Sea Dragons

This story is by Alphawolf8091, and the cover art is by _shadowmelody_. If you see any typos or errors while reading, please let Alpha know so she can fix them!
==Summary/Preview==
Cora Gray is the daughter of two vastly wealthy merchants, and her entire life has been run by her parents. Though she’s always pretended to believe everything they tell her, she inwardly hopes that she can one day escape their influence. But when her father begins pressuring her to start dating someone, she knows there is no way out of it. That is, until she’s kidnapped by a crew of all-female pirates known as the Sea Dragons. Suddenly Cora finds herself on the open ocean, with a chance to join a band of criminals who just might teach her what freedom really is. But the ocean is full of secrets and dangers- and Cora may have to fight to protect the new family she’s found.
==Warning==
WARNING: This story is about pirates, and contains violence, crime, minor gore, death, mild homophobia, firearms, and other weapons. Please do not read this story if you are sensitive to these things or think these topics will bother you.
==Chapter One==
Trying to force herself sit still, Cora watched in the mirror while a maid attacked her hair. Wincing as a brush was pulled roughly through it, she asked yet again, “Is this really necessary? I know how to get ready for a party.”
“I’m sure you do, but your father wants you to look your best tonight,” the maid said. Cora didn’t even know her name; she was just another of the people her parents had hired to work at their house, and just another person who enjoyed telling her father all the things she’d done wrong that day.
“This just seems a little overly formal,” Cora said, frowning down at herself. Normally she enjoyed dressing nicely, but the dress her mother had sent was stiff and annoyingly hard to move in.
The maid yanked the brush through her hair again. “You’re turning eighteen. Of course the party is going to be formal; you’re practically a lady now.” Stepping back to survey her work, the maid reached for more supplies with which to assault her, trying to twist her unruly blonde hair into some mysterious fashion. Cora tried not to scowl as she watched through the mirror. She was perfectly capable of fixing her own hair, but as usual, her father had decided that someone else could do it better.
Waiting impatiently, Cora kept her mouth shut while the maid worked, pulling her hair up into a style that painfully pinched her scalp. Knowing better than to complain, she waited until the maid finally started towards the door. “Your father is waiting for you in his office,” she informed her. “He wants to see you before guests start arriving, so head down there immediately.” Without another word, the maid left, closing the door tightly behind her.
Cora waited until the woman’s footsteps grew faint before she started messing with her hair, trying to find some way to make it less tight without completely taking it down. When she was satisfied that she’d done as much as she could, she reluctantly opened her door and headed down the stairs.
Her father was behind his desk, as usual, reviewing some papers that had probably been sent by one of his business associates. He barely glanced up as she walked in, and she didn’t say anything, knowing better than to interrupt. When he finally finished whatever he’d been reading, he slid the paper aside and stood. “Good afternoon, Coralyn, you look very nice.”
“I thought so, too,” Cora lied, plastering a pleasant smile on her face. “You wanted to see me?”
“Yes,” her father said, moving to stand in front of her. “I wanted to make sure you were ready for tonight- there will be some very important people in attendance, and we want everything to go well.”
“Of course,” she said, keeping up her smile. Important people- likely some of her father’s associates. She’d met a few of them before and had hated them instantly. Like most of the wealthy people who now owned estates, their polite words had barely masked the cruel and cunning people beneath. It had been all she could do to not run out of the room, but she’d had a lifetime of practice pretending she respected her father, so it had only been a matter of self-control for her to smile, nod, and pretend she believed their civilized acts.
“And happy birthday, of course,” her father added, a faint smile on his face. “Eighteen is an important landmark in your life.”
“I know,” Cora agreed, her smile becoming more forced. “Thank you for organizing such a wonderful party for me.” I’m sure it will be absolutely fantastic to have to deal with your friends all night.
Her father nodded, walking over to one of the windows behind his desk. The beach was visible outside it, the waves calmer than they usually were. The fact that the party was being held outside was a relief; she wouldn’t have been able to handle being stuffed inside with all of the snakes who pretended to care about her.
