Citizen 721 Kraz

The smell of the ocean filled Kraz’s nostrils as he paced along the main deck, eager to reach the island that he had called home for so many years. His tail swayed in time with the boat as it rocked in the waves. Kraz easily navigated between the ample cargo stacks and barrels that were properly secured to the railings. Having grown up on a boat had advantages. Kraz had free reign on the boat, he could go practically anywhere; he especially enjoyed sitting at the wheel and watching his parents navigate through the open waters.

Oftentimes when Kraz was observing his parents run the ship, the other young rexes would be running around the ship assisting with chores and maintaining the ship. Some of the young rexes had been on this ship for years, whereas others visited daily when their parents had to go somewhere. When the young rexes first arrive on the ship, they often are either scared, shocked, or both. Kraz tries to take time out of his day to welcome each and every one of them. He takes them all under his wing, showing them the ropes and teaching them what he knows.

Kraz himself did not particularly have issue with any of the kids, however, one of the older rex had been a thorn in his side since her arrival. Kraz saw Oblitias from time to time. She was not even in her older teens, and yet, she acted like a newborn with how little she helped around the ship. Kraz tried to get her to help out here and there, but Oblitias would just shrug off the work and she would go lean over the railing to watch the water. Oblitias never really got in the way, but she certainly never lifted a claw to help. Kraz grew tired of her after months of her  being this way.

“I don’t think that Oblitias is fit to be a part of our crew!” Kraz expressed his opinion in a matter-of-fact tone as his mother was studying the charts. He closed the distance between them with a few strides and peered over the edge of the table. His mother was diligent in her work, not particularly paying attention to her most recent disruption.

After carefully marking the chart and jotting down some notes, she rolled up the chart and placed it into the wooden crate resting next to the table. She brushed her paws on her haunches before turning to face Kraz. Kraz felt as if his parents had been on the waters all their lives with how they always looked. The sea breeze had shaped their looks compared to the rexes who lived on the land.

“Now Kraz, that’s no way to speak about anyone on our ship!” She looked down at Kraz, who wrapped his tail under his body. Kraz was seldom yelled at. “You know very well that some of these kids come from some unique backgrounds. Maybe they can get accustomed to this life, maybe they won’t. It’s not our place in life to tell others how to live.” Kraz dipped his head, remembering his first time on this ship. The sounds of the crashing waves interrupted their conversation; the winds picking up as a storm was brewing on the horizon. “Now, we will discuss this later. For now, go get everyone prepared, we have to push through this to get to port.” She waved her hands to dismiss him as she turned back to secure the charts that had begun flapping in the wind. “Maybe you should try being nice to her! Make a new friend!” She yelled over her shoulder as the winds almost muted her voice.

Kraz knew that his parents often avoided taking the ship through storms. It had been on the open seas for so long, he was surprised that it hadn’t fallen apart. The wind started to grip the sails and threatened to shred them as the rain started. Kraz noticed two of the older teens had started to pull in and bind the sheets. Kraz rushed over to help hold the roll of fabric as the other rex wrapped it with securing straps.

The younger and newest Rexes always seemed shocked by the storms. They at least were able to listen to directions and relatively stayed out of the way. Kraz was often in charge of herding the young rexes to the lower decks so they would be safe.

As the rain slowly began turning into hail, Kraz could hear his parents ordering everyone to the lower decks. The wind and rain was growing dangerously as they continued into the heart of the storm. Kraz knew that they would be safe if they made it to the eye and rode out the storm. Kraz guided the young ones ro the lower deck and made his way back up to the main deck.

Kraz made his way over to a group of rexes who had tried to secure a few boxes that had come loose. He noticed that the lines that usually secured the cargo were flailing in the wind, some of which even had frayed ends.

‘Kraz! The lines snapped when the winds started!” One of the older teens yelled over the howl of the wind. “We can try… roll the barrels down, but there's no guarantee….these large crates..” Their voice became lost in the storm, but their expression was of great concern to Kraz.

