******* Hey there people. Or 'person' since I've only gotten one review so far. Thanks to that one person, and by the way…you said in your review something about Port Royal being in Jamaica. Yes, I do know that and that is why in the first few sentences or two I put 'hop a ship over to Port Royal.' I'm not getting mad or anything, I just thought I'd point it out. And thanks for telling me about the bridle, not bridal thing…heh, its amazing what you can miss sometimes eh? Oh hey, if anyone out there can tell me how to make some of my font italicized it would be greatly appreciated. I've tried and tried to make it show up, and I think I'm gonna have to go into therapy over the deal. So, here's the next chapter if anyone is reading it. And of course, REVIEW!!!!!
Oh, and I might not have labeled the thought part very well at the beginning and end of the chapter. Her thoughts are between * at the beginning and end, and their in first person. Until I can figure out how to get italics to show up on here, that's how its gonna have to be done. EVERYTHING BELOW THE CHAPTER TITLE IS THE STORY SO READ IT ALL!!! I don't what anyone getting confused, and there is not A/N at the end, its still the story.
Chapter Two
*Well, well, well. Looks like I wasn't killed in my sleep after all, huh? Since I don't have anything else to do, besides try to get this damn knot out of my hair, I could finish what I was tellin' ya yesterday. Now where was I? The incident with Nero on the ship? No, no, that's not it…saving 'his' arse for the hundredth time? No, that ain't it. Oh, I know! That crazy woman just gave me that horrid amulet. Speaking of which, where is that blasted thing? Ah, who cares, its not that big of an island, it couldn't have gone far. Well, where should I start? How about a little after I talked to that woman, back home…*
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"Port Royal?! Ye got ta be daft! It takes a good amount a time ta get down there on ship! Ta ride a horse down there its…its daft!" Endinea repeated herself in a tone of voice that shook the small house. Apparently, she was taking it worse then Ryder had hoped. Endinea may not be her mother, or of any blood relation whatsoever, but she was still a parent figure in some way.
"Give me some credit 'ere. Nero's a fast horse, we can make it in good time."
"He's a bit horse lass, 'is not built for speed! He's a work horse, not a race horse! I've been tellin' ya that fer years! 'Tat's why ye hardly ever win none a them races!" Endinea argued back and slammed a cast iron skillet on the table while motioning toward the stallion tied up back.
"Hey, he's got potential, but that's beside the point! We CAN make it down there, and we WILL get this amulet to…where ever its 'spose ta go!" Ryder replied and pulled the necklace out of her pocket, and shoved it in the old woman's face. For a moment she said nothing, just stared at the ugly stone swinging back and forth in front of her.
"This…this is what your suppose ta deliver?! This piece of gypsy craft?! This looks like its worth about as much as a pirates word!" Endinea yelled. "Its completely daftly ta go runnin' about down there just 'cause some ol' hag told ya it was important!"
Ryder opened her mouth to retort but shut it quickly. Maybe she was right. Maybe the old crone was just lying to her, buy why would she lie about something like this? Besides, she knew about her parents. She could just be an old fortune teller looking for a few laughs, but it just didn't fit. Old women weren't suppose to go around telling lies of this magnitude. Then again, young women weren't suppose to go around riding horses either.
"Fake or no, its somethin' ta try at. Its not like I don't 'ave anything better ta do 'ere." the girl said in a stubborn, but calm voice. "And I highly doubt that ye could stop me if I went."
"Ye be right lass." said Endinea in a laughing tone. "If ye wanted ta go, you'd go and there be nothin' that anyone could do ta stop ya." Shaking her head, the woman took the amulet from Ryder's grasp and ran a rough, stubby thumb over the brown stone. Anyone could see that the elder thought the whole idea was poppycock. The idea was riding down to the southern point and getting on a ship to Port Royal. Insanity, that's what it was. A young girl like that would never make it in one piece, not without help that is, and who would help her? Endinea could see it all now. She could be beat to a pulp by road robbers and dumped on a beach where any pirate could reach her. She was right though, both of them were. If Ryder wanted to go, she would go, and judging by the ridged look etched across her features, she wanted to go. Letting out a heavy sigh, Endinea handed the trinket back.
"I'm not yer mother, so I'm not gonna pretend ta be, and that ol' thing back there definitely ain't yer father." she motioned with her head toward the back of the house where the curses of an old man could be heard. "So…Its yer choice lass. Now hear me, I still don't like the idea one bit, but if ye think this be the right thing ta do…then who am I ta tell ya no?"
Taking the necklace back in her hand, Ryder looked at Endinea with her good eye. She had expected an all out war to ensue. Yelling and screaming about how a girl like Ryder, with a handicap like hers couldn't do it. She had expected breaking dishes, shattering glass, anything but a smile and an agreement. This is what she wanted though, she so didn't mention it. Instead she smiled a crooked smile back and dashed up the stairway to her small room to collect the necessary things to travel.
