Cold Waters

Songmark and Songmark Students Copyright Mr. Simon Barber.

Used with permission.

Alpha Rote carefully cross checked yet another of her photographs against the plates in her mothers copied book. Her dorm had stumbled across a strange altar while on a training run through Main Island a week ago, and run it had been. Non-stop from the South end to the North of Main Island, in full gear with only one pint of water each. Luckily for Elizabeth Alpha didn’t need as much water as the heavier nutria. They had all chipped in with water for the heavy furred Uayapacal girl, but even so by the time they had reached their goal Elizabeth had been on her last legs. Nutria’s simply were not made for high energy drain activities such as non-stop runs with almost no water it seemed. Alpha though had been ready for another run, which had amused Katrina more than just a little, while thirsty Elizabeth had grumbled something about becoming a vampire just so she could steal the shrews energy.

“Too much energy you have dear Lady” the Marsh Rabbit had whispered into Alphas ear when no one else could see. “Perhaps I might be bribed into helping you burn some of that off tonight?”

Though Alpha was certain the rabbit had meant by more weighted pushups, the images that had flashed through her mind had left her breathless for a few moments. Finally, when Elizabeth had drank enough water to keep Alpha alive for a week Mrs Oelabe had announced them ready for part two of the days activities. She had then packed up her supplies and returned to Songmark. Miss Wildford had smiled and informed them that they would be camping for the night at the head of Main Islands largest waterfall, which happened to be on the South end of the island. They could take their time but if they were not set up with a fire by sunsleep song they would loose points. Then their instructor had lifted her own heavy pack and jogged off towards the South ahead of them, exactly as she had done that morning.

Running more than a few hundred feet at a time proved impossible for the now exhausted Elizabeth. Instead of dragging the others behind she had ordered Alpha and Katrina to run ahead and set up camp while Megan helped her manage her way. So they had followed their leaders orders, stopping to collect supplies now and then as Katrina spotted something edible. It was at their last stop before heading inland to climb for altitude that Katrina had discovered the altar.

“This is different” she announced, setting her supplies aside to study the carved stone.

Alpha joined her, placing her own supplies away from the rabbits so that if something happened to one pile the second would survive. Taking out the waterproof camera she had purchased (with Nancy’s expert guidance) Alpha had taken pictures from several angels. “Not complete” she announced after taking her last shot. “Look like carver stopped before couldfinish.”

Katrina ran a paw along a series of undulating symbols, enjoying the tactile feel of carved stone. To her practiced paw there was a great deal of difference between her beloved wood and the stone, yet she could tell that the skills in carving both were nearly the same. “What is it for my sweet child” she asked, giving Alpha one of those wide eyed looks that made the shrew shiver for some reason.

“Is to call up oldones” Alpha explained. “Mothers religion. Is useless likethis. We better hurry, isgettingdark.” She gathered her pile, shifting the edible tubers and fruits into a balanced position. Megan and Elizabeth had already caught up with them several times as they collected things and they were following the marked trail Katrina left, but this climb might be difficult.

Working their way up to the top the two explored until they found the headwaters. Across from them was a small neat camp, and Miss Wildford was quietly cooking a fish over her own small fire. Of course their instructor would beat them, but to have already started a fire and begun cooking her meal? Impossible. “You had best began clearing a camping site dear Alpha. I will go back and help our Elizabeth make her way up. Not that she should need the help by now but that was a rather nasty route we used.”

Following the rabbits instructions Alpha soon had a large place cleared of the worst stones and brambles. She was still building a fire circle of stones when her three comrades joined her. “Something smells delicious” Megan announced as she sat on a flat stone.

“Is instructors dinner” Alpha explained, pointing towards the other campsite.

“Of course she won’t share” the martin sighed. “You best start fishing then, we three will start a fire.”

Alpha stuck her tongue out at the martin. Fishing was her job as she was the only true carnivore in their group, being both shrew and mink. Though she had learned to like certain plant based foods, meat was still very high on her diet list. With Nancy’s insistence Alpha had come to love fresh roasted, broiled, braised and otherwise cooked meats. Her own dorm mates though normally vegetarians had learned to accept meat into their diets long ago. “Maybe I have freshmartin forsupper” she hinted while she started to strip for swimming.

“If you want fresh hot blood” Megan snapped. “Katrina’s got enough in her to last you a week, drink her’s.”

Alpha simply laughed, she now knew when not to push the Martin and this was one of those times. She walked over to where the river was wide and very deep. Alpha looked carefully into its depths, at home on Cranium Island even getting this close to a deep pool would have meant her near instant death. Here it was safe as long as she watched the current. As she studied the depths several very large fish moved in and out of her sight. Even now she wondered if she would be eating them, or they her. “Back soon” she called, slipping as soundlessly as she could into the icy water.

