I woke up with my hands tied behind my back. I looked down in a horror that was quickly subsided; my chest bindings were still tight and hidden beneath my shirt.

On a second instinct, I registered my surroundings.

I was on the left shoulder of another man, this one nowhere near as buff as the earlier two yet just as tall. A good six other men had an orphan on each shoulder. I looked back past my own shoulder to see the familiar sandy blonde hair of Shiloh.

"Shy! Pst!" I tried to wake the would-be kindergartner in another family, but he clearly seemed to be unalterably set for naptime.

I heavily considered spitting on him then settled to blow really hardâ²» not a smart move.

"Oi! This one's awake!" The man yelled then leaned for me to slide off his shoulder.

As the balls of my feet hit the ground, I was already spinning around to kick the tall thin man.

"Oof" He stepped back on impact, dropping Shiloh. The little boy landed with a thud without so much as a twitch.

"Shy! Shiloh!" I shouted then screamed letting my voice rise to its natural octave, but at the moment; I didn't care.

Shiloh lay there lifeless.

"No!" I collapsed to my knees and pressed my ear against his chest. The braid I usually hide under my beanie whipped me in the face. Water began to well up in my eyes. Then they all poured at once.

I felt warm breath against the baby hairs on the back of my neck and heard the thumping of a slow but steady heart beat.

I buried my face in his warm, soft belly wiping away my tears in his shirt happily, not considering he may have to wear my snot for a while.

Suddenly, I was yanked back. I turned.

The scrawny bloke was gripping my shoulder, a more scolding than angry look on his mug.

"Get up," he instructed then bent to pick up Shiloh.

The large ninja-like man appeared in front of me. He appeared even larger head on.

He looked me up and down then gave an approving nod, turned, and jerked for me to follow.

I glanced back at Shiloh. The man was now carrying him like a baby. Though somewhat awkward looking, it showed some degree of care.

I then decidedly followed the man, having to take wobbly large steps to keep up with the man, my hands still bound behind me.

"What did you do to them? To me?" I asked the ninja.

He looked down at me expressionlessly, then stopped and pulled out the tank from before.

I jumped away on instinct then saw his dejected expression and jogged back to his side and looked at the metal container.

He paused pondering something then began to speak.

"It-"

"Sleeping gas."

His eyebrows jumped then gave a quick nod. I read a bit more.

"Oneirogenic General Anaesthetic" I sounded out then sighed. "Boy, those are big words."

He glanced at the tank and followed the line I just read slowly with his eyes and nodded, his thick dreadlocks swishing slightly, then tucked the tank into his coat.

"So they're all just unconscious right?"

He nodded.

I nodded back, with a slight sigh.

"So where are you taking us in the middle of the night?"

He pointed down the road but I couldn't see that far and the Matron barely let us go outside, so I didn't know what was ahead. Instead, I looked up.

The sky was clear allowing us the beauty of the stars and a crescent moon. I remembered the days before I was placed in the orphanage with Mother and the baker, when I stayed up late with the other kids to trace animals in the stars, when I believed nothing could ever hurt me like Mother warned. That was back when I was a girl, a tomboy under Mother's guidance, but a girl nonetheless.

I set my eyes down the road to see we were approaching the dock. There were several small fishing boats tied to the dock, none of which appeared large enough to hold all of us.

"Are you guys fishermen?" I looked between the men; some tall, some short, some fat, some buff, few scrawny, many burdened with visible scars. They overall had a certain ruggedness that could constitute a fisherman, but there was a better suited profession on the tip of my tongue bugging me.

The man chuckled, then pointed past the dock to the stairs leading to a secluded beach.

"You guys aren't going to slaughter us there are you?" I shuddered against a frosty breeze.

He chuckled again.

"You're funny."

"I try," I smiled. I wasn't entirely sure who these men were or what they wanted from us but I sensed I could trust at least this man.

I jogged down the steps next to the large man.

"If you aren't fishermen, what are yo-"

My question was instantly unnecessary as I looked across the beach a little off-shore.

"Woah."

Proudly and freely dancing with the wind was a majestic, scaly wing sewn onto a black banner. The flag was directly above a crow nest where a faint silhouette suggested our approach was being communicated. My eyes following the main mast down registering the body of no mere fishing boat, but a true sea-born and lived vessel. Her large sails were tied up as she rested just offshore, near the end of the abandoned cove. At her head was the carving of a terrifying horned dragon's head painted the same shade of silver as the wing on the flag. The warm glow of several lanterns moved about the ship in a rush.

