Da Fight o' da Century! (Day 7, Mid-Afternoon)

[Volsung]

Salt and Pepper had been left to their own devices again. And with their master taking a brief nap, they'd decided to scamper into the crew quarters. A place they had not managed to get to very often during the trip so far. Most every time they'd tried, they'd gotten very quickly shut out or stopped. Which had made them even more curious about what they were being kept from.

Well now no one was looking, and the dastardly duo had their chance to sneak into the crew quarters and sniff out all those new things. Once they were in, they immediately saw all sorts of new things, and immediately went about investigating everything they could reach, from daishos to unpacked clothes to books and everything they could find. All of which eventually led Salt and Pepper to the bed of Yoritomo Choukichi, where they discovered something they had certainly not been expecting to see.

[Rixy]

There lay two kittens, peacefully sleeping
when into their quarter, there came creeping
beasts most strange, from off them seeping
an odor, strange and foul.

Up first glanced Thyme, so brave and bold
his anger hot, his glance most cold
when invaders he did behold
and let out a rathful yowl.

[Volsung]

Salt had been moving cautiously to investigate this new creature when it perked it's head up and yowled in some tiny high pitched voice. Salt immediately backed away and looked over to his brother. Having an exchange in chittering.

Whatarethose?

Tinycats?

Teenycats!

Smallerthanuscats.

Pepper ventured towards the little fluff ball, starting to circle the kitten as Salt circled the other way around. The ferrets were sniffing at the air, and in his confidence, Pepper hopped towards the kittens and then hopped away, chittering curiously at the kitten pair constantly.

[Rixy]

Brave Thyme cared not for Pepper's bounding,
displeased, too, by the chitter's sounding
closed in, enemies surrounding,
He readied for the fight.

Little Sage, of gentlest mind
awoke, blinking, then to find
he and his brother, in a bind,
must soon display their might.

Up he stood, stretching slow,
as circling 'round ferrets did go
Unsure if they were friend or foe,
Sage kept them in his sight.

[Volsung]

Pepper, meanwhile, barely seemed to realize that there was a fight brewing as he happily bounded this way and that, continuing to chatter at the tiny cat that had puffed up at him. The ferret ducked and weaved like an expert boxer as it stepped up to Thyme and just as quickly backed away again before the kitten could swipe at him.

The far less exuberant salt continued his circles as well, but his head was low as he carefully sniffed at these new teenycats that were in his and his brother's territory. Looking at the kittens, he let out an experimental chirp at them.

[Rixy]

Hearing this sound from ferret lip,
from in his paws, Thyme's claws did slip,
this was his home, this was his ship
and soon, this threat he'd rend.

Sage, curious and not so wild
answered Salt, his voice quite mild
His home he considered not defiled
perhaps not foe, but friend?

[Volsung]

Pepper froze for a moment as the claws were unsheathed, his head tilting to one side for a moment. He chirped once at the angry little kitten and moved close again, knowingly tempting the little creature.

Salt chirped again, stepping a bit closer to Sage as he continued to sniff around the area curiously.

[Rixy]

In fierce display, one meant to quail
Thyme's back did arch, out puffed his tail
and then his foe he did assail
with gimlet gaze, bold yellow.

In feline realms, this duel precedes
the grandest battles, strongest deeds
Until, of course, one foe succeeds
or surrenders to his fellow.

Sage, distracted, turned away
from perusing Pepper, black and gray
to watch the swift emerging fray,
the kitten, still, most mellow.

[Volsung]

Pepper has been onboard a ship most of his life, and catching mice and rats for longer than young thyme has been alive. So the ferret doesn't find it too difficult to bound backwards out of the way of the kittens first assault. Backing away only as long as the kitten charges forward, then bounds forward again, nipping at the kitten in play before quickly bounding backwards again. The ferret continued to chitter away merrily.

Salt turned his red eyes on the ruckus his brother was causing, watching carefully in case his brother needed help. He did not pay much attention to Sage as such.