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*I left the next morning. All I got was a grunt from the old man, but Endinea was a little harder to leave. Sitting here, I wonder if I'll ever seem them again. To see that little town, those huge fields, to hear that old man curse, and to see Endinea smack him on the head with a rolling pin. I wonder if I'll ever see Nero again? Is he even alive? I'm sure he is, that horse has the strongest will I've ever seen, so he won't go down just because of a little water. Once again, at least that's what I keep telling myself. Will I ever make see that rickety old boat…ship, again? Or that sharp tongued woman onboard, or that man that smelled of hogs and mud. What of them? I'm sure their all ok, their pirates after all, but that doesn't mean I'll see them again.
Listen to me. I shouldn't be spilling my feelings out to you people, but I can't help but be a bit afraid. I'm so alone. I almost miss…no, never mind. I'm not gonna get into 'him' again. I do wonder though…is he looking for me? Will I ever see 'him' again? Ahem…where was I? Oh, yes. Lets move on a few days shall we? Nothing of much interest happened in those days, except for the morning when I traveled a little to far inland and had a problem with a unsteady cliff…*
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It started out as a good idea, really it did. It would be an easy short cut through some little forests and to the coast. Saving the time of going all the way around that point. Though Ryder soon realized that it wasn't that easy to navigate when everything around you looked the same.
"Moss…south side of the tree? No, west side…" she mumbled to herself while she continued through the tall trees. Below her, Nero made a rough grunt as if to say, 'your lost, admit it and we'll both be happier'.
The days had been fairly easy on the traveling pair. Although weather didn't seem to be on their side. Heavy rains had poured down for hours on end at times, followed by gusts of winds which made the two, who were already cold from the rain, even more chilled. Ryder was still satisfied though, seeing it that neither of them caught an illness during their wet state.
"Water, I hear water!" she suddenly called out and clicked her tongue a few times to urge Nero a little faster. Not that the clicking really worked, but he had also heard the water. Ryder wasn't thirsty, but she knew that a river this close to the coast line had to lead to the ocean. Things were starting to look up again.
As the sound grew louder, the horse slowed then gradually came to a stop. A cliff. Not what Nero was hoping for, but still ok in Ryder's eyes. Sliding down to the ground she took the large sized leather pouch full of water and tossed an old pan on the ground she had brought just for occasions like this. Plopping down on the cliff side, she poured a generous amount of water into the pan and quickly drew back her hand before Nero lunged his mouth into the cool liquid. She wasn't exactly sure how far they'd traveled, but she guessed to far to turn back. The necklace was now dangling from her neck and rested against the cloth of her dark green clothing. Ryder was hesitant about taking one of her mothers dressings on this goose chase, but it gave her a small sense of security. It was sewn much like her other brown cover, but its color was not was worn and had beautifully embroidered gold stitching along the rim of the hood, which was currently pulled back. It was only meant to cover the real dress from dirtying, like the other, but sadly this old piece of cloth held more beauty then her dress on the inside.
The sound of Nero pushing around the empty pan signaled for her to start off again. Placing the dish back in the pack she carried with her, Ryder pulled herself onto the large animals back. Tugging on the reigns in the direction the river flowed, both girl and horse where refreshed to a certain point. The calming breeze brushed past them and toyed with the coarse hair of the stallion and the slightly tangled hair of the young woman. It was times like these when she felt as if this trip wouldn't be so bad after all…but when she had those thoughts, something always came along to ruin them, and this time was no different.
Both of the travelers could feel the ground beneath them start to fail under the weight of the great horse. There was no time allowed for any escape attempt, the ground was slipping, and it was slipping fast. The last thing Ryder heard was the struggling sounds of Nero and the vicious roar of the river below.
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* To this day I still won't walk along a cliff side for more then ten feet. Well, I'm not sure how we made it out of that alive, but we did. After all, I'm not the best swimmer in the world and usually Nero sinks like a rock. Like I said, the last thing I remember was hearing the rare sound of Nero panicking and the river. The last thing I remember before I woke up anyway. After that all I remember is waking up to a warm beach, salty ocean, and an unconscious man…*
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"Uhhhhhghhh…what?" the small voice of a now awake Ryder echoed across the quiet beach. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she looked around and took in her surroundings. A beach, the ocean…oh good, Nero nearby, and a dead man. Wait.
Raising up to her knees she looked over at the pile of human resting nearby. No sign of life came from him, and the fact of just coming across a dead guy kind of made her a bit nervous. Finally standing to her full height, she looked down at herself. She was soaked to the bone, but generally ok, at least there were no parts missing that she saw of. Brushing the layers off the sand that had clung to her skin and clothing, she turned toward the relatively calm mouth of the river that emptied into the crystalline waters of the ocean. On the bank of the river stood Nero, filling his belly with the cool waters. Ryder had to shake her head at him. She had seen horses eat and eat and eat, but she had never seen any drink as much as the stallion could. Looking up at the sky, she let a smile break across her face. She didn't know how she had made it all the way down the river alive, but she made it and that's all that matters. Still looking upwards she thought to herself, 'at least someone seems to be on my side.' A sight escaped her lips as she glanced back down and was once again brought back to a small problem. The presumably dead man.