“If that was all, I can leave now,” Cora offered.
Her father glanced back. “Actually, I wanted to discuss something else. As you know, you’re an excellent girl, and you’re quickly becoming a woman. I wouldn’t want the future of my only daughter to be uncertain, so I’ve taken the liberty of inviting some fine young men to this event. I know you have previously expressed much… disinterest in having a relationship, but you really do need to start dating, Coralyn. We need to prepare for your eventual marriage.”
It was all Cora could do to keep the smile on her face. Disinterest was a mild way to put it; she absolutely despised most of the boys her father had tried to convince her to date. It wasn’t just the fact that many were just as bad as their conniving parents. The fact was, she had very little interest in dating boys in general. Not that she would ever tell her father that; he’d fired one of their workers once because he had found out she was married to another woman.
So she nodded, avoided his gaze, and said, “I’ll keep an eye out and... consider it.” A lie, but she had to tell him something while she thought of a plan.
A few hundred years ago, it would have been unthinkable for her father to try and pressure her into a relationship. Past women had fought long and hard to ensure that they had equal rights, and to ensure that they weren’t considered property. But when the land had begun to shrink, overtaken by flooding, society had crumbled; and with it, the lines had blurred for the rights of many people. Including women. And when her wealthy father already thought that all people owed him… it wasn’t a good situation.
“Then you can go,” her father said. “I’ll see you at the party.”
Cora nodded again, ducking her head, and headed out of the room. Her mind was already whirling, trying to think of every possible lie and excuse she could use to her advantage. With so many despicable people around, there would be eyes everywhere. She would have to be clever; feign reasons why she suddenly couldn’t talk to the boys her father pushed her way.
Oh yes, this party was going to be absolutely spectacular.
---
“Happy birthday, Miss Coralyn,” yet another guest said, smiling at her as they walked past. Cora thanked them, her face aching from the smile she’d been holding for hours. All around her, people chatted, catching up on news and gossip and business info while they ate. Waving at yet another of her parents’ friends, Cora glanced at the food. The party had been going for hours, and she still hadn’t eaten anything. She’d been too caught up in trying at conversation, and at fending off her father’s attempts to herd her into talking to some of the boys who were lingering around.
Spotting her mother over by a table, Cora weaved her way through the crowd, wet sand squishing under her sandals. She’d hoped that being on the beach would give her more space, but the people had crowded in anyways.
Her mother nodded in greeting as she approached, talking to one of Cora’s aunts. She waited patiently, looking over the crowd again and wondering how many more hours of this she’d have to endure. When her aunt finally drifted away, Cora asked her mother, “Has your evening gone well so far?”
“Yes, thank you,” her mother said, looking regal as always in a flowing gold dress. Cora, in comparison, was practically wilting in the pink dress she’d been given. Its longer sleeves had itched her relentlessly.
Looking her over, her mother added, “Have you met anyone of interest?”
Cora held in a wince. Clearly, her mother agreed with her father’s view on her relationship status. “Not yet, but maybe soon,” Cora lied, smiling with a false cheerfulness.
“Hopefully so,” her mother said, returning her attention to the crowd.
Cora nearly sighed, looking over all of the people who were pretending to be polite to each other. Pretty words masking insults and personal agendas; that was the way of these people, the way they’d schemed their ways into wealth and power. Her parents were no different, she knew.
Suddenly feeling suffocated by all the people, Cora turned to her mother and asked, “May I step away for some air? I think this heat is getting to me.”
Her mother waved a hand absently. “Fine, yes, but come back quickly.”
Cora murmured a thanks and turned away from the crowd, heading for a rocky outcropping on the far end of the beach. She’d hidden in the rocks occasionally, when she needed a break, and they’d provide some cover while she cleared her thoughts.
Away from the people, the cool night breeze kissed her skin, playing with the few strands of her hair that had escaped. She made it to the rocks and went around to the other side, letting them shield her from the view of the party as she tugged the sandals off her aching feet. Digging her toes into the sand, she gazed out of the ocean, letting the noise of the waves drown out the murmur from the party. She hated events like this, though she always masked her distaste from her parents.
