This afternoon finds Chiaroscuro 'Chipper' Themyst on the docks once more, this time loaded with supplies for extended travel. His leads point at the Pearl, and despite the Marshal's and the Magistrate's warnings on how dangerous the place is, the island beckons. A medium-sized vessel is secured by the dock, too large to be a boat, but too small to be a ship, really. Regardless, it looks well-kept, the deck scrubbed and the sails patched. The words 'Skimmer Crane' are painted on the stern, with a picture of a large, angular bird flying low over water, cutting the surface with his beak.

Chiaroscuro adjusts the straps of a big, roomy backpack, filled with supplies. He is wearing a lighter outfit this day, a thin blue shirt and gray pants, and a white bandanna curled up to form a headband. He takes a moment to gaze over the vessel, before stepping towards the plankbridge to board.

Down in the water beside the docks, there is a splash followed by sputtering gasps as a swimmer breaks the surface. Grabbing onto one of the pilons, the Skreek climbs up top as he wheezes for air. Dripping, Kal makes a flourishing bow which sprays an arc of water across the planks. "A timely arrival is a perfect arrival I always say! So are you ready to go?"

Chiaroscuro jumps back quickly a step to avoid… some of the water. Chuckling, he nods to Zieekal. "Very much so, Kal. You as well?"

"Finally," grumbles a disgruntled looking Jupani militiaman standing on the dock. He dumps a backpack much like Chiaroscuro's onto the dock. "He's your kavi now, Kal. Remember, when you get back, you owe me for taking your shift."

"Oh yes, the sooner the better!" Kal glances upriver and back along the docks. He takes the pack from the militiamen, "Thanks Lemnur, sure. Oh, and if anyone asks, I was no where near the west quadrant today."

Chiaroscuro quirks an eyebrow suspiciously, but remains silent, adjusting his pack-straps some more.

The wolf grimaces, and rubs the bridge of his muzzle with thumb and forefinger, as if a headache were coming on. "You'll really owe me. Good luck out there." With a curt nod at the mongoose, Lemnur shoulders his longbow, and begins making his way back toward town.

"Someone came home a little early," Kal explains to Chiaroscuro's questionning look. Adjusting the pack on his shoulder, he takes several quick hops towards the ship. "So, did you find what you wanted in town?"

Chiaroscuro begins once more walking over the plank to the ships' deck, nodding to Kal. "In supplies, yes. In information… not wholly, which is why we go to the Pearl now."

A tall, white bird emerges from the cabin on the ferry as the pair come aboard. "Ah, yer here. Iffen yer ready, we kin cast off. 'Aven't got any other passengers t'day, so ye'll 'ave run o' the ship."

Kal follows the mongoose on board, and waves cheerily at the white bird while a puddle of water forms underneath him. "Great! I've never been more ready to go Captain."

Chipper nods to the crane. "Ready, sir." He walks aft, finding a spot to settle for the ride…

The Skreek peers back at Chipper, his eyes glinting. "So what do you think you'll find there? A beastie with all the secrets?"

"Aye," replies Kildon, looking a bit dubious. "Well, behave yerselves here. Don't be climbin' up an' down on th' mast, or trollin' off the stern, or nothin'." A couple other wimmers set about their work on board while the ferryman orders some dock workers to release the moorings. Before long, the Skimmer Crane has cast off.

Chiaroscuro hmms at Kal. "Or maybe just with enough pieces of Vilzoph for us to identify. Or mayhap the snake alive… if we knew, would you be so excited?" he says with a wink.

"Oh no," Kal shakes his head vigorously, sending a small spray of water from his fur. "The unknown is a great and mysterious thing. In fact, as my aunt Deseree used to say, 'Sometimes the less people know, the better'. She was in charge of Bridgetown's archives for forty years, and people are still talking about the amazing job she did."

A short distance out into the bay, a tiny Cervani-ish girl in an apron comes huffing up to the dock, followed by her enormous insectoid companion. She does a nervous little dance on the dock, says something to the zelak, and then hands him a small white bundle. With a quick wind-up, the zelak hurls the bundle across the water. It lands on the deck, and the little white-furred girl waves from the dock until the morning fog obscures her from view.

Chiaroscuro blinks! and scurries quickly to grab hold of the bag… waving fondly to the Cervani-girl with his free paw as she dissapears from sight.

Kal jumps up on the rail, sweeping his soaked hat from his head in a dramatic bow. His grip on a rigging line saves him from another dunking as he enthusiastically blows kisses back to the girl on the docks. Grinning he jumps back down on the deck. "Oops, thought that was meant for me. Still, it never hurts to leave a favourable impression."

Chiaroscuro smirks slightly, as he unties the bundle. Inside are a few berry pastries, some baked Akwavi salmon, a few rolls, and a small skin with that greenish juice. "Well. it seems as if there is enough of a lunch for the both of us, Zieekal, so no need to quibble over who it was for." He slips the backpack off of his shoulder, digging in one of several pockets to pull out a ceramic fork. "Come, let us eat."

A more masculine voice cuts through the fog from the direction of the dock. "I know you're on that boat, Zieekal! So help me, I'll tear you in two when you get back for even looking sideways at Mirabelle, you son of a vermite-bitten squibbit!" Thankfully, the shouting fades into the distance, and the rest of the trip is quiet except for the ocean waves.

Chipper sticks a fork into the salmon, and while lifting a bite, says "But you were nowhere near the west quadrant today, of course, Kal." He chews on the fish, and points the fork significantly at Zieekal.

Kal hunches down at the sound of the voice, but soon relaxes. He drops his pack and sits on it, whiskers twitching eagerly in anticipation of lunch. "I wholeheartedly agree, sharing is the best policy. Me? Of course not, no where near the west quadrant at all!"

Chiaroscuro chuckles softly, as the ship sails on…