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A Pirate's Life

Volume 7: Blow the man down

"I recognize that ship, that be the Scarlet Squall!" Black Ear said looking through his telescope. Selena stood at the Captain's side and looking out at the new democracy ship that was anchored near the port. It had not been hard to convince Mason to help, after all the parlay that he and Selena had done it was expected he was willing to help.

"You know if we go head to head with that ship thar then they be lots of casualties lassie" Black Ear put down his telescope and rubbed his chin. He looked to Selena who looked right back with a pleading smile.

"But you be such a heartbreaker lass that I think I'd be walking through hell to help ye." Black Ear drew his cutlass and pointed towards the port in the distance. That sword gleamed in the lions hand as he shook out his mane and a grim expression of determination knotted his face.

"Me hearties... to battle!" He roared and the crew responded with a "Yo ho!" and then scrambled to prepare for a fight. Selena just hoped that Erik and the crew were alright.

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Erik had gotten all of the crew safely back into the lifeboat and Leanne had searched the ship and recovered their weapons. Celese and Frenchie were battered but now conscious. They had to borrow some garments from the dead officers; however, the dead didn't need clothes.

"We'll approach carefully, we have to get back to the Siren's Song and set sail to get away. Is Janice still on the ship?" Erik looked at Leanne who shrugged.

"Don't know if they found her or not." She replied coldly, Erik guessed that there were still hard feelings between the bobcat and the tigeress. He nodded and they began to row back to the port on the look out for Henningsway's troops. Polly however took to the skies cautiously this time using altitude to look at the scene below.

Their craft pulled up to the side of the Siren's Song and Leanne stealthily climbed up the anchor chain and peeked over to scout the deck. It seemed that the vessel was only lightly guarded with only two sailors, but of course looks were deceiving.

"Celese and Frenchie won't be able to chain" Erik whispered, "We'll have to get them aboard Dana and Elizabeth will rendezvous with us later, Dana's brother will see to that." his crew nodded in agreement. To get aboard they would need to do a partial frontal assault mixed with sneakiness.

"Hey assholes!" Leanne taunted as she climbed up onto the deck of the ship and drew her curved daggers. The two officer's seemed stunned a bit but turned to her with their hands on their swords.

"Come to mama!" she grinned and her daggers flitted through her flingers skillfully. The first officer drew his sword and charged as the other officer shouted.

"Intruders!" he yelled. Great so there was more of them on the ship, however it would take a while for them to get their dander up. From behind Leanne came Chiako, she leapt into the air higher than any normal person could leap, and then seemed to make a nearly impossible midair trajectory change planting a bone shattering jump kick to the charging wolf's face.

Leanne flung her offhand dagger at the other wolf, he didn't have time to dodge as he was hastily trying to draw his sword. The dagger bit deep into his chest and his sword clattered loudly to the deck. Just then three more wolf sailors came running up the gangplank. Leanne gracefully dove and rolled over the dead body of the officer she had just slain and retrieved her dagger.

Chiako got into a stance as two wolves attacked her, the other wolf breaking off drawing his broadsword to attack Leanne. She parried the incoming blade and ducked slicing into the calf of the wolf only to hear a dull thunk. A wooden leg? Wham!

Suddenly Leanne was seeing stars, the wolf officer had whacked her on the head with the pommel of his sword. Dazed and disoriented Leanne dropped her daggers and stumbled hitting the bulkhead of the crew cabin.

She shook her head and opened her eyes just in time to see the wolf raising his sword up to deal her a fatal blow. Yet that strike never came as a gunshot range out and the wolf jerked, paused, stumbled and then fell forward. Leanne rolled out of the way looking up and then saw the smoking barrel of Janice's rifle at the top of the crows nest.

Janice was already reloading and Leanne with her head still pounding picked up her daggers. Janice has just taking out the loading rod and suddenly leveled her rifle at Leanne. The Bobcat froze with a start at the sight of the rifle aimed at her.

Janice fired without hesitation and the shot whizzed past Leanne's head, striking the wolf that was creeping up behind her right between the eyes. The third guard of the original three sailors had been hiding in the crew cabin and had been waiting, sword drawn, for a moment to strike.

Leanne was about to shout up a thanks to the tigeress when dull far off gunshot rang out and blood flew from Janice, drops of crimson landing on Leanne's face. Janice crumpled back into the crow's nest.

