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Reward

By Dustin Breazeale

Chrispin looked around with worried eyes. The pirates had attacked quickly and brutally. All those who had fought against the plundering crew were now dead. Others, as himself, had surrendered rather than give their life for a cause they cared not for.

It was yet to be decided if he should envy the dead or not.

A pirate of an avian species Chrispin did not recognize oversaw the rounding up of the crew. He shouted out orders until all survivors had been gathered and forced on their knees, lined up one by one on the deck.

The pirate crew, aside from the avian, where made up mostly of wolves and crocodiles. He had never seen the deadly cold bloods up close before, and they were as terrifying as the stories led him to believe. It was the wolves that gave him hope, after all he was a wolf himself. If things went south, he'd rely on a pack instinct, ask to join their crew if it was the only way he could live.

A round of howls went off amongst the wolf pirates, the crocodiles stomping their heavy feet on the deck. Whether it was a show of celebrating victory or merely to intimidate, Chrispin was certain it had cause one of his fellow crewmates next to him to piss themselves.

"Captain on deck!" The avion shouted, and all fell silent.

Light, purposeful footstep could be heard before a not so intimidating figure arrived. Chrispin's breath caught a moment, though it was not from fear.

The captain was a wolf as he had suspected, but the wolf was female. She wore shockingly little jewelry for a pirate, the exception being a lavish jade ring. Her features were young he noticed, late 20s at the most. What Chrispin was mesmerized by most was her deep, haunting blue eyes and fur as white as fresh, pure fallen snow.

She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

Those eyes scanned over the captives with a look that ranged from disinterest to disgust. When she looked at Chrispin however, he could have sworn there was a moment's pause...maybe interest?

Then she spat on the deck.

"What a sorry bunch of chum." He could hear her mutter. "That everyone?"

"Yes Captain, everyone alive anyway." It was the avion that had answered. He must be the first mate.

Chrispin took note for the first time of the cutlass and flintlock that were strapped to the wolfess' belt. And then there was the ivory bone dagger she gripped in her paw. It dawned on him, he needed to stop seeing her as a female and remember this was a pirate captain.

"And what's our plunder?"

A pleased smirk on the first mate's beak was obvious. "Our tip paid off and fortune smiles on us. We got the whole bloody king's payment!'

The avion spoke the truth. Chrispin and his fellow crewmen had been transporting several chests of gold; a good will offering to one of their kingdom's allies. There would be a huge political fallout now that the gold would never arrive.

Most of the captives flinched in alarm when the white wolf stomped her boot.

"Depths alive!!! Haha, Albatross, if ye weren't a filthy feathered pervert I'd snog ya right on deck!" The captain proclaimed this loud for all to hear, earning many laughs and cheering from her crew. Albatross however actually seemed embarrassed, his wings twitching uncomfortably.

Clearing his throat, the avion attempted to change topics. "Your orders on what to do with the crew Captain?"

This question seemed to put the white wolf into thought. She held up the dagger, tapping it on her chin.

"Our loses?"

"Minimum. No more than six. Were all newbies too."

"Well then," the tapping on her chin stopped, the ivory blade slowly began to trace over her throat and down her neck. "Seems we don't need recruits then."

Chrispin couldn't explain it, but his eyes were transfixed upon that knife point that brushed over the pirate Captain's fur and what he imaged to be delicate skin. Unable to look away, his eyes followed as the blade reached the top of the female's chest. He found himself gulping when the knife finally stopped it's journey, resting between the just barely exposed cleavage of the white wolf.

The knife tapped once, twice, a third and final time.

As if a spell being broken, Chrispin snapped out of his stupor, looking up in feared realization to see haunting blue eyes looking right at him. She had noticed him...looking.

"Send them on their way. But after I have some fun."

This got a fresh round of snickering from the crew, all watching closely now.

He honestly had no idea what to expect? Was she mad he had been staring at her? Some part in the back of his mind thought maybe, just maybe she had wanted him to look.

"Any of ye cowardice guppies know who I am?"

It was not the oddest question a pirate captain could ask, though it still caught Chrispin by surprise. In truth, he had no idea who she was.

She seemed to grow impatient, pacing back and forth on deck, eyes like sapphire boring into them.

"Well!?"

"I-I do." Chrispin looked to see that it was the old sea turtle cook who had spoken up. The Captain looked to him as well.

"I know who you are." The normally cranky turtle spoke. There was such fear and respect in his voice that Chrispin could hardly believe it was their cook. "You're The Ice Queen."

