The dangers of the Seven Seas

[Mobius]

Marley gave the captain a narrowed expression that showed she was not pleased with that statement.Oh,how he could just burn her.No matter what,whenever he opened his mouth he always uttered something that annoyed her.What went on in his head?Did the hamster wheel used to power his brain wiggle as the rodent ran on it,messing up the whole process?While she liked to think he had no brain,she had to admit he was smart in some topics...in a twisted,sick sort of way.Never would she tell him that,though.That would be too much enjoyment to him,she was sure of it.She opened her mouth to retort,her sharp tongue in full swing,"That would mean you would have to work rather than sit around enjoying your pathetic life." After that,she looked away,annoyed at him for the thousandth time in the hour.Her gaze travelled to the angry waters and she began to get a little nervous...and maybe a little sea sick,too.Her stomach was a little wishy washy anyways.


The feeling only increased as the situation got more...interesting.Marley found herself staring at the threatening granite monster with somewhat wide eyes.Where was the ship supposed to go?Whether she thought he was sick or not,Adair had to know what he was doing...right?Somehow she didn't feel too comforted by thoughts like that and instead it made her feel worse,especially as the journey became more treacherous.If there's a benefit to dying, she prepared herself,it's that I'll get out of this sticky situation with that horrible man.


At the devil's laugh,Marley turned her focus back to Adair,a neutral expression on her face.She raised an eyebrow at the second to last sentence."Why would I be honored to-" she began before his last statement ran through her head again.As if the last one didn't turn my stomach enough! she thought as she placed her free hand lightly on her stomach,hoping she wouldn't succumb to sea sickness for the first time.Songo's nervous voice didn't exactly help calm her down either and she glanced in his direction,her eyes slowly getting wider.However,she could not safely keep her eyes off of where the ship was heading for longer than a moment and soon enough her attention was straight ahead once again."I see why it's called the 'Hidden Pearl'," she muttered under her breath before she squeezed her eyes shut,unable to watch anymore.This was too much of a thrill,if it could be called that,for her.


The loud sound of the scrape caused Marley to jump,eyes shooting opening into a highly wide position,her mind automatically assuming she would drown in the very near future.However,at the most welcoming contrast of the calm bay ahead of them and the sound of Adair's voice reassured her she would not be dead and the wild ride was over...for now.They would have to get out eventually,she was sure of that.It took her a few moments,maybe a minute or two,to realize the rather impressiveness of what she was gazing upon,rather than the fact that the waters held no visible threat to the ship,which would lead to her drowning...oh,her stomach.She had to stop thinking about it or she would lose the contents of it.Instead,she flipped on her "take in" switch and looked at the rather beautiful setting that rapped around her.


It was like nothing Marley had ever seen before,even if she hated to admit it.The jungle leaves were a beautiful difference from the loose papers that blew about the streets of the city.While she had seen pictures of a habitat that consisted of lush foliage consisting of many shades of green,it pained in comparison to seeing it up close.While she also hated to look like she was gazing in awe of the beautiful structure that only God could make,she could not hide her surprised expression."No wonder you call it the Hidden Pearl..." She said somewhat quietly as she finally took her eyes off of the scenery and looked back to the captain who was much a disappointment compared to what she was just looking at.

 

[Bullet]

(forgive the delay, I've fallen behind a bit the past few days, but hope to fix that now )


The ship came to a rest a few hundred yards from the shore in the tranquil bay waters. Like ants coming out of an ant pile, the crew emerged on deck, shading their eyes to view their surroundings and make sure they hadn't died and gone to the hereafter. The noise of ship scraping against the cliff-side reverberated the sound to a deafening pitch in the hold below. Relief washed over their face upon realizing they had made it. The secret alcove, the Hidden Pearl. One of the best kept secrets known only to pirates. A cheer went up among the crew, Adair grinning widely; it was as close to home as he could call a place. He hopped upon the railing of the poop deck, grasping a rope to keep his balance.


"Gentlemen, it's been a long journey, and now we enjoy the fruits of our labor! Tell the taverns to send the bill to Captain Connor tonight, and find yourself a fine lass to share a bed with, for the life of a pirate is never ensured, but there sure is nothing like it, am I right, men?!" The men hooted and hollered in boisterous agreement. "Alright, get unloading, boys. The sooner we get that taken care of, the sooner the festivities begin." The men rose no argument, moving to and fro to ready unloading the commandeered goods. "And ready up a boat for me to head to shore..." He turned to Marley. "... the lady surely would enjoy a personal tour." He took her hand in his own, pretending to plant a kiss on the back of her hand like the gentlemen of high society. She'd be disgusted by it, he was sure, but he was a tease when he could be.