"No! Janice!" Leanne looked around and saw something glinting in the sunlight on a nearby roof in the port. A new democracy sniper? Leanne could see that she was at a clean angle for the sharpshooter and she dived into the entrance to the crew quarters to avoid getting shot.

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The wolfen sniper licked his lips looking through his scope. He had just hit the tigeress in the crows nest and now he was looking to tag the female bobcat hiding in the entrance to the crew cabin. He had just finished reloading and she poked her head out for a moment and looking towards him and then ducked her head back in.

All he had to do was be patient, all he had to do was wait, she'd have to come out sometime, she briefly popped out again and waved her hand at someone else on the deck shouting something. He expected that it was the Siamese that had come up with her.

The head of the Siamese popped out for a moment from behind a wall and he swiftly adjusted his aim and squeezed the trigger. The rifle spat out lead death towards it's intended target but the Siamese uncannily canted her head out of the way of his bullet. She didn't even duck back behind the wall.

The wolf reloaded and took aim again and fired. Again the feline with unerring reflexes moved her head out of the way of his bullet. She seemed to be more curious than concerned, it was like she had a sixth sense. This only served to anger the wolf to greater fustration.

"How the fuck is she doing that?" the wolf muttered to himself as he began to reload. There was a dull gunshot sound and a brief and sudden hiss, the wolf's loading rod suddenly broke. He uttered a curse and dropped the broken rod then noticed there was red on his jacket.

He touched the scarlet wetness, his own blood? Then he felt his life starting to flee from his body. His rifle loosened in his grip and he toppled forward shot through the heart by the tigeress sniper he thought he had killed.

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Janice ignored the pain in the side of her neck and reloaded with uncanny speed before she took aim and fired again. This time she was rewarded by a puff of red as her bullet struck the already dead wolf in the head. Grinning with satisfaction she then collapsed on the floor of the nest, her life essence flowing from her neck.

"Janice!" Leanne said ignoring the fact that the sniper might still be out there and she climbed the ladder to the crow's nest. Leanne was moving faster than she ever thought she could move, she scrambled up into the nest to see Janice laying in a heap a small pool of blood forming around her head.

"No!" Leanne cried out in desperation and tore her sleeves off to create a makeshift bandage, she carefully dammed the red flow at the tigeress' neck and then being careful not to cut off Janice's breathing she wrapped the other sleeve around her neck to hold the bandage in place.

"I'm going to get you out of here!" Leanne was frantic as she picked the tigeress up, undoing both their belts. She used the belts to make a long harness then in a piggy back style of carry, she got ready to carry the tigeress down. Janice now strapped to her back Leanne began the careful climb down from the nest.

When she reached the bottom the rest of the crew was waiting. They had circled around to the front of the ship and had gotten onto deck via the gangplank. Leanne carefully set Janice down on the deck. The bandage on Janice's neck turning slight shade of red.

"She saved my life, someone help her!" Leanne screamed out desperately. Suddenly Leanne felt a hand on hers. Janice opened her one good eye, the pearl in the patch over her left eye sparkled in the light.

"Stop your shouting Leanne I'll be ok." Janice said in a weak whisper. "I just need to rest a little." With that said Janice fell unconscious. Leanne had been so bitter about their fight, but now she saw that this woman, who she taken half sight from, was willing to give up her life for the bobcat.

"We'll have to get Elizabeth she'll be able to treat Janice." Erik said placing a hand on Leanne's shoulder. They were startled with the sound of boots on wood and then came a nasty surprise.

"Well here is your medic right now." Said a pompous voice and everyone turned to see Henningsway standing there with Dana, Galvin, and Elizabeth at gun point. At least a dozen soldiers stood there with swords draw or rifles trained on them. Erik growled but dared not reach for his cutlass.

Henningsway ushered the three onto the ship, now the pirate crew was clustered together, Elizabeth going to Janice to take a look at her. Henningsway approached Erik and looked him over.

"Hmmm... not what I was expecting at all. No hook hand, no eye patch, no peg leg, not even a mangy beard" The wolf Captain smiled arrogantly. "Your quite out of place." He suddenly slapped Erik across the face.

The crews made a motion as if getting ready to fight but were discouraged by the sound of gun hammers cocking. Erik growled disgruntled but stayed his hand.

