A Ship's Cat [Cheeder Cheesie and Seraph)

In the tropical climate of the island, the fauna grew to the size of men and the trees to the size of two, sometimes three houses tall and the colours ranged from dull earthen yellow to bright shimmering red. There were butterflies the size of birds, and beetles the size of mice--everything seemed almost too fantastic to actually be true but it all was. When the first settlers had arrived, the island had been inhabited by a native people who had no name but "The People". However, The People fell easily to the diseases that the settlers brought, just as many settlers took disease from them. Within almost twenty years of colonizing the island, The People, a race with cat-like elements to them, had all but disappeared. Benoit, named by the settler who had taken him in as a young child, had grown up as a spectacle of sorts, even though few meant it in that way.

Benoit was a tall-ish young man of about sixteen or seventeen years, no one was quite sure of his exact age, with bright emerald green eyes and raven hair that was bound at the nape of his neck as was fashionable. He was naturally tan and had a lithe muscled build from helping his "parents" about their shop, moving heavy sacks of grain and boxes. His fingers were tipped with claws that were sharp enough and strong enough that he could scale walls and trees if the need presented itself. But most interesting of his features were the furry black ears that erupted from his dark hair and his long, whip-like black tail that was versatile enough that he could open doors but not strong enough to carry anything with it. All though his ancestors had simply called themselves The People, the settlers upon studying their features had called them the Cat-People, or fae-folk.

Benoit had a mild temper, and rarely raised his voice but when he did, his ire was inspiring--he hissed, growled, and brandished his claws and fangs in bravado and on one occasion, even attacked another one of the settlers. He had been scolded and punished, and from that day, he hadn't reacted as such again. That day, he sat at the edge of the dock on a crate and waited for the merchant ship to come. His "father" had sent him there to collect their cargo: several yards of silk, pounds of flour, and other such similar things. He sat very still, his eyes on the water as his tail flicked back and forth very slowly as he watched the fish swim about lazily in the shallow water. Given that he was dressed in breeches, a linen shirt, a waist coat, and hard leather shoes, he was unlikely to jump into the water after the fish but anyone watching would have considered him more like a cat than the humans he somewhat resembled.

His concentration snapped and he looked around him before he yawned, a jaw cracking affair and settled back down comfortably, "Where is that damned ship?"

The sun was shinning and the birds were singing. Well the seaguls that had decided to catch a breath and perch on his ship were chirping. Riley groaned as the waves splashed against the side of the ship making it rock more than usual. Making him roll out of bed unwillingly and flop against the floor. He groaned and rubbed his forehead. They had been out at sea for a bout a week now and Riley was due for a shave. They would be arriving at an island in a few hours. He guessed because the sun was just starting to shine through a small window in his captains quarters. He finally pulled himself and stretched his gangly muscular arms up over his head. Quickly he pulled his arms back down when a sinister stench wofted into his nose. The smell of body oder, stale bear and feet. The night before the crew decided to have a bit to drink. And Riley wanted to join in. So much for that. His face twisted into an expression of discust as he pulled off the long sleeve loose cottom button up shirt he was wearing. He tossed it aside and made his way over to the personal bathroom he had made especially for his room.

He filled the glass bowl with the cool crisp water and grabbed for a wash cloth to sponge off his body. Making sure his manly fragrant was atleast tolerable till he could get an actual shower in town. He splashed some water on his face and dabbed it away. He examined his face in the mirror and decided he was due for a shave. Though he looked to young to be sprouting facial hair. Riley was about 22 or 23 but he look like he was 19. Which caused most people to underestimate how capable the ship born pirates son was. He lived at sea all of his life with his granfather and father. His father died when he was seven and his grandfather was left to raise the bright green eyed, fire engine red head boy alone. Once his grandfather passed Riley was left to man the ship and the crew. He had only been captain for a year or so now. He had special help form his grandfathers right hand man.

After about 20 minutes of grooming. Riley was presentable and his shaggy red hair was presentable. He changed out of his alcohol stained pants and pulled on a black button up shirt that he buttoned up to only about mid chest. He slipped into a pair of tight lether pants and a pair of boots. As he trotted out of his captains quarters, he smelled of brown sugar and old spice. As he opened the door to his room. It led to another room. A small room that was equipped with a desk and large chair for him to sit in. This was were he would spend most of his time if he wasnt out on deck. He relaxed in his comfy chair till they docked at the island.

