A ghostly cry echoed over the island of Tortuga, scaring the birds from the trees and sending flocks of them into the air. Creatures scattered, and ran for cover. This included two fully grown men, who had killed before. Both could honestly say… They had never heard a more terrifying noise. Gibbs instantly decided that the noise erupting from the tiny creatures mouth… was what the fabled Kraken sounded like.
Jack on the other hand, moved quickly, and slid his hand over Coys open mouth, instantly silencing her. When she began to struggle in his arms, he tightened his grip. "Coy Lass… Calm down, you're just fine." Jack nearly hissed as he listened for anyone approaching. Surely the noise had woken some drunkard and he was sure to come searching for its' location. He couldn't say that he blamed the girl though.
To be minding your own business one day, to find a strange man (For Jack knew that he was strange.) sitting on an island. To offer the man help, without really knowing the consequences, and to take his undeserving arse back to his home… That took a lot. But to be hurt, quite badly, only to pass out and wake up in a strange man's home, and to have parts of your body there that were not previously so… No, he couldn't blame the girl for reacting to the situation.
Coy calmed at his words, and went stalk still in his grasp, her wide eyes looking up at him. A mixture of fear and confusion filled them. That single look from Coy, blew all the air from Jacks chest and he instantly released her, taking a few steps back. Coy instantly curled her arms about her torso and drew in on herself. "You… you have turned me into a Land walker." Her quiet voice filled the silent air a moment later.
It Took Jack, as well as Gibbs, a moment to comprehend her statement. They shared a look that showed each other's inner turmoil. "No Lass… as… as soon as you hit land… Your tail… just… shifted…" Jack murmured moving to take up the space by her side once more.
Coy was silent for a long while, and both men in the room waited with baited breath. If Coy retaliated and ended up running… Neither man could say what the outcome would be. All they knew, was that it wouldn't be a good one. Jack wasn't currently in possession of anything that he could defend Coy with, and he was sure that if another man saw Coy in her current state of dress… She would need defending.
Coy was extremely confused, and… almost hurt, but her heart was not beating fast out of fear. Not any longer anyway. It was beating fast from excitement. If Captain Jack Sparrow said that She was okay, then she had to be. She had thought that the two Land Walkers had… done something to her that made her tale split into the things that it now was. But Her Land Walker had told her that it had… shifted… Would that mean, if she were to get back into the water, that her tail would return? She hoped so.
Her having these two new parts to move about on would make learning of Land Walkers much easier. Lifting her head from her chest, she smiled widely at Captain Jack Sparrow. "I can learn of Land Walkers now!" She called, excitement filling her tone. Perhaps she would not have to return to the Cove of Mermaids, and find a new place to live. Perhaps now, she and Jack could be friends, and he would teach her of his species!
Jack and Gibbs stared at the smiling girl for a moment, and after a long beat of silence, Gibbs burst into laughter. "I have never seen such a Lass!" he called, grinning at a now confused Coy.
"Well I should hope you have never seen me before. I have only seen you just this once." She stated, not fully understanding his laughter. She had not realized that she had done something that had warranted the older Land Walker the ability to laugh at her.
Jack chuckled himself. Coy was indeed an oddity, but he couldn't say that he wasn't one either. It would seem that they were a pair. "He's sayin' that you are special is all Lass, how's that leg o yurs?" Jack asked moving forward, to inspect the stich job that Gibbs had done. It was red, but did not look as though infection had gotten to it. Gibbs had done a fine job, and for that he was grateful.
Coy gingerly ran her pointer finger over the odd cloth that now looked to be part of her skin. It felt rough, and her skin felt tight, but other than a few twinges of pain, it did not hurt as bad as she though it would.
This was not the first time Coy had been wounded. If fact, she was quite used to it. Being small had its pros and cons, a pro being that she was quick, a con being her inability to defend herself. The other had given her wounds like this before, it was not new. What was new however was her skin was now closed. She was used to having to cover the gaping wounds with kelp wrappings, so no pesky feeder fish would come to nibble at it when she was least suspecting.
"It hurts, only slightly though… Did you do this to my leg Mr. Gibbs?" She questioned, lifting her eyes from her wound, to the face of the older man.
Gibbs drew in a breath. "Ay, it was a nasty one." He murmured, lowering his eyes. He couldn't look into her eyes, it seemed that she could see right through him…
"I am grateful. May we go and see how you live Captain Jack Sparrow? What are these things called?" Coy questioned, grabbing at the odd… fingered thing that had replaced her flippers. She brought it closer to her face, and inspected it, nearly squeaking with surprise when the finger like appendages moved.
Laughter filled the air once more as Captain Jack Sparrow explained that the things she was admiring so closely were called toes, and they were attached to something called a foot. Her foot connected to her calf, and her calf to her thy.
She had begun to question about the odd thing that was nestled between her legs, but at the sight of Jacks reddened face, and the clearing of Mr. Gibbs throat, she stopped. That must be something private that she was not supposed to speak of. That was okay, she was done learning about the new parts of her body, she wanted terribly to go see Captain Jack Sparrow's world.
Jack cleared his throat and looked to Gibbs. "She'll be needin' a dress, and shoes as well. Jus go out and git 'er an entire outfit. I'll pay ya back." Jack said softly, not wanting to catch Coy's attention. If she were unable to move about, he did not want to get her hopes up. He wasn't sure if she could move with her leg stitched up like that, let alone walk. Luck for him, Coy seemed to be a fast learner.
Gibbs glanced at Coy for a moment or two, trying to judge her sizes, and once he was sure he had a least a guess, he turned and left without a word. He had no small amount of thinking to do. There was a Mermaid in his home. Asking the simplest question, and absorbing the information given to her, with a childlike innocence. He was simply amazed.