The ocean wind whispered to her like it always did, telling her it understood and giving her the faintest glimpse of what freedom was like. The sea was always carefree; brutal, yes, but with a fierce beauty that drew many people to a life of sailing. Even some of the many criminal gangs who now ran rampant preferred a life on the ocean; they’d formed pirate clans, raiding boats and stealing from them as if they lived in older times.
Cora wondered what the sailors’ lives were like. Her father had people who shipped cargo for him; what were their days like, traveling across the oceans? Now that most of the earth was flooded, there was plenty of water for ships to cross. What did they do while the boats carried them to the scarce outcroppings of land?
Allowing her imagination to run for a while, Cora finally slipped her shoes back on and reluctantly turned back towards the party. Her mother would get upset if she was gone for much longer, and her father would no doubt lecture her for the absence.
She’d barely taken a step before a click sounded behind her. Turning, Cora blinked at the figure of a woman that was suddenly there.
And found a gun aimed at her head.
==Chapter Two==
Cora froze, her heart instantly hammering in her ears as she stared at the end of the gun. Guns were fairly rare nowadays- that kind of weaponry was scarcely owned by normal people, and was instead hoarded by the wealthy business owners who hired people to guard their land. Her father’s men had some; and she’d seen what they could do to targets.
She wondered what this one would do to her skull.
“Put your hands up. Now,” the woman commanded, her voice rough. A dark cloth obscured most of her face from view, save for her brown eyes, which were narrowed as she aimed the gun. Shakily obeying, Cora lifted her arms, trying to think over her panic.
“Good. Now turn around,” the woman ordered. Moving slowly, Cora twisted around to face the ocean, hearing soft footsteps as the woman approached her from behind. A second later, hands grabbed her wrists, forcing them down as the woman tied rope around them. Cora winced, then jerked as some type of cloth was pulled over her head, obscuring her vision. From behind her, the woman spoke again. “Walk. Go where I push you.”
Cora obeyed numbly, forcing herself to relax as she tried to think of anything she could do. Screaming would be pointless- she’d have a bullet in her head the moment she made a sound. Walking tentatively in the direction the woman was shoving her, she tried to focus on the way she was going, mentally mapping out the route so she could run back to the party the second she escaped. Calm down- think, think, think- you can do something.
But then she felt the ocean water hitting her feet, and she halted. The woman jabbed her roughly and Cora winced, yielding another step as she was pushed further out. “Keep going,” the woman said. “Climb into the boat when you hit it.”
Cora’s panic doubled- she’s taking me onto the water, they’ll never find me- but she shoved it aside as her knees hit the side of a boat. Forcing herself not to shake, she gingerly tried to climb in, attempting awkwardly to get over the edge while her hands were bound. With a sudden extra shove from the woman, she scaled the edge and hit the bottom of the boat, wincing as her tied wrists protested with sparks of pain. She forced herself into a sitting position while the woman started the boat’s motor. It was likely too far away for the noise to be heard by the loud party guests, Cora knew, dashing that hope before it could even start to bloom.
As she felt the small boat heading out into deeper water, Cora tried to listen and focus on not shivering. She refused to show how afraid she was- even if the woman planned to kill her, she would face her death without showing an ounce of the terror she felt. Swallowing against the sudden dryness of her mouth, Cora squeezed her eyes shut. I will not die tonight. I will not die tonight.
Eventually the boat beneath her slowed, gradually coming to a stop. From the sudden lack of a breeze, Cora guessed that they’d stopped in front of a larger object. A moment later she felt the boat being lifted out of the water, and the woman grabbed her arm, forcing her to her feet. Struggling to balance, Cora stumbled along as the woman pulled her off the small boat onto a harder surface. Other voices murmured around her, and Cora clamped her mouth shut as the woman dragged her along through the crowd.
The woman pushed her through what felt like a door and then shoved her onto the ground. A few seconds later, the cloth was yanked off her head.
