CHAPTER 7: WHEN DIGNITY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

"This is crazy."

"This is survival."

The whole day had been nothing but mental and physical torture for the new crew members. The pirates made extra sure to torment them whenever they were given an order or one of them had to work with them; Clementine was already beginning to despise that kangaroo she'd been helping re-stack the weapons with.

Working with them and being laughed at took almost every ounce of their dignity away.

And now she stood at the end of the ship facing a very irritable armadillo, who rolled his eyes are her constant protests of his 'plan B'

"You really can't think we'll survive the week, can you?" She exclaimed, throwing up her arms and pacing around. He shrugged.

"Excuse me for keeping us alive. Or would you prefer walking the plank?" He gestured lightly to the edge of the ship with a tilt of his head.

Clementine was almost about to agree to this out of pure spite, but stopped herself just in time. Sighing, the doe rubbed her temples to try to rid them of her headache.

"Okay fine, I guess you had no choice. But we're not like them, we can't-"

"Then you'll just have to learn?"

Clementine gave him a disbelieving, doubtful look "What makes you so sure about all of this?"

"Because I'm not a wimp like you. Personally I just think you're ticked about having to be within five miles of that squint-eyed squirt. How's that coming along, anyway?"

"Mslf..." The noise was completely intelligible but explained all she needed to say, with her shoulders hunched and an awkward, uncomfortable look on her face.

"He keeps jumping out of places and scaring me!"

A brow rose. "Does it work?"

"Not anymore. It just feel awkward."

A groan. "I'll deal with him if he tries anything like giving you a heart attack- but you;ll have to figure out your own method of dealing with him."

Clementine's expression cheered at his reluctant promise of help, and she shrugged her shoulders.

"Do not worry; I have a plan that's worked so far after I decided to put a stop to him. Whenever I see him I'll just make my way to the opposite side of the ship. That way I'll avoid him and get to move my legs around."

"Keeping fit, are we?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well, we need to keep together whatever dignity our group has left."

Argeth rolled his eyes, a trace of a smirk appearing on his face. "We're in a pirate crew now. Dignity has nothing to do with it."

Clementine sighed. Things were always more awkward when dignity had nothing to do with it...

Her thoughts were cut off by the armadillo's next inquiry.

"What about the other's wounds?"

Clementine's ears rose considerably. "I've been using my herbs to treat Kureus and the others. They're looking better every hour."

The armadillo nodded, though Clementine could tell his mind was elsewhere.

"Was is it?" He shrugged.

"Nothing. Just thinking. We'd better get back to minding the ship before his royal ape-ness finds us chattering."

Later on Clementine was sitting alone at one side of the ship. She'd finally been left alone by the kangaroo and was grinding up some herbs from her back for Maut, who had re-opened a cut on her wing when she'd flown to fast. Apparently Silass- the seagull- had challenged her to a race when Clementine specifically told her not to put strain on it.

She was so busy looking down at her bowl that she didn't notice a skinny figure creeping up behind her.

Squint rose a quint-eyed brow, slowly leaning over the other rabbit's shoulder in slight curiosity.

What was she doing with those leaves, anyway? and why was she grinding them up?

Clementine suddenly felt something brush against her whiskers. Her eyes shot wide.

She squeaked a little and jumped up, clasping her bowl to her chest only to groan when she realized who the cackling sneak was.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" She muttered, but didn't move away like she usually did. She sat back down a few spaces away from him and continued what she was doing, even though most of her mind wanted to run to the other side of the boat she felt so awkward.

Argeth had suggested that she stand her ground- make it look like he didn't bother her anymore. That would surely send Squint packing.

Instead, Squint wandered over and lounged beside her, leaving against a trunk embedded in the ice that was used for storing things like weapons and tools.

"Got nothing else ta do. I'm bored."

"Tragic." Clementine muttered, leaning away slightly from the buck beside her. "Well, I;m busy, so..."

"Busy doing what?" He asked scornfully. Clementine's temper was straining dangerously but he didn't seem to catch it.

"Preparing healing herbs. Now please go-"

"So that's how you heal stuff. Looks weird." He remarked. Clementine retorted before she could stop herself.

"You face looks weird. Now please go away and leave me alone!"

He started at her with a gob-smacked expression. Then he was on his feet, very close, looming over her.

"No girlie tells me what to do on my own ship!"

Clementine was on her feet as fell, leaving the bowl on the ground. She leaned back at little but didn't make any more to back away.

"I just did. Now..."

"If they kiss I'm gonna be sick."

Both long-eared mammals jerked their heads over to find Gupta and Maut standing nearby. Upon being noticed, the two burst out laughing. It was in that second, with wide-eyed looks, the rabbits realized how close their heads were.

"Wait- yuck, No!" Squint yelled, recoiling in disgust as Clementine jumped back, looking mortified. Then, her temper snapped.

She stormed over to her bat companion looking murderous. The bat flew away, double time.

Clementine counted to ten and calmed herself, turning to look for a bowl. She found Squint had sauntered off somewhere and couldn't help but be pleased.

He's gone. Phew...

"You better not have told that little bunny friend fo yours anything."

Argeth leaned against the Matt up at the helm. Gutt was fiddling with the edge of his bone weapon, scowling menacingly over at the armadillo.

"I told Clementine nothing. I was just discussion how to get rid of annoying shrimps."

Gutt rolled his eyes and smirked slightly. "Yeah. Like the shrimp in front of me."

"Comic Genius. So where are we heading, anyway?"

"South. That's where the current's going. It'll bring more ships closer, and that means more bounty for us."

Gutt chuckled darkly upon seeing the rare trace of worry pass over the armadillo's brow.

"You never were the violent type. I wonder how your skills even got so good if you wouldn't hurt a flee..."

"Correction." Argeth cut in snidely "I learned for self-defense. And no, I don't like harming innocent animals. So sue me."

Gutt knew he'd gotten him right where he wanted him. He walked closer, smirking down at the armadillo as he drew back from the larger creature.

"If you don't do as I say, then you're little crew, especially that kid you look after, is going to get it."

"Leave the kid out of this, Guver."

CRASH.

Argeth choked harshly as he was slammed by the neck into the mast. Gutt pressed harder against his narrow throat, muttering under his breath:

"Call that again and I'll kill you."

"Fine." Argeth rasped in reply. He was released, not at all gently, and he slid down the bark, coughing. He glared as he watched the ape move away with loathing.

"You don't want a repeat of last time, would ya?" Gutt called over his shoulder. Argeth hated to admit it, but he knew he was right.

He wondered if he'd made the right decision after all.

DUN DUN DUUUUUN.

BTW for those who think that Argeth is romantically interested in Clementine, I want to make it clear that he's a bit too old for her.

Though others may think otherwise.

But, any relationship between them is completely platonic.

Please review...