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Fandom One Piece: Setting Sail for Paradise 1x1
- Thread starter Craftsdwarf
- Start date
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
The dirt path taking Hoshiya into the small village, it was fixed with an eerie stillness. While the buildings had a familiar style in lumber (though lacking in paint), architecture style fitting in with the nearby islands like Black Star or Tuol Skear, each and every home was completely abandoned. The innards had already been pillaged, furniture and goods left in disarray, food long gone. While the grassland wasn’t exactly rich in trees, those nearest to the town by a few miles had been hewn down long ago, the stumps still lingering in many places. In others they’d been moved aside, unkempt farmland left in its place, rife with unwanted plants in its abandonment, the exposed dirt left dry. Further on the outskirts where bones, bleached in the sun, piles of them. Wildebeest and buffalo predominately, but they were just the majority in a variety and shapes and sizes among the decay. Lion, elephant, rhino, the latter two without fail missing their horns or tusks. And yet, not a single human corpse was there, just the marks of weapons, be they shattered spears, arrowheads, or bullet holes left lingering in the wreck. The only signs of anything alive beyond the scavengers was a plume of smoke even further to the north.
Roughly an hour or so after Hoshiya left Avalon under the beating sun, a pair of feet pattered their way up to the small boat left at the abandoned dockside. A shadow cast over him, the man still refusing to wake, the occasional groan escaping him in his sleep. A smile came to the shadow’s figure, each of their teeth razor sharp, like that of a beast.
-----
Roughly an hour or so after Hoshiya left Avalon under the beating sun, a pair of feet pattered their way up to the small boat left at the abandoned dockside. A shadow cast over him, the man still refusing to wake, the occasional groan escaping him in his sleep. A smile came to the shadow’s figure, each of their teeth razor sharp, like that of a beast.
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takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
Hoshiya’s path took him across the savanna plains, through the long stretches of grass, gradually taking him through areas less cultivated. The scattered acacia and marula trees stretched wide, but none could eclipse the distant smoke. The animals became a bit more prevalent as well, vultures circling a former hunting ground, or tracks of an elephant’s passing marking the way.
Eventually, human structures came into view: huts of wood, stick, and straw built, perhaps something like mud or clay as well. The glistening of a river was visible in the distance, but even closer were the movements of people, carting food or water as children played. The smell of cooking meats and roasting vegetables came from a large fire in the middle of the village, burning strong and brightly.
The first to catch notice of Hoshiya came not from the village, but from behind. A nearby tree rustling, a broad figure touched down. Standing a head above Hoshiya, hair dark and short, skin a pale tan, his bare arms and chest were muscular and inked with tattoos, dark rings matching the contours of his muscles, wispy trails of dark blue linking them together. A leather skirt layered with an animal hide dyed in blue covered his lower torso, his bare feet jangling with beads and bracelets about the ankles. One of his eyes was closed forever, several blade scars marking both his eyelid and face.
Leaning over Hoshiya, the man’s lips hung open as he observed, his teeth showing, each one of the fangs sharp. “Oh~ Pretty brazen for an outsider.” Flashing a keen grin, he remarked, “Swords are for making war, you know.” His voice reverberated, those in the village nearest to them starting to shift their attention.
Met with an unfamiliar ceiling of packed dirt, Avalon rustled in his spot, the wooden bedstead shifting. He felt fresh air on all his wounds, the bandages missing. As his hand fished around, he didn’t find blood, instead finding an off-white oily salve. “What the fuck.”
“Iyahyah!” came a gasp of fright. Avalon glanced over to see a form bouncing up in the sunlight coming from the opening of the underground space. Feet bare, skin dark like, tree bark, shortish hair more of an orange shade, the teen girl’s sharp teeth flashed. Over her back was the pelt of a red furred lioness, worn like a mantle or cape. Underneath she had a skirt and top of leather and hide, her arms and midriff left bare. “Ohwow!” she gasped again, reaching down to catch the roller, coated with herbs and oils before it fell out of the boat shaped bowl it was being used with. “Don’t touch that stuff! It’s keepin’ you from bleedin’ to death!”
What blood he had left rushing from his head in his sudden movement, he let out another groan and flopped back. The girl clamored to the bedside. “You need food? Water? You had some with you...well, I might have eaten one of the fruits. And the ones that tasted like dirt I left on your boat but-”
“Where am I? And where’s Hoshiya?”
“Oh! I’ve heard outsiders call this place Sunscar Island! My name’s Lyna, by the way. What’s a Hoshiya? Is it there any on your boat?”
Avalon sighed. “Probably not...”
Eventually, human structures came into view: huts of wood, stick, and straw built, perhaps something like mud or clay as well. The glistening of a river was visible in the distance, but even closer were the movements of people, carting food or water as children played. The smell of cooking meats and roasting vegetables came from a large fire in the middle of the village, burning strong and brightly.
The first to catch notice of Hoshiya came not from the village, but from behind. A nearby tree rustling, a broad figure touched down. Standing a head above Hoshiya, hair dark and short, skin a pale tan, his bare arms and chest were muscular and inked with tattoos, dark rings matching the contours of his muscles, wispy trails of dark blue linking them together. A leather skirt layered with an animal hide dyed in blue covered his lower torso, his bare feet jangling with beads and bracelets about the ankles. One of his eyes was closed forever, several blade scars marking both his eyelid and face.