Cora glanced around wildly, trying to find anything she could use as she pressed back against the wall. The room was filled with strange women, each with their lower face covered and all of them looking distinctly aggressive. Several had weapons on their belts, and all wore strange, mismatched clothing. Trying to conceal her panic, Cora watched as one of the women stepped forwards. Not her kidnapper, but rather a taller, more muscled woman, who seemed to radiate authority with her every movement. The leader, Cora guessed, as she asked, “What’s your name, girl?.”
Cora pressed her lips shut tightly, meeting her stare. She had no idea what she was doing here, but telling them her name wouldn’t help her circumstances- her father was widely hated. Then again, if they didn’t know her name, why had they kidnapped her?
Another girl stepped forwards, and Cora flinched back as she walked over. This one was younger, and had her hair covered for some strange reason. Her eyes were cold as she drew a knife from her belt and set it right against Cora’s throat. “My Captain asked you a question,” the girl said venomously.
Cora swallowed, looking down at the blade that was now pressed against her neck. “Coralyn Gray,” she spat. “My name is Coralyn Gray.”
A few murmurs came from the woman, but their captain merely raised a hand to silence them. “Your father is Nirran Gray, correct?”
Cora hesitated, but winced as the girl dug in her knife. She distantly felt the sting as it cut her, just enough to prompt her into talking. “Yes,” Cora choked out. “He is.”
The girl with the covered hair reluctantly withdrew her knife, and Cora scowled at her while the women began discussing something amongst themselves. Straining to listen, she picked up smaller phrases such as ransom and sending the letter to her parents.
They’re using me as a hostage for money, Cora realized, disgust flashing through her. She interrupted, “My family won’t pay much for me.”
The captain glanced back at her. “Lying won’t help you now, girl.”
“I’m not lying,” Cora said flatly. She wasn’t, really; she doubted her father would give up much of his money for his daughter whom he rarely cared about.
“Let’s just continue this conversation elsewhere,” a woman advised. Cora recognized her as the woman who’d kidnapped her, and scowled deeply in her direction. The woman ignored her.
The captain debated for a moment, then nodded. The strange group of women started filing out of the room, the captain and the girl with the knife lingering. With a final glare, the girl left, and the captain shut the door behind them. A moment later, Cora heard a lock turning.
Loosing a tense breath, Cora leaned her head back against the wall, blinking as the dim ceiling light shut off. The shallow cut on her neck stung as she surveyed the room. No windows, no furniture or decoration, nothing but a locked door that barred her way to freedom. The subtle movement of the floor told her enough- she was on a ship.
And she was in so, so much trouble.
==Chapter Three==
Though she tried to stay awake, Cora drifted off a few times during the night, inevitably woken by the unfamiliar movements of the ship below her. The night seemed to stretch on forever, paranoia and fear making her jump at every little sound. By the time faint light started coming from the crack under the door, Cora was exhausted and sore, the cut on her neck stinging faintly when she moved her head. Leaning against the wall, she tried not to think about anything, since anything she could possibly think about would just panic her again.
But the thoughts inevitably crowded in. What was her father doing? Were her parents aware she’d been kidnapped? Did they care? And perhaps the most important question; why had she been kidnapped, and who were these women? The darkness didn’t offer any answers, so she sat there in miserable silence.
She had just begun to wonder if they were going to let her rot in her cell forever when the door swung open.
Cora scrambled to her feet, cursing inwardly as she was blinded by the sudden light. When her eyes adjusted, she saw the girl with the covered hair in the doorway, though she thankfully wasn’t holding a knife this time. Despite that, Cora was still useless as the girl approached. “I have orders to retrieve you,” the girl said flatly. “This can go pleasantly for both of us if you don’t resist.”
“Pleasant is not how I would describe being kidnapped,” Cora snapped, pressing back against the wall. “I think I’ll pass on being ‘retrieved.’”
The girl rolled her eyes and stepped forwards. “You don’t have a choice.” She reached to grab her arm.
Cora shrank back, but she had no self-defense skills, so the girl grabbed her wrists and forced them down. She tried to elbow her, but the girl just avoided it and shoved her towards the door. “Don’t make me get my knife,” the girl snapped.
