Chapter 3
The first night.

With the ship loaded and everything secure we moved away from the dock. The gentle slapping of the water against the hull was the sweetest music to ever grace my upturned ears. I leaned on the rail and took a heavy sigh. The work in the kitchen now complete, mostly chopping and hauling for the chef. I looked to the port, growing smaller as we approached the narrow aisle of rocks that helped keep the waves down. A rough thud and we had left the gentle waters and have moved into the warm clear blue waters of the south Caribbean sea. With the combined sounds of thudding wood and slapping skin I hit the rail of the deck firmly with my paw and stood proud. The wind bristled through my fur to for ever sweetly scent it with the gentle air of salted water. 
The deck crew were soon raising the sails, the fabric rustled deeply and with a thick ‘whump’ the main sail inflated. Pulling taught on the lines that were soon secured to the deck and the ship lurched forward with the force of nature. The secondary sails were soon configured to help guide our path and we were now cruising on the smooth plain of shimmering azure. With this sight for ever etched to my memory i brought myself back down the stairs to the galley. My feet already ached, and muscles were a bit sore but the work is never done. I politely asked the cook where the wine was stored and informed him of Roy’s request. He nodded me over to the cooler storage. Led down a small bit of stairs, nestled below the galley close to the hull for a fine bit of natural temperature maintenance I found the rack. The verdant bottles glistened in the light of a couple oil lamps, all looking so beautiful and pristine. 
Now I’m hardly any sort of wine expert, having grown up quickly on the small island, the most I ever had a taste of was some beer or mead now and then. So I browsed through the bottles, trying to figure out this foreigner language I would later learn to be french. It was all a jumble of words and images, finally settling on a couple of bottles with similar labels I pulled them free, and headed back up.  “Um cook?” I asked politely, “Where might I find Roy so I may deliver these bottles?” He just looked at me gently and pointed me towards the stern of the ship. The captains area, but of course. I nodded my thanks and carefully padded up, trying to keep my boots quiet I tucked one bottle under my arm, the other in paw. Stood up extra straight and slowly turned the knob to enter the heavy door.
Inside the light was shimmering from lamps around the walls, there were window to either side, a door to the rear where I’m sure the captains quarters would be. Towards the right a large table holding six, the left a similar table but covered in charts held in place by weights of shining stones. I recognised Roy, sitting to the captains left, and the deck leader John, was there as well. The others were a mystery still but I approached with the wine, as all eyes settled on me. While I didn’t know the captains name, he sat to the front and it was obvious he was in charge. A fairly tall Puma with crisp golden fur, a few scars on his face, eyes like shimmering topaz. What appeared to be a modified naval jacket hung from his shoulders, open and flowing down his well built form. I swallowed deeply at the impressive sight of his ivory white shirt hanging with a few buttons open below the deep dingy blue of his jacket.
“Jacob!” Roy called to me snapping me from my dazed gaze, and waved me over with a hand. “Bring that over here and meet your captain.” I soon walked over to Roy’s right, between him and the captain I set the bottles on the table. Finding some space amidst the food that had already been presented and looked to be half eaten. Another swallow to help remove the lump as I held my right hand paw out to the captain and standing proud I said in a loud nervous voice, “Jacob Weeks sir! Pleased to be a member of your crew, I look forward to serving you fully.” After the last word fell from my quickly rambling mouth I froze, the other men paused in silence then broke out laughing at the implications of my words. My cheeks and ears quickly flushed, my tail hugged the back of my thighs and ears lowered down. 
The puma simply laughed deeply and slapped me on the back, “Glad to meet you Jacob Weeks who is proud to serve.” He said in a laughing playful voice, “Name’s Captain Horatio Wilden, but most just call me Captain Wild. You can as well. Now thanks for the wine and it’s good to meet you. Listen to these men here, do what they say, learn fast, and I’m sure that you can make it long and far on this ship.” I listened to everything he said, his voice deep and resonating, tickling my insides with the tenor of his speech. I nodded quickly and quickly blurted out, “Thank you Captain, I promise I wont let you down.” Then not sure if I should salute, or bow, or just shake hands I simply took a step back and politely asked, “Is there anything I can do for you tonight sir?”
“Have you eaten yet boy?” He asked simply,
“No not yet I’ve been rather busy helping with the chores.”
	“Well then, get your tail out there and get some food with the men before It’s all gone. Find a spot to sleep, and get ready in the morning to help out.”
“Yes sir you got it Captian.” I said with pride and looked to the other men. Nodding my thanks with a big smile, tail soon up and wagging looking like a wolf pup who just got the big piece of meat. I swiftly walked out while kindly closing the door behind me. Back in the galley I took a big sigh, feeling like a part of the crew already I asked the chef if we had anything left over. He told me to go up to where the crew was eating and find out. 
Once with the rest of the crew, I could find the nights meal mostly picked through but a good bit still remained. A few made jokes here and there about the new guy getting scraps, or that I shouldn’t be allowed to eat until I’ve proven my worth. I simply ignored it, and made a few jokes to try and win their favor. But soon I had a bowl filled with meat and veg, a sort of thin stew that tasted faintly of the sea. Surely not the best food I’ve ever eaten, but not the worst. I gulped it down fast, my hunger ravenous from all the excitement and work completed today. I sat back with a full belly, let out a proud burp and then noticed most of the men had gone. The rest soon leaving up to the deck. Then music could be heard. My ears twitched with curiosity as I moved up to deck, finding all the men sitting around the main deck where we load cargo. Most on ropes, or a few on crates in a large circle. Beer was being poured into mugs, and they sang songs. My heart fluttered, it was just like the stories I’d heard. All of it true, and now I’m a part of it. 
Making my way to a large coil of rope I sat down, gently began untying my boots and pulling them free, I let the sweaty fur cool in the nights breeze. The sun was just almost set and the sea shone with glimmering diamonds amidst a carpet of mauve and taupe. The wind rustled through the sails and my fur, the stars were shining bright already. I felt myself tear up with the delight o fa dream come true, but held it back to look strong in front of the other men. Determined to prove myself to them at the cusp of only sixteen years of age. Looking to the male next to me, a doberman of well on years, I leaned in and asked “Where can I get a mug of drink?” He laughed simply and leaned in a bit closer to inform me, “The captain and his mates drink wine, the crew drinks beer, the cabin boys get water.” And leaned back with a laugh, my ears wilting a bit. I may be on the crew, but I still had much to prove to be official crewman of the fifteen who sat around me.
I sighed gently, went to grab a cup of water to help wash down the meal and came back. Looking around the other crew, I took in their faces. Mostly generic dogs in shades of black brown and yellow, a couple of cats, a ferret, a dalmatian, the doberman and one other wolf. With the deep gray salt and pepper pelt. He looked to be in maybe his late twenties, not joining in the song. Just laying on a couple crates and looking to the sky. Some times glancing over to the new young wolf of light brown fur. I simply smiled and nodded in return. Then I lay back in the coil of rope. Not the most comfortable spot in the world but I was so tired I hardly cared if I was laying on a bed of gravel. I tucked my paws behind head, my feet crossed in front of me and I gazed up to the stars that would guide our way this darkened night. The sun had set a while ago, all that lit our night was a lamps on deck, the shining stars, and half a waining moon. I took in a deep breath of the cool sea air, my eyes blinked for one moment. Then I was out like a candle in the rain, sleeping on the open deck below the stars. I later found that I slept the whole night with a smile on my face as I dreamed about the future I had before me.

Chapter 4
The first day of my new life.