Leaning over Hoshiya, the man’s lips hung open as he observed, his teeth showing, each one of the fangs sharp. “Oh~ Pretty brazen for an outsider.” Flashing a keen grin, he remarked, “Swords are for making war, you know.” His voice reverberated, those in the village nearest to them starting to shift their attention.
-----
Met with an unfamiliar ceiling of packed dirt, Avalon rustled in his spot, the wooden bedstead shifting. He felt fresh air on all his wounds, the bandages missing. As his hand fished around, he didn’t find blood, instead finding an off-white oily salve. “What the fuck.”
“Iyahyah!” came a gasp of fright. Avalon glanced over to see a form bouncing up in the sunlight coming from the opening of the underground space. Feet bare, skin dark like, tree bark, shortish hair more of an orange shade, the teen girl’s sharp teeth flashed. Over her back was the pelt of a red furred lioness, worn like a mantle or cape. Underneath she had a skirt and top of leather and hide, her arms and midriff left bare. “Ohwow!” she gasped again, reaching down to catch the roller, coated with herbs and oils before it fell out of the boat shaped bowl it was being used with. “Don’t touch that stuff! It’s keepin’ you from bleedin’ to death!”
What blood he had left rushing from his head in his sudden movement, he let out another groan and flopped back. The girl clamored to the bedside. “You need food? Water? You had some with you...well, I might have eaten one of the fruits. And the ones that tasted like dirt I left on your boat but-”
“Where am I? And where’s Hoshiya?”
“Oh! I’ve heard outsiders call this place Sunscar Island! My name’s Lyna, by the way. What’s a Hoshiya? Is it there any on your boat?”
Avalon sighed. “Probably not...”
takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
The man’s eye flickered darkly, his sharp teeth showing through a grimace. “Oi oi oi oi oi, you’ve got something wrong there. That’s not our dock, that’s yours.” He started circling Hoshiya like a hunting cat. “You outsiders left it 15 years ago or so now. Well, that’s not right… They were chased off after they kept taking. They lied to our faces about wanting a good relationship, cuz they just kept taking behind our backs. They’d have eaten the whole island if we’d left them. Taking taking taking…” he ran a pair of fingers across his missing eye. “They took this from me too.” The man got right in Hoshiya’s face. “And here you come wanting to take even more!?” There was a harsh burst of killing intent, the man’s fists out like claws.
“Ringo! Enough!” The blaze was quashed with that one demand. Back at the edge of the village, a few dozen had congregated. Curious eyes, young children and men and women alike, some of the adults even brandishing weapons of their own. There seemed to be a correlation, with suspicion in the elderly with curiosity left to the young. And chief among them, a larger man with robes over his red skinned chest, beard full and spattered with the colors of salt and pepper, stood at the front, the teeth of the whole village not unlike Ringo’s razor maw. “It’s bad fortune to spill blood before a War Council,” claimed the village elder.
Ringo snapped, “It’s also against our laws to let outsiders on the island! We’re the ones who’ll be in trouble if we’re discovered, Chopi.”
Elder Chopi sighed, “That’s not incorrect.” Turning to Hoshiya, he requested, “We don’t have anything to offer you. Should you run afoul of the other tribes on the island, they’ll be even less receptive. You should leave at once, and seek help from your own people.”
Chomping down on an apple with his good arm, Avalon watched as Lyna applied more of her salve. “The first one was to seal the wound, this one should help the healing process along and prevent scarrin'. Probably.”
Avalon gagged on his food. “‘Probably?’”
Lyna gnashed her teeth, “Graaaah! I tested them before! They work! I just don’t know about the scarrin' part, I’ve never had a wound that bad.” Finishing her work, she went back to her workstation on the ground, cleaning up some of the ingredients and materials. “And I don’t have any of those bandages. What are they made of anyway? I always wondered but I never found anythin' like them. They’re kinda like hair but not.”
Avalon blinked, admitting, “Actually I don’t know either.”
Lyna pouted. Glancing back over to her things, she lit up, grabbing a book. Hopping over, she held it open for Avalon. “You can read this though, right?”
Avalon could see a few drawings and diagrams. It seemed to indicate some form of medicine making. Glancing between some of the plants in the drawing and some of the ones Lyna had handy, he saw similarities. But when it came to the words, he could only offer, “Nope, no can do.”
“Oh…” Lyna frowned. “Is it hard?”
“I dunno, I can’t read.”
“Ehhhhhh!?”
Avalon’s cheeks would have flushed a little red had he blood to spare. “It’s not my fault!” Leaning back, he said, “Never had anyone to teach me.”
Lyna looked over at the book again. “No one here knows how…”
Avalon blinked, realizing, “Wait, you made that medicine without even knowing how to read the book?”
Lyna’s cheeks puffed up. “Well, yeah, but I had to do a bunch of trial and error. It was really hard!”
A glimmer of recognition in his eyes, Avalon said, “Yeah, that sounds rough.”
“Ringo! Enough!” The blaze was quashed with that one demand. Back at the edge of the village, a few dozen had congregated. Curious eyes, young children and men and women alike, some of the adults even brandishing weapons of their own. There seemed to be a correlation, with suspicion in the elderly with curiosity left to the young. And chief among them, a larger man with robes over his red skinned chest, beard full and spattered with the colors of salt and pepper, stood at the front, the teeth of the whole village not unlike Ringo’s razor maw. “It’s bad fortune to spill blood before a War Council,” claimed the village elder.
Ringo snapped, “It’s also against our laws to let outsiders on the island! We’re the ones who’ll be in trouble if we’re discovered, Chopi.”
