Rosa lowered herself and landed in the sand with a plop. The island itself was beautiful, the vegetation bright, thick and green, the animals were lively and gracious. She would have lived here any day.

" Alright, you men stay here and watch the ship. We are heading out."
" Aye, aye, captain." Nathan nodded while watching Russell, Eduardo and Christopher lowering themselves onto the beach.

Rosa had remembered what her mother had told her. She knew that she would sail to the island one day, it was obvious. The island is much like the sea. Respect her and she will help you. What you will search for lays above the moon and below the sun. Rosa never had the chance to ask her mother what she meant by it being above the moon and below the sun but she planned to figure it out.

" Are you ready Rosa?" Morgan asked. She gave a nod and they all headed out.

" Eduardo are you sure you know where you are going?" Russell asked as they continued to weave their way in and out of the forest.

" How they hell do I know where to go! I aint got nothing to find!"

Rosa whacked the vines of the trees with her cutlass and paused to wipe the sweat from her forehead. They had been walking for hours and the humidity was adding up. They all began to grow irritable, especially Eduardo since his hair began to grow curly.

" It's like a damn maze in this forest!"

Rosa sheathed her cutlass and began to hoist herself up into the canopies of the trees. Making sure she was secure, she peered out over the leaves and searched for the ship. The sun was setting, there was no way they would make it back to the ship in time. They were stuck out in the wilderness.

" We should make a camp and rest for the night. There is a small lagoon not too far from here, just a little northeast. We can rest and get some water and sleep then head back to the ship in the morning." She said began to lower herself from the branches.

All the men looked at each other, the anger and tiredness heavy in their eyes. Slowly they agreed and began to follow her lead. Rosa wasn't sure how she found it, but she did. She waited, listened and followed. Her mother was right, the island did help her.

While the men took the advantage of bathing in the water Rosa began to set up a fire. Once she managed a spark she cupped her hands around it and gave a gentle blow. Slowly the flames began to grow and she huddled around the heat. Luckily Christopher had brought a pack filled with food, including meats, bread and some alcohol. Once they all had cleaned off they would gladly eat.

Once the men returned Rosa stood and walked past the bushes. It was far enough for them to hear her but not see her. The lagoon itself was breathtaking. Off to the left, a small waterfall the flowed into the lagoon. The water was clear and clean and most importantly, it was water.

One by one she began to remove her clothes, her hair draping down her back and her arms covering her body. She stepped up to the bay and dipped her foot. Instantly a shiver crawled up her spine. It was intensely cold but she would have to make do. Somehow she slowly managed to make her way into the water and dunk her head. The dirt began to strip free of her skin and the oil disappeared from her hair. On the ship her showers were limited but now she could take all the time in the world.

Meanwhile Russell stood and began to make his way to go check up on her. The men had grown hungry and he didn't want her to miss out on any of the food. He called out her name with his eyes covered but he received no answer. He called out again but no answer. Slowly he peeked through his fingers in search of her. At first his heart skipped a beat in worry but then he turned and spotted her under the waterfall. In the dark he could only make out her figure but even at that he felt himself blush. There was no denying his feelings for her that much was obvious, but he felt as if he were in an old tale. He the lost pirate and she the beautiful mermaid bathing under the fall. Not only just in this moment but just in general. Russell covered his eyes again and blindly stepped closer towards her before clearing his throat and speaking again.
" The men are hungry and we won't eat without you."
He couldn't tell if she jumped and nearly hit him in embarrassment but he was sure it was a little bit of both.

" Thank you, I'll get dressed."

He nodded and turned his back to her with his eyes still covered. It was only did he feel a light tug on his wrist did he lower his hand and open his eyes.

" I'm ready." She smiled softly. Russell nodded again and turned to walk in attempt to hide the blush on his cheeks. Then she snatched his wrist again. His body tensed and prepared to be yelled at, to be called a pervert or what ever she could think of.

" Thank you." She started abruptly. " Thank for yesterday and for coming here."
Russell said nothing as he turned back to face her.

" I'll do what ever you want to make it up. I'll buy you a new gun or pair of swords, I'll even try to cook you something although I'm sure it won't be nearly as good as Nathan's-"

Her voice began to drain from his ears as he focused on her. She suddenly seemed deathly beautiful. Her hair was still wet and dripping, her lips were a soft pink and taunting. All he wanted to do was kiss them . . . so that's what he did.

Russell wasn't sure what in his right mind possessed him to do it or when he did it. The only thing he knew was that before he knew it, his hand was tangled in her hair, the other on her waist and his lips on hers.

He knew ever since the day she came aboard the ship he had been a dead man. With a flicker of her eyes she had him chained up and a victim. At first he managed to try to fight it but then she suddenly went to a woman on board to a woman who can fight. She knew how to work a ship, she knew how to step away from being strong to something soft and delicate, she was brave and fought off an ambush then turned into a damsel in distress then back into a woman who could handle a blade and gun. She went from attractive to daringly sexy and beautiful all at the same time. He had fallen for it and he fallen hard.

The taste of her lips were salty from the air yet sweet. They weren't soft like a feather but they were too damn kissable and most importantly they kissed back. When Russell felt her lips begin to move against his own he was suddenly in his own world. Nothing existed, it was all perfect-

" Ahem."

They both jumped out of each other's arms.

" Eduardo is getting bitchy, so lets save that for later." Morgan teased. Blush drowned both of their faces as they silently followed behind them. Just a moment ago they were so close but now they seemed so far.

While they ate Morgan had said nothing of their stolen kisses. He only ate and continued on the conversation as if nothing had happened. Rosa thanked Christopher as he handed her a piece of bread and looked at Russell out of the corner of her eyes, catching him starring. She couldn't help but smirk and give him a quick wink before continuing on with eating and talking. Russell groaned to himself and rested his head on his knee. How was he going to control himself now?

Rosa laid starring up at the sky, waiting for the sunrise to start soon. Unlike the men she was unable to sleep. Something kept calling to her. It was almost like the forest was talking to her.

She glanced to her right and spotted a toucan resting in the the branches. It cocked its head side to side before launching up into the sky. Then it came back, repeating again as if it wanted her to follow it. So that's what she did.

Rosa stood and began to walk off silently. If she made it back in time then no one would notice she was gone.

Keeping her eye locked on the toucan, she weaved her way through the forest. Although she could have sworn it suddenly became easier to walk through compared to yesterday. All the sneaky roots seemed to be gone and the vines were hung out of her way. The toucan let out a squawk and landed on a wooden sign posted out on the beach's shore. Rosa squinted her eyes and peered a little closer. The sun bounced off the emerald of her necklace and nearly blinded her. So she unhooked it and rubbed her eyes to relieve the spots in her vision.

The toucan squawked again and she peered up. The bird dove down and snatched the pendant from her hands.

" Hey come back with that!" She cried. The tears were already building her eyes.

The toucan circled back around the air and landed a few feet away from her. She went to step forward to snatch it away while she had the chance then stopped. The sun had begun to rise, the rays reflecting off the the stone in her necklace. But there in the sand a moon was made off the reflected light of her necklace.

" It lies above the moon and below the sun." she whispered. Rosa took a step forward and swung the old sign around. There in big bold letters was " Beware the beast of Pirate's Bay." Then her eyes searched a little farther up. There on the hill, laid what looked like a makeshift town.

Her heart pounded and she wanted to cry from joy. She had a chance! She found what she might need to restore her father's name!
But that hope vanished as quickly as it appeared.

A bag was thrown over her head, ropes tied around her arms and she was knocked to the ground. She didn't even have a chance to fight back before they had a blade to her neck.

" You come with us or your friends won't live to see another day."