Alrightyyyy, so from here on out things will be changing and I'll be doing my damn best to give you guys the updates your deserve. To anyone still with the story after so long a very big thank you for sticking with me.
It had to of been a week from the time I last saw Marco. He had given us a going away party when were set to sail to the next island. Damn idiot wondered off to talk to other people like five times during our drink off. I lost horribly to the pro as I fell off the chair and onto the floor. A drunk Marcus and Keith tried to help me as I slurred swears and threats at the older man. Marco just laughed and started his next contest with Penguin. That was another horrible defeat, we cried together over it. Keith had actually started the dancing, and it was a shit show. Himself and Shachi almost collided into some other White Beard pirates, a fight was on the brink. That was until myself and Marco whacked them all on the head, saying it was a party, not a brawl. Even if we were fighting with each other towards the end, we weren't going to serious injure each other.
Bepo had been asking if there were any female bears around. I tried so hard not to laugh at him, but I couldn't help it. He was so cute as he tried to find out which islands had some. The other crew was more than happy to tell him where they were. He had all but begged the captain to take us to some of them, and he agreed. The men cheered for the new adventure set about us. I rolled my eyes at them and laughed at them. Mugs of whatever were thrown in the air towards the night. Marco and I hanging on to each other as we tried to stand. I had succeeded in getting him drunk even if I was beyond plastered. That didn't matter as long as someone was there to see my victory to pass on to the others, Vista would love it.
"Oi! I wanna ride!" I called out to him, the drunk blond spun around on his heel with smile that could have split his face.
"We both know I'm too drunk for that one Princess, how about next time yoi?" He wasn't slurring his words, so I flipped him the bird calling him out on his shit.
It was then that I felt like myself as I took the opportunity once he turned his back on me. I sailed through the air as I landed abruptly on his broad back, laughing as he choked on his drink. He responded by holding onto a leg and started running around with me barley hanging on. I didn't bother wrapping my arms around his neck, and freely leaned back as the wind blew through my hair. Laughter ringing out into the night sky as we stupidly let the world go and did as we pleased. Heart Pirates and Marco's men having bets, sparring and drinking under the stars, lit up by the lights of the town and the stars above.
I could remember being handed over to Law in the end somehow. The poor bastard was my personal walking stick. I clung to him worse than a baby chimp to its mother. I had tried convincing him to give me a piggy back ride, to which he denied. I threw myself on the ground and refused to move until he did. In the very end I had gotten what I wanted, my legs dangled in his arms as he carried me. I had wrapped my arms around his shoulders, talking to him about who knows what. After some time though I could feel myself getting tired. My eyes were starting to shut and I placed my head on Law's shoulders as my arms loosened their hold on him. I vaguely remembered saying good night to him as I let sleep overcome me. That was like I said a week ago, and it still felt like yesterday to me.
So here I was eating my food happily as the boys chatted about the next island. Getting jabs about how I was all over our captain. Penguin and Shachi being the worst of the bunch already had lumps on their heads from me hitting them. The others seemed to get the hint and only made sly jabs that I didn't pick up on at first. Marcus wasn't so lucky as my irritation grew. He sported a black eye and was sent to the local doctor on board. Then my world came to a screeching halt.
"Ana-ya, may I see you in the infirmary." I had recently found out there was a loud speaker system in the sub. I groaned and turned around to see Marcus walking back in with a sheepish smile. Flipping him off he mouthed an apology to me as I sauntered out the door. Lacing my fingers behind my head as I made my way around some other members who smirked at me and laughed.
Now, I wasn't really scared of getting in trouble. No way, he got what he deserved and I couldn't care less. What got me groaning was the fact that I had to actually see Law. I actually hadn't really spoken to him since the party and even before that it was the inn. I could feel my face heat up as I took to the stairs slowly. I tried so desperately to erase the whole thing from memory, but I couldn't. It was invading my dreams at night, making me wake up in a cold sweat. I wouldn't be able to sleep for hours after that. I berated myself each night for even letting it get that far, it was such a bad idea. Probably the worst I've had in a while, and I've had some bad ideas. The thing was, I didn't regret it, and it sucked. Frowning I made my way up to the door and knocked. Opening it when I heard a gruff come in.