Elder Chopi sighed, “That’s not incorrect.” Turning to Hoshiya, he requested, “We don’t have anything to offer you. Should you run afoul of the other tribes on the island, they’ll be even less receptive. You should leave at once, and seek help from your own people.”
-----
Chomping down on an apple with his good arm, Avalon watched as Lyna applied more of her salve. “The first one was to seal the wound, this one should help the healing process along and prevent scarrin'. Probably.”
Avalon gagged on his food. “‘Probably?’”
Lyna gnashed her teeth, “Graaaah! I tested them before! They work! I just don’t know about the scarrin' part, I’ve never had a wound that bad.” Finishing her work, she went back to her workstation on the ground, cleaning up some of the ingredients and materials. “And I don’t have any of those bandages. What are they made of anyway? I always wondered but I never found anythin' like them. They’re kinda like hair but not.”
Avalon blinked, admitting, “Actually I don’t know either.”
Lyna pouted. Glancing back over to her things, she lit up, grabbing a book. Hopping over, she held it open for Avalon. “You can read this though, right?”
Avalon could see a few drawings and diagrams. It seemed to indicate some form of medicine making. Glancing between some of the plants in the drawing and some of the ones Lyna had handy, he saw similarities. But when it came to the words, he could only offer, “Nope, no can do.”
“Oh…” Lyna frowned. “Is it hard?”
“I dunno, I can’t read.”
“Ehhhhhh!?”
Avalon’s cheeks would have flushed a little red had he blood to spare. “It’s not my fault!” Leaning back, he said, “Never had anyone to teach me.”
Lyna looked over at the book again. “No one here knows how…”
Avalon blinked, realizing, “Wait, you made that medicine without even knowing how to read the book?”
Lyna’s cheeks puffed up. “Well, yeah, but I had to do a bunch of trial and error. It was really hard!”
A glimmer of recognition in his eyes, Avalon said, “Yeah, that sounds rough.”
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takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Last edited:
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
“So why are you helping me?” Avalon wondered.
Lyna sat down, crossing her legs. “Well, I’ve never met an outsider before. I thought lots of people were out adventurin', but we don’t get that many people.”
Avalon shrugged. “Well, we’re pretty far out of the way here. Not a lot of trade routes. Tuol Skear is the nearest kingdom, and it’s also one of the poorest in the South. It’s one bad year from becoming lawless land from what I hear. Black Star isn’t far off, but it’s a shithole. As for this place...I imagine people know about it, but if there’s no reason to come, they won’t come. There a lot of gold here?”
“That shiny stuff? Not really. We got a lot of animals though! You ever seen a Mega Lion? Or a Megaphant?”
“...Can you really just put ‘mega’ in front of animal names like that and call it a day?”
“They’re HUUUUGE. I heard the Big Folk Tribe lives in the former carcass of a Megaphant. There’s not very many of them, but still!”
“Not very many of which one?”
Lyna’s energy dropped. “Well, either. The Big Folk Tribe was hit the most back when the outsiders tried to settle. They caused a lot of problems for the environment here, we’re still strugglin' in some ways even now. Though that’s also because-”
Crossing through, into the opening of the hill where the footprints led, Hoshiya found his way inside. “GWAAAAAH!” Lyna yelped, hopping back to the corner of the room.
“Oh, Hoshiya!” Avalon called, waving a hand from his position on the bedstead.
Lyna sat down, crossing her legs. “Well, I’ve never met an outsider before. I thought lots of people were out adventurin', but we don’t get that many people.”
Avalon shrugged. “Well, we’re pretty far out of the way here. Not a lot of trade routes. Tuol Skear is the nearest kingdom, and it’s also one of the poorest in the South. It’s one bad year from becoming lawless land from what I hear. Black Star isn’t far off, but it’s a shithole. As for this place...I imagine people know about it, but if there’s no reason to come, they won’t come. There a lot of gold here?”
“That shiny stuff? Not really. We got a lot of animals though! You ever seen a Mega Lion? Or a Megaphant?”
“...Can you really just put ‘mega’ in front of animal names like that and call it a day?”
“They’re HUUUUGE. I heard the Big Folk Tribe lives in the former carcass of a Megaphant. There’s not very many of them, but still!”
“Not very many of which one?”
Lyna’s energy dropped. “Well, either. The Big Folk Tribe was hit the most back when the outsiders tried to settle. They caused a lot of problems for the environment here, we’re still strugglin' in some ways even now. Though that’s also because-”
Crossing through, into the opening of the hill where the footprints led, Hoshiya found his way inside. “GWAAAAAH!” Lyna yelped, hopping back to the corner of the room.
“Oh, Hoshiya!” Avalon called, waving a hand from his position on the bedstead.
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takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
Lyna relaxed a bit when Hoshiya’s blade went back into its sheathe, but Avalon didn’t blink. “Gotta leave already? I was hoping we could get some time to rest our legs, I’ve kinda had a nonstop shitshow since, uh...what day is it?”
“Wait, you’re leavin’?” Lyna gasped. Glancing between Hoshiya and Avalon, she muttered, “Y-you can’t leave yet, you haven’t paid me back for treatin’ you!”
Avalon shrugged. “I mean, to be honest, I didn’t ask in the first place. I appreciate it though.”
Lyna’s jaw dropped, every one of her chompers on full display. “You’re evil!”
Avalon remarked, “Besides, we can’t stay, weren’t you listening?” Lyna huffed and puffed before storming out the entryway.
