The Scathed

[Crestshot]

Right off the bat, I'm going to thank you all for the reviews last chapter, even if they were negative (unless you're Seafox, haha). Don't be afraid to do that again! I can take it, haha. I've taken them all into account and I'm probably going to go back and rewrite that chapter, if I find the time. I dislike that chapter so much though, it's going to happen eventually.

Ok, now that that is over and done with, I'm bringing you the next chapter! I like it so much more than the last one.....

Getting Ready and Gaining Understanding



It was bliss.
The sound of waves washing up on the shore and the smell of salt invaded her senses, but there was nothing else.
It was calm.
There was no cutlass strapped to her side, no pistol hidden in her boot, no compass weighing her pocket down.
It was peace.

Kat opened her eyes to the shining sunrise of red and orange. There was a great fiery ball rising from the ocean, the sign of a new day. Soft grass was beneath her fingertips as she sat down, relaxing. She turned to the person sitting next to her and smiled…

Kat awoke gently. It was odd; this was the first time in months that she had not experienced a nightmare. She yawned and tried to sit up, but found herself blocked by a weight across her body. Frowning, she slowly turned her head to see a tanned brown arm laying across her. She followed it until she saw Lawrence attached to it. Her eyes widened and she gasped. This was too close. ‘It is not proper!’ Katherine screamed at her in her head.

Kat slowly began rolling away from him. Lawrence suddenly shifted in sleep. Kat froze. He yawned and his hot breath washed over her face. His eyes fluttered open, his green depths a bit muted as he returned to the land of consciousness. When they finally became clear, they focused in on her mouth. His brow furrowed in confusion until he brought his head back and noticed the rest of her face. The eyes flew open in surprise.

“Kat!” he said, jerking backwards. That jerk was just enough to propel him off the bed and send him tumbling to the ground.

Kat peeked out from over the bed. “Are you alright?” she asked.

He looked up at her as he rubbed his head. “I’m fine,” he muttered bad-naturedly. Kat couldn’t suppress the giggle that escaped her lips. It had been rather funny how he had fallen…

All awkwardness left as Kat burst out in a full belly laugh. It had been a long time since she had been able to laugh like this. There was always a dark cloud hanging over her for some reason, but with Lawrence, she felt as if she could truly let go. Lawrence, for his part, merely looked up at the crazed Kat with a goofy grin and an eyebrow raised.

It took a while for her to finally calm down, but when she did, Kat apologized. “I’m sorry Lawrence, it’s just…” She broke off laughing again. “I don’t even know why I started laughing. I’m sorry.” It didn’t stop her from chortling quietly for another minute.

Lawrence rolled his eyes at her good naturedly. “Well, I’m glad I can be such a source of entertainment for you, Kat,” he said sarcastically. Kat leaned a hand down to help him up, and he ended up sitting back on the bed.

Kat looked into his emerald green eyes and her smile slowly faded. Lawrence’s did as well as he admired her features. He leaned a little closer to her and brought a sea-worn hand to her cheek. God, they were so close…

Suddenly, a resounding knock came on the door. “Oi, Kat, you in there?” Johnny McVane yelled.

Kat blinked as if coming out of a dream. She swiftly moved away from Lawrence and hopped of the bed. Lawrence was left hanging, his hand floating in midair.

Kat went to the door and swung it open to see Johnny standing there with his fist in the air, getting ready to knock again. “What Johnny?” she asked irritably.

He frowned at her. “Easy, Kat,” he said. “I just wanted to tell you that O’Malley was downstairs looking for you. Something about that ship of yours.”

“O’Malley?” Kat said brightly. Was her ship fully repaired? “I’ll be right back Lawrence,” she called over her shoulder and ran out the door and down the stairs. McVane watched her leave and turned to Lawrence, who was still sitting on the bed. Lawrence noticed McVane staring at him and waved at him with an uneasy smile.

Kat burst into the bar, looking for O’Malley, but he wasn’t in sight. She rushed outside instead and to his stand where he usually conducted business. He was standing there filling out some paperwork with a worn quill. Kat shot towards the table, almost falling over herself in excitement.

“Good morning O’Malley,” Kat said breathlessly. O’Malley glanced up and scrutinized her. “Good morning Ms. Crestshot,” he replied. He looked back down at his papers, made a few marks, and then turned back at her.

“Yer ship is all repaired, Kat,” he said. “She’s right over thar.” He pointed to the small sloop floating in the waters of the Tortugan bay. The boat bobbed in the blue. Kat felt it was glowing at her. It looked brand new! She turned back to O’Malley, beaming.

