Emma was still a bit shaken by her realization, but the thought of this girl being a predator to something that had preyed on some of her kin was comforting. As long as she didn't think about the prospect of Maulie skipping the shark and moving right on down the food chain.

"Yes, yes," she bubbled over, nodding enthusiastically at Maulie's understanding, "Just like bringing back your first egg. That is why I cannot go home yet and I am having an adventure instead." The young woman arched her back, stretching her hands up over her head. "I liked the thought of going on an adventure, but it is hard work. I will have many stories to tell. My family loves stories."

"My family is stupid," the girl intimated, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hand. "Only want to eat stupid same food and maybe make babies." She shuddered a bit at that. "Maulie had a apple. And so Maulie goes out from swamp and tries many new foods." She swung her feet a little more, "Maybe lots of work. But work is good so adventure is not stopped."

She frowned a little to herself. Yes, she would have to talk to smart-rats.

"Did Emma-parents do adventure, too?"

Emma shook her head, sighing. "I am the first of my family to go," she answered, then backtracked, "but many others have had to do the same. It does not happen very often."

She regarded the shark-eater with laughing eyes. "I am sure your family is not stupid for wanting to eat the same things," said Emma, laughing a bit. "They are happy, aren't they? If they are doing what they know makes them happy... how can they be stupid?"

"Hm." Maulie shrugged a little, "Family only want small little place and then make Maulie make babies." The girl looked over at Emma, "When you make babies, always you un-eat." The very idea made her go a little paler. "Maybe family is happy. Maulie not go back. Maybe if Maulie can find big new place for them. With better food."

"So why you have to? It is good, yes, but not nice to make it happen." Maulie smiled as sympathetically as she could and, as if it was something she'd seen someone do once and had been eager to try it herself, she patted Emma on the shoulder.

"Some people like to take things," said Emma, speaking very slowly and carefully choosing her words, "from us. Important things. Most times we can protect what is important to us, but sometimes someone is very sneaky and takes something that isn't his. And then someone from the family has to go find it. It was my job to protect this very important thing, but now it is gone. I am on an adventure to find it and bring it back, but I have been looking for a long time and I am not sure where to go next, so I am trying to go everywhere."

She paused, looking to Maulie to see if this was an adequate explanation.

"A stealer!" she gasped before frowning and nodding. "If things is stolen in the Swamp, there is much looking and angryness at the stealer." Maulie made a determined sort of face, "You must find the stealer and take back. Or stealer will have time to eat it and that will be very bad for you." She smiled a bit. "What it look like? Maybe Maulie can help?"

Emma chuckled darkly. "No, Maulie, I am not afraid he will eat it," she assured the girl. "I have to do this adventure alone. It is what my family wants. I might be able to go on the duck-hunting adventure with you, however." The young woman grinned, showing a mouth over-full with perfect white teeth. "I haven't had a duck dinner since I left the island."

Maulie nodded solemnly, having learned a thing or two about what people had to do alone in her time away from the Swamp. "Maulie will keep smelling for something just in case," she said with a smile.

"And yes. We will! Duck is not too big for many to fight down."

"Good neighbor," said Emma, moving to stand. "And I will repay you by helping you eat the duck. I will report to my post and ask how much longer we will be remaining in port. Meet you back down here?" she asked, bending to adjust her now-soaked trousers.

"Yes," she said with a grin, "Maulie will be around here much. Will get on boat, too. Sail again!"