Many islands cover the massive ocean surface worldwide. Some are small, some are big, and others are in between, but what they have in common is the stories they tell, the history that remains here, and the lifeforms that reside within, which can add a layer of character to the island's landscape. 

 

One particular island boasts sandy beaches, lush forests, sparkling aqua lakes, and a traditionally designed city to complete the picturesque view of the continent.

 

In the distance, a large white ferry with gold stripes along the side was en route. On this island, many ferries carry passengers and goods to and from other places. In this case, it's bringing in eight passengers on board. 

 

Inside the ship's lounge room sits an eager tan-furred vixen with long black hair, large black ears, and orange eyes dressed in a dark purple tunic with bell-shaped sleeves and black jeans. She dug into her small pocket bag and pulled a packet of gum out before popping one into her mouth. Noticing she has a few more, she turns to the passenger on her left, a male purple-gray mouse reading a baseball magazine on one of the lounge couches. He had brown eyes and wore a vivid turquoise v-neck shirt, dark red jeans, and gray shoes.

 

"Hello!" She greeted happily.

 

"Hey, what's going on?" asked the mouse, setting his book down.

 

"I was wondering if you would like some gum?"

 

The purple-gray mouse, taken aback by the vixen's offer, pinches a piece and pops it into his mouth.

 

"Mmm, citrus flavor gum, not bad. Thanks." 

 

"You're welcome." smiled the vixen.

 

She then turned to her right and observed a female light brown mole filling her nails. She had a small round pink nose, dark blue eyes, and red hair tied into two pigtails with pink scrunchies. A light blue wrap dress with long purple sleeves and pink shoes displays an impression of a girl who wants to look her best.

 

"Hi!" She called, getting the mole's attention. "Do you want some gum?"

 

The mole shook her head. "Oh no, I'm good, but thanks for the offer."

 

"No problem." 

 

"So, what's the deal passing us gum?" asked the mouse.

 

"Since we're going to a new place, I wanted to meet everyone and get to know everyone before we get there."

 

"Well then, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Morris." The purple-gray mouse held out his hand. 

 

The tan-furred vixen shook it. "I'm Kelora." 

 

"And I'm Beulah." The red-haired mole spoke up. "Say, any ideas for this new place we're going to?" 

 

"I've read that we'll be heading to Sudlan Island, an island many described as a "multicultural fusion hub," with many recreational activities to choose from and we're moving into a large house with a long generational history behind it," Morris explained. 

 

"That might mean that we could be the ones to find out that history and much more!" Kelora said excitedly. "You have to imagine what sort of surprises might await us when we move in!"

 

"You seem to be excited about this." Beulah pointed out. 

 

"Definitely!" The vixen grinned. "I've wanted to find employment back home. Coming here would be the first step to accomplishing that goal."

 

Beulah nodded. "I can understand where you're coming from. My life back home was pretty dull, and living on an island could bring more excitement for me."

 

"As for me, I wanted to fill a void by finding a significant other," Morris said proudly.

 

"You mean getting a girlfriend?" Beulah asked knowingly.

 

"Of course!" Morris grinned. "With what the island could offer for potential dates, how could I say no to that?"

 

"Probably because of the chances of finding the right one for you?" Beulah shot back.

 

Morris shrugged. "Maybe, but I can face those chances when we settle in town."

 

Kelora then stood up. "Looks like we all had our reasons for coming to the island. As much as I would enjoy talking more, I need to leave now."

 

"Going? Where are you going?" Beulah asked. 

 

"I'm going to explore the ship more, see if there are more passengers to talk to, and maybe if they're going to the same place too. Talk to you guys soon!"

 

As the vixen walked away, a dark gray male cat dressed in a dark blue jacket with vivid blue patches on the elbow and shoulders and black pants was watching the scene nearby while writing in a black booklet, a mixture of sullen interest when he spotted a red-brown bear wearing a black baseball cap, a white t-shirt with a picture of a wave and vivid red shorts crouching down near the seats beside him.

 

"Uhh, what are you doing?" He asked.

 

The bear gazed up with his forest green eyes, looking frantic.

 

"I was searching for a duct chain hook! You haven't seen it around, have you?"

 

The gray cat raised an eyebrow at the bizarre name. "Sorry, not sure what that means, so I can't say I've seen it." 

 

The bear groaned in despair. "I could've sworn I had it with me when we boarded! My parents even told me to keep it close to me!"

 

"Maybe I could help." A gentle voice interrupted the conversation. The source came from a Siamese cat with bright blue eyes sitting a few feet away. Her fur is light fawn, but her paws, feet, and tail had a deep seal shade. She wore a magenta shirt with flared sleeves and blue fitted pants. 

 

"No one should have to lose something given by a family member. We'll find it together!" 

 

"Really?" The bear asked hopefully. 

 

"Of course." The Siamese cat replied kindly. 

 

"Oh, thank you! You're a lifesaver!" The bear cheered gratefully.

 

The Siamese cat giggled before turning to the gray cat. "You want to help us out too?"

 

"I have more important things to do than look for an object with a strange name," answered the gray cat, shaking his head.