Two hours later....

"Oi captain! Get yer tart butt out 'er" Riley waas startled as he had dozed off to sleep again. He jumped up from his seat and sauntered out onto deck. His crew had just docked and were either jumping off the deck into the water or walking down a long ply of wood that went from the side of the ship to the dock. Riley rubbed his eyes and with a soft yawn made his way across the deck to a large bold man holding two crates. On in each arm."This is what you deliver...." The brutish man grunted as he handed over the large crates. Now Riley wasnt built of all muscle but he wasnt thin. He was rather lean like a swimmer or soccer player. Each crate weighed about fifty pounds. He yelped and dropped the crates down."Er.....I can make this in two trips.....Dont wanna hurt myself." He tried to make up and excuse as he hurried off the ship with one crate. He didnt know exactly who he was supposed to give it to. Infact he had never been to this island and experienced the people here.

Benoit had watched the ship come into the dock and remained sitting on the crates that were left there by fishers to sit on as he waited for his "father's" crates to be unloaded. He was supposed to carry the crates back to the shop, but he had hopes to enlist the help of the merchants themselves in getting the heavy containers from the dock and into his "father's" warehouse. He only hoped that the offer of a warm-cooked meal would be enough to sway one of the travel weary sailors. He watched as someone with hair almost the colour of fire walked down the gang-plank and he blinked several times, almost to make sure that it wasn't the sun that was doing it--no, his hair really was the colour of fire! Benoit was curious now, it was rare that he got to see something new and when he did he had to inspect it. He moved quickly off the crate, his gait smooth and his strides long, and he waited at the bottom of the ramp. His head was tilted to the side and his tail flicked back and forth behind him, as his emerald eyes watched the other young man hurry off the ship with the crates.

"Pardon," he started, "Are those for the Grocer's outpost?"

His voice was light and friendly, as his eyes rested on the other man's hair. His fingers twitched to find out if it was real--perhaps it was a wig? He had heard those were fashionable in other countries and they could be dyed a variety of unearthly colours. He tried not to breathe too deeply, not to be rude, but he had learned young that being on a ship meant few baths, and those were far between. It was, he considered, better than covering his nose with a perfumed handkerchief as his "father" and "mother" would. At least he attempted to be kind enough to pretend that the smell didn't bother his more sensitive nose, though his nose wrinkled a little when the gentle wind off the water blew what would have been a tolerable scent to most humans at him full force. He swallowed a little sharply, and his ears twitched and he took a step back and coughed a little, before looking up at the flame-haired young man before him, "My apologies."

His ship was not infact the merchant ship. Back at the docks about a week ago. an unfortunate accident was bestowed upon the poor little merchant ship. And his ship just happened to be there. Riley was offered a bundle of money to deliver the items. The one who paied Riley felt more secure sending his goods along with the pirate ship. Who in the right mind would try to steal from a pirateship. Riley tripped a few times as he couldnt see over the top of the box. He heard the voice of another person asking about the crate. With a releaved sigh he nodded and once he reached the dock he set the crate down. Riley was not ready for what he was to see next. When he glanced up to see theother male's face his attention was quickly drawn to the boy's ears. Then his tail. His jaw dropped and his body froze. He had never seen something so....Strange before."Woah....." He stared for a few moments before he realized what he was doing.

"Oh er sorry....." He looked the boy over a bit. A dopey smirk crossed his lips as his mind set turned directly twards a more inaproriate area. This boy was rather attractive. Being at sea for so long, you almost loose all sexual prefrences. But for Riley it was different. He always preffered men over women. Though he often didnt show it. He never really like girly men either. He was a mans man and thats how he wanted his guys.