Trying to get up, Avalon said, “Er, gimme a second.” Dragging himself across the bedstead, he puffed up his cheeks as he took a deep breath. Throwing his feet over the side and to the floor, he let out a deep grunt as he stood. “Oh yeah, that’s gonna be rough for a while, but I’ll live. Let’s get.” Taking note of Hoshiya’s sleep deprived condition, he observed, “...Is it me or do you look a little out of it?”
“Wait, you’re leavin’?” Lyna gasped. Glancing between Hoshiya and Avalon, she muttered, “Y-you can’t leave yet, you haven’t paid me back for treatin’ you!”
Avalon shrugged. “I mean, to be honest, I didn’t ask in the first place. I appreciate it though.”
Lyna’s jaw dropped, every one of her chompers on full display. “You’re evil!”
Avalon remarked, “Besides, we can’t stay, weren’t you listening?” Lyna huffed and puffed before storming out the entryway.
Trying to get up, Avalon said, “Er, gimme a second.” Dragging himself across the bedstead, he puffed up his cheeks as he took a deep breath. Throwing his feet over the side and to the floor, he let out a deep grunt as he stood. “Oh yeah, that’s gonna be rough for a while, but I’ll live. Let’s get.” Taking note of Hoshiya’s sleep deprived condition, he observed, “...Is it me or do you look a little out of it?”
takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
“Huh? Wha?” Avalon blubbered as Hoshiya’s condition deteriorated further. “Wait...have you not slept in three days!?”
Locking arms at the shoulder, Avalon and Hoshiya supported one another as they headed back to the dock, not imposing on Lyna any more than they had to. “Let’s get to the boat and we’ll figure everything out. We’re gonna need more food and water too, huh?”
It took a fair bit of time, but when they returned to their small boat, they weren’t alone. The boat had been pulled up onto the shore. Lyna wasn’t even trying to hide. As they got closer, she spoke before Avalon could ask what was going on. “Ah! Oh no~ It looks like when you guys docked you hit some rocks, you’ll need some repairs first.” Sure enough, there was a gash in the wooden hull, an open invitation for the ocean to board.
“What the hell!?” Avalon barked. Hoshiya slipped from his grasp as he stepped forward suddenly, the exhausted man collapsing to the sand.
“How could this have happened?” Lyna mused.
Locking arms at the shoulder, Avalon and Hoshiya supported one another as they headed back to the dock, not imposing on Lyna any more than they had to. “Let’s get to the boat and we’ll figure everything out. We’re gonna need more food and water too, huh?”
It took a fair bit of time, but when they returned to their small boat, they weren’t alone. The boat had been pulled up onto the shore. Lyna wasn’t even trying to hide. As they got closer, she spoke before Avalon could ask what was going on. “Ah! Oh no~ It looks like when you guys docked you hit some rocks, you’ll need some repairs first.” Sure enough, there was a gash in the wooden hull, an open invitation for the ocean to board.
“What the hell!?” Avalon barked. Hoshiya slipped from his grasp as he stepped forward suddenly, the exhausted man collapsing to the sand.
“How could this have happened?” Lyna mused.
takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
Avalon stared blankly at Hoshiya. “Uh...you’re kidding right?” Lyna looked to the side, averting her gaze. “SHE DID IT!”
Lyna gaped. “Did not! You’re lyin’!”
There was a rumble from Avalon’s throat. “What the hell are we supposed to do now? Weren’t we getting kicked off this place? It's not like we can fight them in our state.”
Lyna’s hands fluttered as she explained, “Well, if we go and explain it to the rest of the tribe I’m sure it’ll all work out!”
“WHAT KIND OF FAIRY TALE WORLD DO YOU THINK THIS IS!?”
“Oh, getting aggressive, now?” came a voice from the treeline. Avalon and Lyna titled their heads to see Ringo's lax posture and bold tattoos.
“Who are you?” Avalon snarled.
Ringo ignored him, moving past the two pirates to Lyna’s side. Seeing the gash in the boat, he noted, “Oh, they’re stuck here now. I guess they should be killed for antagonizing one of our own, even if she’s an outcast.” Flashing an eye to Avalon, he added, "You admitted that you'd fight us if you could."
Lyna’s dark skin went a bit paler. “N-no!” There was a rush of motion, Ringo kicking back, Lyna hurtling back and splashing into the tides. Avalon reached for his chain, but the bolt was empty, nothing having replaced its original cannonball.
Lyna gaped. “Did not! You’re lyin’!”
There was a rumble from Avalon’s throat. “What the hell are we supposed to do now? Weren’t we getting kicked off this place? It's not like we can fight them in our state.”
Lyna’s hands fluttered as she explained, “Well, if we go and explain it to the rest of the tribe I’m sure it’ll all work out!”
“WHAT KIND OF FAIRY TALE WORLD DO YOU THINK THIS IS!?”
“Oh, getting aggressive, now?” came a voice from the treeline. Avalon and Lyna titled their heads to see Ringo's lax posture and bold tattoos.
“Who are you?” Avalon snarled.
Ringo ignored him, moving past the two pirates to Lyna’s side. Seeing the gash in the boat, he noted, “Oh, they’re stuck here now. I guess they should be killed for antagonizing one of our own, even if she’s an outcast.” Flashing an eye to Avalon, he added, "You admitted that you'd fight us if you could."
