Captured!

Tas slowly began to ease himself out of his hiding place (a old smelly crate) at the sounds of shouting and swords clashing. He finally got the top off and jumped out and brushed himself off, looking himself over in disgust. Two days stuck in the crate eating a apple and a wedge of cheese had not been the fairies idea of 'fun' but it sure had been an adventure, in the fairies mind.

Tas turned to see the fight had ended, and four men lay on the deck of the ship, blood covering them. Three more were dragging a elf to the prison cells. Tas took it upon himself to go and investigate. He slipped across the deck unnoticed and reached the prison cells. He looked into the first one and saw a couple of bones. The second was more or less the same, but the third, fourth, and fifth cell held people!

The elf Tas had seen being dragged off was in one cell, about to be another. He bent the bars and entered a cell where another fairy was sitting, leaned up against the bars. Tas, being the the curious fairy he was, went to investigate. He reached into one of his many pouches, fished around and finally brought out a ring of picks. He examined them with a practiced eye, found the one he wanted, and stuck it into the lock. After a few seconds the lock gave a stasifying click and Tas entered the cell. The elf and other fairy still had not noticed him. He skipped up to introduce himself.

"Hallo! Who are you? I'm Tas, short for...well, that doesn't really matter. That was some fight you put up out there! Where did you come from. My, aren't you a fairy too? I-" at this point Tas stopped for a breath while the elf and fairy spun around.

"How did you get in here?" the elf asked, stopping Tas in mid sentence. Tas looked at him as if he had lost his mind.

"Why, the door of course!" Tas exclaimed.

"But HOW?"

Tas smiled slyly. "Magic."

The elf rolled his eyes and turned back to the conversation he was having with the other fairy. Then he remembered something that made his heart jump painfully.

"I remember why i got on this ship! I have to find Allynne!"

Okay, so I'm assuming that it's ok to write a scene w/ somebody else's character in it, since Firestalker and Dark Magik just did. I was confused before because this is my first storybook, so be patient w/ me, please...
Anyway, with that in mind...

-----------

Rorran. Two days earlier.

I checked my pockets to see how much money I had left and pulled out half a copper coin. I wasn't entirely sure how much it was worth; I never could quite understand the money system this far from home. Why can't everyone just use wentyrs like in Eloinya, I wondered. Whatever it was, it was made of copper, so it obviously couldn't be worth much. I put the coin back in my pocket and looked across the street at the bakery. The heavenly scent of freshly-baked breads wafted to where I stood. My stomach growled. I frowned, knowing I couldn't afford anything.

"Need some help?" a voice behind me asked.

I turned around. A fairy boy stood there, a sly smile on his face. At first I thought he must be somewhere around my age, but it's always so hard to tell with faries. I wish now that I had run then and there.

"I'm Tas," he said, still smiling. "You look like you're on your first visit to the great city of Rorran."

"I am," I replied.

"You're also hungry and on your last half-cuin, right?"

"That's no business of yours, thank you very much." Is that what this coin is called, then? I thought.

"Come on, I saw you put it in your pocket." His brown eyes gleamed mischievously. "Tell you what, you tell me your name, and I'll treat you to a meal-on-the-go, Tas style."

I looked suspiciously at his worn green tunic.

"How are you going to pay for a meal for both of us? You look like you can barely afford food for yourself." I noted with some alarm that we had been walking during this whole conversation, and were now standing in a lonely alleyway near the docks.

"Ahhh," he said melodramatically, "that hurts! You don't believe in me!"

I raised an eyebrow. Who was this guy?

"Anyway, who said anything about paying?" he grinned. "Stay there, and I'll be right back."

With that, he raised his darkish-green wings and flew off. I stood where I was, unsure of what to do next. I had never trusted fairies much, but the promise of food was extremely tempting. I wish now that I had run away.

"Here you go," he said just minutes later.

I looked up to see him fluttering down, carrying two small loaves of bread, a couple of apples and a largish wedge of cheese.

"Where did you get this?" I asked in amazement.

"I got it courtesy of a couple of drunken pirates I met a minute ago." He grinned.

I tore off a large chunk off of one of the loaves and sat down.

"You stole it?" I wasn't sure whether to be grateful or upset. Perhaps he only stole for me so that later he would be able to steal from me.

"I don't know if you could call it that, exactly. Those two sailors were so drunk, they'll probably never miss it."

Both of us had finished our bread now and were starting on the cheese.

"By the way, you never told me your name." He wagged a finger in my face.

"Allynne," I said.

"There 'e is!"

We jumped to our feet. At the end ot the alleyway stood two of the biggest, ugliest, angriest pirates I had ever seen.

"Uh-oh." said Tas.