“Thank you so much O’Malley!” she exclaimed. She began moving towards her ship, but O’Malley stopped her with a touch on her arm.

“Hold on Crestshot,” he said. “We’re not done here. I’ll be needin’ some final payment.” He held out his hand, waiting for the tinkle of coins falling into his palm.

Kat sighed and reached into her coat pocket. These people were insatiable. “How much O’Malley?”

“Twenty gold please,” he said with a grin. Kat dropped the coins into his hand and O’Malley tapped his forehead as if tipping a hat to her. “Enjoy your ship, Ms. Crestshot,” he said, and made his way back to his stand.

Kat ran to her ship and stood on the dock admiring it for a moment. It looked so much better than the last time she had seen it. Then, it had been filled with holes, her mast was torn, and the port side was on fire. She had barely gotten it to shore before it sank. The look on O’Malley’s face had been priceless when she showed him the washed up ship. It had taken almost a month to fix, but it was here now. Kat grinned and made her way up the plank.

The deck gleamed up at her. Kat ran her hand along the railing, felling the rough texture smoothed over with wax. Her hand continued along the outside wall of her cabin. Kat smiled. She opened the door and found her quarters just as she had left them. With careful examination, she found only a cooking pot and a spoon was missing. She smirked. Everything of importance had been removed before she had entrusted the ship to O’Malley. She knew firsthand the sticky fingers most Tortugans had. Now all she had to do was go see Fabiola to retrieve her items.

Kat exited her cabin and went back out to the salty fresh air. Her Cutthroat Wolf’s sails billowed in the light wind. Kat’s eyes followed the sails until they fixed on the crow’s nest. With a smirk, she swung onto the ropes and shimmied to the top. She stood there with her eyes closed and the sun basking on her face. Gods, how she had missed this feeling.

She opened her eyes and stared down at the tiny town and the tiny people. The warm sea air invaded her eyes, making her blink, but she didn’t care. Her eyes focused on a small figure with bright red hair coming out of Kings Arm. It looked around and then up at her with a hand shielding from the sun. Lawrence waved up at her in the crow’s nest and Kat waved back wildly. She swung out of the basket and climbed back down to the deck of her ship. Lawrence was waiting for her when she got off of the plank.

“I suppose this is your ship then?” he asked her, eying it appreciatively.

“Yes, it is. Lawrence, this is absolutely wonderful!” Kat cried as she literally jumped for joy. Lawrence had to smile at her joviality.

“Do you know what this means, Lawrence?” she asked excitedly. She didn’t wait for him to respond and said, “It means I can go out to sea again!” She spun around in circles and threw her hands up in the air like a giddy child. “Oh wow, I have so much to do! I have to get some food and load up on ammo and make sure my cannons are all fixed…” She would have gone on, but she was cut off.

“Kat!” someone called out to her. She looked over Lawrence’s shoulder to see Nate Swordwalker standing tall and proud on the other side of the dock. He waved to her in greeting with a giant smile.

“Nate!” she yelled. Lawrence rubbed his ear where Kat had shrieked in it as she ran past him to greet Nate. She hugged him tight as Lawrence watched. He felt a flare of jealousy as the two embraced. It was not his place to feel it, so he quickly shoved the feeling back down.

Kat pulled back from Nate’s arms with a giant smile. “What are you doing here?” she asked ecstatically. “I thought you weren’t going to port back here for another month at least!”

Nate grinned down at her. “We were in the waters nearby, so I couldn’t help docking here. You know how much I love Tortuga.” He eyed the rambleshack town over her shoulder. There were a few men chasing each other drunkenly, and another group in the middle of a brawl.

Kat snorted at the misty expression in his eyes. “Yes, it does have a certain charm to it, doesn’t it?” She laughed at him and punched his burly arm. Nate laughed at her and retaliated with a playful swat to the head, which she easily ducked under. The two play fought for a minute, Nate secretly making sure her skills were still fine tuned. It wasn’t easy in the Caribbean, especially for a female, and Nate was invested in Kat. Lawrence watched in silence before coming over.

“Hello there,” he said pleasantly. “I’m Lawrence Mcrage.” He extended a hand to Nate. “You are?”

Nate drew himself up to his full height and gripped Lawrence’s hand cautiously. “Nate Swordwalker,” he replied slowly. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I’m just Kat’s friend,” Lawrence replied genially. “Just wanted to meet someone else she knows.”

