As there is a fight in this chapter and I don't know where to draw the line for a K+ rated story, so I think it's wise not to read this one if you're no fan of violence. Just some advice for the small readers ^^. Anyways, fourteen's here!

14. Power vs. politeness

As Diego and Gutt were about to fight one another, all others took their distance. Silas was sitting on a high rock, hoping to avoid the violence. Shira was now at a distance and though she knew it wouldn't help much, kept begging Diego to walk away from her former chief. Raz was standing a few passes away from her. She'd already given in to the inevitable fight. She got spooked by Buck when he popped up on a rock next to her. He was lying stretched out, holding a coconut shell filled with berries.

"Ay mate, want some too?" he held out the shell.

"Where did ya get those from?"

"I'll carry 'm with me all the time for occasions like these."

"All the time? How?"

"Nah, don't ask." and he put a handful of berries in his mouth.

"I'll pass this one, mate." She said, drawing a disturbed look on her face.

"Okay."

"Ow, can I have some?" Silas landed next to Buck.

"Sure mate." he reached the bowl out to the bird.

"Guys!" Shira said irritated.

"Sorry." Buck and Silas apologized.

Gutt and Diego were circling around each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. Gutt knew he had power on his side, but Diego was the one with more agility. The cat opposite him was making the same calculation and thought of the best strategy the knock down his foe. Though in these past few days Gutt had been quite a reasonable thinker, this time fury took over and he started the battle.

He swung his claws, but Diego easily stepped aside and he dodged the second lunge just as simple and graceful. As he hopped back, the third swipe barely missed his right paw. A drop of sweat slided down his back. He had underestimated the ape's speed. He wouldn't make that same mistake twice.

Gutt kept swaying with his arms in an attempt to hit the sabre, yet wasn't able to land a single strike.

"Is that all you got?" Diego taunted him, yet Gutt's anger already had reached its maximum level.

'If I can hit him only once, he's done for.' Gutt thought.

He leapt for the cat, but he was too slow and Diego was already gone. As Diego looked back he saw the incoming attack just in time. In the series of slashes that followed, he was forced to keep in the rhythm of a strange dance in order not to be struck.

'If he keeps missing me, he'll tire for sure.' Diego thought.

Unfortunately Gutt switched the angle of his attack constantly, making it hard for the tiger to keep evading. He hopped away again.

"Are you planning to run forever?"

The captain's voice was still low and threatening. A chill went down Diego's spine. Gutt jumped for the saber, who dodged, causing his attacker to land on a rock. The force of the impact smashed it to shards.

"Aw! You'll pay for that one!"

As he was continuously being chased, with no sign of stopping, Diego got a bit frightened.

'Was he tiring at all?'

"Don't be such coward! Face me!" he heard.

As he passed a large rock he stopped, placing his back against the stone. He was breathing heavily and felt his heart go like crazy.

'Man, I gotta do something or I'll be the one who's exhausted.'

He tried to listen whether he could hear a noise... Nothing. He peeped by stone, but only saw the others. Shira was waving.

"Lo...t ... ind… ound!"

"What?!" he listened more closely.

"Look out! Behind you! Turn around!"

He froze and heard an evil whisper.

"Ahoy there..."

*Bash*

Before he could turn, he received a massive blow on his dorsal as the ape landed its elbow, followed by its full weight. Gutt folded his hands to a fist.

"Cat overboard" he said ironically.

*Bonk*

Diego got struck another time, was launched into the air and ended with his face smacked on the cold rocks. Getting up caused him a lot of pain from neck to tail. He hadn't turned yet, but felt the ground tremble as he knew Gutt was running towards him. He tried to act, but he wasn't fast enough.

*thwack*

He flew, again hitting the stone floor. As he opened his eyes he saw Shira coming to him.

"Diego!"

"No Shira, get back!" he yelled.

She stopped, but he saw how she squinted, bracing for a future impact.

*Slam*

He was bashed against a wall of stones. Gutt knew that this would slow his opponent, he stopped for a moment to enjoy the current state of the battle.

"Had enough yet?" the captain taunted, "hah hah hah."

Diego got up, shaking a bit on his legs. His entire body ached, his back felt stiff and he had dirt over his side and face. He had some blood on his lip too.

"I thought I told you, we'd commence didn't I?" he said, wiping his lip.

Gutt stopped laughing and ran towards him, red-eyed of anger. In his point of view, the sabretooth can never get away in time, he was too injured for a last second jump or dodge. He clenched his fist ready for the final stomp, when his foe suddenly ran towards him.

