Sailing Across the Seas

[Mako]

How Fang and his crew had ended up where they were, no one may ever know. The wind was raging and the sky was grey, lightning lighted the skies, and thunder boomed overhead.

"Come on, ye lazy bilge swabs! Move it! Faster! Batten down the cargo! Make sure them cannons are tied down!" A voice commanded. A figure in a dark cloak walked on the main deck, whipping out with his whip left and right, cleaving flesh from bone, while a tall, lean figure commanded the helm, maneouvering the ship with the wind, and tacking when neccessary. Fang had recently had new sails put in, and he was proud. His main mast had black sails and the largest of all the sails had an enormous skull & crossbones. Two 3-Barreled cannons occupied the bow of the ship. There mouth of the cannons was decorated so they looked like a mouth of some un-named sea monster. The Wavescar was decorated with blood stains from previous battles, and the wood was dyed to a green-ish color from the murky ocean water. Fang commanded the helm of his ship and most prized possession. He was outrageously dressed with a long coat that had blood stains all over it; "Reminders" as Fang called them. Reminders of previous battles. He had a pirate hat on that was jet black and silky, almost.

He looked over the helm's railing and saw some crew members slacking. "Typical..." Typical? Odd word that had never really been a part of Fang's vocabulary. Fang's stained coat swayed from the outrageous winds and for some odd reason, Fang was actually laughing. Why? Why was he laughing? The dark skies roared as thunder muted any other sound. The world that every beast knew changed t a white-ish color as lightning flashed.

Zane Skylar, the cocky young bosun's mate, followed his master, Theradin, as Theradin roared out orders to slacking crewmates. Zane actually laughed, his laughter mixing with that of Fang's. That's when he noticed it. Sails. Sails from another ship. "Ship! There's a ship off the port bow! Cap'n! Ship spotted!" He ran up to the helm and stared at his captain. Why was he so calm? He was in the middle of a war with mother-nature and another ship, supposedly an enemy, though possibly a merchant, loomed not far ahead. "Roll out the guns. I don't feel like losing crew to another enemy crew." Zane nodded. "May I give the order, cap?" Fang stared at the young sea-beast and simply nodded. Zane's facail expression soon turned into a broad smirk. A smirk of triumph and deviousness. "Roll out the guns! Load them and roll 'em into positions! I want knippels* loaded into those cannons! Come one, move it!" Theradin stopped and turned at the sound of a command. Zane? Zane doesn't have any authority on this ship except working with Theradin. He looked up to the helm at Fang and gave him a look like, 'what?'. Fang meerly shrugged, not really caring who gave out the order, as long as it was done and done properly.

*- Knippels are two cannonballs attached with a chain. They are used to rip through sails to slow a ship down. They do considerable damge to smaller masts, but not enough to destroy the main mast.

[Thaiden Stormblade]

Thaiden pulled a rope tight about some cargo that had been sliding around. Gruntting he tied the rope to the mast and stood up. The ferret's back was sore from bending over so much, but there was no chance of getting a rest in this weather. Cracking his kunckles Thaiden hurried to look over the cannons. They where in good shape despite the rain pelting down on them. Thaiden had made sure himself theat the gunpowder was stored in the safest driest place possible. Looking around he saw Zane speak to Fang. A moment later as the orders where roared out Thaiden was lugging out the requested ammo and shoving it down the cannon barrel. "Cap'n a don't know how we're going to keep the gunpowder dry. The sacks will be soaked as soon as there brought up." Thaiden looked up to the form at the wheel of this ship as he shouted. Looking back to the cannons he saw a fat rat carrying a plain cannon ball toward the the cannons. "Fool! Zane called for kinnples! Yeh know? A ball a chain and a ball? GO get it!"

[Scarlet]

Scarlet was deep in thought in her cabin. She was thinking over recent events, and suddenly, a strange feeling entered her mind. She felt wierd inside, and immediatly knew something was wrong when the lookout called down " Ship ahead!".

She jogged up onto the deck, and ran over to the rail, looking through her rusty bronze spyglass. Through the cracked and and dirty lense she could see faintly a black sailed, bloodstained, green-ish hued ship with one large sail bearing the pirate's sign. She knew that whom ever captained such a ship would be trouble indeed. " You, get some crew ready at the cannons, but don't roll them out just yet." She commanded a skulking rat who was clutching a half empty bottle of rum.

[Zann'rajh Stormhowl]

A heavy paw landed on the rat's shoulder. "Ya heard the Captain, yer 'orrible ole drunkard, now git ta' the cannons toot sweet!" The speaker was of course the Bo'sun, Zann. "And don't let me catch yer stuffin' rum down yer mug while yer on duty or by the fanged gates of Hell I'll gie ye such a skelpin any hangover ye've ever had'll seem like a walk on the bleedin' seaside!" The rat took one look at the wolf's thunderous expression and scarpered towards the cannons.

"An' if yer gonna drink on duty it might as well be some of the real stuff, not that crappy muck ye've been swiggin' down!" the Bo'sun shouted after him, grinning in spite of himself.

Zann turned to Scarlet. "Are we comin' up to anuther ship, Cap'n? Anyone we know?"