It wasn't long before Adair, Songo, Stokey, and Marley sat in a small boat lowering into the crystal blue waters of the bay. Marley sat at the bow in the front, while Adair leaned upon the stern, a flask of wine in hand. His feet rested upon the yet unopened chest found alongside their new French prisoner. The other two men manned the oars, rowing them to the shoreline. "This place may not be what you are accustomed to, my dear, but it is a welcome change when one has been stuck with a litany of stinky men weeks on end, no offense to you fine gentlemen." He lifted his flask to Songo and Stokey, the former frowning in sad agreement, the latter unaware he was being slightly insulted at all. "There are taverns and hostels and less savory establishments not fit for a lady, though I shan't stop you from attending those if you so wish." He winked at her mischievously.


"And, I guess it cannot be understated, there is the obvious beauty of the landscape around us, untouched by the greedy hand of man. Pirates may not be favored by man, but perhaps God looks down on us with a smile in his eyes, enough to see fit to grace us with such raw natural beauty as our own. We can explore it as well, perhaps find a secluded alcove, a bit of wine in our belly..." Adair once again displayed his rough charm, though of course she would rebuff such advances. He was a filthy pirate in her eyes, but he relished in her squirming.

 

[Mobius]

Marley watched as the men came uptop like ants to an abandoned picnic.Disgusting,disgusting,disgusting, she thought as each one appeared,her lip curling up in disgust as well.Even if they were pirates couldn't they work a little better at their personal hygiene?No,that would be too hard.All they're good at is stealing anything they can,including people.It seemed like all she could do was become more sick at the thought of them.She couldn't understand how they could live with the elves.It's no wonder they're treated the way they are by society.In her eyes,they deserved it.Or at least Adair did...the pig.How could a person's mind be so twisted?Nope,she didn't want to know the answer.When he began to talk,she figured she'd better listen.It could be important.


Nope.It just disgusted Marley even more.Imagine if the tables were turned, she thought with a roll of her eyes and a long,loud sigh.When Adair took her hand and pretended to kiss it like a gentleman,she glared at him and yanked her hand away."How disgusting can you get?" She snapped at him angrily,considering slapping him in the face but knowing that was probably not the best idea at that time.She did it many times in her mind,though.A little while ago I was back in Venice reaping the benefits of Dad's status and now I'm stuck on a pirate ship with a bunch of scummy men, she thought as she watched a couple of crewmen prepare the boat Adair ordered.This should be good, she sarcastically thought as she headed over to the boat,arms crossed over her chest.


In the boat,Marley watched Adair through narrowed,slightly disgusted eyes.At his first statement,she rolled her eyes and commented sarcastically,"Of course there are.Wouldn't have it any other way,would you?" Then she huffed and looked towards the shoreline that seemed to her to be only inching closer.Not that she'd be able to get away from that disgusting man,but it'd be a little more...spacier.Maybe she would feel like she could actually breathe.Once again,at his next statement,she rolled her eyes,"Oh,please,if I were you I wouldn't stand in one place for too long or a lightning bolt will strike you." She looked back at him after that and raised an eyebrow in a challenging way.If she ever stopped wondering what it was like in his mind,it would be a miracle.Finally,when he uttered the last one,she glared at him and warned through gritted teeth,"Do not make me push you out of this boat." She then crossed her legs and looked away again,shaking her head as she did.


(It's okay .Not a problem.)

 

[Bullet]

Adair sighed loudly. "Truly, my dear, it's tiring enough to hear your prudish retorts. I'm surprised you have enough hate in you to keep yammering on. Now you aren't in the best of circumstances, I can see that. But I suggest you embrace what you can and make my life a little bit easier. You are welcome to try my patience, Marley, though most tend to lose when my patience runs dry." His eyes remained trained on hers, taking a swig from the wine flagon, his signature smile no longer gracing his features. He removed his feet from the chest and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You assume your usefulness gives you value in my eyes, that I will tolerate your persnickety remarks. I did not become a captain of a crew of pirates or receive the nickname 'The Blood Hound' by being permissive..."


Adair was generally a boisterous, well-humored man; it fostered adoration and admiration from his crew. But being a pirate also meant leaving your sense of morals behind. Surviving was not a result of following the rules and staying in your place. Oppression and poverty were the results he'd seen from living that way of life. This girl likely had not wanted for much in her life, having been well taken care of, not suffering the cruelties those less fortunate than her had to endure, just to receive the crumbs off the table of someone else. The world was a cruel place, and Adair did not have the luxury of blissful ignorance to blind him of the truth.


The boat had arrived to the dock at that point. Adair stood without waiting for a reply, his boots stepping onto the wood planks of the makeshift port. "Songo, you and Stokey bring the chest directly to my chamber. You are free after that to do as you please afterwards." He began to make his way down the dock. "You can stay there or come along, girl. I won't be holding your hand all the time." He said without looking back.

