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The Joy of the Hunt
By: Dragon Demon
Rating: PG-13 for violence, brief language and sensuality.
Summary: Set in motion after Jack's escape from Port Royal, the crew of the Black Pearl pay a visit to Tortuga where Jack repossess a valuable trinket he left behind. In doing so, he has unleashed a chain of events that will lead him on a wild goose chase for treasure, love and survival.
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Gliding. It was what you became accustomed to after having been on the ocean as long as she had been. It was the gliding that she savored; the feeling that she had wings that allowed her to soar. Soaring high above all that was below; but then the dream would fade and reality would be there waiting.
It was the gliding that gave her a taste of freedom, not the ship. And it was the gliding that jolted her awake, the gentle rocking proving to be harsh upon her injured arm.
Anamaria sat upright, her right hand slightly hovering over the bandage on her left shoulder. She flexed her ankle that had previously taken a beating from running in the shoes the night before finding that the once searing pain had now become a dull discomfort.
She pushed herself from her bed carefully testing the ankle under her weight. Assured that the aching joint would hold, she made her way to the deck above. As she loitered through the grimy holds of the ship, she paused, feeling a certain uneasiness under her feet. Moving? She thought cautiously.
After leaning against a wall to catch her breath, she trekked the rest of the way to the deck of the ship without another thought. She ascended to the deck and took in her surroundings. We ARE moving! She told herself alarmingly. Glancing about wildly, she finally found the object of her turmoil and made a b-line straight for the helm.
"Jack!" she blatted as she stood looking up at him. "Why are we movin'?"
The captain raised an eyebrow at her and answered, "Because I set sail. Why else would we be movin'?"
Anamaria shot him a cold glare as she clambered up the small deck. "Why did ye set sail?"
Jack never took his eyes off the horizon as she waited for a response. He could feel Anamaria's eyes bore into the side of his head as she stood watching him. "We set sail, 'cause I am the Captain. And if I want to bloody set sail on me own ship, then I'll bloody set sail." He told her with a blasé tone.
"Where are we goin'?"
The pirate captain's eyes roved across the open sea before they slid over to look at Anamaria. "A tiny island off the coast of Tobago called Anse Erasme."
There was a short gasp beside him as Anamaria stared wide-eyed at him. A soft whisper escaped her lips, "Bloody Bay."
Jack's keen ears picked up the whisper and turned to her, "Ye know of it?"
"I've 'eard of it," Anamaria stated with a shake of her head. "It's said that the blood o' a thousand people stains the bay's waters."
"So it does."
Anamaria noticed the melancholy tone to Jack's voice and frowned. Jack straightened himself out and stared out at the endless horizon. "Fourteen years ago, a ship set sail from Britain headed for Jamaica. On the way, this said ship met up with another said ship, in the whereabouts of Anse Erasme. On one hand, there was a privateer. On the other, a British Admiral. And amidst these two forces, a cove refuging a small village."
There was a slight pause as Jack allowed the past to flow back to his mind. "There were many stories about a treasure hidden in a grotto on a island in that vicinity. The privateer, after havin' 'eard o' such said fortune, happened upon the village one night. Many people died before the village's councilman gave up the bearin's for the island on assumption, 'h could save 'is village. But the privateer showed no mercy and he was slain. The island was found, and treasure and gold alike were taken. But-" Jack emphasized with a gesture of his hand.
"The privateer ne'er got a chance to escape. 'is ship was intercepted by the British Fleet and a battle ensued. The privateer and the Admiral fought valiantly and soon the privateer and 'is crew began to dwindle in size. The crew left what treasure they 'ad and split. The village was a battleground as they raced to put the treasure back in the grotto. The battle intensified, but soon the privateer took 'is loses and pulled out. Before he could, the British fired upon the other ship and the privateer is said to 'ave been crushed in the path of a cannonball."
Anamaria's face twisted into a scowl of disgust at the story. Jack scratched his chin. "The British Fleet counted their loses and the village- there was nothing left of it. The number o' dead was nigh on a hundred. And only one survivor, that the Fleet over looked." The captain's eyes took on a glazed look as he said, "Only one- an old man."
