Shame shame on all of you . I know for a fact I had at least 50 people read this story. Only 7 reviews? Come on now P. I'd like to thank Chef Collette and Black Lotus Flower for their reviews D. Ok so I was planning on putting this chapter up a few days ago but I kept getting side tracked. Any ways here's chapter 4! Italicized means Carlos' thoughts

First Blood

I awoke at dawn, mainly because I heard a lot of people scurrying around outside my tent. Ugh morning already? I grabbed my bow and arrows and got aboard the ship that was to take us to another country I've never heard of. A lot of the mercenaries stayed in their cabins or walked around the ship during the free time we had.

"Carl was it?", Oscar (my room mate) asked. I nodded. "Where are you from?"

"I'm from New Jersey!",I said. Then i saw a puzzled look on Oscar's face and added, "Uh, I'm not exactly sure. I just...appeared here and then you guys saved me."

"Oh, I see. How's your bow work coming?", He's changing the subject. That saves me the trouble of having to do it.

"Pretty good actually. After the first hour of shooting I actually hit the target!" Oscar laughed loudly. I'm being serious here. I guess it could be funny to someone of his experience though.

"Oscar! Carlos! Get above deck immediately! We're under attack!", a voice from above deck said. We both rushed to grab our weapons and bolted upstairs.

"Pirates", Soren said simply. He's not a talkative one.

"Wheres the ship?", I asked looking for something, anything. Wow he seems ticked. Wonder whats eating him up.

"Look...up" Does he mean the black birds?

"They are Raven tribe laguz", he explained as if reading my mind. He probably is reading my mind, he scares me sometimes. "They are incredibly fast, but not the strongest offensively, yet strong enough to tear through any one of us. They are vulnerable to wind magic and arrows.", He explained. God he sounds like my old bio teacher.

"That explains why I'm here doesn't it?". My worry must have shown because Oscar said, "Don't worry. People like me and Titania are here to protect you and the more fragile of the group"

"Ok... I'll try my best"

"Now that we have some idea of what we're up against, Mist, Marcia, Volke, Sothe, you guys stay below deck! You guys are a bit too fragile to be out here right now. Greil Mercenaries move out!", Ike commanded.

"What do we do until they get here?None of us can fly and I'm pretty sure none of can fight under water.", I asked Oscar.

"We wait", he muttered back at me. Everyone formed a box-type thing around me, Rolf, Rhys, Soren, and Ilyana. The first crow snuck up on us and clawed at Kieran's armor. It didn't seem to phase him much as he struck back leaving a gash in it's chest. Now's my chance

I ran up behind Kieran knocked an arrow, aimed, and released. The arrow flew past Kierans head and hit the raven in what appeared to be his stomach making it collapse.

"Oh... My...God. I just killed a living creature.", I thought out loud. In all my years of hunting with Dad, I never actually shot anything.

The army split up into different groups spread across the ship. I followed Oscar and Kieran to the north western part if the ship. Not so many ravens up here.

"Oscar look out!",Kieran shouted as his horse ran and he swung at a severely injured bird.

"Um, Kieran, he really wasn't that big of a threat", Oscar said.

"My biggest rival needs all of his energy to try and beat me in a duel later!, Kieran boasted. I couldn't help but laugh at Oscar's torment. Kieran was always troubling him about dueling.

Oscar rode by me and whispered "Shut up". It had no effect as it made me laugh even harder. I knocked an arrow and shot at a near by bird, hitting him in the wing so it couldn't fly. Oscar rode by and dealt the finishing blow through it's throat.

I cringed and turned around. I watched Mia deal the finishing blow to a blue raven. She did a flip slashing up his chest. What beautiful swordsmen ship

"It looks like that's the last of them", Ike said sheathing his sword.

"Thank god", I said looking at everyone. "Wait a minute, where's Nephenee?", I asked. I don't see her. Is she hiding behind Brom or Kieran or someone?

I got worried when no one spoke up, then "The crows grabbed her and threw her overboard. When we found her body it was already too late", Soren replied coldly. Brom stood behind him looking as if he was going to cry.

"Oh...", I said so quietly no one could hear me. I was fighting to hold back tears and I ran below deck before anyone could realize I was crying.

Sorry about that Nephenee fans! I have an explanation, sort of. But you'll just have to wait until next chapter to find out what it is! Review please!. The next chapter is still in the process of being written so I might take awhile to update.