Stowaway & The Captain-Closed.

[Perplexia]

Since the precious age of 12 Kayla has been on the run. Now at twenty two, she felt as if she’d lived a thousand lives. Her 5’3 frame sat curled in the cargo hold behind some barrels of what smelt like salted pork. Her red curls tied back under the plain bandana that matched her plain simple bandana that went with her laundry maiden outfit she had swiped on her way out of the last port. It wasn’t easy sneaking on this ship and avoiding being seen. But for her it wasn’t all that difficult either.

She had tried to pay passage on one of the ships but they had all said the same thing. Having a woman on board was bad luck, she’d have a better time just joining the whore house at port. That wasn’t an option, especially as she had no desire to reduce herself to that lifestyle. Her skillset was one that was honed. But also one that was better left unknown. Not to mention her lack of experience with men.

The footsteps above were of a crew getting ready to leave. The chain for the anchor was being reeled up. The ship groaned with angst as it started moving forward. She could feel it catch the wind and start to move at a faster pace. Her stomach wasn’t happy, but she had no choice. She had no choice now, too late to say, ‘sorry i’m stowing away could i just get off now?.’. When the noise started to settle, she moved through the shadows to look for a bucket.

Retreating back to her hiding spot with the bucket in tow she spilled her guts and covered it. With a towel and drank from her canteen. She rinsed her mouth and spit it forward. Then she heard it, the creek on the ladder.. She closed her eyes as her body tried to be as small as possible, to avoid being seen. The steps halted on the ladder and seemed to turn around. There was a conversation on top.

Kayla pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her head on the barrel next to her. She estimated between three and five days with any luck before the ship pulled into its next port. Providing of course they didn’t get into a fight with another vessel to get more booty to sell. As she started to let her mind relax she heard steps on the ladder. All she could see was broad shoulders, then she buried her head in her knees.

 

[cnuveau]

Under normal circumstances Eric would have already gone through the cargo hold to ensure that everything they needed had been loaded aboard the ship but he'd gotten drunk and passed out at the brothel the night before leaving him scrambling to set sail in time to avoid the gathering storm that would make the pass increasingly treacherous. At 26 he was relatively young to be captaining his own ship but he'd spent the better part of his life aboard them, making an name for himself as someone quick with a sword and unafraid to use it. When the ship cleared the pass and began down the coast he passed the wheel to his first mate. "I need to go check the stores." he grumbled, his head still throbbing from the night before.

Stepping out from the wheelhouse Eric stretched and stood for a moment to let the warm sun warm his skin. Years at sea had left his large 6'3 body kissed with a deep bronze huh and bleached much of the color from his dirty blonde hair. Reaching up Eric tied his long locks into a loose knot at the back of his head to keep it out of his face before making his way down to the cramped cargo hold.

As he climbed down the stairs the rickety wood groaned under the weight of his muscled frame until his feet landed loudly on the planks below. It would be several days before they made port again, hopefully longer if they find a ship to loot along the way. The coast was a heavily trafficked trading route providing him a wealth of opportunities to fill his coffers with gold and and exotic gems along the way. His last trip had been exceptionally lucrative which was the reason he'd allowed the crew extended shore leave for some much needed rest and companionship.

Eric made his way through the hold checking off his mental list of the supplies he'd ordered and when he rounded the barrels of salted meats he froze, stunned to find a stowaway cowering behind them. "You there. What do you think you're doing? Are you trying to be killed?" he growled as he stepped closer and towered over her.

Though stowaways weren't an uncommon occurrence on trading ships they were exceptionally rare on notorious pirate ships like his. Even more rare was them being women but the maids dress and flowing red hair made it clear that was exactly what he had on his hands.

 

[Perplexia]

She looked up at him feigning the poor frightened girl mode. Her green eyes grew wide "please don't kill me" she said in a whimpering whisper. "i can be of use to the next port, i can cook, I can sew, I can aid the injured. Surely some of those skills are lacking upon the men. I have coin to pay for my passage to the next port. Please sir, don't make me swim back." She had probably rehearsed this a million times in her head in the instance she was caught. She should have known better then to think she'd get away with it.

