The Newland Chronicals: Mother
Sorry if it's a little boring at first; it's just the begining. Also a warning, in future chapters, it might get a little mature. One last thing before we get on to the story, I'm looking for a new name. "Newland Chronicals" was just the best thing I have at the moment. The name it had before was "Piratey". -.-'
Chapter one: part one: Mother
Young Miss Tasha Newland, a Russian-blue, was sitting on the deck of her father's beautiful ship. She sported a rather humble cotton dress with a black sash tied around her waist to complementing her elegant curves while a black ribbon held back her silvery gray curls into a pony tail. On her hind paws she had ankle high black boots made from fine leather. The young female cat was almost eighteen; in fact tomorrow she would celebrate her birthday.
Her father, General Carlof Newland, was sitting with her, having earlier brought over a deck chair so he may sit beside his daughter. He was dressed in a fine charcoal gray suit with a bray and black striped vest, over a clean, crisp white shirt. He was one of the only high-society men that owned a house near the local harbor. Tasha was silent most of the time they sat together; Carlof on-the-other-hand had been talking almost non-stop ever since he sat down.
In her younger years Tasha had always spent most of her time with her mother before she had passed away. She sat and listened to her father as they watched the sun set into the ocean. She still grieved over her mother's death, while her father had mostly recovered. Tasha looked at her father's soft gray fur; she looked just like a young female version of her father.
Carlof smiled at her before stroking her long hair. "You must brighten up child; at least a little. Gentlemen will come looking to court such a beautiful, young cat; you don't want them running off, do you? They'll find that you're so gloomy!" Tasha smiled weakly at her father. "I don't care about what the Gentlemen think of me, father."
She rested her head on her father's shoulder. "If they hate me that much, just because I'm gloomy, then why should I care?" Carlof sighed and nodded. "I know your mother's passing has been hard for you, but you must cheer up, If not only a little!" He paused, then he looked at her whimsically. "Tomorrow, at your party, you will dress in a beautiful dress and have fun, that's an order!" He said, a little over dramatically. "Yes sir, I'll try." She murmured, forcing a slight smile. Her father sighed and rubbed her shoulder as they looked out at the sea.
They remained silent as Carlof held Tasha in a fatherly embrace. "I remember telling you stories about pirates." He said, having for once letting more then three minutes of silence pass by. "All the cutthroats and buccaneers. Blackbird, Red-eyed Bill, Johnny Jackrabbit... so on. I hear there is a new one out on the seas, right now, off in distance seas, plotting his next devilish scheme; he claims that he's going to bring back the piracy trade." Carlof said in a hushed tone. Having no real idea how to connect with her at this moment, he tried to bring back memories of her most cherished childhood muse.
She smiled at the memories. "I remember; I also remember mother yelling at you for telling me such horrific stories. She would say that it is not the kind of stories that young ladies should hear, and you should keep them for the gentlemen." "...and I'd joke, that it wasn't my fault she didn't bare a son." Carlof added.
Tasha yawned softly as the sun sunk into the black sea, leaving them in only the dim starlight. Tasha stood up. "I think I will retire for the evening." "Sounds like a good idea, sleep well my dear Tasha, it won't be long before I retire as well. We'll both need the sleep..." Carlof reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket-watch. He grumbled and fussed, winding his watch before pocketing it again.
The pale yellow sun had awakened to a gloomy day. It's golden rays could barely be seen through the smoky clouds as thunder rumbled softly on the horizon.
The Newland's ship was docked at their home harbor; family and friends gathered on the ship. Carlof had lived on the sea with his family for years, but now he stayed out on the waters for months at a time, travailing with his daughter and loyal crew. He started staying out on the sea for longer amounts of time after the death of his wife; they would come back for birthdays, business, and important holidays.
Carlof sat on the edge of his bed as he looked at an old photo of his late wife, Silvia. He sighed, setting it down in it's pace on his bedside table. "I can't believe our little girl has grown into a woman."
Carlof rubbed his eyes and rested his forehead on the palm of his paw. He looked up and saw his reflection in a mirror that was hanging on the wall opposite of him. His face had aged so much; He remembered being young, holding Tasha when she was a fuzzy plump kitten, stroking Silvia's ears.
Carlof was fifty years old; the gray male sighed as he stood up slowly, groaning as his back popped. He stood in only his trousers, looking at the walls of his room. They were once a warm sandy color, but were faded and dirty from age.
This color always displeased him but Silvia, his late wife, had insisted on it. He smiled sadly as he closed his eyes, and rested his head against the wall, remembering paining the walls when this ship was new. He silently wept with a faint bittersweet smile; sliding his paw up and down the smooth, cold wall and admired it's faded color and it's chipped uneven corners; having been poorly repaired and patched in past years.