"Ah Ana, we have some things to discuss." I fought the urge to roll my eyes at him. Nodding to him, he motioned to the slab. I frowned heavily at it but none the less sat on it.
"So, what's up doc?" I tried to be at ease with him, being on high alert wouldn't do me any good. Swinging my legs back and forth, I tried to relieve my boredom of this room.
"It would seem that you gave Marcus-ya a pretty serious black eye." He was at his desk writing something down in a folder. After finishing it, he put it in the cabinet and rolled over to me. Leaning back on the chair he seemed to be gauging my reaction.
"Yup, the idiot got it for being stupid. Honestly, Shachi was on his way next." I shrugged and looked off at the operation room again. I wondered how often it was used? Had anyone on this ship needed to be operated on? Knowing my captain, he probably dissected live people on it. The thought alone made a shiver go down my spine. I wouldn't be surprised actually if he did, he's sick like that. So good looking but oh so damaged. Hey, I think Ace said that to me once...nope it was Marco. Maybe Alec? Definitely Marco or Alec one of the two fuckers.
"Ana." A hand snapped over my eyes, bringing me back to the present. Blinking I let out a sound of acknowledgment as I slowly brought my eyes back to his form. He had a frown on his face and an irritated look. I pursed my lips together as I waited for his answer, but he just sighed.
"How have you been sleeping?" The question was so off topic that I simply raised an eyebrow at him.
"You're spacing out and the crew is getting worried about it. How much sleep have you been getting since we left Octonma?" I looked to the ceiling as I thought about it. The boys didn't really let me sleep until like 12, and I'd wake up in a cold sweat around 4. Maybe another hour after my shower at 5, and be up and doing chores at what 7? So that was like five or six maybe give or take on the day.
"Er, five or six I think." The frown seemed to deepen as he took in my face. I knew it didn't look pretty, but he didn't have to keep looking at it.
"Why are you getting so little of sleep?" His voice was soft and I felt nauseous at it. Like I was going to tell him. That would be suicidal in my book I can tell you that. Telling my captain that I thought some pretty dirty things with him as the star wasn't going to be happening anytime soon. If it wasn't that, then I was reliving some of the worst hits of my life.
"It doesn't matter. I get enough to function right?" My answer was border lining a yawn, and a groan. My body was actually tired at the mention of sleep.
"You need to be getting at least eight full hours Ana." Ooh, he dropped the -ya again. This is mister empathetic, a trend that I had noticed lately. Depending on the tone losing the -ya could be great or headache inducing, like this time.
"Well Trafalgar, you don't seem to be getting any more than I am." The dark bags under his eyes gave everything away. I ignored the slight bit of worry clawing at the back of my mind. Things had to be like this, as much as I craved being in his arms at night, I couldn't. It was overwhelming me now, especially since the inn. There was a peace that I felt being next to him that I hadn't experienced in the last couple of years.
"Yes, well my bed has been lacking a certain warmth to it for the past couple days." I cringed at his words and looked away. I had all but avoided any and all contact with him. Thankfully my clothes had been in my room before I set out for space to breath. Spending time in my room trying to sleep, chores on the ship. Hell, I hadn't even been playing cards with the guys lately because I simply didn't want to run into him.
"My room seems to be too quiet at night." It was true, without the soft reverberating of someone's breathing it left me in silence.
The silence always screamed the truth in all the worst ways, left in the darkness and my own mind that wandered too much for its own good. Beside my dreams of the man in front of me, my past was also coming up with them alternating each time I couldn't catch a break. Destruction, pain, sorrow. They were channelled into my dreams, leaving me waking up in a fit sometimes to the point I needed to have a shower. Sometimes they were memories, and other times it was things that almost happened. They haunted me at night when I tried to sleep, and now I was finding they wouldn't go away. I hadn't actually had a peaceful night of sleep since we were on Octomna.