“She dinnah even tak tha bait” Katrina laughed as the water closed over their friend.

“Yer not Scots either. She knows when Megan is touchy and she respected her at those times. Com’ on, we’ve ah fire tah start” Elizabeth reminded them. “Ahn ah shelter.”

Finding the right fish was easy Alpha discovered, as all were hiding in undercut sections of stone awaiting prey. It was watching out for the current that was difficult as twice she felt her right foot tugged at by some stray current. Finding a fish was easy, but catching said fish was another matter. Eventually running out of air she pulled herself up to the waters edge, catching her breath as she silently watched her companions work until Elizabeth spotted her.

“Need som’thin’ the nutra asked.

“Spear thislong” Alpha explained, holding her paws about three feet apart. “Or bomb.”

“Sah whad’ yah find” Elizabeth asked as she selected a straight section of wood not quite as long as Alpha and began cutting a point into one end with her school issued knife.

“Catfish” Alpha answered. She accepted the spear, took several deep breaths and vanished.

“Girl taks tah water lik ah fish” Elizabeth laughed. “Ahn tah think she used tah be sah frightn’d o’ it.”

“That is true” Katrina agreed as she wrapped twisted threads of crushed vine around a support of their lean-to. “Since you began teaching her she has lost her fear of the water. Now it seems sometimes difficult to keep her away from it.”

Abruptly their conversation was interrupted as the pools surface erupted into a mad boil. “Oh my dear mother what has that girl gotten herself into now” Katrina gasped. Even as she spoke she was removing her Songmark uniform but Elizabeth beat her too it by simply jumping in.

Late that night four very satisfied girls lay upon their poorly made beds, each looking up at the sky with nothing but peaceful thoughts in their heads. “Alpha” Megan asked softly. Not because she didn’t want to break the mood but because her stomach was so full she could barely breath. “What were you thinking? That thing was almost as big as yourself.”

“Fair fight” the shrew answered. “Besides. Was veryhungry.”

“You would my wife to be, have been eaten yourself had dear Elizabeth not leapt in to help you.”

“No” Alpha corrected. “Had spear throughgills. Could not swallowme.”

“Noh tha it didn’t try. Tha was your leg in its mouth up to your crotch?”

Alpha giggled. “Yes” she admitted. “Maybe toobig. Next time go forsmallerfish.” She abruptly burped, giggled again, then yawned. “Wake in hour Megan. I take secondwatch.” Then she was asleep.

“Was the creature really trying to eat her” Katrina asked.

“Yah. Dumb shrew. Thing wouldah too cept she had ah death grip on tha spear. In one gill, out tother, both wouldah drowned first.”

“Foolish shrew” the rabbit scolded gently towards the sleeping Alpha. “How will I marry you if you die first?”

“Why noh jus marry er now” Elizabeth asked. “Sham marriage anyway, noh like tha squirrel give ah dang fer her liv or dead. Jus havin er fun afore she marries tha zebra oh ers.”

“True Elizabeth, still it is a marriage.” She yawned. “Three hours I may sleep, then I too guard.” Yawning again she let one paw fall across Alphas open paw, delighted when the shrew grasped her in her sleep. “Good night all.”

“Well rise and shine it’s such a beautiful morning” Miss Wildford yelled, standing over Alphas form.

Startled the young shrew woke wide eyed. “Ifellasleeponguardduty” she cried.

“Yes, you were asleep upon guard duty. Ten demerits Mrs. Rote as all your friends could be in chains now, being led off for sale at the nearest slave block. Or perhaps just boiled for lunch, since you are all still here and alive all four of you clean up your site. It should appear as though no one were ever here. You have one hour, after which I will inspect. And please, do not forget breakfast? We have such a long day ahead of us.”

A long day wasn’t half of it. After seventeen more demerits for their campsite the four girls found themselves standing before a sunken water taxi and from its looks it had been there for years. “This young ladies is your transport home, your only transport home. It is not two hours after sunrise song. Within that wreak is a rusted toolbox, or so I have been lead to believe. For every five minutes before sunset song that you arrive on Eastern Island shore, with this boat floating I will deduct one demerit. That means young ladies, that you must return two hours and twenty-five minutes before sunset song just to break even. I will look for you then.”

All four watched in stunned shock as their instructor walked away into the forest.

“No food” Alpha gasped.

“Or water” Elizabeth added.

“We shall manage dear friends” Katrina announced, taking charge this time as was her due when coordination was needed. “Megan, you and Alpha find us water and food in that order. Elizabeth and I are largest, we will dig this lost soul from her sandy grave then we shall see what must be done. Now go.”

