Anne looked out over the island she and Babe walked on. His question drifted to her ears and she furrowed her brow. As she seemed to debate answering him or not, she looked down at her sand covered feet then back at the island before she cast her dark gaze onto her Master at Arms. Once more using their native Gaelic language, she let him know exactly how long they had been at sea now.

”23 months, Babe. 23 months since we set foot on solid ground of any kind. I was beginning to think my legs would never know what it feels like to touch solid earth beneath them. Thanks to you, I know how much I missed such a feeling and how much I will appreciate being back aboard the Wolf when we finally set sail once again.”

Anne had not told a single soul what happened between her and Raider. Not even her best friend, Babe. She had too much pride to do that. And she would never admit it but she did love the man. DID, being the important word there. Now all she felt was hate and loathing for the man. If he had just told her why he left she would have understood. Hell, of ANYONE she would have understood.

Knowing the crew whispered among themselves about why this voyage was so relentless, she let them think what they wanted to. The way Anne figured, it was none of their business anyway. What would they think of their captain being the jilted lover? They would lose all sorts of respect for her. There was no secret her and Raider were bed mates but no one knew just how deeply she felt for the man. Not ever herself until she realized he was long gone.

Turning to look back at the She Wolf, she saw how efficiently the crew was disposing of the bodies form the ship they destroyed. Seeing the splintered wood and debris floating in the surf as well, she looked over at Babe and grinned.

”What do ye say about a bon fire on th’beach tonight, Babe? We could kill two birds with one stone that way. We could have us some fun as well as burn off all that wood we seem t’have a surplus of right now.”

Raider, watched as Anne walked across the beach with Babe, her Master at Arms. The man was probably the only gunner that could come close to eqaulling Ishta, the Bill of Rights gunner on the seven seas. Raider knew Anne probably didn't realize that his sudden departure, in the middle of the night was an act of protection on Raider's part. He was positive she had no idea that British soldiers had followed the messanger sent from "The Ferret". That a company of the Kings Guard were waiting just outside "THE ADMIRAL BIGLOW TENNET'S INN" to capture Anne and Raider and bring them before The Admiralty on charges of Piracy and High Treason Against The Crown. Raider and Anne had been paid as Privateers by the Crown, but had been used and betrayed, not to the surprise of Raider, after all they were both of Irish, and politics are politics.

They would have accomplished their mission had not Raider arose to attend the meeting with "The Ferret's" agent and saw them moving about in the street below. Raider had grabbed Anne's cloak and disguised the agent. He and the diguised agent had led the soilders on a merry chase through the docksides of Cork, stealing a carriage and escaping into the coutryside. For three days they had pursued Raider and who they had supposed was Captain Anne. Untill Raider abandoned the coach, he and the agent stealing a skiff and rowing down the River Brandon to Kinale. Then along the coast to Galley Head where Th Bill Of Rights lay at anchor. From there Raider and his crew sailed to Kery Island where he met with "The Ferret", securing "Dread William's Map". But, Raider also knew Anne's temper and as they say "There is no fury on earth, heaven or hell as the wraith of a woman that was convinced she had been scorned."

Anne and Babe never ventured far from the shoreline when they visited tropical islands. They’d learned a valuable lesson right after Babe became her Man at Arms when they visited an uncharted island and lost damn near all their crew to, of all things, cannibals. While the island was pleasing to the senses, it held a deadly secret and after they barely escaped with their lives they realized WHY it was uncharted. If it hadn’t been for Babe, Anne wouldn’t be around to recall memories of the place. The big Irishman put his own safety aside when he turned back to drag her to her feet and pull her back into the water after she was struck on the head by one of the natives bolo’s. From that point on, the crew of the She Wolf stayed within sight and never left the sand of the beach. No matter how damned inviting the island appeared to be.

As Anne barked out orders to the crew after she was satisfied they’d taken the dead sailors bodies out away from the island far enough to gather up what wood they could and start stacking it on the shore so it could be burned. While it was going to be back breaking work the crew didn’t mind because in the end, it would benefit them with some good food and a little drink.

