Ironclaw: A Pirate in Nottingham

Chapter 4: A Stroll in Sherwood

 A few hours had passed, and the Sheriff and I soon came to a fork in the path. "Well, looky here." snickered the Sheriff. I stopped in my tracks. "Hmm?" I asked. "What?" I questioned. It was just a fork in the road. "Two ways to go. Which one do we take?" He asked, leaning against a small tree, which snapped. I bit my lip. "Uh," I replied, clearing my throat. "Well, if I were a wanted criminal..." I started. "Oh?" Questioned the Sheriff. "Somethin' y'all wanna confess?" he prodded, stamping his foot. "I said 'if'..." I gulped. "And anyway, if I were a wanted criminal, I'd not take the path." I noted. "That so?" questioned the Sheriff, staring at the paths. "I say we follow 'em." He insisted. "But-" I protested. "No time, now c'mon." He insisted, dragging me along. "But we don't even know if this is the right path!" I reminded him.

  "Come on, now." He huffed, still venturing down the path. "Argh.." I grumbled, and covered my mouth when I had realized what I said. The Sheriff's ears perked up. "You here that?" He asked me. "Hear what?" I questioned. "I didn't hear anything." I said quickly, hoping he wouldn't come to the realization that I am Captain Sybil Ironclaw. "I heard somethin'." He said, looking around. "It sounded like Ironclaw." he added in a hushed whisper. "She know's we're here?" I asked. "Yep," he nodded, tiptoeing down the path. I followed, careful not to clunk my iron leg. "Uh, Deputy?" asked the Sheriff, stopping in his tracks. "Yeah?" I replied. "Could ya try not to stomp around so much? We're tryin' to sneak up on her." he said quietly. "Huh? Oh, yeah." I said, now being twice as mindful of my leg. "She could be just up ahead." He said. "What makes you say that?" I asked. "I see a shadow over yonder." He replied, pointing to a shadow. "Oh." I said. Wait a second. I thought, getting a better look at the shadow. If only I had my telescope. I could see who it was. 

  "I vote you go see who it is." suggested the Sheriff, shoving me ahead of him. Thank you, how chivalrous...I thought sarcastically. "Why me?" I questioned. "Because you're my deputy, and I said so." he replied, a little crossly. "Fine.." I grumbled, shuffling toward the shadow. I thought about who it could be. Maybe it's an outlaw. I thought. Or maybe one of my crewmen somehow survived. I thought hopefully. Nope, it wasn't one of my crewmen. It was a fox. The fox shadow waved at me, and beckoned me to follow him. Robin Hood..I thought. Nice to see him again. 

 I followed the shadow deeper into the forest. "Hello, 'Orville." greeted Robin, sitting in the tree. "Robin," I replied. "Where's the other one?" I asked, looking around. "Here, Sybil." joined Little John. "I'm making some stew." he said. "Sounds lovely. " I replied. "Sybil, old girl," began Robin. "I noticed you were out here with ol' bushel britches. What could you be doing?" He asked, swinging down from the tree. "I'm looking for me, and he's my partner." I explained. "You're what now?" asked Little John, placing the hot cauldron down on some rocks. "You see, lads, some stuff happened while I was in Nottingham, and the next thing I know, I'm a deputy in pursuit of Captain Ironclaw." I said. "Sounds like quite the problem." nodded Robin. "What do I do?" I asked. "Well, don't let the Sheriff discover your true identity, and don't mention your involvement with us." said Robin Hood, taking up his bow. "Come, Little John." he said. "Yep." nodded Little John. "You be careful, Captain. Bushel Britches don't take kindly to criminals."

  "I made a note of that." I replied, waving as he and Robin left. "Take care, Sybil." waved Robin as he and Little John left. I nodded, and returned down the path to find the Sheriff. I soon arrived, only to find a rather impatient looking Sheriff. Perhaps he got tired of waiting for me. I thought. "Well?" He huffed, tapping his foot. "What was it?" He asked me, glaring down at me. "It was nothing." I said. "You're kidding me." He grumbled. "Nope, it was nothing." I replied. "Dagnabit!" he growled. "If I find that Ironclaw, I swear.." he growled. "Yep. And we have to keep moving." I said. "Yeah.." he grumbled. "Let's go." I said,  taking the lead this time.

  "Now,  wait just a minute, silverfur. " Ordered the Sheriff, coming up in front of me,  and stopping me in my tracks. "I'm in charge of this mission, and I say when we move on." He insisted, crossing his arms.  I rolled my eyes in frustration. I could catch myself so much quicker than he could. "Well,  when do you want to go,  oh great leader?" I asked,  a little snidely. I'm more used to giving orders,  as opposed to taking orders. "We go when I say we go. " He replied. "Which would be right now." He added,  walking on.  I followed,  growling to myself. Blast it all.  Blast that pesky Prince for destroying my ship, blast everything. And blast that Sheriff.  I thought, scowling at him from behind.

Why,  if I still had my ship,  I'd  keel haul him. I'd  throttle him,  is what I'd do. Make him walk the plank.  Or something along those lines. I thought with a silent snarl. "C'mon,  silverfur. " called the Sheriff. I grunted in response, picking up the pace. "There ya go. " he snickered. "Are we even close to finding Captain Ironclaw? " I groaned. "Beats me,  but we're gonna get her. " Replied the Sheriff.

"But-but.. " I began.  "What, deputy?" groaned the Sheriff, impatiently tapping his foot.  "It's just that, well,  it's getting late.  And we need to find somewhere to make camp. " I gulped. "Oh,  alright. " Sighed the Sheriff. "You go into the woods and get some fire wood. I'll build a shelter." He ordered.  "yes,  sir. " I replied, going off into the woods.