"Please Sir, I'll be no trouble i swear" her eyes looked up into his as he was debating her words. He wasn't bad looking for a pirate. It was a dangerous gamble she took entering a pirate ship. They were notorious womanizers, they enjoyed their rum and taking what they wanted. "I can help with your banging head as well." she said in a last ditch effort to prove she could in fact be useful to the ship, with out being reduced as a party favor and being handed around.

"all i ask is not to be touched" she said with a fear in her tone. "please" she pleaded again. The ship rocked and groaned she reached for the bucket again. Not the right time she said in her head to her stomach. She wiped her mouth, then rinsed it, and spit it into the bucket.

 

[cnuveau]

Being tossed overboard to swim to shore seemed like an overly optimistic outcome for her to expect for being caught stowing away on a pirate ship. On any other ship she'd be passed around until the crew tired of her then disposed of at the bottom of the sea but that wasn't something that Eric would abide. He'd watched the same happen to his sister when he was a young child and she ship his family had been aboard had been overtaken by pirates. Though he was spared and put to work on it's decks, she wasn't afforded the same luxury. In the quiet nights he could still hear her screams and cries as one of the other took their turns ravaging her.

Eric doubted very seriously that she held enough coin to interest him. Had she had more than crumbs lining her pockets she surely wouldn't have found herself here but the galley could always use a pair of skilled hands especially if they came at no cost. "You'll earn your passage?" he asked, unsure why he was even considering it.

The smell of the bucket when she uncovered it hit Eric's nose making his own stomach to flip and clench and caused him to stumble back a few steps. "How do you know about my banging head?" he asked, curious as to how she was able to deduce that. He realized he likely looked like crap which would be a more than adequate clue but it did seem a rather odd deduction she'd be able to make in the dim light of the cargo hold.

 

[Perplexia]

"You held your head briefly, and I saw you at the brothel. I was trying to buy passage, but all i heard was women are bad luck on ships, and that I should just become a whore." She shrugged. "I would really like to avoid the later, I promise I'll disappear at the next port if you could find it acceptable to keep me safe until then. I'd be most grateful. I realize that may not seem like much to offer. Sorry about the bucket, my stomach is still adjusting."

She laid her head upon the barrel and groaned. This was the first time she could ever remember feeling so bad. "oh I'm finding it hard to breath." she moaned. Kayla was unsure what his decision would be. That was rare for her to not be able to read a mans thoughts by his expressions. It was also quite intriguing as well. She found herself interested in finding out what his story was. Why he chose this kind of life. Yet she said nothing and continued to groan.

"I have much experience in the kitchen and patching up wounds. I have a knack for making meals out of only a few items, and making it seem like its the best thing ever tasted. " she let out another groan and decided to let him think without her mouth over run his brain. Sometimes the wisest thing one can do is lay the foundation and let the other build upon it. She accepted that she may end up having to be his personal whore as payment till the next port. But this was not something she was going to aim for.

"Captain" one of his crew members called. "Helmsman saw a ship"

 

[cnuveau]

She wasn't wrong. Women were considered bad luck on ships but in his experience it wasn't luck at all. Trapped aboard a ship for so long it was only a matter of time before men's needs began to get the better of them and it was the competition and jealousy that tended to wreck the moral of the crew. Invariably someone would get attached or jealous of another resulting in chaos. That wasn't something that Eric intended to see happen to his crew.

Eric was just about to lay out the ground rules if he were allow her to stay when word came of a ship on the horizon. "Shit. Come on and bring that fowl bucket." he said, reaching down to take her hand and pull her to her feet.

Eric climbed the ladder first then took the bucket as she emerged at the top of the ladder. He noticed the surprise on his crew's face to see a woman emerge from the cargo hold with him and immediately they began to mumble to one another. "We have another crew member and not one of you fuckers touches her." Eric barked out.

Pitching the bucket overboard Eric led the girl to his cabin then escorted her inside. "You stay in here and don't come out until I come get you. The deck will be no place for a lady right now." he ordered her before closing the door and making his way up to the wheel.

