The only daughter of the powerful High Priestess had remained relatively solitary through most of the journey aboard the ship. Due to the fact that she was sea-sick as well as a natural loner, Sheryl spent most of the time in the quarters that she shared with her Sisters either in bed or with her books. Meals, when she could take them, were spent listening to her Scathachian counterparts. Sheryl was used to days upon days of quiet. She was the Island's Historian and Archivist, an almost shameful position for the biological daughter of the High Priestess of Scathach. But it was what made her happy; despite occasional jeering from some of her Sisters for being a bookish librarian.

Sheryl's curly blond tresses were blown ceiling-ward once more as she laid across the cot which was bolted to the wall, her nose where else but in a book. She was reading up on their destination. She had borrowed several scrolls and manuscripts as well as few books on Rhydin, its history and several of the surrounding territories. Sheryl was nothing if not well-informed. She had been buried, nose deep, in her current reference, Rhydin City: The Jewel of Rhydin, when she heard a few crew members outside saying that port would be coming up in a day or two. A smile touched her lips as she sighed happily. Sheryl, while having lived on an island her entire life, despised sea travel and longed for solid earth under her feet.

"Praise to Scathach," she mused, "I'll never again choose a ship ride this long, I swear!" Being seasick was one of the worst sensations that Sheryl could ever remember and she was not looking forward to the journey back to the Island when this was done. Which was what got her more-than-capable brain thinking: perhaps she would stay in this great city of Rhydin.

]

The chopping swells and undulating seas put Vixen through misery. It was worth it once the crushing waves came to a thrashing end. Face green and her mind away from the other Sisters on this voyage, she stammered through those chocolate, pouty lips," Blessed be Goddess, thank you for at last calming the fury." Then she wretched violently once more over the railing and into the swelling ocean even though she had nothing left within her bowls.

A shaking hand came up to her head as the cold sweat which covered her face was wiped from her brow. The now pale face lifted and silver blue eyes danced over the vast void that was slowly coming to an end. Sniffing the salted air she shuddered softly and briefly covered her mouth. Eyes going wide she then cried out," Goddess no more!" Bare feet quaked as again her head lurched over the rail and another releasing sound hurled from her mouth. She was never going to go on another long trip that involved churning waves and a boat ever again.

Vixen was a land child, even if it was an island. She spent most of her time climbing trees and riding horses. She was reckless in her own way and it showed in her actions, which lasted until she was a day out to sail. She had spent most of the voyage with either her head over the railing of the ship or seeking care due to her illness. If there were thoughts of them turning back, it was most likely because of her. She had been sicker than an under cooked egg whose whites just drooled and ran all over the plate at a cheap inn.

That mere thought made her wretch once again. A grunt came from her as she stood there, a hand over her head holding her unique silver strands back from her face," Please...No mooorrrreeee!!!" It was taking all of her strength not to fall over onto the deck and just twitch in discomfort until land finally came. Sitting with her head back up, she sniffled and wiped the cool sweat from her face once again. That mixture of white and black, mother and father, was the tanned "skin of origins" to her, and she was quite proud of them. How that tanned skin now seemed to glitter in the sunlight, still even then she was burned to a crisp.

At this point even her powerful, splintered feet were nothing to toil over. The kiss of the sun over her whole body made the salty sting of the sea all the worse. Vivid motions from the unforgiving sea made her lurch again, but this time she brought her hand to her mouth and reluctantly swallowed back. Turning on the balls of her feet she looked over the deck filled with "Sea Nymphs" and gave a flattened look. She knew there had been others who were sick, and she understood to the fullest.

Once her feet had hit solid land she was going to kiss the very ground! She would pray to the Goddess for the glory of land and then just pass out. For now she was too focused on trying to drown out the feeling of the undulating currents and slamming torrents. Granted the blue sea was one to admire and even honor for its beauty, but she was sick of it.

Ailing through this trip was enough of a trial for Vixen, and she was more than ready for it to be over. A hand slapped up over her lips and her finger lifted while she glanced to big Cray. There was then a sound of stifled lurches and her back was turned again to face the railing. Groans came, and then the sound of plunking even though there shouldn't have been. Squinted eyes looked down while she mumbled with a sickened voice," I don't remember ever eating that?" Then she coughed and gave a ill-sounding groan.

