Into the Storm

by Samuel P. Fortsch

  “Jet’s right,” I say. “This may not be the mission we asked for, but it’s the mission we’ve got. In the Army you’re taught to do what’s right, not what’s easy. This is our fight now. Whether we like it or not.”

  “What’s the plan?” Lindy asks.

  “I was hoping you might have one,” I say to him.

  “Well, if that cat isn’t pulling our tails, then we need to follow M to Black Rock and help stop Sea Wolf from raising his crew and his ship . . . and fast. Our ride home off this spooky island is leaving in less than nineteen hours,” Lindy says.

  “Pawtriots, what do you think?” I call out to the gang.

  “Perhapsss we sssneak into the Cryssstal Cavesss. And make sssure we keep Sssea Wolf ssseparated from hisss sssword?” says Smithers.

  “Nip this whole thing in the bud. No sword, no Sea Wolf!” Franny hollers.

  “Oi! Am I the only one who remembers that massive mutant spider that almost killed us? Now you want to try our luck with a gigantic octopus?” asks Brick.

  “Sssquid actually,” says Smithers.

  “Same difference,” Brick says, rolling his eyes.

  “Not quite. Octopuses belong to the order Octopoda while squids, on the other hand, belong to the order Teuthida,” says Franny.

  “I didn’t understand anything you just said,” Brick says.

  “Enough!” I shout. “The Kraken’s down there and no matter what that thing is, it’s a high-level threat. It’s just too risky. We’ll head to Black Rock and try to stop him there.”

  I look over to the Pawtriots, who seem to be waiting for further instruction.

  “Can I get a ‘Hooah!’?” I holler.

  “Hooah!” they say in unison.

  “On me, then!” I say as everyone forms up beside me and we rush off into the woods to catch up with M and stop Sea Wolf.

  * * *

  ★ ★ ★

  Location: Black Rock

  Time: 0700 hours

  We’ve been running through the woods for hours now, using the light of the rising sun to lead our way. We caught up with M, who has been leading us up to Black Rock, the highest point on the island. We’ve been climbing the side of this jagged mountainside to catch a bird’s-eye view of where Sea Wolf will attempt to raise the Cutthroats from the dead and the Calico Jack from the depths.

  “Careful now, we’re almost there,” M says.

  We emerge onto a ridge that leads to the summit. I look to my right and see a small clearing surrounded by dense jungle. A beaten path leads to the center of the clearing where I can see a cluster of unmarked graves. All of the soil has been displaced and the graves are now empty. We’re already one step behind. The Cutthroats have risen. Next will be the Calico Jack.

  We slowly continue up the ridgeline, carefully maneuvering across a narrow ledge onto a high cliff perched over the ocean, and take cover behind a large tree.

  “There!” says M in a hushed whisper.

  I follow his line of sight toward the water just past the shallows.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” says Lindy, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

  Together we watch as more and more of the Calico Jack rises from the depths of the ocean.

  “Look! You can see the top of the sails,” M says.

  We are all stunned, watching in silence. I can’t believe how fast Sea Wolf is moving. M was right, his power is something I’ll never begin to understand.

  “And look!” M says, pointing to the shoreline. “There’s Sea Wolf with the Cutthroats on the beach.”

  “I thought you said there were six Cutthroats,” I say to M.

  “One lesss isss perfectly sssuitable to me,” says Smithers.

  “Come on, we must move quickly. His new reign of terror will soon begin,” says M.

  I look up at the sun to gauge its position.

  “We have about twelve hours,” I say.

  “So, Rico,” Lindy begins, “What’s the plan now?”

  But before I can even say a word, I watch Sea Wolf unsheathe his sword and hold it high in the sky as the Cutthroats swim out to the Calico Jack.

  “We’re very late,” says Penny.

  “They’re moving fast,” says M.

  “Sssuper fassst by the looksss of it. Sssea Wolf already hasss hisss crew, hisss ssship, and hisss sssword?” Smithers says.

  “It just doesn’t add up. How could he have raised them from their graves?” says Lindy, pointing to the Cutthroats. “Gone there to raise his ship,” says Lindy as he points to the shoreline below. “And marched his happy tail all the way to the Crystal Caves to get that sword,” says Lindy as he points at Sea Wolf.

