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Epilogue.A
Chapter Title
“Wait, naw—it works like this? Should be around the same…” Free was high up on a pole with string lights that had its power box blown out during the storm, a tool belt around his waist. A thin stapled stack of paper with information on Terrain’s electricals was in one hand, and a multimeter in the other.
It was a morning where the sky was clear, the winds gentle, and the temperature more or less livable. Nearly opening time for Lilipass’ second day of its festival, all the town folk are running around and fixing what the storm had damaged.
“Hey!” Sal waved at Free, “How’s it going up there?”
“Bigger question—there’s a fire extinguisher nearby, right?”
“Yup!”
“Then let's see!” Free pocketed the paper and unplugged his multimeter, then flipped on the power switch… and the lights didn’t explode much to his delight.
He did one more check then flipped them back off, “All done!” Free quickly conjured his wings and gilded down, turning them back into hair when landed next to Sal, “Anything else you need me for?”
“I appreciate it, but I have to say, you don’t need to do all this—”
“Yeah, yeah, I don’t need to—You’ve told me that six times already. And I’ll say it again—”
“You’re not the type to sit around,” Sal smiled.
“Yep. With Frost out shopping, and me needing to hang around in case Fox’s guardian shows up at the very last minute—you got me for just a little while longer.” Free grabbed a plastic water bottle next to the base of the pole, “You still owe us a microwave—throw in a cookbook our way too as overtime and late-check pay.”
“Can’t believe I almost forgot! And yeah, sure…” Sal tilted her head at Free.
“What?”
“I thought water hurt you? That’s what I heard from Lav at least.”
“If it hits my shell¬—drinking it’s different,” Free drank the rest of the water in the bottle. “Speaking of what happened yesterday, how’s Lav and her crew doing? Still chasing towards the pirate’s life?"
“Well…”
***
Lav jumped out of the water with a bundle of New Gold wreckage in her arms, “Me and sis came to a compromise of sorts.”
At the shore besides the ferry dock, Foxx, Lav, and the rest of the Romp were salvaging what was left of the New Gold. Lav and Poppy grabbed parts in the water, while Foxx and Clary gathered what was on the shore.
“As in?” Poppy asked.
“She gets that we’re not as attached to the town as everyone else, and I understand that she finds purpose here. She knows now that we want to sail the seas and see what’s out there… Although she didn’t like the whole ‘pirate angle’ to the thing,” Lav replied. “Since being a pirate is technically super illegal, even flying a black flag can get us in huge trouble.”
“But the law’s dumb!” Clary shouted.
“Yeah, but, we don’t have the influence to ignore it like the legends of old.”
“Fair,” Clary shrugged. “So—besides not allowing us to call ourselves what we are—she’s given us her blessing to go and sail as we want after the festival’s done?”
“Not exactly…”
“So that’s where the compromise comes in?” Poppy asked.
“Basically, she said we need to finish school first, get certified and registered as a crew, and get a proper ship.”
“Lame. Does give us time to really hone our skills though,” Clary said. “Good enough of a silver lining for me—I wanna take on that kraken one-on-one next time we meet it. It needs to learn its lesson.”
“Maybe not that kraken specifically…”
“What, why?”
“That kraken may have been a family friend,” Lav laughed. “Or at least, the kid of one.”
Clary stopped working and stared at Lav. Poppy also gave her a confounded look.
“You know the bell on top of the—”
Clary’s eyes went wide, “That was a calling bell?!”
“I think so, yeah.”
“Where in the three seas did your parents get that?!”
“No clue, Sal doesn’t know either. She sent a letter to Mom and Pop, but it’ll take months till we get an answer.”
Clary walked up and put her hands on Lav’s shoulders, “Lav-Lav, be honest with me—you’re not the heir to a secret pirate line or something, right? Like the twist of
Admiral Maple’s Blood Tax
, right? Right?”
“I don’t think so. My parents just like picking up random cool things, probably just got it out of sheer luck… I think.”
“Good, I was worried you were holding out on us!”
“Heh, trust me, you guys would be the first to know,” Lav chuckled. “Back on course, I do agree with Sal. We demonstrated that we really aren't mature enough for the sea. When things got bad, I only made it worse, I’m not fit to lead yet.”