The woman beside him took a step back. "T-the village- is it--?"
There was nod. "Aye, 'tis the same village." Jack turned and faced Anamaria, a look of perpetual guilt on his face. "The same village that was destroyed that me and me crew came upon."
"But, the privateer, if he died, then who was destroyin' all the other ports?"
"I suppose it be 'is crew. They lost the treasure and they lost the battle, they wanted revenge. Findin' the key was the perfect way to it. And what they did to those ports, was the perfect way t' find the key." Jack proclaimed solemnly.
Anamaria stood by quietly, her mind digesting the information she had just heard. Another piece of the story had been revealed, and Anamaria could tell already, she didn't like where this adventure was heading. She sensed the silence to be the end of Jack's story, at least for now.
Unsure of how to react to the tale, she gently placed a hand on Jack's arm in hopes of offering some kind of comfort to the man. Jack tensed and stared at her, a look crossing his features, as if he was just recognizing Anamaria for the first time that morning.
"Jack."
The captain proffered a smile in response. "It'll all be okay, love. Ye just wait an' see."
She nodded a reply and then watched with amusement as Jack pulled something from within his overcoat. He held his hand out to her and asked, "Peach?"
Anamaria quirked an eyebrow and looked skeptically at the peach that Jack held out. "Where'd ye get it?"
Jack grinned then, an expression so unlike the sad one Anamaria had witnessed just moments ago. "Let's jus' say, I had me a nice lit'le visit with Governor Garrison last night. Thought I'd make handy o' the nice bounty upon 'is table."
"You wouldn't?" Anamaria questioned with a chuckle. Jack's whole face lit up with his grin as he pushed the peach into the woman's hand as she exclaimed, "You would!"
Jack turned back to the horizon as Anamaria accepted the fruit with whispered thanks. She started for the lower deck to begin her day, taking a small bite of the fuzzy produce.
Jack was suddenly brought out of his thoughts as a voice screeched to his ears.
"UGH! It's ROTTEN!"
Anamaria was hanging over the side of the boat gagging. Jack furrowed his brow as the woman glared at him, her face sending him the 'You did that on purpose' look. Leaving the helm, he made his way to her. Anamaria tossed the rest of the rotten peach into the water and narrowed her eyes at Jack, who pleaded innocent.
"Why was it rotten, Jack?" Anamaria asked as she tried to push the putrid taste from her mouth.
"I don't know, love." He replied as he pulled another peach from his coat. Taking his knife, he cut the fruit in half to reveal a healthy pink flesh inside. Anamaria glowered. Jack rubbed his finger over the half cut peach. Upon the touch, the once healthy flesh turned black with decay in his hands.
"That's interesting." He murmured as he dumped the peach over the railing.
A breeze wafted over the two, a slight mist of spray accompanying it. Jack looked to the sky in the horizon as he whispered, "An' so it begins."
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Author's Corner- Ok, chapter 10 is, undeniably short and perplex, I know. But have no fear! The answers are soon to come.
This chapter also offers a bit more insight as to the small island that Jack mentioned earlier in chapter 8. And before I go any further, let me say that, Jack's story has A LOT of truth in it.
Some of the smaller things it dealt with are as fictional as the sun is bright. For instance, the village, that doesn't exist except in this story. There is such a place called Anse Erasme, or better known today as 'Bloody Bay.' It's a small cove in the Cayman Islands located just off of Tobago.
The privateer- whose name I shall keep secret for it is not ready to be revealed yet, did in fact exist. The British Admiral- a one Sir John Harman- who encountered the Holland and France fleets in Bloody Bay (The fact that he faced this certain privateer is also fictional, but both men have a reserved spot in History, as little as it may be.) also existed in the 17th Century.
It's said that the British met a victory and that the spilled blood of those involved turned the water a red hue in the sunlight, hence the name Bloody Bay. Of course, there is another story on how this place got its name, but I much better like the first reason.
