#Some insights of why Linn volunteered in joining the Kid Pirates
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She would have been 26 by now.
Linn shakes out the matchstick, which lit up exactly twenty-six candles around the small memorial in her room—empty and lonely for 16 years. A room that was once shared, chaotic, and full of life. The feline tried not to let it get too tidy in fear of forgetting the feeling of coming back to her sister, rummaging around the countless trinkets she gathered. But she could never do Eleanor's mess justice. Her sister's bed, however, was always made. Every day anew. Even if nobody spends a good night's rest in there. A habit she never grew out of. Making her bed was therapeutic. Maybe it was her way of grieving.
❝ Happy birthday. ❞ Nobody was around. Linn treasures the time in front of the little altar. Small crafts of native forest animals made out of sticks decorate the tablet around Eleanor's framed picture in the middle. Blue eyes wander over the glassy photo, taking in her black fur, her orange and white spots. Calico cat minks were rare. Her older sister really was a lucky cat. Albeit not so lucky on that one crucial day.
The night was stressful. Her family's apothecary and doctor's office never had to take extra hours to attend their patients' wounds. The group of lesser minks—pirates at that, however—needed it desperately. Linn did not have much time to ask for the why and how. Her father told the young woman they caught up in a battle, many injured, gladly nobody died. The white cat was excited to get to welcome human visitors in their caring hands or paws. If the strangers weren't so scary-looking, she would have asked thousands of questions. Thousands. When will there ever be a chance to have outsiders come to Zou anyway?
It secretly troubles her, though. The crew was struggling to keep up after a nasty fight. From the South Blue, they were coming. All the way to the New World. A miracle that they did not die already, that the ship did not sink under these harsh tides. God, they surely had to see hell out there. And her mind goes back to the image of her sister. Eleanor would have loved to meet them. Linn could imagine her bothering the pirates until they wanted to rip out their ears themselves. A trait they shared. Curiosity.
The sisters often played out different scenarios, different games in the forest. Eleanor persisted in taking on the role of the heroic knight, the hero, the adventurer. She adored listening to stories that were too exaggerated to be true. It never bothered her that they were not real. Her free spirit was too in love with the image of embodying said heroes. Just like in the books. The now-only daughter left in their family stands up from her kneeling position, ascending from the floor, to take her notes. Maybe she could bring herself to ask at least some questions before these pirates set sail again.
And so, her feet led Linn downstairs, the silent creaking of old wood planks, reliable for centuries, announced the younger mink's arrival in the doctor's office of her parents. It sounds more lively than yesterday. Good. Everyone seems to have survived the night just marvelously. The white feline enters the room with her father and mother in a heated argument, along with some members of the lesser mink's crew. ❝ No doctors? No nurses? No medics, nothing? ❞ Her father's voice rings, echoes against the room's walls, cracking as it always does when he is in disbelief. The older hyena mink massages his temples. His face reads frustration with the pirate's decisions. His head was shaking. Linn bows down briefly to greet her parents and the patients present. ❝ Garchu.❞
Talking, talking, whispering. Mother and father almost did not notice their daughter's arrival. Her mother's hand brushes against Linn's shoulder, ❝ Good morning, sweetheart. ❞ then she goes back to arguing silently with her husband. As observant as Linn is, it did not take long for the feline to catch up on the topic. As much as the family was trying to help, the pirate crew's decision was nothing of their concern. Especially not as strangers.
Linn listens silently. Back and forth between the minks and these strange humans. Her lips tugged up in the tiniest smile. Eleanor would not have missed a beat. She always looked for an excuse to leave the office. She wanted to be an adventurer when she was old enough. Certainly, the young doctor in the making understands her family's concern. Having no medics around at sea is a death sentence. They would make it to the next island, maybe the next two, and then the voyage would end. Almost entirely sure. It is funny. These guys share the same fire as her sister did before she passed. How they persist in not needing anything more. How eagerly they want to set sail again, not interested in staying longer than necessary. Maybe they really need a doctor.
The white cat feels sorry. Not because she pities the crew. Because their fate is sealed if they leave without help. Their captain didn't even have his two arms; the scars, which only barely healed, were prominent on his face, always furrowed in an angry, annoyed look. A scary bunch. That is sure. But not judging. No. It reminds Linn of a pack of kicked dogs, gnarling and barking to hold up their reputation of being strong, even if hurt. They never needed help because they never got any.
What would she do?
Arguments are only getting louder and louder. From both sides. 'You guys are insane' 'You minks don't know how it is out there' 'We will be fine' 'We don't need to be pampered', and it won't get any quieter. Just when their vocal fight hits its peak, a soft yet commanding voice brings the room to a sudden silence.
❝ I can assist you. ❞
#tw: long post#Here it is#Some insights of why Linn volunteered in joining the Kid Pirates#⚕ ⦅ Deep in thoughts. ⦆⠀⠀/ hc .
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