Diablo 2: Visions of You (Chapter 2)
By Amethyst Haze (amethyst_haze@hotmail.com)
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Disclaimer: I do not own Diablo II, its concepts, its designs or anything else related to it. Those are the property of Blizzard Entertainment, this story is simply a non-profit tribute and parody. This story is Rated R for moments of sexual content, offensive language and violence.
Amethyst Haze's comments: If this story sounds EXTREMELY familiar to you.... then you've read the original fanfic as the NC-17 version when it was under my old pen name. I will not be writing like that anymore. Also, you might want to have read through "Longing to be with you" first since Visions of You is the second in that series. :P
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"Ferrum...." the woman's voice was soft and delicate.
Smiling at his name, he pressed his mouth against the soft yielding lips of the young woman in his arms. Lost in the hazy room of white satin and lit candles scattered about, the softly illuminated room made garish shadows around as the woman smiled from underneath Ferrum's hard body.
He lips trailed over his girlfriend's face, leaving kisses randomly upon her nose, her closed eyelids, her cheekbones and lastly back to her much loved mouth. "Alys," he murmured, his breath hot and ragged upon her skin as he nipped at the plump lower lip that seemed to beckon his mouth.
Alys sighed in response to the feel of his rough and work-calloused hand trail down the smoothness of her body, tracing the enticing curve of her bare and plump breast. She knew already that her body was painfully aware of him when he first kissed her; it was always like that with him. A thumb familiarly teased the peak, dragging a delicious feeling from the core of her desire to spread and permeate through her body.
Her small hand slid down between the two bodies pressed, firmly, though barely, caressing him. He groaned into her mouth, his tongue slipping out to delve between her lips, not even pausing in a struggle for access.
Their tongues danced in a simple rhythm of unity; no leader, no follower. She broke the kiss with a teasing smile. "I want you, Ferrum."
He arched an eyebrow playfully. He loved hearing her talk, and wanted to hear more than just that. "You want me... what?"
"I want you to... get the fucking hell away from me, you stupid piece of quillrat shit!!"
Ferrum blinked. "What?"
***
"You stupid piece of quillrat shit!!!!!" Krysta growled as she spat at her attacker. "I'll kill you!" She tipped her head back slightly then snapped it forward quickly to spit on him. Her saliva landed on his bald head and he didn't care one bit as her mouth spewed forth a long list of swears.
She turned her head away, pressing her face into her arm as a hand slid down her tight abdomen to the neat nest of small and course black hairs crowning her womanhood. They were tugged at in a most harsh manner and, in the next sentence, she expelled all the air in her lungs, screaming to the world what she thought of Omega and his mother.
Omega was deaf to all her curses and orders. All he heard and felt was the demands of pleasure for his cock. He smiled disturbingly and let his fingers touch the most private place upon Krysta's body. He frowned; Krysta was as dry as the Lut Gholein winds.
Krysta's eyes desperately shot over to Ferrum as loud muffled sounds rose from him. He struggled fiercely in his bonds, obviously wanting to help the woman. His eyes opened and widened in shock and rage as he watched Omega's preparations to violate Krysta's body. The way Ferrum was tied up, however, looked uncomfortable, and just watching him made her feel the possible stiff and sore back he must be suffering from. She shut her eyes, feeling more probing inside her most intimate region, trying to fight against the bile rising in her stomach.
She concentrated on the most revolting images she could conjure up. Villages being razed, the innocent slaughtered, she thought to herself, picturing everything before her. Diablo, dripping with blood, skeletons dancing around as they feast upon corpses... That stupid sonvabitch Omega!!!!
With another surge of energy, she thrashed angrily in her bonds, rebelling as best as she could while swearing in the loudest volume she could manage. Surely someone would hear her.
What if they think I'm one of the wenches Meshif brought? she thought in the back of her mind. Drat, she had forgotten all about that. Meshif, knowing full well that some of the male warriors would be restless, hired several women from Atma's establishment as a 'distraction' for those who needed it. During the night, and sometimes the day, she could hear the desire-filled moans, screams and gasps of those dark-skinned whores as they took care of their customers.
