The Wind's Will

[Shura]

Cameron nodded slightly slowly waking up "Might take advantage of that" she muttered sitting up watching as Mogause rose to gather her things taking a moment to appreciate the grace and beauty the in the woman's natural beauty. Some part of her wished they could stay hidden away in the lagoon just the two of them but the sea was a captain and the sea was calling as well. After a moment she rose to her feet feeling some stif and soreness from trek to the lagoon as well as the fight. Hopefully the trip back would be less eventful.

The captain couldn't help a small smile as she returned the hug before the woman could slip away. "I believe I should be thanking you as well." She smirked slightly returning the brief kiss before grabbing some of her clothes before making her way to the lagoon. She set her stuff a side one the shore closest to the waterfall before diving into the water embracing the cold water as it shocked the sleep out of her body. She surfaced from the water shivering slightly but enjoyed the feeling of water as it ran over her skin. She sighed noticing the sky only growing lighter and kept her swim stretching out some of the stiffness in her back and shouldered.

With a satisfied sigh she slipped out of the water smoothing away the excess water before she started to dress pulling her pants and boots on first. She took up the strips of cloth she and set about the task of binding her chest, not where near as tightly as before but just enough so it wouldn't be noticed before slipping her shirt on. She faceted her swords and weaponry last. She admitted it felt fairly weighted down and restraining compared to the evening before but she pushed other thought aside before desire struck once more and the two would never make it back to the ship. She ruffled her damp hair roughly getting the last bit of waters out before setting her hat back on.

[Kharmin]

While she dressed, Morgause watched her captain – her lover – as she swam out to the falls and rinsed her body clean. Morgause licked her lips in the memory of the other woman's taste and grinned. It had been a delicious union, she murmured to herself and the memory of it aroused her.

Morgause finished pulling on her boots, grabbed her longbow and stood atop the rocks behind which they had camped. She stood, rooted and surveyed the area surrounding the lagoon. The rune on her hand faintly pulsed fluorescent green as she enhanced her vision to peer deeper into the foliage as she looked for any threats. If it weren't for her slow turning of her head, one might have almost mistaken her for a statue of a goddess of the hunt.

Hunt, indeed, she mused to herself. Her gaze around the area completed without discovery of any threat. Keeping her vision enhancement talent active, she locked her eyes on Cameron as the woman finished with the waterfall and began to swim back toward the shore. Morgause inspected every curve and line of the woman's body while she swam and enjoyed the alternating rippling of her muscles in her legs, arms and back. But which of us was hunting the other? she wondered with a smirk.

[Shura]

Cameron grabbed her bag looping the strap over torso before looking over spotting the sharp shooter still perched on the rocks the morning sun casting her hair a blaze and bathing the siren in a soft light. She couldn't help a small smile desire stirring once more but tried not to let it affect her. She approached the camp "I take it's clear to head back?" She asked pulling her compass out to make sure they would be heading to the east. She slid the compass back in her pocket after a quick look. "Shall we head out, fair siren?"

[Kharmin]

Morgause nodded her head affirmatively. There were no threats that her enhanced vision had found, and the rune on her hand faded out. She daintily hopped down from her perch on the rock and indicated that Cameron should lead on.

When asked about heading back to the ship, Morgause simply replied, "Whatever my captain desires."

[Shura]

"What I have to do and what I desire aren't always the same thing" Cameron admitted before leading the track east. Thankfully the brush wasn't as thick on that side of the island making it easy to traverse, they managed to reach the shore before the sun after an a hour or so. The walk back to port along the shore was much more pleasant than the humid jungle. The heat was still fairly oppressive but the sea breeze make it much more bearable.

With the path fairly straight forward and it looking like there wouldn't be any trouble Cameron took a chance and tried to figure out what was written on the papers she found. The papers were old and ink smudged making it difficult to read but some words could be made out. None of it made a lick of since though. Nope of the papers said it was some kind of tool for tracking but another said it held some mystical power I to enhance abilities. They all sounded more like theories than fact.