Lyna’s dark skin went a bit paler. “N-no!” There was a rush of motion, Ringo kicking back, Lyna hurtling back and splashing into the tides. Avalon reached for his chain, but the bolt was empty, nothing having replaced its original cannonball.
takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
Ringo’s arm flashed, the man drawing a pair of short spears, lightly concealed under his hide and leather. But the sound deflecting Hoshiya’s blade wasn’t of those bone tips, but metal. An axe held against the sword, Lyna standing in between the two, her waterlogged lioness hide left in the shallows, her hand brandishing a second, matching one, the steel glinting in the sunlight. Ringo sneered.
Lyna had a desperation in her eyes. “Please, leave him to me. If you fight, he wins, even if you beat him.”
Ringo raised his arm, smashing his elbow into Lyna’s face. As she buckled, he kicked out, knocking her away. “Are you joking?” Lyna got back to one knee, hacking a glob of blood from her mouth with a defiant look. “I’m the strongest warrior in the Sharp Jaw Tribe. Or did you not know, since you’ve been gone for the last 5 years? What’s a runaway like you going to do with a couple of weapons made by outsiders? If metal was all that mattered then we wouldn’t have been able to chase them off!” His cry was punctuated with a thrust of his weapon, Lyna gaining a scratch on the cheek as she barely dodged. Flipping the grip on her axe, she swung it backhanded, Ringo ducking as the blade sailed over his head. The strike went exactly where it intended, carving right through the wood shaft of one of Ringo’s spears.
Sending out a quick jab with his other spear that went wide, Ringo retreated, backing off. Lyna stepped forward slowly, both axes out to the side. “Metal is strong, right? And we don’t know how to make it. That’s somethin’ we could learn from the outsiders.”
Ringo glared out of his lone eye. “You’re just a child who has no memory of losing anything to those bastards! The more we see of them the more chances we have to lose!” Ringo stomped forward, as did Lyna. He suddenly stopped his charge, kicking sand upward, Lyna taking a dusting right to the face. His remaining spear struck through her bicep. Coughing away the cloud of sand, Lyna flexed her muscle, Ringo unable to remove his weapon as the flesh tensed around it. Her mouth opened and she bit down onto Ringo’s shoulder, the man crying out as the two collapsed.
Lyna pulled back, once again spitting blood from her mouth. Yanking the spear out of her arm, she tossed it aside as Ringo sat up, anger rising. “I learned how to do that to keep snakes from strikin’ more than once.” Running her thumb across her mouth, she held up a spattering of Ringo’s blood. “And I did that because I wanted to remind you that we’re still comrades. Our blood’s mixed together. We don’t have to let the outsiders take from us, but why can’t we take from them? Just like we take knowledge from our land, and each other?”
Ringo hopped to his feet, hissing, “We’re one with each other, and our home, even through predation and prey. There’s more of those outsiders than there are stars in the sky! If we become one with them we’ll be swallowed up, one way or another! Now strike me down like the wannabe outsider that you are!”
Lyna’s expression didn’t change, her determination clear. She lobbed, one of her axes landing at Ringo’s feet. He flashed his teeth in derision, before picking up the weapon. Feeling it out, he waved it back and forth, then flipped it about, catching it by the handle with no fear. “Then I’ll show you...who’s stronger,” Lyna claimed
Ringo let a manic glee overtake him. “Not in a million years!” Like a jaguar, he pounced, axe in both hands. Lyna met his strike, the metal implements ringing out like a bell. Meters away, birds fluttered off as they fled the sounds of war. Metal flecked from both axes, and they planted their feet to launch another mutual strike. Ringo’s blade went a bit high, its arc not quite able to reach Lyna, while her axe struck the lowest part of the metal head, the lower curve just above the wooden handle. Like a ball hit by a stick, Ringo’s axe was flung out of hands, twirling away and digging into a tree, sticking like glue, the shaft reverberating from the two impacts. Ringo’s hands shook, but still he pulled back and launched a fist, striking in desperation. Lyna shifted her axe to the arm that had been stabbed earlier, launched her other fist forward, their knuckles meeting. Once again, Ringo buckled, his arm flying back, disbelief passing over him. Huh? How...how can she be stronger than me!? His axe strike earlier had gone wide for his hesitation, his inability to so easily strike down a young kinsman, but for this exchange, he had no excuse. His mind flashed with scenes of his spars with fellow warriors, his equal among them nonexistent. Even so, his defeats against the other tribes were crushing. A problem posed without an answer. He couldn’t visualize Lyna’s constant battles against the wildlife, against herself.
Avalon had his own observation, speaking more to himself than to Hoshiya. “Yeah...I thought so. When you’re alone and you don’t have anyone else to rely on, you have to get strong.” A dark look crossed his face, his arms crossing across his chest. “Not half bad.”
Lyna brandished her axe. Ringo stood his ground. “FINE, YOU WIN! FINISH IT!”
“I’m not gonna kill you,” Lyna remarked casually.
“Then-” Ringo’s words were interrupted as Lyna’s axe came down. His eyes bulged as blood erupted from his chest. Avalon felt his jaw drop. Ringo fell down, his consciousness gone.
Wiping beads of sweat and specks of blood off her forehead, Lyna pulled out a leaf wrapped poultice of the same salve applied to Avalon earlier. “I can just put you back together again! Neeheeheehee!” Her toothy smile seemed to capture rays straight from the sun.
Lyna had a desperation in her eyes. “Please, leave him to me. If you fight, he wins, even if you beat him.”
