The Krawk Island Adventure

     “This isn’t an ordinary discovered treasure chest that passersby occasionally stumble upon,” Litana insisted, rubbing the fading pirate-themed markings with concern. “It’s much older and likely extremely valuable. I’m sure someone has noticed its absence by now, so we have to make sure we keep it safe. In the event all hotel safety deposit boxes are searched, we don’t want to be caught hiding it.”

     Tristan reluctantly conceded that based on their late-night Krawps game encounter, Mr. Tavish had seemed mildly mysterious, if not entirely suspicious, and that hiding the treasure chest between layers of clothing within Litana’s locked suitcase was probably the safest course of action for now. Ultimately, all inn staff members could access the room safety deposit boxes if need be, so utilizing the inn’s safety mechanism would likely do more harm than good.

     As far as plans went, Tristan’s was not remarkable by any means, but it was logical. “We need more information,” he explained quietly the next morning, between bites of his breakfast. “Our next step should be to roam the island some more, see if we hear any rumours related to the treasure chest or generally anything worth noting.”

     “Puzzle pancakes,” Litana mused. “How appropriate.” She speared a piece of Tristan’s pancake onto her fork and thoughtfully chewed. “How are we supposed to get more information? We don’t know anyone on the island and even if we did, how would we know if we could trust them?”

     Tristan batted her fin away and rolled his eyes. “Eat your own breakfast, Ana,” he huffed, nudging her bowl of apple oatmeal towards her. “And I’m not sure,” he added with a sigh. “Maybe we can start by making a list of questions. What’s in the treasure chest? Who does it belong to? How did it end up on the Forgotten Shore? Who were the pair of Grarrls we saw prowling around one of the docks last night?”

     Litana nodded in agreement and warily looked around, checking to see if anyone was within earshot. Though they were currently alone, now more than ever, the two friends would need to proceed with extreme caution. “That’s a good start,” she commented. “Finish your breakfast and let’s get out of here. I think it’s time to take another walk and explore some more.”

     The two friends headed towards Warf Wharf, with Little Nippers in mind as their destination. Since the store had been closed the previous evening, they hadn’t been able to spend any proper time with the adorable petpets they had spotted. However, once again the shopkeeper seemed unprepared for their arrival.

     Upon their entrance, the startled shopkeeper gasped and hastily swiped a pile of assorted dubloons off the shop countertop and into a worn sack, shoving it out of sight. “What are you two doing here again so soon? The shop is not open yet!”

     “I’m sorry, mister…” Litana began and trailed off doubtfully.

     “I go by Scowlin’ Bradford,” the blue Kyrii supplied with a predictable scowl.

     “Scowlin’ Bradford,” Litana acknowledged. “But according to your outdoor sign, you’ve been open for a half-hour. We apologize for catching you off guard, but is there any chance we could look around? We’d really like to play with the petpets for a little. They’re so wonderful.”

     Bradford seemed to melt a little at that and beamed as a Weewoo fluttered around the overhead lamp before perching on his shoulder. He gently patted a Bilguss within reach and shrugged. “I suppose I didn’t realize how much time had passed. You may browse.”

     Thanking him, Litana and Tristan scurried to the back of the shop, waiting until they were out of earshot to chat. Sidestepping a particularly active Swabby, Tristan poked Litana.

     “Ana, did you see how surprised Scowlin’ Bradford was when we entered his shop? It’s like we caught him in the act of doing something bad. Seems like maybe those dubloons aren’t rightfully his…”

     Litana hesitated, gently putting down the mirgle she had been cuddling. She confirmed Tristan’s observations but didn’t latch onto the stolen dubloon theory. “We don’t know that for sure,” she pointed out. “Scowlin’ Bradford’s shop has wonderful reviews. We know for a fact that he places petpets into happy, loving homes. He really seems to care about the petpets too! It’s possible for him to have that kind of money.”