Wincing, Cora stopped fighting her and walked forwards. Knowing any physical resistance was pointless, she scanned the surroundings. The hall was plain, with no decorations, and closed doors lined both sides. At the end was a small flight of stairs leading upwards. Trying not to trip as she was pushed forwards, Cora asked, “Where are you taking me, exactly?”
“To the captain,” the girl said shortly.
“Why does she want to see me?” Cora pressed, pausing at the bottom of the stairs.
The girl ignored her question, shoving her again. “Keep walking, and keep your mouth shut.”
Scowling, Cora walked up the stairs, emerging into a hallway almost identical to the first. She continued down the hall, only stopping when she was in front of the door at the end. Since Cora’s hands were still tied, the girl reached around her and opened it. Instantly sunlight poured onto Cora, and she blinked against the sudden brightness as she stepped out onto the deck of the ship.
The deck itself was made from dark wood, and the bronze-colored metal railing was almost shining in the sunlight. The ship’s masts were enormous, towering into the sky and supporting complex systems of sails and roping. Cora didn’t know what any of the systems did, but the women all around her clearly did, moving with ease and familiarity as they worked. Their faces were still covered, but heads turned as Cora passed, some of them seeming more curious than anything.
Cora tried to observe everything and look for important details, but she’d never been on a ship before- all of the designs and systems were foreign to her. She squinted up at the top of the central mast, seeing an odd sort of platform perched at the top. And above that, a flag was flying- a dark blue flag, with the outline of a dragon head emblazoned across it.
Seeing that flag, Cora stopped dead. The ship, the kidnapping, the strange women- it all made sense, when she thought about it. At least she knew where she was now, even if she wished she didn’t.
Certain ships’ flags were notorious, and known widely, even by someone like her. Sea criminals- pirates- were fairly common, and each pirate crew had its own flag symbol. Most sailors knew those flags, so they could spot them and avoid criminal ships. But the deadliest crews, the ones known for their brutality and crimes… their flags were known all across the globe.
And Cora had been kidnapped by the Sea Dragons, the most infamous pirate crew that existed.
Frozen in place, Cora glanced around wildly as her heartbeat hammered in her ears. She stumbled as the girl behind her shoved her forwards again, growling, “Move.”
Cora forced herself into motion, taking one step after another as her mind chanted, You’re dead, you’re dead, you’re dead. As a notorious all-female pirate crew, the Sea Dragons had killed their way across the globe to earn their reputation and gain respect in the male-dominated piracy field. They were particularly known for kidnapping the children of wealthy families- and slaughtering them, if they couldn’t get a ransom.
“You’re the Sea Dragons?” Cora asked weakly, failing to keep her voice from shaking.
The girl snorted. “In the flesh. So move faster, because I’m really not in a good mood, and it’d be a shame if I killed you before we got to the captain.”
Cora swallowed, hurrying towards the door they had been aiming for. Around her, a few women snickered, having heard the quiver in her voice. Cora shut them out, letting her focus narrow to that door instead of letting herself panic about the pirates around her. One step at a time- she’d worry about them once she figured out what they wanted from her; once she figured out how to make her life valuable to them. Because she’d need that leverage if she wanted to make it off this ship.
Halting in front of the door, Cora let the girl open it and then stepped through. Something similar to an office was behind it- a number of maps lined the walls, a bookshelf sat in one corner, and a desk was in the center of the room. The ship’s captain was sitting behind that desk, and she looked up as they entered. “Miss Gray,” she greeted Cora, then glanced at the girl who’d brought her in. “Thank you for bringing her.”
The girl nodded, stepping back.
“What do you want?” Cora asked evenly, surprised to find her voice even.
The captain tipped her chair back slightly. “I thought you would like to know that a notice has been delivered to your family, telling them of your capture, and that they seem to be willing to comply with our most reasonable demands. If they continue to cooperate, you’ll be home safely in no time.”
Fantastic, Cora thought drily, trading one prison to get another back. But she nodded, keeping her face expressionless.
