About three days had passed since the girl had snuck aboard the Sirius Ship. She had been cramped during the days in the corner of the pantry, and Nathan, the cook, spent a lot of time in there. Yet even from her spot, she'd been able to at least learn the names and voices of the pirates. She even found out which man had released her from the accursed birdcage. Eduardo, who she still hadn't gotten a good look at yet, seemed to be a rather cold and sarcastic man, yet she couldn't forget how he'd saved her in the middle of the fight.
As she sat waiting for Nathan, one of the only member of the crew who she had actually seen, to finish the dishes, she wondered where the ship was going, when they'd get there, and how she'd sneak off. Eventually, the lights went out and the door was closed. She silently listened to the receding footsteps. When it seemed safe, she carefully crawled out. Silently she crept to the deck. She moved around, stretching her sore muscles. Keeping an ear out for anyone, she walked around the deck. She'd been seen once before on the night she'd first gotten on board. She'd snuck out of her hiding place too early and was seen by Thomas. She scared him into running back to his room by making him believe she was the ghost of a pirate's murdered lover. She felt bad about terrifying the poor boy, but she needed to escape that island. Now that the ship's crew was in bed, most likely asleep, she softly spoke.

"I am the girl who leaves no trace. I am the phantom who is gone by day. I am the bird who sings songs of woe. I am the-"

"Don't. Move." ordered a cold voice.

She froze as she felt a light pressure on her spine.

Is that a gun?

She heard movement behind her, and realized with a sinking stomach that it was the ship's crew. She guessed that it was Eduardo who'd caught her. While they had saved her before, the girl wasn't sure if they'd be as kind when they realized she had been a stowaway on their ship. She didn't move as the man, who she assumed was Captain Morgan, walked in front of her. He took a single look at her, and he seemed to understand. He gestured for Eduardo to lower his weapon before talking to her.

"Well, since you're not a bird locked in a cage anymore, who are you?" he asked.

"Besides a stowaway on our ship." added Eduardo.

"I am the girl-" she started.

"Yeah, yeah, 'who leaves no trace'."the captain interrupted, "We heard, but we'd like a name, assuming you have one."

She coolly looked him in the eyes, then answered.

"My good captain, I do have a name. Some have tried to take it from me, they have called me by names that are not my own. Yet, I k-"

She heard the click of the gun. Gulping, she got to the point.

"C-Clara, my name is Clara."

"Well, Clara, that wasn't so hard, now was it?" the captain asked, gesturing for the man to lower his weapon.

She didn't answer, only stared at him. Clearly not happy with her attitude, Eduardo spoke up.

"Seeing as how you're the one who snuck onto our ship, maybe you could try to show a bit more respect."

She turned to face him.

"Seeing as how I kept you from being found, arrested, and executed, I think you're still paying me back."

Despite her tough words and confident tone, Clara was quite scared. If she didn't at least seem sure, how could she expect them to help her? She clutched her dress to hide her shaking hands. She hoped that they would agree, but the look in his eye told her that the man was in no rush to help her a second time. She found it hard to believe that Eduardo had been the one who'd saved her from that cage. There he stood glaring at her, and she coolly looking him in the eyes. If he was going to be rude to her, she'd just return the favor.

"Well," the captain chuckled, "she has a point."

"What?" Eduardo' eye widened, "You can't be serious."

She turned back to the captain to see what he was going to do. He smiled at her then spoke.

"She did save our lives, so I think we oughta pay her back. What do ya think?"

"Of course!"grinned Thomas.

"That's only fair." Christopher agreed.

Russell shrugged, and said, "Sure."

Nathan said nothing, though he gave a short nod. Only Eduardo seemed opposed to her presence. He scowled at her, but said nothing.

