Felandria was a beautiful place, and exotic beyond measure. However, what was more beautiful than the exterior palace was the interior. The banquet hall was a massive circular room where tables lined the walls filled with meats, vegetables, salads, deserts, and snacks. The center of the room was always clear so that performances and speeches could be made in the middle. All around the room were large colorful cushions and chairs for guests to sit, lounge, and dine. Comfort was a valuable commodity here, and the Feline folk enjoyed it to the extreme. The chattering, mewing, and laughs of guests abounded and there were several beautiful leopard and cheetah dancers in the center of the room, performing an entertaining show for the entire hall.

Hook could look around and see various Feline folk of different kinds and colors wandering around. There were the lion folk of course, who made up the royal household. The lion folk were of royal blood, and as such, were divinely appointed to rule. It had been this way on Felynnus for countless centuries. There were leopard, jaguar, and cheetah folk as well. These were of higher class than the common citizen, but were still made to abide by the same rights and rules. Panther folk and tiger folk were a minority in the realm, but treated with great reverence. They were once of aristocratic background, but now were second to the lions. That said, most did not resent this arrangement, and Hook could spot a few mingling among the crowds. The common folk were simply known as the Tabbies. They were the majority on Felynnus and did most of the manual and important labor. This was the world of cats, and respect was mandatory for survival.

A few of Hook’s crew could be seen sitting, flirting, and chatting with the feline folk and Hook couldn’t help but smile to herself as they did. It was nice to see them relax for once and not have to worry about tomorrow or when they’d be attacked; they were safe here. Hook herself sat on a large purple cushion, a goblet of wine in her hand, at the right hand of King Rajan. The King applauded the dancers as they bowed and then chuckled, raising his goblet to the crowd.

“Dance and make merry!” He announced. “To you of the Bannockburn, rest tonight and eat your fill. Felynnus welcomes you and keeps you, for as long as you desire.” The room rose in a cheer and the pirates all shouted their praise. Hook raised her own goblet and glared at her men.

“Just remember your self control, boys. We’re guests here.” She added. The men all hollered back in agreement, and the music began again, plunging the hall back into it’s blissful splendor.

“You seem tired, my friend.” Rajan pointed out, looking to Hook. “Don’t tell me the life of an outlaw is stressful.”

“More so than I could have ever imagined.” Hook laughed. “I wonder if this is how you felt when you were outcast by your uncle.”

“Indeed…though the difference is that I had no trouble rallying together an army prepared to fight for me. You are struggling to maintain yours.” Hook frowned and stared into the deep red wine in her goblet, losing herself in the statement.

“Is it that obvious?” She asked. Rajan nodded his head and leaned back, speaking in a soft growl so they couldn’t be overheard.

“They are afraid…and doubting. I suspect your own self confidence was robbed of you when you were betrayed.” He muttered.

“You’re right.” Hook replied. “I do feel shaken. But my crew isn’t sure how to handle all this. Only a few months ago, they were all soldiers in the Galactic Exploratory Fleet…now they’re pirates, on the run because their foolish captain failed to see what his friend had become.”

“It’s not your fault, Hook…it’s Peter’s.” Rajan answered. “Though, to be honest…I’m not all that surprised by his mutiny.” At this, Hook looked up at Rajan, surprised.

“You aren’t?”

“When news reached us of your supposed mutiny, and the heroism of Peter in defeating you, I immediately knew that it was a lie. I knew you would never do something like that.”

“And what makes you so sure that Peter was the traitor? I was honestly surprised you welcomed us so readily and without reservation.” Hook asked curiously. At this Rajan stroked his chin in thought, as if he were trying to figure out what he wanted to say and how to best word it.

“Are you familiar with the phrase ‘The world is an oyster, and you must find the pearl?’” He asked.

“Of course.”

“I find this phrase foolish.” Rajan growled. “An oyster is an ugly thing, and the pearl is the only bit of beauty within it. How quickly is the oyster cast aside when the pearl is removed? Would one really be so callous as to throw away the world for the sake of the treasure it offers? In my eyes, the world itself is a treasure, and the finding of your personal treasure is a reward in of itself." He laughed. "Does that make sense?"

"In an odd way, I understand it...but I fail to see how this relates." Hook admitted.

"Well, that is the question that Peter has asked and answered for himself. He tossed aside the galaxy, his friendships, and his allegiance, all because he discovered what he thought was, beyond a doubt, his treasure.” Rajan drank from his goblet, and then scratched his chest.

“But, as I recall…he was always that kind of man. Back when we began our planning to retake the throne from my uncle, his suggestion was to launch a full offensive on the city, despite the number of casualties that would cause. True, his method was a very straight forward and clear one, and we likely would have won with minimal effort, seeing as my uncle had so little military support from the citizens or the kingdom…but such an act would have caused such loss, the victory would have been practically meaningless.” Hook thought back on that time and nodded her head. He was right…and how blind she had been not to notice it then. Peter had always been a tenacious and strong willed person. Hook had admired that about him; a man who knew what he wanted and would go after it with all his vigor. But now? Now that admirable quality had been the undoing of them all.