"I thought you said they wouldn't miss it," I whispered.

"They were a lot more drunk-looking a few minutes ago," he whispered back.

The pirates lunged foreward.

"Run!"

I'm not quite sure what happened next. There was a lot of yelling and running and physical pain. Tas managed to disappear. Somehow, I found myself caught in the bone-crushing embrace of the smellier of the two pirates. I looked around, searching for Tas.

The pirate swung me over his sholder and began carrying me like a sack of flour, despite my constant protsets. Then, just as we left the alley, I spotted him. Tas was there, lurking in the shadows, those brown eyes watching and laughing at me.

***

Present time. Present place.

I kneeled in the darkness of my cell after the other girl was dragged out, remembering. It's all Tas's fault that I'm here! I thought hotly. If I ever see that stupid fairy again... With satisfaction, I imagined myself punching and kicking and then chopping the ridiculous creature into tiny pieces. I'll probably never see him again, anyway, I thought, and even if I do, he's probably got some sort of weird dark magik that would get him out of it.

My thoughts were interrupted by a commotion outside. Suddenly, a girl came into the cell area, running as fast as she could. She paused when she reached my cell. I recognized her as the prisoner that had been dragged out minutes ago on her knees.

"Who are you?" I asked.

Frantically examined the lock to my cell door.

"Tave," she said shortly. "I'd take you with me, but I can't figure out the lock quickly enough. So sorry and all that. Bye."

She started off again, but not quickly enough. Pirates came in both ends of the cell area. Three of them rushed Tave and dragged her back into her cell. When it was tightly locked again, they all left.

I introduced myself to her and thanked her for trying, anyway. It took me awhile to get a coversation going, but she finally told me some of her encounter with the capitan.

She didn't seem very sociable, though, so after awhile, I let the conversation die and went back to sleep. There's nothing better to do in this stupid cell right now, I thought.

I woke up some time later to hear my name called in a voice that somehow seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. Groggily, I looked for the source.

*
Perfect. Another Fairy, that was all I needed right now and to top it all off, it was the infamous Tas. How kind the world is to some of us.

"If you want to save your Allynne, Tas, I suggest you get out before the door shuts."

He looked at me as though I was stupid.

"I picked the lock. The door can't just lock itself!"

The door slammed shut behind him with a satisfying CLANG. The patronising look on his face soon disapeared when he saw that the door had indeed locked itself.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." It was my turn to be the smug one.

"But how? What?"

I smiled up at him, my purple eyes flashed with energy.

"Magic."

~SishBee~
x

**Sorry got nothing to post, confused.**

*Ok, i'm scared. Logosgal's character is threatening to chop up my character! *cowers* But Tas will find some way out!*

Tas stood looking at the other fairy is bafflement, suspicion, and genuine awe (Which made him look like he was scowling). He turned around, rushed to the door, tried to pick the lock, and cursed, all within about ten seconds time. He slowly turned back to the fairy with the glowing eyes.

"You know, if you release the door i can get you all out of here." he said. The other fairy contemplated this for a moment before looking directly t Tas, the smug look on her face.

"Where would we go?" she asked, her eyebrows raising.

Now it was Tas's turn to look smug again. "Theres an island right off the starboard bow. About a two minute swim. Right where he came from." Tas said, indicating the elf.

"And why should i believe you?" the female asked.

"Because you can ask him." Tas said, gesturing to the elf again. He turned to the elf. "Isnt that true?"

The elf, looking a bit uncomfortable, stubbornly changed the subject.

"What is your name again?" he asked.

"Tas, short for...well, that doesnt really matter. What's your name? And isnt what i say true?"

"My name is Zade. And..." he sighed deeply. "Yes, there is an island a short distance from here."

Tas looked at the other fairy and crossed his arms. "Told ya so."

*My! These cells are getting crowded! Don't worry, Dark Magik, Allynne won't actually chop Tas into bits! She'll probably punch him pretty hard as soon as she gets a chance, though! He'll probably get a good nosebleed, then.*


I looked around slowly for the voice.

"I have to find Allynne!" is what I thought I'd heard it say. Who would be looking for me?

I heard another voice from the cell next to mine.

"If you want to save your Allynne, Tas, I suggest you get out before the door shuts." Tas! The name aroused hostility for some reason. Still more than half asleep, I tried to remember why.

The first voice spoke again. Something about a lock. Then there was a loud clang. That woke me up.

"...how? What?" The voice sounded exactly like Tas's! He couldn't be here! ...Could he?

I listened quietly as Tave and the voice that sounded like Tas argued for a while longer. The voice that sounded like Tas said that there was an island nearby, and appealed to another, unfamiliar, voice to back him up. Then the unfamiliar voice said:

"What is your name again?"

