Chapter Text
Kwazii jumps and flips on the edges of the ice like the wild pirate he is. Barnacles watches him fade the further he goes, and once he can't see him anymore he does his searching for the ice.
"Let's just hurry this up, so we can go back to the octopod for some hot coco." He mostly mumbles to himself. 18 minutes pass by and Kwazii still hasn't returned. He started pacing back and forth with worry.
"What could be the problem, is he hurt, did he get himself into trouble again? Maybe I should go search for him."
But before he does so. Kwazii comes running over with his paws held closely together, almost like he's holding something.
"Where have you been, Kwazii? I said meet back here in 10 minutes, what have you been doing?" He asks as Kwazii finally reaches him.
"Sorry Captain, but while I looked for the ice I ran into this little white worm. He said he knows what ice we're looking for. I was going to have him lead me to it but then I forgot we had to meet up, so I brought him here so we can both go get the ice." He looks down at the white worm.
"Hey ya". The worm greets. "Oh uh, nice to meet you. Question, how do you survive in this freezing cave with no warm coat of fur?" He wondered.
The worm wriggles little bits of snow off and looks at the Captain with glassy clear eyes. "It's my body, I have tiny little hairs all over that regulates my body temperature for colder weather."
"Oh I see, that's pretty amazing. Anyways about the ice, how far into the cave is it?" He asks, hands fidgeting at his sides.
The worm slithers onto Kawaii's shoulder and looks in the distance. "Hm not too far, it won't take long to get there."
"Common Captain, what's it matter how deep it is in the cave, we promised the Professor that we'd get him the ice." He looks past Barnacles and out to the ocean. "Besides it's almost getting dark, Tweak will call, wondering where we are, so while we're here let's go get it."
Barnacles looks far into the cave and shivers.
"Captain, are you afraid of the caves??" Kwazii asks, flabbergasted. Can the Captain be afraid of something as simple as a cave, he's been just fine with regular underwear caves, what makes this one so different?
Barnacles sighs and takes a seat on one of the snow mounts. Kwazii remains standing, still holding the Worm..
"The truth is Kwazii, when I was younger I used to explore ice caves all the time with the other polar bear scouts. And we loved to go deeper into the caves to find new entrances, and exits. But this one time when we went really far into the cave, the ice beneath broke right under me. I landed on one of my feet and sprained my foot. I was stuck in a deep and narrow hole for hours before the others made a rope to get me out and bandage my foot. Since that day I can't go into icy caves with white walls, and icecalces. It reminds me of that time when I was a cub".
Kwazii puts one paw on his shoulder. "Don't worry Captain, you don't have to go any farther into the cave. I'll take Cario here, and we'll go get the ice as quickly as possible, and when I return we'll leave at super speed back to the octopod."
The Captain looks up at him, shocked that he'd be willing to do that for him.
"Thanks Kwazii, I know I can count on you." Kwazii nods and runs off with Cario the worm.
..............
Cario tells Kwazii to stop in front of a crack below the snow.
“Go that way and you’ll find a hole that you can jump down and find the ice”. He finds the hole and jumps down. The ice in the surrounding area is crystal blue, pure white sparkling snow surrounds the small space. And lots of other animals like a snow fox digging in the snow or some weird tiny fish in the puddles of water splish and splash around. In the center of it all, he can see the ice they found a while back.
"Shiver me whiskers! This place is Amazing 🤩" But remembers he didn't come for sightseeing.
"Thanks Cairo" he puts him down on the icy ground and gets out the ice cutter Tweak gave them for the extraction.
"Hey it's my pleasure, we don't get much company here, in these caves." The worm keeps talking as he digs into the ice with the cutter.
"I'll say, I was scared of you at first, I've heard pirates normally come off as scary, and threatening, but once I got to know you a little more I see that you're a good one."
Kwazii takes a temporary pause to look at Cario. "Sounds like you've seen more than one Pirate matey." He grunts as he digs deeper into the ice with the cutter.
"Oh yes, a few years ago we had another visitor, he looked and sounded like a pirate too, I think he was looking for some kind of buried treasure." The ice cutter cuts through the ice at last and Kwazii catches it before it falls on the ground.
"Aye that does sound interesting, maybe some other time I'll come by and you can tell me the full tale?" He returns the ice cutter back into his coat and holds the ice securely in his paws.
"Really, you'd actually like to come back? Cario asks excitedly.
"Yeah of course I would matey, no one likes pirate stories more than me, and I'll share some of my scary tales of pirates too." Cario wriggles all around his paw happily.
"Yes, I'll look forward to that day, I have some more friends I'd like you to meet too." Kwazii gently pats his head.
"Yeah you can count on that day". He puts him back down on the ground and waves bye. “Fare thee well matey, see you again someday!”
"Captain! I made it back, I've got the ice too." Barnacles stands up and meets him halfway.
"That's great Kwazii, good job. Now that we have it, let's hurry up and go."
He nods and they jump back in the Gup. During the drive Kwazii watches Barnacles relax.
"Hey Kwazii?" He looks at him in response. "Yes Captain?" He seems nervous to speak but he does anyway.
"Thanks for getting the ice for me, sorry if I wasn't brave enough for you back there." Kwazii waves him off.
"You know, my Grandad told me something when I was a wee kitten. He said you can't be brave without being afraid first. One day you'll face your fear of caves, and it'll make you even braver".
They smile 😁. His paw taps on the steering wheel. “So . . Can we keep this a secret between us?”
Kwazii laughs. "Haha! No problem Matey, this'll be our secret, now let's go get some coco, I'm starving and freezing! Oy, wanna play some table tennis once we get some dinner and give the ice to Professor Inkling?”
Barnacles nods. “Yes, I’d like to finally beat you at it at least once.”
“Hahaha, trying your hardest won’t even beat me!”
They grin competitively at each other. “We’ll see won't we”.