  “You’re right, Lindy. None of this makes any sense,” says Jet.

  “It may not make any sense, but if we don’t do something before the sun sets, then Sea Wolf’s new reign of terror will begin. He’s got his crew, his ship, and his sword. It’s all he needs to be unstoppable,” says M.

  As I stand there watching the Calico Jack rise from the sea, I realize this island is truly cursed. I know that we need to act fast.

  “Plans change, Pawtriots. We adapt, but our mission stays the same. Their ship can’t sail until the sun sets. There’s still time. We need to sneak onto the Calico Jack and steal Sea Wolf’s sword. Like Franny said, ‘No sword, no Sea Wolf,’” I say.

  “I’m with you Rico, we all are. But we can’t get onto that ship without being spotted. They’ll see us coming down this ridgeline,” Lindy says.

  “Not if we camo up,” I say.

  “You’ve lost me,” M chimes in.

  “It’s short for ‘camouflage.’ It’s what we used in the Army to blend into our surroundings,” I say as I quietly roll around on the ground and cover myself in mud.

  “Follow my lead,” I whisper.

  They all hesitate for a second and then join in. I watch as they all begin to roll in the mud and camo up. I smile because I’m reminded of when I was in the Army. Preparing for a mission was key to success.

  “You see that path down the mountain to the shore?” I say to Penny, pointing to the path.

  “Tracking; I see it. I’ll take point,” says Penny.

  “We’ll sneak onto the ship from there,” I say as I motion for them to get low and follow Penny down the side of the mountain to the shore where the Calico Jack is gently rocking from side to side in the shallows.

  CHAPTER 6

  A TAIL OF TWO SWORDS

  Location: Shoreline

  Date: 17MAR21

  Time: 0900 hours

  We’re huddled up behind a pile of driftwood and broken tree branches on the shoreline. The Calico Jack is a short fifty-foot swim away. All the Pawtriots are waiting on me for their next command.

  “Smithers,” I say, “you slither up the side of the Calico Jack, locate Sea Wolf, and use your body to tie up his legs.”

  “Yesss, Sssergeant. Can do!” Smithers says.

  “Franny, once Smithers has him tied up, I’ll need you to tuck and roll to distract the Cutthroats.”

  “Tracking!” Franny says.

  “Then,” I say, “with the Cutthroats distracted, Brick, you barrel-ram Sea Wolf while his legs are tied.”

  “Oi! Too easy,” Brick says.

  “Then Penny and I will come in and steal his sword,” I say. “Lindy and Jet, you cover our six, okay?”

  “We’ve got your back!” they say in unison.

  M chimes in, “What about me?”

  “Once we recover the sword, I need you to tie up Sea Wolf with some vine. Can you handle that?”

  “Certainly, Sergeant Rico.”

  “Hooah! Let’s move out. Swim softly,” I say. “Once we get close to the ship, we’ll use the anchor to climb on board.”

  * * *

  ★ ★
★

  I scan the starboard-side bow of the ship and locate the anchor. It’s deployed into the water. I motion for Penny to start climbing. Then I wave the rest of the Pawtriots forward onto the chain.

  I can see that all Pawtriots are in position, so I move up the chain anchor. My wheel doesn’t make this task any easier, but I manage to make it on board. I quickly scan my surroundings. The Cutthroats are coiling lines and swabbing the deck, and Sea Wolf is at the helm of the ship. The sea is rocking the ship back and forth, but with Sea Wolf and the Cutthroats distracted, I know that now is our opportunity to engage.

  I make a quick movement on my paws, turning to the Pawtriots to give them the command, but a wave crashing onto the ship sends me slipping.

  As I get back to my paws, I realize Sea Wolf notices my position, locking eyes on me.

  “Rise! Rise, ye yellow-bellied sapsuckers!” howls Sea Wolf from the helm of the Calico Jack.

  We all watch as Sea Wolf turns to his crew and then points right at the Pawtriots and me.

  “Take them all out! Start with that peg-leg pooch,” he shouts.