Lyra huffed loudly as she and her three comrades circled the large Land Walker Island for the third time. She knew that ugly, disrespectful little runt had hidden from her near it. She was not about to let the runt get away with talking to her like that.
"Perhaps she had doubled back. Can we rest now? I am growing tired." Lilly, a beautiful, pink tailed Mermaid called from behind Lyra.
With a snarl, Lyra whirled and had Lilly's lock, dark tresses in a closed hist. She gave a sharp yank as she glared into Lilly's bright, pink toned eyes. "We will find that ugly little flounder. I care not for how tired you are." She snarled, thrusting Lilly away from her, who screeched loudly at the movement.
Lilly brought a hand up to sooth her scalp and hid her glare for Lyra. Lilly was sick and tired of Lyra thinking that she was the leader of the small group. But she was the prettiest, and it was well known that the prettiest Mermaid, was the lead Mermaid.. But Lyra was beginning to abuse her position.
It was forbidden to ever touch another's hair in a violent way, and that way seemed to be Lyras favorite way to touch hair. She would be taken care of. Lilly would see to it!
Jack kept a watchful eye on the wide eyed girl next to him. He had already lost track of Coy twice, only to find her trying to fend off another male with that silver tongue of hers. Jack had quickly learned that Coy did not like for the males of his species to touch her, stating that they were not her friends and only friends could do touch her.
"Captain Jack Sparrow! What is this?" Coy questioned, holding up a bright red apple. Her eyes alight with fascination. She had never seen object like she had seen today. Captain Jack sparrow had tought her to do something called walking, and if she were very careful, she could also do something called running. She enjoyed Running.
Jack couldn't help but smile at Coy's curiosity. The simplest of objects made her laugh with delight. She had caught sight of a mirror earlier and it had taken Jack well of twenty minutes to get her away from it. "s' an apple, Love." He stated, handing a coin to the fruit seller discreetly. "Ya eat it." He informed, placing his hand on the small of her back, trying to repress the shiver that threatened to take over his body, at the feel of her silk sheathed body.
Gibbs, the daft man, had gone out, and found a used dress store. Instead of buying a simple little dress that may have been slightly outdated, but still perfectly fine. The man had bought a silk monstrosity. It was make of dull brown silk, and had three skirts, that Coy could hardly keep in control.
It fit the woman like a danm glove, and yes, it may have been made of silk, but it was still a Tortugan dress. It had an extremely low cut, beaded scoop neck design, that drew all of your attention to her bountiful chest. The sleeves were long and shown how tiny Coy was. They made her seen all the more frail. Jack would have to go and speak some much needed sense into his old friend.
Coy brought the item to her mouth and took a large bite of it. Her eyes widened as the juices filled her mouth, and dribbled down her chin. It was amazing! The texture was one she had never experienced before, and she liked it! The noises it made while she chewed made her giggle. "I like Apples Captain Jack Sparrow!" she called, as soon as her mouth was clear of the yummy fruit.
Jack laughed. "Do ya now? You may be likin pears then along with that apple o' yurs." He stated, maneuvering her through the streets of Tortuga. It was now nearly six, and everyone was coming out from their hiding places to begin a night of festivities once more. Meaning that the streets were becoming more and more crowded.
"A pear? Are they sweet as well?" Coy asked, looking up to Captain Jack Sparrow. Her heart filled with happiness as he nodded and smiled down at her. She finally had a friend! He didn't seem to mind her hair either! In fact, she had caught him fiddling with it more than once.
She did not mind, for he was her friend, and she was positive that friends got to touch each other's hair! Her smiled widened into a grin as Jack paused at another little shack, and picked up an odd shaped, green object. Handing it to her, he grinned.
"This be a pear." He stated, smiling down at Coy. With an apple in one hand, and a pear in the other, she looked to be the happiest woman on Tortuga. He paid the fruit vendor and continued to move Coy through the now crowded streets. Taking a massive bite of the green object, she let Jack lead her.
Pears were just as good as apples! Coy even went so far as to say that pears were better than apples. The pear was a lot softer that the apple, and it was much more juicy. She couldn't be any happier. Her new Best friend was the best thing to ever happen to her, and she was sure that they were going to be just as inseparable as Serine and Petunia!
She didn't really mind if Captain Jack Sparrow did not feel the same way for her, because he was kind to her, and treated her like she were as breakable as a shell. All trough out the day, he had come to her rescue, but she wondered if he knew that she was not a very breakable creature.
Coy may not have been able to deal blows, but she could certainly take them, years of the others harming her made sure of that. But with Captain Jack Sparrow around, she did not worry. If any other Lander Walker were to hurt her, her friend would protect her.
Sighing with content, she paused to look up at Her Land Walker, a smile in place. "You are my very best friend Captain Jack Sparrow." She laughed.
Jack's heart gave a clench. He didn't think that he had ever heard any but Gibbs call him a friend. He smiled back to Coy. "I'm glad to hear that Lass. I would be lyin if I said that you weren't me friend." Jack stated.
Coy laughed again. She finally had a friend, and she would do everything in her power to remain by his side, and make him happy, because he made her happy.
Little did either of them know that no where they would go would be safe, for a set of preying eyes watched the exchange between the two with disgust, and four Mermaids were on the hunt. Neither would rest until blood was spilt.
Welp, here ya go. Thanks for the reviews. Thank you InkOverLoad, I really enjoyed your Review, made my day. I know it's shorter than the rest, but I wanted to get it done before I went to sleep, and I am exhausted. Hope you guys had a good day
