"Holy shit Palmer, what the hell was that?" Shouted the merchant coming out of his stupor.

"No time for him to explain we gotta grab what we can and catch that boat!" Yelled the painter from his position halfway out the tavern door.

The two men ran after their friend. But he was already gone by the time they got outside.

The remaining two parted ways saying they'll meet back at the town square in five minutes.

The tavern owner went behind his place and headed up the stairs to his house.

When he got in he closed the door and stood there hyperventilating thinking back to his previous actions.

After a few moments he calmed down using an exercise his best friend had taught him, breath in, breathe out, think of the calmness.

It always worked it seemed he hasn't seen her in decades but still thought about her.

Her picture say by his bed, no one knew what happened to her but he knew she was alive and hoped to see her again.

He ripped himself out of his memories and began packing a little carrier made out of an old bag she had given him as kids.

Yes he still had it.

He put two pairs of shirts and breeches on the top he placed the the picture then secured the straps and left his home, hopefully not for the last time.

On the other side of town the merchant was stuffing his trunk filled with maps, books, clothes, and his grandfather's telescope.

He always wished to be a pirate and here he was living his dream, he wishes his grandfather was alive to see this, but he died from the flu ten years ago.

He sighed looked up gave a salute to the ceiling and closed his chest then proceeded to drag it out of his home.

The painter was already waiting for the other two having got an early start and being very adaptable and resourceful he didn't need much but his papers, pencils, books, and rum.

The men met back up, the painter gave them a look as if to say are you guys absolutely sure?

The others nodded sternly, with that they departed for the Black Moon.

"Keith?" The merchant asked from behind the painter.

"Yeah?" Answered Keith.

"I'm curious, why did you at first say no to wanting to join the pirates?" Asked Greg in a curious tone.

"I rather not talk about it." Grumbled Keith, making his way up the plank of the ship.

The merchant was about to protest, but the tavern owner touched his shoulder as if to say leave it alone, and he did.

The boys climbed aboard the ship, it was nicer when you got a closer look at it.

They looked around it was all made up of painted black wood.

The ship began to set off into the deep blue sea.

She cut through it with ease, as if she were the moon passing through the clouds with the stars surrounding her above.

Greg was wide eyed at the sight and actually being on an actual pirate ship.

Carl chuckled at his awed face thinking he looked like a child at a sweet Shoppe.

Keith broke out his papers and began to sketch.

A voiced cleared behind them, startling them.

"Welcome aboard men! Now you," he said pointing to Keith. "Will be the look out."

"Look out?" Questioned Keith.

"Aye." The captain replied.

"So you want me to look out from on deck for other ships, right?" Asked Keith confused as to what the look outs did.

"No ye be up there." The captain said pointing up at the crow's nest.

Keith followed the captain's finger and his eyes widen though not with fear but with sheer excitement for he loved heights.

"Aye, Aye, Capt'n!" Keith hollered before making his way up the faulty looking rope ladder.

"Keep your eyes peeled for the forbidden fruit!" The captain hollered up to the mad man hanging off the ladder.

"The what?" Yelled back Keith.

"The dreaded Karn Evil 9." The captain replied.

"Karn Evil 9? What odd names you guys have for ships." Carl said from his spot on the captain's right side.

Greg looked at him pointedly, "Your tavern's name is Barrelhouse."

Carl glared at Greg, "Ey! What's wrong with my name?!" He yelled at the merchant.

"It's not catchy like Black Moon or Karn Evil 9." Greg replied nonchalantly.

"But you do make decent drinks though." Keith yelled from above the two.

"I knew I should've went with Paper Blood." Carl mumbled underneath his breath.

"Why didn't you?!" Greg blurted in surprise.

The captain was getting annoyed at their arguing, "One more word outta any of ye and I'll feed ye to the sharks!!" He threatened, shutting up both of the bickering men.

"Now ye." He said pointing to Carl, "Ye come with me." He finished leading him towards a door, possibly the captain's cabin.

When everyone was gone, the remaining man just stood there taking in his surrounding.

A peaceful one, the ocean always have off this is why he loved it so, he'd trade all the gold he has to forever sail the ocean. 

~ TBC