The hunt is on! More cliffhangers!
Chapter 29 - Catch Me If You Can
Ryo gave the Jolly Roger one last watchful look before heading down the stairs to join the boys waiting outside. There hadn't been any movement from the pirates in the last few days…but then again, there hadn't been any movement on their part either. Ryo shifted anxiously. On one hand she doubted the Captain would really do her any harm, but on the other she really wouldn't put it past him if it would achieve his goal. Considering I am the goal is hardly a reassurance. She bit her lip to fight back the coy grin making its way there. She wouldn't mind being caught, but it wouldn't due to give in so easily. Kind of defeats the purpose.
She'd been hesitant to leave the safety of the castle, but the boys were getting antsy. She hadn't told them what was going on and even now she got questioning looks. Can hardly blame them. They had worked so hard to keep neutral with the nasty bunch and their volatile captain only to break that tentative truce on seemingly a whim.
The boys wouldn't tolerate being cooped up much longer and their stores of food were starting to dwindle. So they were to make the trek into the jungle to forage. Jax was practically taking flight with how excited he was to get out and Buttons buzzed around their heads with the same enthusiasm. The other two certainly seemed relieved to be somewhere other than the dark castle halls. Ryo glanced every so often towards the ship floating a ways off shore. Her paranoia didn't go unnoticed.
"Chill out Boss. They haven't moved in days. I doubt they will notice us slipping out the back," Jax said kicking a rock across the short grass as he skipped along past her.
Kyleln followed at much more leisurely pace, "If you're so worried about it you shouldn't have had us provoke them. I still don't get the point of all that."
"We didn't even take anything," Grub said with a slight whine.
"I told you. I needed to speak with the Captain in private. It's a…personal matter," Ryo smiled faintly.
Kly raised a questioning brow, "And yet you are now so jumpy thinking he might pop up around the corner… Doesn't sound like it was a friendly talk. What was it about?"
Ryo laughed softly and shook her head, "I'll tell you when you're older."
Jax snorted sharply and shot her an amused look, "Eh…that might take a while if you haven't noticed."
She shrugged and kept tight-lipped on the issue. Kyleln gave an exasperated sigh. They weren't going to be able to pry any info from her.
The jungle greeted them with its cool shade, brilliant colors, and loud fauna. Jax gave a delighted whoop and disappeared into the underbrush with Buttons tailing behind. His brother and Grub raced in after him, ignoring Ryo's wary words to keep close.
"Captain!" A scraggly pirate with a patch stood at attention as he stepped into the Hooks lavish cabin, "The lass an 'er boys just left the castle sir."
Hook rose from his place behind his desk and moved around it swiftly, "How long ago and what direction were they headed?"
"Ah, just a moment ago Capn'," The pirate followed after him as Hook brushed past and marched on deck, "They were headin' into the jungles north."
Smee hurried up to Hook and handed over a long brass spyglass. Their captain was silent as he moved to the starboard side and watched the island closely. The small troupe of figures disappeared into the lush wall of green. A most menacing grin broke across his face and the one-eyed pirate shifted uneasily as it was turned on to him.
"Ready a longboat. We're going hunting."
The pirate nodded sharply and hurried away to do as was commanded. The crew swiftly fell into motion and the rowdy bunch cheered. Smee wrung his knit cap in his hands anxiously as he came to stand beside his captain.
"Sir?" The bo'sun fell into a jog in order to keep up with Hooks long gate, "Surely the lass hasn't earned such ire from you sir? I don't think she meant nothin' by the attack."
Smee was honestly worried. Hook had pulled out of his dark mood and it had been replaced with a dogged fixation that rivaled his obsession with Pan. His captain hadn't said a word to him about what had gone on that night, but it had certainly improved his disposition.
Hook waved his claw dismissively in response to the old man's questioning. "She started this of her own accord…and she will feel the consequences of her actions."
His words held no menace despite their content. In fact there seemed to be a much more playful undertone to it. Smee would never claim to be a smart man, but he was sure he was missing something important. He just couldn't quite connect the dots. He followed Hook back into his cabin and watched the man busy himself with his coats. He even went as far as to ask the bo'sun his opinion on what to wear, like he was about to put on airs at a ball rather than a man hunt. Yes Smee was most definitely confused.