"So kill me already and get it over with." Erik sneered fearlessly. His eyes showing defiance, as Henningsway turned his back to the pirate Captain.

"Oh I think not. You first will tell me where Triton's Chest is, and then I shall send you to your well deserved oblivion." Henningsway grinned maliciously "You can tell me or I can start by killing your crew."

"You can have it, the damn thing is empty." Erik snorted. Henningsway eyed him, could a pirate and his crew spend all those riches so quickly? No there was still treasure, he was lying, the wolf knew it and he'd make the tiger talk.

"Have it your way..." Henningsway pulled out his pistol and aimed it randomly, the barrel falling on Helen. The ferret froze in place and gulped, henningsway was about to cock the hammer when suddenly a whistling sound was heard and suddenly a cannonball crashed into the docks instantly obliterating more than half of Henningsway's men. The force of the explosion sent new democracy officer's sprawling rifles falling into the water.

The Wolf Captain looked back at his shattered crew then out to the sea where, proudly displaying the flag with a death's head standard, floated the Lucid Tide. Polly and Selena were on the deck of the ship hooting and hollering as Black Ear proudly grinned, his crew cheering.

Henningsway who was distracted didn't see Helen unfurl her whip and with a sharp crack knocked the pistol from the wolf's hand. Henningsway yelped and staggered back before seeing that all his sailors had lost their guns from the other pirate's attack. He drew his sword as Erik and his crew readied their weapons.

"Tear then to pieces!" The wolf Captain commanded and the remaining sailors drew swords and charged. Erik whirled his cutlass as the wave of sea-men attacked.

"Take them down ladies!" Erik shouted as the Crew of the Siren's Song fended off the attackers. While the melee ensued Elizabeth, Dana, Clara, and Galvin hustled the wounded Celese, Frenchie, and Janice to the crew cabin and locked the door.

Henningsway started to wander from the battle, backing up using his crew for cover, he had to find that chest! He stealthily edged into Erik's cabin to look for it. He ignored the fact that his men were dying or hurt he was only concerned with the gold for now.

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The door of the crew cabin shook as the soldiers tried to force their way in. Elizabeth tended to Janice, the bullet had missed her jugular by centimeters. The bleeding had subsided which was good. The door suddenly burst open and three wolf sailors came barging in.

Dana hated to be cliché but picked up the frying pan she had left in the crew quarters and brandished it. The wolf soldiers seemed to snicker at her attempt to threaten them. Suddenly on of the wolves found a sword jutting out from his chest the other two looking to him with shock.

"Traitorous dogs!" one of them yelled before being decapitated by Rath who avoided a slash from the third wolf. Jon was guarding Rath's back making sure nobody else was coming up on them.

Rath dispatched the third sailor and then he and Jon shut the door behind them barring it with some barrels. It was an unsteady moment for both the pirates and the new democracy sailors.

Rath looked to Jon and then back to the pirates. Rath sheathed his sword and so did Jon.

"All this turn-coating, so that we could help your sister?" Rath huffed, Jon shrugged with a smile.

"Half sister to be correct. Still Henningsway is an asshole and I didn't really like the food on that ship." Jon replied as they sat down uneasily to guard and watch the pirates tend to their wounded.

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"Where the bloody blazes could it be?" Henningsway shouted overturning the table in the cabin, trying to turn the room inside out to find his prize. Then the door behind to the Captain's quarters opened and there stood Erik. Some of his fur was smirched with blood, his cutlass gleaming in his hand.

"All your men are dead and you don't even care..." Erik spat as the two began to circle, the tiger brandishing his cutlass and Henningsway raised his broadsword in preparation for combat.

"They were all expendable anyways, but now since I can't have the treasure I'll be satisfied with your head." Henningsway growled. He saw that in back of the pirate Captain, stood the crew of the Siren's Song all of them alive and well, however, they had decided to stay out of this fight. This was between Erik and Henningsway.

"En guard!" Henningsway shouted and advanced slashing viciously at Erik. The tiger parried and countered with his own attack. They circled as they dueled exchanging back and forth with slashes, parries, thrusts, feints, and blocks.

Erik parried a heavy slash from the wolf and spun around stabbing for Henningsway's head, however the wolf had the lighter and faster sword knocking Erik's blow to the side and stepped in with a thrust of his own.