 

The Siamese cat and the bear departed with the former saying, "Suit yourself." The gray cat continued writing in his book, yet he couldn't help looking back at the Siamese cat wistfully.

 

Meanwhile, Kelora reached the near-end side of the ferry when she noticed a pudgy, light brown-furred groundhog with dark red glasses looking out the window with a lonely expression. He wore a black sleeveless shirt, blue shorts with red stripes, and brown shoes.

 

"Hey." She spoke up softly.

 

The groundhog jumped, his glasses magnifying his bright green eyes as he glanced up at her.

 

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." The vixen apologized. 

 

"O-oh, i-it's fine," the groundhog stuttered, regaining himself. "Guess I'm thinking about...all of this." He gestured to the large interior. 

 

"I understand that you're nervous. But let's try to think positively - we're embarking on a new adventure with many opportunities ahead of us. I'm sure there's plenty to be excited about!"

 

"Yeah, I guess." The little groundhog looked away. 

 

Kelora noticed the groundhog's unease about relocating and decided to sit by him.

 

"Would you like some company on the way there? I'd be happy to join you. My name's Kelora." She put out her hand.

 

The groundhog looked at the hand and gazed up at the vixen's warm smile before shaking it and forming a shy smile of his own.

​

"K-Kedy." He uttered. "So, I'm guessing you're excited about coming here?"

 

"Absolutely!" Kelora smiled excitedly. "I've been preparing for a career in the culinary industry by practicing my cooking skills and gaining some experience, thanks to previous jobs. Through my passion, I feel confident in my ability to succeed."

 

Kedy's eyes shined with admiration but his expression quickly changed to a more hesitant look, "I haven't spent much time outside where I used to live."

 

"Why not?" 

 

The groundhog shrugged. "We spent time underground and only went outside to search for food and materials for our shelter."

 

"So you've never been able to explore anything outside of where you lived?"

 

Kedy sighed. "No. Until now, I've always been reading a lot which is the closest I've got to learning about the outside world."

 

Kelora placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's good that you've taken some time to learn about the world, but that could only go so far without facing them head-on."

 

"What do you mean?" Kedy asked, tilting his head curiously.

 

"While reading can give you an idea of what to expect, experiencing the world firsthand is crucial to being involved when you're out and about. Now is your chance to embrace the island lifestyle and explore new adventures."

 

The little groundhog processed all of the vixen's words, and his eyes widened with realization.

 

"Wow, this is eye-opening for me! Honestly, I never considered it that way before." Kedy then stood up, displaying a newfound sense of resolve.

 

"You're right! My family has encouraged me to broaden my horizons, and I want to make that happen!" He then asked the vixen bashfully, "You don't mind teaching me when we get there, do you?"

 

Kelora could only smile as she patted his shoulder. "I don't mind one bit."

​

Outside on the lower deck, the red-brown bear led the Siamese cat to where he last had his missing trinket.

 

"So, Preben," the Siamese cat asked the named bear. "You're sure this is where you last had that duct chain hook?"

 

"I'm positive, Harva," replied Preben. "I remember being near the entrance when I had it."

 

"All right, I'll search over here on the left side while you search the right and cover some ground that way."

 

Preben nodded. "Good idea!"

 

The duo split up; Harva inspecting near the edge of the railing while Preben bent down near the tables and benches, hoping to find his trinket underneath. 

 

After 10 minutes of searching, they congregate on the other side of the ferry, with no luck, making the red-brown bear more distressed. 

 

"Man, I thought we'd found it by now, but I might've lost it!" He covered his face with his paws. "Oh, my parents are gonna kill me for this!"

 

Harva placed her paw on his shoulder. "Calm down, Preben. We've only looked at one side of this ship. Perhaps looking here might give us a clue."

 

The distressed bear breathed in, calming his nerves. "Ok, maybe there's still a chance, and who knows, we could be getting...even...closer..."

 

Harva raised an eyebrow when the bear trailed off his 

sentence while looking up. When she followed his line of sight, her eyes widened in horror.

 

Quickly, she dashed back into the lounge room in a panic, reaching for an emergency phone, much to everyone's confusion.

 

"Whoa, what's the rush?" Morris asked.

 

"Another cat is standing at the ship's upper-level railing outside!"

 

"WHAT?!"

 

After calling for a ship crew, Harva rushes back outside, the others following behind, worrying about what's happening. They gather where Preben stood, seeing that there is indeed a cat standing on the upper level's railing! This one is another male with orange fur and blue eyes, wearing a light blue T-shirt and black knee-length pants. He appears to be staring out into the distance.

 

"Hey!" Harva shouted. "What're you doing up there?!"

 

The orange cat snapped out of his dazed state and looked down, smiling casually.

 

"Hey!" He waved. "Just catching a glimpse of this amazing ocean view from above."

 

"By standing on the railing?"

 

"Sure, why not?" replied the orange cat.

 

The gray cat snorted. "Right, because that could only result in good." 

 

"Seriously though," Morris called. "You should get down from there! You could get hurt doing this."

 

"Aw, come on," shrugged the orange cat. "Can't a cat enjoy an ocean view from up here?"