"You guys are pirates?!" I gasped and turned toward the large pirate next to me in amazement then three-sixtied to see the rest of them, mouth agog, eyes huge.

The rest of the men let out hearty chuckles puffing out their chests a bit.

I looked back at the ship in the water shaking with excitement, almost leaving the three small row boats in front of me unnoticed until the ninja-pirate nudged me in the right direction.

I hopped into the closest wooden transporter and nodded to the gruff yet patient sailor who stood beside it.

My new friend loaded the other pirates and the boys they carried into the other boats then he and two other pirates settled into my boat. The sailor heaved the vessel into the water then jumped in and began rowing.

I looked out to our destination. The flames from the torches waltzed in the sea's reflection hypnotically.

Someone groaned.

"Another one's awake."

I swiveled around to see one of the older orphans beginning to gain his strength. Then he picked his head up.

"Jasp?" I carefully shuffled across the boat to his side.

"Cal?" He rolled over, his almond bangs sweeping across his forehead as he tilted his chin up to see me. The green in his eyes seemed to spread to his face. "Are we on a boat?"

"Good call." I chuckled slightly.

He then shot up and registered the surrounding pirates and shuffling to get a battle stance.

"Relax, they haven't hurt anyone yet."

Jasper sat back down, sliding over to where I sat following my eyes as I looked back to the pirate ship. There was now the cheery sound of accordions playing from on board accompanied by singing closer to comical than musical.

We finally arrived at the pirate ship. Ropes were thrown over the side down to us. The ninja and rower tied the ropes to our boat. The rower then yelled up.

"Are we being hoisted onto a pirate ship?" Jasper recapped with furrowed brows, eyes toward the torches' lights.

"Looks like it."

A rush of worry pumped me with unnecessary adrenaline. My heart pounded faster with each heave of the ropes.

"That laugh early, it meant no, yes?" I faced the pirate of few words.

He looked at me between heaves.

"It's too early to worry," the other pirate laughed as the silent one nodded then returned his attention to his task of pulling us up.

Jasper and I exchanged a nervous glance before a ladder's end was tossed between us.

I realized the other orphans on our boat were beginning to stir as well, Fay among them.

The quiet pirate gestured for me to go up first. I didn't wait for another invite and scurried up the rope ladder followed by the equally quick, less energetic Jasper.

Four large surly hands lifted me onto the deck as easily as an elephant could lift a twig. The on-deck sight was an instant jawdropper.

The music of a band of three less-pirate, more-honest looking men playing a fiddle, pan flute, and tambourine covered by tipsy pirate vocals babbled and swung through the midnight air. There was a distinctly fishy stench hovering over the boat mixed with the smoky taste of the on-deck air. My knees wobble with the lack in ability to find proper footing as I grab the edge. The simultaneously smooth and rugged wood grained against my palm, priding the many storms braved and battles survived. I gaped at the many complexities of the floating stronghold. It had everything; a jungle of ropes, a sturdy mother whale of a body, and masts that stirred the stars.

I heard a heap of waking groans from the pile of orphan bodies as they began to move. Some already awake climbed the ladder themselves and joined me in awe. I turned to see Jasper too busy clutching his stomach to see his surroundings.

"Are you seasick?" I walked to his side.

"Yeah, I've not had many good on-boat experiences." He half looked up at me then flung his hand to his mouth.

"Jasper?"

He wobbled back to the edge and tossed his cookies. I cringed in sympathy and pat his back. A couple pirates chuckled at him.

The orphans were all up by the time the color came back to Jasper's face.

Many frightened, we returned to calm them but were interrupted.

"Men!" The music stopped and the pirates all snapped into two lines on either side of the orphans and whipped out swords from their belts, holding them straight up in front of them, similar to olden day soldiers.

"Orphans!" We all looked to the voice, matching it to a scruffy yet good looking, considering his age, man. A monkey only slightly larger than his head hung off his shoulder. His shaggy grey bangs didn't cover the eye patch over his left eye. A short ponytail bounced behind him. His presence felt as large as the ship as each step he took toward us made my lungs have to work a little harder to provide.

"Welcome to the Dragon Nest!"

*Author's Note*

There, now you see the Pan? Like pirates recruiting from an orphanage? Yeah? Yeah? Not really... Well I mean I guess I was trying not to take anything more than that small scene's idea from Pan. Thinking that way, is this too original for fanfic? Naw.

Okay, I'm rambling to myself- sorry. Aaaaaanywho, please continue reading! Thanks for making it this far! Tomorrow shall bring another chapter; I promise!