Forty minutes later it was obvious what must be done. At some time in the past the taxi had ripped its side open and two full boards were missing, leaving a gap fully a foot wide and three feet long for water to rush in. It was also covered in some slimy green growth that also needed clearing. Meanwhile Megan and Alpha had somehow come up with a pair of canteens full of cool water as well as freshly baked bread and a spiced fish lunch.

“I shall not ask how” Katrina admitted, though she looked back into the forest with a sly smile on her face, “What trade you made for these supplies dear Megan. Could you possibly come up with two or more boards, along with a few nails?”

Megan smiled, barely glancing behind her. “Let it be said. Let it be written. Let it be done” she answered. Then grabbing a surprised Alpha she vanished into the forest.

“Notagain” was heard to come from the shrew as the leaves settled into place.

Elizabeth studied the upturned boat while rubbing sand over rusted tools. “Do we real wanna know” she asked with a chuckle.

“One day we must” the rabbit admitted, picking up a sand scrubbed chisel who’s edge was long lost, along with a flat stone she’d discovered within the rusted tool box. Sadly there had been no hammer. “Until that time, please allow me to humor myself by considering both to be ladies of the highest social standing.”

“Such as yourself” Elizabeth asked.

Katrina paused, “Between you and I dear Elizabeth I was born out of wedlock. I am not welcome in Southern Society yet I am no less a lady for my birth, for both my mother and father are of high station. Now let us to work together as this will not go quickly.”

Elizabeth paused her work to watch as the rabbit used her flat stone to give the ancient chisel an edge. Watching her paws move in practiced ease the nutria was certain of one thing about her friend. Though her paws looked soft when school started, they were not unaccustomed to hard work. No one could sharpen a forgotten, long rusted chisel like that without long practice.

Alpha at the moment quietly sat next to a small fire, waiting to tell a story. She absolutely hated this, but somehow Megan had discovered that these seven furs set to watch over them loved horror stories. Not just walking mummies who throttled the living for breaking into their tombs, but the real life horrors of Cranium Island. Megan had bargained hard, promising a fur whitening story in exchange for the items Katrina had requested. A mast and a sail as well as several meters of good rope had been added to the waiting pile. With the materials finally stacked on one side of the fire Alpha’s turn came. After she told her story they would either turn over the goods, or hold back what they thought she hadn’t paid them for. Taking a breath she told the story of Sarah Jenkins mother. How a simple stumble had thrown her into the waiting maw of a giant Venus fly trap, her useless struggles to save herself and how she had been slowly reduced to nothing but bones. All the while her then six year old daughter Sara had watched helplessly and in horror.

When she’d finished that story, still without opening her eyes, she spoke of the Black Pool. How anyone who touched its waters slowly dissolved as they watched the microscopic monster fed, bred and fed yet again upon their living flesh. Finally she opened her eyes, surprised at the wide eyes facing her. Every fur was white as a sheet under their fel, not one spoke. Turning to Megan she was stunned to see that the martin was herself shivering.

“Is that really how your nation is” Megan managed to ask.

“On good day yes” Alpha admitted. “Most times worse.” She then watched in stunned surprise as the martin passed out beside her. Shrugging she turned to the seven, who were slowly regaining their composure. “Good enough” she asked.

“More than” the youngest answered. “All is yours, you come great party Winter Solstice. Tell stories. You be very popular even though married. You scarey lots.”

“Can you, maybe helpcarry to jungleedge” she asked, pointing to the unconscious martin. “Anyonecarryher, I not watch what happen. She likeboys lots. Youhaveyourfun. Please?”

A short time later Alpha emerged from the jungle edge dragging a single large plank behind her. “Is more in forest and Megan. We tired from dragging” she explained to her waiting companions. Megan though was still adjusting her clothing, the boys did have there fun, having been given permission of course.

Miss Wildford was sitting in Song Sodas enjoying a chocolate malted when the cry was raised. Turning to face the East she found herself looking at a battered old water taxi, its massive square sail still being lowered it was now beached on Easter Islands shore. Two of her students were dragging the ancient hull higher upon the shore, while two more were making safe the sail, though one was working slowly and with but one paw. Standing she took her malted, walking down to meet this crazy dorm.

“And how did young Mrs. Rote manage this feat of mad science” she asked calmly when she had reached the boat.

“Alpha?” Elizabeth asked. “Inspect Katrina’s paws before you claim Alpha did this” the nutria explained. “She must see Mrs. Oelabe, her chisel slipped and though sharp it was rusty. Still she finished the work even in her pain.”