To which the voice that sounded like Tas replied:

"Tas, short for...well, that doesn't really matter. What's your name? And isn't what I say true?"

So Tas was here! I wanted to say something, but something kept me listening. The unfamiliar voice introduced itself as Zade and confirmed Tas's claims of land.

"Told ya so," said Tas.

Finally, I couldn't restrain myself anymore. I pulled myself up as much as I could in order to peek over the little window into the next cell.

"Tas!" I cried, "What in the name of the Great Lord Ethuin are you doing here??"

"Allynne? Is that you?"

"Yes."

"I came to find you after those pirates kidnapped you."

"You're right you did!" I swore hotly. "That was your fault I got captured! Your fault! Get me out of here so I can kill you!"

"What?" said Tas.

"You know, he is rather annoying," said Tave, "but maybe you should wait on killing him. If he can get us out of here, that is."

I fell silent at that. I was willing to do almost anything to get out of this dank, smelly, swaying hole.

Tas, a bit startled that Allynne's sudden appearance and honestly, a bit daunted by her muttered curse and threat to kill him. But Tas eagerly picked up his lock picking tools and looked over at the female fairy. She sighed and her eyes slowly lost their violet glow. Tas was already at the cell door, picking the lock nimbly. Withing seconds the door swung open, squeaking a little in protest. Tas ran out of the cell and to Allynne's door. He picked that lock too within seconds and the door to her cell opened a bit more silently. A disheviled Allynne stepped out and glared at Tas before meeting with the female fairy and the elf, standing in the narrow hallway.

"You're welcome." Tas muttered under his breath as he followed Allynne. The female glanced at him and turned away to start walking off down the hallway towards the door. Tas ran up in front of her and picked the simple lock on the door leading to the deck. Sounds could he heard from beyond the door like men being dragged around, which Tas realized were the dead pirates being hauled away. They waited a few moments after the sounds faded went away and slowly opened the door. Dusk had fallen and in the cabin on the other side of the ship clinking glasses could dimly be heard. Only one guard stood on deck and one in the crows nest. Tas ushered the others out of the narrow hallway to a longboat near the railing. The elf took out the guard and snores could be heard coming from the crows nest. This escape was looking too easy.

They all jumped into the longboat and hoisted it into the water. A salty breeze and drops of water wafter over them as they slowly rowed away towards the island. It was small, but they could make due until another ship came by. There were shipping lanes not far from here where they could wave down a ship from the longboat.

"Why was that so easy? I was expecting a fight or at least getting captured again." Tas muttered under his breath, frowning.

Zade




"Well not exactly easy" i said to Tas hearing what he said.
"What do you mean?" asked Tas
"Well you see they didn't guard us well because they know if we escape we will go to this island and they would let us stay here for a while then when they feel like leaving they would come here capture us again and take us back on board unless" I explained
"Unless what?" asked Tas
"Unless we go to the island, get refreshed, wait till night fall the sneak back to the ship, kill those blood thirsty rats, appoint me as yer captain and sail the seven seas" i said overdoing it
"I don't think anyone here wants to sail the seven seas or appoint you captain. But the rest of the plan is fine" snapped Tas
"Oh, but you will have ter. I know that island like my hand and i have more experience in sailing than the rest of you" i said smiling
Finally after much urging to my anger they all appointed Tas as the captain and me as the first mate or the second captain or whatever they called it, i cant remember.

*Bows dramatically* Thank you, Firestalker. Lmao, if you had read the books my character is from (yes, my character is from a book. I couldnt think of anything else) you would not have picked Tas as captain, but i'll make sure he's a good captain. *

Tas jumped off the longboat as it neared the island. Splashing and sputtering in the cold water, he was the first to reach the island. He shook himself off like a dog and watched the others approach. He checked his pouches to make sure he didnt lose anything then waded back into the water to help pull the boat in. Once everyone was on the beach Tas and Zade pulled the boat up to the palm trees and covered it with the huge palm fronds.

"So...how ave you been surviving on this island?" the female fairy asked Zade.

"Coconuts, bananas, grapes, wine." the elf said. He was walking inland. Soon they came up on a crate which Zade opened to reveal bottles upon bottles of wine.

"No thanks, i don't drink." Tas said. He sat down on the sand and dumped out his pouches. Soon he came upon a water skin which he drank out of before putting the cap back on and looking over his other possessions. He had numerous map cases, a pair of odd reading glasses, a compass, a handkerchief with the initials R.M. on it, a shining emerald, and a very dead lizard with a piece of leather wrapped around its tail, and many other things.


Finding nothing of interest he looked around for food. He picked up a coconut and banged it a couple of times on a rock. e sat down again and started eating happily. Being stuck on a island with an angry Allynne and pirates about to come and capture him did not daunt the fairy at all.