 

[Mobius]

After a few words,Marley looked back at him,able to realize he meant business.Maybe she was pushing her luck,but did she want to just sit there and let him push her around?Of course not!However,she realized her need to find a happy medium of sorts and she knew that her sharp tongue would have to...dull a bit.After all,her mother's favorite saying was 'if you don't have anything nice to say,don't say anything at all'.That would be hard to pull off and she figured she could afford a comment here or there,but she'd better refrain from every other sentence coming out as pure fire.That was like asking her for the moon when it came to talking to the captain.


When the boat docked,Marley hurried a little to get onto precious dry land,feeling like she had been trapped on a floating vessel for her entire life when in reality it hadn't been that long.A lot had happened to make it feel like it had been a lifetime.The ground felt wobbly at first,but she really didn't falter in her step or stance.Her arms moved from across her chest and she placed her hands lightly on her hips.For a few minutes,she watched the back of Adair's head,hot steam escaping her ears.Could be manage to say a sentence that wouldn't irk her or were his talents limited to steering a ship?She figured it was the latter and she shook her head,beginning to get a beadache after it all.She tried to decide what to do.She didn't trust him at all,but she trusted everybody else in that place even less so it was a lose or a...lose lose.


With a slight huff,Marley went after him,feeling much like a sad little puppy with nothing better to do than follow its owner around everywhere.When she reached him,she walked right past him,mimicking the way he looked when he spoke to her."You basically said you'd give me a tour.Do you think I'm letting you out of it?" She question as casually as she could manage,but there was still an edge to her voice.Who could blame her?Who wouldn't want to bite that man's head off after what he did?Okay,maybe some would cower in fear,but not Miss Oaken!Oh,no.She was practically her fiery mother's clone,aside from the black as a moonless night hair that she inherited from her father and her taste for primitive dishes,and nobody crossed her mother without losing an eye.Of course,that's figuratively speaking,but nobody met her mother when her temper was in full force without feeling like the lost something.

 

[Bullet]

He rolled his eyes upon hearing her reply. 'Of course I would be stuck sitting for her. You've caught yourself a winner here, Adair.' He sighed, turning abruptly to face Marley as they walked off the wooden dock onto the sandy earth, his hands resting on his waist. "We've only just come ashore..." He could see the look in her eye that bore no room for argument. 'This woman will be the death of me...' He sighed once more, looking to the sky a moment, bargaining how much daylight remained available. A quick trip would allow for him to return before dark; travelling through the jungle after dark would just as likely get you killed as returning to the settled areas. 'I won't hear the end of it until I take her on this bloody expedition...'





"Okay, Marley, I will grant you this tour you so eagerly desire, but it shall not be an extensive excursion. I have matters to attend to, and I don't plan to postpone them because a girl wishes to live out her dreams of exploring the wildlife..." He turned back around and marched onward, whether or not she followed of no great concern to him.


They approached the heart of the Hidden Pearl, grungy men and lose women frittering about among the wooden buildings. "I guess we can start the tour here..." He spoke, annoyed. He pointed to a two-story wooden structure, a porch wrapped around it's front. "That there is the Lumpy Lady, a favorite inn of those who manage to arrive here. It's funded by the pirate captain's that utilize our hidden abode, so the men stay free in between voyages. It tends to get loud with the moans of passion at night, so if you wish to get a good night's sleep, that might not be your place." Another haphazard framework of wood and stone came up on their left as they walked along the bare road, if it could be called that. "That there is the Drunken Lizard. Legend tells that a native iguana discovered the place soon after the pirates built the tavern and gorged itself on an entire bottle of bourbon. The subsequent dance the iguana performed for the drunken patrons is rumored to be the stuff of legend."


A smile had managed to sneak its way onto Adair's face as he spoke, fond memories and the feeling of brotherhood among his fellow bilgerats bringing a joy that not even Marley could cut through with her sharp tongue. "There are the showers for the men, though the women have their own ways to keep clean. It would not be beneficial for a lady's health to step foot in there." He offered. "Where they may shower, I don't personally know, but you may need to ask one; the sea has not done you any favors..."


They arrived to a section where the buildings stopped and the forest began. The road diminished in width several dozen yards ahead before nothing but a tangle of plant life greeted them. "The footing is perilous beyond here. It would be wise to take my hand so we are not separated. Though, I admit, the thought of losing in the jungle did cross my mind." He smirked. With one hand extended towards her, he pulled a longer blade from its scabbard hanging from his belt, the underbrush far too thick to allow a smooth path.