[Rixy]

The nature of the test had changed
from stares to hopping round, deranged
in this new sport, Thyme too engaged
cat's birthright, grace, in play.

Sage watched a moment, two, then three
and then, now bored, turned back to see
Pepper distracted and, with glee,
began a different fray.

With eager piping 'mew' he shifted
to Salt's neck his nose was lifted
a single sniff was stolen, grifted!
then Sage darted, shy, away.

[Volsung]

Pepper consents to being chased for a time, but after a awhile he turns the tables on the kitten, turning around quickly and rising up on his hind legs in front of the kitten before, with a chittering warcry worthy of a Matsu, charges after Thyme with glee.

Salt followed after the other kitten eagerly. Chasing him down to learn more of this new and mysterious creature.

[Rixy]

The full clash at last upon the pair
Thyme held his ground, too bold to scare
One paw lashed out, it's claws laid bare
prepared to give his all

Being chased, poor Sage knew well
In self defense, to his back he fell
all four paws raised to repell
whatever blows did fall.

[Volsung]

The claws struck Pepper and he let out a bit of a shocked screech as he plowed bodily into Thyme and bowled the duo over. Pepper kicked and clawed and bit but was careful to very quickly detach himself from the kitten.

Salt came to a screeching halt as Sage fell over on his back and threw his claws in the air. Now that the curious creature had stopped again, Salt slowly circled the creature, sniffing carefully again, figuring out his scent. Then he bounced in the air once, then again, chirping at the kitten playfully.

[Rixy]

Aha!, thought Thyme, He doth retreat
and so concedeth his defeat."
The righteous victor cleaned his feet,
weapons tending as warrior's should.

Sage, puzzled, did not yet rise
unsure if doing so was wise
ears tipping forth to catch the cries
still not yet understood.

[Volsung]

Ambush! As Thyme cleans himself, a black missile shoots back at him, crashing into the kitten and bowling him over again. Pepper nipped the cat's ears and rushed off again. These ferrets, it seemed, did not fight with honor.

Salt carefully scooted towards Sage again, poking at the kitten's tail with his nose to get some sort of a reaction.

[Rixy]

Treachery! Thyme's howl was loud
for of his ears, he was most proud
this damage could not be allowed
to go without reprise.

Sage's tail was swiftly out of reach
to touch such was a grievous breach
of etiquette, a lesson he would teach
by the narrowing of his eyes.

[Volsung]

Pepper was almost a foot away, bouncing back and forth on Choukichi's cot as he taunted the kitten to come after him. Apparently the ferret still found all of this quite hilarious.

Salt tilted his head to the side, then circled around to Sage's face, prrp-ing at the kitten in curiousity. He streeeetched out his head at the kitten, coming closer to his face, but still ready to jump back if an attack came.

[Rixy]

Thyme soon gave chase, as yet quite ired
of this game he was rather tired
his attack, more by rage than brain inspired,
sent him spilling off the bed

Sage, unaware of his twin's plight
tilted his face first left, then right
then, purring, with all of his might
began to lick Salt's head.

[Volsung]

As the kitten boldly throws himself off the bed, he can look up to see Pepper's black face poking over the edge and chittering at him again in a somewhat mocking tone. Pepper continues to watch his new playmate however, waiting to see what this new odd creature would do next.

Salt blinked and shook his head a bit at the unexpected tongue bath, but his body soon moved to catch up with his head as he curled up to the strange kitten. It wasn't playing, but this wasn't too bad either.

[Rixy]

Pepper's sneering could not stand
An answer, honor did demand
and so Thyme, with effort grand
Leapt up, claws catching cloth

With mighty effort, up he rose
That scoffing ferret to depose
his title as 'king' he would oppose
With Pepper Thyme was wroth

Sage's purr increased as Salt drew near
no longer feeling any fear
his cleaning moved from face to ear
Antithesis of sloth.