Pirates of the Tall Tall Trees...

[karenee]

"But... I'm buying a parrot!" Cuddles blurted out. He felt a wave of heat pour across his face. Why on earth had he said that?

Jack turned his face away and coughed. "Another day, boy."

"Aww! I don't wanna go back to the ship! Let me come with you."

Jack stared at Cuddles for a moment. "Hrm... I have... plans... now see here, don't... don't cry. Will you go back to the ship and stay safe if we find you a parrot?"

Cuddles wiped his cheeks with his sleeve, hiding a sly smile behind the fabric. "Soft-hearted Jack would be excellent company, and who knew if they'd find a parrot? This would be a day of adventure for sure."

[CynanMachae]

***

Cuddles kept a close watch on Jack as he made his way though the crowded throng of pirates. Careful not to bump into anyone, he followed the swordmaster until he reached a small brick building. It looked run down, but the sounds of a pirate's tavern were clear. Cuddles watched as Jack knocked twice on the solid oaken door. A small window slid open in the wood, and Jack leaned down to whisper something. The door creaked open and he slid inside. Cuddles tried to think of a way he could get close enough to see what was going on inside...

[karenee]

then Jack caught him by the collar and yanked him through the door.

"Ye must see to it that you stay close, boy."

Cuddles nodded, and gulped as a giant, bearded face swooped down at him out of the gloom.

"Jack, why the rat?" A wave of fetid breath nearly knocked Cuddles over as the giant spoke.

Jack coughed and slugged the man's massive shoulder. "Boy's gonna need a corner table, Tree. Don't want to put him where he might lose an eye or somethin'."

The face zoomed back up into the smoke near the ceiling and Tree patted Cuddles on the head. "Come, Rat." He stepped into the raucous room, making a wide path for Cuddles to follow.

Jack pushed him forward. "Come, Boy. Tree won't hurt ye!... He's my friend, Boy. Move!"

[CynanMachae]

Cuddles allowed himself to be led to a small table in the very back of the room, away from the fireplace and most of the roaring pirates. He had a good view of the tavern, and he kept an eye on Jack as he sat with several ragged-looking souls. It was impossible to hear their discussion over the shouting and singing of the drunkards around the room, but Cuddles saw plenty of winks and nods. There were six men total at the table - Jack seemed to be the most civilized. The beer flowed as the meeting moved on. Cuddles began to feel bored; he was hoping for some swashbuckling action. Looking around the room, he studied the pirates. Most seemed to be in their own worlds, drinking, singing, belching, and quarreling amongst themselves.

As his eyes swept the room, Cuddles noticed one particular cloaked figure staring at him. It appeared to be a woman, perhaps not much older than himself, and she was sitting in a spot where she could see him through the crowded throng. Their eyes met briefly, and Cuddles quickly dropped his gaze to the table. He tried not to look up again.

[karenee]

After what seemed like hours, Jack rose from his table. Cuddles jumped awake at the surge of motion and looked up. Tree reached across the table, caught Cuddles by the shoulder and yanked him through the air to deposit him neatly beside Jack.

Gaping, gasping for air, Cuddles stumbled out the door with Jack enveloped in a loud burst of raucous laughter.

"Good day to you, rat!"

Cuddles squeeked and dodged behind Jack as Tree emerged from the doorway.

"What?" Tree spread his arms. "Perhaps he's a mouse, Jack?"

Jack grunted and shoved Cuddles into the open. "You asked to come, boy. Live with the consequences!"

There was nothing left to do but stand firm before the giant. Cuddles lifted his eyes to the broad, hairy face looking down at him, and waited.

"Here." Mysteriously, perhaps magically, a small tufted parrot appeared in Tree's palm. Wobbling on its claws, it clacked its beak at Cuddles.

"For me? Really?"

Tree nodded.

"Aw, he's... well,... Thank you, sir!" Cuddles opened his vest and tucked the parrot against his chest. "Wow! I can't believe it! Now I'm a real pirate, for sure!"

He pretended not to hear Jack and Tree burst into loud laughter. They could think what they liked, but a parrot made a pirate, and that was a fact!

Over in the shadows of a narrow alley between the buildings, he glimpsed a familiar, feminine face. Who could it be? Why was she watching him? But when he glanced that way again, she was gone. Perhaps he'd been wrong.

Jack tapped his shoulder. "Back to the ship with you, boy. I've got things to do."

[CynanMachae]

This time, with parrot on shoulder, Cuddles was happy to obey Jack's command. He made his way quickly to the ship, where he boarded and headed to his hammock below deck. He was rather tired after the day's events. But he had lowered himself through the hatch that led below, he found himself face to face with Scalder. The cook blew an exhasperated sigh through clenched teeth.

"Boy, I've been waiting for quite some time now. And by gum, those slimy rotters have been complaining all day, 'where's me food? Why can't ye keep up with our growling stomach's, Scalder?' But I can't keep up, boy, 'cause I got no help!"

Cuddles gulped.

"'M sorry," he mumbled. "I was looking for a parrot."

"Well, I see ya found one," Scalder frowned. "Now get to the kitchen. Mind ye, I'm right behind."

[CynanMachae]

***

Cuddles had just stepped into the kitchen, Scalder only a step behind, when a tremendous boom! exploded in his ears and the Hack and Hew'em shook violently. Instantly he was thrown sideways against a counter, and Scalder followed suit, crushing Cuddles to the shelving before flopping to the wooden floor. Dishes, food, and water flew in all directions in a caustic blending of color and sound. As he rolled over below the overhanging counter for protection, Cuddles managed to see the red blur of the flapping parrot. Beams, splinters, and the kitchen accesories all fell to the floor with a unified crash. The boat was still rocking from side to side in the water. The sounds of the pirates scrambling above and below deck reached Cuddles. Pandimonium reigned as the crew fought their way to the cannons.