“What a fool I am…to have no foreseen this.”

“You just underwent a horrible transformation into a foreign body…I think you can be forgiven one slip up.” Rajan chuckled. Hook smiled sheepishly and drank from the cool, sweet wine. She pursed her lip at the strong aftertaste, and sighed. The alcohol on Felynnus was strong…she had to be careful not to overindulge. Though from the look of her crew, it was already far too late for them, as they were dancing, singing, and nearly stripping in drunken glee. Hook groaned and rubbed her head.

“I apologize for their behavior.”

“Nonsense…a bit of fun never hurt anyone. Just so long as they keep the fun in their pants, right?” Rajan laughed. Hook blushed at the notion and Rajan quickly frowned. “Forgive me…I didn’t mean to offend you…I know your new form must be-”

“No, don’t apologize. It’s alright.” Hook assured him. “In truth, these last few months have allowed me to grow more used to this body. What hurts the most is…what this body means.” And her thoughts, once again, turned to home. To Emily. 

"And what does it mean, my friend?" Rajan asked, sipping his own wine.

"...That I can't go back to the one I love. Not without awkward reception." Hook whispered darkly.

“You mentioned once before you had a wife back home…is that still the case?” Rajan asked. Hook nodded her head. “What does she say about all this?”

“I dare not make contact with her. If the fleet intercepts my message, they’ll know what quadrant I’m in. I can’t risk my crew…nor can I risk her life. She can’t be seen consorting with a pirate.”

“Understandable…but then what do you plan to do?” Rajan asked. “After you leave our planet, what will be your goal, if not to find her again?”

“I will find Peter, get my revenge for what he’s done, and then…once my name is cleared, return home to my wife and family.” Hook snapped. Rajan’s eyes narrowed and he growled as he stirred the wine in his goblet.

“I would not have expected such a myopic plan from you, Hook.” He replied. “You do realize that killing Peter solves nothing, right?” Hook didn’t answer, but simply glared downward, absorbing the answer. “You kill Peter, and all it will be is just another pirate killing a Fleet Admiral. You’ll gain a higher bounty and you’ll be on the run again.”

“My crew craves blood.”

“And you are their captain. Show them the right course of action.”

“The addition of breasts on my chest, and the subtraction of my manhood has equated to a great lack of respect for my authority.” Hook argued.

“Is that an excuse?” Rajan snarled. “Remind them of your authority. Show them your will. You are not as weak as they assume you are.” Hook drank further from her goblet and nodded her head, smiling despite the hopelessness of her scenario.

“Fair enough…so what do you propose I do?”

“Find a way to clear your name…a way to prove Peter’s true motives and nature.” Rajan replied. “Just don’t ask me how yet…that is a very difficult quest for you to partake in, and I confess, I don’t think I’d know what to do to be successful.” He downed the rest of his wine. “But then again, I’m not the infamous Captain Christopher Hook, now am I?” Hook laughed and raised her goblet in a toast, clanking her goblet with his.

“You’re a good man, Rajan…and thank you for opening your home to us.” Hook smiled. Rajan nodded his head politely.

“What else could I do, my friend. I pray you find a way to return to your old self.” He added. “Speaking to you in this way is most difficult.”

“Because I’m a woman?”

“Because even a blind man would you find you attractive.” Rajan winked. Hook rolled her eyes and went back to her drink.

"You really are an old fool."

“Excuse me, your highness?” A panther folk stepped forward, holding a pitcher, giving a deep bow. “May I offer more wine?”

“Please!” Rajan laughed, holding out his goblet.

“For you, Captain?”

“I’m fine, thanks.”

“I insist!” Rajan laughed. “Come Captain, there’s no need to be shy on my account.”

“HEY CAPTAIN!” One of the crewmen stood up, a little red faced from drinking. “DON’T GET A SOFT STOMACH ON US NOW!”

“Yeah! You could drink any bar fly under the table!”

“Th-that was a long time ago!” Hook blushed, thinking back to his younger days when he was a man. It was true...few taverns could contain his lust for liquor. But he'd tried to quit that habit a long time ago.

“Show these felines how much alcohol you can handle, boss!” Another crewman shouted. Hook flushed and stood up furiously to silence them, but felt a large paw like hand grip her shoulder.

“You were just saying how you want to earn back their respect…maybe this is a good way to start.” Rajan stood and raised up his goblet. “Let’s see if the good Captain can hold her liquor with us felines!” Several feline folk stood and roared their approval as Hook sheepishly entered the center of the room with no less than 9 other felines. The crew were all cheering and hollering, placing bets and holding out money to each other. This was unbecoming of officers in the Fleet…but for pirates, this was likely a common sight. Hook, with a sigh of defeat, and a chuckle, raised her glass to the sky.

“Let’s take these cats to town, boys!” She cried.

That night, the Felynne kingdom was filled with the sounds of laughter, dining, and drinking.