"Ana-ya you will start sleeping again. I can't have a zombie roaming around my ship." I couldn't help but roll my eyes at this one. Here we go back to the -ya, he was trying to mean business now.
"Rich coming from the original one." The scowl on his face actually made me want to laugh.
"That is an order." My eyes snapped to his, and a serious look came on my face.
"I can't make myself sleep on an order like that. I'm not a dog Law." The room had an eerie silence to it. Neither of us looked away from each other, nor did we break the silence. I refused to break it first either, I didn't take orders well and I don't know why he didn't see that yet. When had I actually complied with an order without sass or just not listening? Never, my point exactly. I didn't do it in the past and I won't do it now.
"Ana, this is not up for discussion." He gave me an almost venomous tone.
"Trafalgar, I will sleep as much as my mind lets me. No more, no less." My own icy words cut through the air.
"Anastasia, I do not tolerate insubordination." It didn't look like either of us was backing down.
"It's not insubordination yet. Unless you plan on drugging me, I won't get any more sleep than I do right now." The bastard stood up and came closer to me. I took the chance to scoot back farther on the slab of metal. I wasn't going to let him near me, end of the story. Bad things happened when he was, and I'm not to fall for them again. I would rather stab myself at this point, knowing if I tried stabbing him I'd end up in hotter water.
"Don't tempt me." The threat in his voice was very real, doping down in octaves that nearly had me shivering. He would do it, and he wouldn't regret it that bastard. Whatever pleasantries we had before were thrown out the window now, I was ready for a verbal war. As I opened my mouth to challenge him there was a knock on the door. It was like deva ju as it opened and an innocent Matt opened the door, just peeping his head in.
"Captain, we'll be reaching the next island in just a few hours." Waving to me with a smile, I returned the gesture and the medical assistant left when ordered to.
Glaring right back at Law, he never took his eyes off of me. It unnerved me when he did that. So much so, I wanted to continuously hit him over the head with something when he did it. But I couldn't because this was his ship, and I was his crew member. I was like I was apart of the crew, but a captive at the same time. The thought made my gears grind. Even when being on Ace's ship or Pops' I never once felt like a prisoner, or so inferior. In fact, it was the opposite, being the favourite daughter and the sister, I had almost free range like any other member. Sure, Law didn't put restraints on me, no pun intended, but I had the feeling it was because he knew everything that went on in this ship.
"What are the nightmares about?" His question came out softer than his previous tone. Although my gaze on him did not waiver.
"I don't have any." The lie glided off my tongue like any other answer I would give.
"I can hear you screaming."
Fuck. I didn't think that I was screaming. I hadn't done it since I was younger, and even then, they weren't loud enough for someone across the hall to hear. But then again, I was always sleeping with Ace, and he'd calm me down before things escalated. Especially when my abilities started to tie into it, making them dangerous. I had gotten over that while with Alec though a couple years ago. Those had been some nights, burning the midnight oil with a man I had barely known. I put my trust in my idiot brother and Marco for Alec to keep me safe, well look at me now. The damn bastard landed me here, where sometimes my mind was convinced I was in the most danger.
"They're nothing, just silly dreams." I didn't want to be in this conversation any more, it was going to get personal and I didn't want it to.
"Anastasia I won't accept lies." He took a step closer to me, and I shuffled back more. Almost falling off the slab, I climbed down it. Using it to put space between us. This situation was getting more and more like the inn and I was not liking it.
"I think I should take my leave, and get back to my chores." Carefully side-stepping him I had made it to the door. Before I could open it, a hand slammed down by my head, shaking the door with the force. I could feel his body head so close to mine, and in this cold room it was welcomed. No, stop thinking like that, distance remember? I didn't move, or make a sound. I breathed silently like I was taught to for hunting purposes. It was instinctual at this point when I was in a bad corner, so I did it now as my captain put me in one figuratively.