Erik evaded and renewed his assault forcing Henningsway to block and overhead strike only to kick him in the stomach as he exposed it. Henningsway tumbled back and rolled to his feet advancing quickly.

The wolf Captain gave short thrusts so that he could get an opening on his opponent. Erik hastily parried and Henningsway gave a full out overhead strike, their blades locking. The wolf the tiger strained against each other sparks flying from their blades. Henningsway suddenly pushed and with a surge knocked Erik back.

Erik desperately tried to recover but he felt the bite of steel to flesh and gasped as Henningsway's sword stabbed shallowly into the right side of his stomach. He let out an exclamation of pain and staggered back. Henningsway flourishing his blade with style.

"Ha! Your nothing pirate scum, once I finish you I'm going to make sure that I personally violate and then hang each and everyone of your whore crew. Your head will rest on a pike in my cabin." The wolf sneered leveling his blade at Erik.

Erik gave a deafening roar, it was like a second wind for him. Ignoring the pain in his side he lunged at the wolf his cutlass, the sword was heavy but the tiger whirled it with amazing speed. Henningsway had not expected such a fierce response, but tried to keep his composure as he parried each strike from Erik.

However every single blow was more heavier than before Erik exerting all his strength to batter down Henningsway's defenses. Erik raised his cutlass high for another blow.

Henningsway saw Erik open himself up and with a grin thrusted, but Erik had planned this all along, this particular strike was not one of power but of grace. The tiger spun out of the way of the thrust and stepped in close all in the blink of and eye his left fist balling up as he punched the wolf right under the chin.

Henningsway staggered back and then yelped as pain went through his chest. Erik had used that opportunity and with a single thrust of skill and impaled the wolf's chest running him through.

Henningsway could not believe it, his grip slackened and his broadsword dropped to the ground as Erik withdrew his cutlass and spun around his blade meeting the wolf's neck. Henningsway's head absconded from his body and landed on the floor bouncing twice with a dull thunk.

"Sleep in hell..." Erik growled and dropped his sword clutching his injured stomach. He staggered back towards his crew that helped him out onto the deck of the ship.

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The battle was over, Selena and Polly walked up the gangplank of the Siren's Song to be reunited with the rest of the crew. Erik had his wound looked at by Elizabeth who deemed it not much more than a scratch.

The crew exhausted and battle worn wearily sat on the deck of the vessel. Even the Rath and Jon came out, albeit awkwardly, but were not assaulted by the crew. Laura instantly recognized Jon and hugged him in greetings as Rath watched his friend reunite with his sister.

"So now what Rath?" Victor's voice came from the umbra of the crew cabin. The black wolf not yet emerging.

"Maybe I'll try a pirate's life, might not be so bad." Rath replied. "And you?" he looked up to Victor who gave a soft smirk.

"Well everything has gone as planned, but there is only one more thing..." Victor walked out to the center of the deck. Victor had changed clothes no longer wearing the new democracy uniform, but as usual he still remained expressionless. The crew of the Siren's Song kept a wary eye on him. He looked to Erik and nodded his head.

"Bring the chest Captain I have something to show you." Victor pulled out a pouch from his pocket as Erik nodded to Karen who wearily got up to fetch the item.

Karen came back carrying the empty chest and set it on the deck of the ship. Erik eyed Victor unsteadily as the black wolf approached the chest and opened it.

"This chest only empty if it's not full, you need to do some research into these things Captain." Victor said opening the pouch and dumping out a handful of lead pellets into his own palm.

The crew of the Siren's Song watched as Victor dropped the pellets into the chest but when they dropped and hit bottom they did not sound like lead. Victor reached down into the chest and pulled out solid gold coin.

"Triton's Chest turns lead into gold." Victor tossed the coin to Erik who caught it and watched it sparkle in the setting sunlight. The crew gasped and looked at each other, they were rich! As the crew clambered over to Erik hugging him with glee he black wolf then turned and approached Clara looking to the mouse with a gentle smile.

"My prodigy... it is a shame your abilities rage out of control. However I think, you can rest assure, from now on you'll be in control." Victor touched Clara's forehead. It seemed as if a spark flew from his fingers to her and then Clara shook her head and blinked.

"My final gift to you..." Victor turned towards the setting sun.

"Its so warm..." For a moment the black wolf savored the setting sun on his face and then he collapsed to the deck of the vessel his life fleeing from him almost instantly.