Ryder was a little cautious at approaching him, after all he did look like a dead fish…and smelled like one at the moment also. Bending down just enough to get a hold of his arm, she quickly yanked him so that he was face up. 'Pirate' was the first word that came to her mind. His hair, which was matted into thick strands in most places, flowed across the pale sand and was pulled away from his uncomfortably handsome face by a read bandana. An assortment of beads decorated the deep brown hair along with the tips of the two braids that were formed from his beard that ran along his jaw line. His lips were partly open with shallow breaths escaping every now and then which blew across the mustache that covered his top lip. Skin that told of years in the sun covered his body and made his off white shirt to appear brighter then it actually was. The rest of his clothing was covered in sand and worn from work on the open sea.
The girl rolled her eyes at herself when she swallowed a strange lump that had formed in her throat while gazing down at the man. Lowering a hand she pulled back on of his eyelids to see if he made any response. All she got was an unconscious groan and a bit of black on her finger from the kohl that surrounded his eyes. Looking around again for any sign of any other life, Ryder stood but kept her gaze on the uncharacteristically good looking pirate. Though her one eyed gaze was far and sharp all she saw was some washed up seaweed and a tricornered hat near the tree line.
Trudging up to the dirty hat, Ryder slammed it down on the sand next to the man. She wasn't mad at him or the hat, but she was a little agitated at her conscience. This man, no matter how attractive, was a pirate, but she knew that the guilt of just leaving him there on the beach would nag her and nag her until she went mad. Besides, the look that Nero was giving her close by told her that he wasn't leaving without the pile of man. It was strange, at least she thought, how the stallions eyes held such meaning all the time. In fact, it got to her so much that she wouldn't say anything bad about him when he was within a ten foot radius in fear that he could actually understand her.
Running a hand over her face, Ryder motioned Nero over and started the first of many attempts to get the water logged man on the horse.
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Now, she was certain that she saw a few houses back there. Of course, Ryder was also certain that she would never help a pirate, but here she was, lost again, with a pirate on her horses back. She had hoped that there was some place where she could just drop him off and then be on her way, but so far she'd had no luck. Once again, all she could see where trees, trees, and more trees, but this time she was careful the keep track of what directions she went in so that she could easily get back to the coast. As the day drew on and the man had yet to wake from his coma like state, Ryder's steps turned into plodding shuffles, and Nero's head was hung low from its usual high position.
"That's enough." Ryder announced and stopped in the middle of the path. "We're resting. If that man EVER wakes up, he can find his own way to civilization."
With that she tugged off Nero's bridle and placed a rope around his neck and tied it loosely to a tree nearby. After that she planted her feet firmly on the loose dirt ground and pulled on the legs of the sleeping man. The first time she only accomplished pulling off one of his boots, but the second time brought more success. Though she did knock his head against a small rock…accidentally of course. The next order of business was to get a fire going, and after an hour or so that became a reality. Somewhat anyway, the fire was only big enough for one person in all reality, but it made do.
Night fell on the now three travelers. Nero had long since faded into sleep and was slightly leaning against the tree he was tied to. Ryder was sitting on top of a large stump near the warmth of the fire, keeping an eye out for any intruders or any movement from the man. The man was probably sword fighting or commandeering ships somewhere…in his dreams that is. While this still un named man rested, Ryder had taken the opportunity to separate him from any of his 'piraty' items. Like his pistol, with no gun powder, a few daggers, and an old rusted cutlass. Just in case he woke up and decided it was the time of day to kill, maim, and or do other unmentionable things to a certain one eyed girl. There was also a compass latched onto his leather belt which she had discovered. Opening the black container, she raised one eyebrow. A compass that didn't point north?
"You, good sir, have got ta be the worst pirate I've ever seen." she snickered at him and tossed the compass on top of the pile of his belongings. Leaning back a little, Ryder stared with a suspicious eye at the sleeping pirate. She didn't dare fall asleep in case he woke up and turned out to be one of those blood thirsty pirates Endinea had warned her about so many times. In all honesty, the man looked so beat up that she doubted he could hurt her if he wanted to. Well, maybe he 'could' hurt her, just not as much as he could if he was in top condition.
He had an open gash on his right arm that was currently staining his already stained shirt with blood. A bruise was beginning to form on his jaw line, along with several others on various places. The man probably found his way onto the beach not very long before she woke up, seeing it that these things were just now starting to stand out. Letting out a sigh she walked over and kneeled down next to him while pulling the end of her dress out from under the cover piece. Ripping a fair sized about off she wrapped it around the bloodied wound on his arm, and dunked another piece of cloth in some on Nero's water before dabbing it on the bruises. A few times the man stirred in his sleep which caused Ryder to freeze mid-dab, but she eventually got through it without him waking up. Sitting back on her stump she crossed her arms over her chest and gave a satisfied smile.
"Well, I 'spose I've done my good deed for the day."