"You will get sleep before you do the damn chores you deem so important. If not, I will drug you and make you sleep in my room until I am satisfied with your sleeping habits. Understood Anastasia?"
I hated the way he said my name like it was rolling off his tongue in a sensual way. But I nodded to him none the less, and he let the door go. Whipping the door open I ran from the room down the hall and into my own room. Almost running into the door, I slammed it behind me. Bracing my back against the door as my heart pounded. Throwing myself on the bed I tried to get the sleep my body was wishing for, even if I knew it was pointless. I had tossed and turned, but couldn't sleep my mind was working overtime trying to settle down.
"Prepare for breaching." Was the only warning I got as I heard Bepo's voice reverberate through the sub.
Taking the chance, I raced out of my bed nearly slipping and falling on my own blanket. Taking a chance, I threw on a pair of black shorts, with a sleeveless green top. Shoving my feet into some socks, I pulled on my combat boots, knowing I could change them later if I wanted to. Getting to the door, I pressed an ear up against it, listening for any movement on the other side. Nodding more to myself, I opened the door and quietly shut it behind me. Rushing up the steps, I clenched onto the railings as we breached the top of the ocean. Once we were settled, I threw open the door to that lead to the main door, and nearly kicked it down.
Stepping out into the sun, I reached my arms out to the side as I took in the warmth the sun's rays gave me. There was an occasional cloud in the sky but nothing that impeded the feeling of being basked in it's shine. Nothing was fixed, but nothing was broken more than it already was. I could feel it in my bones, excitement on the wind blew my hair around as we approached the island. Opening my eyes, I took in the green vegetation and smiled at it. There was an adventure brewing here, and I was ready for whatever it brought me. Maybe there'd be ruins, or a lost treasure map, that was the exciting thing about the sea. Around every corner was an adventure if you were brave enough to tackle it head on, nothing ventured nothing gained right?
The island had to be uninhabited, it was the only thing I could tell as we waited on the ship's deck. No one could go ashore unless given permission by the captain. It was a universal rule for all who sailed the sea. To leave without your captain's say so was as good as abandoning the crew in some cases. Not willing to take the chance, I leaned over the left side of the deck searching the shore line as I had already done with the right side. There was a mountain in the middle, which pointed it to being formed by a volcano hopefully many years dormant and not waking up any time soon. Tropical flora and the high humidity told me this was a summer island of some sort.
"Drinks on the beach!" Penguin on one side me yelled joyfully in my ear.
"Relaxing time!" Sachi came out on the other side and I slid from the middle of them.
Stepping back, I rolled my eyes toward the heavens. We had been submerged for a week or so after leaving Octomna, while the boys wanted to burn the new money they got a little vacation sounded nice. I let my eyes roam the beach once more, there was just something…off about the place. I couldn't hear anything over the crashing of the waves, but at the same time I was so sure the beach and the jungle were quiet as well. My back stung for a moment, as I was literally smacked out of the way of Bepo. The bear was panting poor thing did not want to be here. It had to be so uncomfortable for him under all that fur.
"Ah come on Bepo, you should just stay in the sub then." An arm slung over my shoulder as I tried my best not to flinch.
"Leave him be Matt, he can't help that he has all that fur." I pinched a cheek as I adjusted to him still.
I ignored the phantom steely glare of our captain each time he saw the two of us interact, knowing I was safe from it at this moment. Said man was still below doing something and to be honest I didn't want to know what. Some crew had been unlucky to stray near us apparently over the last 24 hours. Why unlucky? Because we weren't submerged, so when they got a little to close our captain sunk their ship and took a few as hostages. It was quite the surprise when I came out to a deck full of non-perishable goods. I could only assume the perishables were inside the sub somewhere.
"Captain on deck!" Turning around the crew and myself waited only a few moments before Law graced us with his annoyed presence.