     “Sure, but openly lying around?” Tristan retorted. “And why act so affronted when someone witnessed him counting it? There’s nothing wrong with maintaining store finances if that’s what he was truly doing! I really feel like something is up with him and those dubloons.”

     Litana had to admit, Tristan made a strong case for suspicious activity.

     They played with the petpets for a half-hour more, hoping to catch sight of Scowlin’ Bradford once more, but he didn’t emerge from the backroom and neither friend dared to ring the attending bell without a concrete game plan. Eventually, they left, with several more questions added to the list, but still not a single answer. Most likely they would be paying Little Nippers another visit soon so they could learn more about Scowlin’ Bradford.

     Tristan groaned and threw an arm over his face to shield his eyes as they emerged from the store and stepped into the warm, blinding sunlight. He hadn’t realized how dimly lit the petpet store was until back outside once more. “After all, it’s easier to hide stolen dubloons in the dark,” he said, elbowing Litana in the side with a wink.

     Litana hushed him, but smirked at her friend’s joke, squinting into the light as well. “You’d never know that it stormed so hard the other night just by looking at the clouds,” she pondered. “If it weren’t for the few docks in need of repair or a handful of ships that need to patch up certain areas of damage, it would be like the storm never happened.”

     It was true. Though the storm had been fierce, the impact had been minimal for most. Krawk Island natives were used to weather of this nature and incorporated precautions into their daily routines to prepare for unanticipated storms as best as possible and whatever damage had incurred was mostly rectified at this point.

     The pair continued to walk through the bustling town square and approached the docks, spotting a pirate Poogle and a pirate Eyrie scaling a ship, hoisting a mended sail up in the air. As they neared closer, they could make out bits and pieces of their conversation. On a whim, they crouched behind a tall stack of wooden crates and stopped to listen.

     “Apparently, even Evil Beard’s crew hasn’t heard from him since the night of the storm,” the Eyrie called from the top of the mast, fluttering around the sail and fitting it back into place.

     “The Forgotten Shore has been getting a lot of attention since the storm too,” the Poogle responded. “Just this morning on the way to work, I noticed the entire area had been blocked off. I didn’t see them myself, but I heard members of Evil Beard’s crew are searching for the remnants of his ship. Apparently, there was a terrible shipwreck and he’s the only one who hasn’t been accounted for. I bet valuables went missing too.”

     The Eyrie blinked solemnly. “Interesting times around here, my friend. I’m a little surprised that the governor hasn’t intervened. I didn’t think active pirates had the authority to shut down an entire beach like that.”

     “Well, it is the Forgotten Shore, after all. If the island charged for tourists to roam that particular stretch of beach then the governor might care, but it’s just as abandoned as the name suggests. So no one is invested in that particular piece of land. Not that anyone can really stop a determined crew of pirates anyways, much less the governor.”

     They both chuckled ruefully before resuming their ship repair work, humming old sailor songs as they continued about their day.

     ~

     Litana firmly placed her fins on her friend’s shoulders and steered him away from the docks so he wouldn’t remain in the shadows, gaping at the conversation they had overheard. It was only a matter of time before someone noticed them lingering out of place.

     She propelled him forward until they were a safe distance from Warf Wharf and plopped down onto the sand, a section of the beach that was a close distance from the buried treasure location. She listened to the sounds of shovels clanking and being dragged through the sand, processing the new information. Tristan flopped down beside her, eyes still wide with surprise.

     “I can’t believe we learned so much!” he exclaimed. “I had no idea that a ship went down the other night, let alone that it was Evil Beard’s. I bet the Grarrls from last night were searching for signs of his ship - they must be members of his crew!” His paws flew to his mouth as he gasped nervously. “Hang on...there’s a good chance that the chest we found on the shore belongs to Evil Beard, isn’t there? Those dock workers mentioned that valuables might be missing. So that could mean the chest too. Ana, what are we going to do?!”