One glance at the bloody sail cloth wrapping her students left paw was enough for the feline. Without looking about her she grabbed a second year by the collar. “You heard. Run.” Dropping her malted to the sand she went to Katrina. “I must see it child” she ordered. Carefully she removed the cloth, hissed at the wound then surprised everyone as she easily lifted the rabbit in her arms. Turning around she started running for Songmarks gate as though the rabbit weight nothing.

Alpha fell out of the boat, so exhausted that she could barely find the strength to breath. “Will live” she asked.

“Are you in love with her” Megan asked.

“No” Alpha admitted. “Like yes. Love no.”

“Then it really don’t matter to you if she lives er dies does it.”

Alpha lifted her head, glaring at her friend. “If she dies I remember your words.” Staggering to her feet she followed Elizabeth towards Songmark.

Megan jumped as a large form dropped from above to kneel beside her. A very dangerous wildcat was suddenly beside her, looking at her. “Hon” the woman said in a deep Texan drawl. “Yah don’t say stuff like that lest yah got some place else tha sleep. An yah aint welcome in my dorm with tha attitude. Damn dudette don’t know peoples worth. Better learn or yer gonna find yerself real unwelcome Real fast.” Standing up the wildcat gathered her dorm about her, then started up the hill leaving Megan alone.

“It cut along the muscle not against it” Mrs. Oelabe announced. “I don’t think the nerves were cut but I am only a nurse. She will need better medical care than I can give her here therefore I am sending her to Meeting Islands Hospital. Now return to your dorms, it is past sunset song.”

Two dozen or more girls breathed a sigh of relief, one though found herself singled out. “Tatiana, go with her” Miss Devinski ordered. “Stay with her until the doctors tell you exactly what her future is, then return here and report to Mrs. Oelabe. You will do this?”

“Dah. Take first year to Meeting island Hospital. Await full report, return immediately, give same report to Mrs. Oelabe. Can do.”

“Here is ten shells for travel, hospital cost and food. If they need more have them call the office and Tatiana, a year ago I would not have trusted you to this.”

“Pravda, I would have failed year ago” the Russian admitted. Accepting the money she walked with Katrina to the gate where a bicycle taxi was waiting. Meant for one passenger Tatiana simply ran beside it as it vanished towards the docks.

“Miss Devinski?”

Turning to the voice the hound found Megan Brightwhite looking up at her. “You should be in your dorm” she instructed.

“I am not welcome now, they have closed the door to me. Miss Devinski. I said something really stupid on the beach, what should I do?”

“Did you really mean what you said?”

Megan looked away, then down. Finally she found the courage to look at her Instructor again. “Not really. I was tired, I was hungry, I was a fool I think.”

“Then I suggest that you apologize and hope that they accept you back. There is already one dorm who have just informed me that you are not welcome. Ever. Megan, I know that you are stressed because of Alpha and Katrina’s lifestyle yet have they pressed upon you?”

“No Mam, if anything they had kept as far from me as they can. Even apologizing when they have to share the shower, keeping their eyes closed so I have no complaint.”

“Still it bothers you, I will ask around. Maybe one of the other dorms.”

“No. Please Miss Devinski they are my dorm. We are a team, I belong to them, they belong to me. I just need to know how to make things right.”

“Then apologize and stop making them close their eyes. Megan, would you be ashamed if a boy looked on you and showed desire?”

“No Mam, though I’m not interested until school is over.”

“Then don’t feel ashamed if one of your dorm mates does the same, as long as she keeps her paws and words to herself. Her thoughts cannot be controlled any more than your own thoughts. You are not the only girl here with problems and in truth Miss Brightwhite, yours are the least of your year. Did you care if Alpha was embarrassed by telling stories others considered horror?”

“No Mam. I didn’t think about that, I didn’t really think that they were real events until the next to last one.”

“Think before you act, that is all you need. Now go to your dorm as there is no other place in Songmark safe for you to sleep tonight. The dogs are in interest and you will have to sleep outside unprotected.”

“Yes Mam. Miss Devinski, how did you know about the stories?”

Instead of answering the hound turned to walk back to her office, leaving the pine martin standing alone in the darkness.

“Twenty-two stitches” Katrina explained to her dorm mates from her hospital bed days later. “Most inside so no use of my left paw for two weeks, no heavy use for a month. I am, I fear, to be expelled from school for my injury.”

“No” Megan snapped. “You are part of our dorm so If they throw you out they throw me out.”

“And how my dear friend will you manage to stop them.”

“I will beg” the martin admitted. “On my paws and knees, my muzzle in the dust I will beg. I will be their slave if I must.”

