Chapter 06 – It was bound to happen, succession plan Another year passed, and as said, after three years, we were, yes, a legend, but also the most wanted couple of pirates of the Caribbean. There was even a little fleet of more lightly armed frigates roaming the seas with the specific purpose of catching us and ignoring any other pirate ship, unless to save other ships or already engaged in combat. Caterina found what sh...

Chapter 05 – First real step of direct revenge The second year of our rising fame, six months after the capture of the Carletta, we had an encounter that really made me thank God for helping my revenge. I was taking a nap in our cabin when a ship’s boy knocked at the door. “Captain Ash, Captain! Captain Blackeyes asked for you to come quickly on deck, without makeup and with a womanlier attire, but still comfortable for f...

Chapter 04 – Building fame I sometimes frequented the taverns with John or Robert or both. In the beginning, I wasn’t perfectly disguised, mostly for lack of experience, so even with my scarred face, someone would get the hunch that I was a woman. And in one of these times, a group of sailors from a merchant ship decided that since they hadn’t been getting laid for months, they would look over my scarred face and have fun...

Chapter 1 – Introduction and betrayal “Keep your guard up higher, Cyndria!” “But father, I’m tired! And why should I learn brawling or using swords and knives? I’m a woman and I don’t need it!” In the beginning, I found it fun to exercise with my father in fighting and swordsmanship, so as to have some dedicated time with him, but now it was getting boring. It’s A.D. 1780 and I’m the barely fourteen years old daughter of...

2004 “There’s a job going in Islamabad,” I remarked. “It would be on promotion if I got it.” My wife frowned. “Pakistan?” “Yes. It’d be an amazing opportunity. You know I’ve always wanted to explore that part of the world.” I paused. “And there are fantastic trekking opportunities in the north–you know, the Pamirs and Himalayas. And I could travel the Karakoram Highway, following the old silk routes across the high passes...

Every year, it's the same thing. Our long and tiring march. The best part is that I can usually catch up with long-lost friends. This year was no different. I was so happy to see Julie. I flapped my flipper and yelled, "Hey, Julie. Over here. It’s Paula." She saw me, and she and her young one waddled over to see me and my young chick. She wrapped her flippers around me and asked, "So nice to see you, Paula. Seems like for...

He had to prove that he could bring back honey. His fingers gripped the edge of the cliff as he dangled above the grasslands far below. His pack was slipping, and his best friend was only a few feet below him on the rock face. Avi hadn't wanted to bring him along, but Onath insisted. He gripped the jagged edge of the stone with his other hand and lifted himself up. His pack slipped off his back and plunged down to the sun...

I see it all from my throne atop the canyon. Once, I was just a sapling. Animals would use my limbs as a scratching post and sometimes a litter box. I chuckle at the tourists who marvel at the canyon. They should have seen it five hundred years ago, but that may be a bit of a white lie. I could not see it until I was twenty years old. Sitting here now as the tallest of my breed. I heard one author call me the grandmother...

Hi, folks.My name is Bruiser. I'm a little dachshund. I weigh in at five pounds soaking wet. I'm two years old. I'm adorable and playful.But enough about me. This story is about my human Mommy and Daddy.I was just sitting there eavesdropping under the coffee table as my humans had a conversation about my human Mommy and her doctor's appointment yesterday. Her doctor wanted her to go see an oncologist. I wondered what that...

March 1995 — Kenya A Fateful Decision I’d been in Africa for nine weeks; two very eventful months. In that relatively short time, I’d already undergone a multitude of emotions, enjoying some incredible highlights and experiencing a range of unfortunate escapades. I’d started in Kenya, flying out to Nairobi on a one-way ticket with a vague plan, a guidebook, and not much else. It wasn’t my first time backpacking in the dev...

In the beginning was Chaos. And Chaos detested organisation and structure. He was roguish and full of mischief. Whenever order and logic looked likely to prevail, he would chuckle, wave his divine hand and delight in thwarting such impudence. Exasperated, the other gods sighed. How would the mortals below ever be able to prove themselves with such troublesome interference? It was always the same; the wheel turned, and man...

Two days had gone by. In a matter of hours, the third day would be gone. She blinked in surprise as she double checked her cell phone. She wasn't even aware that much time had gone by. She'd spent the entire time curled up in a ball of tears and self-pity.  She felt gross like she definitely needed a shower, but she also felt clarity. Klaus and Damon would be coming for an answer soon. She looked down at her worn and wrin...

She was making her way back home from Amara's cottage, having been assured she was safe to go to her cabin now. Her mind was oddly calm given everything she just learned. She lived in the wilderness with werewolves.  First thing was to find out what happened to her father. The next thing was to get the hell out of dodge and go back to America, get a job, and move on with her life. There was too much going on here that she...

It was night out, and hard to see where they were going. All she knew for sure was that she was driven on and on through the forest by the barrel of her father's rifle and the fanatical gleam in his eye.  As best she could tell, he was about halfway to the secret market. All those poor people! She couldn't just lead him there could she? She thought of the nice old lady who'd given her that necklace and called her a moon c...

Being in the cabin with her father, after experiencing what she had felt like being locked in a room with a murderer. There was no proof and she wanted to believe the best in her father. She watched him as he watched TV, his face blank of any emotions.  Then again, what had he ever done to recommend him? He'd never really cared about her had he? Sure, he'd done his duty and taken care of her until she was old enough to wo...