Fun chapter, as promised ;D Enjoy!

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Chapter 6

Pocahontas stood in the forest examining Jacks' compass for a long time. It was the same basic thing as Johns', yet it was so different. It was square, not round, with a lid that flipped open and closed. She supposed it was a little like Jack himself - closed and complicated. John was simple and straightforward. She opened Jacks' compass and examined the N that indicated north. "It points to the thing you want most. The north of your heart," he had said.

It was true that her heart had felt lost ever since John left. But how was she supposed to trust Jack? Was this some sort of trick? There had been an honesty to his demeanor that Pocahontas was certain was uncharacteristic. How could she tell if he was lying? Who was to say he wasn't a good actor? For all she knew, it was just a broken compass and he could be off laughing at her right now.

A gentle breeze picked up just then, blowing a lock of hair into Pocahontas' face. She tossed it out of her eyes absently, but it came straight back. Annoyed, she took it and firmly tucked it behind her ear. The breeze was not to be foiled, and picked up. It felt like it was trying to push her somewhere. She took the hint, closed Jacks' compass, and started walking in the direction it was blowing.

After a few minutes of walking, Pocahontas found herself in a very familiar place. She gaped in astonishment at the veiw before her. The wind had brought her to the cliff where she had watched the sun set every night for the past few months. She stepped forward and stood on the edge. The ocean streched before her, a calm blue. She had come here every night seeking guidance. It was only fitting that she should receive it here now.

That is, if Jack was telling the truth.

Feeling apprehensive, Pocahontas opened the compass. The needle spun and spun as if indecision. Looking at it made her dizzy. Finally, it stopped. Pocahontas stared disbelievingly at it. She looked up in the direction it indicated. It can't be. She checked the compass again, making sure she saw it right. There was no way it could be right, but it didn't feel wrong either.

She looked up again, out to sea. It worked. She could feel it was correct. The thing she wanted most - the man she hungered to see - was over that ocean. The wind came up behind her again, nudging her to the east, towards the water.

Okay, I know where I have to go... but how do I get there?

An early autumn leaf, still green but tinged with red around the edges, glided past Pocahontas. It sailed up, over her head, and cartwheeled in front of her face. The dying wind took it down, down over the cliff. The young woman's eyes followed it as it fell. The pendulous motion swung it back and forth, one moment over the water, the next over a black ship anchored a short way from the shore.

The solution clicked in Pocahontas' brain. She turned and ran down to the village. Her heart pounded with the impossibility of what she was about to do.

...

"Father!" Pocahontas gasped, bursting into their wigwam, "Father!"

He was there eating his lunch, sitting cross-legged on the floor. As soon as he saw Pocahontas, he set the bowl down and looked up at her with concern, "What is it, my daughter?"

"Father," Pocahontas leaned on the doorframe and panted, still exhausted from her run, "I have something to tell you."

"Sit then, daughter, and we will talk," he patted the ground next to him. "Are you hurt?" He asked in alarm, for she had collapsed on the floor.

"No, no... I'm not hurt..." She took deep breaths to steady her heartbeat as well as her nerves. The cheif waited patiently for her to recover.

"I... I have to leave," Pocahontas said in a rush, "You know how I loved John, Father. It hurt me so when he left, though I knew he had to. I go through life as I did before, but I'm so unhappy without him. The same way you were unhappy when Mother died." Her fathers' face hardened and she wondered if perhaps she had gone too far. But she continued, "I love you, Father, but my path leads to John. I have to go to him."

For a long while, Father said nothing. Pocahontas squirmed inwardly, the silence was unbearable. Finally he spoke, "As much as it pains me to say so, then you must go. I know the pain you speak of. It's unbearable for me to watch you struggle with it, too. If you feel this is the right path, then I will not stop you. I don't think I could, anyway," he suddenly smiled, "You were always so independent, just like your mother." He pulled her into a warm embrace, "I love you, my daughter."

Relief surged through Pocahontas as she hugged him back. Though she probably would have gone anyway without her fathers' blessing, she wouldn't have felt right. "I love you too, Father. Thank you."

...

Ten minutes later, Pocahontas was sprinting down the beach towards the black ship. Some of the crew was ashore, bustling around gathering supplies for their next journey. Luckily, Jack was among them, overseeing their activity. "Jack!" She called. He turned and widened his eyes at her as she skidded to a stop before him.

"Well, well," he said lazily, "What seems to be the problem, darling?"

"Jack, you were right," Pocahontas breathed, "Your compass... it really does work!"

"You didn't believe me?" He looked genuinely surprised.

"Of course not... You said so yourself last night never to trust a pirate," she said slyly, remembering a conversation she'd overheard between him and a couple of warriors at the feast.

Jack squinted at her, "I suppose you've got a point. Did you discover what you wanted most, then?"

"Yes! Well, no... not really. I knew what I wanted but I needed that little push. Anyway, I wanted to give you this back," she held out the compass, "and ask you a question."

"All right then, love, what's your question?" Jack took his compass and placed it in his pocket.

"When you cast off, where will you be going?"

"England, I suppose. If we can pick up some goods right there at the source, we'll be able to pawn them off at an exceptional price back home in the Caribbean. Why do you ask?"

Pocahontas grinned, because he had told her exactly what she wanted to hear, "I was wondering if you had room on that big ship for one more person."

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Keep posted for Chapter 7! Please review!