Hello everyone! Time to get this story going. So here it goes! Hope you enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I think you know what it is….
RUN! RUN! RUN!
I screamed to myself. MUY RAPIDO!I could hear the screams and cries of the villagers behind me, the crashing of their feet through the brush. I continued to run, rain running into my eyes, stumbling over the various stumps and twigs in my way. I could see the docks ahead of me. PLEASE LEGS DON'T GIVE UP! I yelled curses to the villagers behind me. I ran up to the huge ship that was getting ready to set sail. I quickly jumped to a jutting edge, and climbed the best I could to the rails. Water was sloshing up the sides, and I kept nearly sliding back into the arms of the angry mob. I finally reached the rails and I turned around, and looked triumphantly at the villagers below. "Adios mi amigos!" I yelled to them.
I turned back to the ship I was clinging to, and climbed over the railing, hoping no one had heard the commotion I had made. I sighed, seeing no one, hearing no one. I turned back to the waving torches the villagers were holding. I grinned, waving back towards them. I hate it when stuff like this happens. I thought regretfully. " Oh well." I whispered. Time to find a place to sleep. I walked as quietly as I could, hoping to find a corner or niche I could sleep in. Preferably hidden from prying eyes. I spotted the perfect place after a few minutes of circling the deck. It's perfect! You couldn't find it unless you were looking for it. I had found an old barrel. Even though it smelled slightly of soured grape juice, it would work. It was very light weight, and I was able to carry it down to the storage compartments. What a day, I thought tiredly. I wonder where this ship is headed? Well, I guess it doesn't matter. I'll find somewhere to stay.
I had the perfect gig, before being chased off by those nitwit villagers. I had worked for a traveling circus. I had been the "Amazing Gator Girl", and had been paid a good $50 a week. Why was I called that you might ask? Well, because of my appearance of course. I was born a freak of nature, with the skin of an alligator, green and scaly. My teeth were extremely sharp, and my eyes were a cold, emotionless gold. I couldn't see very well, and had to wear contacts. I couldn't find any glasses that would fit my…gator appearance. I could make my skin normal, as in I could make it look human. But doing this always drained me, and I had never really wanted to be someone else. I guess you might think that suprising, but I like to be different. I liked to remember the fact that I was a total original. Sure I felt a bit lonely not being able to do normal teenage things, like going to the movies or the mall. But I wasn't totally friend less. I had friends all over the Latin American world, and each and every one accepted me as myself. I don't need anyone to get me through this situation… but it is always kind of nice to know where your going, and if you've got someone who knows your troubles there. But no one knows what I'm going through, not…a single… person…on…earth. And I drifted off to sleep with these dismal thoughts.
I woke the next morning sore, stiff, and confused. Where am I? What day is it? Why am I here? Where's Josh and Jeff? Where are the others? And why do I stink? It always took me a while to wake up. And I was NOT enjoying the smell of this barrel. I listened for breathing or footsteps, and when I heard none, I slowly and cautiously climbed out of the barrel. I lost my balance and landed butt first on the floor. "Ow! That hurt!" I muttered. I glared at the barrel, blaming it for my clumsiness. I listened to see if anyone had heard my…graceful fall. Not a sound, I thought happily, maybe all that practice on the high wire DID help. I got off my butt and started to explore my new chamber. Lots of boxes, I thought. What am I gonna do for clothes? Mine had gotten soaked from the rain of the night before. I checked the boxes for clothes, and luckily enough, I had found one. I looked for a hammer or a crowbar. I need SOMETHING to pry the lid off with…but what? I looked for an hour, circling the boxes, trying to lift some of them to look underneath. Nothing. I couldn't find a thing. I was shivering the entire time, hoping for something to turn up. Luck was definitely NOT on my side today. My stomach was growling quite fiercely. From my guess, it was about ten in the morning before I started to look for food. I crawled carefully up the stairs, on deck, praying that no one would see me. I changed to my more human form, just in case. But I didn't open my mouth. I could change my skin color, but I couldn't change the shape of my teeth. I'm in luck! This ship isn't a cruise ship, I thought excitedly. I could play that I'm deaf…and got lost and wondered on the ship. I could go to the cook and beg for scraps.
I walked determinably to the where the kitchen was (or where I hoped the kitchen was) and low and behold, there it was. At least my sense of direction wasn't affected by that incident last night. I was a bit nervous about my eyes, but it wasn't too odd to see kids with strange colored eyes nowadays. I hope any ways. I looked carefully around the corner, and saw a grizzly old black man with at least 6 foot 7, with 15 tattoos (that I could see). My heart fell down to my feet. This isn't going to be as easy as I thought it would be, I thought dismally. But I wasn't going to give up just yet. I gathered up as much of my shattered courage as I could, and walked slowly into the kitchen. I cleared my throat, and walked up to the cook and tapped him on the shoulder. "WHAT!" he jumped. I ran away, and hid behind the wall. I peeked around after a moment, and saw him staring half angrily, half amusingly. He had seen how scared I was, and that I hadn't meant to surprise him. I walked slowly around the door and smiled with my mouth closed. Maybe he isn't as bad as he looks. He grinned at me…and he had pointed teeth! His weren't as sharp as mine, but they were pointed! I guess he noticed me staring, because he closed his mouth and reached out a hand to me. He spoke with a thickly accented voice, but I couldn't tell what kind of language he originally spoke.
"It is alright kid. I not hurt you." He said softly. He thinks I'm afraid of him, I thought, amazed.
I looked down at my feet, "I know. It's just…your like me…I think any way." I could tell he didn't understand what I was saying, and I looked up, trying to explain better. I showed him my teeth, and I saw what I had meant finally dawned on him. He grinned, showing me his teeth again. I nodded, smiling. I heard my stomach growl again. I blushed, and looked pleadingly, or what I hoped was pleadingly, into his eyes. "Could I have something to eat?" I asked. Please, oh please, oh please! I begged silently in my mind.
He looked silently at me, considering my request. "Yes child. You have something to eat, k?" he said slowly. I smiled at him "Mucho gracias senor." He looked at me, confused. "Sorry. I said 'thank you very much.'" I smiled sheepishly. He nodded and said, "You is welcome. Sit, I fix food."