Eric didn't like the idea of going after a ship so close to port but it was an opportunity that was too good to pass up. "What are we looking at?" he asked, taking the scope from the helmsman then peering through it.

 

[Perplexia]

She took his hand to help her up, grabbing her bag she clasped on to it firmly, and followed him up the ladder. The expression of the crew when she popped out of the hatch was priceless. Immediately he had ordered them not to touch her. He put her into his cabin for safety.. Then he was gone. She could hear the orders being bellowed.

Kayla struggled with knowing she could be an asset with her skills, and whether she should reveal them or not. Making the decision she opened her bag and changed into pants and stole one of the captains shirts. She tied her hair back and exited the cabin moving silently in the shadows. She appeared at the captain's side. “I know you don’t have a reason to trust me, she said lightly. “But no man that hits the deck will breathe.”

The ship rammed the side of their ship and threw a plank across and started swinging in. She disappeared into the shadows and moved quicker than could be traced. She was a one woman killing machine. She was jumping on men cutting their throats, and diving between legs cutting achilles tendons. When the last man fell she began organizing tables for the wounded. The most severe to the least. She yelled for hot water, fresh linen, surgical tools and alcohol.

She began performing surgery to save legs and arms and other wounds. She moved from one patient to the next in such a manner it was hard to keep track. The men watch her save their crew mates. Some jumped in to help her with whatever she needed. After working tirelessly for five hours she had the entire crew patched up and not one life was lost.

When she was done she moved silently back to the cabin and began to wash up. She had no choice but to help. She told herself. Her movements and actions were going to cause questions. Questions she hadn’t answered in a very long time. He would be either shocked and require explanations, or he would be mad that she broke his order. Or perhaps a combination of both.

Once she cleaned up she placed her dagger under her pillow in the hammock, and let her hand rest on the hilt, the other in her hand under her body. “I had to save instead of murder” she told herself as the hammock swayed and she waited.

 

[cnuveau]

“It’s The Gallows.” The helmsman said as he passed Eric the scope.

The Gallows was a ship that Eric had known all too well and he’d had several scrapes with them in the past fighting over targets then intended to loot. He’d hoped that the ship was going to be an easier target but it also seemed like an opportune time to bring things to a head with the crew of The Gallows.

“Set our course for her. Full sails.” Eric said as he lowered the scope.

The appearance of their newest crew member beside him couldn’t have come at a worse time. Eric’s attention was so focused on The Gallows as they pulled aside that he barely acknowledged what she’d said. “Just stay out of the way.” He barked before rushing down just as the ships collided and the gang plank was thrown into place.

Eric had barely had time to even process what was going on before the girl flew into action, dispatching the attacking crew with a practiced easy that was almost unsettling. Eric stood there stunned, the battle swirling around him like a whirlwind as he watched her slide across the deck and an agonized scream rang out.

Just as quickly as it started, it was over. Edward looked around at the carnage that was strewn across his deck before quickly making his way across the gang plank to the other ship to reap the spoils of victory.

It took hours to haul all the gold, treasures and supplies from The Gallows over onto The Elizabeth Marie, the ship he’d named after his sister. Dusk had just fallen when he was finally done and hr was stunned to see all of his men tended to and the deck of his ship clean and orderly. It was the first moment he’d had to let his mind return to what he’d seen during the battle. There was obviously far more to this girl than she let on and it was about time for him to find out what else he didn’t know.

Entering his dimly lit cabin he saw her laying on her hammock, apparently asleep but given what he’d seen he knew better than that. Edward moved to his own hammock then sat causing it to creak under his weight. “So do you want to exploit to me what that was?” He said, breaking the silence that had fallen in the room.

 

[Perplexia]

Kayla slowly sat up. "I will answer your questions, and i won't lie." she said softly as weighed through her options. "The easiest way to answer is to say that I've been referred to as a monster in a dress." she explained softly. "others call it ninja, and others call it assassin. No matter what its called, I'm not a risk to you or your crew. If i was, I'd be at the helm right now." Kayla moved her hands slowly from the hilts of her daggers and slides them to her lap. Showing that she meant the words she said.