 

[Mobius]

Shouldn't have said that then,huh? Marley thought as the tour began,knowing he must have been annoyed or just really didn't want to give her a tour.Frankly,she didn't want one.The truth that she would never admit to anyone was that she had been nervous to be left alone in a place she didn't know anything about.She'd be wishing she was back stuck on the heck of a boat with what could happen.These people were bound to be ruthless and disgusting and who knew what else lurked in the shadows cast by the lush greenery that she was beginning to learn had a dark side.While she was fiery,she knew she couldn't fend off whatever might come at her.She needed somebody to watch out for her at least until she knew the ins and outs of the place.Since Adair was the only one that could do that and forcing him to give her the tour he mentioned was the only way to keep him around,this was the situation they were both stuck in.


As the captain showed her the different places,Markey felt a little churn of sickness in her stomach.It wasn't the appearance that made her sick,but what went on in those places that did.How can their conscience allow them to act like this? she wondered as a cold shiver shot through her.Least to say she was pleased when they began to leave the area."Well,where am I supposed to stay,then?" She asked,figuring she wouldn't like the answer he would give her.What she really didn't like was that she was relying on him for guidance.It sickened her,but what other choice did she have?She didn't want to learn from her own mistakes.


Marley decided to ignore the last comment he made towards her,not planning on finding out how the women around here managed to clean themselves.She could make a few sarcastic comments,but she also refrained from that.He could very well abandon her out there and if she pushed him off of the eye he probably would.When he spoke again,she narrowed her eyes at him and turned her full attention to the area in front of them a moment after.Maybe he was right,but she wasn't sure he was offering his hand to her just for guidance."Alright," she said warningly as she placed her hand in his,trying to ignore the really sick feeling she got when their sick connected,"but if you have any other intention in your head for holding my hand I will slap you no matter what you might do to me for it." She was dead serious and the daggers she was glaring at him proved it.

 

[Bullet]

"As far as where you'll stay, you surprisingly have a choice in the matter. As a pirate captain, I am entitled to my own quarters, and if you behave, I'll allow you to stay there during the night. Or... I can request a room for you at the Lumpy Lady. I leave the choice up to you." Truly, it wasn't much of a choice at all, but there really weren't anymore options. Most of the crew had returned from the ship, eager to fill their bellies with rum and their beds with loose morals. There was a night crew on the ship to keep guard, rotated out daily, but he doubted she would feel safe among the strange, dangerous men who would undoubtedly lurk their way into his cabin, somehow, and have their way with her. Even his own men would risk their captain's wrath (and likely their life) for a night with a beautiful girl like Marley.


'Why am I so worried about where she'll stay for the night? And beautiful... I must be dehydrating, my mind playing tricks on me.' The machete raised, glinting in the sun for a moment before hurtling downwards. The thick vines split easily by the blade's sharpened edge. With the certainty of the rising sun, she offered an expected reply to his request to grab his hand. It elicited an eye roll from Adair, along with a snicker. "My dear, if I had any ideas, it is already within my grasp to do so. Though with you it would likely be more trouble than it's worth. Now come along, it clears up beyond this." He guided her carefully over the twisting roots of the tropical trees, the path uneven treacherous to walk. There was plenty of shade, however, and the sounds of exotic birds filled the air. The lush greenery dominated the landscape, from the large fronds of the Alocasia plants and ficus trees, to the thin bristly leaves of the exotic ferns.


"The woman that normally care for the Pearl and remain in the alcove have come to call this 'La Selva Esmeralda." The scenery brought a peace within the Captain; he'd often walked beneath the canopy of the trees above for the simple pleasure of it all. 'Pirates may get the short end of society, but the world remains kind enough to bless us with this beauty..' He thought to himself.


The sudden call of a monkey echoed through the trees. Nimbly, a small capuchin crawled down a nearby trunk, hopping to the floor eagerly and bounding towards the pair. "Old friend!" Adair shouted with a laugh, letting go of Marley's hand and crouching down. He offered his hand to the creature, who gladly scampered along his arm and resting upon his shoulder. "Marley, allow me to introduce you to my esteemed friend Pickle. He would have been my first mate, but alas, the poor bugger can't tie a sheepshank knot to save his life." The little mammal jerked its head around curiously, picking at Adair's hair every now and again. It glanced at Marley, turning it's head curiously.

 

[Mobius]

Marley sighed quietly at the answer she got."Lovely choices..." She muttered with a slight roll of her eyes,knowing that neither would be an enjoyable experience.Like she wanted to stay with him.However,who knew what might happen if she stayed by herself at that wonderful establishment...She figured she had time to think about it at least and she tried to focus on the lush nature around the .At his next comment,she gave him a narrowed look."No,it wouldn't so don't go getting any ideas," she told him warningly,meaning every word.She would bring him heck for sure.In any way possible,too.Yes,she would make sure he paid for anything he might do that she didn't approve.And she would approve none of it.Not one bit of it.She still couldn't shake the sick feeling she had from her hand being connected with his.Even if it was for her own good.She could picture herself stumbling over the rough terrain otherwise.