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"So it was his time?" Erik asked Rath who sat across from him. The arctic wolf nodded. and then looked to Erik who tumbled the first gold coin through his fingers idley.

"He was dying and for some reason he knew that he was... He told me what would happen. I use to joke about him seeing the future, perhaps he could..." Rath cleared his throat as he looked at the pouch that Victor had been clutching when he died.

"So what now?" Erik asked the wolf. The coin paused between Erik's Index finger and thumb.

"He'd like to try his hand at being a pirate." Clara said walking into the cabin with a smile. Ever since Victor had gifted her she had been having a jovial time reading the thoughts of others. She now had the control that she had been missing for so long, among other things she'd sometimes step from the shadows in a very unnerving manner.

"So you want to be one of my crew, the ladies will have to run you though the gauntlet my friend." Erik said grinning and flipping the gold coin in the air before catching it. Celese suddenly ran to the door with a smile.

"Did you say the gauntlet?" she sneered "It's been years since the crew has done that, ever since the last male on this ship died of pleasure the girls have been eager to give that initiation another try. With less enthusiasim of course." Celese naturally would not participate, being a lesbian, but she did loved to watch.

"Ladies! Prepare the Gauntlet!" the first mate shouted and instantly there was a clambering of females, Rath nearly cried out for help as he was stampeded and carried off by the female crew.

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It had been a month now and Rath was adjusting well to life as a pirate, Erik was a benevolent Captain, and the crew welcomed him with opened arms, so to speak. Jon as well had become part of the crew, he had to rest for a week after his initiation but he we holding up well enough.

They had just pulled into the port of the Walking Waves where everything had come to a resolution. They were free as ever, rich as ever, and happy to boot. The Crew of the Siren's Song disembarked and headed for the nearest tavern. They had no worries about the ship, it was all patched up, and they had hired muscle to watched over the vessel.

Triton's Chest was safely hidden aboard, it's secrets never revealed to anyone outside the crew. Erik kept it under lock and someone different each day carrying the key.

"Well this place brings back good and bad memories but such is a pirate's life" Erik said to Clara pulling her close as he kissed her gently, both of them smiled to each other.

"Yes it does, but I think things will be brighter from now on." Clara kissed him in return and nuzzled her cheek to his arm.

"From now on! Rawk! From now on!" Polly squawked.

"Look can you speak normal for once?" Janice said hefting her rifle onto her shoulder. She shifted the weapon to avoid setting it on the scar that graced her neck.

"Yeah! Say something on your own girl." Leanne said in agreement. Playfully punching Polly on the left shoulder.

"How about we get to drinking ladies?" Polly said in a very dry tone rubbing her arm, all of them nodded in agreement. Then there was a gunshot and they all looked to see Black Ear with his pistol in the air. The rowdy crew of the Lucid Tide stood behind their Captain grinning.

"Greetings me hardies!" the lion said with wide smile. His gaze shifting to Selena, the dolphin gave him a wink, he nodded in return. "Got room for some fellow pirates at your tables?" he inquired tucking his pistol away in his belt.

"Plenty of seats for all Captain Black Ear." Erik said prostrating a hand towards the tavern's entrance. The crew of the Lucid Tide gave a "Yo ho!" and began to make for the doors. Black Ear suddenly turned to them and roared, his crew stopped in place stunned.

"don't you scurvy sons of bitches have no manners!" Black Ear shouted, then calmly walked to the tavern door "Ladies first!" Black Ear said and opened the door for Selena who was followed by the rest of the woman crew. As they entered the tavern a song started from Selena. They all knew the song, all pirates and proud of it.

"Come ye all sailors and follow the sea... yo ho blow the man down, you must pay attention and listen to me... yo ho blow the man down..." The crew of the Siren's Song and the Lucid Tide began to sing, and Erik also began to sing along. Clara didn't know the words, but was able to pull them from the minds of the other pirates.

As they sang through the night they drank, told tales, and laughed as Karen and Brutis got into a drinking contest the bear getting flat out smashed and passing out before the razorback. Laura sat next to Jon and they talked about old times with their family.

As Clara sat at the table hugging Erik's arm, she mused on the images in her head, so many things she saw happening, but she focused on one image in particular; the image of the fateful day when the Erik and the crew would retire as friends and each of them would live long and joyful lives.

Fin.