The port came into view by mid morning, it was much later than Cameron has wanted but given the events of the night before she honestly didn't mind. Just as they were reaching the ship it I seemed as though Hanibal was putting a search team together.
"No need to scour the island, we're back. Got tied up over night due to some trouble form the town." Cameron announced as the two stepped onto the gangplank
"Trouble from the town? Anyone we'll be needing to take care of, captain." The first mate questioned looking like he was ready for a fight.
"None that haven't been already." She smirked "though it would be wise to make our sleeves scarce in case the dead had friends."
Hanibal nodded in understanding barking orders for the crew to get ready to sail.

Cameron stopped by her quarters to drop off her belongings as the ship before taking the helm and calling for the ship to cast off. The sails were released to catch the wind causing the ship to lurch into motion and leave the dock behind. Cameron steered the ship to open water in south catching the strong winds and getting the ship to gain speed easily. Cameron glanced back to the town spotting a group of men making their way towards the docks in vain for the ship was way too far for them to do anything. “Looks like we got away just in time.” She chuckled before returning her sights to the sea before them.

The seas were calm and the Navy was nowhere to be seen leaving some time for Cameron to catch up with Hanibal on what happened while she was gone. The ship was stocked enough for a week of sailing but the ship still needed some repairs done before it would be back to 100% unfortunately that took money something that was quickly dwindling. With the ship in such a state it wasn’t smart to engage in trying to take over a trading ship to steal the supplies. They could offer services to move cargo for a fee, something other pirates did when funds were low. Most of the Cargo was illegal but had a high price tag to be moved. Something to explore next time they were in port. The first mate was not very pleased with the so called treasure she found but Cameron knew it had to be part of something bigger. Since it was well hidden it had to have value of some kind to someone.

Despite the challenges ahead of them Cameron was still happy. She had gone from a Serving at a tavern and working part time as a Deck hand scrounging to save money to Captain of her own ship and crew free to sail as she pleased. Not only that but she had also come across a treasure most men spent years searching for. She glanced over to the sharp shooter every so often unable to fight the small smile.
The ship sailed for a full day un interrupted covering a decent amount of sea before coming to stop near a small uninhabited island for the night. Sailing at night for a new crew was just asking for trouble, something Cameron didn’t want more of. Once the ship was anchored properly and night watched assign to a trusted few the captain was able to relax a bit more. She sighed softly leaning on the railing overlooking the deck as the crew took care of the last of the tasks some getting a head start on their nightly drunken ritual.

[Kharmin]

"They will come for me," Morgause said softly, her eyes still looking back in the direction from which they had sailed. Her voice was one of conviction. "I watched them as we left, with my ... talent ... and saw them preparing a ship to sail."

Morgause turned sorrowful eyes to Cameron. "Captain, I'm sorry to have brought this burden with me upon your ship. I honestly thought that I had eluded them when the navy attacked the other night, but it would seem that either Derek or the Physician has more resources than I imagined."

She brushed a tear that had collected at the corner of her eye and sighed. A slight breeze played through her red hair and tumbled a fair portion of her bangs over her eyes. Morgause stared down at the deck and slowly shook her head.

"I should have known," she continued in her soft voice. "Trouble follows me, captain; it is my nature and my destiny. It is not by error that I have been designated 'de Torbrille'." Morgause lifted her head but ignored the hair that remained over her green eyes. "I dared hope that after ... the lagoon ... I might find contentment and peace, hells maybe even love, but my past continues to hunt and terrorize those for whom I care."

She looked astern once again and repeated, "They will come for me."

[Shura]

Cameron looked over as Morgause spoke up seeing she was in a troubled state. She sighed softly and made her way over to her. "They honestly have to find us first." She pointed out there was not arrogance to her voice just calm reassurance. She looked towards the north where stars spotted a moonless sky. "There is no moon out tonight. Only fools looking to crash sail on nights like this. Plus we got a head start on them by several hours, the south sea is a vast place filled with dozens of ports, some we passed already. If they are chasing us they won't find us any time soon.We raise anchor by first light and it'll be like finding a needle in a haystack especially if we dock at a heavily populated port." She smiled slightly. "You needn't apologize for your past. As said before even I have my demons who like to hound me now and again."

[Kharmin]

Morgause swept her hair out of her face, but continued her rear-facing vigil. "I thought as you did once, my captain," she said. "I have since learned not to underestimate these men – Derek and the Physician. Their ... associates ... will not relent, moonless night or not. They are driven by some force that makes them unusually determined."