"I am no longer in that kind of work, but its a very unexpected weapon in your hands. You may wield it as you wish. I will also hold my word and disembark at the next port. I would appreciate it if what you saw could remain silent. I know your men are going to have questions."

Sighing she spoke again. "I don't normally tell people anything about me. Most don't care to ask they just see it as a weapon to command. But since I'm guessing you may want more then a simple answer I'll give you shortened version. I had a brother, he taught me how to fight, how to protect myself. Our parents, well they never paid attention to what i was doing. To them I was an opportunity to gain money. Before my brother went to war, he gave me the name and address, to where i could get help if I needed it.

Shortly after i turned twelve I became... breed-able. For the one offering the most money to my parents to own me. At a ball they introduced me to my future husband, a short fat man that stunk of cigar and whisky. They let him drive me to my home. On the way he attempted to gain early ..access. That was the night i left, he returned to his home with his member in his mouth an his throat cut. I packed my valuables and went out the window to the lady my brother had given me. She in turn sold me to a Japanese school. I learned how to walk in the shadows, and become what i am."

Kayla looked at him in his eyes as if he was trying to decide if what she said was true. "I have lived many lives since, I've been a surgeon, a cook, an architect, an engineer, a cartographer, , but this is the first time I've been a girl on a pirate ship. Before you ask how that's possible because I know that it sounds insane. I have a photographic memory. "

She sat back watching him carefully for his response to all she told him.

 

[cnuveau]

Eric sat quietly taking in the long elaborate tale about her past and how she’d become such a skilled fighter. He had no reason to doubt her. After all, he’d witnessed first hand multiple aspects of the skills she claimed to possess and there was no reason to think that she couldn’t perform the others with equal skill. “So an assassin.” Eric mumbled though that was the only part he was focusing on now.

Eric could of course use her blade just as he had today, plundering ships along the way but that seemed a waste. A talent like hers was rare indeed and wasting it on anything other than the greatest prize would have been foolish.

His mind drifted to the legend of Dead Man’s Island and the magic it held. Many had tried and failed to obtain it for themselves. As legend told it rested high atop a mountain erupting from the sea like a giant volcano. Those that had successfully navigated the treacherous waters surrounding it had been overwhelmed by the savages that protected the Island. Larger and larger forces had been brought to bare in hopes of dispatching them but it seemed the larger the force the more quickly they went down. Eric hand pondered attempting it himself, a lone invader who might slip past them unnoticed, but that would leave no one to watch his with a skilled second such as her though, it seemed possible.

Eric pulled the megaphone like device from the ceiling of his cabin then bellowed into it, sending his command through the tube and up to the helmsman. “Chart a course for Dead Man’s Island.” He said, his eyes never leaving hers.

“I guess it’s a good thing I had no desire to pass you around to the crew now isn’t it?” He said as he started to disrobe and get ready for bed. It was his cabin so he thought very little of the act or how it might be perceived by her as he undressed himself.

 

[Perplexia]

She turned her head as he started to disrobe. "Well I would have had a ship I didn't know how to sail." she said with a tone of dry humor. She turned and laid with her back to him and hand back on the hilt of her dagger. "I'm trusting that will not try to stab me in the back. It's rumored that assassins have eyes in the back of their head." she let out a light laugh.

As she closed her eyes she tuned her mind to the sound of the ship, from the way the water hit it, to the footsteps above. If the door handle was even touched she'd be wide awake and ready to defend the room. She'd heard of Deadman's Island from conversations she heard at the last port. Though she would admit she knew very little about sailing , she did understand magic, she understood that there were things in the sea or secluded regions that weren't meant to be disturbed.

"Are you sure you wish to go to Deadman's island?" she questioned "From what I heard the magic runs deep and no one has ever survived it."

 

[cnuveau]

Eric found himself amused by the lengths she went to in order to avoid watching him undress. In the close quarters of the crew cabins he grew up in and the brothels he frequented, any sense of modesty was an early casualty in his life but it was clear that that wasn’t the case with her. “I’m sure it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.” He said as he tossed his pants aside.

