"Hey! Get back here you brat!"

I didn't listen to the guy, I didn't even turn to look behind me as my bear feet hits the ground. I kept running down the stone road away from the from the trio. I don't need to be told that I'm getting a good distance away from them as I weave through the crowd. Even if I don't get that much proper self care for myself, a 14 year old can always out run three men thats new to this town.

Why are they even chasing me to begin with? All I did was minding my own busy when one of them bump into me. Those guys wanted me to apologize even if I wasn't the one at fault. So when I refused to say those simple words, I swiftly bolted back the way I came before they did something. This moment being proven to my action to get away.

At least I know this town's layout better than those idiots.

After about eight minutes of running, as well as gaining several more yards ahead of them, I quickly turn a corner to go into an alleyway. It has stacks of boxes and crates piled up agenst the buildings. I already knew that those would be there, I went to the right before I started to climb up one of the piles of crates to the top. It would've been a bit hard for my size if I wasn't used to doing this stuff. Once I got to the top, I went from the top crate to the roof of the building it stacked to.

I quickly got out of the way so they hopefully won't see me. I peeked out the edge of the structure I'm on, making sure that my messy brown hair wouldn't be seen. As I watch carefully over the building's ledge, I saw those three bozos run right past where I was hiding. I smirk to myself knowing that they won't find me anytime soon in the direction that they had went.

I waited a couple of minutes before I went over to start climbing down from my hiding spot. Once my feet were on the ground, I went to the alley's edge and looked both ways before heading in the opposite direction that my perusers had gone. I quickly sprinted back to my place. I don't wan't to deal with anything else right now.

As I ran, the scenery went from stores and the market to homes and more of the woodsy side of town. This is a decently large port town really. And the entire town is surrounded by dense forests. It didn't take long till I got through the 10 minute run through the woods to get to a building that not many knows about.

I slowed down as I got to the door, opening it while welcoming myself home. It was a drafty old small house that I had tried to have put back together several times. Each time I really just fail though. I only just fix the roof now, I gave up on the windows till certain parts of the year. But hey, its home.

I walked over to where my 'bed' was on the floor, still wishing that it wasn't just a blanket that's not even warm enough at times. It was in another part of the house so when someone does come into the house, they won't just see me right off the bat. I won't take chances in getting mugged or worse by a stranger.

As I went over, I took a brief pause in front of a old, broken mirror to look in it. I could see the same reflection that I always do as I stare back at myself. My light brown eyes scanned of my face to see my short shaggy/messy darkish brown hair and my dirt covered sun kissed skin. I can't help but think of my mom and dad each time I see my own face. A feeling of longing for them wash over me, wishing that what happened years ago didn't happened.

Before I could let my mind to go back to that day, I sent my eyes to look over my body. My dirty tan (believed it was white at one point) long sleeve shirt that covers my hands in it's length, muddy brown pants, and a matching brown vest coat. The vest and shirt were a bit to big for me, revealing some of my small broad shoulders around my neck. There were two things around my neck, both from whats left of my past. A red cloth that I tired around my neck to cover some of my expose skin, and a ruhh rose pendent that only I know is hidden under the cloth.

My right hand went up and fumbled the piece a little bit. I didn't have to look up to the reflecting image of me to know a frown have grown in place. This pendent did belong to my mom. Just as much as the cloth was a part of dad's cloak. I couldn't stop the sigh for my parents. Though, I don't think anybody could ever recognize me. As far as anyone knows, me and my parents dead about- how many years has it been? 7-8 years now this spring? It's hard to tell when your all on your own.

I put my hand back to my side and continued walking into the room that I'm using as a bed room. I know it was getting late in the afternoon, I could just take a nap and go dumpster diving when night falls. I then went to my corner and started to get ready for a nap. Giving a silent prayer for a better life to hurry up and find me. A better life that could give me maybe, just maybe... a family.

SLAM!

I jumped to my feet when that sound startled me from my sleep. I slowly but quickly got to my feet as I start to hear a male's voice saying, "Dude, this place is really abandoned."

I could hear two sets of foot steps coming inside as another spoke, sounding older than the first, "Aye, but what made ya want ta come 'ere?"

I grabbed my blanket, twisting it as I silently move to the door of the room I'm in. I can tell night fell not that long ago by how dark it is. I continue to listen to them as the younger sounding one answered, "Because I just wanted to explore a bit before we might leave." I could here him coming closer to where I am as he ask, "Is that so bad?"

It was just then that he walked into the room I'm in. I quickly jumped him and used my now twisted blanket to pull on the front of his neck. He let out a surprised 'ahh' as the fabric pressed into his neck. As I pulled on it and drove him to go backwards to where I was just standing, I heard the older guy shout out, "Alfred!? Whats going on?!"

'Alfred' clawed at the fabric that I seem to be choking him a bit with, trying to get it off as I have his back to me. I wasn't sure if I heard the sound of metal scraping, but I know I heard heavy footsteps coming our way.

Once I saw a big guy standing in front of us, I told him with as much confidence that I could, "Don't move, or I pop his head off."

I know the guy I have right now was blocking most of my view of the older guy. But I'm positive that I can see he has red hair and green eyes thats reflecting as much light thats in here. Which I know isn't much after living here for so many years. Not to mention the light glinting off the sword that in his hands scares me a bit.

I could see worry and murder on his face shift to confusion as he stares in our direction. He started to lower the weapon in his hand a bit with a stern-confused look, "Your just a kid?"

I just scowl at him, not letting my grip fade, "So?"