"I can see it," Marley commented casually in reply to what he said about the name given to the place by its caretakers."...it's beautiful..." She commented quietly,not sure she wanted to compliment the place's natural beauty with him around.Well,he could think what he wanted of her,it was beautiful and she hadn't seen anything like the area they were in right then.No picture she had ever seen came close to the magnitude of vibrant colors.Plus,there was no way a picture to relay the sounds hitting her ear drums from the native animals.It created an almost surreal feeling,however she didn't gawk.Why?Because one wrong footstep or a homicidal (sp?) root could send her face first into the ground.


When Marley heard an animal's screech,she jumped slightly,but when the monkey appeared she mentally yelled "stupid" at herself multiple times.She watched as Adair and the monkey came together and the creature sat himself upon Adair's shoulder.Her eyes widened in suprise,but a surprisingly pleasant smile covered her lips.Perhaps the first time she had smiled genuinely in a while?"Heh,didn't expect to see this..." She said somewhat quietly.Then she commented with a chuckle,"Pickle...cute.It suits him." She watched as Pickle looked at her,wondering how he felt about her.

 

[Bullet]

"This little friend took a while to get friendly with, but enough fruit offerings eventually brought him around. It's a shame your talented tongue does not understand monkey, otherwise he'd easily surpass me as a tourguide." Adair casually reached into his pocket, pulling out a legume he'd saved from an earlier meal on the ship. Without skepticism, Pickle eagerly snatched the morsel, devouring it hungrily before returning his attention back to Marley.


The creature slapped its tail gingerly along Adair's back, weighing the woman before him. 'Slow to trust, just like your old friend, Captain Adair, eh Pickle?' He thought to himself. Crawling down Adair's other arm, the diminutive simian hobbled over on his four paws, sniffing her outfit. He screeched playfully, placing his tiny hands against her leg. 'Or not. Couldn't resist a woman's charms? Traitor...' The thought amused hi, unable to hold back a smile at the scene. "He wants you to bend down. Don't worry, he won't bite." Marley acquiesced, the tiny hairy critter crawling up her frame and perching on her shoulder. His little fingers groped through her hair, taking a handful and licking it curiously.


"He doesn't get woman visitors; they never dare venture off into the jungle, so your long hair is a curiosity to him." He informed her with a grin. He watched as the two interacted, for once enjoying the company of Marley. She seemed to be enjoying the monkey's interactions as well, the curious creature poking about behind her ear, likely hoping to find a flea of some sort to feed. 'I have to thank Pickle. He's proven a nice distraction, freeing me of her sarcastic remarks for a spell. I'll have to find a mango for him. He'll love that.' The echo of a gunshot deeper in the forest reached their ears. Adair's neck immediately turned in the direction of the sound.

 

[Mobius]

Marley watched as the creature devoured the gift from Adair,surprised at how quickly its attention came back to her.She raised an eyebrow,before glancing at Adair and saying,"I wish I could...I wonder what's going through his head." Pickle definitely held her curiosity and she began to wonder what he might get himself into at times.He definitely wasn't sure about her,or at least she thought.It wasn't like she could read the body language of an animal quite like him.She wished she had taken the time to study that sort of thing now.If she ever got the chance to she would,she decided right before the animal began his short trip over to her.What's he doing...? she thought somewhat nervously as she watched him come over.


When Pickle let his voice be heard in a playful manner,Marley felt a smile creep back onto her face from the slightly nervous expression that had taken over when the monkey had been testing her waters.However,a confused expression was mixed in with the smile and she looked towards Adair when he started to explain what exactly Pickle wanted.Oh,dear... she thought before mentally slapping herself.He's a monkey!What could he do? she scoffed at herself before she timidly bent down in a more crouching sort of way.As Pickle crawled up her,she cringed in that way a person does when something's going on around of that their nervously unsure of.However,when he positioned himself on her shoulder,she relaxed and carefully straightened into a standing position.


Marley eyed the monkey when he became infactuated with her hair,not exactly wanting little monkey fingers coming through her precious locks."Oh," she replied simply in understanding to Adair's explanation for the monkey's actions.However,she quickly began to lightheartedly laugh,in a quiet sort of way,when the animal began an expedition to find something of some sort behind her ear."Hey,that surprisingly tickles!" She got out before the gunshot rang through the air.She immediately fell to a straight...everything.Straight face,slightly worried also,straight posture,the whole lot.Her gaze shot straight to the direction the sound came from."Is that common?" was the only thing she could think of asking that would make sense and she sounded dumbfounded.