Lawrence remembered the old saying ‘You can tell a lot about a man by his handshake.” Lawrence measured up Nate’s handshake carefully. His grip was firm, and his hands calloused from sea work. It was loose enough for Lawrence to pull away if he wanted, but he felt if he tried anything untoward, Nate would be able to grab him fast and tight. He had drawn himself up to his full height and looked Lawrence directly in the eye. This was not a man to be messed with. However, his eyes occasionally flickered to Kat. These glances were ones of brotherly affection and protection. Kat had nothing to fear from him. Nate cared too much. That much was obvious from the single glances.

Finally, the handshake ended. “Well, it’s nice to meet you,” Nate said acceptingly. He couldn’t sense anything off about Lawrence. Kat had been watching the interaction nervously, not sure how the two would react. She sighed in relieve internally. The two seemed to agree with each other.

Nate turned to Kat. “Well Kat, what do you say to going for a little sailing, a little plundering, go scare the red right out of those Navy uniforms?”

Kat laughed. “Sorry Nate, I just got my ship back. I need to go get prepared for my own trip.” Her eyes glowed at this statement, at the thought of adventure and excitement with each passing wave.

“Come on now, Kat. I tell you over and over that you’re the best cannoneer I’ve ever had, and it still stands true,” Nate tried to convince her.

“Nate, we’ve been through this before,” she said, serious now. “I won’t set sail with you. It’s too dangerous!”

Nate scoffed. “How can sailing with a full crew on a heavily armored ship be more dangerous than that oversized dingy you drive?” he asked angrily.

Kat glared at him. “You know why,” she said in a low voice.

Nate’s eyes widened and he flung his hands into the air in exasperation. “What, that stupid superstition again?” he asked incredulously. “You know I don’t believe in that!”

“It’s not just that and you know it, Nate,” Kat said. “I have my own ship that I don’t just want to leave in a dock for months on end.”

“Well then sell the dingy and be done with it!” Nate cried.

That was the wrong thing to say. “I will not sell my ship, Nate Swordwalker!” she hissed. “You know how much I value and freedom! You, of all people, will not take that away from me!” With that, she ran off, away from the docks.

Lawrence, who had watched the exchange with trepidation, followed after the fuming Kat. She ran into the swamp area and pulled out her pistol. Lawrence lost sight of her, but he heard a shot ring out, then another. The marsh squished under his boots as he sprinted towards the source of the noise.

He came across the body of a crocodile lying in the muck. Kat stood over it with her gun in hand. She grinned at Lawrence as he walked up, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“I can barter with it,” she told him, even though he hadn’t asked. “The tailors will want the skin for coats and boots, the butchers will want the meat, and I’m sure Fabiola will be able to use something for voodoo.” Kat sighed and went to sit down in a dry, hollowed out house. Lawrence went to sit up against the wall next to her.

“It’s always the same argument,” Kat said. “He always wants me to join his crew, and I always decline.” She sighed. “He doesn’t get it. Nate may not be superstitious, but most of his crew is. Even if they weren’t though, it would be just as bad. I wouldn’t be accepted, I would be isolated…and I’m sure more than a few of them would flirt with me every second of every day.” Kat shook her head. “No, it’s just better to be alone.”

“Let me come with you Kat,” Lawrence said after a few minutes. He moved to his knees before her and took one of her hands. “Let me come with you so you won’t have to be alone,” he almost pleaded.

Kat was silent for a moment as she thought it over. Then she said, “I can’t, Lawrence.” Kat liked Lawrence, but she wasn’t ready to open up to anyone. Being on the sea alone with Lawrence for days on end would inevitably reveal something she may not want to reveal. She was shutting herself off. It was close to the same unfeeling way she handled killing.

Lawrence looked crestfallen. Kat quickly came out of her stupor so she could explain herself. “Look, Lawrence, I’m just so used to handling the ship alone that you would just get in the way,” she tried to justify.

“Please, Kat,” Lawrence tried again. “I want to help you.”

“No Lawrence, and that’s that.” Kat stood up. “Look, just help me get this alligator back to town, alright?” She walked over to the carcass and picked up one end of it. Lawrence watched her walk away, then sighed and went to help her.

