It was terrible. Everytime Qui Gun Kit got even close to Cap'n Pine
Cone's cabin, someone was there. Either Huey was sitting there cleaning
his paw, or Sammy was laying on his back and talking to the fat wench.
One time, Cap'n Pine Cone himself was standing there talking to Smokey.
Qui Gun felt strange when the Cap'n turned from Smokey and asked if he
needed anything. You don't just tell the Cap'n that you want to steal
one of his favorite toys. Qui Gun Kit wished that Claudius hadn't chosed
this as the Hoolikitten adventure of the week.

He thought it wasn't fair, but consoled himself with knowing that none
of the other kittens had been able to steal a toy from the Cap'n either.
Still, he really wanted to show Miss Lily Whiskers that he was not only
a talented hollikitten but an able one as well. Oh no, Qui Gun suddenly
thought. wa What if someone else were talking to Miss Lily Whiskers and
charming her off her feet. Unable to stop himself, he ran up to the top
deck to find the young girl hoolikitten of his dreams. He really wanted
Miss Lily Whiskers to be his wink wink friend.

On the deck, Miss Lily Whiskers was watching the hatch to the lower
decks hoping that Qui Gun Kit would make an appearance. Already several
young Tims had been around to chat with her. They were cute, but she
really wanted to get to know Qui Gun Kit. She hoped that he'd want to
become her wink wink friend. She raised her tail high and walked in his
direction as he emerged from the hold. His Royal Feline Lordship, Tiger,
watched the two of them touch noses with a smile on his face. He knew
that the two were sweet on each other, and was waiting to see what would
happen with them.

Cap'n Pine Cone looked over at the kits from where he was watching the
hoomins taking in the sails. That new crew member, Jason, seemed to be
working well. The Cap'n remembered Jason from when the two of them were
younger and appreciated Jason's sense of humor. The man had talent. He
was almost cat-like in his thinking. Jason was more experienced with
boats and was helping mold the crew into a well coordinated team. Things
were going well today and Pine Cone could spend some time thinking about
his young protege and what he could do to help the young kit in his
quest for the fair paw of Miss Lily Whiskers.

After watching the two kits for a while, Pine Cone smiled to himself and
walked over to where Demi was resting on the deck. The two of them
talked for a couple of minutes, sniffed each other appreciatively, and
purred at each other. Pine Cone appreciated the lovely white ladycat and
knew that she would effectively organize the other cats to follow the
Cap'n's plan.

Later that afternoon, Qui Gun Kit found himself hidden behind a crate
full of bags of Nutra Max cat food, watching the door to Cap'n Pine
Cone's cabin. People and cats were always in front of the door or Cap'n
Pine Cone was in his cabin. Qui Gun thought that he'd never find a
chance to get one of the Cap'n's toys. He was about to give up when
Cap'n Pine Cone left his cabin, and forgot to lock the door behind him.

Quickly Qui Gun dashed across the deck to the door. It opened at his
touch and the kit slipped inside, shut the door behind him, and looked
around. On the left of the Cap'n's bed was a bushel basket full of toys.
On the right side of the bed was a smaller basket with toys in it as
well. Qui Gun Kit knew that one of the basket contained the cap'n's
private stash and the other the toys that the cap'n gave to those crew
members that pleased him. Qui Gun had worked for the Cap'n in here
before, but he was so nervous about comng in to steal a toy that his
brains were addled and he couldn't remember which was which.

First he went to the big basket. It smelled really good, like primo
catnip, but none of the toys had Cap'n Pine Cone embroidered on them.
The smaller basket had Qap'n Pine Cone's name embraoidered on the toys
within and some of them had that delicious smell that all good nip toys
permeated. Qui Gun breathed in deeply. . .

Out in the hold Cap'n Pine Cone and SSG Huey waited as patiently as a
cat could wait. "You know, Cap'n, I really hate giving the kit any
advantage over the other kits," Huey said.

"Huey," Cap'n Pine Cone told his young sergeant. "I can tell that you've
never had to worry about competition over Sonya's paw. The two kits are
interested in becoming wink wink friends, like you and Qui Gun's mother.
Let's just five them a chance."

"I know Cap'n. But it just gripes me to let him win."

"We're not letting him win, we're easing the course of true like."

"Well, he better hurry up. We can't keep the coast clear forever."

In the cabin, Qui Gun Kit was rolling around, in ecstacy as he sniffed
one of the Cap'n's catnip filled cotton tubes. "Oh Baby," he moaned.
"This is SO good." Suddenly he remembered where he was and what he was
supposed to be doing. He graggec the snake in his mouth and dashed for
the door. He was about to paw it open when he heard voices outside.

"Huey, tell Smokey to meet me in the galley to discuss the stores
situation," Cap'n Pine Cone's voice said clearly.

"Aye, Cap'n. I'll have him there soonest." Huey's voice shook Qui Gun
down to his paws.

"Good. I'm on my way, then."

Qui Gun shivered as he listened for the two to leave the area. As soon
as he thought the coast was clear he shot out the door and down to the
hidding spot where the Hoolikitten club met. There, he proudly deposited
his trophy in front of Claudius and Miss Lily Whiskers. She rubbed up
against him and the two of them touched noses and then sniffed each
other. Lily and Qui Gun left the room together and marched up to the
deck where they waited together for a chance to knock over the bait bucket.

Pam S.