Along the borderline

Calico watches the curious, strange wolf pup, head tilting and brows furrowing when he mentions changing color. The concept of hunting for food is foreign to pup that has only just left his den. Wrinkling his nose, Jack gives a huge shrug of his shoulders and squints at the stranger, asking, “Do pups usually change colors when they get older? Why don’t you have food brought to you? Don’t your ma feed you?” The world is new to Calico Jack that the concept of hunting and orphans is as strange as it is unknown.

The pup’s bird friend screeches its displeasure at Calico Jack inviting the pup across the border and the small pirate pup winces as it pokes the strange wolf pup’s head. Looking to the magpie, Calico offers a smooth, toothy grin and says in his most reassuring voice, “Nothings gonna happen to him little one. I promise. Cross my heart!” The pup scowls in a show of just how serious he is. His right paw lifts to mark an ‘X’ on his chest. With a firm nod, the pup then breaks into another charming smile as he waits for the strange pup to work out what he is going to do.

The pup looks to Jack and he lifts his brows, maw splitting into an excited grin as the stranger asks what a ship is. Stepping back, Calico Jack is ready to show the pup, eager to explain, when the pup and his magpie friend have a small argument. Jack’s eyes round in bewildered worry as the magpie flies away, his gaze worriedly sliding over to the stranger. The pup does not seem worried about it though, asking to see the ship and Calico’s worry melts away as he lets out a happy laugh.

Beckoning the pup to follow him, Jack leads the way further into the pirate’s territory while saying, “A ships a wooden thing that floats on the water. It's cool.” A proud smile pulls at his lips before Calico looks to the pup, curiosity flashing in his eyes, as he says, “Say, what’s your name anyway? If you’re my guest, can I at least know that? Also, why are you… so strange looking? Do many wolves grow up to look like you?” Paws cut a path across the beach as Jack looks to the stranger, eager to learn why he looks the way he does.


"Calico Jack"