This battle also took place in the year 1666- when Harman defeated the French and Dutch fleets. Jack's tale begins 14 years before this chapter happened, meaning that this story takes place in 1680. (I know it's a tad bit off the assumed 1629 setting for the movie, but there was no real evidence of the actual year in Pirates of the Caribbean.) The 14-year (s) time line is as follows.
~*~
Sir John Harman's battle at Bloody Bay, 1666.
Jack and crew find the village in the same year- 1666- 2 years before the movie takes place. (2 years before he was marooned.)
Jack is marooned in year 1668- where for ten years he Port hops and goes after the Black Pearl.
In the year 1678, Jack meets Will and Elizabeth, takes revenge on Barbossa and gets the Black Pearl back.
2 years after the movie ends, year 1680, our story takes place.
~*~
For more information on Bloody Bay and Sir John Harman, here is the following site in which I found that explains the history behind Bloody Bay. www.tobago.hm/folk/bloo-h.htm
It is a very interesting site with, not a lot, but sufficient information on this place.
Ok, if there was any confusion left that I overlooked, please let me know so that I can resolve the problem. I think I covered the basics, except who the privateer was, and his name will be released at a later date or as needed.
Review Thanks-
Jackfan2- Wow, a LONG review! I enjoyed reading that! I'm glad you feel the story is in pace enough to react with the characters as they deal with things. I don't want to go all 'jumpy-jump' straight into a romance thing. I want it to pan out, just like a true relationship.
While I don't think I have 'true genius writing talent' I'm thankful all the same for the compliment. As stated before (I think) writing was never my thing, and it still isn't to an extent. But I try.
Usually I don't read stories I'm not interested in either. I do though, skim a chapter or two of a story to see if maybe I am judging the book by the cover. If I think it's of interest, I read it. If not, I hit the back button. But I do know that there are people out there, who flame out of spite. I think it's childish. If someone wants to bash my story, I'd hope they'd do so in email, ya know, be a mite courageous and not just flaming the review board.
I am an only girl of 5, so I am familiar with the feeling. Hence, I can come off quite emotionless sometimes, void of all emotions even. And then other times, I am the most emotional person I have ever known. Anamaria being one of not just 5, but nigh on 20, must be so much worse. The shock of her feelings/injury can cause a state of emotional distress for anybody, and that was what I was aiming for.
Cal- Yay! Another LONG review. I'm beginning to like this! Ok, so it's not fluff fluff, but slight fluff in a manner that both Jack and Anamaria, were not themselves. But more on an emotional level with each other, something that was not shown in the movie, save for Anamaria's staunch disdain towards Jack for having stolen her boat.
I'm hoping to go a bit fluffier, in a fluffy kind of way, later on, but I shall let you be the judge of that. I'm trying to develop the relationship, slowly, instead of plunging them headlong into something they both have no clue on how to handle.
And wow, you teared up? That's awesome! Was the story that emotional and moving? Of course, the blood was from just the bullet grazing her arm, a huge discomfort, but nothing major or life threatening. Just something to add a little twist there to Jack's mental capacity.
I guess his thoughts there towards the end were much the same as his life flashing before his eyes. A lot of thoughts happen in a split second stunt, but the mind comprehends so much in our last moments that it is hard to keep track of them all.
The sailor, if a member of Jack's crew, was obviously drunk, seeing as there is no real threat to them in needing them to be sober, albeit, Norrington, whom, is a pansy! (grins) He is also daft, remember Will saying that Jack had proven that crew to be mad? It's all good! ^^
His going off to see Garrison, was of business and not having anything to do with the party crash or the incident involving Anamaria. I purposely left out the meeting between the two (Garrison and Jack) because it was miniscule. All that happens is Jack threatens him, as to who has the key, but I will reveal the meeting as a flashback later on. Ok.
Again, thank you, both for the kind words.
-Dragon Demon
P.S. It is in planning, but my author nick will probably change here soon with the upcoming chapters. Unsure as to what yet, but just a note to expect it when it does.