Slumping to her knees she hugged at the steel railings. Her head lifted to look at the sky while she cried out in agony. Again the lurching sound came and her head shot down to face the deep sea again," Someone PLEASE tell me that we're almost there!!!" Groaning and moaning came from the Scathachian while she held her head and sniffled. Vixen never got sick, never was ill; this was not normal and she swore it was never going to happen again!

Once she had been spent, once her lunch had been lost she finally stood on wobbly legs. Dexterous toes wiggling, gorgeous woven anklets wrapped around her lower calves to her ankles, she took a deep breath. Pulling up the cold water attached at her hip in a leathered pouch and pouring it down her gut. Hydration, if she could manage to find time for it'she made sure it happened. Taking a few gasping breaths and regaining a touch of her rich color she managed to mutter," Now that lunch has passed through me I'm ready to work?" A light laugh and a weak smile was given before she sighed," I'm gonna go check on the horses?"

She managed to point towards below deck and grunted again. For a moment it looked like she was going to vomit again. In fact she had half turned to face the lapping waves again. When she managed to keep it down, she padded along on her calloused bare feet. The bells wrapped around her ankles tinkled away, it was more of design then for actual fighting and she loved the sounds of the chimes. Sucking down the water more and more she could be heard groaning and growling as she disappeared below deck.

Vixen was honestly just sick of being sick. As she heard the whinny of the horses safe below deck she smiled, once a piece of land seemed to steady her stomach. The light stomp of heels against the wooden innards made her push into the stables area of the ship. Frowning for a moment at the sight of horses pent up, she sighed. Walking up to the jet black steed and pressing a smooth hand against its muzzle. A light scratch was given and while she looked into the deep brown eyes before her silver blue ones she felt the earth at her feet once again.

A soft purr came from her lips while she whispered to the horse," It's okay Dallas" It's okay' Just a few more days. Strength with others can only make you stronger." Smiling softly while the horse let out a soft whicker, she brought her hand up to caress at his head and then down over his neck. The horse was her only friend; she had been with Dallas since he was born in the stables back on the sacred Island.

Plopping down on a hay bale she looked around the boat and sighed. Yanking up one of the many carrot supplies, she held one out to the twilight steed she brought another one to her lips. Crunches could be heard from both mouths while she sighed. Yeah, she was eating again. Which meant...Enough said. Lips were smacking from both of the duo; she folded one toned leg over the other and wiggled her long toes once more. There was a mumble as she stared out the port window," Wonder what Rhy"Din is like"Do you think they have nice forests to get lost in on a warm day?"

The horse whinnied again and dipped his head to nip at the plump carrot drooped in her hand. She giggled and lifted it to him for the horse to take it. Patting at his muzzle she soon wrapped her arms around the horse's neck into a hug. Nuzzling his neck she whispered," Few more days Dallas and then we'll be on dry land again? Are you going to give it a kiss too?" Giggling once more she sighed and slipped away from him to look around at the other horses that were brought along for the ride. Many knew that she would have not gotten on the ship without her beloved Dallas, he was her best friend.

An hour had passed before she hopped back onto the deck. Reluctantly she helped with the rigging and ropes. Working hard while she still had the mindset of being on land. Since the waves had died down, it seemed that she wouldn't lose them. Those long toes seemed to anchor her footholds as she pulled and tugged at the work at hand. Strong muscles tensed and flexed with each move, as she growled and grunted through her chores. Though Vixen seemed slender she was very well built, an image of her fellow Sisters. Everywhere she went, strong bare feet chimed and tinged as she worked.

She wasn't dressed traditional, not at all. It was a casual day of worn silks. Sniffling again at the salted air while the reality of the pulsing waves against the ship came back to her she felt her smooth skin turning green again. There was a wary glance to her Sisters before, with quick rushing feet, she was at those rails again," Goddess why me!"!"

LURCH! GAG! GROAN! Carrots?Gross.

