ᵗʰᵃˡᵃˢˢᵒᵖʰⁱˡᵉ

🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

[ stowaway ]

𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐟𝐟. However, he was soon to squint them due to the sunlight cascading into his vision through the flourishing leaves of the trees above.

He groaned, fingers pressing into his eyes as the hangover from the night before hitting him like a bag of rocks. He felt a pressure on his shoulder, and glanced down, finding your head against it, snoozing away. Your arm was threaded through his as you lightly snored. 

Beside you was Sarah, who was also still sleeping, her hat tipped to cover her eyes, offering her a dark atmosphere. Jacob lifted his gaze from your sleeping face, towards the regal castle ahead. Its golden towers pierced the clouds, with green roofing and white structure. 

You awoke in the city, thanks to yells and cries of the children and citizens of the kingdom. You yawned, stretching your arms as the carriage rode through the castle gates. Soon, the double doors that reached the high ceiling opened, and you, Jacob, Captain Crow and Sarah were once again in the throne room of the king and queen.

"Well, if it isn't Captain Crow and his loyal mates," the king greeted. 

"Your Grace, as you can see, the oceans have offered abundant prey," Crow started. 

You watched as Jacob went to the large table, decorated with plates of mouth-watering foods. He grabbed a round cake dessert, sniffing it. Deeming it good enough, he turned to you, tossing you the treat. You thanked him with a chuckle and nod, taking a bite, enjoying the taste of rich chocolate.

"And I see you've taken a full-grown brickleback," the queen observed. "A specimen like that garners quite a bounty. But there's something I don't see. The horn of the Red Bluster. Admiral Hornagold has reported a rumor..."

"Admiral Hornagold?" the four of you said in sync.

"...That you spotted the Red Bluster but abandoned your pursuit because of a certain code."

"The royals don't pay you to honor such codes," Hornagold said, walking down the green-carpeted stairs. "They pay you to kill monsters. How many more ships will be lost because you let the Bluster slip away?"

The king and queen stood as you followed behind them to the elaborate balcony. "This was once a small kingdom with a big idea," the king told. "To send hunters out to repel the beasts from our shores and usher in a new era of peace."

"It's been hundreds of years since the Dark Times, but as long as the Bluster lives, people will still look to the seas with fear," the queen continued.

"So today marks the beginning of a new era." Your eyebrows furrowed as you all stepped to the edge of the balcony, finding a humongous ship, adorned with the royal colors. "The Crown will no longer support the hunters."

"She's quite a sight, isn't she?" Hornagold spoke up as you stared at the ship. "The Imperator is the most heavily armed ship ever to set sail. The Royal Navy will push deep into the unknown world and eradicate every sea beast in our path."

"Not in that thing," Crow shot down. "She rests too low. And them fixed canons is useless. And her Captain...is an ass."

Hornagold let out a short gasp. "It's time for you to leave, Captain. Your time is up."

"Admiral," Crow called, turning around to the already walking-away Hornagold. "Have you ever seen one of them beasts that wasn't hanging from a ceiling?" He spun back to Crow, who was stepping forward. "Don't send your soldiers to die in a ship like that. It's not built for hunting, and neither are you."

"I assure you, I am not afraid of those beasts."

"Then you're a fool!" he yelled in Hornagold's face. "And you'll take a lot of good sailors down with you!"

"General, see the hunters out. We're done with them," the queen scowled.

Crow's face was bubbling with red, consumed by anger as he shouted, "We hunters have shed blood, while you lot hid behind walls and drew lines on maps! You're cowards, the lot of ya!"

"General, the Captain is to be placed under arrest, and the Inevitable decommissioned!" 

You slowly unsheathed your dagger, ready to aim it as Sarah flicked her pistol's safety. 

"W-W-Wait, wait!" Jacob stopped, dashing in front of the you and the captain, placing one hand out towards the General, whilst one strapped across in front of you. "Uh, Your Grace," he chuckled nervously. "The, uh...The captain is well-known for his temper, but his talents as a hunter have served you well. He's opened the seas and-and made you empire the envy of the known world. Now, I believe the world still needs the hunters, so prove me wrong." He tilted the gun away from him and the rest of you as he continued his reasoning. "Give us one more try for the Bluster. If we take it, you keep your promise, and we continue our alliance. If the Imperator takes the Bluster, well, you can tear down the Inevitable for scrap, and the days of the hunters will be over."

