Earth was a land of kill or be killed. Our creation was the result of a disagreement between the Ancients on how they should compose themselves on earth. In the beginning, there were seven guardians. But with the loss of their leader, they fractured and one had his own ideas on how to rule the world. His name was NuSorik, and he was the Lord of Fire. As the Phoenix rose from its ashes and the forest grew stronger after a forest fire, NuSorik planned to raise new life from the ashes of the old world. To do this, however, he needed an army to battle the remaining Guardians and the Armies of Earth. This is where our kind was born. No one quite knows who the first volcano was, but once the mountains sprouted veins of fire, our arrival was inevitable. Our size and weight gave us strength unknown, and with NuSorik's fire flowing through us, our power was matched only by his. From the depths of the sea came a fountain of flame and from it I emerged. I had no sisters then. Only my Creator and mother Terra to guide me. My beginning was rough, I knew only how to fight and kill. "I bestow upon you the name of Kohala." NuSorik's thunderous voice echoed through the dark skies of the overworld. "You are the first of many. Together, we cleanse this world of the insects created by the Guardians, and from the ashes, we will create the image our Grand Goddess wanted for Earth."

I carried out my task accordingly. I do not know how many perished under my hand. I only recall the fighting was fierce and there was much bloodshed. As the War dragged on I observed a change in my Creator. I am, one of the few left who remember him in any positive light. He became more of the demon he was. An angel fallen to hell. And we were his pawns, his slaves. Not his children. Fodder to be fed to war's hungry cannon. Some of us stood up to him. That's when it all went wrong. The dragon who had created us, who seemed to care for the life he had brought to this world, began killing us. Those who stood beside him were spared. Those who defied him, met a brutal end with his own fire. Our one weakness...dragon fire. We hated him. Despised him. Some of us outright rebelled. And yet, for those of us who knew him before the War, we could see in his eyes, the pain he brought upon himself. I suppose that's why I stood with him. Because I knew he regretted what he had done. Perhaps I thought I could change him, bring back the good I had once known. My reality check came when I witnessed him kill his own mate. Pinning down their daughter as she begged for her mother. I couldn't bear it any more and so I left. Not long after did NuSorik fall, captured and imprisoned by the mortals he once claimed to protect. He's still there in his isolation. His powers gone, transferred to two worthy mortals.

Kohala sighed, looking her age as she concluded her story. "I sense their strength in you. You must know them well." "Britannia. Long Shadow." Interceptor whispered, "My God..." Kohala nodded. "Two halves of one whole but neither can be so without the other. Britannia gained NuSorik's abilities as she was his prison guard. Inadvertently she has given some of these abilities to Long Shadow through their bond. Yin and Yang. Good and Evil. Each balancing the other. But if one of their presence fades... well you have seen what can happen." "I have...that is quite terrifying. NuSorik still lives? Are you not worried that one day he will return?" "The prison was designed to weaken over time. As the darkness in his heart wanes it's walls weaken. I can only hope that when he does return he shall be what I remember him as." "Do you think the rest of your kind will accept him, if he is what you remember him as?" "No." Her sigh hid great pain. "His daughters never will, I am sure of that. We are all his children but I was born of fire, my mainland brethren were born of love. And one in particular will never forgive him for the death of her mother." "And who would that be?" came the voice of Interceptor's young Captain, who had usually been a quiet soul. Kohala closed her eyes. "Her native name is Louwala-Clough or Loowit. If she has received a White Man's name by now I do not know. But she is the youngest and the most dangerous this side of the ocean." "I should wish to meet her." "Captain?" Interceptor tilted his head. Colin chuckled, "I think her and I would get along. Just a feeling." "If by get along you mean she'd eat you alive then you'd be right. Loowit tolerates no one, especially mortals." "I think she would have difficulty in killing me, let alone something as specific as eating me. I have these gut feelings. It's what drew me to Interceptor. Now, we're an unstoppable pair. I have this feeling about this dragon's daughter." "Well if I were you I would control that feeling for now." Kohala said, her temper flaring. "Is he always like this?" She asked. "You have no idea. But it pays off more often than not. One time he told to go after this merchant brig. Didn't look to have anything special. Argued it was empty and returning to a plantation. Told me to go in anyway...turns out the Spanish were trying to sneak some gold under the guise of a merchant. It was loaded." "Nice." She whistled appreciatively. "But I would still be careful."