The title was spoken in such a whisper that he had to strain to hear. A queen? Could that be right?

An amused smirk appeared on her face. "Ice Queen, White Wolf, Devil's Daughter, that cut throat bitch. I've been called all of those. But I find Pirate Lord Adora to be just fine."

An icy chill of death ran through Chrispin's spine. It was impossible. She couldn't be a Pirate Lord. This Adora was far to...beautiful?

Though just as he dared think such a thing, a disgusted and offended look came over Captain Adora. She stormed over to a young fox. Chrispin could not remember his name, but he knew this had been the youth's first voyage. Lad had to have been scared out of his mind.

Once before the fox, Adora knelt down to be at eye level with him. That ivory blade was placed under the boy's chin, forcing him to look at her. She sniffed him, that look of disgust increasing tenfold.

"Did you piss yourself?" She growled as if the act had not been out of fear but to solely offend her.

The fox opened his mouth to speak, terror rendering him mute beyond nonsensical blithering. Chrispin felt bad for the poor boy. Seemed Adora's version of fun was scaring a weakling.

She scoffed in disgust and with a sudden motion slit the poor fox's throat. Chaos broke loose. The sailors who had known the lad raged in protest, having to be forced back down or even struck upside the head to prevent retaliation.

Adora herself paid the commotion no mind, managing to avoid the sudden spray of blood from the boy's neck. Stepping back, she simply watched as he collapsed and bled out onto the deck.

With sickening horror, Chrispin watched as the Pirate Lord met eyes with the most defying of the captives and began to lick the blood of the fox off her dagger's blade.

Seemed she really was a Pirate Lord after all.

"Filth." She spat on the still twitching body. "Any whelp who'll piss himself shouldn't have abdomened his mother's tit so soon." Adora took a step back, not wanting blood to stain her boots. "Albatross, feed this useless carcass to Krake before he starts stinking."

The pointless cruelty of what had just accrued, Chrispin couldn't understand why. The pirates had already won, it was a pointless act.

Silence reigned as Albatross carried out the orders, the fox's body tossed overboard to meet the depths' embrace.

"Now then, where was I." She casually continued on.

Whatever she went on to say, Chrispin did not hear it. He was too distracted by the distant but distinct sound of a sing song rhyme about breaking bones and eating flesh. He'd of sworn it was coming from where the fox had been thrown over.

What was it she said? 'Feed him to Krake'?

"So we all understand?" Chrispin was snapped back as Adora finished explaining...something. Depths he hadn't been listening.

He realized she was looking at him, having that same smile she had when he had been caught staring. Adora began to approach him and Chrispin felt his heart quicken. Was it from panic, fear or...?

Pirate Lord Adora knelt down to be at his eye level. Those blue eyes, as deep as the depths in snared his vision. For a moment he feared she would cut his throat as she had the fox.

"A lone wolf I see." She sounded...pleased? "Handsome too. What is it you do on this ship sailor boy?

Chrispin found himself involuntarily shivering as she ran a paw over his head. It'd be a lie if he said it was unpleasant. "C-cargo." He could have slit his own throat for stammering.

Not looking too amused, Adora tilted her head. "Say again?"

Clearing his throat, he spoke up with confidence. "Cargo duty ma'am! I load and unload supplies when docked. While on the waters I often mind the sails and alter speeds as ordered." If she was going to kill him, he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing him being weak.

Though something in his words seemed to please Adora. "Cargo huh, and sail alteration. That takes some strength, builds a fine upper body."

In a complete, bizarre turn of events, Chrispin could feel her paw gently running over his arm, feeling his toned muscles. It was then she leaned in close. Close enough that with pounding heart, Chrispin discovered he could smell her.

Naturally she smelled of salt air, gun powder, old wood. There was an intriguing scent of ink and parchment, mingled with vanilla. But under all that, there was the scent of a woman.

"I'm in a very good mood." She whispered so only he could hear her words. "And I saw you looking." Another pet to his head and for just a moment Chrispin forgot how to breath. "Now, be a good prize and come warm my bed for a few hours."

Chrispin was speechless. His emotions had been all over leading up to this single moment. From what he had seen, this Pirate Lord was as vicious as she was beautiful. And now she was propositioning him!? What would happen if he refused...did he even want to refuse?

It seemed Adora did not require an answer. Putting away har dagger she took his paws and made him stand. She gave him a wink before turning away, his paw still in hers as she lead him towards her ship. There was a barrage of hooping and hollering from her crew that he hardly noticed. In truth, he was more focused in the way her tail and hips swayed as she walked...she hadn't walked like that when boarding their ship.