Growl

Clara's cheeks burned with embarrassment as her stomach loudly growled. Eduardo rolled his eyes, Christopher looked amused, Nathan sighed, and the others laughed. The captain ordered Nathan to make her some dinner, for which she was very grateful for, and they walked with her to an indoor dining area. Sitting down, she talked with Russell and Thomas, though she couldn't ignore the concerned glances she'd get from Christopher and Captain Morgan. They didn't have to wait long for Nathan to bring out food for her, and snacks for the others. Clara took a bite and practically melted. Not only was this the only real food she'd had in a long time, it was the best food she'd probably had in her whole life. She quickly ate and managed to thank the ship's cook, to which he replied with a simple, small smile. When she was done, she started to feel tired, despite her light naps throughout the day. When he saw this, the captain smiled.

"Looks like it's time for everyone to go back to bed." he said as he stood.

"But what about Miss Clara?" Thomas asked, "There are no more rooms!"

"Well," he grinned mischievously, "I guess she'll have to stay with someone. Someone smart, someone responsible."

She tilted her head, unsure of who she was to stay with.

"Who do we know that's responsible? Thomas is kind, but he's already got the leftover room, so we shouldn't put him in a worse situation by pushing another person in there. Nathan gets to bed late and gets up early, so that would be a strain on the young lady. Christopher seems like he would be a good choice, but he'd just sleep on the floor, where he could get sick or get aches, and we need our doctor in top form. I can't put her with Russell, since we know he'd make her sleep on the floor-"

"Hey! Yer makin' me sound horrible!" Russell interrupted, only to be completely ignored.

"Hmm, I guess she could stay with me." the captain continued, winking suggestively at her, "But the look Christopher's giving me says that it's a bad idea. So, who could she possibly stay with?"

The floorboards creaked as Eduardo made his way to the door. He cringed at the sound, but refused to look at the group.

"Ah, Eduardo! Of course!" the captain said, as though it had just occurred to him, despite the fact that this was obviously his original intention.

"No." the man with the eye-patch flatly refused.

"Eduardo, come on." Christopher scolded, "She's a scared young lady on a ship full of strange men, have some sympathy."

"No. She should have thought of that before she snuck onto our ship."

She frowned slightly at this. It wasn't as though she'd purposely boarded their ship, and he didn't need to be so cranky. She hadn't done anything to him, had she? Clara was starting to feel quite annoyed with his attitude. Bottling up those feelings, she addressed him.

"I'm sorry, Eduardo. I'll get off the next time we get to a port. So please, may I room with you til then?" she requested, trying to sound as pleasant and polite as she could at the moment.

The truth was, she felt exhausted. She a had spent the whole day stuck in the same position, and for three days, she'd eaten to what would add up to half a healthy child's meal. Now, that she had a stomach full of warm food, though it wasn't nearly what it should of been for a woman her age and size and Christopher noted it, Clara was very tired.
She watched as Eduardo closed his eye in thought. He heaved a defeated sigh.

"Fine, but you're off the ship the moment we hit a port."

She gratefully nodded, and followed the crabby man to the room.
When they got there, Eduardo walked to his dresser and pulled out one of his shirts. When he tossed it to her, Clara looked at him in confusion. He rolled his eye and explained.

"You're not getting in my bed in those clothes; they're filthy. Wear that for now, and I'll find you something in the morning."

She nodded and he turned around. She turned too, embarrassed that he was going to stand there while she changed, but grateful for his consideration.

Maybe he really is kind.

When she was done, she folded up her ridiculous white dress and set it on a chest in the room. Eduardo pulled off his coat and shoes and walked to the bed. He paused, then gestured for her to get in. She quickly slipped in and sighed at the warmth and comfort of a real bed. She'd had to sleep in that cage for months, so she'd nearly forgotten how wonderful beds were. She snuggled up into a tight ball. As the bed sank behind her, she turned to find Eduardo climbing in next to her.

"W-what are you doing?" she squawked.

"It's my bed, right?"

"Y-yes..."

"Well, I'm tired, and I want to sleep. I won't touch ya, so calm down."

"Oh, okay. You better stay true to your word."

"I always do, so shut up and go to sleep."

Clara turned her back, and Eduardo did the same. Though she felt embarrassed about the fact that she could feel his warmth on her back, she was grateful for what he'd done for her, from freeing her, to agreeing to take her to another port, to giving her his shirt, to giving her a bed. Recalling her overall luck the past few days, she fell into a deep sleep.