All for fun!

Nico had met up with Echo after leaving the beach and told his magpie friend all that had happened that day.  He told Echo all about Calico Jack and the great time they’d had.  Told the bird about how huge ships were and about crabs.
Echo had told him stuff too.  Echo had told him what an idiot he was and how dangerous it was for Nico there.  Nico had decided in the end that Echo was both right and wrong.  It wasn’t really safe but Echo couldn’t understand the pup’s need to be around those like him.  Echo had told him not to go back.

So, here it was with the sun rising up he’d made his way back to the beach and waited for Jack to come to invite him back on the beach.  Nico had bounded onto the wolf's territory the moment Jack invited him.  “Hey, Jack.  I was thinkin’ you seem like the sort who likes adventures n’ all right?  You know there’s a requirement for them?  You gotta be able to bear the tar out of anyone who gets in your way.  You can’t cower, can’t wimp out if your hurt, and never ever fight dumb.  Ya gotta outthink your enemy.” Nico tapped his head twice as if offering a picture to this important part.  

“So, time to teach ya a thing or two.”  Nico swiped out his paw to whack at the side of Jack’s face.  It was a decent smack but definitely playful. “Calico Jack, I challenge you to an all-out battle!  Oh, and if I win we eat next!”

"Niko"