"Get off of her!" Ferrum's voice boomed. Somehow, he had managed, (even while still tied) to work his mouth free of the cloth gag, which now lay around his neck.
The barbarian ignored Ferrum's warning's, taking his pleasure with Krysta's body despite her angry shrieking and her violent thrashing. His hands gripped her bare buttocks roughly and she yelped and twisted around even more.
She knew damn well she should not be remembering Avery right now, but her body was being rebellious to her mind. She yelled at the top of her lungs at him, saying things that she was strangely hoping that could turn him off or at least cause him to tear himself away from her to regard her oddly and regain his composure. "A man is kissing you! You like men!! You know you do!! You want a hot-slice of some man-ass!! You don't want me!!"
Ferrum stared blankly for a moment, his eyes darting to the crate-blocked door as his wits fled in terror at her accusation, He does? he thought, dreading the worst for himself since he obviously was a man.
Ferrum thrashed around as best as he could in his bonds. No way in hell am I letting him get to me!!! With his wrists still bound to his ankles, he glanced over at the pile of chicken bones from Rune's meal then over to the roasted chicken he brought in. With a smile, he pointed the fingers of one hand at the bones and the other at the roasted chicken on the floor. A dark echo occurred in his voice as he began chanting summoning spells.
From the pile of bones, the form of a terrifying skeletal... chicken was animated and, from the steaming meat of the roasted chicken, another bony horror burst from the food. The two headless skeleton chickens' bony wings fluttered angrily as they scurried over to the sexually-charged barbarian, who was still busy sampling Krysta. Once behind him, they jumped onto his back, their feet digging in as they furiously scratced at the skin of his broad and muscular back, drawing blood in thin lines.
Wrenching himself from Krysta's body with a furious snarl, Omega stared oddly at the two skeletal chickens before laughing. "Amateur," he laughed, smashing the chickens with his hands as he flicked a victorious glare to Ferrum.
A strange and heavy beat of stomps against the floor suddenly startled Ferrum. He glanced at the door and felt the vibrations from the stampeding from beyond the door against his bottom. A strange rush shot through him, mixing with the dread and fear he already had in reserve for Krysta's situation.
What's going on out there?
***
"Pirates!!!"
Rune choked on his ale, spitting it back into the mug as he stood up too quickly and knocked over his stool. Grabbing his dagger, he glanced around, meeting with the sight of a few panicked faces. The majority of the mercenaries had ran towards the stairs and to the deck to engage battle.
Following like a man posessed by the ghost of a vengeful warrior, he joined the crowd, following the wave pouring into the light. The sun warmed his skin and the smell of blood seeped into his brain, heightening all his senses. The shouts of battle, triumph and death sounded from all sides, every man and woman already engaged in battle.
Rune glanced down quickly at the sight of a dead woman, scantily dressed. Most likely one of the whores Meshif hired... he thought bitterly. There was no time to think or mutter a prayer for the woman's soul, for from his left a large and burly man, decorated in gold and a noticebly blood-stained shirt approached with his sword raised.
Pivoting away from the deadly weapon, Rune watched as the man stepped past his previous place before striking him hard on the back of his neck. The man fell to the floor, no longer a threat.
The druid turned around and caught sight of Meshif, backing away from two adversaries, with his hands raised. No doubt the ship captain was begging for his life and trying to strike up a bargain. Rune embedded the dagger into one man's back.
Off target! Rune could feel it in his forearms as his small blade stuck the bone of the left shoulder blade. The man struck hissed and whirled around, sending the handle of the dagger away from his attacker's hand.
Frowning, Rune quickly dropped onto one knee in time to avoid the horizontal slash of the man's scimitar. Upon the ground, next to the man he knocked out, lay a blood-stained long sword. He quickly retrieved it and thrust his arm forward, piercing the pirate's unguarded stomach.
Thick blood trickled down the angle of the blade before Rune removed it and kicked the body aside. He took down the other man quickly with a simple twister that carried him over the wooden railing to drop into the waters below.
