A Forsaken Alliance

[Jack Shipsteel]

Sorry if it's been too long mates, but here you guys go.



Smythe woke up to the sunlight filtering through the cabin window.

The rest of the men were already up, barely. They were waking slowly, for they all knew that it was way too early for roll call. The sun here set early, and it rose early. It probably even wasn't 5 in the morning, so that meant they didn't need to be proper for 4 more hours.

Smythe decided against dressing up.

McKirkley had told them last night that if you woke up early, you were allowed to wander about the island, to an extent. No mingling with the townsfolk, and no heading over to the tavern, but so-called "exploring" was acceptable.

As Smythe finished putting on a plain shirt, he looked around to see what everybody was up to. A few men were already starting a round of Tortuga Hold 'em, and he knew that would attract most customers. But Smythe knew better. Each game started out as just a friendly one, but quickly changed into one of money. And he had no luck in cards.

He was just about to abandon having some company and just read some books he packed, when Millton ran up to him and asked, "Hey Smyhe, you want to go out and look around some of these caves? Reckon they have something in them."

Smythe nodded and smiled, and the two went out to look around.



Millton had been looking for an excuse to wander around these mountains since he had set foot on the docks. He always was curious, some said too curious, about his surroundings. But he had never gotten harmed.

However, even Millton knew that the Cove held creatures of some sorts, so he packed his issued Flintlock just in case. And it was that same reason he asked Smythe to come with.

The two tried to stroll leisurely towards the exit from the camp, but it wasn't too long before they started walking at a more speedily pace, for they were both interested at what the island had to hold. They hadn't been out of the camp too long before they stumbled upon a small Mine Shaft, that led upwards to another ledge, as far as Millton could see.

Millton asked Smythe, "No harm in going up, right?"

Smythe hesitated, but couldn't resist. "Don't see why we can't."

And so they went on the creaky, old, mine shaft elevator, and went up.



Smythe didn't know whether what he was doing was against regulations, but McKirkley did say they had full reign. The Elevator ride wasn't what you'd call sound, but it worked, for they didn't plummet to their deaths.

When they finally reached the top, Smythe went out first, and hugged the mountains. Smythe always was interested in his terrain, why, not even he knew. But it felt assuring to know what those walls felt like, what they were made of, and it's texture.

Millton had already gone off to explore the other parts of the small landing they had emerged upon. The only way forward was through a small crevice, but Smythe was still studying the wall.

He reached up to it, and felt it with his fingers. Grains immediately cascaded off the mountain. The mountain was powdery, but it's inners were just hard enough to support the towering figures. He easily just wiped away layers of the wall, and then his head got close enough to smell it.

That wasn't what a mountain aroma was. Smythe distinctly smelt... blood.

But he had no chance to make sure of his claim, for Millton called upon him.



Only a minute passed by before Smythe found the dark-haired, blue eyed private eyeing a bat.

"Look here!" Milton said loudly, "This bat isn't your normal kind!"

Smythe didn't spot anything out of sorts, but after a moment of studying, he saw a few things out of the ordinary. This bat had almost like a voodooish aura to it, a ghastly green, or was it a red? He couldn't tell. But then he also saw the size of it, and he compared it to the ones back in the Royal Caverns. This one was 3 times the size of those, and it had reddish teeth.

Millton, almost laughingly, said, "Bet you I can get it on one shot," while he casually drew his flintlock.

Nerviously, Smythe said, "Careful Millton. We don't know what that is. You might not want to try and kill it."

Millton disregarded the advice, saying, "It's a bat, and no bat is strong enough to kill humans."

He loaded the gun and took careful aim at the beast, and was just about to shoot when-

"Men! What in the blazes are you doing?"

Both Smythe and Millton looked back, but Millton's finger squeezed the trigger.

The whole area exploded.