Derinoe wasn't happy leaving the Island of Shadow. It had been her home for over a decade and she was loath to abandon the life she had come to love. Yet when the call came down, there was little else to be done but the packaging. A premier trainer in the Scathach form of hand-to-hand combat, Dee had spent most of her time in the Sisterhood as a mentor to many. Yet only a small few had become members of her elite cadre; Sisters of renown in Scathachian hand-to-hand battle. Among them were Cray, traveling with her aboard the Calypso's Cruelty, and Aello, who would be meeting them when they docked.

Being with Cray and reuniting with Aello were the highlights of this journey. The reason they were being summoned was not.

Derinoe was born in a small fishing village in the area known as Sarmatia. Her mother was an Amazonian warrior in retirement and her father a Scythe Lord. Given the birth name of Brigid Apalacha, Derinoe lived a rather quiet life, spending most of her time following the traditions of her mother's tribe and learning the arts of the local trade; fishing. Dee grew up practically on the water, learning to swim and fish at an early age.

Unlike many of the Sisters traveling with her, Dee had little problems adapting to the choppy waves or the roll of the galleon under her large, dirty bare feet. (Derinoe did not believe in shoes and went everywhere barefoot.) She was actually enjoying the journey, spending as much time on deck as she could manage. Dee had never been fond of enclosed spaces, preferring the outdoors and open sky overhead.

It was during her childhood when Dee had first been introduced to the Sisterhood and had known from that moment on that she would dedicate her life to the Scathachian ways.

An evil Lord had descended upon her homeland and brought death and destruction in his wake. It was a dark time for her people and many suffered and died, her mother and brothers among them. The Lord served a sinister God who reveled in murder and chaos. Yet justice had come when a wandering band of Scathachians ended his vile reign and restored the peace they had once known. Dee had determined that one day she too would serve Justice as they had and fight against the evil that threatened to devour the light.

Her time to confront that evil had come at long last and although she hated leaving behind the Isle, she looked forward to the confrontation ahead. A devout worshiper of the Goddess, Dee saw before her the opportunity to prove her worth and display the might of the Sisterhood. Dee would see justice done or die trying.

As the ship grew nearer to their destination, Dee worried that the Sisters aboard were growing dulled; either through the abuse of the weather and waves or the desire to stay in their own pursuits. So it was that Dee began to push her fellow Sisters to train in their specialties daily. She spent many hours working out and sparring with Cray when the fellow Sister felt up to the exercise.

Today, Dee stood atop deck to the bow of the ship, watching as Vixen clung desperately to the railing vomiting over the side and praying for relief. Nimue stood beside Vixen, offering advice as well as sympathy to the Sister's situation. But Dee merely watched impassively, arms folded she leaned against the rail as she waited for Cray to join her. Derinoe knew that her very powerful muscles needed a workout and that she had nothing more to offer dear Androdiama that Nimue wasn't already.

Derinoe never actually called any of the Sisters by their birth names. It was a well-known fact that Dee took affront to any who dared use her birth name over her Scathach "given name". For Dee, her Scathachian name was her "true name" and Brigid had long since found her peace, and thus no longer existed in Dee's mind.

Dee waited patiently for Cray, enjoying the calmer weather and the warmth of the moist sea air. She watched her fellow Sisters with vague interest as she planned new and inventive training ways to make Cray eat her feet!

"Marlah." She had heard her mother calling her from the fields that morning, a hand being waved above her mother's head with a letter in it. Of course, as usual, she had been out with her favorite horse riding him bareback with bow and arrow once again practicing against targets such as rabbits, mice and snakes. So, with just a nudge of her knees against Flame's side, she turned him towards her mother and set him to a firm gallop, only to draw up a few feet from where her mother stood.

Breathlessly she asked as she dismounted, "What's that?"

Yet before she could get the question out, her mother had already begun answering her, "A letter calling for aid. You are to go to on your first mission." It seemed that her mother was actually excited about this prospect, something that took Marlah a little by surprise.

Of course she had been training with her mother and aunts from the time she was a little girl for just this opportunity"

Eyes open and she slowly awoke to the still rocking and tossing of the boat. "So much for my practicing with the bow today.? Yet that didn't cause her to lay about in bed. She still had Flame to tend to, and so she headed down there, tying her hair back into a single braid to hang down her back as she strolled down there.