 

[Bullet]

"Common, yes, closer to the shore. There are always rowdy crewmen drunk on alcohol making mistakes. But in the jungle?" His brow furrowed in thought. The pirates generally found little reason to venture into the forest, the risks far outweighing any rewards that would possibly attract most of their kind; they tended to not be the type of men to appreciate the beauty of nature. 'Looks like someone's causing trouble...' He thought with a grin. He brandished the machete in his left hand, eyes focused ahead into the brush. "Come along." He commanded Marley, hacking his way forward into the dense foliage. The monkey remained perched on her shoulder, as though curious to see what they were planning to find.


He hacked ferociously through the brush, vines and branches falling helplessly to the forest floor. He kicked them out of their path, making a trail for them. "Careful with your step here." He warned, the twisting root of a tree arching out of the ground across their path. The jungle held incredible beauty, but it also held dangers that could not be disregarded. From the jungle cats that roamed the territory, to the great reptiles who ruled over the great lake further west. Even the beautiful plants and flowers could hide a sinister bite. Adair did not wish to test his luck against nature's wrath in the darkness of night, but something impelled him to discover the source of the blast.


"Wait!" Adair whispered loudly, ears perked. The sound of running water could be heard nearby. "I think I know where we are... quickly." Falling water meant they were near the Widow's Wail, one of the few waterfalls on the island. Before the arrival of the main structures of the Hidden Pearl, smugglers from the olden days carved out a cave behind the falling water as a place to store goods when evading government checkpoints to take stock of their supplies. It had long been out of use, but many visitors of the island heard the story and knew of its existence. 'Perhaps we will find something there...'


The noise of the falling water grew louder, until they could see its source; ahead the foam and spray rose up from the base of the waterfall, hundreds of gallons of water pouring down into a small river that eventually emptied into the bay. "You'll have to take my hand here, the rocks are treacherous along the river's edge. Though you are welcome to stay with Pickle and wait for me, if you prefer."

 

[Mobius]

Marley raised an eyebrow slightly to the response she got.An eerie sort of curiosity grew inside of her,but she wasn't sure she wanted to give in and find out exactly what was going on.However,she had no choice for Adair ordered her to follow after him and she figured arguing right now was not the best idea.With a glance to the monkey still on her shoulder,she sighed and followed after him,her gaze directed towards where her feet were landing rather than ahead.Adair could handle that,she had to make sure she didn't trip or happen to hurt herself somehow on the lush,dangerous jungle floor.While she walked,she tried to figure out what could possibly be going on.It was an island filled with pirates,it could be anything.That she didn't like.Especially when the only protection she had was a guard monkey on her shoulder and a twisted kidnapper in front of her.


At Adair's warning,Marley nodded,already alert to where and what her feet were stepping on.This couldn't be happening on a soft,sandy beach where the only thing she had to worry about was her feet sinking into the cushioning surface.Nooo,that would have been to easy.Nope,they had to go on the hunt for somebody with a gun in the middle of a jungle that made her feel like she could be swallowed in a dreamland while the only protection they had was a sword.If the gunman was out to kill for any reason,what good would a weapon like a sword do them?No good,that's what.


Just as Marley was getting used to traveling over the rough terrain again,Adair told her to wait,causing her to wonder what was up ahead that she couldn't see.She could hear the movement of water up ahead and she wondered where exactly they were.They couldn't have been back to the bay,the air didn't feel saturated enough for them to be near that type of water."Where are we?" She whispered as she started after him,becoming a bit more daring and looking ahead rather than at the ground near her feet.As the sound of rushing water turned louder,louder,and louder still,she began to realize what the source was.It could only be from a waterfall,even she,Miss City,knew that.Her eyes widened as she seen the cause of it,never expecting she would see a natural power like a waterfall in her lifetime.


Now,Adair gave her a choice,and Marley wasn't sure what she wanted to do.She was still well aware that whoever they were searching for had a weapon stronger than the one the captain had,but she didn't want to appear scared or even nervous.She didn't want him to think she was like that."You think I came this far to wait outside?" She asked,an eyebrow raised a little."And once again,remember my warning," she said before extending her hand,waiting for the help he offered her.

 

[Bullet]

Adair swore his eyes risked swirling around his head forever if he rolled his eyes anymore than he already had. 'I almost regret giving her the option...' He did carry misgivings, however, of bringing her along into an unknown, perhaps dangerous, situation. The long blade he carried wouldn't likely protect them from a gun, but he hadn't placed his hopes on that anyways; a good pirate didn't only rely on his skill with a weapon. At least, if he planned to survive any long.