They carried the body to Doc Grog, who helped them dissect the animal as well as buy a few things off of it. Soon, they left Doc Grog’s office, complete with a bag to carry all of their supplies and alligator parts in, and a few coins jingling in Kat’s pocket. They continued around to various people on the island, selling the various alligator parts for a pretty penny until all that was left were scraps. It was dusk when the pair made it back to the dock and Kat’s Cutthroat Wolf.

Kat sat down heavily in her chair in her cabin. Lawrence stood awkwardly until Kat motioned for him to sit in the chair opposite her. She opened up the bag so she could check her inventory. There was money, food, gunpowder, and a few tonics and charms from Fabiola, along with all of the items Kat had left with her. Kat was satisfied with it.

“Well, I suppose I’m all ready to go then,” she said. Lawrence decided this was the opportune moment for another attempt.

“Kat, are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” he asked hesitantly. Kat looked at him. Lawrence was staring at his feet. She could help but think he looked like a lost puppy.

Her face softened. “No, Lawrence,” she said quietly. “I can’t allow that. I’m…not ready for that.” She took her ponytail out and ran her hand through her hair. “I need my own time. Tortuga…after being stuck here for a month, I need to be by myself. Do you understand that?” She hoped that she was making herself clear to him.

Lawrence was silent before he said, “Yes Kat, I understand that, I suppose.” He resigned himself to the fact that he would not be going back out.

Kat smiled at him. “Thank you Lawrence,” she said. She got up and sat her bag down on her bed. With her back turned to Lawrence, she pulled something long out of it. “Come here really quick Lawrence,” she said. He got up and made his way over. Lying across Kat’s palms was a sword sheathed in a rather old looking piece of leather.

“I want you to take this Lawrence,” she said. She held the sword out to him and he took it in his hands. He backed up a little bit and took it out of the case. It was straight and light grey in color, unlike Kat’s, which was curved. However, it was also sharp on both sides and had a firm grip on it.

“It’s a pure iron cutlass,” she told him. “It’s an old sword of mine, and it’s a lot better than that old rusted one you have now. Well balanced, but it’s heavy, which is why I didn’t like it so much. The one I have now is better suited for me.”

Lawrence admired it and turned it so it glinted in the light of the setting sun. “Kat, I can’t possibly take this,” he said.

“Oh yes you can, Lawrence Mcrage,” Kat said severely. “I will not have you getting killed because you have a sword that can’t cut through butter. Look,” she said as she walked up to him, “you need this weapon. Trust me. Otherwise, you’ll end right back up in that jail cell and your chance for freedom will be gone. Understand?”

Lawrence nodded. “Good,” Kat said. “Now, I also have this for you.” She pulled a small bag out of her pocket and handed it to him. Lawrence set the sword down and took it. He opened it to see glinting gold. His mouth fell open.

“Kat…why…” he stammered.

“You once told me that the Caribbean runs off of money,” she said. “Now it is you who has nothing. It’s only about a hundred gold, but it should help you along.”

Lawrence was speechless. She couldn’t help but smile at his reaction. “Now, the next thing you should probably do is set sail with Nate. He can be hardheaded, but he’s a good guy and he’ll help you.”

Lawrence blinked as if he were trying to come out of a dream. “Kat..I don’t know what to say. Thank you!”

Kat grinned at him. “It’s my pleasure this time Lawrence,” she said. “Come on then. I think it’s time for you to go.” She escorted him off of the boat with his new items. The moon had risen by now and it bathed them in its white glow as they stood on the dock.

Kat hesitated, and then she embraced him tightly. Lawrence was shocked, but his arms encircled her as well. They stood there for a moment in the relative silence of the night. The waves washed up on the shore and there were a few shouts in the distance, but it was ignored.

Kat gave him a final squeeze and pulled away. “Until next time Lawrence Mcrage,” she said softly. She made her way back up into her ship and her cabin without looking back.

“Until next time Kat Crestshot.” Lawrence whispered into the night.



Ok then. Lawrence, Kat, Nate (again. )...I don't know what to say. You tell me. This was the longest chapter to date (sorry Keeper, haha), and I didn't even realize it until it was finished. I do believe it was better than the last chapter, but if you don't think so, tell me. Please.

Ok, a little bit of bad news. I am leaving for vacation next week and will not be back until late Thursday, early Friday. Therefore, there will not be any new chapter next week. You all will have to wait until the 24th. Sorry. I will try to knock out a few chapters on the long (long...long.......) drive to wherever it is we may be going, so less late night posting! Whoo!

Ok mates, that's it for my rambling. Thanks for the reviews and Thanks for reading!

-Kat Crestshot