He started barking out orders, these people go here, do that, forage for this. One by one the crew disappeared walking down the gangplank to the island. Turning around I saw it was myself and Bepo left for instructions. Looking back at Law, I could see him rubbing his eyes, out of annoyance or lack of sleep I couldn't tell. Neither of us had slept well since we had left Octomna and I wasn't sure there was a good way to fix it.
"You two, find clean water." He didn't even bother opening his eyes as he gave us our instruction.
"Aye aye." I nodded back to the man, and spun on my heel to find Bepo had abandoned me and was laying in the water.
Chuckling more to myself, I wondered over to the edge of the wood and squatted down to his level. He was cunning, looking up at me with his beady eyes all cutely. He was basically asking me to go off on my own, without asking me. To do so would be against the captain's instructions and I wasn't sure if Bepo was immune to any punishments Law gave. Shrugging my shoulders, I took off onto the beach. I wasn't going to force the first mate to come with me. If he wanted to he would, I can only assume it would be better for him to relax in the cool water. Leaving the bear behind to relax in the sea water, I started up the beach and heading into the foliage.
I could hear the soft chirps of birds, and low hum of insects as they seemingly parted the way for me. What ever creatures may be scurrying on the ground were long from the path I was creating in my search for water. Even birds high up in the canopy were silencing themselves when I walked under them. The never-ending feeling of something being off didn't leave me as I trekked further in. There were small clearings every so often that were just open lands with rocks littered around them. I could sometimes hear the crew as one or two excited shouts came through the silence of the clearings. Looking up, I watched as the clouds were passing by slowly. I couldn't hear anything besides some of the louder animals around. It felt out of place to me, somewhere like this should be teaming with predators or an apex one at that. I'd be less surprised if a panther jumped out at me at any second, at the very least it'd calm my nerves.
Taking the chance, I closed my eyes and concentrated. Observation haki gave a person the ability to see what you normally couldn't, or even into the future. I wasn't lucky enough to see into the future, if I could learn it at all, but I could see other things if I tried. However, that was the downside, I had just barely gotten the hang of it before my departure from the New World. While I wasn't sure how big but I should be able to see a decent amount around me. If I could focus enough to really see things. Letting my breathing slow, and my body to relax as much as I could while standing, I will my senses to let me see what they knew was there.
I could see what was around me, rocks, trees, I could see the trees moving but not the leaves on them. Doing my best to hone in on them, I waited until I could see them. This caused me to wane a bit as I forgot about the level of concentration I needed to do this. Letting the leaves go I turned my attention to things I couldn't see with my eyes. Birds on the upper canopy bouncing from tree to tree, occasionally looking down on me and looking in other directions. A small ache in my head let me know that I was running out of time. Pushing out farther, I saw a small stream.
Pulling back from the world, I opened my eyes and took a few deep breathes to calm myself. I could feel the sweat damping my brow as I turned in the direction I saw the stream. Even if it wasn't big, I could always find a larger one attached to it. Walked slowly in that direction, I strolled like this until I got the stream and felt a bit more stable. Squatting down, I reached for some of the cool liquid and rubbed it on the back of my neck. I knew I was out of shape but I didn't expect it to be this bad. Ace barely had any observation haki to begin with so asking him to help me wasn't much help. When I turned to Marco, I ended up blind folded and tasked with chasing him around. If I couldn't grab his tail by the end of the day, I'd have to go hungry for dinner. Wake up and repeat until I was able to grab his flaming feathers even if it was just a few inches of them. I was able to yank on them and prove to him that I had done it.
Looking up towards the hopefully dormant volcano, I started to trek up the stream to find a larger source of water. I also had to keep in mind the route I took to get here. The guys would at some point have to come up with me so they could collect it. If the distance was to great, then it could cause issues getting it back to the sub. We needed fresh water on the sea, if for nothing else than drinking water. It'd be tough if I wandered to far away, but maybe we could move the sub around. Pushing past some foliage, I saw the split that the stream had come from. The slightly larger stream split and went to the right where I had come from, and then went left.