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Ryder wasn't sure when she let herself fall asleep that night, but when she woke up the next morning to the sound of someone rummaging through her things she knew she made a mistake. Cracking her eye open from behind the thick curtain of hair that fell in her face, she tried to pretend she was still in the dream world when she saw the pirate awake and lively. Although to her relief, it wasn't her stuff he was going through, it was his own. Deciding on letting him go on and leave she closed her eye, but kept her senses sharp. She moved a bit in her sleep which caused the man to pause in his searching. It was then when she moved that she realized that something was missing.
Opening her eye again she noticed that the small pouch of shillings she had on her make shift belt was gone…and was now resting in the palm of the pirate. Ryder gritted her teeth in anger. He may have been a pirate, but she couldn't just let him take her only money could she? Of course not! So pulling together all the courage she had she slowly and steadily reached for the pirates cutlass that was sitting against a tree nearby. Her steps where quick but quiet as she made her way toward the mans back and raised the point of the blade with both of her hands grasping it tightly.
"G-Give me back my money you…you…" she stuttered and tried to come up with a harsh insult. Unfortunately, she was never that good at insults…and even if she was, when that man turned around and looked her in the eye she probably could have said one anyway. Such eyes. They were so laid back and relax, yet so alert and prepared. If Ryder hadn't have known that he was a sea robber, she probably would have melted into a puddle girl. The hair, the eyes, the kohl…And it was in that moment that she first saw that smirk that she came to hate and love at the same time.
"I see that your up and about darling. What, no breakfast made yet?" he said with a smooth and drunken voice with a golden smile. Ryder narrowed her eyes in an irritated fashion. Swallowing yet another lump in her throat she repeated her demand with more confidence.
"Give me back my money!" she stated and raised the sword higher so that it was trained on his neck. Then when he took a step towards her, some of her courage flew away. "Uh…please?" Her face became even more aggravated when he let out a heavy laugh.
" Tha's got ta be the first time anyone has said 'please' ta me! Let me tell ye somethin' lass," he stepped out from behind the point of the sword and stood next to her with an arm around her shoulders. " 'Please' don't get ye anywhere when dealin' wit pirates, love. Ye gotta be tough, rough…though I doubt that a cute lil' strumpet like you could get rough or tough." he finished with that grin again and tapped his index finger on her nose, completely ignoring her request. Ryder suddenly had a strong urge to backhand that smirk right of his, still quite attractive, face. Instead, she held back the urge and snatched the pouch from his dirty hand that was resting on her shoulder. Backing away a few steps with a cold glare on him, she dropped the cutlass on the ground and skittered over to untie Nero. Still with the one eyed stare on the man, she grabbed her things and stalked away from the smirk she hated with the horse close behind.
"A cute little strumpet like you, blah, blah, blah!" she mocked him in a twisted voice. She had to admitt, it was a strange thing that just happened back there. He basically had a conversation with her, just ignoring the fact that he could probably kill her right on the spot. Another strange thing was that she didn't even feel any fear toward him even when he was close enough to strangle the life out of her. Then he just let her walk off…what kind of pirate was he anyway?
"Now, where am I again?" she stopped and looked around. None of this looked familiar at all. Groaning she tilted her head back and looked up to the sky and mouthed 'why me?'. Yes, it was true, she was lost…again.
"The coast has to be…" she closed her eyes and threw a rock in front of her. "That way!" she stated when the rock landed to the left, and she began pulling Nero behind her again.
"Not very good at navigatin' are ya love?" the familiar slurred voice came from behind her. Ryder's shoulders stiffened and she rolled her eye before turning around with a face that said 'what do YOU what?' There he was, all dressed with his tricorn hat, and that arrogant smirk to top it all off.
"Leave. Me. Alone." she said slowly and turned back around with a faster walk.
"Sorry ta dissapoint ye, but if ye think tha tha's the way back to the ocean your off by more then a few degrees lass." he advised and crossed her arms over his toned chest.
"Did I ask for yer help?" she called over her shoulder.
"Suit yerself." he gave the last remark and headed in the opposite direction. Ryder hated it, but she knew that he probably new his way around a bit better. So throwing away what pride she had left, she turned and jogged back toward his retreating form.
"Wait. Just wait." she said and grabbed onto his arm to make him slow down a bit. "This is the way back right? Yer not just tellin' me that ta lure me down to a dark part of the woods or anythin' right?"
"If I wanted ta take advantage of yer nievity, tiny structure, and all around vulnerability, I would 'ave done it back there darling." he replied and turned his gaze toward her, as if waiting for her to give some remark back. All he got was a girl trying to calm herself down and a simple, but angry toned question.
"Who are you?" Ryder questioned through clenched teeth. He stopped completely turned to her and removed his hat in a false gentlemen gesture.
"Ye haven't guessed yet love? I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
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* Captain Jack Sparrow. That name will always stick with me, even if I try to forget it. That day in the forest when he told me who he was, I told him that I'd never heard of any Jack Sparrow. Of course that was a lie, I had heard of him many times from the merchant sailors that come up from the Caribbean, but I didn't want to give him the pleasure of knowing that. I guess you could say that this was the beginning of this whole venture. Ya know, when I left Endinea she told me that pirates would be out there and that a young girl like me should watch her back. As soft as it sounds, I never really felt like I had to watch my back around Jack, because I always felt like he was watching my back for me. Sorry about that, I shouldn't be getting so emotional over him. Come back tomorrow and I'll tell ya more of the story. Believe me, it gets pretty interesting.