She sighed and attempted to put on a happier face, but her eyes betrayed her worry. "I didn't expect their weight to carry as far as our last port, and yet there they were. They may not find me anytime soon, but they will find me."

Morgause placed a friendly grasp on Cameron's shoulder and gave a slight, affectionate squeeze. "I'll be alright," she said, "but it's you I worry for now. These pursuers of mine have no regard for collateral damage."

She turned back aft and stared out at the sea in the direction they had sailed. "It's as if they have someone with a unique talent, too. Unique like mine, or yours or several of the others on this ship. A talent that follows me, like a bloodhound on the scent and all I can do is keep running in the hope that they will eventually run out of the desire to catch me before I run out of the desire to keep ahead."

Morgause turned back to Cameron with a serious look in her green eyes. "Mark my words, my captain," she said with confidence. "Come daybreak, we will find sails on the horizon."

[Shura]

Cameron frowned slightly looking off in the same direction as she did in thought. She didn't like the idea of a tracker, not one bit. Would make thing difficult in terms of getting around. Out in open sea they couldn't do much the winds was not built for a war at sea, not yet at least. So what ever needed to be done had to happen on land where it was easy to sneak around get lost in the crowds. She subconsciously started to bit her bottom lip in thought, a habit formed since she was a child. She could formulate a dozen on more plan but that didn't mean any would work they was too little information.

"We'll set sale before the light of dawn then..." she muttered after a few moment of silence. "There's a port not to far from here that's a very busy trading port easy to get lost in. And just take it form there pending on what they do... at the very best we eliminate this tracker and at the least..." a mischievous smirk curved her lips. "We'll sabotage their ship. make it just a bit harder for them to give chase should it come time to flee." She looked back to Morgause meeting her gaze with her own which was a light with fierce determination. "Either way, They'll learn very quickly my ship and crew are not to be messed with. Especially those I hold dear."

[Kharmin]

Morgause remained affixed to her position at the stern with her gaze toward the direction of the expected pursuit. The rune on her hand glowed a faint phosphorous green and pulsed ever so slowly as she pulled upon her talent to scan the horizon.

She had seen them preparing to sail, preparing to come after her and capture her. She knew that they were coming, so she kept her tireless vigil. The strain on her talent was but a trickle of her ability, but she had sustained it for hours and her endurance was being stretched thin.

The pre-dawn light had barely registered in the east when Morgause saw the speck. At first, she thought it was a trick of the light as it played across the horizon at the extent of her enhanced vision. She rubbed her tired eyes and re-focused. The rune on her hand flared brighter as she zoomed in on the object.

It was a ship. They were coming.

Morgause released her hours-long hold on her talent and her rune flickered and slowly faded out. She rubbed her face with her hands as she tried to wipe the fatigue from it and she sighed with resignation.

"Go get the captain," she commanded. Her soft voice broke the uneasy silence on the deck as she glanced at one of the crew members on watch. "Now."

[Shura]

Camrron has stayed up with Morgause as long as she could before exhaustion kicked in. Knowing the next day would not be easy the captain went to sleep offer the sharp sooter a chance to rest as well but she was determined. Despite tryong to sleep it didn't come easy she managed to get a few hour in, enough to keep a level head come morning.

The deck hand tilted his head in confustion but just shruged and went to get the captain. It took a minute or two of pounding but she was awakened. Cam was irritble and confused that someone woke her "What?!" She barked.
"Sorry to wake you captain but Torbrille insisted that you be woken."
Cam temsed slightly remembering the warning from last night and cursed softly quickly getting out of bed. Wake the crew we set sale now." She called as she quickly tugged on her boots. The man found it strange but obeyed the order going below deck to wake the crew.

Cam wasted no time getting to the hem calling orders to raise anchor and drop the sails whith what noght crew was left. it wouldn't happen quickly but ot was the head start they needed. She spotted Morgause in the same apot she had been when she went to bed and stood beside her. "You should rest while we sail. The winds is fast so they won't catch us." She suggested voice still holding abit of a groggily tone.

[Kharmin]

Morgause nodded her consent to Cameron's concern. "Captain," she said with fatigue clearly in her soft voice, "don't underestimate them. Somehow, this is different."

She raked her hands through her hair and sighed with a deep breath. "They've been close before, but each time I've eluded them it took time for them to hone back in on me. This ... tenaciousness ... is different. Something has renewed their hunt for me with vigor."

