The Different Ship
13

Island after island they went to and landed in hopes that they didn’t make it to the Mystic Islands. Azhar sighed as they neared them when Arab walked up behind him

“Azhar, what are we gon’ to do if we can’t replace her? Tha lil lass can do a lot for herself but fendin off a crew full o werewolves ain’t one…” he said with deep sincerity in his voice stepping closer to him, Azhar turned to look at him slightly. He reached up to rub his eyes with the palms of his hands and shaking his head.

“Even if we can replace her body Arab, just something… this wasn’t her fight but no he had to take something… that… that…” he trailed off snarling slightly his fangs still prominent, maybe even more so.

“She was that important ta ya? I know mate, don’t answer that… I know what she were ta ya. Tha way ya watched her and always asked about her.” he said patting him on the back and watching as the island slowly got closer to them. Azhar broke from him and walked away slightly as he snarled slightly.

“Just get on that island and replace anything that will bring us closer to her, I will be right behind you.” He told him and walked off to his cabin to prepare and get ready. Azhar grabbed his sword and hat and went to walk back out as he stopped to look over and she her old shredded shirt as he picked it up, thumbing over the fabric. It still carried her scent. He sighed and pulled it into his chest, squeezing it slightly.

“I will replace you Rune, dead or alive I will tell you how sorry I am… I should have never let you on this ship. All of this is my fault, my only weakness is you. You stupid, naive human girl…” he said to himself before kissing the fabric slightly and laid it back on his desk before heading out and putting on a hardened face.

“Ight everyone, let us know what ya replace! Anything that can help lead us ta Ayo! Even if its simple as a body part, bring it to us or Azhar… Get ready ta storm tha damn beaches!” Arab called out as the Anchor dropped. The crew members began to jump out into the sea and wade up to the beach of the dark island. They knew this is where they would take her. This was the only place any type of dark magic could be practiced and that is what the wolves needed. They began to scattering throughout the lush forest, Azhar right behind them.

“We will replace her or some part of her… I will die trying damnit!” Azhar called out as soon as his boots hit the sand and he went forward with a purpose. He honestly didn’t expect her to be alive or replace any remnants of her body. They were wolves and if they are her there would be nothing left.

He and his crew worked tirelessly cutting through the thick brush and looked over the island making sure not to miss an inch. Arab was walking by a large bush when he heard a loud rustle come from him. Without thinking he raised his musket and took aim at it, he wasn’t going to take a chance on it being something to attack him or kill him.

“Whose out there, ya betta answer me or ima shoot damnit!” he called out to it using the muzzle of it to move some to the side. Rune stumbled out looking very watery, almost like a ghost. Her eyes were dark and she fell onto her chest on the ground breathing hard and fast. The clothes were torn and tattered from stumbling around the island and the places where the ropes bound here held a nasty bruise.

“Ayo, ya here lass, ya aren’t dead!” he called out quickly holstering his weapon and lifting her into his chest. She looked up at him totally lost, delusional, her gaze vacant. Her lips were cracked from lack of water and she looked atrocious.

“Ya don’ look so good mate let’s get ya back…” he said as he turned to head back to the beach. Rune’s body was still shaking and feverish to the touch, she tipped her head back to hang back over his arm.

“No… no you can’t… take me… back… kill… the moon…” she stammered out, her voice strained as she looked up at him with a desperate gaze, tears beginning to stream down her face again.

“Kill that moon, what r’ ya blubberin’ about Ayo? Ya can’t kill tha moon it ain’t alive.” He said to her confused. As he made it back to the beach where everyone was he noticed they were all gathered in a line to explain to Azhar their lost efforts. He paced the line of them pinching between his eyes, his face contorting in anger and regret as he shook it.

“None if you found anything? Neither did I… it’s almost day break and we have nothing to go on!” he called in rage; his hand went to rub at his temple. Arab walked up closer to them but in view not sure how he would react to this news, to her being alive but suffering.

“I don’ think nothin’ Azhar, look who I got… she is a lil out of it…” Arab called out concerned looking down at her. Azhar stopped and looked over at him with wide eyes, in a brisk pace walked over to them. He and Rune were reunited but not in the way he wished.

“Rune, what happened…?” he asked looking her over and moving to take her from Arab.

“It doesn’t matter you need food and clean water… let’s get you back on the ship.” He breathed in relief. Her eyes widened at the words that fell from his lips. She lost it and she let out a loud heart wrenching scream and tried to wither out of Azhar’s arms.

“No! No… you can… can’t take me back! He… he made me…” she cried out falling to the ground before she shot up, she stood and began to try and stagger away from them. Azhar followed her in alarm and picked her up gingerly but held her to him tightly but more in a caring fashion.

“Rune, you need to be looked over and you need rest, you’re delusional… I am afraid to ask what he did to you…” he said but all in all he was just glad to replace her alive even though her smell was more intoxicating to him, more so than it has ever been. He leaned in to sniff her slowly savoring the aroma unable to stop himself.

“No going to kill! Kill! Don’t take me back its… b…better for you all!” she bawled out, drawing her fist back and hitting him in the chin with all the might she had left. Azhar flinched slightly but other than it did nothing to him. He held on to her tightly, not wanting to let her go. Not wanting something so precious to him to slip through his fingers again.

“What in the hell are you going off about you mad woman, you can’t kill me or anyone else on my ship listen to yourself!” he cried out to her. She froze and looked up at him, her eyes suddenly rolled back into her head and she collapsed in his arms, falling totally limp and unresponsive against him. Panic and horror came over his face, he turned and whistled and headed off to the ship not even waiting on anyone.

“I need food and water as soon as possible, bring it to the cabin as soon as you gather it! Rune needs to be cleaned up and rest.” He bellowed out in worry as he suddenly disappeared, his crew not even two seconds behind him just as concerned for her, the tiny human girl has made a home with them on their ship.