"Er yeah its fine I know......." He chuckled when the boy took a step back. Of course he still smelled but not as much as when he woke up that morning."But yeah this is for you I guess....Theres another few up there...." He pointed over his shoulder at the ship. Seeing the boy's ears twitch made him want to touch them but he held back because he didnt want to be rude. He turned on his heel and headed back up the plank. Meanwhile. The men who had jumped out into the water were climing up on to the dock finally. Dripping wet as they took a good look around. Not bad. this place was rather nice, maybe it had a few good bars around. They all split up in different directions. Easily their attention was drawn to passers by. The ears and tail were a major attention grabber. They had been warned not to cause trouble but its hard to manage 30 or so men with raging testosterone. Riley retreived the next crate."Have you seen these people?!" Chuck blurted out as he peared over the side of the ship."They 'ave ears and tails....." The balding man in his thirtys couldnt beleive his eyes as he gazed out at the dock seeing all the people."I know......" Riley agreed."Pretty cute eh?" He started down the plank again.

Benoit gave a wane smile, the pointed tips of his longer canines were hinted at as they poked over his bottom lip before he looked down at the crate at his feet. He tried not to have a problem with the stares his different appearance garnered; he had heard that off the island that very few people existed with his attributes, and he had to be understanding of how people would look at him and the few others that still lived on the island. But still, it rankled him slightly that people's jaws would drop at the sight of him. He concentrated on looking at the weight of the crate, if he really wanted to, he supposed he could carry it back to his "father's" outpost. He frowned a little and his ears flicked in irritation; hadn't the fiery haired man said there were more crates? He sighed a little, and murmured, "Just how many more is a 'few'?"

He glanced up as the men from the ship climbed out of the water onto the dock and he frowned a little; how terribly unreserved of them, never mind that he had been thinking of diving into the water himself to cool off and to fish. While he may have gotten used to wearing the settler's style of clothing, he often longed to wear the clothes of his native people who, on rare occasion like today, would venture into the town to trade supplies and other to get medicine. Their loose tunics and bare feet looked more comfortable than the closed toed, and tightly buttoned clothes that he wore now. Even the sailors clothing looked more comfortable to him than what he wore.

He came out of his reverie for a moment before he raised his voice enough to be heard for the other young man coming down the plank again, "Would you be willing carry these to the Outpost? For a hot meal...and a bath?" If the former didn't interest him, he was pretty sure that the other one would be of interest to him. Compared to the other man, he seemed to have tried to clean up before coming on shore.

The townspeople were used to sailors coming into the town and because of that they had a thriving whore-house, discreetly placed next to the bar and easily concealed as a proper home. The drinks were cheap and strong, and the food was filling if not a little fattening. However, most of the mothers took their daughters inside and told them kindly not to leave without a father, brother, or suitor to fight for them should any of the sailors get to rowdy about them.

"Oh chuck! I want one...If you know what I mean....." Riley, at a split second decided that he wanted one as a pet. Even though they seemed to act human. Riley was rather childish and saw them as rather intersting pets or companions. Chuck eyebrow rose at this request."W-well ok...Sure sir....." The man started to scope out the area. Looking for a good specimen. riley trudged down the plank. Being careful not to drop the crate. He then heard the other male's comment about helping carry the crates to their destination. He was about to complain till he heard the other offer up a warm meal and a bath. His eye brow rose slightly as a thought danced through his mind."Hmm....." He plopped the crate down and panted lightly. "Well......I guess I could...." He tried to sound as if he didnt really want to but he mind as well. When in all truth he was rather excited to go along with the boy. He turned back to the ship and whistled. Getting chuck's attention."I'll be back later.....Going to be with this one......" He gave a long look at Chuck then winked. As if to signal the man that this was the one he wanted.

Chuck stared down at him for a moment then he finally caught on. He smirked and nodded. "Sure thing sir..." Chuck got the attention of a few more crews men whispering to them for a few moments. As they did so a scrawny teen boy scampered down the plank with the last smalled crate. He then ran off in a different direction to go explore the town."Well this is it....Show me the way..." He leaned over to pick up the crate."Er but your going to carry the other one right?" He asked in a bit of a whining tone. He was strong but not that strong and he was a bit of a lazy lad himself. He oculd probably carry the crate for about 2 or 3 minutes before really getting tired of it and wanting to just set it down.

It probably was a good idea to keep the unsuspecting young girls stashed away inside. Some of the men could get a bit handsie. After being out at sea for a long time the first place they hit up was the bar, then the whore house next door. Where most of them would stay, get cleaned up and have a bite to eat before coming back to the ship.