"Either way," you spoke up, and the queen and king glanced at you, finding a venomous scowl contorting your usually soft features. "You win."

"I, for one, would relish the opportunity," Hornagold hummed.

"Then we have a contest," the king smiled. "Get set. Go."

"We'll take the Bluster and bring it to your doorstep. The days of hunters are not over. Not nearly."

The crew set sail during the early day, and the ship swept across the ocean, the orange tinge of evening coming through the windows of the captain's cabin, where you, Jacob, Crow and Sarah planned the voyage. "When we reach the Dregmorr, we'll follow the trenches," the captain started.

"We stay battle-ready, clear decks, sharpened flints, and fresh cartridge," you stated.

"The Bluster's hide will be plenty thick," Jacob sighed. "Best to use the long spears."

"Them archers won't do any good, but we've got plenty of carcass shot," Sarah added. 

"We'll hit with fire, then go for a sleigh ride," the captain uttered. "That's the way for something like this."

"We're ready, Captain. We'll take that red demon," Jacob nodded. 

"-For we are hunters!" Crow yelled out to the crew below. "And we will bring all of our skill and all of our rage down upon this beast. And there will be justice!" The crew cheered, as you clapped. "But that will not be the end of this great ship. For no one has sailed beyond the Dregmorr Sea. No one knows what dangers lurk in that terrible unknown. But it will be this ship...under Jacob Holland, that will pierce the darkness!"

Your eyes widened as you grinned at the man beside you, who too had a similar expression. Around him, the crew patted his back as they roared with joy, congratulating the man. "I knew it," you smirked, and Jacob smiled down at you in thanks. 

"So, let's drink to a successful hunt, with many more to come!"

Barrels of beer were rolled in as mugs were brought out, and two members lifted Jacob onto their shoulders. He looked back at Crow, who nodded with a small smile. As the notches were knocked into the kegs, everyone came to an abrupt stop when a pained, "OW!", echoed from the last barrel.

"What was that?"

"It came from the keg."

Jacob stepped forward, sharing a look with the woman who was doing the notches for the keg. He grabbed the barrel, lifting it upwards, turning it and pulling it open. 

There, in a hunched and uncomfortable position, was Maisie. She chuckled nervously and the crew gasped in shock. Your hand raised to your mouth as you walked over, the girl weakly waving at you.

"You stowed away?" Jacob questioned.

"I stowed away," she nervously smiled. 

"She stowed away," you breathed out.

"You stowed away," Jacob sighed, rubbing a hand down his face.

"Uh, I..." She hopped to her feet. "Yeah."

"Well, we're dropping you off at the nearest port," Jacob stated. "We're going after the Bluster. We can't have a kid mucking about."

"What's this then?" Crow's voice questioned, and the crew separated for him, as he walked over.

The girl had a similar look to when she had first met you. "The name's...Maisie Brumble, but you need no introduction. You've been swallowed whole, shot through the heart and cut to pieces." Her voice raised, showing her excitement. "But the worms won't eat you, and hell won't take you, so here you are! The right, proud commander of the second-greatest hunting ship whatever sailed!"

"Second greatest?" Crow asked, then leaned down. "Which then, may I ask, is the greatest?"

"I'm partial to the Monarch, for it's the ship me parents served on," she answered, holding the strap of her satchel tighter.

"I see." He leaned back. "Then they died heroes, didn't they?"

"Aye."

"I like this kid. She's all vinegar."

"But C-Captain-," Jacob stammered, but he continued.

"Sarah, Y/N, be good enough to take her in, would you?"

Sarah's disdained face looked back at the girl. "Aye, Captain."

Jacob watched with a shocked expression as Maisie grinned, taking a mug of beer for herself. "Congratulations, Captain Someday."

As she hopped off, Jacob took the mug from her, "Uh."

Sea shanty played as the crew chuckled at her behavior. You smiled down at the girl, holding your hand out and she was eager to take it as the two of us followed Sarah into your shared courters. Maisie glanced back, and stuck her tongue out at Jacob, before looking back up at you with a sweet grin and he scoffed.