She wasn’t wrong. The only tales that came bad from deadman’s island were those of the people that never left the decks of their ships. That didn’t mean that would be their father though. “Then you and I will be the first won’t we?” He replied before settling into his hammock. “Just imagine it. Unlimited power and immortality.”

Just thinking about the world at his feet was enough to stir the fantasies that Eric entertained when he thought about it. His hand began to move along his length. “The name is Eric by the way.” He added.

 

[Perplexia]

"I have seen more then i care to remember." she responded. "unlimited power and immortality, or death." she responded flatly. "Is death worth the risk?" she asked, "is death worth the risk to your crew?, because its not to me. There are other ways to obtain power, as for immortality, i cannot say. I can't say I've thought to much about living forever. Its just been one day at a time for as long as I can remember." Kayla decided to change the subject, she wanted no part of this death sentence he was planning.

"I'll check on the patients in the morning. If you have any willow bark and ginger root, those would be handy to help them deal with their pain. Natural remedies are not addictive unlike laudanum and opium." I think Captain is a fine name. We have no need to become informal. As I plan on disappearing from the ship on the first port we hit. But if you must call me anything, you can call me Miss Ashe."

She wasn't trying to be rude by the suggestion of not being informal, just making it clear that there was no need to form a connection.

 

[cnuveau]

Hearing her say she didn’t believe it was worth the risk was kind of a surprise. From what she’d told him, much of her past was a life or death gamble that she willingly engaged in so he didn’t see this as any different.

“Well we won’t be getting to a port until after the island and the deal was that you’d be a tool at my disposal so I guess you should just see to it that both of us walk out of there alive huh?” He said, making it clear that he very much saw the adventure as part of their arrangement.

Her desire to not even share her name with him made clear her feeling about the longevity of their association. Honestly, it was just fine with him. One less mouth to feed and one fewer share to distribute. “As you wish. Get some rest, sounds like you have your work cut out for you tomorrow and we have no such root. We do things the old fashioned way, a leather strap and a bottle of rum.”

 

[Perplexia]

"i do keep my deals" she said lightly. "Was just expressing my opinion on the matter, but you are the Captain, as I agreed I'll follow your instructions"
He would use her as a tool, the way anyone else did that knew what her capabilities were. So much death in her trail, if the Captain was wrong, there would be much much more.

"I'll make do then with what you have, perhaps I can find some on the island. I'm sure the old way works just fine, but alcohol dehydrates. The last thing a sailor needs when he's recovering is to be dehydrated." She closed her eyes and tried to tune back into the ship.

 

[cnuveau]

Over the course of the evening word of the change of course spread quickly amongst the crew and they all knew the dangers that awaited them. Huddled in their quarters, murmurs of mutiny began to take shape as talk of the new woman crew member being to blame started to take hold.

"I know it's that bitch's fault." One of the crew growled out.

"Someone needs to teach her a lesson." another chimed in.

"We should all teach her a lesson." a third agreed.

In the morning the crew members were scattered about the galley, hunched over their bowls as conspiratorial looks were exchanged between them.

Eric woke then stretched his arms letting out a loud yawn. "You should go down to the galley to get something to eat. You haven't eaten since you've arrived and I'm sure you're starving. There's still a few days yet until we reach the island and the men can wait to be tended to." he said as he pulled on his clothes.

 

[Perplexia]

She waited for the sound of his belt before she sat up in her hammock. he put her daggers back in place showing a bit of leg in the process of putting one on her thigh. "I'll go ahead and head up and check on the injured to see how they're doing. Then I'll head to the galley. I don't really eat much." Kayla opened the door and headed to the ladder, when she reached the deck she saw the looks that were happening. Shaking her head she went to check on the injured and change their bandages. She listed to the murmuring of the crew. Catching bits and pieces. The tension was high, and there seemed to be a lot of anger in her direction.

Kayla began walking to the galley. "Ok boys" she said with her hand on the hilt of her dagger. "Pick your strongest, and lets get this done. IF and that's a big If, you can pin me down, I'll take a dive in the sea and your problem is solved." she watched as they looked at each other. "however, if you end up surrendering, then you're on whatever duty the captain thinks is the worst." She saw the Captain come on deck.