Morgause yawned and rubbed her eyes with a thumb and forefinger. "They must know who I am and what I can do," she added as she tried to get all the night's thoughts out of her mind before she lost them in slumber. "I daresay, should they come within range, they will be prepared for any long shots of mine."

She placed an affectionate hand on Cameron's shoulder. "I'll go rest now, as my captain commands," she said with a wan smile. "When you have need of me, send and I will come."

Morgause cast one look back at the horizon, but without using her enhanced vision the speck of the oncoming ship was far too distant for her to see. She pointed to where she last saw their pursuers so that Cameron would know their last position.

Pre-dawn continued to lighten in the east as it painted the sky a foreboding blood-red color.

[Shura]

"I shall keep that in mind and alert the crew that we are being pursued. I just leave out the why." She muttered. "Money fules many men to do reckless things. They may have a strong resolve to find you but your not alone this time." She assured brushing some of her crimson locks from her face tucking them behind her ear. Before leaning on pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Just remember that." She said remebering how quick she was to switch ships before. Granted it would be for a different reason Cameron still wasnt sure if this threat would cause the wanted woman to flee by any means possible. "My quarters should be much quieter of you want to rest there" she offered. Moving to take her spot on the helm the ship almost ready to set off.

[Kharmin]

Morgause forced a smile over her tired face at Cameron's soft touch and gentle kiss. Her heart stirred, but in a warm, embracing way rather than the lust-fueled desire they shared at the lagoon. Again, she dared hope that she had a tangible future and Morgause very much wanted to share that future with Cameron.

The strong, yet delicate, captain had dropped all pretenses at the lagoon and they shared a deep love that went beyond their physical union. Morgause had no intention of voluntarily leaving that behind in any attempt to escape her past. She allowed her green eyes to lock with Cameron's to show that she indeed would remember.

"Thanks, captain," Morgause said with fatigue dripping from her voice. "With your permission, I think I will do just that."

She exited to the captain's cabin. Once inside, she uncharacteristically dropped her weapons, her arrows scattered freely from their confinement within the rolling quiver. Morgause unbuckled and dropped the sword belt as she walked toward the bed. Her cutlass clattered on the floor, but in her fatigue she paid it no mind.

Morgause barely remembered to remove her boots before she slid under the soft sheets of her lover's bed. She inhaled Cameron's scent deeply as she snuggled with her pillow and smiled as a twinge of desire surged between her legs. Wickedly, she scissored her legs at the thought: if only Cameron were here, loving me to sleep!

With that desirous thought in mind, all of her concerns for the trailing ship were banished, for a time, and the red haired vixen tumbled into a deep, dreamless sleep.

[Shura]

The Winds Will came full sail and caught the wind pulling it towards the south once more. The captain had spent a chunk of time studying maps to figure out how to get to the closest port but also make is difficult follow. There was also the puzzlr of what to do once they were at port but it could be handled once they reached the island.

After after hours of sailing Cameron changed coarse heading for one of the more dangerous passes hidden from most others. She trimmed the sails bring the ship to a slower speed to navigate the dangerous valley. It was an agonizingly tedious sail but one well worth it since it cut out a day of travel. Even if they were followed by the time they cleared the pass low tide will have started to set in making the pass impossible to escape untill the next rise in the tides. The captain winced any time the ship side would scrape against a rock or cliff side never enough to do any real damage but unnerving all the same.

The biggest relife was the sight of open water as they came to the exit of the pass. The sea level had started to lower making it a little more treacherous but thanks to some luck and help from her the crew the managed to pass unscathed. She called for full sails once again the sun wad already high by this time. Cam checked her map once more changing coarse towards port. Her mind focusing now on what to do once port was reached. She remembered some supplies and materials for repairs had already been on board giving cam an odea to blend in.

It was late afternoon by the time they reached port. Cameron wasted no time getting a set of plain white sails from the hull and starting the tedious task of taking down the easily identifiable crimson sails she had grown fond of. She called for some of her crew to go ashore and see of there was traders in need of a shop to move goods. Once all wad assigned cam joined in helping to rig the new sails having done it enough times before. She found some joy in working the rigs still something lost when having to man the helm all day.