Opening the door, Sarah stepped in first as the pair of you walked inside. Maisie looked around, finding two bunk beds and another bigger one by the window. The bottom was cluttered, seeing as it was yours, whilst the top looked as if it hadn't been touched. You and Sarah went to the bunk, reaching into the top one, ripping the blanket away. There, it revealed your shared collection of guns and other weaponry.

You slotted some of them away, and you threw the axe and spiked hammer into the opposite wall, where a target was hanging. Sarah fluffed a pillow, but was really feeling for any more weapons, before flinging it back onto the bed. "Sleep there," was all she said.

"You're... Sarah Sharpe," Maisie softly awed. She reached into her bag, taking out her book and flipping through the pages. Once she found the one, she wanted, she raised it up, where a drawing of the woman was. "They say no first mate is more loyal-."

"That's enough," Sarah interrupted, and she lowered the book, revealing the exact same expression that was on the paper. "I've heard your speeches, Miss."

"My speeches kept me on this boat."

"You're on this boat because Captain Crow won't stop to put off of it." She pulled a small dagger from her coat, unsheathing it with a shine. "The hunt is all. So, give him your absolute obedience." Sarah held out her hand, and Maisie hesitantly took the long knife. "Or fall on that yourself, because I'll visit worse than death on ya."

"You're...amazing."

You smiled at the girl, shaking your head as Sarah furrowed her brows in confusion, looking at you for an answer. You merely shrugged and she sighed.

In the early morning, two red fireworks were cast into the sky, breaking into small sparks as Jacob walked up to the fo'c'sle, where Crow was. "We passed Rum Pepper Island in the night," Crow told him. "We've reached the Dregmorr."

"Aye, and we'll find that thing soon enough," Jacob smiled.

The two heard metal scraping behind them, and they turned, finding Maisie sharpening her dagger. She looked over at them with a smirk. "I wonder if I might need something a little...larger?" she wondered.

"Hey, where'd you get that knife?" Jacob questioned, stepping over.

"Sarah gave it to me cause I'm a hunter now," she replied, jumping up and spinning around whilst thrashing the dagger in the air. 

"A hunter who needs to go to bed," the blonde scolded.

"But I'm too much awake to sleep. I'm on the Inevitable with Captain Crow. Them pictures in me books come to life, and exacting bloody revenge!" As she play-fought with the knife, and she struck forward, the dagger got stuck in the wooding, causing her to halt. 

"Go, get your rest," Crow said.

She ripped it out. "Aye, Captain," she giggled. "We's gonna kill that thing, ain't we? And they'll make statues of us."

"We'll kill it, alright. Now get!" he softly ordered.

"Ah, there you are, you scallywag!" 

Maisie turned with a wide grin as Jacob looked up, finding you walking up the steps with a yawn and stretch. You held both your arms out, and Maisie latched onto them, putting her feet atop yours so that when you walked, she did too. You began twirling slowly, and Jacob watched with a fond look in his eyes. 

"I thought you were distracted," Maisie laughed.

"You were meant to be in bed hours ago," you scolded. "How are you going to help slay the Red Bluster if you're too busy napping?" She hummed, biting her lip as she focused on your feet, wanting to move in sync. "We're off to bed now, lassie."

She nodded, and got off your feet, though still kept one hand in your own. You winked at Jacob and saluted Crow before you and the little girl went back to your room.

"The monsters I can handle," Jacob started, leaning against the rope. "But that one, she'll be the death of me."

"Which one, my boy?" Crow joked. 

"I thought I could handle Y/N, but now that she's got a little henchman, I'm afraid I won't make it."

"You recall the hunter's code binds us to all who come before, and all who come after." The captain chuckled. "I see a fire in her. Same fire I saw in you. And Y/N seems to make that fire burn brighter in the both of ya's."

Just as Jacob went to question the statement, a distant rumbling echoed, and the ship began to rattle and shake.

From the courters, you looked up in confusion as the room shook, quickly coming closer to Maisie, who gasped from her bed. "The Red Bluster..." you mumbled.