Annabeth:

I don't know why it happens, it just does. It's not like it'd never happened before. Other pirates were quick to attack when they see the Athena is only crewed by women. They figure that no one couldn't possibly lose a fight against me and my crew.

Athena: 17

Guest: 0

So yes, our ship had been boarded, rammed, shot at and even partially destroyed. But never, not even once, has an enemy pirate gotten off of my ship with a single gold coin.

Not until now that man decided to show up.

It was night in the Caribbean. The moon was full, giving off just enough light to sail by, though they weren't using it. The wind had dropped to but a lingering breeze that sent miniscule waves gently caressing the hull of the beautiful grey ship. The cove they sat at was merely a collection of islands and beaches, a treasure trove for pirates escaping royal fleets in the maze like structure.

Usually on nights like this, i was quick to bring in a late haul. Trading was upping the ante, meaning larger ships and fewer to no royal guard. It was simply picking out a ship in the distance that fit the description of what they were looking for.

But tonight was not like most nights. Firstly, we had scored in a major bounty earlier that day, and with the royal fleet scouring the coasts for pirates they couldn't sell at any of the normal, neutrally controlled ports. Secondly, it was Hazel's birthday.

A party was in full swing on deck, full of laughter and dancing, stories of times before pirating. Some were bitter and others spoke of better days. Everyone however was in a good mood. Lights hung from the masts, strung between them like the Chinese lanterns they'd seen in Singapore. The mead and rum were brought out by the keg, and drunk just as fast.

"Annabeth, stop looking towards your quarters! You can get back to your charts later!" Thalia laughed, walking between crewmates to get to her best friend and captain. I kept her longing gaze towards my rooms. I loved the celebrations, it was just a bit too much for her. She longed for the warmth of my bed.

"Annabeth!" Thalia yelled, putting a hand on my shoulder, "you need to loosen up! It's not everyday our little girl finally reaches eighteen!" She jested. From somewhere close by, Hazel squeaked indignantly.

"Stop calling me little!" She pouted as another round of laughter erupted and Thalia's attention drifted elsewhere. But when she looked back, she noticed my tentative step towards the map room.

"Annabeth!" She reprimanded.

"Urg! I need to make sure that the port will be open tomorrow in Rasp Shanty. If the armada is docking there-"

"Check later." Thalia said, sounding more sober than before. "One night, Annabeth. Then I'll even help you go through the charts and letters myself." She promised. I raised an eyebrow, because the last time Thalia helped me, I couldn't find anything for a week. "I promise not to help you, then." She amended.

I finally consented as I took a sip of the wine, deciding a headache tomorrow would not be wise for going into port. The men hardly ever wanted to bargain with me in the first place. If I was hungover they might think less of me. "Fine. But as soon as Hazel declares it over-"

I didn't get to finish as Thalia pulled ne into the crowd, letting the festivities wash away any sense of time or direction I had. Eventually I knew Thalia would be too tipsy to even walk straight at the rate she was drinking, so I decided to let her guard down for an hour or two. That was a big mistake. I saw first the way one crewmate was talking with a crewmate suddenly stopped, looking suspiciously towards the port side. I, watching from my friend's drunken embrace, could only watch as my crewmate wandered over towards the stairs there, heading below deck.

Its probably nothing. I thought, taking another sip of wine. And for a few minutes I didn't give it another thought. Then I realized that I couldn't find the crewmate. Only then did the alarm bells begin to ring. Thalia frowned, noticing my frown. "What's wrong?" She asked.

A million thoughts began to go through my head before I finally settled it within myself. "Grab Lucy and Gwen and check the haul... I think someone is onboard." I whispered.

Thalia, suddenly sober, did as she was told. I began to saunter over towards the port side railing, unsure of what I was looking for. She ran her hand over the sea dried, polished wood. Then I frowned as there was a rope. A rope that didn't attach to anywhere. By then it was to late.

"Stop! Thief!" Thalia yelled. I spun on the heel of my boot. My eyes widening in realization. Too late, I realized what was happening.

He was in all black, a shadow had Thalia not been on alert. His tri point hat set firmly on his head and a blue bandana around his mouth and nose. His coat went to his knees, hugging his breeches and boots. I could vaguely see the flintlocks he kept on his belt, along with a cutlass.

I had exactly two seconds to observe him before he ran straight into me. We both fell to the deck, facing each other. His head hit the railing with an audible 'crack!', but otherwise he seemed fine. I finally noticed the most important detail. He had in his hand a bag of whatever he must've taken from the ship's stores.

And now it sat between him and me. I came to my senses, leaning forward to snatch the bag from him before he could put another hand on it, but he was too quick. He took it in one fluid movement, at the same time drawing his flintlock, aiming at my skull. A whale could breach right beside them and the crew wouldn't have blinked. Never, not once, had they seen their captain at such mercy as to this man, this boy. And yet no one knew, I faced this position before, with my own blood.

I guessed he might've been grinning under his mask as he stood and tipped his hat with the hand holding the bag of loot. "Captain," He said in a calm tone, "I'm afraid that I must take my leave, but don't stop the party on my account."

Then he jumped, I knew he'd somehow caught the rope and slid down to what she guessed was some sort of boat. The crew erupted into action all at once. Some reached for weapons. A few wielded bottles and began to throw them after the mystery thief. I stood and drew my own flintlock, aiming and firing towards- yep -the retreating ten foot skiff now slowly making its way towards the shallows between the two nearest islands.

Thalia cursed, then began to bark orders. "Hold your fire! He's already gone!" She grumbled, pushing a few crewmates away from the railing. Everyone began to protest at once.

"Enough!" I finally yelled, startling the crew into silence, "prepare the ship to follow after him. I want this ship set to sail in an hour, you hear me? Follow after him. Now."

The crew burst into action, orders now given. A few among them, such as Hazel and Gwen, began to immediately task out the other girls to their roles. Thalia followed after her captain. "We can't follow him into the shallows."

"I know." I said, already in my chart room. I laid the map of the island maze out in front of her, tracing currents and routes.

"He's got a head start, and a few dozen places to hide in." Thalia argued.

"Yes, yes he does." I said sending a stern look. I was well aware of their situation.

Thalia sighed. "But we aren't letting him get away?"

"No, no we aren't."

Three days.

Several possible sightings and one confirmed one from between an archway that only the girl in the crow's nest could claim to see through. She might've just been eager, seeing as they couldn't see him after that. But I understood he was a slippery one. A desperate, slippery one at that. To steal from the Athena? Bad call. I was quick to compare the possible sightings and decide where he must be going. I put a pin in the name of the port.

"Fort Mason," I said triumphantly, "he's going to re meet with his ship and crew, then sell all of our gold."

Thalia frowned. After an extensive search, we had determined he'd stolen enough to line his pockets quite handsomely. He couldn't be allowed to reach the Fort.

"What do you suppose we do?" Thalia asked, looking at the maze of pins I had placed intricately on the map. Some had papers marking dates and times.

I pointed to a small cove directly across from the Fort as I smirked evilly. "He was stupid to think we wouldn't see he was leading us in the wrong direction. So now we do what we do best. Eh pirate?"

Let me know what you think of the story guys.