After the first day, Flame had finally calmed down enough that he didn't whiney each time she tried to brush him and his eyes had finally lost that terrified look they had had at first. Of course, she had brought him a treat. Two large carrots she cut up and placed into his feed bag which she hung over his head after placing the oats in it, and then she set to grooming him as she talked low and soothingly too him.

Once she had finished her work on him, she looked up skyward, though where she stood at that moment, there was nothing but rafters to be seen above her and offered up her own plea to the heavens, before she emptied her guts into the bucket hanging on the peg outside Flame's stall.

Dee smiled down to Rhiannon, watching her with great interest. She was the sole daughter of the High Priestess of the Island of Shadow, Lenai, and the girl was a total whiz at the books. If anyone knew anything about the place that they were traveling to, it would be Rhiannon.

"She'll eventually find her sea legs." Derinoe stated as she glanced over towards Vixen and Nimue. But Dee had her doubts about that as the poor Scathachian clung yet again to the railing heaving over the side. Still, it was good to hold on to hope.

"What have you there, Rhiannon' Is it perchance information on the land we shall soon protect?" Dee asked curiously, eying the open book in the girl's lap.

Dee had spent little time acquainting herself with the place known as Rhy"Din. She, unlike the young warrior sitting prettily at her feet, was not a scholar, and spent most of her time doing what she loved most: fighting and finding new and inventive ways to make her feet as vile as possible. They were after all her pride and joy; large and long, thick and wide, Derinoe's tanned feet were monstrous. In fact, her big toe was fat enough to gag a fair sized mouth all on its own, and Dee earnestly enjoyed displaying her prowess at such a humbling art. Should any wish to question they had only to ask mighty Cray. Dee and Cray took great pleasure in "feeding" one another their feet in training.

Dee considered Rhiannon somewhat of a treasure. Her brains and her knowledge would aid them in gaining the upper hand against their truly evil foes, as well as educate the Sisters about the new land they would be facing. Dee's smile widened and she hankered down next to the girl.

"What might you tell me of this new land, Rhiannon?"

As Derinoe engaged the girl, she realized that this was perhaps the first time Rhiannon had traveled so far from their mutual home. Dee vowed in that moment to watch over the girl, to keep her and the others safe from the trials ahead or at least give them the ability to die a worthy death.

"Let's deal, shall we" You teach me of Rhy"Din and I shall make sure you don't lose that marvelous edge you have earned in your hand-to-hand??

For the warrior-woman Camilla, the journey aboard Calypso's Cruelty was exhausting. Not physically as it was for many of the others who were suffering from Neptune's cruel sense of humor " the sea-god often toyed with the mortals who tread upon his dominion for amusement " which buffeted the ship along the water as a leaf in a storm. The warrior-girl was used to such treatment by the gods; her stomach did not lurch with the ship or spill its contents onto the deck, her skin welcomed the sting of wind-whipped water and the salt left behind by wave after relentless wave, her gaze upon the churning waters did not flinch as the sea-god brought the vessel to the brink of capsizing.

No, physically, she was fine. Emotionally, she found herself less than whole, alone when she should have felt at home, an outsider directly inside a Sisterhood to which she could not truly belong.

She missed her battle-maidens, whom she'd left behind months before in her search for the Scathacians. Larina, Tulla, Tarpeia, each as devoted to her as she could ever ask, she longed for battle beside them, for the telling of grand tales during a victory feast. They were her sisters, her daughters, her comrades-in-arms. Acca she missed most of all, for their bond was deepest; Acca was one of the very few whom Camilla the woman and Camilla the Volscian General could call friend.

The weeks on Calypso's Cruelty made her feel much more girl than warrior; though a woman by all rights and accounts, she was still quite young. Her exploits in battle, her numerous victories, her fame and renowned prowess with bow, javelin, and axe, they was not enough to satisfy her. Years before, she had sought training with the legendary Amazons whom she'd been lucky enough both to find and to convince she was worthy of their time. Prior to her encounter with these Amazons, her devotion to combat, to the art of war, to glory and victory, was nothing less than whole. But talented as she was, as gifted a tactician and inspiring a leader, there was room for improvement. The Amazonian women honed and molded her. She counted her time with them as the most precious she'd spent in this world outside of her encounters with the goddess Diana, to whom she owned this second life she lived.