"Keep that lot away from my quarters." She whispered harshly to Albatross as they passed by. Chrispin wasn't sure, but he got the feeling the avion was giving him a rather hateful glare. Considering what was currently happening he easily ignored that.

Nothing more was said as he found himself on Adora's ship. A more alert mind would have noted just how much colder it felt on the white wolf's vessel. Chrispin would be ashamed to admit he did not look around as much as he should have as he was led.

It was not long before they reached the Captain's Quarters. Kicking it open, Adora practically dragged him inside and slammed the door behind them. He was taken out of his stupor with the sound of a bolt locking the door in place.

The lone wolf found himself gulping. Was this actually happening!? Could he allow it to happen? Her crew had just slaughtered folks he knew, some he'd even call friends. He had watched her kill that young fox without a second thought and he still didn't understand the reasoning for it.

But now, as he found himself alone with her, in her own courters no less, Chrispin found himself looking over her more carefully...depths she was a looker. While her clothing wasn't tight, he got a pretty good idea that she had quite the figure underneath. So, maybe he didn't have a problem being her 'prize' as she put it.

While this was not new territory for him, the circumstances were sure new. Truth was he was nervous. Should he start to undress? Was she just gonna throw him on the bed and ride to her heart's content...he liked that idea. Would she want foreplay? Who would make the first move?

Pushing such anxieties out of his mind, he decided to get into the spirit of things, putting on a rather charming smile. "Well Captain Adora, where would you like your prize?" It felt like such a corny line, but why not have fun?

"Over there." Adora pointed to a corner of the room, not even bothering to look.

Chrispin did his best not to frown. That was the most disinterested he had heard the pirate lord. Doing as told he stood out of the way and waited...and waited.

Looking around he noticed the room was nice. Not some dark chamber with skulls and instruments of torture that stories of Pirate Lords might tell you. Though it was certainly not feminine ether. There was a dresser, made of high quality wood with detailed itching into it. He didn't know enough about such things to appreciate it really.

Adora was clearly not a sentimental wolf. The decorations were limited. A large globe made of marble was next to a rather comfortable looking dark blue chair. The floor was mostly covered by a cushy black rug. Open crates of rum and wine were stacked to the side, along with some various swords and discarded oil lamps. Overall it was how he'd imagine a typical Captain's Quarters.

The bed got Chrispin's attention next. It was located at the back of the room, was large and depths it looked comfortable! Easily the most lavish thing in the quarters, the comforter was a stunning white with leaf gold stitching of nonsensical design. He may not be an expert on the matter, but what he could see of the sheets he swore had to be silk in the color of a midnight blue.

Yet it was the headboard that was the true eyecatcher. It was massive, taking up most of the wall. Whatever the wood was, it had been properly aged and treated to make it seem more like marble. The design was of master quality and detail, though why any seafarer would want it was beyond him. It was a Kraken, it's massive head the center, with multiple tentacles flowing out in waves as if reaching out to engulf the bed and drag it down to the depths themselves.

Despite its macabre connotations, he couldn't help picture himself with Adora on it.

Speaking of Adora...looking around, Chrispin spotted her at a large desk. Many scrolls, maps and charting tools were scattered about. All things he himself wouldn't have a clue on how to use. Apparently he had been completely forgotten as the white wolf was busy reading over a list while writing something on a scroll.

This had gone from scary, to enticing to just uncomfortable. Maybe he was supposed to make the first move? Politely he cleared his throat. "So what are we doin' then?"

"I'm working." She informed without even looking up. "You are standing there quietly until I toss you back with what's left of that sorry crew. King's best my tail."

Shifting on his feet uncertainty, Chrispin worried what it meant with the change of her tone. No longer was it playful and luring, not even that intimidating arrogance she showed on her entrance. This was just cold...empty. Adora sure wasn't in a 'good' mood.

Maybe she just needed to finish paperwork and then they'd have sex? Did pirates do paperwork?

With nothing else to do, he glanced around the room once more. On this round of inspection was when he noticable a portrait. At least, what had once been a portarte.

An elaborate onyx frame hung on the wall with the tattered remains of canvas. It seemed deliberate, not an accident. So then why was it still on the wall?

Glancing Adora's way, Chrispin made sure she was still focused on her work before he ventured from his assigned spot. Stepping carefully he approached the portate, lifting up bits of the canvas. It was difficult to make the figure out, species identification would be impossible. Whoever it was, it seemed they were dressed in red clothing...maybe another pirate captain? His best guess was the figure had black and white fur.