A colorful bird noisily took flight and Ryo jerked anxiously behind a tree as she watched it go. She wasn't getting much done at this rate but she was so damn jumpy she couldn't help it. Every rustle of underbrush or wild bird call sent her shoulders tense and her heart pounding. The boys didn't share her paranoia in the slightest and seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Jax chucked an overripe fruit at Grub who yelped and ran to find cover, nearly dumping the bag of fruit they were trying to fill. Kyleln shot his brother an annoyed glare and resumed trying to match the pictures he had drawn of various herbs the Indians had shown him to the actual thing. It was proving harder then he thought apparently. Grub huffed and wiped a bit of sticky sweet mush from his arm as he came to stand beside the other boy.
"Maybe next time you can put an actual leaf in there or something."
Kly scowled but couldn't dispute the validity of the idea. He was more annoyed he hadn't thought of it first. Grub left him to his grumbling and waved to the little fairy zipping around the canopy.
"Hey Buttons! Hit me with some of that stuff so I can reach the higher limbs."
The little spitfire shot down and smacked into the boys shoulder with a thump. He flew a drunken circle around Grub before he regained his bearings. The large bottle cap atop his head fell just over his eyes and despite the impairment he refused to part with it. Apparently he considered it his badge of honor and the greatest gift he'd ever received, at least in his memory…which admittedly was rather short. A burst of silver and gold floated down on Grubs head.
Grub laughed and slowly lifted into the air. Kly came to join him once he gave up on his plants. Ryo watched the three flit around the tree tops uneasily.
"Stay where I can see you!" She scowled as her warning went unheard, "I'm serious guys, don't wander off!"
Jax stuck his tongue out at her and shot straight up through the canopy and above the trees. The other two followed with an excited laugh. Ryo sighed in exasperation and continued to march through the humid brush in the direction of their laughter.
Hook threw a gesture in the direction of the men slowly making their approach at the opposite side of the little clearing. They crouched low and moved silently through the underbrush with practiced ease. He gave a wiry grin as he watched his prey curse and struggle to untangle a twig from her hair. Foolish girl separated from the pack…you'd think she was looking to be caught. His grin broadened. Her boys had flown off and she was apparently too ill at ease to fly after them. She couldn't match their pace on foot and was quickly left behind. The urge to bring this hunt to fruition was itching at him, but he forced himself to remain patient. The woman was so anxious and alert it wouldn't do to jump the gun so soon.
Ryo stiffened suddenly and watched a rustling patch of brush ahead of her. She relaxed as a large iguana slowly shimmied its way up a tree. Hook bit back a chuckle. She'd like a wary deer. Long limbed and slender she certainly looked the part. She tensed again as one of his men shifted a bit of grass on his end. The jungle itself seemed to freeze for a moment before she burst into motion, bolting through the trees. The underbrush came alive as Hook and his men made to close in on her.
A lucky dodge got her free of their trap she shot past his men. Hook cursed their incompetence. Remind me to gut the man that threw our cover so carelessly. He passed them as they floundered and lost ground on her. She quickly outpaced him with her speed. He may have lost some of his vitality in his months of lethargy, but he knew these jungles well. The terrain was on his side. He kept the fleeing woman in his sights even as his men fell behind.
The underbrush was beginning to thin. He'd have to make his move quick if he was to catch her before she reached the tree line.
Ryo's pace slowed and she took labored breaths. The jungle behind her was oddly still and quiet. She shifted behind a thick tree trunk and struggled to catch her breath. Maybe I got some distance on him. She doubted she was so lucky, but her lungs burned and her legs ached. She wasn't use to this much strenuous activity. She took a step back from the tree and watched the direction she'd come warily.
As she turned to leave once more a broad hand took hold of her arm and she was thrust firmly against the trees trunk. She gripped the rough wood as a warm form pressed flush against her back. Hook's chest heaved just as frantically as hers as he struggled to catch his breath. Dizzily she found herself spun around and pinned bodily with his hook at her throat.
"I…win," He said between heavy breaths, the look in his eye eager and triumphant.
