Following The Wind

 

Chapter 1: The Hurricane.

 

The ocean was her home. Everything about was so familiar to her. The salty smell as it sprayed pass the hull, the cool splashes that would rise up, the wind that caressed the ship along with the blue of the water. Yes, for nine years she had plundered the seas for its treasures along with her friends on The Redhorn. The crew had become her new family, Teresa the sister she had never had before. Though their captain could be a right lummox, they still followed gallantly under his rule. Life wasn’t always pleasant, and food wasn’t always available, but other than that, the woman called Maria Cante was content.

 

“’Ria! ‘Ria! Where is she?” yelled a voice from the galley. A tall woman dressed in green bounded onto the deck. Her brown hair flailing in the wind as her eyes scoured the deck for the gypsy. 

 

“She’s up in the Crow’s Nes’. Probably fell asleep durin’ las’ nigh’s shift.” Grunted Angus as he stretched out on the deck, after another night cramped down in the cabin. Teresa rolled her eyes muttering something about ‘no good sleeping gypsies’ and headed up the riggings to the Crow’s Nest. She was greeted with the sight of the young woman curled up in a peaceful sleep. Her long black plait sprawling down beside her.

 

“’Ria! On you feet, we’ve got a two dozen breakfasts to make.” Teresa said, gently shaking her friend. Maria groggily opened her eyes and groaned at the sunlight around her.

 

“Yes I know everyone hate’s your food anyway, but still, I need your help.” Teresa grinned. Maria made an attempt to hit her.

 

“My cooking isn’t that bad.” She muttered, and stretched.

 

“Aye, I know. But we’ll both get a floggin’ if we don’t get it ready soon. So get up already, I’ll be waiting in the Galley. Be there in five minutes.” Teresa said to her sleepy friend and headed back down.

 

It was the perfect day. Nice warm sunny day, with a cool sea breeze. Doing today’s duties wouldn’t be too difficult. After the meals were made, everyone went about their duties; swabbing the decks, sewing the masts, polishing the cannon. The usual. All in all, you could have thought of the day as a bit boring. No other ships could be seen to plunder, no islands to bury the treasure, nothing at all. The sharpened swords, daggers, and the gunpowder were all stored away for later uses.

 

The afternoon was soon coming to an evening, and every pirate on board was well watered and fed. As in most evenings, the crew would gather down in the cabins for what would be a social gathering. Gambling was also big on the ship, and arm-wrestling was the main event people betted on. That, and who could down the most grog without passing out. Maria would usually be down there, talking and laughing with the crew.

 

But not today.

 

She stood outside on the deck, facing the stern of the ship, looking towards the heavens. The wind was colder then usual, and she couldn’t help but shiver at it. The skies overhead were fogged with clouds. She didn’t like it at all. She looked up and saw Barney was on duty today.

 

“Hey Barn!” She called up to him. She saw his looming shadow up above turning to face down on her. He nodded at her to continue.

 

“Maybe we should be alert today. It looks like a storm may come.” She called up to him.

 

“Nay, it’s just a colder wind today. Cap’n says we be travelling North, lot colder up North!” He replied, raising his voice.

 

“I still think we should be prepared. The wind is sharper today.”

 

“No more of your superstitious paranoid garb child. Go lay down in the cabin. You’ve had a long day.” He shouted back down at her.

 

Maria turned and frowned. No one ever believed her when she warned them about something. Sure, there were times she was wrong with her readings, but there was also a handful of times she had been right. She ignored the noise of the other crew members as she quietly slipped into her hammock.

 

***

 

The crew of The Jolly Roger lay down in the cabin. All save one. Robert Mullins stood up on the deck, his eyes meeting the skies above. The moon and the stars had been hidden by a roll of murderous dark clouds. He glares at the skies, thinking ‘There’s evil in it.” He turned around, his footfalls echoing a little on the hollow deck.

 

***

 

“ALL HANDS ON DECK!” The captain’s voice roared from above.

 

Immediately, the crew responded to the command, running up the steps that lead to the deck above. The door slammed open with the sheer force of the wind, nearly knocking the door off of its hinges. The crew grasped onto objects as they moved across the deck, worried in case they’d be blown right off the side of the ship. The deck was awfully slippery. Enormous waves seem to sweep on board, and a muffled curse could be heard from different pirates as they slipped about on the deck. Maria and Teresa headed for the masts, helping Angus in pulling the masts, which seemed to become unimaginably heavier with the rainwater soaked into it.  

 

No one was prepared for the huge wave that hit the ship.

 

The ship was engulfed with the cold, powerful wave. Maria thought they were now most definitely underwater, and she could no longer hold her breath. She lost her grip on the rope and all was lost to her.

 

It was the last time anyone saw her on The Redhorn again.