Zade



"What now captain?" i asked
"Now we wait" replied Tas
"sure we wait" I muttered

Today just gets better and better. Now I am stuck on an island with an alcoholic elf, a murderous fairy and... well Tas.

The girl, Allynne, was about to eat a berry she had just picked off a bush. My eyes flashed brigt purple again and the berry floated away from her out over the sea before exploding.

She looked confused for a second before seeing my grin and saying angrily, "What did you do that for?"

I turned to face her and sat cross-legged on the sand. "I would have thought you would have been a little more greatfull. People are normally a little more gracious when someone saves their life."

"But Zade said..."

"Zade is an elf. Elves can eat almost any thing of nature and not feel a thing. That rule does not apply to any other race. I advise you to only eat well-known fruit like what Tas is eating."

Tas looked up from his coconut, grinned and attacked it once more.

"Oh, thanks. I think."

"No problem." I stood up and walked over to where Tas had finished the coconut and was throwing away the empty shell. "So, Tas," I said in a voice quiet enough so that only he and I heard what I had to say. "Would you mind explaining just what you are doing here after what you did to the Empress?"

~SishBee~
x

Tas looked up from scowering the beach for another ripe coconut. A befuddled look came over his face and he had to think about that question for a second.

"Oh...you mean...?"

The female fairy nodded.

Tas looking a little uncomfortable, continued looking around while answering. "I've been...around doing...stuff." he said evasively. The female wouldnt buy it.

"What have you been doing, Tas?" she asked.

"Look, first of all, what am i supposed to call you? And second, why should i share my personal life with you!?" he nearly shouted, alerting the others to their conversation.

"Ok, I'm Tave. And why you should tell me is..."

*Leaving this for ShishBee to finish!*

Yeesh, I didn't think Allynne would ever want Tas to be the leader! I guess she'd like him better that Zade, though... What book is Tas from???

------

I looked around, wondering what was safe to eat. Tave said that the berries were bad, but it didn't look like there was much else. I wondered if my elf blood would save me from the poison of the berries, if indeed there was any. I decided not to risk it. The only elf in my family was about five or six generations back. My stomach growled. A lone coconut tree stood nearby, but there were no coconuts that were easily reachable. Other that the one that Tas was devouring. Tas. Why did we have to make him the captain, of all people? He's better than the elf, I thought. There was something wrong with that elf. He was creepy. Well, at least we're off that stinking rat-hole of a ship.

I looked at Tave, remembering how pale she had looked during the whole longboat ride. I had tried to cheer her up, but I don't know why I bothered. I get the impression that she doesn't like water too much.

Tave walked over to where Tas stood. I thought about going over and talking to them, but their faces seemed so serious, I decided not to interrupt. Instead I decided to talk to the creepy alchohalic elf.

"So..." I tried to think of a conversation-starter.

I heard Tas shout and looked over at him, still talking to Tave. Both of them looked angry and somewhat frightened. I shrugged and turned back to the elf.

"How long did you live on this island, anyway?"

"What's it t' you?" Zade slurred menacingly, taking another swig from his bottle.

Okay. Maybe it would be best to leave the leave the drunken elf alone. I decided to go see what the shouting was about between Tas and Tave.

-------

P.S. I've updated Allynne's profile, now that I've gotten to know her a little better.

*In answer to 'What book is Tas from??' it's DragonLance. Its actually a series but he appears in most of the books. Highly recommend them for any fantasy lovers!*

Tas continued arguing with Tave until he finally noticed the presence on Allynne and cringed slightly. He immediately shut up in mid sentence and turned to look at the girl who in turn was staring at them curiously. He turned to glare at Tave quickly before getting up and walking away. He sat down in the sand a ways down the beach and occupied himself by drawing tiny symbols and shapes in the sand, eventually copying one of his favorite maps. Tave had walked away in the opposite direction and was too sitting in the sand watching the water. Tas 'humpfed' and looked around for Allynne. She was standing where he had left her, looking from Tas and Tave in confusement.

"Better she didn't know..." he muttered.

Zade





I looked at the bright, sunlit sky and shouted " okay its time to leave!"
The others didn't listen to me so a clumsily walked towards the sea and washed may face.
"Guys, its time to go!!" I shouted then added "If you don't come I'm going to leave you here"
That got the others attention. Muttering and cursing they climbed onto the boat.
"The sun is still shining" said Tas
"Just watch" I said and pushed the boat.
As they steered it towards the ship all the sunlight suddenly disappeared and the sky became dark.
"Told you so" I said
"What the hell happened" asked Tas
"I have no bloody idea all i know is that that happens here" I said smiling