The Scathacians were like the Amazons in many ways, but the knowledge and training the unique Sisterhood could provide was unlike any other. Camilla spent months tracking down a Sagesse Priestess and convinced the woman to appeal to the Scathacian High Council on her behalf. The Council voted to allow her passage to the Isle of Shadow several months prior. Camilla could only thank the gods for her luck.

On the Isle, she lived and trained with women who had known no other life. Many had not even ventured off the island; they lived a life she dreamed of living, a life she was born to live, a life that the fine thread of the Fates had not weaved for her. Once on the island, Camilla wasted no moment, no opportunity. When not training, she spent time in the Library, absorbing what she could through the numerous historical records so dutifully kept by priestesses of the Order of the Archive. Most hours of the day, though, were spent in rapid and rigid training. She needed to learn in days and weeks what the others had spent a lifetime absorbing and perfecting.

As skilled as she was when she arrived, she came with an open mind and willing heart. Not surprisingly, the Warrior-Priestesses had much to teach and she had much to learn. To those who were interested, she taught the art of javelin ? each Scathacian was already an expert at with bow and arrow, double-swords, or chakram, all worthy weapons in Camilla's eyes, but too constricting. For Camilla, the constant change on a battlefield meant a rapid trading in and out of weaponry: javelins thrown from horseback to slay opposing cavalry, the bow and arrow to do the same on foot, sword and axe for the melee combat she savored, fists and feet for when nothing else was at hand.

The common ground she held with the Scathacian girls, though, ended on the training grounds and battlefields. She had not grown up with them, not laughed and cried with them, not bled with them, not paid homage to their goddess or participated in countless rites and rituals with them. The chasm between her and them, between their lives, was wide. It was beyond her means, beyond her rights, to claim part of that Sisterhood.

Camilla moved through the holds, up a ladder, and across the water-laden deck, handing each of her companions half of a small lime and two tamarinds from her personal stock; the first to prevent deadly scurvy, the second to settle their stomachs and give them something to eat that wasn't from the galley-cook. She'd been asked to leave the island with this group of women who were traveling to Rhydin, a place where she had spent much time. She was to act as a protector and guide and return to the island to continue her training when summoned. She hadn't relished her departure or her role as escort, but could not refuse the request.

She envied the bond the others shared. She ached to see them in battle, testing their lifetime of lessons among iron and steel and blood. If the gods saw fit, she would witness such things.

If the gods saw fit, the world would find that she was Scathacian in heart, if not in name.

When the tall Amazon reached the area of the ship where her fellow Sisters were congregated, she paused and yawned; allowing her impressive muscles to stretch freely once again.

An annoyed query was then posed to everyone present, "Has anyone seen Marlah' I swear that girl is gonna fall overboard one of these days trying to practice her damned gymnastics on this floating tub of death."

Since Marlah was truly an expert at NOT being found whenever they were specifically looking for her, she doubted that she would receive an accurate answer to her question. Thus Cray's attention then turned to poor Androdiama who was hurling over the railing...AGAIN! As Janie tended to their ailing friend, Cray's per usual sarcastic tone leapt from her mouth without much thought, "Ya know, if Androdiama could fight as well as she puked, then this war against Temple Bhaal would be over by sunrise tomorrow."

Yeah, "Little Karen" was a tad bit grouchy this morning, but truthfully she did not doubt her Sister Vixen's abilities in the least bit. Fortunately for all of them present, Vixen could seriously whip some villainous a*s!

Realizing that wild, outrageous "Janie D" was ironically the best of them to help a fellow Sister through the dreaded pains of sea sickness (or through a *#@$*#@$ whiskey hangover for that matter), Cray's green eyes slowly swept over the remainder of the girls. Without skipping a beat, the muscular warrior moved over to Sheryl and glanced down at the book which she was intently reviewing with Derinoe.

Now, oftentimes Cray would tease Sheryl without mercy, and she loved few things more than making the bashful Scathachian blatantly blush by openly discussing the "sticky details" of quite risqu" topics. But Sheryl was honestly like a little sister to her in every sense of the word. Cray knew that Sheryl was beyond brilliant, and she would defend her dear friend to the end from any adversary....including Sheryl's overbearing and painfully critical mother, High Priestess Lenai.