 

"Not if you want to risk getting kicked off the boat or a serious injury." Kelora disputed.

 

Before the cat could say anything, a deckhand crew member joined the group at the bottom.

 

"She's right, young man." The crew member said firmly. "We don't want any passengers on this boat getting injured, so I'd highly suggest you cease this childish antic and get down immediately."

 

The cat pouted a bit but ultimately acquiesced.

 

It seemed like he was about to climb down from the railing, but he was unaware of how wet and slippery it was due to the surrounding moisture. When he stretched and stood on his tiptoes, his feet slipped off the railing, causing him to fall.

 

"Whoah!" He yelped.

 

The group below gasped when they saw him lose his balance, thinking that he might hurt himself or them. Suddenly, the orange cat's rotund tail instinctively wrapped around a nearby railing, preventing him from falling further and surprising the onlookers.

 

The orange cat looked at his tail hooked onto the railing, formulating an idea before shouting below.

 

"You all might want to step back; I'm going for a landing!"

 

The group, still in a state of awe, quickly steps back, wondering what this crazy cat will do next. Once the cat saw everyone at a safe distance, he propped his legs near the boat's sidings and then launched forward, undoing his tail. He then performs a diving front flip before landing gracefully on the ground.

 

"Woo!" He cheered. "How's that for a landing?"

 

Everyone stared at the cat with varying looks of astonishment and bewilderment, processing what had transpired. No one said a word until Kedy broke the silence, leaping in front of the cat with a starstruck look.

 

"Wow, that was amazing! The way you caught yourself and that flip in the air was awesome! How did you do that?"

 

The orange cat laughed as he whisked his tail aside. "My tail's always been a reliable asset when I need it most. I call it my tricks-a-lot tail."

 

The crew member coughed to get his attention. "As impressive as that was, it was still a reckless move standing on the top railing. You were lucky that tail of yours prevented a nasty fall but considered this your first and only warning." 

 

The orange cat rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Heh, you got it, sir."

 

"Good." Then he turned to the others. "Now, since the rest of you are together," From his pocket, he pulled out a dull silver line of chain wrapped in fading black tape with a J-shaped hook at the end. "Could anyone tell what this thing is and who it belongs to?"

 

Preben gasped. "My duct chain hook!" He rushed to the crew member. "Harva and I were looking for that! Where was it?"

 

"It was left on the counter near the lounge room." The crew member stated as he gave the bear his trinket before leaving.

 

Preben thought about what the crew member explained before the realization hit him. "Oh, yeah, now I remembered! I thought I had it with me when I left it in the lounge room without realizing it. I'm sorry for any trouble, Harva."

 

Harva shook her head forgivingly. "Don't sweat it, Preben. I'm glad you got your trinket back, and it was nice to help out a future friend in need." 

 

"Aww, thanks." 

​

"Just make sure you keep it close by next time. We wouldn't want you losing it again."

 

Preben nodded. "You got it."

 

"So, do you have a name?" Kelora asked the orange cat.

 

The orange cat's eyes widened before he smacked his forehead. "Oops, where are my manners today? My name is Mito Tondo, but please call me Mito. And you guys are?"

 

Kedy, Harva, and Preben were eager with their introduction to Mito, with Preben shaking the orange cat's paw so vigorously that it almost made him dizzy. Morris, Beulah, and Kelora were a bit wary of the cat's boisterous demeanor but otherwise greeted him. Then Mito turned to the lone silent passenger. 

 

"What about you?" He asked the gray cat. 

 

The gray cat felt self-conscious seeing all eyes staring at him. He looked away, arms crossed, and coughed. 

 

"Zatiny." He answered gruffly.

 

Mito was surprised by the response, wondering what could be the matter, but his thoughts were interrupted when the others continued talking to him.

 

"So what were you doing up on the upper level anyways?" Morris asked.

 

"Yeah, it even looked like you were in a trance up there," Beulah added. 

 

Mito hummed thoughtfully. "Oh, like I said, I wanted to see the ocean, and I figured being on the upper level would be perfect, and the reason I was in a trance was the waters telling me that we're halfway towards our destination."

 

"The...waters told you that?" Beulah asked skeptically.

 

"How does it tell you when we're closer to our destination?" asked Kelora.

 

"No idea," shrugged Mito. "But they never steered me wrong before, and I have full confidence in them. Speaking of which..."

 

Mito looked down at the waters, gazing intensely for a few minutes before following the currents in the distance shrouded in fog. 

 

"I think we should get ready to gather our stuff. We're approaching the island."

 

Before anyone could ask, the ship's overhead speaker cackled, and the captain's voice sounded out an announcement. 

 

"Attention all passengers! We're approaching the dock to Sudlan Island in approximately five minutes. Please gather all personal belongings and make your way to the front of the ship for docking preparation."

 

The group was stunned at the orange cat's prediction, punctured by the casual smile reappearing on his face.

 

"Told you. The waters never lie." Mito said as he left. 

 

As the rest of the group watched the orange cat's retreating form, Zatiny spoke up.

 

"Is it just me, or is that cat getting weirder by the minute?"

 

The others murmured in agreement.