     Litana had come to the same conclusion only moments before Tristan. And she had no idea what they were going to do. She covered her face as if doing so would make the situation go away before saying as much.

     Possessing a mysterious treasure chest seemed like a grand adventure vacation dream come true, but it was more stressful than anything else. Especially now that there was a high chance that it belonged to one of the most dangerous, notorious pirates around.

     “We could tell the governor?” She suggested helplessly.

     Tristan was quick to disagree, making the argument that according to the dockworkers they had overheard, the governor wasn’t likely to take action. He did not see any merit in pointlessly informing an authority figure, but he was also beginning to get a little worried. He loved pirate tales of lost treasure as much as the next lupe, but he wasn’t sure he was prepared to become an integral part of the story.

     After Litana pointed out that the governor should care, and that as responsible vacationers they owed Krawk Island a duty to share the truth, Tristan hesitantly agreed.

     The pair hastily brushed the sand from their clothing and walked towards the Governor’s Mansion. They knew there was a slim chance of them being granted an impromptu meeting, especially given that they weren’t even Krawk Island citizens, but they had to try. Tristan self-consciously straightened his shirt and flattened his bandana around his ears.

     Amused, Litana patted his arm comfortingly and braced herself before lifting the shining, brass skull-shaped door knocker. An unimpressed Elephante butler answered the door, flatly refusing to let them in.

     “It’s important,” Tristan pleaded. “We have important information we need to convey to the governor.”

     “We found something we think he would want to know about,” Litana added. “Please, it won’t take longer than ten minutes.”

     The Elephante eyed them dubiously and scoffed, clearly getting ready to deny them once more when the governor himself walked into the foyer with his golden-trimmed red overcoat trailing behind him. “What’s goin’ on here?”

     Litana edged forward into the mansion (much to the butler’s great displeasure) and made another attempt: “Mister Governor, my friend and I found something that we would like to share with you. It’s extremely important and informing you about the situation we find ourselves in could be for the good of the entirety of Krawk Island! We know it’s not a scheduled visit, but please give us a few moments of your time.”

     “They’re just silly school children playing pranks,” the butler sneered. “Though the boy has pirate colouring, it’s clear that he’s not from here originally. I don’t think you should take them seriously, Governor, sir. There is much work to be done today. The Dubloon-O-Matic mystery for example…”

     The governor held up a hand, effectively silencing his butler. He smiled gently though before shooing him away. “Thank ye, Henry, but that shall be all. How can I refuse to investigate somethin’ that could impact th’ entire island? I shall hear them out.”

     Tristan and Litana thanked him earnestly before launching into a detailed explanation of the treasure chest they found and the Evil Beard rumours they believed to be true. They even mentioned the bit about the Forgotten Shore being closed off by Evil Beard’s pirates and Krawk Island citizens believing that the government did not care enough to take action.

     The governor smiled sadly. “The woes o’ bein’ a public servant. Chargin’ to explore the Forgotten Shore would be a great idea ‘n would do wonders fer boosting tourism here. But I be too busy investigatin’ other problems right now to start somethin’ new. As Henry, my well intentioned but slightly rude butler, hinted at… we be havin’ problems wit’ theft at existin’ tourist attractions includin’ the Dubloon-O-Matic and the Smugglers Cove.”

     Immediately, Scowlin’ Bradford’s suspicious dubloon hoard came to mind, but the friends wisely kept silent for the time being. Without proof, it would be too hasty and unfair to mention the shopkeeper’s strange behaviour from earlier in the morning and connect it to a tourist attraction problem they had no concrete details about.

     Instead, Tristan bowed his head in understanding and offered a murmured apology. Chuckling, the governor waved him off and shrugged before becoming serious once more. “I do, however, have comments on yer treasure chest. I reckon ye needs to know this…”

     The governor continued to explain that, after the creation of the new and improved Krawk Island and after he was appointed governor, he acquired a tremendous treasure chest filled with government funds meant to keep the new island pristine and fully functional. A couple of years into his ruling, however, the treasure chest was stolen from the mansion itself. And ever since, Krawk Island has been struggling to maintain certain attractions and features since the governor never figured out how to make up for the stolen funds.