“In addition to this,” the captain added, folding her hands behind her head, “we would appreciate it if you refrained from any escape attempts. You’re going to earn us quite a bit of money, and it’d be a shame if we lost that because we had to kill you.” The captain smiled grimly, and a chill went down Cora’s spine. “In the meantime,” she continued, “it’s in our best interest to take care of you. So as long as you cooperate, we will refrain from hurting you.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Cora said, sarcasm heavy in every word.
“Why, thank you,” the captain said, smirking. She looked back to the girl who’d brought Cora in. “Sky, ensure that Miss Gray gets something to eat before you take her back.”
Sky nodded, grabbing Cora’s arm. “Come on, then,” she snapped.
Cora scowled at her, trying to pull away, but her grip was like iron as she dragged her out. Sky headed across the deck again, and Cora stumbled to keep up as she was pulled along behind her. Scowling, she finally yanked her arm free. Sky just rolled her eyes and said, “Keep up.” She headed back across the deck, aiming for the door they’d emerged from originally.
“Are you this pleasant with all your prisoners?” Cora asked, following her.
Sky snorted. “The smart ones, yes.”
“What do you mean, the smart ones?”
“The ones who follow directions and get home in one piece,” Sky informed her pleasantly.
Cora almost tripped. “In one piece?”
Sky smirked back at her. “The stupid ones who try to escape usually end up maimed or dead.” She kept walking. “And of course, there’s the occasional idiot who decides they want to be one of us. What’s that old saying- if you can’t beat them, join them?” She snickered as she opened the door, motioning Cora through it.
Cora stepped into the hallway, trying to form coherent thoughts over what she kept hearing. Maimed or dead. She shook her head to clear it. That won’t be me.
“This way,” the pirate ordered, heading off again. Cora followed her, albeit slowly, as she headed for a door on their right instead the stairs. Opening it, Sky motioned impatiently for her to walk in.
Cora stepped through the door cautiously, but the room was mostly empty; though several long tables filled the space, only a few people were seated at the far one. An assortment of crates and shelves lined the walls, and it was the latter that Sky aimed for as she walked into the room. Pulling a loaf of bread off the shelf with one hand, she produced her knife with the other.
Flinching, Cora backed up, but Sky just snorted and said, “Do you want me to set your hands free or not?”
Cora frowned, wary, but finally turned around and lifted her wrists. A second later, they were free, and she pulled her arms back in front of her, wincing at the soreness. Rubbing her wrists, she turned back to Sky, who unceremoniously handed her the loaf of bread. “Try to run and I’ll gut you.”
With that cheerful note, she grabbed Cora’s arm again and pulled her over to where the other pirates were sitting at the table. Like all the others, their faces were mostly covered, and one of them had their hair covered the same way Sky did. Cora sat gingerly, monitoring them as they paused their conversation to look at her.
As soon as Sky sat, she launched into their conversation, and the pirates all appeared to instantly forget about Cora as they went back to talking.
Looking down at the bread in her hands, Cora studied it. It looked fine, but she had no way of knowing that they weren’t trying to drug or poison her. Pausing, she took a small bite of it, then swallowed slowly, checking for any kind of unusual taste or sudden warm feelings.
“Are you testing that for poison?” Sky asked her suddenly, interrupting her companion mid-sentence.
Cora flinched, looking up to meet her gaze.
“She is,” another pirate laughed. This one was somehow more gentle-looking than the others, though she was still just as muscled. Amusement was clear on her face as she chuckled, “Oh, that’s too funny. Girl, we have better things to do than poison you.”
“I don’t know that,” Cora said, sitting up straight. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of making her squirm.
“What part of we want you alive is hard to understand?” Sky asked, laughter dancing in her blue eyes. Cora just glared at her, pointedly taking another bite.
Shaking her head, still snickering, Sky turned back to the other pirates. “Anyways, like I was saying-”
The ship interrupted her by shuddering beneath them, then jerking suddenly, the room tilting precariously to one side. Nausea briefly filled Cora as she grabbed the table to keep her balance. The ship slowly righted itself, and when the floor was level again Cora released her death grip on the table. Shouts erupted from outside, and Sky jumped to her feet, swearing so viciously that Cora blanched.