Chrispin nearly fell back in alarm when one of the tattered pieces he looked at glared back at him with an all too familiar blue eye. He dropped the pieces of canvas, backing away quickly.

"My father."

Turning around abruptly, Chrispin found Adora watching him, her expression a mask of nothingness.

"W-what?" He found himself stuttering. She didn't seem angry, that was good he hoped.

"The portrait." She nodded her head towards it. "It was of my father. He had it commissioned when he reached a decade run of being a Pirate Lord. Not the most easy of tasks if you know about our ways"

Adora was looking past Chrispin now, eyeing the shredded portrait with what he could only describe as a mix of respect and hate. "He's dead now." She added as if commenting on the weather.

"Oh," And it just got more awkward. "I'm sorry." Okay, so she had daddy issues, made since. He could work with that. "How did he die?"

"I killed him." With that casual answer all words failed Chrispin. The look on his face must have been evident as Adora actually smiled. "You really have no idea who I am do you? That's cute."

Something softened for a moment before she returned to writing. It seemed unspoken permission had been granted for Chrispin to walk around.

Her last words hung over him. No, he had no idea who she was, or what she was capable of. The old turtle had been terrified of her and he wondered how many of the crew did recognizer her, just knew better than to speak up. Still, she had not been unpleasant to him exactly. And she had brought him back here for a reason.

Approaching her desk he looked over her work. Lacking in the education of reading, he couldn't begin to decipher what all the parchments had on them. Letters maybe?

"What are you working on?" He dared to ask.

Adora glanced up at him a moment, much like a predator would to assess someone or thing getting too close. Deciding she didn't mind, her eyes went back to the parchment.

"Inventory lists. With a new haul I have to recheck our current supplies and then calculate in the added plunder from your Captain's lists. Backwards checks are then needed to make sure there's no skimming and with us pirates there's always skimming. Light skimming, no harm, heavy skimming and I'll have to cut some throats. Finally there's factoring in profit versus loses. Considering your kings payday and the morons I lost I'd say this was a high profit day."

Chrispin was taken back. For a moment he completely forgot this was a Pirate Lord. She sounded like some accounted or tax collector, rattling off stuff that was way over his head.

"Wow, sounds complicated." He did his best to sound like he understood. Licking his lips, he decided to risk moving forward. She obviously found him attractive, so why not turn up the charm? "Well, how about you take a break from all that and you can tell me more about how pleased you are with your fortune?"

This caused a full stop to Adora's work. Calmly the Pirate Lord returned her pin to the ink well, leaning back to eye him up and down.

"Whatever you think is going to happen, it's not." She flatly stated with finality.

Chrispin frowned. Had he misread this...she said he was her prize and...maybe she was into playing hard to get? He laughed, dismissing her statement. "Right, yeah I know! But I'm your prize right? If you just wanna relax you can lay on that bed back there and I could give you a massage?"

He had only gotten a taste of how her fur felt when she had petted his head and led him to her quarters. Massaging her would give him full access and get to see if her white fur was all over or not.

The response was less than positive. With a roll off her eyes, the Pirate Lord grabbed a bottle of rum on her desk, taking a large gulp before slamming it back on the table.

"Sit down." She commanded, her voice returning to it's authoritative tone.

Still feeling lost, Chrispin did as he was told. He wanted to have ideas of stripteasing or lapdances in mind for his near future, but the ice chill in the room banished any such silly notions.

"Alright, I get you're not smart." Ouch, that hurt his pride more than he'd care to admit. "All that prize talk, that's for my crew. Give them a good laugh and something to talk about. They can giggle that their female captain is getting her prized dick. Reality is I want to get my work done in peace. Pirating may be profitable but shit books will sink you just like any business."

It was like a bucket of ice water had been thrown on him. Followed by a barrage of bricks. She had just been toying with him!?

"I...no but...but you said you saw me looking and..."

Despite his pride being both wounded and disappointed, the raising of her paw shut him up.

"Truth is. Your sorry, shitless, cowardice act of surrendering doesn't exactly get me hot under the tail. Now had you sworn to fight us to the death and it took five of my crocodiles to hold you down, maybe this would be going a bit different and I'd be riding a real prize. That didn't happen now did it?"

Hurt quickly turned to resentment which was blossoming into anger. Chrispin wasn't finding her so hot anymore. What the hell was her problem!?