"Don't tell me you're a chicken to take on a girl, you certainly had no problem thinking you could teach me a lesson. Give me your biggest and meanest, Or shut up, eat your meal and go back to work."

 

[cnuveau]

Seeing Captain Eric appear on the deck caused everyone that had been thinking about taking turns with her pause. Even seeing how she could handle herself they knew that several of them catching her by surprise would be more than she could fight off. Now that the element of surprise had been lost and the captain was there to intervene, none of them had the appetite to see out their plan. The crew growled at her challenge but none seemed willing to step forward.

“Does anyone one of you have something to say?” Eric challenged, stepping forward and joining her at her side.

“Deadman’s Island is a death wish.” A voice called out from the back of the galley.

“Lucky for you, you candy asses will be staying on the ship. Not one of you would survive a minute.” Eric said, making clear that he had no plans to take them ashore.

Hearing that none of them would have to go ashore seemed to relieve most of them and the tension in the galley notably lessened. “Now if there is nothing else I suggest you go about your business before I start to question why I need any of you at all.” Eric continued as he made his way to fix himself a bowl.

 

[Perplexia]

Kayla made herself one as well. "Captain" she said with a slight bow of her head. "It appears you ruined their plan to ambush and violate me. I would have killed at least five of them first." she said lightly taking her first bite. "It doesn't matter how many of their lives i saved yesterday, I'm still the enemy because my balls are bigger." she points to her chest.

Taking another bite of her bowl she drank her full cup of water then said lightly: "if i could make a suggestion, obtain salt and pepper containers and let people salt their own food. This much salt is the same as drinking salt water or using rum for pain. Also at the next port, have them get oranges and lemons, either mixed with drinking water will keep scurvy away." She shook her head and spoke softly enough only he could hear. "They aren't wrong about the Island, just because you have me with you, Doesn't mean we'll make it back to the ship alive. That type of ancient magic, isn't something to be messed with. If its against a human, you have a 98 percent survival rate with me by your side. The most help I'll be is trying to commune with the spirits of the island. They can be finicky."


"You're not stupid, and you're not spiteful, I'll do what you ask, but i hope you change your mind for both of our sakes".

 

[cnuveau]

From the tales that Eric had heard, though the island possessed magic, those protecting the magic were nothing but primitive savages that overwhelm interlopers with sheer numbers. Had they themselves been magical in nature he likely would have never considered the journey. By his estimation though, 2 individuals could easily secret themselves onto the island in the cover of night then make their way to the top handling any of the savages the encounter along the way. It wasn't without it's risks but it also didn't seem nearly as impossible as others had been making out.

Eric's eyes involuntarily moved down past her waist at the mention of the size of her balls then back to hers. "You'll be fine. They've been put on notice and I don't expect any of them will be with me anymore after our next visit to port." Eric replied. They'd already proven to be untrustworthy and capable of mutiny so Eric didn't expect to keep many of them on once he'd had the opportunity to replace them.

Stepping out onto the deck Eric could see the storm gathering in the distance. The ominous dark clouds swirled and flashes of lightening streaked down from the heavens lighting up the sky in their path. "Storm ahead. Man your stations." Eric called out before turning to his new crew member. "You should stay by my side today."

Throughout the afternoon the storm worsened, tossing the ship about like a cork in the ocean. Eric pressed on in search of some safe harbor where the worst of it could be ridden out but as night fell it was clear they'd find none. The rains battered the deck and the winds howled against the creaking hull of the ship as Eric strained to maintain his bearings.

"Rocks ahead!" One of the crew members called out just as a loud crash rocked the ship.

 

[Perplexia]

Kayla was conflicted about how if no one had ever survived the island, how anyone could know what was actually on it. But she could tell that Eric was just stubborn. 'Men and their power hunger.' she thought as she nodded when he said she should stay by his side. She followed him around in the afternoon as the storm began to rock the boat violently and giant waves crashed onto the deck washing some men over board into the violent sea.