The left side stream went somewhere else, but I didn't have time to follow it as I needed to find one still bigger than this. It was only a couple feet wide and maybe a foot or so deep if I was lucky, and we'd need it to be deeper at the very least. Sighing heavily, this meant I still had to go up more and I wasn't sure if I wanted to. There was a sense of unease that I couldn't shake off. I had felt it before we had stepped foot on the island and now it was like all the alarms were going off at once. Tilting my head up to the right, I tried my best to listen for the birds that were chirping earlier. They were significantly quieter than I remember them being.
Not liking the feelings, I had, I turned around and started looking back at the way I had come. Nothing was jumping out at me, but one could never bee to sure when you were on a new island. Turning my attention upwards, I started on climbing the tallest tree I could find. Jumping to a few different trees, I was finally about to clear the top of the canopy. A voice in the back of my mind was nagging me to look left, look to the damn left. So, I did, and nearly fell out of the tree having to hold onto the branch above me with a death grip so I didn't go crashing to the ground.
Staring back at me was a large mask, though I was hesitant to call it that. It was probably the size of my torso at the very least. Not wanting to get much closer to it, I simply studied what I could see. Everything was exaggerated about it, from the huge eyebrows to the holes for eyes. I was pretty sure I could almost fit my hand through the eye sockets. The expression was one of unease or maybe general sadness, with its lips turned down and the teeth barred at me. It was made of wood though I couldn't tell which one specifically, and any paint it may have had was worn away. It could be really old…but how did it get up here?
Looking around, I didn't see anything that could explain why this thing was up here and I wasn't going to search. Nodding my head to it for some reason, I traipsed to the next tree and finally got above the canopy. Standing firmly on the branch, I put my hand over my eyes as I looked around the island. There was a large river up a head, but I wasn't to sure how far away it was from me currently. I also wasn't sure if it was to far away that the crew wouldn't be able to collect water effectively. Sighing heavily, I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. Giving it a quick glance, I could see a familiar orange blob with green and white on it. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who thought to do this.
"ANA!? IS THAT YOU?!" Ah…Penguin has bigger lungs than I thought.
Letting my ability activate, I bounced from tree top to tree top until I was able to get to him. He then promptly shimmied his ass down the tree, following him I was greeted by Sachi and Keith. Turned out they were looking for any animals that could be sued to replenish our meat stock. Shaking my head to them, I hadn't seen a single animal. I could hear the birds up above again, but I didn't actually see any other animals. Not even a rabbit. Scanning the jungle around us, I noticed the same things. Birds way up above in the canopy, insects on the ground but only a certain distance away from us. It just seemed a little to weird for my liking.
"Why don't we head back to the sub?" I suggested and they eagerly agreed with me, they wanted some food and the only place for that was the Polar Tang.
"How we gunna explain to Captain that we couldn't find anything?" One started and then the three of then spiraled down into possible explanation.
Listening to them try to find a way to escape certain punishment from our captain, I tuned the rest of the world out. I'd missed the flow of having crewmates, back on the island I did it all myself or the most part. I did the hunting for meat, foraging for greens, hell I even had a sleeping mat in the woods for me if the hunt took to long. Not surprised by how many predators came looking for me and ended up as a meal when I got them. My focus came back in for a second as Keith was ganged up on by the other two, resulting in the three rolling down the hill in a series of punches and kicks. Smiling at it, I was full on belly laughing as I saw them crash into Marcus and Jackson. Starting down the incline, I wiped a stray tear as Matt came over to check to see if anyone was seriously hurt.
"What is going on here?" The single question was a good one from our monotoned leader.
"Captain!" All of the men in question snapped to attention at his words, Penguin trying to boldly jump and hug Law's arm. The poor man was held at arm's length, by the unimpressed captain that was looking for food from the men.
"Where's the food and water source?" His steely gaze flickered between myself and the men.