Oh, and I might not have labeled the thought part very well at the beginning and end of the chapter. Her thoughts are between * at the beginning and end, and their in first person. Until I can figure out how to get italics to show up on here, that's how its gonna have to be done. EVERYTHING BELOW THE CHAPTER TITLE IS THE STORY SO READ IT ALL!!! I don't what anyone getting confused, and there is not A/N at the end, its still the story.
Chapter Two
*Well, well, well. Looks like I wasn't killed in my sleep after all, huh? Since I don't have anything else to do, besides try to get this damn knot out of my hair, I could finish what I was tellin' ya yesterday. Now where was I? The incident with Nero on the ship? No, no, that's not it…saving 'his' arse for the hundredth time? No, that ain't it. Oh, I know! That crazy woman just gave me that horrid amulet. Speaking of which, where is that blasted thing? Ah, who cares, its not that big of an island, it couldn't have gone far. Well, where should I start? How about a little after I talked to that woman, back home…*
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"Port Royal?! Ye got ta be daft! It takes a good amount a time ta get down there on ship! Ta ride a horse down there its…its daft!" Endinea repeated herself in a tone of voice that shook the small house. Apparently, she was taking it worse then Ryder had hoped. Endinea may not be her mother, or of any blood relation whatsoever, but she was still a parent figure in some way.
"Give me some credit 'ere. Nero's a fast horse, we can make it in good time."
"He's a bit horse lass, 'is not built for speed! He's a work horse, not a race horse! I've been tellin' ya that fer years! 'Tat's why ye hardly ever win none a them races!" Endinea argued back and slammed a cast iron skillet on the table while motioning toward the stallion tied up back.
"Hey, he's got potential, but that's beside the point! We CAN make it down there, and we WILL get this amulet to…where ever its 'spose ta go!" Ryder replied and pulled the necklace out of her pocket, and shoved it in the old woman's face. For a moment she said nothing, just stared at the ugly stone swinging back and forth in front of her.
"This…this is what your suppose ta deliver?! This piece of gypsy craft?! This looks like its worth about as much as a pirates word!" Endinea yelled. "Its completely daftly ta go runnin' about down there just 'cause some ol' hag told ya it was important!"
Ryder opened her mouth to retort but shut it quickly. Maybe she was right. Maybe the old crone was just lying to her, buy why would she lie about something like this? Besides, she knew about her parents. She could just be an old fortune teller looking for a few laughs, but it just didn't fit. Old women weren't suppose to go around telling lies of this magnitude. Then again, young women weren't suppose to go around riding horses either.
"Fake or no, its somethin' ta try at. Its not like I don't 'ave anything better ta do 'ere." the girl said in a stubborn, but calm voice. "And I highly doubt that ye could stop me if I went."
"Ye be right lass." said Endinea in a laughing tone. "If ye wanted ta go, you'd go and there be nothin' that anyone could do ta stop ya." Shaking her head, the woman took the amulet from Ryder's grasp and ran a rough, stubby thumb over the brown stone. Anyone could see that the elder thought the whole idea was poppycock. The idea was riding down to the southern point and getting on a ship to Port Royal. Insanity, that's what it was. A young girl like that would never make it in one piece, not without help that is, and who would help her? Endinea could see it all now. She could be beat to a pulp by road robbers and dumped on a beach where any pirate could reach her. She was right though, both of them were. If Ryder wanted to go, she would go, and judging by the ridged look etched across her features, she wanted to go. Letting out a heavy sigh, Endinea handed the trinket back.
"I'm not yer mother, so I'm not gonna pretend ta be, and that ol' thing back there definitely ain't yer father." she motioned with her head toward the back of the house where the curses of an old man could be heard. "So…Its yer choice lass. Now hear me, I still don't like the idea one bit, but if ye think this be the right thing ta do…then who am I ta tell ya no?"
Taking the necklace back in her hand, Ryder looked at Endinea with her good eye. She had expected an all out war to ensue. Yelling and screaming about how a girl like Ryder, with a handicap like hers couldn't do it. She had expected breaking dishes, shattering glass, anything but a smile and an agreement. This is what she wanted though, she so didn't mention it. Instead she smiled a crooked smile back and dashed up the stairway to her small room to collect the necessary things to travel.
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*I left the next morning. All I got was a grunt from the old man, but Endinea was a little harder to leave. Sitting here, I wonder if I'll ever seem them again. To see that little town, those huge fields, to hear that old man curse, and to see Endinea smack him on the head with a rolling pin. I wonder if I'll ever see Nero again? Is he even alive? I'm sure he is, that horse has the strongest will I've ever seen, so he won't go down just because of a little water. Once again, at least that's what I keep telling myself. Will I ever make see that rickety old boat…ship, again? Or that sharp tongued woman onboard, or that man that smelled of hogs and mud. What of them? I'm sure their all ok, their pirates after all, but that doesn't mean I'll see them again.