Rune whirled around with Meshif at his back. A feeling of dread washed over him. The deck was scattered with slain bodies of mercenaries and pirates, but more importantly, the ones standing... they were not the mercenaries. The mercenaries were in the water, or on the deck floor, staining it red.
Meshif's teeth chattered in fear before Rune turned to him. "Sorry to do this..."
"What--ahhh!!!" Meshif wailed as Rune's twister carried him over the rail into the water.
Rune knew it was better that way. Meshif could swim, it would be utterly stupid if the captain was unable to swim.
Turning back to the threat at hand, another thought came to him. Where the hell is Krysta and Ferrum??? He had little time to dwell upon that. Already the pirates were turning on him, their bloodlust still not sated.
Cracking a dark grin, Rune cocked his head to an arrogant angle. "This hardly seems fair..."
His lips were actively moving as he stepped forward. He couldn't help but feel self-righteous as the pirates stared in confusion as their clothes and hair whipped around in the raising winds. A second later, Rune was calmly walking towards the stairs, ignoring the hectic gale surrounding and avoiding only him. The crowd parting before him and his hurricane.
***
An unwelcome and stifled moan reverberated in the assassin's throat as she felt the tongue delve deeper, licking her already wet inner folds. She bit down on her tongue furiously as his tongue slithered within, swirling as it explored every part that it could reach. She held her breath to stop herself from making any sounds and felt the pressure build up in her head, as well as her abdomen once his tongue slipped out to tease the stiffer proof of her arousal.
The hair spilling down and hiding portions of his face, Ferrum narrowed his eyes fiercely. Bastard, he thought, glancing over at the pile of his armour before he pointed his fingers at them and murmured another summoning spell.
A faint glow rose and died... then silence before it began. The glove shivered rapidly upon the floor. A heavy metal clanking sound reverberated in the room, holding as much dread as the tales of ghosts enslaved in iron shackles. The metal glove kicked and squirmed, peaking in random places as if it were a stubborn coccoon, holding a great evil inside, waiting to burst free, wanting to be born. And then - pop! - the glove molded into its form like pliable earth. It sprouted arms, legs, head, a thick torso and other burly features resembling a man. Gleaming in the faint and flickering lantern glow, the blonde necromancer had created a battle-ready, dangerously spikey and ferocious golem... that was about one foot tall.
With a groan, Ferrum was tempted to bash his head into the sturdy wooden boards nearby. Oh dear God! he thought in utter mortification of his miniature metal monster. My master's prolly turning in his grave right now...
The golem, oblivious his creator's disdain in its size, found his target and jumped into battle immediately. With his spike-for-an-arm, he shot forward, the sharp point lancing into the rump of the barbarian, directly targetting his...
"Yeowwwrghhh!!!" The barbarian roared, summoning a rattling ache to Ferrum's eardrums.
Warm blood spilled from Omega's behind to the floor as he stood up and faced his attacker with a menacing glare. His face suddenly lost it's ferocity and all that was left was dumbfounded stare directed at the mini golem. He roared out laughing after what seemed like a torturous five seconds.
Ferrum grimaced, swallowing nervously as he could feel the back of his neck redden. He watched, embarassed and curious, as the golem quickly darted through the thick legs of the standing barbarian. It pivoted on its metal legs and swiped at Omega's bare ankles, slicing the tender flesh there.
Another bloody cry spewed forth as the golem was glared at with viciously beady eyes. Omega growled, muttering oaths under his breath as he stalked toward the bound necromancer, ignoring the golem. The metal golem scurried towards Krysta and effortlessly sliced the ropes that tied her right ankle down. He skittered to the other side to free her left leg.
The blood in his temples pounded in fear. Ferrum muttered a chant under his breath as the furious Omega drew closer. The floor boards rattled under his solid weight. The chant rapidly continued and the blonde smiled crookedly as the barbarian's eyes widened in fright.
Before the eyes of Omega, a flash of light and ghostly images of himself appeared. His proud and sinewy body was now withering in mere seconds before his mind's eye. The dying scream, the useless cry of a youthful man turning into an old crone penetrated his mind, seeping like poison into his concentration. A dry groan escaped Omega's lips.
