with ye' about what yer kind do in the northlands every day. If you couldn't tell already, he admires your kind. He, like the rest of us anima, admires everything about what ye' stand for."

"Thank you, Hudder. Truly, you honor humanity with such kind words." Ivan replied honestly, smiling a small smile as he respectfully bowed to the otter father, "I suppose I did begin to dishonor the memories of my ancestors when I spoke of such dark days like the Reckoning with your young son... I do not know what got hold of me. He didn't need to hear that. I am proud of my people. I am proud that our battles in the north protect these lands to the south. Yet, every time I think of the pointless bloodshed that occurs there..."

"It makes yer stomach hurt and yer heart ache, matey. I know, I know. My whole family knows. A lot of us anima here in the south know." Hudder said, nodding his head knowingly, "Still, even though there's no end to it, ye' cannot think of yer peoples' efforts in the north as pointless, Ivan. I know that yer kind prefer words over the sword but sometimes, as your ancetors came to find out during the Reckoning... there are some evil souls out there that can't take a hint. Instead, they want to see the world around them burn. And whether the goddess wants it done that way to them or not, such evil souls just need to be put down for good with a blade through their hearts."

"By the goddess's decree, death has forever been a tragedy. Even when it must be brought upon the wicked, it is still a tragedy." Ivan put in, looking lost in his thoughts over the subject at hand, "Yet, you're right, Hudder. If they are not stopped ultimately, there are some wicked beings in the north that would see all of Felldew engulfed in flames. And that is why my kind are there in the north. Despite the many trials we face, we are there to bring death to those who would deal death to so many undeserving others. We are there dealing death in the right ways, are we not?"

"Aye, that's right. That is indeed why mankind guards the northlands." The otter father agreed, sounding sensible, "Mind, though, Ivan, it's not that your people want to guard the north. That's a tougher than tough job. Still, you feel that you have to. I've heard many a tale of humanity safeguarding Tundran. Ye' do so with bravery in your hearts. Not with hatred. You take lives when necessary. You offer mercy when possible. And for doing all of those things, for keeping the peace, the rest of this world thanks yer race for it. It's always thanked them for that."

There was a long pause of silence shared between the human as well as the Urchinhide father as they both examined the good condition of the tiller that would be steering the Dynamic through the course of the day. Then, smiling to himself, Ivan questioned of Hudder, "All of the things that Clampter knows about my kind... I suppose that you and your wife told him that? I suppose that during your years of traveling, you've told him many things about humanity?"

"Not just us, mate. During my family's journeying throughout Felldew, a lot of other anima have told our son the same things about mankind."

"And what would those same things be, may I ask?"

"Well, yer've been on the road for eight years, Ivan, sir. And when on the road that long, you hear stuff." Hudder laughed, "I think ye' already know what is said about yer people. Still, if you haven't, humans are righteous, strong, compassionate, wise, generous as well as the chosen of the goddess for a reason. They are a constant reminder of what is right over wrong in this world. They are the vanguards of the future."

"Humans are not the only chosen ones of the goddess, sir otter. Everyone person alive today is chosen and can spread the message of her holiness."

"Aye, that we can. I know. Still, it's plain as day that humanity makes it their goal in life to serve the goddess in whatever way you can. Maybe that doesn't make you better than the rest of us mortals. Still, it's commendable of you. It's respected by us anima."

Again, there was a long pause of silence. Then, chuckling to himself, Ivan admitted humbly, "Hm, anima give too much credit to humanity. They always have. They, you, are just as great. They made the decision long ago to fight for their freedom. Your ancestors, Hudder, could have not listened to my ancestors... but they did. And they proved that they were strong in turn."

"Well, whether humanity or anima are stronger or greater than one another I don't think I'll ever be able to tell. Nor do I really want to." The otter father said back cheerily, satisfied with the status of the tiller and moving on to check the main mast rigging with his human companion following, "The point is that there's good in both races. Especially in humans. You're living proof of that Ivan. You saved my daughter after all."

"And you're just as good a soul as I am, friend." Ivan responded, feeling very happy that he was going to be in the company of such a good otter family during his travels southward, "For where I saved your daughter, you are now giving me free lodgings on your raft here while also taking me to Pebble Plateau."

"As my wife and I have come to learn during our many years of journeying, one act of kindness should be paid with another act of kindness. Thus, here you and I are now, getting ready to travel south. And with the goddess willing, we won't be held up for another three days due to storms." Hudder explained, suddenly stopping what he was doing and turning to Ivan curiously, "Say, you wouldn't happen to have a prayer to keep bad weather away, would you?"

"I'm one step ahead of you, my friend." The human said, winking, "I already spoke such a prayer to the goddess when I woke up this morning."

"Ha ha ha! Splendid, splendid!" The he-otter roared, slapping Ivan on the back gratefully, "No more rotten weather for us today, right? Right. Now not only does it look like my family has taken an instant liking to you but you seem to even know what you're doing on my raft too. Do you have some sailing experience, Ivan?"

"I've been on my pilgrimage across Felldew for eight years, Hudder. I spent three of those years patrolling the seas of Onyx Bay on a frigate."

"A frigate?" Hudder wondered, seeming to half know what the name meant, "Isn't that some big ship? Could you clarify better for me, matey?"

"It was a wooden sea faring vessel. Ten times bigger than this raft of yours and as fast as an arrow." Ivan explained expertly, "Like I described to your son just a moment ago, it spat fire and iron from cannons against wickedness in the north. I sailed for three years upon one, the Valiant, fighting slavers."

"The Valiant? THE Valiant? Har har, well yank me tail and throw me overboard! You truly are a blessing sent to me from the goddess, Ivan!" The father otter laughed aloud, throwing his arm over the human man's shoulder and hugging him tightly, "Not only are a ye' guest of honor on this ship o' mine but yer already a favorite of the family's, a priest of her holiness, a steadfast warrior and now a sailor?"

"It would seem that way, yes."

"Well, come on then, sailor. Help me move this vessel of our out into open water so that we can get underway. We've lost three days traveling time but with you here, I'll be sure to regain it all back with three smacks of me rudder."

"And I'd be more than happy to help you accomplish such a feat." Ivan replied, nodding his head, "Goddess willing."

Within moments, after the anchors had been hauled in by both eager Hudder as well as Ivan, with the sail of the main mast unfurled to catch the gentle winds, with everything strapped down on deck, Dynamic was on its way southward. And as the sun shined brightly in the mid-morning sky with not a cloud to be seen anywhere, it was undoubtedly going to be a good day for sailing.

Still, despite the beauty, Hudder didn't exactly take notice of it at first. Rather, with a careful eye, he curiously watched Ivan going about his business with excellent skill. Truly, the otter father had traveled for many a year. Thanks to his experiences while traveling, he could tell already that the human had a talent for most everything, didn't he?

Still, there was also something else that Hudder could tell about Ivan. Even though a chosen one of the goddess, Ivan had shown while speaking with Clampter of his past that he had some weaknesses, some hesitations, some regrets. And what was it that this human who always smiled felt depressed about? What was he hiding behind those sapphire eyes of his?

What had Ivan seen if not done in Tundran... during his three years of service there?