Her grip was tight on the rail right next to the captains. When their hands touched there was a jolt of electricity that surged through her, her eyes caught his and for a brief moment she saw him as more than the Captain. The boat crashed hard into the rocks breaking the railing they were hanging on to and flinging them violently into the water. Her hand grasped his arm and hung on as the water pulled them under the raging sea smashing her against a rock. A searing pain rushed through her leg, as she clung to him. Putting the pain into the back of her head she pulled him up to a floating piece of wood from the ship. As she reached the surface the storm seemed to disappear with the remain parts of the wrecked ship. She grasped the other part of the floating wood gasping for air,

 

[cnuveau]

It all happened so quickly that Eric had no time to react. The ship jerked violently to the left pitching them both against the railing causing it to collapse under their shared weight. In the raging storm he'd expected the waters to be frigid but even as he struggled to understand what was happening he couldn't help but notice how inviting it was. For a moment Eric let his body relax in the warm calmness beneath the raging surface, content to let himself drift to the bottom but the tug of his arm carried him to the surface and soon he found himself clinging to a plank from the ship.

Still gasping for air, Eric reached over and pulled her up more securely onto the floating wreckage. As the clouds parted the light of the moon revealed the silhouette of an island not too far away. Paddling his arms he turned them towards it then began to kick, propelling them forward. "Hang on, we'll be on land soon." he said,

The swells helped to carry them forward toward the shore and once Eric's feet made contact with the sandy bottom below them he began to drag the plank to the water's edge. "Are you ok? Can you walk?" he asked, breathless as he looked down on her.

 

[Perplexia]

Kayla gasped and sputtered as he got them to land. "My leg" she finally answered. "Its broken, possibly a compound fracture." She looked up and around. "You're going to need to grab as much of the wood you can from the shipwreck. and lay it on the beach to dry. We're going to need rocks about ten this big" she spread her hands out to about six inches.. "See if you can find any rope, if not I'll need some seaweed to braid into a rope. If you can find any pots, and anything that washed up on shore, grab it.. I'll show you how to make drinkable water until we can find some. That tree, she said pointing. Put me on the plank and drag me there."

He was good at surviving at sea, but surviving on land was something she specialized in. Her brain had gone immediately into crisis management mode. She didn't even want to look at her leg yet until she was in the shade. "we need to get this taken care of before the light goes." she told him. If light fell and they hadn't got their fire started, they could very well be dinner to any predators on the island.

 

[cnuveau]

What was more startling than the demands that were being barked at him was the urgency with which Eric place on building a mental list so that he didn't forget any of them. At sea it was him who would bark out such orders but as she took control of the situation he relinquished his familiar role and delegated it to her.

"Got it." he replied, his words mirroring the urgency that hers held.

Eric quickly moved her fully onto the plank then dragged her up the beach into the shade. Fragments of the ship had already begun to wash up on shore and worked his way up and down the beach line collecting the things that seemed like they'd be useful.

Trip after trip he returned with his arms loaded with items. A random pot, a hand rail from the ship wound with rope and other miscellaneous odds and ends, anything that appeared as if it might be of some use in their survival. When he collected everything he could Eric set out to collect the stones they needed along with some dry would to build a fire.

Dusk had just fallen when the fire crackled to life and Edward returned to her. "Ok, I think that's it for now. Let's take a look at that leg." he said as his finger began to work at the button of the trousers she was wearing.

 

[Perplexia]

Her hand reached out and stopped his hand. Removing a dagger from her belt she began to cut the blood soaked fabric around her thigh. "can you take my boot off?" she asked softly.
She then started to slice the material vertically so it could be used for bandages. " She knew before she saw it, that her bone was protruded through the skin. Once her boot was off she took the dagger from it and put it by her side.

"ok I'm going to set it. have the thing boards we're using for the splint ready and some ropes to tie it. I will probably pass out , put the bowl on top of the boiling water, as soon as the water in the pot is gone repeat. The condensation is our drinking water. A slow way to do it. But until we can explore. Its what we have."

She wiped her leg some for a better picture of she was looking at. This was not how she imagined she'd die, but he seemed to follow her directions pretty well. She placed the rope strands under her leg. All Eric would need to do was tie it once she popped the bone together.

"let me know when you're ready"