Long Journey || ATEEZ

Fight And Prove Your Worth

There was a sense of grim brooding as the crooked rock island approached. It was smaller than Hongjoong had expected, but still looked large enough to host at least a hundred schlori, like Mariynne had said.

The island itself – apart from the screeches and squawks coming from its depths – looked dead. Giving off a desolate, abandoned atmosphere, there was little to no wildlife inhabiting the thing – the only living things apart from the shadowy figures of the schlori were the random, dying weeds seeping out of cracks in the rocky cliffs.

Hongjoong swallowed, the previous excitement and bravado during the journey he had held slipping away and nervous anticipation setting in.

"Get your weapons ready, everyone," he said in a low tone, careful as to not alarm the schlori of their presence. Even Wooyoung seemed to have quietened down, and that scarcely happened.

There was a tense moment of movement as the eight pirates-in-training readied themselves for combat, the sails were lowered and cutlasses drawn. With those sharp talons of theirs, the schlori would no doubt ruin the sails, and that would disable the ship completely, thus ridding them of their only way home – and out of this hellhole.

Of course, that would have to be avoided at all costs.

Mariynne stood towards the stern, atop the poop deck, arms crossed and watching the eight thoughtfully.

The seven pirates-in-training approached their captain, who stood at the forecastle – completely the opposite side to Mariynne.

"Everyone ready?" Hongjoong asked. They all nodded in affirmation. "Alright then," he said, steadying his grip on the helm. "We're going in."

"What's the plan, hyungnim?" San asked.

"I'm...not sure," Hongjoong said, his shoulders slumping as he sighed. He put his hands on his hips as he studied the seven other pirates-in-training around him. "Anyone have any ideas?"

"I'd say we attract some of them over," Yunho suggested. "If we go in there guns blazing, they'd surely overwhelm us."

"But what if they all come at us at once?" Mingi asked doubtfully, his hands shaking at the handle of his sword.

"I doubt it," Yunho replied, patting Mingi's shoulder comfortingly. "There'll be some in the caves, and there'll be mothers protecting either their children or their eggs."

"That makes sense," Hongjoong agreed. "What does everyone else think?"

"Sounds good to me," Yeosang said. "Let's go with that."

"Alright," Hongjoong smiled. He turned to Wooyoung. "Wooyoung, it's your time to shine."

"Aye, aye, captain!"

The little holin bounded over in the direction of the bowsprit eagerly, having understood exactly what Hongjoongie-hyung had meant, and took in a deep breath as he stopped at the end of the boat, before freezing, a blank expression on his face.

"What do I yell?" Wooyoung yelled over to the rest of the crew in his trademark high-pitched voice, even if they were at close enough range so that yelling was not needed.

"I dunno," Yeosang shrugged. "Just yell anything."

"No—But—but— I need to say something!!!"

"No you don't. You're a holin."

"But what does that have to do with attracting schlori over??!!"

"Just hurry up – they're literally birds – just make noises and they'll come over hopefully," Yeosang said dismissively, flapping his hand at Wooyoung.