Listen to me. I shouldn't be spilling my feelings out to you people, but I can't help but be a bit afraid. I'm so alone. I almost miss…no, never mind. I'm not gonna get into 'him' again. I do wonder though…is he looking for me? Will I ever see 'him' again? Ahem…where was I? Oh, yes. Lets move on a few days shall we? Nothing of much interest happened in those days, except for the morning when I traveled a little to far inland and had a problem with a unsteady cliff…*
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It started out as a good idea, really it did. It would be an easy short cut through some little forests and to the coast. Saving the time of going all the way around that point. Though Ryder soon realized that it wasn't that easy to navigate when everything around you looked the same.
"Moss…south side of the tree? No, west side…" she mumbled to herself while she continued through the tall trees. Below her, Nero made a rough grunt as if to say, 'your lost, admit it and we'll both be happier'.
The days had been fairly easy on the traveling pair. Although weather didn't seem to be on their side. Heavy rains had poured down for hours on end at times, followed by gusts of winds which made the two, who were already cold from the rain, even more chilled. Ryder was still satisfied though, seeing it that neither of them caught an illness during their wet state.
"Water, I hear water!" she suddenly called out and clicked her tongue a few times to urge Nero a little faster. Not that the clicking really worked, but he had also heard the water. Ryder wasn't thirsty, but she knew that a river this close to the coast line had to lead to the ocean. Things were starting to look up again.
As the sound grew louder, the horse slowed then gradually came to a stop. A cliff. Not what Nero was hoping for, but still ok in Ryder's eyes. Sliding down to the ground she took the large sized leather pouch full of water and tossed an old pan on the ground she had brought just for occasions like this. Plopping down on the cliff side, she poured a generous amount of water into the pan and quickly drew back her hand before Nero lunged his mouth into the cool liquid. She wasn't exactly sure how far they'd traveled, but she guessed to far to turn back. The necklace was now dangling from her neck and rested against the cloth of her dark green clothing. Ryder was hesitant about taking one of her mothers dressings on this goose chase, but it gave her a small sense of security. It was sewn much like her other brown cover, but its color was not was worn and had beautifully embroidered gold stitching along the rim of the hood, which was currently pulled back. It was only meant to cover the real dress from dirtying, like the other, but sadly this old piece of cloth held more beauty then her dress on the inside.
The sound of Nero pushing around the empty pan signaled for her to start off again. Placing the dish back in the pack she carried with her, Ryder pulled herself onto the large animals back. Tugging on the reigns in the direction the river flowed, both girl and horse where refreshed to a certain point. The calming breeze brushed past them and toyed with the coarse hair of the stallion and the slightly tangled hair of the young woman. It was times like these when she felt as if this trip wouldn't be so bad after all…but when she had those thoughts, something always came along to ruin them, and this time was no different.
Both of the travelers could feel the ground beneath them start to fail under the weight of the great horse. There was no time allowed for any escape attempt, the ground was slipping, and it was slipping fast. The last thing Ryder heard was the struggling sounds of Nero and the vicious roar of the river below.
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* To this day I still won't walk along a cliff side for more then ten feet. Well, I'm not sure how we made it out of that alive, but we did. After all, I'm not the best swimmer in the world and usually Nero sinks like a rock. Like I said, the last thing I remember was hearing the rare sound of Nero panicking and the river. The last thing I remember before I woke up anyway. After that all I remember is waking up to a warm beach, salty ocean, and an unconscious man…*
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"Uhhhhhghhh…what?" the small voice of a now awake Ryder echoed across the quiet beach. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she looked around and took in her surroundings. A beach, the ocean…oh good, Nero nearby, and a dead man. Wait.
Raising up to her knees she looked over at the pile of human resting nearby. No sign of life came from him, and the fact of just coming across a dead guy kind of made her a bit nervous. Finally standing to her full height, she looked down at herself. She was soaked to the bone, but generally ok, at least there were no parts missing that she saw of. Brushing the layers off the sand that had clung to her skin and clothing, she turned toward the relatively calm mouth of the river that emptied into the crystalline waters of the ocean. On the bank of the river stood Nero, filling his belly with the cool waters. Ryder had to shake her head at him. She had seen horses eat and eat and eat, but she had never seen any drink as much as the stallion could. Looking up at the sky, she let a smile break across her face. She didn't know how she had made it all the way down the river alive, but she made it and that's all that matters. Still looking upwards she thought to herself, 'at least someone seems to be on my side.' A sight escaped her lips as she glanced back down and was once again brought back to a small problem. The presumably dead man.