She whirled around suddenly, hull stiffening. Colin grabbed one of his pistols, a beautiful white pearl finish with bronze trim. Interceptor could only manage to ready a mortar. "What is it?" "I don't know..." Kohala rasped. "So much Death. Pain, hate... my sister's fallen to it. Extorted by a master nation not of their choosing..." Her eyes were glazed and blood started running from her nose. Red and thick. Interceptor moved to lick it off. "Do not touch that!" Colin yelled. Interceptor pulled back like a child who had done something wrong. "What?!" he cried. "Look at it closer! That's not blood." Mauna Loa raced in, catching her sister as she collapsed. Kohala was barely able to whisper something to her in a language too foreign for him to understand. Interceptor closed his eyes, "Campe, if you can hear me...something is wrong...keep Pearl safe." Kohala shivered, shaking in her sister's grasp. More lava flowed from her nose as she suffered a minor eruption. She spluttered as it clogged her throat. "What's going on?" Colin asked, watching intently, "She said dark things were happening. Her sister?" "We are all sisters." Mauna Loa said. "She could be referring to any one of us." She gently cradled her sister.

"Is there anyone very close to her? Anyone she could be referring to?" "She is one of the eldest. She is close to everyone." Mauna Loa's patience was wearing thin. She was privy to things the mortals weren't at the moment. Such as the fact her sister was dying. And the more she tried to protect them with her abilities, the faster she weakened. "Interceptor, let's give them space." he seemed to read her thoughts, and left with the brig, who limped to another part of the harbor. When Mauna Loa rejoined him she looked worn. "I suggest you don't bother her for the next few days. She needs her rest." "And you?" Colin asked, sounding genuinely concerned, "We don't wish to be a burden. We'd like to help, anyway we can." "If you wanted to help me you'd pack up and leave." She growled. "But that's not what Kohala wants. There's something about you that fascinated her." "Mauna Loa, right?" Interceptor asked, righting himself slowly, "I'm sorry. Truly. She told us your story. I understand that mortals are why you were created, why he made you. Why you kill and hurt. That you have this ancient instinct to kill us. Right? I'm not trying to bring up bad memories, I'm really not. I'm just trying to understand, so I can actually help." "Kohala thinks we should be more civilized. I do not!" She growled. "I am a volcano, and you a mortal. You would be wise not to forget that!" "I'm trying not to. But you're more than that. Everyone is more than they seem. I used to think I was such a loyal and efficient officer, now I'm a thief on the run. But I'm also a caring mate. Just because you are a volcano, that doesn't mean you always have to act like one. You understand?" "Perhaps." She admitted. "We have been isolated for centuries. The mortal world has proven too complex for us in the past so we have chosen to avoid it. But it is not up to me. Kohala makes the decisions here." "Maybe for all of you. But individually? You are the only captain of your life. Be a killer if you want. But perhaps, with my help, you could get accustomed to modern life. But I understand, I think, that you have that killer instinct. So restrain yourself to killing only when necessary, yeah? Defense and food?" "And the occasional sacrifice. Which is what you were going to be." "You need a sacrifice." "Strictly speaking no. But it does, help." Loa was careful with how much she admitted too. She wouldn't dare say that she and the others had kept Kohala going on these sacrifices although she had a feeling that the eldest already knew. "Well. Perhaps attackers and enemies could be sacrifices. Not innocent bystanders?" "No it has to be someone who wonders into our territory. Captured prisoners are viewed as worthy warriors. Noblemen who are above sacrifice." She explained. "Seems a bit...brutal...I may regret asking this, but may I view one of these rituals when you perform them?" "I cannot guarantee your safety. We tend to get a little, bloodlust when we perform it." It was the first sign of caring she had shown him. "I'm the fastest ship in this ocean, I'm fairly certain, if anything happens I can run." he smiled reassuringly, though was indeed nervous hearing that. He did well to hide it. "Between your sacrifices and Campe's diet, I take it swallowing mortals whole is quite the delicacy for volcanoes? I'm curious and fascinated now." "What do you think our diet was in the War? It certainly wasn't rocks." "I'll admit that's scary. And if you didn't eat warriors...you swallowed non-combatants? That's uhh...dark. Somewhat hot. But dark." "Considering our upbringing. It's actually light." She shrugged. "Can you explain?" he tilted his head, posture and eyes clearly showing his interest. "Kohala already gave you the rundown. We became His Slaves of War." She said. "I don't mean explain your upbringing. I'm more curious what you're capable of." "To be honest I don't really know." She admitted. "What I know about myself so far is terrifying enough." He frowned and rubbed against her. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you. My curiosity got the better of me." She shied away from him, hull burning without actually heating up at that touch. He winced, looking down. There was a moment of silence before he remembered something. "I had a pirate hunter chasing me around the Horn. They're likely nearby, trying to find me. Perhaps, we can find them?" he smirked. "No. We dare not venture beyond the safety of our islands." Loa growled. They had done just that not too long ago. But with Kohala so fragile, long excursions were out of the question. "I could lure him back." he suggested. "You will do nothing! Tomorrow I will take you to explore this island's coastline. We have many kilometers to cover." "Fair enough." he nodded, clearing his throat, "I apologize again. I am overstepping my boundaries." "You're a Pirate. It's expected." She rolled her eyes. "There's more to it then that, but...fair enough."