But the ship was still shuddering, and the pirates all stood, hands immediately going to their weapons.
“What was that?” Cora blurted, her panic rising with the shouts. No one answered her as they headed for the door. Cora hurried after them, trying to keep up with them as she fought for her balance on the trembling ship floor.
As if remembering that she existed, Sky turned back, grabbing Cora’s arm. “Listen closely,” she snapped. “Things are about to get bloody, so if you want to live, you’ll follow my orders. Understand?”
Cora nodded shakily. “What’s happening?”
“A ship just attacked us,” Sky said grimly. “We’re about to be boarded by another crew of pirates.”
==Chapter Four==
Sky’s declaration was probably supposed to intimidate her, but all Cora could do was blink, letting that register.
“You need to stay out of the way, understand?” Sky snapped. “Stay in here, hide in a corner, I don’t care, but I need you to not die. If a pirate finds you, you surrender. Understood?”
“Understood,” Cora repeated, still trying to form thoughts. More pirates- it seemed the universe enjoyed throwing criminals in her direction.
Releasing her arm, Sky turned, heading out the door and onto the deck. The door slammed shut behind her, the noise barely making a dent in the cacophony outside. Women were shouting orders, the ship was groaning, and strange battle cries were erupting from nearby.
Though she knew it was stupid, Cora drifted over to the door, daring to peek out the small window. A crowd of women had amassed on the deck, most of them holding guns or swords or both. Cora was amazed to see so many weapons in one place- though they weren’t extremely high-tech, the guns were sturdy, and the women clearly knew how to handle them as they walked about. Cora spotted their captain in the center of it all, giving orders in a steady voice despite the chaos.
Not chaos, Cora realized. Every one of the pirates clearly knew where they were going as they headed to different places along the deck. Some headed to the edge of the ship and lined up along the railing, their guns ready; some put their weapons on their backs and started climbing up the roping; and still others headed for some of the equipment, presumably to stabilize the ship. When everyone reached their post, the crew fell still, waiting. A moment later, the other ship drifted into Cora’s view.
It was just as big as the ship Cora was on, with a sturdy build and a pirate flag flying above it. This flag was green, with the image of a snake coiled around a sword. It was strange enough that Cora wondered why they’d chosen it; perhaps it had some sort of meaning.
The other pirates were also on their deck, and as Cora watched, one of them shot some kind of hook at the railing of the ship she was on. The women hurried to try and remove it, but a second one shot out, hooking the rail tightly. The ropes attached to both hooks began to reel back in, pulling the two ships together, and within seconds the other pirates were climbing over the rails and boarding the ship.
Real chaos broke out as the male pirates pulled weapons; those on the ship drew knives and swords, while the ones back on their own ship used guns to fire at the women from afar. The Sea Dragons didn’t give an inch, meeting every bullet and blade with their own.
Cora wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it certainly wasn’t the anarchy in front of her. With the women’s faces covered, there was no way to tell which crew anyone was on, and the deck was just a whirling mass of guns and blades. The noise pressed in on her ears as they fought just outside the door, metal clashing and people shouting.
A figure was thrown to the ground right outside the door, and Cora recognized her as female; a Sea Dragon. Her face was visible, and whatever cloth had been covering it had been ripped away during the fight. It took her a moment to realize that it was Sky, the girl’s graceful movements and dark jacket finally giving her away. Her face had the same graceful look and sun-kissed complexion as the rest of her, and her mouth was set into a hard line as she lunged back into the fighting. And her hair- it was dyed bright blue, almost like a beacon as Cora tracked her through the crowd. Well, that explains why her hair was covered.
Cora tracked Sky through the fighting, if only because she was the only one she could track. The chaos was thorough, pirates fighting in such close quarters that it was nearly impossible to follow one person. Sky’s hair was the only way she kept her eyes on her, following the flash of blue in the crowd as the girl weaved through the fight, whirling to slash at the opposing pirate crew with the wickedly sharp sword she was wielding. Cora was amazed by the way all the women fought; it was like some kind of deadly dance, whirling and ducking and spinning with their weapons.