"So see, we both get to be disappointed." With that final jab she turned back to her work. "Now shut your trap, have a drink and when I'm done here you can go have bragging rights that the Ice Queen fucked your brains out instead of just blowing your brains out. Savy?"

It was finally beginning to make since to Chrispin. This was all a sham, some whole big game she hid behind!

"So what about that kid?" He found himself saying. "Was killing him just for show too?" Had his pride not been so scorned, he would have paused at the sudden warning look Adora passed his way. "Think because you're some female who tricked her way into being a captain you're better than me!"

The white wolf turned his way again, slower this time.

"Well..." Those eyes of hers tripped him up. But swallowing his fear, he pushed on. "Well I've got leverage on you now!" His chest was puffed out slightly, confidence being fueled by indignation.

"Oh?" A curious brow rose on the all too calm Pirate Lord's face. "Please, enlighten me as to what leverage ye seem to believe ye have gained." While her voice had not raised, every word she uttered carried a threatening promise to it.

"I'll expose ya!" Chrispin smirked triumphantly, standing to his feet as if he'd march right out to the deck now. "Ya don't wanna have sex, fine, but I'll make sure every one of my crew, your crew and any sailor I come across knows that you're just some fraud! Putting on this whole scary Captain act to keep your men from using you than tossing your ass overboard like they should!" Depths it felt good to put her in her place.

He was eager to see her response. She'd try to bribe him for sure, or better yet maybe she'd beg for him to keep her little secret. But Adora did nothing of the sort. Calmly she stood from her seat, taking two deliberate steps closer to the other wolf.

Her face was a mask, causing Chrispin to frown. "So, exactly what ye be wanting for silence?" She may not have been begging, but it was obvious she knew she had to play along with his demands now.

"I think I deserve a reward." Chrispin spoke smugly.

"A reward?"

"That's right, for keeping me silence." He gave her a deliberate slow look up and down, making sure she knew he was eyeing her body. "Maybe a little fun under the sheets over their like ye promised in the first place."

She didn't threaten him or even try to talk him out of what he wanted. Instead she gave Chrispin the most seductive smile he could ever remember seeing.

"Alright, I can give you a reward."

***

Albatross stood guard at the steps that lead to his Captain's quarters. It doubled as a perfect watching spot over the deck to keep an eye on the crew, transporting the cargo of their prize into the safety of The Tundra's hull.

Ignoring the bad feeling he had, the large avion forced himself to not glance over his shoulder. He never liked it when Adora played these games, but it was not his place to question her. She was not only a capable Captain, but had a brilliance that matched her cunning. Sadly, both shadowed by a cruelty that rivaled that of her father's.

Still, this was no time to worry on such things. They had a good haul, the plunder would go a long way to improving their weaponry as well as supplies for longer voyages.

A sudden pain filled howl broke Albatross from his inner thoughts. He looked with alarm and concern towards the Captain's Quarters. With a mighty flap of his wings he was up the stairs and was drawing his cutlass when the door was kicked open.

That wolf Adora had taken to her room collapsed at Albatross' feet. He stepped back in alarm as the wolf choked-, gagged and finally vomited on his own blood. The source of the wolf's pain was made clear as he opened his mouth, crying out inaudible, mouth filled with blood and tongue nowhere to be found.

Angry boot steps approached, Adora standing over the pitiful sailor and threw down the tongue she had held in her paw. "There's your reward." She spat on the trash at her feet.

Albatross, clearing his throat and doing his best to keep on a face of indifference spoke up. "Captain?"

Her cold eyes noticed him for the first time. He could tell she knew why he was up here, the very idea that he still felt the need to come to her rescue no doubt fueled her already lost temper.

"Take this little pup back to his crew. Make sure they all know how unsatisfying I found him." Her voice had taken on that cold qualite that reminded Albatross far too much of her father. Still he nodded.

Grabbing the wolf unkindly with one of his talons, the first mate set about his orders, dragging the muted wolf down the stairs.

"And Albatross!"

He stopped, look up at Adora, noticing the blood still dripping from her claws. "Captain?"

"Unless you are summoned, do not ever walk up those stairs again. What happens in my quarters are my business, not yours. Understand?"

With a saddened heart Albatross realized that his worry for her had once again lost him favor in her eyes. "Aye Captain."

Without another word, Pirate Lord Adora returned to her chambers, slamming the door behind her.

Looking down with zero pity at the wolf he currently dragged, Albatross could only shake his head. "Not the fun you were hoping for, was it boy?"

Chuckling at the wolf's misfortune, he proceeded to drag Chrispin back to the other ship.