Anne listened to everything Raider told her. She was no push over by any means and while she wanted to believe what the man was saying, her heart had grown such a callus around it she still wanted to find fault in what he was saying. But in the back of her mind, she knew it all made sense. It would certainly explain why he just up and left without so much as a note left for her to find.

Raider could see she was processing everything but still wasn’t ready to accept his explanation. IN true Ann fashion, she didn’t say rather or not she accepted the story or not a good indication from Raider she was at LEAST considering it. And going to have it investigated as soon as she was able.

Pushing that to the back of her mind, she studied the map Raider produced and furrowed her brows. She had barely been able to skim over the darn thing when he pulled it back and tucked into his jacket once again. Her eyes settled on his own gaze then and a silence fell over them. The wheels were turning in her head and finally she took a deep breath.

”So what do ye propose?”

Hearing the crew’s raised voices as well as several whistles, she quickly glanced at the shore and saw the other female come onto the beach acting like a wild animal. She turned to look at Raider with a quirked brow.

”I suppose she be with ye as well? If she be a part of the group that be leavin’, she best learn to grow a sharks hide and wear clothes. I’ll not be havin’ her on me ship distractin’ me crew. It’ll be bad enough as it is by just havin’ other females aboard I d on’t need one of ‘em acting like some wild animal that needs t’be caged. N’cage her I will”

"First we get me ship back ..... we sail them that took it pay the devil fur it an' then me love we sail ta Skull Island." Raider said coldly, then looking to the shore with cold eyes he added ...
"Aye that one be har 'afore we come an a wild one she be. Marooned here as a child, ifin' ya believe her tale. A real hellcat she be when cornered. Not the sharpest knife on yur belt with the ways of the world."

Anne took a deep breath and shook her head.

”Se yer aimin’ t’bring a chit onto me ship who has ner a clue of how things work when it comes t’the opposite sex let alone how the real world operates? Yer not makin’ this easy on me, Raider. Me crew is gonna have a hard enough time as it is acceptin’ you and what’s left o’yer crew onto th’ She-Wolf let alone with two women….one that’s worldly. By the Saints…..I’ll be surprised ifin they DON’T try a mutiny.”

She rubbed the back of her neck and shook her head again.

”I spose we best call Babe n O’Hara aboard and get things smoothed out ‘tween those two ‘fore we even think o’tellin’ the others. Not unless you want t’add a spark t’an already hot powder keg.”

She looked out at the beach and put her thumb and middle finger in her mouth as she curled her lips in and gave a shrill whistle. Seeing Babe pick his head up and narrow his gaze as he looked at her, she signaled for him to come to the ship. When Raider did the same for O’Hara, she saw the way Babe looked at the other man then back to her. It was the look her first mate gave her that made her feel a chill slide down her spine.

The creature slithered off the rock, barely stirring the waters, and disappeared. Jet black eyes watched, judging its moment to strike the wooden belly of the docile creature.