Eventually the opposing crew began to back up, some jumping back onto their own ship. The Sea Dragons pressed the advantage, forcing them back towards where the two ships were close together. Within minutes, most of the crew had retreated to their own ship, and some of the women were following them to continue the fight.
One of the men on the other ship shouted, and threw something. It arced, sailing through the air to land neatly in the center of the deck, and one of the women shouted, “Pulse grenade!”
Cora had no idea what a pulse grenade was, but the women immediately turned to jump back onto their ship. The few still on the deck turned, running for where the grenade had landed, but Sky was there first, grabbing the small sphere. She raced to the edge of the ship and hurled it away, and Cora watched the splash as it hit the water.
A few seconds later, the water exploded, and Cora felt the whole ship shudder and groan at the wave that pulsed outwards. She stumbled, falling awkwardly onto her knees, but managed to keep from hitting her head as the pulse receded. Rising on shaking limbs, she peered out the window again to see the Sea Dragons struggling back to their feet. The ones still on the other ship fell back, jumping back onto their own deck as the opposing crew removed their hooks from their railing. Within seconds, the last woman was back over the edge and the other pirates were moving away, their ship’s motor roaring as they sped across the water.
As the Sea Dragons began to regain some semblance of order, their captain drifted to the center of the deck. “Check for injuries,” she ordered, eying her crew. "Anything serious, you head straight to the medbay. Lena, I want duties divided out so that we can get everyone back on track. You know the drill. Evelyn, I need you to put your suit on and go check out the motor. I don’t know how they jammed it, but I need it fixed immediately. Anyone who doesn’t need medical attention, you do what Lena tells you to do. I want us moving again as soon as possible.”
The crew dispersed immediately, and Cora scrambled back as she realized many of them were aiming for the door in front of her. She’d just backed up, wondering if she should hide, when it swung open. The woman in front peered curiously at her, then shouted over her shoulder, “What about the prisoner?”
“Put her in her cell!” the captain shouted back.
Cora flinched, but she didn’t have any way of resisting as the woman grabbed her wrist and pulled her down the hall. As she was hauled down the stairs, Cora asked, “Is that- common? Being attacked like that?”
“It didn’t used to be,” the woman answered absently. She offered no further explanation as she pulled Cora down the stairs.
Cora frowned, but they were at the door to her cell, and the woman opened it. “Keep your mouth shut, and you’ll be home soon. Don’t say or do anything stupid.” Then she was gone, the sound of her footsteps trailing away.
Blinking, Cora realized that her hands were still unbound. In the aftermath of the battle, the woman hadn’t bothered to retie them. She wondered if it was careless, but then again, she wasn’t much of a threat. Not to them, she knew, especially after seeing them fight.
She’d been surprised by their skill; even Sky had fought well, and judging by her face, she was younger than Cora had assumed. Sky couldn’t be any more than a year older than Cora herself, and yet she was holding her own against pirates twice her size. It was unthinkable; back on the land, girls like her weren’t taught much about weaponry, and only the ones on the streets knew how to fight. These pirates were so different from what she was used to, with their odd behavior and strange culture.
And yet, they’d been laughing while they were eating; they had all been smiling, despite their supposed brutality. Cora had never once seen anyone in her family smile that way, like they were completely content to be with the people around them. Like they felt at peace. And then, not ten minutes later, they had been fighting, cutting their way through chaos.
But when she’d seen Sky out there- she hadn’t looked scared, or pained, or savage. She’d looked solid, a fierce sort of determination echoing in all of her movements. Every one of the women on the ship had been fighting, and had fought together, and had seemed almost anchored by the fact that they were in the midst of a battle, instead of being upset by the fight.
Cora had never seen anything like it. And she didn’t know what to think of it.
Category:Literature
Category:Original Stories
Category:Original Stories (Unfinished)
Category:Alphawolf8091's Pages
Category:Fiction