Moments later, another cannonball from the shore hit the ship, this time above deck. Cuddles heard the blast and felt the ship shudder, but was able to slowly shift onto his hands and knees. The shouts of the Hack and Hew'em's crew were drowned out by the sound of their own cannons returning fire. Scalder lay neaby, motionless. Half crawling, half staggering, Cuddles made his way to the kitchen window; not far below, the clear blue water of the cove glimmered red and orange in the light of the sinking sun. As he was pondering a jump, Cuddles noticed a small rowboat making its way around the hull of the massive ship. Three figures were hunched inside; someone who was facing off in a different direction, a rower, and the same cloaked girl Cuddles had seen twice that day. As the rowboat neared the window, she called up.
"Hurry and jump! There's not much time!"

Cuddles was frozen, ten thousand thoughts rushing through his mind...

[karenee]

"I can't abandon my ship!" was the only thought that made it out of his mouth, however.

Below him, the girl was startled into a grin. "Who do'y think you are? The captain? I'm going to help you! Now, jump!"

Cuddles hesitated. Just as he was about to withdraw, his parrot flapped past his shoulder and tumbled over the side. "Ah! No!" He lunged forward to catch the bird and went over the side himself. He wondered, in the confusion of the fall and amid the boom of the canons, whether he really had heard a sudden laugh.

[CynanMachae]

Cuddles hit the waves with a smack. The cold water pulled him instantly in, enveloping him. In the shock of the impact and the biting temperature of the water, Cuddles let out a cry, the air rushing from his lungs. He fought his way toward the surface, where he could see the bottom of the rowboat. Strong hands reached down into the water and pulled him forcibly out and over the side, where he lay panting between two of the wooden seat-planks.

[karenee]

"Here's your bird," said the girl, and she shoved his parrot into his hands before turning her back to him and gesturing at the men to row.

"Uh, I didn't mean to come!" The boom of canon drowned out his words, so he tried again. "Really, just leave me at the shore and I'll join my crew when this fight ends?"

She shrugged. "I can't do that."

"What?" Cuddles winced as his voice squeaked. "Uh, I mean... why?" He couldn't imagine what a girl like her might want with a mere cabin boy, but she didn't answer. Finally he settled into the bottom of the boat to soothe his parrot.

"Now what shall I call you?" He muttered, watching the parrot preen its feathers.

[CynanMachae]

It looked up at him and squawked. “Arr-ack! Cap’n Billy Jack Haynes! Cap’n, cap’n!”

“Eh?” Cuddles mused over the name. Slowly the rowboat made its way across the bay, a dark mass on the water in the quickly fading light of the sunset. Behind them, the Hack and Hew’em glowed orange as flames crawled across the deck. The pirates on board scurried to and fro to avoid the fire, some jumping over the railing to the safety of the water below. Cuddles pushed himself up on one elbow and twisted around to take in the scene. He wondered if he would ever again see those on board whose friendships he had grown to love.

“Some things change, lad.” Said a familiar voice. “It’s not up to us t’look to the past. Adventure calls!”

Cuddles spun around again to look at the man in the front of the boat.

“J– Jack?”

[karenee]

"What are you doin' here!" Cuddles sputtered.

The girl turned with a chuckle. "Ah, Jack. He's turning purple from shock. You sure this cute little button of a boy is what you were after? I thought we wanted men for this job?"

"B...boy!" Suddenly, the term seemed less than endearing, coming from her lips. From the men aboard the Hack and Hew 'em it had seemed a sort of acceptance, but this? "B..bb..button?" He couldn't think how to respond to this strange assault on his manhood, especially when he couldn't deny a certain amount of youth. Finally, he settled for, "What job?" and focused on Jack, who he knew would never call him a ... a button!

[CynanMachae]

Jack laughed. Setting his hand on Cuddles’ shoulder, he nodded towards the sinking, burning ship. He lowered his voice and became serious.

“Cuddles, m’boy, I see a lot of good in ye, potential for grand piracy. And I’m not just sayin’ that – I mean it. But there is so much for ye t’learn before ye can command the respect of all. And one thing ye can learn right now is that this world is hard, and it’s every man for hisself.”

Cuddles turned to look at the Hack and Hew’em, but it was lost to view as the little rowboat rounded a bend in the rocky shore. He sighed. He had grown to connect with everyone on board, and even with the ship itself. He turned back to Jack.

“But YOU didn’t abandon me, Jack. Aren’t you for yourself?”

Jack nodded and started to smile again.

“I need ye, boy.” He said. “You’re gonna help me with something very, very important.”

[karenee]

Cuddles eyed Jack with suspicion. After the sudden destruction of his comrades, and Jack's cool manner about his involvement, he wasn't sure how much the man could be trusted. But, Cuddles had been around pirates enough not to let on his suspicions. That, he had learned early on, would only lead to trouble of the knife-against-one's-neck sort, so he nodded vaguely, stroking his parrot and wondering what adventure lay ahead.

[CynanMachae]

***

Later that night, Cuddles found himself being ushered out of the rowboat and into a cave that was part of a jutting rock formation. Cliffs rose high above and he could not recognize where they were in the darkness. The only light came from the pirates’ torches as they made their way inside the cavern. Once inside, Jack lit a few other torches that were mounted in brackets on the cave walls and the place lit up. It was not very large cave, and toward the back he could make out pads for sleeping. There were boxes and other things strewn about haphazardly, and a cluttered table with a few chairs. The girl turned and smiled at him.

“Welcome to your new home.” She said.


******
EDIT: Because I'm so weird, I hastily put together an empty map for our pirate story. As details are added, the map can be adjusted. Feel free to save the map as a picture and make your own additions.