Penguin was decided to be the spokesman as they shove him forward. While he was stammering a response, I took in the bear that had abandoned me. He was sleeping in the shade under some trees across from the gangplank. Law was leaned against him, hat forgone in the heat and even rolled up his spotted pants. The bright yellow shirt had the jolly roger and it did not reflect his face. Nope, he was more than likely annoyed by the heat and now by the lack of results. His nodachi was ever present at his side, showing just how much he trusted the peaceful paradise we had just reached. I was still betting on there being an adventure here, something about the land was calling to me. The mask once again made its presence made in my mind as it was the only thing so far that I couldn't place. It was obliviously man made, but how old was it? Were the people who made it still her? If so, were they wary of strangers such as ourselves? There were a few tribes I could think of that would welcome outsiders with open arms. I blinked back into reality when I felt his gaze cut over to me, eye brow arched in question.
"I found a water source, but it's a bit of a hike." I told him, he nodded to me and then put new orders out for the 5 idiots who had started fighting again to help me get 3 casks of water from the source.
Glancing up, I noticed that it was more likely to be past noon at this point, if we wanted to do this in day light we'd have to move fast. Giving Jackson a loving kick to the back side, I tossed the casket he was trying to carry up on my shoulder. I hadn't tested my new strength much yet, mostly because Law threatened a worse punishment if I damaged the sub. And I was easing into getting back into the swing of being a pirate again, we needed some muscle to fight off others. How else were we going to get any new cool stories? Settling the casket in a semi comfortable fashion, I started up the incline leading the way. I gave the boys about 15 minutes until they started complaining, and if I was a betting woman, I would have won.
"Ana how far we gotta go?" Marcus asked from under his and Keith's casket they were carrying over their heads.
"It's a ways away." I smirked as he groaned at my lacking answer. "The faster we get there the faster we can get back to the beach for dinner."
"I bet she's smiling." Was grumbled by one of them as we started up the way to the smaller stream I had first noticed.
"I bet you're not walking fast enough to get the good rum and meat tonight." I called out behind me as I felt them get a little further behind. "You and I know Chef will give it to Bepo if he bats his eyes at him."
This got their gears into motion, and soon enough they were over taking me. The empty casket was removed from my shoulders as they rushed up the stream. Chuckling to myself, I picked up the pace a bit to keep them in my line of sight. There was the sound of laughter reverberating through the woods as they found the larger stream that it sprang from. They started taking the tops off and getting them filled while I caught up with them. They had apparently thought it was great idea to roll the caskets back down the way we came. Taking the very last one, I maneuvered it onto my shoulder. This may be a bad Idea later on, but for now I was going to get it at the very least to the beach. I wasn't going to be the one without any water for Law to take his frustration out on. I planned on getting some good sleep tonight now that my body was getting tired form the manual labor. No better way to have dreamless nights than to be so tired you can't even bring forth the energy to dream period.
"Guys Ana is showing off!" Keith whined as he continued to push his casket down with the others.
"Move it before we lose the light man." Penguin gave him a swift kick in the ass, that had the man letting go of the casket to start a fight.
Moving past them, I caught up with Marcus and the run-away barrel of water. Ignoring the men fighting behind us we worked on getting them over roots and such back to the beach. As we reached the edge of the forest, I didn't fight my instinct to look back. It was just outside of my reach but there was something. What it wasn't I wasn't sure, but the trees were now silent. The birds weren't chirping, and I didn't hear any of the usual nocturnal bugs or creatures either. I hadn't even seen any tracks of anything large enough to be an apex predator. My eyes scanned the jungle once more as I took in the encroaching darkness. Lights danced behind me, but I could smell the wood burning from the bon fire the men had probably set up. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck standing up, like my body was more aware of something than I was. My instincts were never wrong, something was out there and it was watching us, however... we couldn't see it. It was unsettling to say the least.
"ANA LET'S GO!" Hearing the call from behind, I started walking backwards for a few steps then turned and made my way to the crew.
Onward and upward for adventure !