Captain Keith Kogane had very little time to make a decision. The life of his crew was at stake. The Privateers were only a few metres away from colliding into and boarding their ship -the Black Lion- for a hostile takeover. He acted on impulse, much to his First Mate's dismay, directing his crew to turn and face their pursuers with cannons blazing. The smoke and gunpowder would provide them with a narrow chance of escape. A risk he was willing to take.
The Black Lion was his second ship. A majestic vessel carved from wood with a black-ish hue. It proudly sported sails of fine blue, yellow and red linen when hunting down merchants for loot. The Black Lion had an unmistakable sculpture on its bow- a ferocious black lion's head black. The lower jaw and teeth carved from a white timber. Hanging open to reveal a cannon barrel as black as the abyss.
After a gruelling conflict, which resulted in them taking minimal damage the Black Lion slipped away on a fortunate headwind. With nothing but open water ahead of them, the Black Lion navigated the shallow shoals and volcanic islands. The crew in dire need of landfall to replenish their dwindling supplies and morale. The crew scrambled onto the sandy shore of a cove hidden in the mouth of a rocky cave.
The crew set up camp. The Captain walked away from his crew to collect his thoughts. Visibly shaken from the encounter. He had engaged in plenty of conflicts. Each one left his blood coursing through his veins with sheer excitement. Adrenaline clouding his thoughts. He removed his feather-plumed hat, fanning himself.
Keith lost track of the time that slipped through the fingers of his mind. His conscious lost track of where his feet fell. Only his subconscious keeping him from falling into the unforgiving ocean. The cave ran deeper than he anticipated. He tugged off his dark, leather boots by the heels. Freeing his cramped toes. His feet sinking into the pristine, golden sand. There were so many uncharted areas out at sea. He could vanish here. Not even his own, loyal crew would find him.
His feet sinking in the sands embrace. His pace slowed as he drifted back to consciousness. He could no longer hear his crew as they built a bonfire on the beach and scavenged for food. Only his footprints left behind to lead him back to the Black Lion anchored in the cove.
He was drawn towards a feminine harmony. His feet moving on their own. Entranced. He could not distinguish any words. He laid eyes on a feminine figure, with her back turned to him. Her complexion like that of cocoa beans lightly roasted on a fire. Long waves of moonlight white hair tumbling down to her waist. Her lower body obscured. She was half-immersed in a shallow pool. Combing her hair. It was love at first sight.
"Gah!"
She gasped, flailing in the water as noticed the curious pirate. Her galaxy blue eyes widened. Her purple pupils contracted as she tried to calm herself. Pink markings highlighted her cheekbones. Strings of silver beads and pearls glinted from her tiara, neck and both wrists.
"Who are you?"
"Hello. My name is Keith." He said. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's o-okay. I'm not scared of you. Um...My friends call me Allura." She blushed, entwining long strands of her voluptuous hair around her dainty fingertips.
"Allura, eh? That's a pretty name. What is a lady like you doing out here?" He smiled. "Are you alone?"
"N-no." Her voice shook. "I am with my friends. They must have seen you and...swam away."
"Why?"
"You see, we're having trouble with a group who keeps trying to hunt us down."
"That's rough. I know how that feels. I'm hiding here with my...crew as we speak."
"I know I shouldn't ask this of a...dashing...stranger I have just met, but could you help us? Please."
"Why are they hunting you and your friends?"
She didn't look like a pirate. He'd seen plenty of those.
"Because...we're mermaids. Are you going to help us or not?"
"You're what?" Only monsters lived at the end of the world. She did not seem fantastical...
Keith was taken aback as Allura flicked a glistening blue-ish purple fish-tail out of the water.
He nodded. Gobsmacked. He could not believe his eyes. He wanted to protect her.
"I have an idea." He said at long last, after listening to her plight. It seemed that they had something in common with the snow-haired maiden. "Hide with your friends. I'm going to make sure you are never hurt again."
Keith returned to his crew with a plan forming in his mind. The machinations of which, were still enthralled by the thrill of his narrow escape. He set up a stake out to protect the mermaids, in exchange for the mermaid's assistance finding enough food and other supplies for his crew AND sheltering the rag-tag band of pirates within their den, should they ever need it again. And they would. The den would serve as a base of operations throughout the golden age of piracy.
Keith laid in wait for the mermaid hunters to approach. Member of his crew posing as unknowing merfolk. They succeeded, ambushing the hunters. Dealing with them accordingly. Once it was safe, the pirates began to prepare the Black Lion in search of unsuspecting merchant ships. Allura waited to thank the dashing captain in privacy. Wishing him the best of luck.
"You are my hero!" Allura cheered, throwing her arms around the pirate captain. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome." He leaned in, his lips brushing over her cheeks. Both of them blushed violently as Keith pulled back.
"I...um…Uh...You…Stay safe. Please...I-" She tripped over her own words, fiddling with his lapel.
"I'll be back, Allura. I promise. Wait for me."
"I will." She whispered breathlessly with tears of happiness pooling in her eyes. "I love...you."
"I love you too." He said, slapping his dark, plumed-hat onto his head with a love-struck grin.