“That was just one time, you shouldn’t base everything on that,” Poppy said. “Can’t say I disagree though, even before the kraken, I could barely keep the ship afloat. Been considering taking up an apprenticeship, make sure that I can patch anything and everything in a flash.”
“You too? I was thinking about finding a teacher from the north to show me a few ice tricks—like that person with the antlers did. Has to be one around the equator, somewhere.”
“They are horns, not antlers” Foxx corrected.
“Oh really? Could’ve fooled me,” Clary turned to Foxx. “How did they do that anyhow? Nothing like anything I’d seen.”
“I do not know.”
“Ah, oh well,” Clary went back to work. “Say, Foxx, what’s going on with you? Got any plans?”
Foxx’s ears dropped, “We are leaving for Hornnhealm.”
“Hornnhealm, that’s the planet a long way from Terarin, yeah? What’s it like?”
“Dangerous.”
“
Ooooo.
”
“Dangerous, eh?” Lav rubbed her chin. “Hey, Poppy, can you take my workload for a second? I have to go get something prepared.”
“Trying to dodge work? After all that talk about responsibility and maturity?” Poppy teased.
“I’m serious, it’ll just take a moment.”
“Alright, be quick.”
***
In a cramped—packed nearly to the ceiling—retail store in Reef Coal, Frost carefully squeezed out of its entrance carrying ten packed to the brim bags on each arm. Full of preserved goods, material for fixing things, medical supplies, and a few different vitamins in case Foxx was missing out of any in his diet—not that neither them or Free really knew for sure if he was, but Free figured they’d figure it out on the trip to Hornnhealm or Foxx may remember.
Just
about everything, Frost still had to go buy fresh ingredients on Free’s request. He said that “Some species need stuff made fresh every once in a while to stay healthy.”
Frost knew Free was also looking out for himself as an appreciator of cuisine. Not that they minded. They had a decent sum of Formosa’s donation left over, and planet cash is useless outside of where it's from. May as well make the most of it.
Thankfully there was a market within walking distance, advertisements everywhere one can look pointing directly where it was. /a>
Frost quickly packed their bags into the Camper and headed over.
The market was small and uncrowded, it didn’t have too big a selection of vegetables and fruits, but it did have an extensive and categorized fish section. Each fisher stationed in a gradient from… Well, Frost didn’t know how Terarin categorized fish.
They bought what was recommended by the older folk there and then took their pick of what looked good from the vegetables and fruit.
Frost also bought some soft candies shaped like flowers, they all looked different but were flavored the same way: a sweet, creamy flavor with a little kick from a dash of sea salt. “Sweet like a summer’s day, salty as the summer’s breeze”, is how the young Gilieot lady who sold it described it.
Now at check out, Frost’s bags were weighed by a cashier who was covered head to toe with cloth, probably from Calmede if Frost had to guess—
Frost felt metal plates scrape against their arm, and the sound of steel creaking against itself beside them, then, the overbearing feeling of being watched.
They quickly looked to their side as they reached for their knife, and for a brief moment, they thought they saw their reflection on a metal surface and illuminated amber eyes glancing at them—
“Hey, your stuff’s weighed, cash or credit?” The cashier asked.
In a blink, whatever Frost saw had vanished.
“Did you hear me?” the cashier said.
Frost took their hand off their knife, “Cash.”
***
A few hours had passed, Frost was back in New Lilipass, and—after packing the radio back into the Camper—the trio were making some last preparations before launch.
Everything was going smoothly, Free made sure the Camper was at peak condition, Frost checked the star charts in case there were anything of note on the way to Hornnhealm, and Foxx helped the other two where he could.
Although, as helpful as he was, Free noticed Foxx was a little slower than usual, and his ears were pointed down.
“You think we can stay in orbit for a few hours?” Free asked Frost. “Maybe Foxx’s guardian is an eleventh-hour type.”
“I suppose,” Frost replied. “Best not to lose hope until the very end.”
“Right on,” Free looked at Foxx—that didn’t seem to boost his spirits. Free finished up making checks and asked, “I’m done, everything set on your end?”
“The path looks to be clear, so indeed.”
Knock, knock.
“Huh?” Free looked at the Camper’s door, “Wonder who’s that.”