[Mako]

Fang stared through his spyglass, it wasn't perfect, but as long as it did the job, Fang had nothing to worry about. "Nightpearl." Fang growled. He slammed a fist down on the railing and quivered with rage. "Scarlet!" He shouted. Theradin stared oddly at his captain, "Nightpearl? Scarlet? Who's that?" Fang stared at the Nightpearl, never taking his eyes off of her, "I used to serve on 'er... Scarlet, a fox, is the captain... I've been in many arguments and quarrels with her... Eventually she did the right thing by firing me... I would've kileld her in her sleep." Still staring ahead, Fang turned his ship portside so the cannons were facing towards the Nightpearl. "Fire." Fang said. Theradin charged the length of the ship shouting, "Fire! Fire all the guns! Fire!" 20 knippels on one side fired, many splashed in the water, some still heading towards the Nightpearl. Not caring to look, Fang turned his ship so he faced Scarlet and her crew yet again, "Theradin... Prepare the trippel barrels... I wanna see some smoke... Hear some screams..." Fang smiled dangerously, "You're goin' ta pay for all the crap you put me through." Fang muttered with hatred.

Zane loaded his grapeshot pistol with a grapeshot* and put it back in his holster. His prized possesion never left his side. It reminded him of his past... Which was both good and bad for Zane. He smirked as the Wavescar loomed ever closer to the Nightpearl.

~~~

Vorai pulled out his spyglass, the new one he bought in Forenway and looked through at the Wavescar. He could see a figure commanding the helm... A wolf... A wolf he knew... Vorai silently put the spyglass back into his belt then walked over to Scarlet, "I... I think that's Fang... I guess he got a new ship... " Vorai said. He then turned back to view the Wavescar, "May I steer, cap?" He asked. "I don't want to man a cannon... I'll tell you why later... But may I steer?"

* A Grapeshot is a cluster of metal in a ball shape. A grapeshot pistol is basically refferred to as a 'Hand Cannon' because it is the size of a regular pistol, but is extremely powerful.

[Firestripe]

*In the least, it had been a futile attempt to hit the Nightpearl from that range. He wasn't really sure as to why they had fired from that distance, but at least it had warned them that this other ship was far from friendly. Firestripe was currently standing just behind and to the right of Scarlet, as he usually was when things were going on and he didn't have his orders yet. He yelled to the rat that Scarlet had spoken to earlier.* "Scratch that, roll out the cannons now!" *He was quite sure that Scarlet was about to call out those same orders, at least, that's what he hoped... he was quite sure, though, because this is what he normally did. Being first mate meant that he had to command at some points as well, just to save Scarlet time. He was now waiting for Scarlet's decisions as to whether he was staying on the Nightpearl or if he was going to board Fang's ship. He hadn't actually put the question forward, but he rarely needed too.*

[Thaiden Stormblade]

Thaiden grunted in frustration as his own shot splashed into the water. He would have waited slightly longer than Fang had but knowing his past with Scarlet Thaiden was not surprised by the order. Loading his cannon again he sighted along the long barrel and waited for the order to fire. The ferret checked his weapons also. His cutlass was strapped securely at his side along with several pistols including two double barreled ones. After he had made sure they where loaded he drew one and set it by his side so he could easily grab it. Looking at all the other cannons showed him that the more experienced cannoneers had their cannons aimed well. Several of the newbies where aiming straight at the ship. Fools. They should know that their shot would never make it if they didn't aim further up. "Clay! Get those crab-brains straitened out." Thaiden looked at the old grizzled Stoat who was called Clay.

[Scarlet]

Scarlet gritted her teeth in distaste as a thought came to her. "Firestripe, I think its that lousy Fang!" Then, turning away from him, she ordered the steersbeast to turn the ship straight for the other ship, then disapeared below deck. " Quit trying to hit them, fool!" She hissed to Thaiden. " Wait until we are closer..." She went over to Bang and Boom, who were situated at the prow of ship, enabling her to shoot cannon balls straight at the enemy until the ship were angled right for the side cannons to hit the enemy. She carefully loaded them with cannon balls, and aimed. She waited until they were closer to shoot. The cannons balls ripped through the air, much more powerfully than any normal cannon. They were headed straight for the Wavescar.

[Thaiden Stormblade]

OOC: Thaiden is on the Wavescar...

[Mako]

OOC: Lol... And Scar... Could you answer Vorai's question...? Heh...

Fang threw himself flat as one of the cannonballs ripped into a lantern, shattering glass everywhere. Standing up, he shouted, "Is that the best you can do?! You never WERE good with a shot, Scar!" Then he ducked almost immediately as the second shot flew right over his head, the speed of the wind taking his hat off. "Zane! Theradin! Thaiden! Make sure them cannons are loaded with bombs and cannonballs!" Positioning his ship witht he bow aiming at the Nightpearl. Now he had his triple barreled cannons aiming right at her. "Fire them guns, Theradin!" Rushing down to the gun deck and taking over one of the triple barreled cannons, Theradin fired the top, rotated the cannon, fired again, then rotated the cannon, then fired again. Reloading as fast as he could, Theradin shot off another volley, and kept on shooting them. When Fang figured they were in shouting distance, Fang shouted to Scarlet, "I still remember everything you did to me, Scar! I still have the scars on my back from when you whipped me! And Stripey!" He turned his attention to Firestripe, "I still remember when ye threw me against the mast cause I insulted your girfriend!"

((Sorry, school is somewhat stressful, and my post isnt at top efficiency...Sawhy))