     Some of the townspeople believed that the governor orchestrated the heist. In particular, older citizens who have lived on Krawk Island since the start of his first term specifically look down on him with mistrust and suspicion.

     “I reckon I know who betrayed me but those details are nah important at this time,” the governor declared. “However, ‘tis important to note that I know what’s in yer chest. I be certain it possesses the key to unlock the bigger chest full o’ treasure. ‘Twas created as a safeguard against theft by a former ally of mine. And it would have worked too, if they hadn’t betrayed me and helped a group of rogue pirates steal both treasure chests. I dunno when or how the smaller chest with the key was separated from the bigger chest but it seems to be so. Otherwise, we would have heard of the thief acquiring a tremendous amount of wealth. I believe the treasure is still out there, unable to be properly obtained without the key most likely located in the chest you have in your possession.”

     Tristan and Litana sat quietly, completely floored. Informing the governor that they had discovered a seemingly important treasure chest had been crucial to them, but they never dreamed that the governor would be familiar with it or provide a context so shocking.

     “I believed the government funds to be gone after all these years but the fact that the key be still around ‘n that ye reckon that Evil Beard’s pirates are keen to get it back suggests that the treasure may still be intact ‘n buried somewhere on the island. I don’t trust anyone else on Krawk Island to help get it back, but ye’ve renewed me with fresh hope. Please...will ye two help me?”

     Tristan leapt to his feet and shook his head so vigorously his red bandana slipped sideways. “Governor, we would be honoured!” Litana looked a little more reluctant and nervous but Tristan shot his friend a pleading, earnest look that helped her make up her mind.

     “We’ll help,” she echoed. “Of course we’ll help.”

     The governor clasped his hands together with excitement and removed his fanciful hat, bending over in a grateful blow. He rushed to his desk and rummaged through the top drawer before producing a small, ordinary-looking silver key. “This will unlock the chest you have.”

     Placing it in Litana’s fin, he beamed and joked that she seemed like the more responsible of the two and that he made the right choice in not giving the key to Tristan. This earned him a faint grin from Litana and an exasperated huff from Tristan.

     “Thank ye, me friends! Krawk Island and I will be forever indebted to ye if ye can find the treasure and manage Evil Beard’s crew. Let me know if you require any resources, but in the meantime, I recommend visiting the Food Club to gain more information. They be a well-informed bunch and their club should certainly be yer next stop on the journey to figure out more.”

     Heads still spinning with new information, the two friends bid the governor farewell before setting out to visit the Food Club as he suggested.

     “We’re going to save Krawk Island!” Tristan announced with awe.

     “One step at a time, Tris,” Litana laughed. She gazed out to the ocean and inhaled the ocean tinged air with a sigh.

     “Don’t worry,” Tristan reassured her, sensing her trepidation. “We’re more than capable of handling this. You’re intelligent and strategic and I’m headstrong and brave. It’s a stellar combination!”

     Litana laughed again and thanked him as they walked back towards the Wayfarer’s Cove to unlock the smaller treasure chest and hide the important key the governor had spoken of safely on their person. Both Litana and Tristan agreed it would be safer to carry the key that would unlock the true treasure chest with them rather than to leave it behind and have it be inaccessible.

     After unlocking the small chest and storing the important key, Litana wisely decided to keep the key the governor had given them as well, which looked remarkably similar to the one that would unlock the true treasure chest. She figured it may be useful and that tossing it would be a mistake.

     After both keys were safely secured around Litana’s neck, covered by her light jacket, the two friends set out once more towards Warf Wharf.

     “Next stop, Food Club,” Tristan said with gleaming eyes.

     This was the start of anew plan, rapidly unfolding before their eyes.

     To be continued…