Frost got up and opened the door—it was Melli, and behind him was Sal, Cornel, Albo, Lav and the Romp, as well as Formosa. Sal had the microwave with a cookbook stacked on top of it in her arms.
“Did you think you three could just leave without a proper fare-thee-well?” Melli said.
“Apologizes,” Frost said.
Free popped his head out from behind Frost, “Sup,” then saw what Sal was carrying, "Finally, payment!”
“On behalf of New Lilipass, I want to thank you for your help. Can’t imagine how this week would’ve turned out if you lads didn’t run into Sal and chose to help us,” Melli said.
Foxx hovered over and gave a bow, although with all the eyes on him he stayed partially hidden behind Frost.
“It was an honor, truly,” Frost said.
“No problem, thanks for having us!” Free walked over to Sal, looking the microwave over, it had several stickers and decals on it, “Lots of character?”
“She’s got plenty,” Sal answered.
“Got a name for her?”
“Lilly, sometimes lil’ Lil.”
“Hmm,” Free pat the microwave on its top, “I think lil’ Lil will fit right in!”
“Take good care of her,” Sal gave Free Lilly and the cookbook—then looked like she had suddenly remembered something, fishing around in her pocket and taking out a walkie talkie and giving that to Free as well. “I don’t know if you can modify it so it works long distance… but I’d like you to call me when you find your ‘Paradise.’ I want to see it too.”
“...Hang on—I’ll be back real quick,” in a few seconds Free went and dropped off their payment in the Camper and returned to Sal with a piece of plastic with engravings on it in his hand. “When Lilipass becomes as you see it, plug this in where it fits and radio me—although, I have a feeling you’ll also have the issue of too weak hardware.”
Meanwhile, Frost was discussing caring for Foxx with Albo, Melli, and Formosa.
“Now, I’m not trying to jinx y’all by talking about the long term. I do hope you find his guardian fast,” Formosa said. “But take a stop at the depot a little past the asteroid shaped like two donuts and pick up some stuff for him to read, a friend of mine works there. Tell them that I sent you and they’ll hook you up for free. Oh, and I’m not just talking about getting fantastic tales and comic books—open space field guides, worksheets, and the like too. Keep him sharp, educated, and informed."
“Understood, Frost nodded. “Thank you once again."
“Make sure to sort out the mystery around his diet, I’ve known a few species that are very specific in what they need. He can’t learn if he’s running on the wrong fuel,” Melli said.
“Free plans on running a few tests as we travel, narrowing down what Foxx needs to eat based on what tastes good to him. The assumption being that his pallet correlates with his dietary needs. Limited, yet that is all we can do for now,” Frost said.
“Hurmpth, I got some advice for ye,” Albo leaned forward. “Maybe keep the welp on a leash—”
Darkness emitted from Formosa as she looked at Albo and smiled, “I’m sorry… Repeat what you said just said, I couldn’t hear you.”
A droplet of sweat dropped from Albo’s brow, “Argh… Keep a good eye on him, don’t get distracted.”
Over with Foxx, he was mostly keeping to himself and staying close to the Camper, then Lav approached him.
“Got something for you,” Lav presented to Foxx a small six-pointed compass that had a tassel made of stripped leather and a vial with metal on the inside attached to it. “Take it.”
Foxx took and examined the gift, “Is this leather from your jacket?”
“Yup, the scraps that that warfwolf tore off, and the metal is from what’s left of my cutlass. It's so you remember the times that we shared—a good luck charm… Though it will only work on one condition.”
Foxx tilted his head.
“You gotta promise that you’ll come back when part two of the Eyeless Isle comes out! Remember, it’s only three months away.” Lav blushed, “Of course, not that you should drop the whole trying to find your home thing just for—”
“Ok,” the fur on Foxx’s nose turned a soft red, “I promise.”
“Lav-Lav, that’s beyond tacky!” Clary appeared from nowhere.
Poppy popped out from behind Lav, “Tacky? I’d say that’s crin—”
Lav tsked and put her hands into her pockets, “Shut it.”
After exchanging a few more words with all the people they had met during their journey of Terarin. Foxx, Frost, and Free boarded the Camper, waving goodbye and launching into space.
Fare-thee-well, Terarin!
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