As the crew worked at getting the wood piled up, Anne’s keen eyes scanned the horizon as she strolled on the beach with Babe. She would look out over the sea then back at the island as though she knew something was watching her. It was something Anne had learned to take seriously over the years. Rarely had it been wrong.

Turning to look over at Babe, she squinted to protect her eyes from the bright sun. The big man loved the sea about as much as she did if not more so. As his face broke into a bright smile, she couldn’t help but smile as well. No matter how dire the situation was, Babe always found a reason to smile. So when the situation was anything BUT dire, his smile was doubly contagious.

”Babe……ye look like a kid in a candy store with a full purse in yer grasp. Ifin’s I’d known it would take something as walkin’ on th’ shore in yer bare feet to cheer ye up, I’d a done it long ago. I swears yer brain never grew older than 15….”

Meggie took her time gathering fruits and water, still angry and upset over Raider's abruptness with her. Having the mind of a teenager, she was rebellious, stubborn, determined....and easily hurt. Kneeling by the freshwater pool, she filled two large water bladders that were tied together by a strand of vine. Once done with that, she slung them over her shoulder while carrying the basket full of permissons, starfruit, and dates and headed back to the cave.

Once there, she headed inside, letting the others know that it was her as she made her way back to her living quarters. She looked around and saw that Bryn and Atien were keeping watch along with a couple of the other sailors while the girl and little man were resting in the back. Depositing her wares, she checked the other baskets of fruits that they had been able to bring with them, making sure they were still fresh enough to eat. Once she'd picked out the ones that were getting too ripe, she placed those in a separate basket and placed it near the opening of the part of the cave they were in.

"Miss Bryn, I'm going to dispose of this fruit and check on the others that came ashore. See where they are at and check on Captain Raider. Stay here as Raider wants you all to remain safe."

When Bryn started to argue, Meggie shook her head at her.

"I know the island, you do not. I know where to hide...what trees to climb....how to escape, you do not. I will be fine. Raider prefers that you remain safe and that is what you will do. As for me....I have angered him one too many times, I think so I am of no consequence right now."

Before Bryn or Atien could reply, Meggie grabbed a shorter spear and headed out. She wasn't trying to be dramatic or make anyone feel sorry for her, she simply stated the way she saw things. In her mind, she was of no consequence to Raider but Bryn and the others were.

As she headed out, disposing of the overly ripe fruit she then took to the canopy of the jungle trees, making her way through the thick limbs until the trees thinned out and she had to drop to the ground, taking to the tall grass near the beach. She didn't get close, but she could see the hill where she'd left Raider and O'Hara. She could just make out Raider's large form and was glad he was still safe. She then turned her attention to the woman and large man walking along the beach. She was about 35 feet from the beach and couldn't hear what they were talking about, but she could see them and shivered as she watched the lady captain's crew drag the bodies of the fallen English sailors out to sea for the sharks.

As she watched the lady Captain, she saw that she was a pretty lady....she seemed very sure of herself...very confident. Cocking her head to one side, Meggie watched her...the way she moved...her facial expressions...how well she handled her crew. She felt small compared to this lady on the beach....but this was still her island and Bryn and Atien were her friends. She wouldn't let anything happen to them. Raider on the other hand, well....she was beginning to wonder just what she'd found intriguing about him in the beginning. He was nothing more than an arrogant, bossy ass.

Crouched down in the grass, she watched....wondering what it would be like to be like this lady on the beach. She knew that because of her long years on the island, she didn't have the smarts like Bryn and the others, but to be as confident as this woman was a dream. Of course, she knew that would never happen. It was a dream...just like being rescued in the first few years after being washed upon the island's shore was a dream. She still wasn't sure whether or not she'd be left behind when Raider and the others left. Right now, she figured would just as soon leave her here as take her.