Katrina looked past Megan to the two standing behind her, Elizabeth shook her head no, meaning not to ask. “Then sweet Megan you must beg for Mrs. Oelabe has already pronounced my death kneel. My papers are written, they need only be signed. I am to return to Georgia as soon as I am released from this bed.”

“That... Will... Not... Happen... the young martin growled. Turning around she pushed past her friends, leaving the room.

“Is true?” Alpha asked.

“It is true my love I lose you after all. A foolish thought, that I might have your heart. It will not happen so keep your Nancy happy as long as she will have you. When I am able I will write.”

“Carpentry apprentices don have much money do tha” Elizabeth asked.

“Journeywoman” Katrina admitted. “I am a Journeywoman, not an apprentice. They will not allow a woman to become a Master else I would have been last year. I made my Masters piece, they shattered it. ‘No woman shall wear the title of Master’ they told me, thus is my future.”

“Whell see bout yah leving. Alpha, yah stay here ahn make our Lady comfortable. Whatever yah think she needs, er asks for. Giver her ahn I mean ahnythin. Hold back nah yer heart child, ahm gonna help Megan.”

When Elizabeth had left Katrina turned her gaze onto Alpha. “Should you not be with your Nancy?”

“Dorm restricted” the shrew sighed. “Again.”

“I see. Not much of a marriage you are having child.”

Alpha smiled, looking away from those promising eyes. “Wait. Christmass. Zebra wrote will come visit. Won sell prize. Have month vacation in Spontoon. We have fun time then.”

“I will look forward to reading about that. Perhaps I will be given a day off to read my mail on Christmas, it will be a first though.”

Alpha placed both her paws over Katrina’s one good paw. “If can be done, you will stay” she said, fighting to keep her words apart. There was conviction in her voice with those words.

Katrina decided to change the subject for now. “Tell me about that altar then, have you your pictures yet?”

All four of Songmarks faculty were sitting in the larger office, listening to the two say their piece. “It is not for any student to decide who comes, who stays, who leaves” Miss Nordlingen reminded the two. “And does Mrs Rote know your plans? After all, should she fail her Nancy fails as well.”

“She knows” Megan answered, wringing her paws. “Ahn only an ijot doesn’t know why Nancy Rote has not been frog marched out of this school already. Alpha’s pulled that fluffy tail outta more problems than it deserves. We all know Nancy is usin Alpha, Katrina wants her Nancy doesn’t, not really. So Katrina stays, at least until her paw heals and she can stand upon her own, or all four leave Songmark. Now.”

Miss Devinski stood, looking down at the English girl. “You will stand for Katrina, you will pull her load as well as your own?”

Megan stood tall, arms at her sides as she made her decision. “I will stand in her place in all things she cannot until her paw heals.”

“That includes punishment?”

“It does” the martin agreed. “All punishment.”

“Leave us and wait outside. We will speak with Mrs. Oelabe now.”

After the girls had left Mrs. Oelabe walked in, settling down in the rooms only empty chair. “My report” she said gravely. “Is not to the best. She will regain a lot of use of her paw but only about ninety percent. I strongly urge that she be sent home.”

“To the Carpentry school” Miss Wildford asked. “They will not care for that paw, what are her chances there?”

“Ruined most likely” the nurse admitted. “For she is not only female but a bastard. Still it is policy to return an badly injured student to their home.”

“Policy not written in stone” Miss Wildford reminded her friends. “Very well, we shall vote. Ladies?”

“You have no studies” Miss Wildford asked the two girls waiting outside the office door some time later.

“We were tol tah wait” Elizabeth reminded her instructor.

“Wait you have, now you will return to your studies. A message has been sent for Mrs. Rote to return immediately. Katrina will have her chance but only upon Megan’s back. Only Megan’s back and should that back fail she leaves. Is that firmly understood?”

“It is Mam” both answered before they turned to run back to their dorm.

That had been several days ago. Today Alpha carefully drew on her photograph, placing in the lines that must be cut so that Katrina would see what should have been. Right now the rabbit was with Mrs. Oelabe, having her wound attended as it must be. Four times a day it must be cared for and after every march. Megan was currently cleaning the showers for the second day in a row, it had been Katrina’s turn but her paw would have torn open. So far Megan hadn’t complained once, though her tail was drooping more than normally. Touching up a mistake in the carving Alpha wondered what had happened to the poor carver. There must be other altars like this on Main Island, she would have to find them. She had a letter from her Nancy today. Her dorm had finally managed a week without a single demerit so Saturday they would be together for the day. A predators grin passed over the shrews face, giant catfish were not the only ones who thought that furred women were tasty.