I re-did this, adding a few more details. The story stayed the same though (oh but I did change her age so that it would match up with the story better) :)

"It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line,

though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean."

- John Locke (1632 - 1704)

"The wind was in the favor of the small ship that was sailing southeast on the North-West Passage. From the ship came the sounds of new life. A child had been born to the captain's wife."

Lightning flashed in the distance as the sailor slammed the book shut and threw it onto the deck. "Damn books. There's nothin' useful in 'em."

"Well I like them. They're full of adventure!" The girl who had spoken picked up the book that the old gray haired sailor she knew as Mr. Edinbaugh had dropped, and held it close.

"Ye would," Mr. Edinbaugh said as he pulled out a pipe and lit it. "I don't see why the captain chose to haul books as his trade. I just don't see why he can't choose to transport something more… worthwhile. And why does he bring ye along on these voyages anyway? The sea is no place for a young lady… Not to mention it be bad luck," he mumbled the last bit to himself.

"By worthwhile you mean like rum…" she glanced down at her feet as she spoke.

"Aye!" he said, as he sucked on his pipe, "Like rum." Mr. Edinbaugh glanced at the sky warily. "My bones feel as though a storm be near, but that storm looks farther off than a …"

She frowned as a peal of thunder rumbled blocking out his words. "Mr. Edinbaugh, why are almost all of the sailors alike? Why can't they be more respectable like my father?" she asked as she glanced at the sky herself.

"There are many types of people in this world, Cordelia, and ye will find that they all are respectable… if ye look at it from their point of view," the old sailor reasoned, winking at her with his one good eye. "Now miss if I was ye I would go inside because there is a storm heading right towards the Misty Morning and it looks like it'll be a big one," he finished that sentence quickly and pointed to the sky, rushing off towards the wheel.

Cordelia frowned after him as she walked back to the cabin, glancing at the sky that was now filled with dark clouds. She didn't like being treated as if she was completely helpless, she had just turned thirteen after all, yet it was nice to have people care about her. The rain had just started to fall as she entered the cabin and she sat down on her bed. She couldn't help but think about what Mr. Edinbaugh had said. If you look at it from their point of view. Feeling slightly childish, she covered her right eye and squinted, laughing to herself. The wind howled outside of the cabin as the ship rocked violently. "This storm seems much worse than other ones," thought Cordelia. She stood up and began walking toward the door that led to the deck.

A violent jerk caused her to lose her footing and fall to the floor. A knife clattered and fell in front of her face, causing her to yelp. She sighed in relief, realizing that it was the knife that her father had given her in case of an emergency. She had kept it under her pillow in the cabin. It must have slipped out during all of the ship's rocking. She snatched it up and quickly attached it around her waist. She couldn't help but carry it whenever she was nervous, and although she had been through many storms before, she couldn't help but feel as though this one was different.

A sound from outside made her jump. Rushing to the door, she grabbed the handle and turned it. The wind blew in the door and she struggled to remain standing. She looked out across the deck to see a blur of motion and down pouring rain. She stood there in the doorway trying to understand what was happening. She looked frantically around for Mr. Edinbaugh or her father, or anyone for that matter.

"Father!" she yelled, desperately hoping to get someone's attention. She saw Mr. Edinbaugh and she ran, slipping more than once, towards him. "Mr. Edinbaugh!" she said gasping for breath, "what's happening?"

"The storm's worse than I thought it would be, Cordelia! The mast was snapped in two. Get back inside! It's not safe!"

"Mr. Edinbaugh, where's my father?"

Mr. Edinbaugh looked down for a moment. He then looked up at her and said quietly, "He's gone."

"Gone?" she gasped.

"Aye. He was knocked overboard by the falling mast. There is no way to tell where he is or if he is living, but I don't think he will survive. He was hit on the head pretty hard before he was washed overboard, and I lost sight of him. I'm sorry, Cordelia, I truly am. Now please go back inside, before ye get washed overboard too!"

Cordelia hesitated. Her father. Gone. What was to become of her?

"Cordelia! Go now!" She heard Mr. Edinbaugh shout.

She began her journey back toward the cabin, her tears blending in with the rain.

I don't think he will survive. I'm sorry.

Lost in her thoughts Cordelia stopped walking and, as fate would have it, at that very brief moment, a wave came rushing over the side of the Misty Morning. Cordelia felt herself being pulled into and then under the water. She swam to the surface gasping for air. Floundering in the water, she clung to the first thing she found; a crate that must have washed overboard. She recognized it as one of the crates her father's books were in. She held on for dear life as the waves tossed her back and forth. She gasped when she saw the Misty Morning crash into a rock she hadn't noticed before. The storm must have pushed them off course. She didn't think they would be near islands for another day at the least. She watched helplessly as the remainder of her father's boat smashed repeatedly against the rocks. She never would have believed she would ever have to deal with this kind of loss in her life, at least not yet... But she had thought the exact same thing back when her mother passed away. She looked around her at the ocean that she had until recently called her home sweet home. Now… she wasn't so sure she liked it any more. The water began to calm, and she felt her eyelids droop. I can't fall asleep now, she thought, though she knew that given her situation there wasn't anything else she could do. She sighed and closed her eyes. She had cried the last of her energy and tears away, and was ready to drift off.

Yes, I do realize that this first chapter is all OC. The characters that belong to Disney are coming, I promise :D

In the meantime, comment, review, or even critique :D I don't mind!

Anyhow, I DON'T OWN PotC or any of the PotC characters that will be showing up in later chapters.

love from IsJustIs:D