She watched how the lady walked, her back straight, her posture proud. She wondered if she could ever walk like that. Sighing, she got comfortable, watching the lady and the big man, wondering what had him smiling. She tried not to pay attention to the bodies being drug out to sea. She was intrigued by the lady pirate and wondered again how nice it would be to be that brave and sure of oneself.

Babe was amazed how lush the small island was, many trees laden with exotic fruits grew here. Babe was grinning as he thought how he and some of the crew could turn these exotic fruits into some fine tasty grog.

Yes indeed, tonight's fires would serve a dual purpose. The bonfire would provide plenty of light on the strand and plenty of heat to cook some potent grog in the She Wolf's copper still pot. Babe made a mental note to remember to bring the still pot on shore a little later.

Captain, after the wood is stacked and we 'ave a look around for any British leftovers we should gather some of these sweet fruits for to take aboard, we should find us some fresh water as well missus.

Babe was imagining the sweet grog that could be created from these odd shaped, brightly colored fruits. His daydreaming was cut short as his sharp sailor eyes spied something, rather someone just ahead of them sitting low in the grass at the treeline. Babe continued walking, his body language did not change one bit.

Captain we 'ave one lone little something spying on us from the grass a few yards ahead. I'm almost sure it's a wench captain, I think I kin see 'er long hair.

Babe kept on smiling, and kept on walking as he talked through his wide grin.

Just a few paces just behind ye Anne, she's hid 'erself well but not well enough.

Meggie kept her gaze on the lady pirate when she noticed that the big man was getting closer to where she hid in the tall grass. Meggie was gettting increasingly nervous the closer Babe got to where she was. His movements hadn't really changed nor had his tone of voice, but he kept coming closer regardless. She needed to leave but didn't know which way to go. She couldn't go one way, she would lead them to Raider, and if she went the other way, then she ran the risk of them finding the cave where the others were hiding. So, she stood and ran straight back, heading directly into the trees.

Grabbing a long, thick vine, she shimmied up it, swinging herself up onto a branch and waited, hiding in the thick foliage of the tree. She watched...waiting, ready to use the thick tree limbs to get away. She looked over where Raider and O'Hara were, knowing that she'd hidden well enough for them not to have seen her. They would have been concentrating on the crew clearing out the bodies and would have missed seeing her shimmy up the vine. She was now hidden in the thick foliage of the tree.

Anne had just stopped walking and turned to make it look as though she were surveying the island and sea once more when she caught a glimpse of the person Babe had spotted as she sprinted away, further back into the foliage of the island. At first, Anne thought it was an island native and horrible flashbacks quickly invaded her mind but when she saw the vibrant red hair, she knew there was no way that was a native to this island. Or any other island for that matter. Besides, it was a well known fact the only natural inhabitants of these set of islands were the wildlife they attracted.

Anne’s brows raised as she saw how quickly the chit moved through the vegetative growth and realized something else as well. If she knew how to move that quickly through the plants without moving them much, she had to have been on the island for some time. Which meant she knew the island very….very well. And it meant if that red head were on the island, there were no hostile natives to contend with. Which meant, they were free to move about as they saw fit. And take what….ever….they….wanted.

The smile that slowly eased over Anne’s face now was one Babe had seen quite often. It was one of sheer, sinister plotting and everyone knew Anne’s mind was very good at plotting. Of course it helped when her best friend and Man at Arms was as equally as good at plotting. It was almost as though they shared the same brain at times.

Once more slipping to their native Gaelic language, Anne quickly let Babe know what was really on her mind.

”Babe….I think some searching for that delicious fruit you have a liking for is just what we need. Of course we’ll be sure to look for other……interesting things while we’re at it as well. No doubt the boys could use some extra curricular activity while they’re here. And that chit looked about as ripe as they get. And could handle quite a few before they used her all up. It would certainly make for a happy crew when we weighed anchor and set sail again,. Doncha think?”

Seeing the smile that split Babe’s face, she knew what the answer was going to be. Before he could say anything, she added one last detail.

”Make sure Matumbo comes ashore. Something tells me we’ll need his monkey like ability….soon.”