Ryder was a little cautious at approaching him, after all he did look like a dead fish…and smelled like one at the moment also. Bending down just enough to get a hold of his arm, she quickly yanked him so that he was face up. 'Pirate' was the first word that came to her mind. His hair, which was matted into thick strands in most places, flowed across the pale sand and was pulled away from his uncomfortably handsome face by a read bandana. An assortment of beads decorated the deep brown hair along with the tips of the two braids that were formed from his beard that ran along his jaw line. His lips were partly open with shallow breaths escaping every now and then which blew across the mustache that covered his top lip. Skin that told of years in the sun covered his body and made his off white shirt to appear brighter then it actually was. The rest of his clothing was covered in sand and worn from work on the open sea.
The girl rolled her eyes at herself when she swallowed a strange lump that had formed in her throat while gazing down at the man. Lowering a hand she pulled back on of his eyelids to see if he made any response. All she got was an unconscious groan and a bit of black on her finger from the kohl that surrounded his eyes. Looking around again for any sign of any other life, Ryder stood but kept her gaze on the uncharacteristically good looking pirate. Though her one eyed gaze was far and sharp all she saw was some washed up seaweed and a tricornered hat near the tree line.
Trudging up to the dirty hat, Ryder slammed it down on the sand next to the man. She wasn't mad at him or the hat, but she was a little agitated at her conscience. This man, no matter how attractive, was a pirate, but she knew that the guilt of just leaving him there on the beach would nag her and nag her until she went mad. Besides, the look that Nero was giving her close by told her that he wasn't leaving without the pile of man. It was strange, at least she thought, how the stallions eyes held such meaning all the time. In fact, it got to her so much that she wouldn't say anything bad about him when he was within a ten foot radius in fear that he could actually understand her.
Running a hand over her face, Ryder motioned Nero over and started the first of many attempts to get the water logged man on the horse.
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Now, she was certain that she saw a few houses back there. Of course, Ryder was also certain that she would never help a pirate, but here she was, lost again, with a pirate on her horses back. She had hoped that there was some place where she could just drop him off and then be on her way, but so far she'd had no luck. Once again, all she could see where trees, trees, and more trees, but this time she was careful the keep track of what directions she went in so that she could easily get back to the coast. As the day drew on and the man had yet to wake from his coma like state, Ryder's steps turned into plodding shuffles, and Nero's head was hung low from its usual high position.
"That's enough." Ryder announced and stopped in the middle of the path. "We're resting. If that man EVER wakes up, he can find his own way to civilization."
With that she tugged off Nero's bridle and placed a rope around his neck and tied it loosely to a tree nearby. After that she planted her feet firmly on the loose dirt ground and pulled on the legs of the sleeping man. The first time she only accomplished pulling off one of his boots, but the second time brought more success. Though she did knock his head against a small rock…accidentally of course. The next order of business was to get a fire going, and after an hour or so that became a reality. Somewhat anyway, the fire was only big enough for one person in all reality, but it made do.
Night fell on the now three travelers. Nero had long since faded into sleep and was slightly leaning against the tree he was tied to. Ryder was sitting on top of a large stump near the warmth of the fire, keeping an eye out for any intruders or any movement from the man. The man was probably sword fighting or commandeering ships somewhere…in his dreams that is. While this still un named man rested, Ryder had taken the opportunity to separate him from any of his 'piraty' items. Like his pistol, with no gun powder, a few daggers, and an old rusted cutlass. Just in case he woke up and decided it was the time of day to kill, maim, and or do other unmentionable things to a certain one eyed girl. There was also a compass latched onto his leather belt which she had discovered. Opening the black container, she raised one eyebrow. A compass that didn't point north?
"You, good sir, have got ta be the worst pirate I've ever seen." she snickered at him and tossed the compass on top of the pile of his belongings. Leaning back a little, Ryder stared with a suspicious eye at the sleeping pirate. She didn't dare fall asleep in case he woke up and turned out to be one of those blood thirsty pirates Endinea had warned her about so many times. In all honesty, the man looked so beat up that she doubted he could hurt her if he wanted to. Well, maybe he 'could' hurt her, just not as much as he could if he was in top condition.
He had an open gash on his right arm that was currently staining his already stained shirt with blood. A bruise was beginning to form on his jaw line, along with several others on various places. The man probably found his way onto the beach not very long before she woke up, seeing it that these things were just now starting to stand out. Letting out a sigh she walked over and kneeled down next to him while pulling the end of her dress out from under the cover piece. Ripping a fair sized about off she wrapped it around the bloodied wound on his arm, and dunked another piece of cloth in some on Nero's water before dabbing it on the bruises. A few times the man stirred in his sleep which caused Ryder to freeze mid-dab, but she eventually got through it without him waking up. Sitting back on her stump she crossed her arms over her chest and gave a satisfied smile.
"Well, I 'spose I've done my good deed for the day."
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Ryder wasn't sure when she let herself fall asleep that night, but when she woke up the next morning to the sound of someone rummaging through her things she knew she made a mistake. Cracking her eye open from behind the thick curtain of hair that fell in her face, she tried to pretend she was still in the dream world when she saw the pirate awake and lively. Although to her relief, it wasn't her stuff he was going through, it was his own. Deciding on letting him go on and leave she closed her eye, but kept her senses sharp. She moved a bit in her sleep which caused the man to pause in his searching. It was then when she moved that she realized that something was missing.