After listening to Sheryl educate Derinoe for a few minutes, the Judge then spied Camilla quietly moving on deck. Cray quickly mirrored Sheryl's greeting to her as she presented topside. Not knowing if Camilla would return the gesture, however, Cray realized how she must have looked and thus stopped waving like an idiot to return to her ominous sulking.

It was pretty obvious to everyone, however, that Camilla was a bit hard on herself most of the time. Sure, Cray was a vocal critic of hers when she first came to the Island of Shadow to train. The Island-born Cray figured that some "rich bitch" of importance had yanked a few political strings and "BOOM!", now she could come "play Scathachian' without having to prove herself. Cray was admittedly very wrong on this issue.

Camilla was a greatly accomplished warrior and an extremely serious student of their ways. And although she never said anything about this issue, Camilla always looked vacantly distant....not like she was so far above everything or everyone, but rather genuinely lacking her true place amongst these women. Cray was seriously determined to help Camilla understand that the gross majority of the Sisters, including her, already considered Cam to be one of them....she was a welcome addition to their righteous sect.

Before going over to greet Camilla, however, her raw mischievous side couldn't resist antagonizing her close friend and teacher Derinoe in order to get a rise out of her. So, Cray casually glanced down at Sheryl and Dee once more before arrogantly spouting off: "Rhiannon...why in Mother Scathach's Crown are you reading a little bedtime story to Derinoe this early in the morning" I mean, why are you even hanging out with her" She's so......so...old...."

Cray's sharp tongue rolled against the inside of her cheek as she folded her large arms across her scantily clad chest and awaited some agitated retort from her mentor....the very tall, muscular, and "not to be trifled with' Derinoe. If any one of these statuesque female warriors gathered here literally defined true "Amazonian Greatness", Cray solemnly knew that it was Derinoe......without a blessed doubt.

Still, the young Judge had to soundly whack the proverbial hornet's nest with a barbed stick.....it was, after all, in Cray's very nature to defy everything.

As if in answer to Cray's bold challenge, there was a sudden *ka-thunk*, *ka-thunk* to be heard just around the corner with Marlah's sweet voice taunting her, "It's not my gymnastics you need to worry about." Then one more *ka-thunk* before she came around the corner, "...it's my bow." Someone was apparently feeling a little bit better now.

Of course, the one thing Marlah loved to do along with riding her horse was archery. Now put the two together and she was in heaven or the closest thing one could come to it in the mortal world. Like the others on the Calypso, she had been well trained in several other weapons as well, and in the use of her large feet to subdue her enemy. For her though, it was almost a game to see how quickly she could make her opponent gag on her long, not-so-sweet toes.

It was actually quite amazing to the girl that Cray had missed her, considering that the rank smell of her mucking the stall out was quite evident on her feet. Cray seldom missed much, though it seemed she did like to tease Marlah at every chance she could get.

"Let me get a few more shots off and I'll come join you," all said as she disappeared around the corner again.

*Ka-thunk*, *Ka-thunk*, and then as the boat lurched, *Ping*....which was followed by a few choice words most probably didn't even realize Marlah knew.

Camilla approached the group, mentally readying herself for a question-barrage from Rhiannon while offering forward the basket of lime and tamarind.

"If the bedtime story is one of battle and glory, perhaps it is worth dreaming of at night and repeating in the morning?"

That, at least, was her response to Cray's query of the inquisitive girl. Hoisting the basket, she pointed toward the disappearing Mariah, who, in Camilla's view, was wisely spending her leisure time in honing her aim and distance with the bow. It was unfortunate the only thing to shoot at was whitecapped waves; otherwise, there would be the opportunity for competition " something to alleviate the boredom and angst from confinement in such a limited space.

"We should not be much longer from shore," she says, glancing seaward, before pointing toward Vixen and Janie with a crooked grin. "Soon, we will rip flesh from bone, either on the battlefield or the table. I look forward to a true feast. The gods have seen to it that most of your stomachs are ready for filling.?