Someone knocked at the door. "Carlof, Sir?" A slight cockney accent came from behind the door, waking him from his daydream. "All your guest are 'ere. Best be gettin' dressed." A collie, their "house" servant, was on the other side. "Alright Agatha... oh, wait a second, is Tasha awake yet?" Carlof asked. "I just woke 'er, I did." Agatha said. This answer made Carlof groan in frustration.
The little daughter of his always took extra long in getting dressed for parties. "She will be late; tell her I have a surprise for her, and I will be over to see her promptly." Agatha nodded and ran back to assist Tasha.
The middle aged Agatha Smith was his best friend, starting when he hired her. The plump canine was always so nice to them; she brought Carlof out of his depression after Lady Newland passed away.
Carlof finished getting dressed before taking a package out of his trunk, briskly walking to Tasha's cabin. He knocked on her door, panting a little from the sprint. "Are you dressed?" He asked. Tasha was in her house coat. She opened her door for him. " We don't have much time to talk, but I wanted to give you this." Carlof handed her the bundle he had carried with him. "This was your mothers. I thought maybe this year, she should give you something."
The male was smiling brightly. "While you get dressed I'll hold back the guests. Hurry, I don't know how long I can keep them satisfied." Tasha smiled at him and nodded. "Okay, I'll be there in a moment." She hugged her father and kissed his cheek before letting go, soon closing the door.
Tasha sat on her bed with the gift in her lap. She carefully unwrapped it from it's simple brown paper that had protected it. She gasped as she held up a beautiful powder blue ballgown, trimmed in snow white lace. Her father had a tailor restore it. She quickly Took off her robe and finished tightening her corset.
After she finished dressing, and putting her hair up Tasha was walking to the dining hall; she could already hear people chattering. While most of the people there were friends and family, some of the people at the party where her father's associates. She understood why he had to have them as her party guests; this was one of the few times he could talk with some of them. She looked out on the shore to see that they were docked at a harbor where they used to own a house.
Tasha stared longingly at the town for a moment; some loud laughter caught her attention before she could lean against the railing. As she stood there a group of men were down on the dock, and talked in whispers. Tasha had been absent mindedly staring down at them from the ship; their faces were hidden in dark shadowing hoods.
Tasha smiled as she saw a small sparrow race towards her. "Tasha, darling!" "Sarah!" The two laughed and hugged one another.Tasha held Sarah's wingtips in her paws. "Sarah! Oh Sarah darling, how have you been? I missed you so!" The Sparrow smiled. "I'm fine, but it is such a bore without you around!" Sarah was about sixteen years old, but already so beautiful. Sarah stepped back and looked Tasha up and down. "Oh, Tasha, your gorgeous! Is that a new dress?" Tasha's smile faded slightly. "Not really, it was my mothers..." "Oh, Tasha, You look just like her in that dress." "I do?" Tasha looked up at Sarah with hopeful eyes. "I remember her well, come now, lets go inside, I'm getting a chill out here." Sarah lead Tasha inside the dining room, where the party was being held.
the cloaked men stood on the dock near the chatting girls, and listened to them intently, waiting for them to go inside. "That's the Newland ship?" One of the smaller men scowled at the biggest one. "Yes, this 'es it." The tallest man said in a heavy, deep french ascent. "'Oughta tell the boss that he didn't get 'his invitation to the party, right out rude of 'em don't ya' think, Jo'bo?." The second of the smaller cloaked men practically shouted, causing the the tallest one to swiftly turn to him and quietly growl. "Yes, now shut up you loud mouthed buffoon! Your talking too loud!"
Tasha walked up to her father with Sarah not far behind her. Carlof turned around and started at his daughter. "Tasha, you look beautiful!" He smiled proudly, causing Sarah to giggle. "Doesn't she?" They day went on happily as expected . Tasha walked around, talking with family and old childhood friends, not having been this happy for awhile. There was food, drink and elegant music. Even the staff were invited to relax and celebrate; some of the guests found this unorthodox, if not outrageous.
The staff and crew were more of a family to the Newlands, then just a crew; having spent nearly every day together. After awhile, at sunset the ship started to move as if it had set sail. Some guests wondered if they drank too much punch. When the clearly sober guests assured then that they felt it too. A slight panic rose in the crowed. A rather plump bore dressed in black-suit-and-tie, walked up to Carlof while stroking his tusks. " Do you, eh... suppose that a storm is blowing in my good fellow?" "I'm...unsure... I'll go see what's happening outside." Carlof, now feeling unnerved quickly walked outside the dining room door. He gasped loudly, quickly backing into the room again. Tasha turned around as a woman screamed. Her smile turned to a look of utter shock and horror.
Women held their children, men held their wives. The music had stopped and all was dead quite. In the doorway, standing in front of Carlof was a tall evil looking Red-Tailed Hawk with several other devious looking men behind him. His laugh seemed to roar through the empty room like the sea itself. "Really now... you didn't think that old Captain Airborn and his crew wouldn't join the party, did you?"