Gordon stuffed the fish skin into his pocket to later show as proof for the captain about his theory of there being a stowaway onboard. This after all was a very serious matter.
Not that stowaways were rare. It was quite common for there to be someone who wasn't supposed to be there on larger vessels. Since making sure no one got onboard illegally quite often cost more than just letting a few people sneak in if they put in the effort. Most often they'd disguise as one of the workers or crew, since no way did someone on larger ship know everyone from a crew of over 100 members.
However, for pirate ships, especially the ones the size of the Nine Lives, stowaways were practically something that never happened. The crew was small and the ship didn't really have any room for people to hide in except for the cargo. And now looking around Gordon couldn't see anywhere in the cargo where a human could possibly hide.
Gordon looked around the cargo room once more and not noticing anything out of place he exited, closing the door gently behind him as he started heading back to his galley, to bring the sugar there. Then he'd bring breakfast onto the deck and then he'd report to the captain about the possible stowaway situation.
After all that definitely was the important order of actions. Like what if they got into a fight and had to subdue the stowaway, could the crew do that on an empty stomach? NO! Of course they couldn't, they'd probably faint from exhaustion before doing anything noteworthy if they didn't eat first.
Gordon placed the pack of sugar into a cabinet above the countertop and then took the big pot of soup by the handlebars and started hauling it out of the galley. Opening the door out of the galley, his eye landed on Mikey and the rest still playing cards.
And he got an idea, why would he have to carry the heavy pot onto the main deck, when he could get the two youngsters to do it.
"Mikey, Ray. Come here 'n help me haul up dis pot t' the main deck"
Gordon had said it quite casually, but naturally he knew to Mikey and Ray it sounded like a top lever order they had to obey without question. And as on cue, the two-youngster stood up and took the pot from Gordon and carried it up onto the main deck, Gordon following close behind.
Neo and Flynn also got up smelling the delicious smell of some fresh soup and followed the others onto the deck. Flynn went on over to the main mast and ring a bell signalling the start of breakfast.
Gordon proceeded to scoop up a scoopful or two of food as they lined up.
"Damn Gordon, ye mighty out did yourself today!"
Ray exclaimed in a quick breath as he devoured his bowl of soup. Mikey couldn't even comment on how good the soup was due to devouring it like a man starved.
Flynn went to sit next to the helm to chat about something with Cyrus as he also brought him a bowl of soup. The rest of the crew came and went taking their own bowls, and Mikey even asked for a refill before everyone had had the chance to take their first servings.
The last ones to come where Flora, who was helped by the captain and then led to sit on the bench next to the great cabin, before the captain came back to take his own bowl.
"Cap'n, I found some proof of the wee pilfer stealin' fish on our ship"
Gordon said as he showed the captain the fish skin.
"Oh? So ye know who did it?"
"Well… ye see, I suspect we might 'ave a stowaway onboard."
"A stowaway? On dis ship?"
"Well, I doubt any mate o' us would eat a raw fish t' dis point"
Gordon pointed out, motioning at the state of the fish skin and the chunks of meat on it.
"Meow"
- - -
Diane saw the man leave the room and decided she could come out of hiding from behind the shelf. The man had taken her fish; there was still bits of meat on it.
"It's really hard being a mother"
She meowed to herself as she sighed and glanced at her own belly. It had really grown in the last month; it might soon be time for her to give birth. That is if she survived. But she would get exposed at least then when she hopefully gave birth successfully and her little kittens were running around.
Squeezing out of the cargo through a small gap in the wall she started moving to the place she had got that fish from earlier. On the way there she didn't see anyone, but when she passed the entrance up onto the main deck. The sound of voices and faint laughter floated into her ear which perked up.
At the same time the scent of cooked fish drafted into her nose as she sniffed and looked up instinctively. Were they eating? God, she wanted to join…
But she shouldn't what if these savages threw her off the ship, they were pirates after all. But… if they did, she'd be just denying the inevitable.
"Might as well take the chance"
Diane climbed up the stairs diligently onto the deck. She looked around and somehow no one had noticed her, expect an older woman looking at her from a bench who gave her a warm smile.
Diane ignored the woman and walked towards where the scent of food was drifting from. She ended up between two men talking about something about a stowaway and looked up at them.
Seeing that she was being ignored she meowed
"Meow"