Through Storms & Darkness

A storm rages overhead as the angry sea around my ship tossed us over waves like a toy. We had been running from the Spanish Armada for days, so when I saw the storm forming to the east, I called for my crew to prepare and aimed us for the heart of it.

"She's not gonna hold Captain!"

Turning an amused gaze at my newest recruit, a new cook named Bastian, I smirked as I answered him. "Then stroke her rails and ask her nicely to see us through."

Balking at my response, I laughed. "We've been out-running Death since we left the port in Maracaibo, would you prefer to die by the noose or in saltwater?"

Laughs from the nearby crew echo over the wind and rain around us, as Bastian considered my question. "Aye Captain, I'll go whisper sweet nothings to her then."

"Maybe yell them so she can hear ya over the storm!" Silas, my First Mate, called after the man as I chuckled and shook my head at him.

"Our new cook is a bit soft Cap." Finch joked from where he worked to keep the rigging secure, an exhilarated grin sprayed across his face.

"So were you when I pulled you off that backwater island. What had you been charged with again? Stealing sheep wool?" I laughed back, earning a cackle from Finch.

"I stole the whole damned sheep thank you very much." He loudly shot back as the crew on deck burst into laughter, adding a haunting cheer to the deadly storm and dark waters.

The storm pushed against us hard, trying to force us back into the fleet that hunted us, but I had handpicked my entire crew, and while every one was a criminal in some fashion, they were also more loyal than any other beings alive. We had become known as some of the most notorious pirates to sail the seas, and all of us knew it would take more than a storm to end our journey. Holding the wheel firm, and with unyielding confidence in my crew, we crashed through waves as we made our way through the storm.

I didn't realize it at first, but as a fog thickened and swirled, I frowned and narrowed my eyes at it. Watching it thicken until I could only see my crew when lightning streaked overhead and cast their silhouettes against the fog, I knew in my gut things were about to get worse.

"This fog ain't right." My First Mate commented close to my ear so the others couldn't hear.

Nodding my agreeance and sharing a brief frown with him, I lifted my chin towards the bow of the ship, and glanced back at him in time to see him give me a city nod of understanding, before resting his hand on his sword hilt as he made his way to the bow of the ship. It was well known throughout the world that humans were the dominant species on earth, but me and my eight original crew members knew better.

The further we sailed into the fog, the more tension I could feel emanating off my crew. Even the ones who hadn't yet seen the horror we had could tell the fog was unnatural.

"Desmodus!"

Silas's voice echoed through darkness, and seven of my men instantly secured the ropes and drew their weapons. The other five crewmen on deck nervously followed suit before falling into position next to their brothers, but cast nervous, expectant glances at me as they did.

"There's a reason we have stories about monsters, hold your ground and trust that we have met these beasts before, and they haven't been able to take us out yet."

Bloodthirsty excitement burned away the confusion in their expressions, and as the giant bats began to dive at us from the cover of the thick fog, battle cries rang out from my men as we lunged into action. The anatomy of the Desmodus was roughly the same as a normal black bat, which made it fairly easy to get a blade through their hide. Unfortunately, it also meant they were fast despite their size, with much larger claws and teeth.

Relying on our experience, and doing our best to protect the newer members of our crew as they figured out how to deal with the beasts, the bats dropped from the sky while my crew only collected shallow cuts and minor bruises. Silas's pained scream pulled my attention to him just long enough for me to see him stab a beast in the throat, and in that same breath, sharp teeth sank deep into my sword arm, causing me to drop my weapon as the winged creature began pulling me into the air. Lifting my leg and reaching for the dagger sheathed in my boot, I snatched up my dagger and plunged it into the things eyes with so much force, it sank all the way up to the hilt. Crashing back to the deck in a tangled heap with the dead bat, I shoved the carcass off me, scooped up my sword as I passed it, and charged back into the frey alongside my men. We fought as the storm roared around us, and as the fog and the bats finally began to fade, so too did the storm, leaving dark cloudy skies and still, quiet waters in its wake.

"Sound off! Who's still breathing?"

My men sounded off as they all moved to stand in the center of the deck, and I grinned at my blood covered friends, pleased we didn't have to bury anyone today.

"Good work men! And congratulations for living to fight another sunrise. Doc, make sure any man who needs it gets patched up. Now, let's get this mess cleaned and our ship back on track, we've got a date with the docks and spoils to spend."

A cheer of excitement erupted from my crew as they began disbursing to get their duties done, while Doc walked along them checking wounds.

"You should have Doc look at you first." Silas commented as he walked up to stand next to me, frowning at my still bleeding arm.

"It barely burns, it'll be fine until the others have been patched up."

"Always so sure nothin' is gonna kill you." He chuckles with a shake of his head. "Can't imagine what you're going to do when something actually does kill ya."

"Keep living out of spite." I laugh. "You know better than most it'll take a God's wrath to wipe me from this realm."

The sun was rising to burn the last of the clouds away as Doc approached to inspect my arm, frowning and heating a poker as he spoke. "You should have mentioned your arm before I started on the others. You'll have another scar for your collection no doubt, but we'll need to watch it for infection if you don't want to lose it or risk your life."

Blinking and hissing through the burning pain as Doc carterized, cleaned, and bandaged the bite, I focused on his words and nodded. "Pretty sure you just seared off anything still in it Doc, but I'll keep an eye on it."

"Good." He smirked and pat me hard on the back before turning to walk away.

Standing at the helm with my First Mate as our ship glided through the waters stretching out before us, I ignored the pain in my arm and grinned into the sunlight. Another successful escape, another beautiful morning, and another opportunity for a deadly adventure.