Ringo raised his arm, smashing his elbow into Lyna’s face. As she buckled, he kicked out, knocking her away. “Are you joking?” Lyna got back to one knee, hacking a glob of blood from her mouth with a defiant look. “I’m the strongest warrior in the Sharp Jaw Tribe. Or did you not know, since you’ve been gone for the last 5 years? What’s a runaway like you going to do with a couple of weapons made by outsiders? If metal was all that mattered then we wouldn’t have been able to chase them off!” His cry was punctuated with a thrust of his weapon, Lyna gaining a scratch on the cheek as she barely dodged. Flipping the grip on her axe, she swung it backhanded, Ringo ducking as the blade sailed over his head. The strike went exactly where it intended, carving right through the wood shaft of one of Ringo’s spears.
Sending out a quick jab with his other spear that went wide, Ringo retreated, backing off. Lyna stepped forward slowly, both axes out to the side. “Metal is strong, right? And we don’t know how to make it. That’s somethin’ we could learn from the outsiders.”
Ringo glared out of his lone eye. “You’re just a child who has no memory of losing anything to those bastards! The more we see of them the more chances we have to lose!” Ringo stomped forward, as did Lyna. He suddenly stopped his charge, kicking sand upward, Lyna taking a dusting right to the face. His remaining spear struck through her bicep. Coughing away the cloud of sand, Lyna flexed her muscle, Ringo unable to remove his weapon as the flesh tensed around it. Her mouth opened and she bit down onto Ringo’s shoulder, the man crying out as the two collapsed.
Lyna pulled back, once again spitting blood from her mouth. Yanking the spear out of her arm, she tossed it aside as Ringo sat up, anger rising. “I learned how to do that to keep snakes from strikin’ more than once.” Running her thumb across her mouth, she held up a spattering of Ringo’s blood. “And I did that because I wanted to remind you that we’re still comrades. Our blood’s mixed together. We don’t have to let the outsiders take from us, but why can’t we take from them? Just like we take knowledge from our land, and each other?”
Ringo hopped to his feet, hissing, “We’re one with each other, and our home, even through predation and prey. There’s more of those outsiders than there are stars in the sky! If we become one with them we’ll be swallowed up, one way or another! Now strike me down like the wannabe outsider that you are!”
Lyna’s expression didn’t change, her determination clear. She lobbed, one of her axes landing at Ringo’s feet. He flashed his teeth in derision, before picking up the weapon. Feeling it out, he waved it back and forth, then flipped it about, catching it by the handle with no fear. “Then I’ll show you...who’s stronger,” Lyna claimed
Ringo let a manic glee overtake him. “Not in a million years!” Like a jaguar, he pounced, axe in both hands. Lyna met his strike, the metal implements ringing out like a bell. Meters away, birds fluttered off as they fled the sounds of war. Metal flecked from both axes, and they planted their feet to launch another mutual strike. Ringo’s blade went a bit high, its arc not quite able to reach Lyna, while her axe struck the lowest part of the metal head, the lower curve just above the wooden handle. Like a ball hit by a stick, Ringo’s axe was flung out of hands, twirling away and digging into a tree, sticking like glue, the shaft reverberating from the two impacts. Ringo’s hands shook, but still he pulled back and launched a fist, striking in desperation. Lyna shifted her axe to the arm that had been stabbed earlier, launched her other fist forward, their knuckles meeting. Once again, Ringo buckled, his arm flying back, disbelief passing over him. Huh? How...how can she be stronger than me!? His axe strike earlier had gone wide for his hesitation, his inability to so easily strike down a young kinsman, but for this exchange, he had no excuse. His mind flashed with scenes of his spars with fellow warriors, his equal among them nonexistent. Even so, his defeats against the other tribes were crushing. A problem posed without an answer. He couldn’t visualize Lyna’s constant battles against the wildlife, against herself.
Avalon had his own observation, speaking more to himself than to Hoshiya. “Yeah...I thought so. When you’re alone and you don’t have anyone else to rely on, you have to get strong.” A dark look crossed his face, his arms crossing across his chest. “Not half bad.”
Lyna brandished her axe. Ringo stood his ground. “FINE, YOU WIN! FINISH IT!”
“I’m not gonna kill you,” Lyna remarked casually.
“Then-” Ringo’s words were interrupted as Lyna’s axe came down. His eyes bulged as blood erupted from his chest. Avalon felt his jaw drop. Ringo fell down, his consciousness gone.
Wiping beads of sweat and specks of blood off her forehead, Lyna pulled out a leaf wrapped poultice of the same salve applied to Avalon earlier. “I can just put you back together again! Neeheeheehee!” Her toothy smile seemed to capture rays straight from the sun.
takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
Avalon balked at Hoshiya’s words, wincing, “Well she does have those teeth, but…” Scratching his head, he was clearly not sure what to think. Lyna was busy with her treatment, caking the wound in her salve, the blood flow stopped. Dragging him under the shade of the closest tree, she didn’t even get the chance to speak before Avalon roared, “What gives, huh? That was our ship!”
“W-well, it’s like this...I need your help! The whole island does!”
“Like I give a shit! Even if you’re tribe didn’t want us here, I don’t want to be here either! I’m a pirate! I’ve got better places to be.”
Lyna put her fists up, “If you want somethin’ we can give it to you!”
Avalon huffed. “Fine, then make this place a paradise.” Snapping his fingers, he snipped, “Chop chop.”