  “Pawtriots, you have your orders!” I say to them.

  I take a step forward and the Pawtriots assemble alongside of me. “Not if we have anything to say about it!” I growl.

  “Attack!” howls Sea Wolf.

  “Lindy! Jet! On me. We’re going in!” I say.

  CHAPTER 7

  DOWN AND OUT

  Location: The Calico Jack: Brig

  Date: 17MAR21

  Time: 1500 hours

  Instead of Sea Wolf being tied up, I’m the one in chains. I’ve been in here for close to six hours. And time is running out.

  Everyone carried out their orders effectively: Smithers tied Sea Wolf up and Franny was a distraction while Brick rammed Sea Wolf. But I ran right into a trip wire and got us trapped. It was like Sea Wolf knew the attack was coming. They tied us all up and threw me into the brig, which is what they call a “prison cell” in the Navy. I don’t know where the rest of the Pawtriots are and I’m starting to get worried.

  Suddenly, the door to my cell swings open. It’s Sea Wolf. He’s standing tall and proud, his sword protected in its sheath.

  “You’ve been beaten. The sun will be setting in a few hours, and I’ve got me ship, me crew, and me rightful sword is on the way,” says Sea Wolf.

  “Rightful sword?” I ask.

  “Did you really think I would allow myself to be surprised by a pack of mangy mutts like yourselves?” He laughs. “It was all part of my plan. I wanted to lure you into my trap while the real sword is being retrieved.”

  I feel like a fool. I coordinated an operation that was exactly what the enemy expected.

  “Here, you can have this one,” says Sea Wolf as he unsheathes his sword and tosses it at my paws.

  I don’t even have to pick it up to realize it’s a fake—just sticks wrapped in vines to look like a sword.

  Sea Wolf continues, “The real sword is in the Crystal Caves, protected by the Kraken, my tentacled beast friend. One of my five Cutthroats is retrieving it now. Once he returns, the sun will set, the sails of the Calico Jack will unfurl, and the world will know my name once more!”

  Not only did I lead us right into an ambush but I had us chasing a decoy, too. I need to think of a new strategy . . . and fast.

  “You need to let my unit go!” I holler.

  “Need? I don’t need to do anything. You’re in no position to be making demands, now are you? So I think you and your pathetic Pawtriots will stay on this ship, forever a part of me crew,” says Sea Wolf. “Perhaps you’d like to be me first mate?” He lets out a howl.

  “We would never serve you,” I say.

  “Then you can rot in this cell for all I care. Or perhaps you’d like to take your chances swimming with the fishes. That leg of yours float?” laughs Sea Wolf.

  I don’t respond because there’s no point. He’s taunting me and he knows it.

  “Take him away,” shouts Sea Wolf as four Cutthroats barge in, unchain me, and forcefully drag me away.

  I’m running out of options. I know that if I don’t do something quickly, none of the Pawtriots may ever see home again.

  “I’ll serve!” I blurt out.

  Sea Wolf motions to stop the four cats. “Let him speak,” he says.

  “Take me as part of your crew,” I say.

  “And what be in it for you?” asks Sea Wolf.

  “The Pawtriots go free in exchange for my pledge of allegiance to you,” I say.

  Sea Wolf ponders for a moment and then grins, extending his paw toward me as I extend mine.

  “Do we have a deal?” I ask.

  “Aye, we have an accord,” says Sea Wolf as we shake paws.

  Sea Wolf turns to his crew. “Bring the Pawtriots up to the deck. Their freedom awaits,” he says.

  Although I’m nervous about what lies ahead for me, I’m relieved to know that my unit—my friends—will be safe. When I was in the Army, there were times when sacrifices had to be made for the greater good and the sake of the mission. This is one of those times. And it’ll likely be my last.

  CHAPTER 8

  THE PLANK

  Location: The Calico Jack: Deck

  Date: 17MAR21

  Time: 1530 hours

  The Cutthroats lead me out of the brig and up to the main deck where the rest of the Pawtriots are being held captive, all chained to one another.