As Derinoe called her bluff, Cray cocked her hip to one side as she displayed an obnoxious expression on her tanned face. Being the ever-ready sh*t disturber, she snapped, "Yeah Dee Dee....OLD! Old AND slow....I'm not seeing anything that would back me up, except maybe how fat you've gotten on this trip."

The muscular Judge knew that she was playing with dangerous fire taunting her friend Derinoe like this. Dee always did *everything* rough....even play. But hey, this was Cray afterall....she couldn't help herself; the longing for danger was what kept her primed and first rate.

Derinoe had definitely taught her some really backbreaking moves and raw overpowering ways to better make use of her awesome body, but still Cray had to test her Titan-like friend. It was more than fun to pick a fight with big Derinoe....a true Scathachian Amazon in every sense of the word.

Not missing a beat, Cray continued her onslaught on another target, "Shut up Marlah!" Cray shouted over at her diligent Sister who was talking smack while she practiced her amazing archery skills. "Keep firing your damn bow and don't get cute or I'll give you a real reason to..."

Just then, Camilla passed through the area with the limes and quickly threw out a sharp answer to Cray's earlier comment to Sheryl and Derinoe, "If the bedtime story is one of battle and glory, perhaps it is worth dreaming of at night and repeating in the morning?"

Interrupted from her early rant at Marlah, Cray looked over at Camilla's evident sarcasm or optimism, with an exaggerated 'WTF' look on her mug before firing back at her fellow Sister, "Oh pleeeeeease shut the f**k up Cam. Save that honor, battle, and glory crap for 'Old Dee' and 'the Librarian' over here.....I swear if I have to hear one more far fetched war story, I'm gonna be joining Vixen over there puking off the damn rails."

Okay....three fronts now. She was on a roll! Cray was not the smartest of the Scathachians (that was Sheryl, of course!), but she loved nothing more than a good fight. No mater what was going down or coming at her, Karen Zeulus NEVER backed down....win or lose she would just not stop nor surrender.

Cray cracked her thick neck to one side followed by her knuckles as she exclaimed, "How in the Nine Hells did I get stuck on this floating death trap with you characters"!"! I must have REALLY pissed off Lenai...ooooops...I'm sorry Derinoe...pissed off MOTHER Lenai for her to pull a nasty, vindictive stunt like this."

Her sharp green eyes then spotted the new sea faring vessel at the same time the loud shout came announcing its presence. Cray's sarcastic and satirical tone truly augmented her colossal form as she folded her great arms over her chest once again, "Wow. A ship. Another ship. Another ship heading this way. Oh, this should be great."

As the Scathachian watched the new ship turn in their direction, she secretly hoped that it was an enemy....knocking someone out would be a fantastic way to start the day.

The Pride and Fury was coming up quick on the Calypso pressing it's advantage with the wind. The pirate vessal, a heavy sailed snow, was a lithe dancer skipping across the brine, feeling the salty spray on her teeth as she cut through the waves. The galleon meanwhile, was a heavy plodding oxen, heavy and slow, but potentialy dangerous with it's ability to carry far more guns then the snow.

Stephen was well versed in taking on a larger ship with superior guns, his plan of attack never varied when he had the wind, as he did now. They would intersect the wake of the Calypso at a angle, then keep on that line until they could rake the other ship, while only exposing themselves to a shot from the chaser guns mounted on the aft of the deck. After the first blast of guns, Stephen would order hard to port, and bring the ship around to fire a second volley. It was a plan that always worked when a small vessel was pitted against a bigger slower ship.

Stephen stood at the bow of the Fury looking over at the Calypso as they edged into range. Moving clear of the bow guns cradle, he pressed his palms against the rail, and narrowed his eyes against the flash and smoke that would soon impede his vision.

"Mr. Mahan fire across her bow." Stephen gave the command to fire the warning shot that would instruct the Caylpso's captain to heave to.

The blast of the cannon roared across the open space, it's projectile exploding in the water just under the figure head of the Calypso sending a beautiful spray of foam onto her bow. A grin bloomed upon his face as he heard his crew begin the sing song chant he had taught them for just this moment.

"ISUELT..WEARS.....GIRLIE...UNDERWEAR."

