Despite the fact that Machia and Fish were only two people, and the orcs an entire band, the orcs were able to keep on the pirates' trail. Panting, Fish and Machia made it to the western bank, praying that, if nothing else, they could swim out and hide in the water to shake the orcs. Blessedly, (even more so for Machia, as he had always found "something else" to do when the pirates tried to give him swimming lessons) a small boat had washed up onto shore. It was made of a very heavy wood, as as the pirates dragged back into the sea, they discovered why it had been abandoned: a large crack ran through the bottom. Despite the circumstance, Fish grinned at the challenge. She scanned the treeline and saw what she was looking for, then she kneeled down, searched the sand, and found a large shell.
"Machia, bring the boat back out o' the water, and lay it upside down." She shouted over her shoulder as she ran back inland.
Using the shell as a makeshift saw, Fish began to chisle away at the bark of a tree, hoping to peel off a sliver to use as a wedge in the crack. She was so focused, that she didn't notice the faint breathing near her until a twig snapped under the person's foot.
"Who's there?" Fish asked cautiously. She waited with bated breath... Like before, there was no reponse.
"Fish?" Machia called from shore. "Who are ye talkin' to?" Fearing that she might provoke the stranger, Fish didn't respond. "Fish!" Machia called again. When Fish again didn't respond, he started running towards where she was.
"Who's there?" Fish said again. Her voice sounded small and far away...
"Arr...show yerself!" Machia growled.
The figure waited a couple of seconds before deciding to show itself. It sensed the two figures were uneased and nervous but it was no reason for her to let her guard down. Streching the string and arrow farther away from the bow the figure finally took a step forward emerging slowly from the shadow. Its face was covered with the hood of a black cloak, but both, Machia and Fish could tell the figure was female. "Your heartbeat sounds as louds as drums of war. A bit nervous, perhaps?" she told Fish.
Fish and Machia stood standing in their spot knowing that with no weapons their lives were in immediate danger, and they both weren't ready to have their lives ended right there and then.
"I demand ye give us a name!" Machia said.
"Demand? What happened to good manners," the figure said. She moved a little to her left where Fish was standing and started walking around her.
"We be pirates! Thar be no need fer us to use manners," he said.
"Pirates, eh?" the mysterious girl streched the string on her bow to the point it was about to break. "I always though Pirates were people legends and myths were made of. I'd never thought there would be people delusional enough to call themselves pirates," she said.
"I be Fish, this be Machia. Now what be yer name?" Fish demanded.
"There's no reason for me to tell you who I am," she said. "...Just yet," she said after a pause.