Kraz simply held up a paw and motioned for them to roll the barrels at least. The cargo crates could stay on the deck and slide around. Kraz hoped they were heavy enough to not shift too much, but he knew there was no guarantee. The first of the teens grabbed their barrel and started rolling it across the main deck to the cargo net. The only rexes on the deck now were all helping secure the boat, well, must to Kraz's annoyance,  one.

Kraz noticed Oblitias clawing the edge of the ship. He swore she had lost her mind by standing that close to the edge during a storm like this. Oblitias peered into the darkness as the rexes around her continued to work. Kraz simply shook his head as he began rolling his barrel towards the net.

Some of the teens were first timers, which Kraz didn't mind, but it always led to some type of trouble. Last time, they forgot to help secure the rations…or maybe they ate them? Kraz wasn't too sure, but a good portion of their food had been consumed.

Kraz was lost in the memory when he came back to the present. The screaming of rexes pulled him right out of his reminisce. Rexes dropped their cargo and ran to the edge of the ship.

‘REX OVERBOARD! REX OVERBOARD!” The bell rang over and over as one of the teens rang the alarm. Kraz pushed his way through the crowd to the edge of the boat. He could barely see the silhouette of the rex against the crashing waves.

“Who fell in!? What happened!?” He shouted over the deafening sound. He lifted a paw to protect his face from the incoming drops. He could tell that some of the rexes around him wanted to jump in to help, but he wasn’t sure how good of a swimmer any of the crew actually was.

“It's that girl always lounging around!” The younger rex quipped before he too found himself peering over the edge. “One of the barrels got away from us and knocked her over the railing.” Kraz leaned over the railing too, trying to single out where Oblitias went. He finally saw her trying to keep her head above the waves.

“Throw life lines in the water!” Kraz ordered as he jumped into the water. Every time I think we will make it safe through these storms! Kraz groaned as he closed the distance between him and Oblitias. His lungs burned as he swam through the frigid current. When he approached her, Oblitias was flailing, attempting to keep her head above water. He could see her head dip below the water, and she didn't resurface.

When Kraz made it to where she went below, he filled his lungs with the salty air as he dove into the depths. By the sheer luck of it, she hadn't gone too far down, and Kraz was able to grab her. In the turmoil, she had become unconscious. Just my luck. Kraz slipped his tail around her waist as he made his way back to the surface.

When he clawed his waves above the waves, he whipped his head around against the waves. He locked on to the ship's lanterns that dotted the darkness of the torrential doom engulfing them. If Kraz didn’t know any better, it was as if the Ancients were trying to test his strength and resolve. Rescues like this were often performed by a team of at least two or three of the strongest rexes. Kraz had a hunch that Oblitias didn’t know how to swim. Kraz continued swimming back towards the boat. Kraz could barely make out the crew above them waving and shouting.

Kraz tried to keep his passenger's head above the water as he searched the waves for one of the lifelines. The surf bouncing off of the hull kept Kraz from reaching the sides and clawing his way back to the deck. Why does she have to be such a nuisance! Kraz pushed through the waves and finally wrapped his paws around a line.

As the crew hauled up Kraz and his unconscious luggage, some of the teens rushed to them with blankets and sheets. Blankets blurred Kraz’s vision as he was wiped off from the chilling waters. The rain pelted the rexes as they were wrapped in cloth to protect from the storm.

Kraz glanced over and noticed that Oblitias was finally coming around. As she came too, she flailed and gasped for air. After rolling to her side,  Oblitias finally looked up at Kraz. What he saw not only intrigued him, but also caused him alarm.

“Thank…thank…you….” Oblitias passed back out as some of the stronger rexes picked her up and carried her down to the lower decks. Kraz had this sense that she had a story to her, but he didn't want to follow as he had to get back to securing the cargo. He knew that this storm too would pass soon.