The Black Plague

Arthur Hearthorn -- April 12th, 1650 -- Helmsman/Navigator

I glanced around at the grass Dierik indicated, frowning. The others were coming up from behind, or were already standing close by. They too were looking at the grass in confusion.

"It doesn't look like any grass I've ever seen," one of the sailors said, nudging a blade with his boot. One of the others laughed.

"C'mon, are you going to let a few blades of grass scare ye?" he asked before stepping forward...

Toribrio -- Day Count: 5882 -- Keeper of the Maps

The shouts from the pirates were growing closer. They had reached the cliffs, of that I was certain. I frowned and bit my lip just as Perp flew in the narrow opening of the crack I was hidden in. He crirped in greeting and dropped a small bundle of fruit in my hand.

"Hush, Perp. They can't know I'm here!"

He cocked his head to the side and chirped quietly.

"That's better."

Garin

"It doesn't...look right..." Garin cringed, thinking of how lame that sounded. "Toss a rock on it or some--"

But Thorn had already stepped forward and disappeared, a big, gaping pit where the sailor had once stood.

*I hope that's okay...If not, then ignore it. haha.*

Caralina-----

"THat is awesome." She smiled looking at him. "I find it very peaceful and cool out here. I don't understand how it can go from calm and beautiful to deadly and dangerous." She said hoping she would never have to worry about storms but seh knew they would hit one sooner or later.

Isabella--

"Is that where we're supposed to be going?" I wondered aloud, looking down at where Thorn disappeared.

I hoped he was okay, but there were other matters at hand and I couldn't be the stupid girl who got upset over everything.

"I'm...not sure..." one of the others said slowly.

"Well, only one way to find out," I determined before jumping into the hole.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cap'n Raphael--

I chuckled.

"I know, it certainly is a mystery. But the dangers are well worth it, are they not?" she nodded her agreement, and I hugged her again.

"What are you doing?" she asked as I moved away.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I most certainly didn't get enough sleep," I replied. "And we've nothing better to do, so I think I shall go take a nice, long nap."

I noticed a small, distant look in her eyes, and leaned forward. I kissed her deeply before pulling back.

"Care to join me?"


***No that was not meant in the disgusting perverted way. It sounds so much like a perverted comment that I felt the need to make it clear that it was not. ***

****It's ok, I didn't figure it was. *****

Caralina---

Caralina's hand itched to touch her lips as they still tingled from his kiss. She didn't know if she should or not but she was tired, just thinking about it made her yawn. "Alright." She said stiffling another yawn with her hand. He smiled and intwined his fingers in her's leading her down towards his cabin. With every step Caralina grew tireder. Maybe it was just thinking about sleep that made her want to sleep, maybe it was pure exhaustion. But whatever it was it just caught up with her and made her want to fall asleep right where she was just so she could sleep.

She knew what her dreams would be about, better yet who. She smiled at herself inwardly. She had let her guard down. But she didn't think she would get herself in trouble for it later.

**Eep! It ate my post!...that was a good one too *growl***

Cap'n Raphael --

I led Caralina to my quarters.

With every step she seemed to grow more tired, until finally I leaned down and lifted her into my arms.

I carried her light figure to my quarters, laying her gently in the bed.

"Sleep well, love," I murmured, kissing her forehead lightly before lying down myself.

***I hate it when it does that***

Caralina---

Caralina barely heard the captain's words before she fell into a sound sleep.
She was back home running from the men that had tried to slit her throat. But instead of her dad showing up and rescuing her it was Captain. Her hand went to her throat and it froze, she had the scar, this was after she had met Captain. They had come back. She watched as one of them snuck past Cap'n and walked towards her weilding a knife. She looked around for a weapon, but there was none. There was nothing she could do to defend herself. He got closer and a scream tore at her throat.

She sat straight up and looked around. It was dark in the room and she could still feel Cap'n next to her. She tried to steady her breathing, but with slow progress.


*tears*

Arthur Hearthorn -- April 12th, 1650 -- Helmsman/Navigator

I stepped into the grass after the sailor, seeing the logic behind his argument. After all, it was only grass...

I was met, moments later, with a falling sensation. A hole had opened at my feet, swallowing myself as well as the other sailor. The fall was short but enough to where the landing knocked me senseless for a few moments.

Shaking my head viciously, I glanced around. The other sailor was struggling to his feet, cursing madly. I felt for broken bones and noted that only my wrist was really worth worrying about. No doubt I would have bruises upon bruises where bruises shouldn't be, though.

I followed the other sailor to my feel, glancing upwards. Little light filtered down into the hole, but I could tell that the opening was at least sixty feet up.

"How are we supposed to get back up?" the sailor demanded, turning to look at me.

"Climb, I guess...unless the others throw down a vine-"

A shadow passed across the opening of the hole. The next second I found myself lying on my back with a crushing weight on my chest. I pushed it off and cursed.

"Isabella! What are you doing!?"

Captain Raphael --

My eyes flew open, immediatly locking on Caralina.

"Are you all right?" I asked, moving to hold her. She practically fell into my arms, her body shaking viciously. "Calm down," I murmured soft, soothing words, rubbing her back lightly and waiting for her to tell me what was wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isabella --

I shrugged.

"I don't know. Looked like a decent idea," I answered. I wondered if the others would follow.

Caralina----

Caralina leaned against his broad chest and slowly let her body stop shaking. "It was a bad dream." She whispered softly. "I'm sorry for waking you." She felt relaxed as his hand rubbed her back. She breathed in his scent and sighed.

"It's fine." He murmered.

"I don't know why I had that dream, it's been years." She whispered not caring if he heard her or not. She just wanted to say it out loud. "They were after me, b-but....." She couldn't go on. She felt suddenly embaressed about the dream.

Garin rushed towards the hole, peering over the side. "Trist--Isabella, are you okay? Is anything down there?"

He didn't get to hear an answer. The ground started to shift beneath him, the edge of the hole sagging inward with his weight. With a short cry, Garin twisted to clutch the grass and anchor himself down, but he only managed to bring more earth and grass with him.

Garin's stomach jumped to his throat as the black pit pulled him down, and he hit the ground hard, one ankle twisted beneath him.

"Ah....ow...." he said weakly, trying to ease his weight off his foot.

Cap'n Raphael --

"It's all right," I murmured softly, still rubbing her back. "Just let it out."

I wouldn't pressure her to tell me. She was obviously upset enough as it was.

Isabella --

I let out a small scream as Garin landed behind me.

"Oh my -!" I shouted, turning around. He was clutching his ankle in obvious pain.

Caralina---

Caralina just burried her face against his chest and cried. She felt stupid, and childish. But she was so scared, she didn't like this, not one bit. What if they did come back, what if they hurt him. She didn't know when she cried herself to sleep. But she did. The dream didn't come back though. She didn't know if it was because Cap'n's voice kept floating into her dreams every now and then or she just felt safer knowing it was a dream.


*Tears, do what you want*

[Dierik]

Dierik's heart thudded when he heard Garin's gasp of pain, but he set his mind and jumped. He landed awkwardly, bending his knees with the impact but falling forward anyways. He let out a small growl and stood up, brushing his hands together.

He turned to see Garin gritting his teeth against the pain, he had probably twisted his ankle. Dierik grinned halfheartedly, "Graceful."

Garin rolled his eyes and Dierik walked over and put an arm around his shoulder so he could at least stand.

He looked around at the dark pit, "Where the heck are we?"

Garin

"At the bottom of a deep pit, apparently," Garin replied dryly, "with five men--sorry, four men and one woman--down here, and one up there to help us out."

*all I got. sorry.*