Along with a stange whooshing sound, a thump was heard in the room The door was hitting the stacked crates. Upon the heavy door rapped a fist, Rune's. "Hey? What's going on?? Open the door! Ferrum??" His voice sounded very distant.
Was there a storm going on outside? Ferrum thought, admitting to himself that he had felt the boat being rocked around more than usual.
"Get in here already!!" Krysta shouted, both her her legs free as the golem hurried to continue its work.
Omega's body failed to respond to its mind's command of running to the door to hold it shut . His muscles twitched spastically, causing pain to bubble and boil all over his body. His back ached, needles pinching and twisting itself further, imbedding within the bones and pinching their movements. "The fuck??!" Omega hissed, launching a venomous glare at Ferrum. "What did you do?!!"
His lopsided smile broadened with satisfaction as he continued the chant, not bothering to answer Omega. He had to keep the curse going. It would wear out maybe half a minute after he stopped chanting, and he would not allow that to happen.
A strange and eerie creaking sound grew in volume before -CRAAAACK!- the door was blown off his hinges, knocking Omega unconscious. The door didn't stop there, it flew straight into the wall past the barbarian and tied down assassin... and kept going, out into the open air, taking the wall with it.
Ferrum stared at the hole the door made in the back wall before staring at Rune, who did not look the least bit happy at the spectacle that Omega had created. He was nigh spitting sparks. He was glaring down angrily at the unconscious barbarian, ready to kill when he noticed Krysta, trying as best she could to hide her nudity with her arms and legs crossed strategically.
The blonde necromancer barely even noticed the golem working away at his own bonds until he was completely free. He picked up his metallic creature and removed the cord around his shoulders. "Krysta." When she looked his way, he tossed the cloak to her. "Cover yourself up."
She nodded and did as she was told before standing up. "What's going on out there?"
"Oh... wait," Rune said with a grimace before he stepped back into the hall with his hand extended towards the area that the stairs would be. A blast of glittering wind with a frosty bite surged forth, stopping the few pirates that followed dead in their tracks. He stepped back, resuming casual conversation. "Sorry about that."
Ferrum stared, "What was that?"
Rune quickly explained and as each sentence spilled out, fear grew in the other two. "Yeah... so, we're outnumbered."
The necromancer was the first to speak above the silence and the commotion on deck. "Are you saying we're doomed then?"
Krysta's eyes flashed. "To hell with that!" she spat, walking towards the hole in the wall. Her eyes squinted from the light as she gazed upon the pirate ship, only a few meters ten meters away, then back to the rope coils hanging from the wall. An idea was brewing in her mind.
Grabbing the long rope coil, she glanced around the room, cursing. "Dammit... don't they have a hook or anything?"
Ferrum stared blankly, "You want to get on board the pirate ship?"
Krysta nodded, "Yes, and then you guys follow me."
Rune glanced at the ship, staring up as to where the railing ended, and smiled. "Ferrum, can you swim?"
"Yeah, why?"
His orange mane shook as he patted Krysta's shoulder. "Just hang onto that rope, ok? When you get on board, drop the rope. Ferrum and I will swim to it and climb it, agreed?"
Krysta nodded hesitantly. "Okay... but you're forgetting something important." She walked over to the opening in the wall and stared with a sigh. "How am I going to get there? I can't jump that far or that high, there's no footing on the side..."
The whole time the assassin was talking, Rune motioned for Ferrum to step back. The druid took his place, standing a good two meters away from the assassin, and standing perfectly in line to her and the ship. He pressed his hands out against the air, murmuring under his breath and feeling the winds of nature building from his palms.
"It's not like I can just magically fly up there," Krysta grumbled.
Rune's mouth twitched into a smile, "Wanna bet?"
Krysta spun on her heel in time to see Rune's cyclone blast from his hands and slam into her. Before her eyes, the scenery changed from the rustic interior of the cargo room into the dazzling blue sky and sparkling water spinning before her. She twirled uncontrollably in the dancing winds with a rich "Ahhhh!" spilling from her open mouth. The blue cloak was ripped from her body. It floated to the waters with a much terrified Ferrum jumping after it.
"My cloak!!" Ferrum exclaimed before plunging into the water.
