Author's POV
The morning mist clung stubbornly to the Miroh, the flagship of the Stray Kids. Sunlight, finally managing to pierce the haze, revealed a scene of controlled chaos. Han, the ship's navigator, was already hunched over a chart, muttering curses at a particularly stubborn knot. I.N, the ever-vigilant lookout, perched on the crow's nest, shivered in his thin nightclothes, desperately hoping for a replacement for the tattered flag that perpetually flapped in the wind.
A guttural growl echoed from below deck. This was not the rhythmic creaking of the ship, but the unmistakable sound of Changbin, the crew's resident powerhouse, demanding breakfast. Seungmin, the ever-reliable doctor, emerged from the galley, his face a mask of disapproval as he surveyed the empty pot he held.
"Looks like we're fresh out of gruel again," he announced, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Perhaps Captain Bang Chan should consider adding 'grocery shopping' to his list of glorious conquests."
A loud crash from the captain's cabin sent a jolt through the ship. Moments later, Bang Chan emerged, hair askew and sleep clinging to him like cobwebs. He was a man built for the sea, tall and broad-shouldered, with a weathered face that held the secrets of countless storms.
"Good morning, crew," he rumbled, his voice still thick with sleep. "Did someone say breakfast?"
"Aye, Captain," chimed in Lee Know, the stoic first mate, his usual stern expression softening slightly at the mention of food. "Seungmin seems to have misplaced the gruel again."
Bang Chan sighed. "Alright, alright," he conceded, rubbing his temples. "Felix, wake up Hyunjin and see if they can't scare up some fish. We need a good haul before we hit the trade winds."
Felix, the resident sunshine swordsman, bounded off with a mischievous grin. Moments later, the deck echoed with the sounds of a disgruntled Hyunjin being dragged out of his hammock by a hyperactive Felix.
As the crew bustled into action, Han finally untangled his knot with a triumphant shout. "Land ho!" he bellowed, squinting at the horizon. "Looks like a small island up ahead, Captain."
Bang Chan strode to the helm, a flicker of excitement crossing his features. "Excellent. Maybe we can finally find some decent supplies there." He surveyed his crew, a motley bunch of pirates bound by loyalty and a shared love for adventure. Despite the grumbling stomachs and the ever-present threat of danger, a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. This was their life, a life of salty air, sun-baked decks, and the thrill of the unknown. And wouldn't have it any other way.
The island emerged from the haze, a lush green gem against the endless blue. As the Miroh drew closer, the scent of ripe fruit and exotic flowers filled the air. Lee Know, ever the pragmatist, scanned the shoreline with suspicion. "Looks deserted, Captain. Could be a trap."
"Perhaps," rumbled Bang Chan, never one to back down from a challenge. "But we could use some fresh supplies. Besides, Han mentioned this island on one of his old charts. Apparently, it's rumored to have the best mangoes in all the Cerulean Seas."
The prospect of juicy mangoes brought a collective cheer from the crew. Even Hyunjin, usually the picture of stoicism, cracked a rare smile. Lowering the anchor, Bang Chan led a small contingent – Lee Know, ever the watchful first mate, Felix, whose infectious enthusiasm could brighten the gloomiest day, and Seungmin, the ever-skeptical doctor – onto the island.
They cautiously ventured inland, machetes held at the ready. But instead of hostile natives or booby traps, they stumbled upon a young woman, no older than nineteen, sitting on a rickety wooden swing hanging from a banyan tree. Her clothes were tattered, her face streaked with dirt, but her eyes, the color of the summer sky, shone with resilience. She held a half-eaten mango, its sweet scent permeating the air.
"Hello?" Bang Chan called out, his voice a low rumble. The girl startled, the mango tumbling from her grasp. She scrambled to her feet, eyeing them with a mixture of fear and defiance.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice a breathy whisper.
Felix, the diplomat of the group, stepped forward, a disarming smile on his face. "We're the Stray Kids," he chirped. "Pirates, but the friendly kind. We saw your island from our ship. You wouldn't happen to have any more of those delicious mangoes, would you?"
The girl, hesitant at first, warmed up to Felix's sunshine personality. She introduced herself as Beth, the sole survivor of a shipwreck a few weeks prior. Stranded and alone, she had managed to eke out a meager existence on the island.
Learning of Beth's plight, Bang Chan, a man with a soft spot for those in need, offered her a deal. They would help her get back to civilization, or, if she wished, they could offer her a place on their ship. Life as a pirate wouldn't be easy, but it would be an adventure.
Beth, a fire sparking in her eyes, didn't hesitate. "I choose adventure," she declared, her voice ringing with newfound determination. "I can cook, I can handle myself, and I'm a fast learner. Just don't expect me to walk the plank."
A collective chuckle rose from the pirates. Felix beamed, already envisioning Beth joining their card games and sword-fighting lessons. Lee Know, ever cautious, raised an eyebrow at Bang Chan, a silent question hanging in the air.
Bang Chan met his first mate's gaze with a steely glint in his eyes. This island girl, with her resilience and spirit, might just be the missing piece the Stray Kids crew needed. With a nod, he welcomed Beth aboard. As they returned to the Miroh, laden with ripe mangoes and a new crew member, a feeling of anticipation hummed through the air. Little did they know, this chance encounter would set them on a course they never could have imagined, a course that would lead them to face not only the dangers of the sea but also the secrets of their own hearts.