Lyna’s arms fell to her side. She muttered, “The foreigners who were here before, the ones who killed my parents...I heard that’s what they were trying to do. They wanted to make a paradise for themselves…”
Scratching his head, Avalon took a few steps away, heading back to the boat. “Rough luck then.” Lyna stood by, looking between Hoshiya and Avalon helplessly.
“W-well, it’s like this...I need your help! The whole island does!”
“Like I give a shit! Even if you’re tribe didn’t want us here, I don’t want to be here either! I’m a pirate! I’ve got better places to be.”
Lyna put her fists up, “If you want somethin’ we can give it to you!”
Avalon huffed. “Fine, then make this place a paradise.” Snapping his fingers, he snipped, “Chop chop.”
Lyna’s arms fell to her side. She muttered, “The foreigners who were here before, the ones who killed my parents...I heard that’s what they were trying to do. They wanted to make a paradise for themselves…”
Scratching his head, Avalon took a few steps away, heading back to the boat. “Rough luck then.” Lyna stood by, looking between Hoshiya and Avalon helplessly.
takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
Lyna crossed her arms, head titled as she mulled over Hoshiya’s proposition. Avalon grumbled, “Well, I guess that’d be fine.”
Lyna seemed to grow more and more concerned. “The first one is easy, but...I don’t have enough food for that. I got a compass lyin’ around somewhere-”
“Don’t tell them that!” came a pained call. Letting out a groan, Ringo slumped to his side, having tried to stand but managing it very badly. Ringo insisted, “They’ll just steal it and go.”
“Our boat’s busted, asshole.”
Lyna tapped her fingertips together. “And I dunno how to fix it either, we don’t have any boats on the island.”
Ringo growled, “Fuck.” A few moments of standstill passed, an impasse reached. “...Dammit, I think we have to talk to Chopi about it.”
Lyna lit up, Avalon shaking his head in derision, but offering no words in counter. Running to grab her lioness pelt, she shook out as much seawater as she good before pointing her finger northward. "Let's go!"
Lyna seemed to grow more and more concerned. “The first one is easy, but...I don’t have enough food for that. I got a compass lyin’ around somewhere-”
“Don’t tell them that!” came a pained call. Letting out a groan, Ringo slumped to his side, having tried to stand but managing it very badly. Ringo insisted, “They’ll just steal it and go.”
“Our boat’s busted, asshole.”
Lyna tapped her fingertips together. “And I dunno how to fix it either, we don’t have any boats on the island.”
Ringo growled, “Fuck.” A few moments of standstill passed, an impasse reached. “...Dammit, I think we have to talk to Chopi about it.”
Lyna lit up, Avalon shaking his head in derision, but offering no words in counter. Running to grab her lioness pelt, she shook out as much seawater as she good before pointing her finger northward. "Let's go!"
takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
“Hmm? Oh, I’m Lyna.” The group managed their way through the rippling grassland, slowly, the eve starting to come. “I’ll just explain it when we get there, since we have to talk to the elder too.”
The group arrived before the last of the days light was gone. Ringo’s calls were answered, the few dozen Sharp Jaw men and women taking note. Soon enough, a meeting was called. The entire tribe assembled by the bonfire. In the center sat five people. Lyna took a spot in front of Hoshiya and Avalon, the former still so clearly exhausted. Opposite them were Chopi and Ringo. Numerous suspicious eyes and mouths without smiles glinted in the low light of the evening.
Chopi shook his head. “You continue to make trouble for us, Lyna. That’s why we don’t allow you to stay here with us, except during celebrations and War Councils.”
Avalon huffed. “In fairness, as much as I want to be gone, we really can’t, even if our boat wasn’t busted.”
Chopi let out a sigh. “Well, we can’t let you stay here. Your kind has caused us enough trouble in our lifetimes.”
“Don’t care. We have nothing to do with them.”
Lyna butt in. “W-wait! Don’t you see the issue? We can’t keep going like this!” the girl stood, addressing the crowd. “This is our home, and I want it to stay that way. But if the outsiders really wanted, they could take it all for themselves. We’re not strong enough to fight them! We don’t know how to live in that world! But there’s things that can help us, right? With their weapons, we could protect ourselves. With their medicine, we don’t have lose so many of our people.”
“And what do we have to offer them that they can’t just take for themselves?” Lyna’s mouth went quiet. “Things are best the way they are.”
“No they aren’t! Forget the outsiders, we can’t even manage against the other tribes, normally, let alone while I’m like this.” Ringo grunted as he shifted his sitting position slightly. “I don’t agree with letting these outsiders have their way with our home either, but this year’s War Council is going to go the same way as it always does, and we’re going to be just as hungry next year.” The crowd murmured, Ringo’s words having a resonance to them.
The group arrived before the last of the days light was gone. Ringo’s calls were answered, the few dozen Sharp Jaw men and women taking note. Soon enough, a meeting was called. The entire tribe assembled by the bonfire. In the center sat five people. Lyna took a spot in front of Hoshiya and Avalon, the former still so clearly exhausted. Opposite them were Chopi and Ringo. Numerous suspicious eyes and mouths without smiles glinted in the low light of the evening.
Chopi shook his head. “You continue to make trouble for us, Lyna. That’s why we don’t allow you to stay here with us, except during celebrations and War Councils.”
Avalon huffed. “In fairness, as much as I want to be gone, we really can’t, even if our boat wasn’t busted.”
Chopi let out a sigh. “Well, we can’t let you stay here. Your kind has caused us enough trouble in our lifetimes.”