Meggie watched the man and woman from her perch up in the tree, listening to their strange language. She didn't understand a word of it, but it seemed familiar to her.

Looking up, she saw one of the native parrots to the island and smiled at him, only to have the damned bird give a cry of alarm upon seeing her. Or, was it seeing the two strangers down below? Either way, it caused the man and woman to look up and all Meggie could do was hope that they couldn't see her in the thick foliage of the tree. Damned bird!

She watched, not moving hoping that they would think the parrot was squawking at them and not her. Of course, she didnt' think they could see her as she was hidden pretty well, but one never knew and she remained ready to bolt.

Looking over at the hill where Raider and O'Hara were, she wondered if he'd seen her and desperately hoped he hadn't for he'd blister her hide for sure if he did, something she didn't want to think about. She needed to make it back to the cave and lead the others further on back into the twists and turns that she knew so well so that they wouldn't be found. She could keep them supplied with fruit and deeper into the tunnels was a small fresh water pool fed by underground streams. She just had to figure out how to get back there without these two noticing her.

As Raider and Mr. O'Hara watched Anne and Babe on the beach, they heard the alarmed squawk of the Macaw and it's subsequent flight from a palm.
They both rolled over, lookoked ant eachother, sighed and said in unison softly "Meggie."
Raider then said to Mr. O'Hara "Damn that girl ta hell. By tha powers I be takin that minx over me knee an givin' her a leeson in followin' arders I be. If she ain't blundered off an got herself killed and the rest of us as well."

Taking note of the frantic bird while not raising an eye, Mister O'Hara, nodded and grinned at his Captain's solution. The feisty wench was beginning to wear on Raider's nerves, and his own for that matter and there not being a brothel round these parts for a hundred leagues O'Hara could think of a few ways to slow the strumpet down. He'd of course not ever lay a hand on the girl and he'd blast the foreskin off'n any man who touched her save the Captain whilest she was under his protection.

His dark eyes shifted down the beach. "Orders Cap'n?" he requested wondering what Raider's plans were in regards to Captain Bonney o' the She-Wolf.

Babe took notice of the group of trees where the girl was most likely hidden, he walked a few paces away from Captain Anne and the stand of trees and over to where some of the crew where gathering tinder.

Antonio, you an' Jackie boy go back to the She Wolf and fetch me the copper still pot, and have Matumbo come 'ere to see the missus. Make haste boyos!

The men nodded to Babe and double timed it back to the ship, they were like children at Christmas when they heard the master at arms mention the still pot. It wasn't long before Babe and Anne could see the large 50 gallon still pot coming over the side of the She Wolf, it was netted up and being lowered with loving care.

Matumbo sped past it as he climbed deftly over the side of the ship, it a few short minutes he was at the Captain's and Babe's side.

Evenun Captain, evenun Babe The brawny dark skinned man said in broken English.

I don't know about ye Anne but methinks that our search for these sweet fruits should start right 'ere in this fine stand 'o trees. Babe eyed the group of trees that hid the girl as he spoke.

Matumbo had joined the crew on a trip through the Caribbean a few years back. Matumbo had come to the islands from his African homeland and had made his living on the isles harvesting bananas, coconuts and cutting sugarcane. This kind of work made Matumbo an excellent deck rigger and the quickest of lookouts, he could make it to the crow's nest and back to deck faster than anyone. And that's just where Captain Anne put him, at the ropes and in the nest.

Now his strength and speed were needed on the shores of the small lush island.

The bare chested Matumbo turned to his Captain.
I am here missus, as ye asked.

Behind Babe, Anne and Matumbo five crew members where hauling the still pot out of the water and onto shore. Antonio and Jackie were up front, the men were using wood poles to carry the large pot. They placed it near the stacked firewood huffing and puffing as they stood back up.

'Ere's the still Mr. Kelly! Jackie shouted as they went back to organizing the wood.

That'll do boys Babe barked to the young men.