He starts to lose up, tip of the sword touching the ground, "Listen, before we may do somethin' that either of us may regret, can ya let me friend go? We won't hurt ya." I looked at him skeptically for a few moments before I loosen the hold I had on Alfred, hearing him take in a gasp of air into his lungs. The red raised an eyebrow, reminding me a bit of mom when I only went half way of what she wants, before saying, "All the way off."

Feeling a bit bad by that look, I avoided his gaze as I let go of the blanket completely. Alfred didn't seem to waist a moment, running away from me and over behind the red head thats now sporting a smile. As Alfred rubbed his neck and looked at what I was using, the older one seemed to look me over better. Taking in everything from my messy hair to my bear-calloused feet.

I did the same to him, seeing that his wearing a cream shirt, a dark brown waist coat, brown trousers, and black boots. He's taller than Alfred, but Alfred also seemed to be younger than him. Yet the both of them are still taller than me, so the red knows they have an advantage there.

As he sheaved his sword, I wasn't sure if I saw a hint of pity in his eyes while he ask, "Ya seem a tad young to be on ya own. 'here ya folks at, kid?"

I could feel my face scrunch up a bit when he asked. In my opion, my expression and silence was an answer all on it's own.

"Hey, um..." I look up to that Alfred kid, holding up my now unraveled blanket, "Is this your blanket?"

I nodded to him before I nod over to the corner, "I was asleep before you both woke my up when the door slammed open."

Alfred, now that I notice seems to be a couple of years older than me, looked a bit sheepishly sorry as his eyes fell to the floor, "Oh..."

Silence fell over the room, not the comfortable kind. I guess most of their questions were answered a lot quicker than they thought it would take.

It was suddenly broken after a minute by Alfred as he asks happily to the older, "Hey, can we bring the little dude along with us? Can we, Alister?"

The both of us looked at the spunky boy with looks of confusion. 'Alister' was the one who spoke, "Alfred, ya got ta be kiddin' me, boy! The kid just attacked ya, and we know next to nothin' about this kid. Why would we do that?"

I raised a hand as I added, extremely confused right now, "Um, I'm a bit lost, but even I would at least like to know why, too."

The boy in question scratched his head a bit nervously, "Well, um..." He looked at me with a small smile, "What's your name?"

I crossed my arms over my chest with a 'now you ask' look, "People call Andy."

He gave me a smile, "Thanks." He then looks back to the older nervously, "Well, you know I don't have anyone my age or so on the ship, right?" The red head nodded to him as he continues, "Plus, Andy could make a good addition to the crew when it comes to some things. Not to mention it won't hurt to have a new ship mate with us?" Alister was giving another nod, but it was more hesitant than the one before. Alfred then turns up his charm, as if asking to take me in as a pet, "So can we? Can we please? I promise to take any responsibility for the little dude. Please?"

The older guy seemed to be thinking this over, weighing pros and cons with a thoughtful look. After a little while, he looked up at me with a considerable expression, "It depends on ya, kid. Though, I'm not sure ya will like the life we lead. So..."

I looked at him with confusion, still a bit lost of what's going on, "What do you both do anyway? Because I'm super confused here."

They both look at me and glance at each other, debating to even answer. Alfred then looks back at me, still debating something, "Um, lets just say that it ain't all that honorable to live as we do. It could also be pretty dangerous. So you may not really..."

I thought it over as I recall somethings they said. I look at him with a questioning look, "You said, 'on the ship' right?" He nodded to me, still looking at them with the same look, "Will I be able to have food. Like, not scrounging around for scraps or something as my next meal? But real meals that won't leave me hungry afterwards?"

They looked to be getting more relax as I kept asking them the questions, both nodding this time.

I let myself show some interest in their offer, "Will I get my own bed or hammock to sleep in? Not the cold hard floor? A place where I can also be properly shelter from the weather?"

Alister seemed to gaining a smile as this kept going, "Aye to all of them."

"All year around, too?"

He let out a chuckle as Alfred started to smile, "All year 'round, too."

I couldn't contain the smile that was forming on my face, "Do you think I can also earn some money, too? I mean, I won't be asking for much. Possibly just enough for to try new foods at different ports and get clothes on the occasion. How much do you think I may get payed if I just do some physical labor? Because I know I can do that stuff. Plus I don't mind learning something new, too."

The red head just smiled brightly down at me, "Kid, so far I'm hearin' that is a 'yes' for our question. Ain't it?"

I straighten up and gave him a salute, "Aye aye, sir. That would be a yes."

He laughed at what I did as Alfred grinned with joy. Once Alister calmed down a bit and said, "Alrighty then, let's go you two. I need to tell the captain we just got a new recruit."

I followed happily as the three of us left the old house. As we walked through the wood, I turned around to take possibly one last glance at the old place.

I wasn't sure how long I was standing there till I felt a hand on my shoulder. I wasn't used to being touch like that so I jumped away on reflex from the person.

I ended up seeing Alfred there in a better lighting than in the old house. He has blond hair with a cowlick, tall enough that I'm positive that he's about 2 years older than me, and glasses framing his ocean colored eyes. His clothes are like mine but it was a white fitting shirt and brown pants.

He had his hand raised, looking at me with concern, "Something wrong Andy?"

I gave him a smile, shaking my head, "No, I just lived in that house for about maybe 6-7 years up till now. So I'm just gonna miss the place a bit is all."

The older of the three of us looked at me with kind understanding, "Don't worry, it is understandable. But we'll help ya adjust to things, kid."

I gave him a smile, "Thanks, sir."

He chuckled a bit with a smile, "Don't mention it." He then turns back around to keep walking to town, shouting over his shoulder, "Hey, if ya don't hurry up, we might just leave ya both here."

Me and Alfred looked at each other before we both started to run after the red head. Heading to what will be the third chapter, a new chapter, in my life.