“Don’t care. We have nothing to do with them.”
Lyna butt in. “W-wait! Don’t you see the issue? We can’t keep going like this!” the girl stood, addressing the crowd. “This is our home, and I want it to stay that way. But if the outsiders really wanted, they could take it all for themselves. We’re not strong enough to fight them! We don’t know how to live in that world! But there’s things that can help us, right? With their weapons, we could protect ourselves. With their medicine, we don’t have lose so many of our people.”
“And what do we have to offer them that they can’t just take for themselves?” Lyna’s mouth went quiet. “Things are best the way they are.”
“No they aren’t! Forget the outsiders, we can’t even manage against the other tribes, normally, let alone while I’m like this.” Ringo grunted as he shifted his sitting position slightly. “I don’t agree with letting these outsiders have their way with our home either, but this year’s War Council is going to go the same way as it always does, and we’re going to be just as hungry next year.” The crowd murmured, Ringo’s words having a resonance to them.
takki
Bringer of Stars and Caretaker of Seals
Craftsdwarf
Fairly There
“Oi,” Avalon grunted. “This place isn’t our responsibility. I just want to get to the next island. Maybe you know about all that stuff, but I don’t. Not that spending the rest of our lives here pretending we’re helping is really going to do them any good.” Turning to the crowd, he exclaimed, “And I’m not going to lie, I’m a pirate!”
The crickets from beyond were about all the sound that filled the air. Lyna hissed, “Er, not everyone here knows what a pirate is.”
Avalon balked. “R-really? Well, there’s normal people who just live in houses and stuff, then pirates who come around a pillage, against the law.” There was a murmur of apprehension. Avalon insisted, “You don’t have to worry about yourselves, you ain’t got anything worth taking.”
Chopi admitted. “Indeed. You seem mistaken, Hoshiya. If what your friend Avalon says is accurate, then those weren’t pirates who came 15 years ago. They were simply normal men and women, seeking a normal life, by their standards. One incompatible with our own.”
“B-but-” Lyna began, but Ringo stepped in.
“Stop it. Avalon said it wouldn’t do any good anyway. Sorry but you’ve been wasting your life obsessing over those foreigners.”
Lyna bit her lip, before turning to Avalon. “What did you mean by that? What do you mean it won’t do any good!?”
Avalon sighed. “This is lawless land. The whole planet is ruled by the World Government. You have to pay a shitload of gold to them each year or you don’t count as human, and until you do the Marines or pirates can do whatever they want.” Running a hand over his chest, he explained, “See this? This was caused by a Marine. And I’m no slouch. He wasn’t even one of the top dogs, not even close. Better to keep your head down and pray no one else comes here. It’s pretty out of the way. The more noise you make, the bigger chance you have to attract any unwanted attention.”
As the sun set, a dark chill overtook the tribesfolk. Lyna seemed distraught, head bowed, fingertips digging into her thigh. “It’s not fair...”
Chopi shook his head. “There you have it Lyna.” Facing Avalon and Hoshiya, he said, “The three tribes have collectively agreed that no foreign presence will be tolerated on the island. We cannot let you fight for us. We’ll give you a place to rest for the night, and one meal, but from then on you are on your own. If you take more than you are offered, or are seen again after tomorrow morning, we will have no choice but to have you killed. And Lyna.” He turned to the teen girl. “We can no longer support you. You are no longer welcome with the Sharp Jaw Tribe.”
The crickets from beyond were about all the sound that filled the air. Lyna hissed, “Er, not everyone here knows what a pirate is.”
Avalon balked. “R-really? Well, there’s normal people who just live in houses and stuff, then pirates who come around a pillage, against the law.” There was a murmur of apprehension. Avalon insisted, “You don’t have to worry about yourselves, you ain’t got anything worth taking.”
Chopi admitted. “Indeed. You seem mistaken, Hoshiya. If what your friend Avalon says is accurate, then those weren’t pirates who came 15 years ago. They were simply normal men and women, seeking a normal life, by their standards. One incompatible with our own.”
“B-but-” Lyna began, but Ringo stepped in.
“Stop it. Avalon said it wouldn’t do any good anyway. Sorry but you’ve been wasting your life obsessing over those foreigners.”
Lyna bit her lip, before turning to Avalon. “What did you mean by that? What do you mean it won’t do any good!?”
Avalon sighed. “This is lawless land. The whole planet is ruled by the World Government. You have to pay a shitload of gold to them each year or you don’t count as human, and until you do the Marines or pirates can do whatever they want.” Running a hand over his chest, he explained, “See this? This was caused by a Marine. And I’m no slouch. He wasn’t even one of the top dogs, not even close. Better to keep your head down and pray no one else comes here. It’s pretty out of the way. The more noise you make, the bigger chance you have to attract any unwanted attention.”
As the sun set, a dark chill overtook the tribesfolk. Lyna seemed distraught, head bowed, fingertips digging into her thigh. “It’s not fair...”
Chopi shook his head. “There you have it Lyna.” Facing Avalon and Hoshiya, he said, “The three tribes have collectively agreed that no foreign presence will be tolerated on the island. We cannot let you fight for us. We’ll give you a place to rest for the night, and one meal, but from then on you are on your own. If you take more than you are offered, or are seen again after tomorrow morning, we will have no choice but to have you killed. And Lyna.” He turned to the teen girl. “We can no longer support you. You are no longer welcome with the Sharp Jaw Tribe.”
