FSE

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She lived by the sea and never knew

What a fateful day might bring

But twenty years past she first met the crew

Of the buccaneer ship Daring.

Her house, ransacked, herself, besnatched

While her parents were out for the day

She soon beheld a flag black as her fur

And the _Daring_took her away.

Captain Ruthless, a haggard greybeard wolfdog, sent a ransom to her family that would forever go unanswered from a father who would have paid the asking to return a son but not a daughter. So the kitten remained, tied to a post in the brig, slowly losing hope she would ever see her seaside home again, but not her wit or her fight, with freedom her goal.

The seas of Tallerund were not kind,

As the Daring well knew,

And less than a week asea from their raid

The ominous winds again blew.

The seas were rough from the onset,

Lashing portside, slamming aft

And the _Daring_moaned under the onslaught

Until she started to crack.

The support in the brig broke apart, freeing the young black cat from her post. The storm continued to worsen, and fearing the angry swells more than the thugs around her, the future Queen joined them on deck in the gale and downpour; with a fierceness only known to angry she-cats, she helped the men and boys keep the Daring afloat through the ordeal.

There is a camaraderie that grows from surviving a storm,

And the crew saw in her

The potential for a place on board the Daring

For a new cabin girl.

Though the idea of becoming a pirate held little appeal to her, she recognized she was stuck with them until the next landfall at earliest, and took to her job with gusto. She quickly earned the respect of almost everyone on board. A few would often spout lewd jousts her way or steal a bad touch; one cornered her in the bilge once - and the next day apparently swallowed a knife.

All knew the sea-toughened cat was a true pirate

From that point on

And though none outwardly sent her more cat-calls

Different thoughts consumed one young John.

The Golden Lab went by "Jesse the Free"

And scared himself by falling for the feline.

He needn't have feared so, as one night in the crow's nest

Showed him her feelings were in line.

The Daring sailed for years, pillaging and plundering, until they finally picked the wrong seaport town. Jesse and his girl were separated as the townspeople fought back valiantly, and when the black cat retreated back on deck, her Lab was not part of the half of the crew that successfully returned. Nor was the first mate, a position Captain Ruthless then gave to her.

The Daring raced 'round the island with the wind,

Hoping to make a rescue

As survival was at stake; certain execution

Awaited the captured crew.

They made it to the island capital's prison

Late by hours few,

And in the ensuing fight with the law

Ruthless fell for the rest of his crew.

As the _Daring_fled, her new captain was hailed Jezebel, and the cat had them set sail to the nearest port of ill repute. It was her crew now, and the hardened feline vowed to protect them, and not just that - make them to most feared crew of the Tallerund. Before those lofty goals were to be realized, of course, she needed supplies and new men. To replace Ruthless. To replace Jesse.

Thus the reign of the Pirate Queen began.

The Daring feared none,

Be it merchants or navy or other lawless ships -

she set them all to run.

For years the Queen gathered treasure, fought the law, and grew her own lore despite her youth. She even took satisfaction when she started seeing ships she conquered start having female captains as well - all saw her success and tried to emulate, of both sides of the law. A lady at war was a force to be reckoned with. But as with the reign of any monarch, it would have to come to a close.

It began with a typical landward jaunt

To a small, nameless town:

She passed some stranger walking the street

And felt something fall down.

She fell in love with that landlubber lad

And took the time to so say,

Then with her crew whisked back out to sea

With a promise to return one day.

Twice a year they came, the cat finding the nameless town pleasant for more reasons than one, being safe as well as providing good company. Her edge on sea slipped, though, each raid was more of a chore and her crew started getting hurt. It was not a raid that got her into real trouble, though; in a coincidence of fate, a Tellerund storm sank the Daring.

So ended the years of the Pirate Queen

Her tale tall but true

I've sadly no time for each raid and plunder,

Much they may be o'interest to you

If you want more stories

Just ask her for tea.

But watch your pockets -

she has children three.