  I look out to the ocean. The water is calm, and I can barely feel a breeze on my fur. It’s like the entire world around me is waiting for something to happen. But every second closer to sunset it seems as if the Calico Jack itself is coming back to life. The sails remain furled, but with each passing moment, three hundred years’ worth of seaweed, shells, and barnacles begin to slide off the ship’s hull.

  “Rico!” Penny hollers out when she sees me. “What’s happening?” she asks nervously.

  “You’re to be freed,” Sea Wolf interjects.

  I watch as the Pawtriots smile and cheer, and I try to soak in their happiness and burn their image into my brain. I fear this may be the last time that I’ll ever get to see them smile.

  “Even you,” says Sea Wolf as he glares at M.

  M scowls and hisses at him.

  “Thanks, matey,” says Sea Wolf as he continues, “Rico, Pawtriots, I’m a dog that says what he means. I will uphold my end of the bargain and trust that Rico will uphold his. In exchange for his future service aboard the Calico Jack, the Pawtriots shall be set free.”

  And suddenly the Pawtriots are no longer cheering.

  “Oi! What’s he clamoring on about?” asks Brick.

  “Ha! What are you, a dense-beaked whale? Your beloved three-legged pooch here has agreed to stop leading you and start serving me,” says Sea Wolf.

  “Rico, please don’t do this. I’d rather rot in a cell than see you serve him!” shouts Penny.

  “Don’t worry. He’ll be well looked after,” laughs Sea Wolf as the Cutthroats join in.

  I knew this wouldn’t go over well, but I’d rather it be me doing the suffering than all of us. There’s nothing left I can do now except hold my head high and show the Pawtriots that I’m okay.

  “Break out the plank!” shouts Sea Wolf.

  The Cutthroats cheer as they scurry across the deck and retrieve the plank, which is a warped piece of driftwood about two feet wide and eight feet long. I watch as Sea Wolf lays down the plank and then walks over to the Pawtriots, pulling them up by their chains.

  “Wait, what are you doing?” I ask.

  “Setting them free, per the accord,” says Sea Wolf as he unchains the Pawtriots and prods them toward the plank.

  “No! You liar!” I howl at Sea Wolf.

  “Watch your tongue or I’ll bite it off. I
agreed to set them free. I don’t seem to remember either of us specifying the manner of their freedom?” says Sea Wolf.

  I hang my head as I watch Penny, Brick, Franny, Smithers, Lindy, Jet, and M climb onto the plank. They hold one another tight at the edge. One inch of movement to the left or the right and they’ll fall in. They all look around with worried eyes. The sky is darkening, and bruised storm clouds are racing across it. The swim to shore looks impossible now with the current pulling directly toward an infinite stretch of jagged rocks.

  “You don’t have to do this!” I howl.

  “Oh but I do. I promised they’d go free and I’m a dog of me word,” says Sea Wolf.

  “This isn’t freedom. It’s a death sentence,” says Franny.

  “Don’t be so pessimistic,” says Sea Wolf.

  “The current! It’ll pull us directly into the rocks,” says M as he points to the massive natural barrier of jagged black rocks. The choppy waves look unforgiving as they slam against the stone.

  “Thisss isss an imposssible ssswim,” says Smithers.

  “Hold on to me guys. My vest will keep us afloat for a little while,” says Jet.

  “At least we’ve got that going for us,” says Lindy.

  “Oi! Make room for me,” says Brick.

  “Enough!” yells Sea Wolf as he slams down on the plank and the Pawtriots lose their balance, falling fast into the ocean.

  My anger is quickly replaced by despair as I watch my unit plummet into the water below.

  CHAPTER 9

  TO DUST

  Location: The Calico Jack: Deck

  Date: 17MAR21

  Time: 1545 hours

  I can’t look away as the Pawtriots desperately try to keep their heads above the water.

  I feel a sense of relief knowing that they can hold onto Jet. Her vest is helping keep them all afloat. But with so much weight pulling it down, I’m not sure how long they’ll last. I howl helplessly as I watch them swim as hard as they can toward the shore. Their determination is inspiring. But no matter how hard they try, the current pulls them closer and closer to the jagged rocks. They’ve already been dragged about six hundred feet away from the Calico Jack.