Retrieving his own and Ferrum's pack, Rune hesitantly followed. The water wasn't overbearingly cold; it was easily tolerable. It nipped at the skin, but could be easily ignored. The salt spray however hurt the eyes and tasted horribly, as one could imagine.
Surfacing, Rune kicked his legs wildly, feeling the furs and armour he wore bearing down his weight even more. He rubbed his eyes, wincing at the sting of the salt but relishing in the tangy air of the waters. As he paddled in the water, he noticed the blue cloak right next to him in the water and glanced around. When he spotted the top of the blonde's head coming towards him, he frowned, "Ferrum, what the hell are you doing?"
Lying on his back, half submerged in water, he swam up to Rune with leisurely strokes. Ferrum grinned up at the sky, "Swimming, my friend. Tis easier this way." The golem, sitting quietly on the stomach of his human raft/master, waved at Rune and plucked the cloak out of the water as they passed by.
He groaned before following Ferrum's example. And the necromancer was right.
***
Krysta winced. The landing was painful and not the least bit graceful. She lay sprawled for a few seconds before finally recovering from the 'ouch'-evoking thump her rump endured. She quickly got to her feet and automatically went to work with the rope, tying one end securely to the rail and tossing the other over. Lucky for her, the rope was more than enough to reach the water.
She glanced around, feeling very vulnerable because of her nudity. The deck was empty. Strange... She glanced back to Meshif's ship. Everyone was on THAT deck. Perhaps it's not so strange, she thought, her mouth tightening as she cautiously darted towards the stairs leading below. There probably won't be too many remaining.
Still, what could she do? Fight with her bare hands... and her bare body. She frowned. The latter did not suit her. Still, it would seem rather courteous to the men she'd be killing. They'd experience one more feeling of joy as they gazed upon a nude woman before she killed them.
A perverse smile formed upon her lips. But no... She knew it would be best to wait for Rune and Ferrum. Having her breasts bounce around while she performed death strikes really wouldn't help her in the least. She waited several minutes until finally a hand clamped upon the railing and she helped the man by reducing his load; That load being a spikey metal golem and a heavy and wet cloak.
Ferrum grinned and thanked Krysta before leaning over the railing and before aiding a similarly soaked Rune.
Rune threw down the packs, still breathing heavily, and made a face at the necromancer. "You could've taken your own luggage. You're welcome, dammit."
"Thank you, dammit," was the curt reply as he pulled up the rope and let it coil upon the deck.
Krysta wrapped the drenched blue cloak around her body and shivered. "Well, I think you two should search the ship for the other pirates... I think most of them seem to be still raiding Meshif's ship, but... there's probably a fraction of them below."
Nodding, Rune turned in the direction of the stairs to find Ferrum standing there with his metal golem on the ground. The blonde pointed at the stairs while looking at the golem. The druid fought back another groan, "I don't know how much more of this crap I can take... He's insane." He muttered ancient words of his tongue in a whisper.
The assassin shook her head, "Nah, I don't think so. There's probably a better word for it." She jumped when a sudden swarm of animals appeared upon the deck. Ravens were perched upon a grizzly's back, looking quite content. Next to that sight, a pack of wolves, with a mischeivous look to them, just aching to stir up some mayhem.
Rune glanced down at all of them before nodding towards the stairs. The pack of animals quickly left, all as a group. When they passed by Ferrum, who had already sent his golem on its way, he stared with a grin. "All right... an animal army." Walking back, his head was still turned, watching the rears of the animals as they disappeared below. He turned to face Rune and opened his mouth to speak.
Screeching male voicse cut him off though. It came from below. Several loud curses and animal growls mixed and mingled as it reached their ears.
Ferrum turned back again with a satisfied nod. "Okay, pirates will be gone soon." He paused, his eyebrow furrowing. "Rune, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Are you by chance anywhere from the Zann Esu Valleys?"
The druid hesitated before answering. "Why do you ask?"
"You have a slight accent on some words," Ferrum quickly explained with a chuckle. "I thought maybe you were from around those parts. Took me awhile to notice the accent though."