Vixen was in utterturmoil now. There was a long space where everything went blank. Just blank. She had missed her Sister speaking with her, or even the first cry that there was a new ship approaching. It was only when cannon fire came rolling about, that she snapped out of it. Her face, once flushed, was now a blistering tan; color rushing back to it. The one thing that rushed through her head, when her senses came to her, was the mocking phrase," ISUELT..WEARS.....GIRLIE...UNDERWEAR."

She felt her body lurch one last time, the thunk of goods in her gullet now gone into the billowing depths. Her strong body rose, and she looked out over the seas with piercing blue eyes towards the ship. Growling a bit before speaking,"Women's 'bitties' are not to be brought out in the open like that. Men have absolutely no manners"pigs."

Vixen was now, quite possibly, in "too good to be true mode". Honestly. It was too good to be true that she was standing. There was a roll of waves under the ship and her face did a double over. Going pale instantly, then green. THUD! She was on her back in the blink of an eye and looking up at the light sky. A garble came from her before she twitched.

"Cray, if they board us" Just leave me here to die" I'll understand." Another twitch came from her and she closed her eyes. Her hair dangling in gorgeous silver stands over her face before muttering," Just' Don't let them turn me into a Zombie." Yep, she was delusional.

Sheryl was chewing lightly on her bottom lip as she leaned over the side of the ship, her book still clutched to her chest. Her curious eyes were trained in The Pride and Fury, while her ears strained to make out the lyrics that the bawdy seamen were crooning. Her curly blonde ringlets lilted to one side as she discerned the words, but not their significance. That is, until Janie pointed out the comedic aspect of the song. Teasing. It was something that Sheryl was no stranger to. And as Vixen stated, women's under things, specifically Scathachian women's under things were usually regarded as off-limits to the male gender.

Her brows were held aloft as the Calypso's Cruelty pitched toward The Pride and Fury. The two ships were aligning to let the wind and current lead them into the harbor. Sheryl's excitement had her nearly jumping out of her skin. She couldn't wait to walk the streets of Rhydin, to roam the Marketplace, to visit the pubs and explore the Western cliffs and docksides. She was working out the order in which she planned to carry out her first few days in the great city as she came up along side of Cray, who was still probably ready to verbally spar with Derinoe. "This is so exhilarating! After we meet with Illea and the others, where should we go first, Cray' I'm thinking a proper pub." Her blue eyes lifted to look at her bunkmate, whom she knew to have frequented a few pubs in her adventures off of the Island.

Captain Stephen Kidd's flourishing entrance on Calypso's Cruelty was nothing short of spectacular. He had come flying in on a rope from his own ship, landed on his feet upon the deck and had produced quite an extravagant bow. And what was more - as far as Janie could see, he had all of his teeth!

Her lips spread across her white teeth in a flashing smile as she laughed her approval. Applause erupted from the beach beauty as she swaggered a few steps forward and let her accent fly, "Nice come, mate." She forgot all about poor Vixen for the moment. After all, there couldn't possibly be anything left in that warrior's stomach, could there" Janie's appraising gaze moved over the pirate, her mouth pushed briefly to the side as she assessed Stephen's physique and style. He must have passed some sort of test, for she closed the distance between them and completely ignored any kind of Scathachian etiquette with an obvious breech of order and introduced herself, "Janie Devonstone. You're a sight for sore eyes, Captain Kidd. Among other things." She smirked and looked over her shoulder at her comrades. "Aye, girls??

A near predatory smile skidded into place on the berry stained lips of Nimue. Her arm snaked around Stephen Kidd's arm as she stood a little straighter. "Well, you heard the boss, Captain. I'm for you. What's say we deplank with the others and find a pub' After all, I'm under orders to 'take care of you,' yeah?"

Janie's baby blues watched as the crew began bringing up crates and boxes from the ship's belly and her sisters grab personal belongings. She, herself, didn't have too many. Aside from her clothing (which was usually minimal) and her weapons, she had only her board to worry about, which was in one of the crates.

"All of those, yeah, down there. And careful with them," Janie was using her free hand to gesture directions as the crew unloaded the contents of Calypso's Cruelty. "So," Janie leered at the Captain, "how many mates you got over there on your ship anyway?" She was taking stock of the number of Scathachians and just who would be in for a little R & R.