Meggie watched as men lugged a large copper pot onto the beach and a shirtless black man ran up to the captain lady and the large man standing with her. She had no idea that Babe knew where she was, nor did she know what Matumbo was capable of doing, but something in her gut was telling her to leave and quickly. Her only problem was her curiosity and the fact that she'd been alone for so long that she was finding it very intriguing, all of these people now on her island.

Watching, she tried to catch words being said between the large man and the black skinned man but couldn't quite make anything out. Looking back out to the beach, she wondered what the big pot was for and was hoping that they weren't the type to eat other people. She gave an involuntary shudder at the thought.

She had to leave, she knew this....but she was intrigued by the captain lady. She was so different from Bryn and the frilly lady back in the caves. This woman was......different. She was the one in charge and Meggie found that to her liking. But, she needed to get back to the caves and lead the others further on back where they wouldn't be found. Sighing, she slowly made her way over the large limb, leaping quietly to the next one on the tree closest to it only to lose her footing and slip, making the tree sway, drawing attention to it. She went still, hardly daring to breathe...almost too nervous to look behind her.

She saw the black man and the big man looking in her direction, the big man pointing to the tree she was in. Her green eyes grew wide and she righted herself and began to move swiftly through the trees, heading to the back of the island instead of to the caves where the others were hiding. She wouldn't head there yet, not until she knew she wasn't being followed.

The back of the island was more dangerous. If one wasn't careful, one could break an ankle or a leg in the holes, shallow hollows, and dead geyser holes. The dead geyser holes were the ones that were killers and a few of them were still live, spitting steam into the air. She would have to contend with the sharp rocks on her bare feet as she didn't have time to retrieve the coverings for her feet. But, luckily, Meggie knew where to step for the most part. She just had to make it there first.

Her going was slower now since she'd slipped, not wanting to make any mistakes to draw them to her. She had begun to think that maybe drawing them to the far side of the island would be a good idea as she could lead them in circles, maybe even causing a few of them to step in the holes, hollers, or fall into the dead geysers, even getting stuck. Some would die, some would break bones, but maybe then they'd leave. She was getting a bad feeling about these people even though she still was very intrigued by the pirate lady. And, something told her that they weren't as nice as Raider and his people. She didn't understand why she was beginning to feel that way, but it was there and she'd decided not to ignore it. She was truly scared that the pretty pirate lady was a threat to Raider and his people and she felt a sense of responsibility for them, after all, she saw this island as hers and they were her guests.


"You are always responsible for your guests, Meggie. Never, ever forget that."

She stopped midway up one of the tall trees, feeling tears run down her cheeks at the thought of her mother. She'd not thought of her in years and now she remembered something that she'd always said to her when they entertained guests in their grand home on a Caribbean sugar plantation.

Turning, she didn't see anyone following her, so she took a moment to catch her breath. She was only halfway to the far side of the island and soon she wouldn't have any trees to hide in.

Anne heard the squawking bird in the tree and like Babe had the idea that’s where the elusive ‘native’ had taken to hiding. As the copper pot was brought ashore and Matumbo with it, Anne scanned the island again, in particular the tree tops she could see. It wasn’t difficult to figure out how the chit was traveling. The swaying of the tree leaves in jerky patterns gave her away.

When Matumbo turned his attention to her, Anne thumbed over her shoulder towards the trees. Keeping her voice low so only he and Babe could hear her, she gave the dark skinned islander his instructions.

“Matumbo, me boy, You’ll see those tree tops a movin’ in a few seconds. That, me valuable crew mate, is th’sweetest fruit this here island will give ye. Ripe fer th’pickin’, I tell ye. And when ‘ave ye known yer Cap’n t’lie t’ye?”

Matumbo glanced towards the trees and saw the way the leaves moved. Looking back at his captain, the man smiled widely showing perfect, white teeth contrasted against his dark skin and shook his head.

“Never has me captain lied to Matumbo.”

Anne smiled as well.

“Follow that sweet fruit. I’ll have Marcus and Julien follow along at a…..discreet distance with a net. When th’time be right, I want ye t’pluck that fruit ‘n bring it back here. Mums th’word. I dunna want t’get th’crew riled up. I wanna keep this a surprise. Ye hear me?”