Rune sighed, "I lived there for awhile actually... I really don't want to talk about it."
Ferrum nodded. Maybe that's a sensitive subject to him, he thought with a quick glance at the Encantadora before asking: "What about that?"
"I'll take care of it." Rune turned towards Meshif's invaded ship and clamped his hands tightly upon the thick wooden railing. His lips rapidly began moving. The hair upon his head rose as the gentle breeze grew violent. The water around the ship ripped and swirled around, creating a twisting border, encircling it in a death grip waiting.
The swirling chaos became more visible as the water joined in, twisting and weaving in the dangerous winds. It beat against the wood of the ship, tossing it back and forth as if though it were between two bullies. The ship dipped and rose to a hectic rhythm, tossing the pirates on deck overboard as it jump and slammed back into the water. Mist formed, shrouding all of them in the thick and moist air.
The ship turned, slow, but it was definitely turning to the sway of the winds. Boards and poles broke off and were suspended as it joined in the twisting motions, striking itself upon whatever got in its path. Splintering cracks erupted, human cries were expelled and and the Encantadora groaned as it was being pummeled by the merciless spell.
Rune kept it going for well over what he expected it would take to break the ship down. He stopped chanting finally, but the twister still continued. The winds were loud and roaring in the ears of those who would listen. He felt a hand touch his shoulder and turned.
Krysta yelled out loud. But he couldn't hear. "WHAT?" he heard himself say, feeling the ripping winds through his orange hair.
The assassin waited several seconds, feeling the wind incrementally die in strength, but still struggling to survive. "I said, "Were there animals on board that ship?" she repeated in a loud voice.
Rune nodded, returning with a voice equal in volum. "I think so, wh--!!?" His gaze followed Krysta's to a strange spectacle that cut his words short. A cow was being thrown around in the swirling terror and was rising higher with every spin.
Staring at the flying dairy, Ferrum shook his head in disbelief, murmuring to himself. "I gotta tell Alys about this."
Rune ushered the two of them towards the otherside of the deck. He could still hear the sounds of the natural disaster, but at least they could speak. "Now, we got a little problem... any of you have any idea how to navigate this ship?"
Krysta remained silent, looking over at Ferrum. The blonde grinned confidently. "Not a problem... I know a bit. We just have to wait until nightfall. "
"Nightfall... to navigate with the stars, right?"
He nodded. "Exactly."
Rune was a little surprised that the necromancer of all people had experience with such matters. "Ok, so, which way is to Kurast?"
Ferrum didn't answer the question, he was too distracted by the motions behind Rune. The animal army had returned, looking triumphant and battle weary. Rune glanced back at them and then asked Ferrum the question again.
"Uh... I'm not too sure," he said, looking hopefully at Krysta and then to Rune.
The druid made a face. "Don't look at me... I've never been there."
Ferrum glanced to his side at the wolf strutting about with the golem sitting contentedly on its back, clinging to its fur. "Uhm..."
The assassin choked back a growl. "Exactly how stupid are you?"
He frowned and crossed his arms defensively. His blonde hair was still dripping. "There's a thin line between stupid and smart."
Rune's eyebrow furrowed. "Love and hate."
If the word 'confuzzled' was real and a cross of being confused and puzzled, then at that moment, Ferrum was the human embodiment of confuzzlement. "What does that have to do with it?"
The druid sighed. "The saying is: 'There's a thin line between love and hate," Ferrum."
She arched her eyebrow, staring at Ferrum with the face that screamed 'idiot' to the world. "It's east." He quickly argued, claiming that he always assumed it was south.
Krysta shrugged, running her hand through the short dark locks, "Maybe in your little world, but I believe I heard Meshif say east."
Rune cleared his throat and pointed his hand out towards a random horizon. "But, even if we knew the general direction, it wouldn't help... do we even know WHERE we are??"
The assassin let out an amused laugh. "Of course we know where we are. We just look for land and..." She glanced in all directions, spying nothing but watery horizons. "...Oh hell." Her hands fell to her sides with tightly clenched fists. "... I hate this." She turned to Rune. "Life has been nothing but difficult since I met you.... Damn you! I should kick your ass real good!"