Her whispered inquiry was nearly drowned out by the torrential waters, but he was able to capture the gist of it. "This place is called Edward's Cove, named after the infamous smuggler who used this place for his operations." He managed over the sound of the waterfall. They had approached closer to the base of the cascade, the foaming white water a wide wall over the cave mouth. Between the tangled brush and the water smoothed rocks, a path could be just barely seen; you wouldn't even know it was there if you weren't looking for it. 'That's our way in..." He turned to Marley. "You can still wait outside if you'd prefer. This won't be safe." Her look said it all. With a defeated sigh, he slowly ascended the awkward path, made up of jutting rocks and tree roots sticking out of the rocky face, Marley close behind.


With one last hop, they made it inside in dark orifice. The sunlight filtering through the torrential waters was able to illuminate some of the dark cavern. Nearby, scattered remains of splintered wood were strewn about, along with cuts of rope, likely there for months. Aside from random debris here and there, the cavern housed little as far as they could see. Further ahead, however, a the light of a torch could be seen. Adair ducked down, motioning Marley to do the same. They hid behind a boulder, Adair peeking around the edge to the light source.


He could see the back of a man illuminated by the light. He appeared to be quietly talking with another man, Adair realized, seeing a bound figure lying on the hard floor. "It appears it's just one man, with a captive..." he whispered to his companion. The man who'd been standing paced to the side, a look of frustration on his face. The light was able to fall on the prisoner, Adair's eyes widening in surprise. 'That's the French man on the ground there, the one we'd taken aboard earlier! How is it he's tied up and here?!' His mind raced, wondering if perhaps a crewman of his had betrayed him. Regardless, he had no plans to let this man get away with the French man. He apparently held some value, and the Captain was not one to just give away valuable things.


"Stay here, Marley. Let me handle this..."

 

[Mobius]

Marley,at first,couldn't tell where exactly they were heading.This resulted in her being confused to how any pirate could possibly use the place for his operations.Even with the lush jungle decorations,it would still be easy to pick up on some sort of secret stash,or at least she thought that.However,when they got closer to their destination,she was able to see the secret to the beautiful,and loud,place.Now she got why this Edward person favored the location.Maybe if she couldn't see it others might have overlooked it.However,she knew that if somebody was looking for something or scrutinizing the place he would be able to find it.


When the option came to go back came,Marley gave him a firm,determined look,not going to go back now that she had come this far.Adair seemed to get the idea and started forward again.She tried to keep up with him and did rather well,or at least she thought.Her wary curiosity grew with each step now and when they reached the hidden cave,she quickly looked around for the person who fired the shot.She didn't hesitate to duck when he told her to since she didn't want to be the person's next target.


Marley watched where the man was,a chill going through her at the thought of how close they technically were to him.A bullet could travel far enough to deal critical damage to them should this person want to,but she could tell he was too preoccupied with somebody else to tell that there were two people watching him.When she seen that somebody else,her eyes widened.It was the shipwrecked Frenchman!What was he doing here and what was the guy doing with him?She gave a confused glance to Adair before looking at the men again,not wanting to keep her watchful gaze off of him too long.When Adair made a move,she gladly hung back,not wanting to get in the middle of it and trusting his strength more than her...if you could call it strength.

 

[Bullet]

He emerged from behind the safety of the rock, sauntering forward with the confidence of an alpha male lion among a herd of gazelle. The man, suddenly realizing he was no longer alone with his captive, raised his pistol at Adair.


"Blimey! Who in the deep blazes are you?" His eyes shot wide in confusion, and perhaps a little fear. He'd been caught with his prize where he thought he was safe. 'I can read him like a book. We'll play a game, old friend.'





Adair sheathed his machete, arms out to either side to show his harmlessness. "My dear friend, I bring no harm or ill will to you and your bound friend here. I was just out for a stroll by myself and was aware of this location from a friend. Told me there was a hidden stash of booze here, enough to last any man a lifetime, or a pirate a year." He smiled his signature charming grin at the man, not breaking eye contact for a second. If the man became unstable, Adair wanted to know as soon as possible; he'd prefer not to have a bullet lodged in his brain today.


"This place is a pirate's cove, everyone here's a pirate. You ain't told me nothing..." He spoke aggressively, gaining courage from Adair's lack of a firearm. He cocked the hammer back with a stomach churning click, echoing through the small cave. Adair didn't flinch. "Tell me one good reason why I shouldn't shoot you through the eyes right now..."


Adair laughed, rather loudly. He began to pace side to side opposite the man. "Well that wouldn't be good for you, I would think, not when you can so easily capitalize on the situation. I am Captain Adair Connor, and I just returned with a great sum of looted goods and precious metals and gems. You have a gun, I am at your mercy. But! If you kill me, well there is no reward there, don't you see? You're a smart man who can spot a good deal when he sees one, I imagine. We can all return to the Hidden Pearl, you hand over your tied up friend to me, I'll give you as much gold as you can carry, and we can each be on our way, merrier than before."