Matumbo nodded.

“Yes, missus…..I hear you.”

Anne smiled and patted the man’s muscular shoulder.

“Good….now off with ye…”

Matumbo nodded and slipped silently into the native vegetation keeping a keen eye on the tree tops following his quarry easily making sure he watched carefully where he placed his feet. Marking his path as he moved along for his crew mates to follow, he knew they would inspect the area carefully making sure they followed his movements exactly.

Anne watched Matumbo disappear then turned to Babe and grinned before she turned towards the ship. Placing her forefinger and thumb in her mouth and curling her lips inwardly, a shrill whistle pierced the air drawing the attention of her crew. Each man stopped what they were doing and turned their undivided attention to their Captain.

Using hand signals, she called Marcus and Julien to where she and Babe stood. Reading her signals, they brought the net they had been using to drag the bodies of the British sailors out to sea with them. As they approached, Anne spoke to Babe in their native Gaelic once more.

“Make Sure Yellow Pete has a couple of guns ready and aimed at the island just in case our islander isn’t alone. Last thing I want is to be caught with our pants down around our ankles.”

When Marcus and Julien arrived and nodded to both Anne and Babe, Anne thumbed over her shoulder once more.

“You two follow th’trail Matumbo left for ye t’follow. Ye be catching some sweet fruit he be locating fer us. And mind yerselves….be sure t’follow his trail t’th’mark. Ye hear me?”

Both men nodded and set off in the direction the Captain indicated.

“Yes’um, Cap’n….we hears ye.”

Meggie had a feeling that she was being followed, but she thought that maybe it was just her being uneasy and kept moving slowly and carefully through the trees. She made it to the edge of the treeline where the trees thinned out but didn't just stop. There was more tall grass and sharp rocks here and the closer one got to the water the more rocks instead of grass and trees you had. There were geyser holes, some still shooting steam into the air every so often. There were places where one could step wrong and you found your foot stuck in a hole or crevice. And, the worst case scenario was that you would leap over a rock only to find yourself falling into a dead geyser hole. Some were deep enough to kill a man, others were deep enough that you wouldn't die, but you couldn't get out either and others would just make you stuck, trapping your foot inside. The rock here was like shale or lava rock, the edges sharp and quick to cut if you didn't have the proper protection on your feet or hands. Meggie was willing to risk a cut or two to keep the others safe and these people away from them.

If she made it to the far edge of the island, there was a cave with even more twists and turns than the one Bryn and the others were hidden in. She wanted to make it there and if any of them were following, trap them inside the maze of tunnels where only she knew the way out. But, she had to time it just right with the tide for the way out flooded when the tide rose.

The distance in between the trees became wider and wider and the thick foliage in the trees thinner, forcing Meggie to drop to the ground in a silent landing. Staying crouched in the tall grass, she peered behind her and saw noone, but she knew someone was following her, at least her gut told her there was and that it wasn't her nerves causing her to feel this way.

She headed for the sharp rocks, picking her way carefully for even here there were small holes in the ground where one could twist or break an ankle or foot as well the scorpion ants were more prominent on this end of the island, so she was very careful where she put her feet as she made her way through the tall grass and headed for the black rock.

Matumbo dropped from the treetops just a few seconds behind the girl, he did not see her in the tall grass ahead of him at first but he knew that she must have gone that way. The tall man leapt into the grass, he could see the woman now, she was heading into some jagged rocks.

Matumbo looked over his shoulder behind him, Marcus and Julien were doing their best to keep up with Matumbo but the man was just too fast. The two young pirates lagged a moment or two behind the dark skinned deckhand, they still carried the large net.

Matumbo was closing in on the girl now, in a short moment he would have her.

Matumbo got you now girlie! No one faster than me!
Matumbo reached out and grabbed at the woman's tattered dress. He pulled on the fabric hoping to bring her in closer and get one of his long arms around her.