"No violence!" Ferrum immediately stepped between them, reverting back to the peacemaker that Krysta and Rune had a glimpse of in the cargo room not too long ago.
Rune sighed, his mood souring. A headache was beginning to surface in his skull. He crossed his arms and turned his face away. "What makes you think I enjoy your company as well? You're a..." His voice trailed as his eyes narrowed. He could've sworn he just heard something.... shouting?
A concerned expression fell upon Krysta's face. "What is i--?" She was cut off as Rune pressed a finger against her lips to silence her. The three of them remained still and silent, listning for anything.
There it was again.
Rune paused. "Did you just hear someone shouting?"
The assassin nodded, her hair still blowing around from the winds. "Sounded like--"
"I know!" Ferrum interrupted her, running through the misty air and towards the rail. He leaned far over it, gripping the thick railing tightly and yelled, "Anyone down there??"
"Help!" a male voice roared.
Rune shook his head. So, I wasn't just hearing things... he thought, bending down to pick up the rope's end. He tossed it over and ordered everyone to climb aboard. The survivors below swarmed the ropes, yelling in relief that they were going to be saved.
"Rune..." Ferrum started, looking quite hesitant and worried. "Is that really a good idea? What if some of them are the pirates we just sunk?"
Rune sighed. He smiled sarcastically all of a sudden. "Ok, if anyone has visible scars, stitches or an eyepatch, don't let them on." He leaned over the railing and yelled a threat... no, promise... to those pirates that dared to climb aboard that he would feed them to his animal army.
Krysta shook her head. "I don't think that's going to work."
The necromancer, as usual, cracked a grin. "Hmm, I dunno... those wolves looked pretty darn hungry to me."
She rolled her eyes at the comment. "Seriously."
The druid nodded, taking into consideration her concern. "I'm aware of that. We're going to be picky about who we save though. If they can navigate and open the sails for us, they stay."
"And if they can't, we throw em back and fish for another one?" Ferrum asked, not masking his happiness in tossing someone back into the sea.
Rune nodded much to Ferrum's delight. Krysta however was not satisfied. "Just open the sails? What about working them and people to row if--"
The druid grinned cockily. "Don't worry about it. I'm here, remem--"
WHAM! The ship jostled slightly under the impact. The loud sound startled the trio as they turned to the source just a foot behind the woman.... a very large and once airborn cow. Ferrum looked up at the misty sky and then back to the now-dead cattle sprawled there. His face read pure shock with a side of amusement. Krysta shook her head, her skin turning paler than usual at the realization she could've been crushed by the cow. "Holy hell..."
Rune made a face. "If I were superstitious, I'd take this as a bad sign." He leaned over the cow carcass and glanced up at the shocked faces of the few survivors that were already on deck.
"No, this is a good sign," Ferrum optimistically replied. "Fresh meat."
The druid sighed. The optimism in Ferrum that he called 'rare' was now annoying him. "I suppose you're right. Krysta, can you see to this later?"
The assassin frowned, "What am I? A butcher??" She scowled at the snarky expression Rune gave. "Don't answer that."
Ferrum suddenly turned to the shell-shocked survivors on board with a welcoming smile before Rune could address them. "If any of you know how to open the sails or can tell us how to get to Kurast from here, raise your hand please so we don't toss you back into the water."
Rune slapped his own forehead. "Ferrum, you were supposed to leave the tossing part out."
"I prefer being completely honest," he innocently replied.
Krysta stared at Ferrum oddly and, as she stepped away, something hit her foot. She glance down, watching a cylindrical object slide toward the railing. She picked it up and examined it. An old moss-green bottle, with what looked like water in it. She sighed and tugged on the cork. Strange... it didn't open. She tried several more times, but the cork remained stubborn.
She finally was so irritated with the bottle, she tossed it as far as she could back into the water. She warily glanced over at Rune, as he punched Ferrum's arm, and at the small crowd behind them (with each and everyone of them frantically waving one hand, or both, in the air) and descended the stairs, deciding that now would be a good time to search for clothes.
This is going to be a long trip...
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C+C appreciated.