'So you can still run? No matter.' Gutt thought with vanity.

But as he threw his punch, his arrogance seemed misplaced.

*Whoosh*

Diego ducked and the fist swung through the air. He used the moment to tackle Gutt, smashing him on the ground. He, in turn, pushed the feline predator off his chest, though this wasn't enough. He felt a slash over his right arm and he heard the leaf-bandage get ripped. He tried to hit his assailant with his right foot, but missed and it got bitten.

"Aaar" he cried and swung his left arm with tremendous force against Diego's shoulder, who was pushed away and the captain's leg was released from the grip.

As he stood up, his foot hurt a lot and left blood on the floor with every step.

"Just stop it! Both of you!" Shira interfered.

"Don't worry, I got him." Diego replied, puffing.

"Capt'n, this ain't workin'!" Raz shouted.

"I've almost won this fight!" Gutt answered, respiring just as hard.

Both duellists appeared to be out of breath, yet none of them was willing to let the other win.

"No matter what happens, it's always a bad ending." Buck now stood between the two ladies.

"What do ya mean?" Raz asked.

"If Gutt wins, Diego will have been torn to shreds..."

Shira closed her eyes, she didn't want to think of that scenario.

"...and if Diego wins, he either kills Gut in the process or if Gutt will survive, well..."

"In that case 'e's not gonna leave this island until 'e made the sabre-tooh pay." Silas completed.

They all looked sad, knowing there was no escape, other than a deadly one, from the current situation.

"There's one more option..."

All gave Shira a questioning look.

"The battle ends in a draw."

"How big are the chances, mate?" Raz demanded.

"Not big, so we gotta help a little." Shira smiled.

They all nodded and followed her to the centre of the battlefield. Buck and Shira stepped in front of Diego, Silas and Raz in front of Gutt.

"It's enough capt'n, you gotta stop!" Raz said,

"Diego, you gotta stop now."

"No!" both answered firm.

Raz and Silas clutched onto Gutt, holding him back and Buck and Shira did so with Diego. Both couples tried to pull the combatants away from one another.

"It's over, can't ya see that?" Raz said.

"Please, just let it go!" Shira begged.

Diego and Gutt still looked one another in the eye.

"He's never gonna stop, you know that." Diego whispered to Shira and Buck.

"Fine! Fine! Have it your way! We'll call it a draw, but let me go now." The primate said, squirming in an attempt to get free.

They released the moody pirate and everybody looked at him, but he avoided eye contact.

"Diego!" Buck insisted.

"He's lying! Don't you see!"

"Don't be so paranoi..."

"Raaah."

Gutt pushed his crewmates and charged right for Diego.

"You won't hurt him anymore!"

Shira blocked his path and protected her friend from harm. However in the process the tigress herself was hit with such force that she was thrown to the edge of the cliff.

"Shira! Diego cried.

"Capt'n how could ya?!" Raz said in disbelief.

Gutt shook his head, he tried to recall what happened.

"Are ya alright?" Buck asked.

"Have been better" the sabress replied.

Her side ached a lot. As she stood up slowly, a loud cracking noise was to be heard from underneath her. Only inches behind her a piece of rock crumbled and fell into the swirling sea.

"Get out a' there! Now!" Buck said loud.

More of the cliff broke and Shira quickly tried to ran towards them. Unfortunately the force of Gutt's impact made her too slow. The others spurted towards Shira, Gutt was left behind. He tried to think rational, but breathing deep didn't work.

'What...what have I done...' he thought. Realizing that this was all his fault, he hit himself on the head several times, cursing his own stupidity.

As the ground beneath Shira descended, she jumped for safety but it wasn't far enough. She landed on her side of the rocks. The height between her and the mainland became larger by the minute.

"I can't reach you." Shira stated panicked.

"We'll get you out of there, don't worry!" Diego responded.

"What do we do?" Raz asked desperately.

"Does anyone have a rope or somethin' like that?" Buck said.

"A bit more helping and less talking, please!"

"I go and find one."

"Quickly, Silas!" Raz said and Silas flew inland.

As Shira tried to stick to the highest end, she looked down as a gap between her rock and the cliff was forming. She saw shards plunge into the water. It was a long way down.

"Hurry guys!"

Then out of nowhere, she felt a strong grip around her front paw.

"Whoa, I didn't expect you here." she said, looking up to her saviour.

Does the battle end here? Who is grabbing Shira? And does he/she manage to rescue her? This is literally a cliff-hanger...