Opening her eye again she noticed that the small pouch of shillings she had on her make shift belt was gone…and was now resting in the palm of the pirate. Ryder gritted her teeth in anger. He may have been a pirate, but she couldn't just let him take her only money could she? Of course not! So pulling together all the courage she had she slowly and steadily reached for the pirates cutlass that was sitting against a tree nearby. Her steps where quick but quiet as she made her way toward the mans back and raised the point of the blade with both of her hands grasping it tightly.
"G-Give me back my money you…you…" she stuttered and tried to come up with a harsh insult. Unfortunately, she was never that good at insults…and even if she was, when that man turned around and looked her in the eye she probably could have said one anyway. Such eyes. They were so laid back and relax, yet so alert and prepared. If Ryder hadn't have known that he was a sea robber, she probably would have melted into a puddle girl. The hair, the eyes, the kohl…And it was in that moment that she first saw that smirk that she came to hate and love at the same time.
"I see that your up and about darling. What, no breakfast made yet?" he said with a smooth and drunken voice with a golden smile. Ryder narrowed her eyes in an irritated fashion. Swallowing yet another lump in her throat she repeated her demand with more confidence.
"Give me back my money!" she stated and raised the sword higher so that it was trained on his neck. Then when he took a step towards her, some of her courage flew away. "Uh…please?" Her face became even more aggravated when he let out a heavy laugh.
" Tha's got ta be the first time anyone has said 'please' ta me! Let me tell ye somethin' lass," he stepped out from behind the point of the sword and stood next to her with an arm around her shoulders. " 'Please' don't get ye anywhere when dealin' wit pirates, love. Ye gotta be tough, rough…though I doubt that a cute lil' strumpet like you could get rough or tough." he finished with that grin again and tapped his index finger on her nose, completely ignoring her request. Ryder suddenly had a strong urge to backhand that smirk right of his, still quite attractive, face. Instead, she held back the urge and snatched the pouch from his dirty hand that was resting on her shoulder. Backing away a few steps with a cold glare on him, she dropped the cutlass on the ground and skittered over to untie Nero. Still with the one eyed stare on the man, she grabbed her things and stalked away from the smirk she hated with the horse close behind.
"A cute little strumpet like you, blah, blah, blah!" she mocked him in a twisted voice. She had to admitt, it was a strange thing that just happened back there. He basically had a conversation with her, just ignoring the fact that he could probably kill her right on the spot. Another strange thing was that she didn't even feel any fear toward him even when he was close enough to strangle the life out of her. Then he just let her walk off…what kind of pirate was he anyway?
"Now, where am I again?" she stopped and looked around. None of this looked familiar at all. Groaning she tilted her head back and looked up to the sky and mouthed 'why me?'. Yes, it was true, she was lost…again.
"The coast has to be…" she closed her eyes and threw a rock in front of her. "That way!" she stated when the rock landed to the left, and she began pulling Nero behind her again.
"Not very good at navigatin' are ya love?" the familiar slurred voice came from behind her. Ryder's shoulders stiffened and she rolled her eye before turning around with a face that said 'what do YOU what?' There he was, all dressed with his tricorn hat, and that arrogant smirk to top it all off.
"Leave. Me. Alone." she said slowly and turned back around with a faster walk.
"Sorry ta dissapoint ye, but if ye think tha tha's the way back to the ocean your off by more then a few degrees lass." he advised and crossed her arms over his toned chest.
"Did I ask for yer help?" she called over her shoulder.
"Suit yerself." he gave the last remark and headed in the opposite direction. Ryder hated it, but she knew that he probably new his way around a bit better. So throwing away what pride she had left, she turned and jogged back toward his retreating form.
"Wait. Just wait." she said and grabbed onto his arm to make him slow down a bit. "This is the way back right? Yer not just tellin' me that ta lure me down to a dark part of the woods or anythin' right?"
"If I wanted ta take advantage of yer nievity, tiny structure, and all around vulnerability, I would 'ave done it back there darling." he replied and turned his gaze toward her, as if waiting for her to give some remark back. All he got was a girl trying to calm herself down and a simple, but angry toned question.
"Who are you?" Ryder questioned through clenched teeth. He stopped completely turned to her and removed his hat in a false gentlemen gesture.
"Ye haven't guessed yet love? I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
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* Captain Jack Sparrow. That name will always stick with me, even if I try to forget it. That day in the forest when he told me who he was, I told him that I'd never heard of any Jack Sparrow. Of course that was a lie, I had heard of him many times from the merchant sailors that come up from the Caribbean, but I didn't want to give him the pleasure of knowing that. I guess you could say that this was the beginning of this whole venture. Ya know, when I left Endinea she told me that pirates would be out there and that a young girl like me should watch her back. As soft as it sounds, I never really felt like I had to watch my back around Jack, because I always felt like he was watching my back for me. Sorry about that, I shouldn't be getting so emotional over him. Come back tomorrow and I'll tell ya more of the story. Believe me, it gets pretty interesting.