The man's eyes were aglow with the prospect of Adair's offer. 'Go on, take the bait, you idiotic fool. You won't make it to the port with your life.' The Captain stopped pacing and turned to the man. Adair's grin remained plastered on his face, his eyes still locked with the stranger's.


The man smiled a toothy grin, some missing in certain areas. "Oh, really now? That seems mighty swell, 'cept I wasn't born yesterday to trust the words of a pirate, even if they are my brethren. I don't care who you are. Personally, I think it'd be easier to jus' shoot you, continue on with my business, and be on my way. How's that sound, ya scurvy dog?"


Adair was no longer smiling. He shook his head with a labored sigh. "You see, I gave you a chance, and you spat on my face. That can't be forgiven..."


"And what do you plan to do about it?" The stranger jeered.


"Well, your first mistake was assuming that having a gun put you in a more favorable position to bargain with. Wrong. And second..." Adair kicked his foot up quickly, loosened rock flying up to the man. Adair ducked and shot forward immediately after. The man raised his hands to cover his face from the pummeling rocks, firing a wild shot, hitting the roof of the cavern. Adair tumbled into the man, knocking him onto the floor soundly with a mix of grunts escaping their lips. The gun flew out of the man's hand once he hit the hard, rocky floor, the French man's eyes widening in fear and perhaps a chance to escape. Adair rolled off the man he'd just tackled, swiping up the gun and bounding to his feet, pointing it back at the stranger. He shot a glare at the Frenchman, who decided perhaps it was better to stay in place.


"And second, you didn't take into account your surroundings. You let me pace freely, my feet feeling along the floor for any loose rocks large enough to be a threat, all while I talked about some fake chance of escape. Now you will pay for trying to ever think you would kill the great Captain Connor."


The man groaned, rolling on the ground in pain, the groans suddenly turning to a soft laughter. "And you, Captain Adair," he spat out, "failed to take into account your surroundings as well."


Another voice emerged from the direction of the cavern entrance. "Yessa, he did. To tink he would leave such a tasty dish all alone." Another man, tall and dark skinned, came into the light of the torch in the cave, accompanied by Marley. One hand covered her mouth while the other held a knife to her throat. "Drop de gun, and no blood need be spilled he'e."


'Curses! I didn't account for this...' Begrudgingly, Adair dropped the gun.

 

[Mobius]

Marley watched Adair head over to the two men with more confidence than she knew she would have ever been able to muster.Even if the one guy didn't have a gun,she knew she wouldn't have been able to confront them without inwardly trembling,due to what the man could do to her...even if she was beginning to feel that good adrenaline pumping through her which was accompanied by a strange excitement she wished she could be rid of.Now was not the time to give in to an adrenaline rush.No other part of this blasted situation,from the time she was forced into the boat until then,had seemed exciting to her.Maybe my old me is coming back, she thought before focusing on what was going on.


Marley did not like the sound of the man holding the gun.His voice sent chills through her spine,however it could have just been from her whacky emotions that couldn't decide if she loved the adventure she was forced into or if she hated it.The whole lie didn't seem to pass as believable to her,but it was most likely because she knew the situation...but still,it didn't seem likely to her.The offer didn't sound reliable.It sounded tempting,but coming from a pirate it definitely didn't sound reliable.Only a fool would fall for it when the person proposing it had a weapon.


However,Marley was suddenly turned from a hidden bystander to a key role in the situation when an unknown figure silent came up behind her,hidden by the dark light that the torch did not drown out,and placed his hand over her mouth.Her eyes widened and she went to make a noise anyway,but the man was prepared and he pointed a knife at her.In her head she cursed,and when she was brought to her feet at the start of the scuffle between Adair and the guy who was supposed to only be accompanied by the French man she mentally cursed like a sailor.This was not good.They should have left well enough alone.No,that would have been too easy...now she couldn't struggle or do anything because the threat of the knife was dangerously close to her throat.


Hazel eyes nervously watched as Adair retrieved the gun,but Marley knew it was pointless unless he really didn't care what happened to her,which she really really hoped that somewhere in that heart of his he did care at least a little for her.The words of her captor made her shiver a bit.Oh,he better get that out of his head, she thought with a fire even though her eyes momentarily were the size of a deer's when it is caught in the path of an oncoming vehicle.However,the mood in them changed as she walked with the disgusting man,praying that Adair would just drop the gun...and that the man would keep his word and not slice or stab her throat.


The sound of the gun hitting the floor of the cave only brought Marley momentary relief,though,because she was still in the clutches of this guy who could really do anything he wanted to her if he played his cards right.Hopefully he was bad at playing cards...For a moment,she looked away from Adair to the man that was originally their only problem.She trusted him less than she trusted Adair back in his cabin.She made a rather good target for a bullet should be take that gun back and she didn't like that at all.Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place... she thought with a sign that came out of her nose.