Ironclaw: A Pirate in Nottingham

Chapter 5: A Close Call

  Finally, I thought as I darted into the brush. I drew my cutlass, and tossed my disguise when I had gotten a good way away form the camp sight. It felt good to be my pirate self again. I thought with a smile, slicing my way through some dense bushes. Yes, Captain Sybil Ironclaw is back! For the time being, of course, I thought, huffing as I ran, my heavy Iron limb steadily thumping on the forest floor. I had ventured deeper into the forest, when I heard a voice behind me. "Evening, Captain." the voice said. I spun around, ready to gut whoever it was, when I saw a familiar face. "Ah, Robin." I said with a smile as I put away my cutlass. "Where is your disguise?" he asked me. "Oh, It's just down there a bit." I replied, pointing a little to the left. "The Sheriff still with you?" He asked, reclining on a nearby tree. I nodded. "But he's back at where we decided to make camp." I said, proceeding to walk with Robin deeper into the forest. 

  Robin and I continued to chat for a bit, of his latest robbing of Prince John, and of my former life as a pirate. "And I must leave now, " said Robin with a bow. "I bid you adieu." He added, retreating back into the brush. "Adieu," I replied, waving a bit. Back to work, I thought, cutting more firewood. "Okay, last one.." I said to myself, readying to cut the branch from the tree. "Hold it right there!" Called a voice. Oh, no. I thought, turning around to see the Sheriff standing a couple hundred yards away. "Yer under arrest!" he snarled, "Argh..." I replied in an irritated groan. "Ye'll have to catch me first," I snickered, bolting into the woods, my iron prosthetic thumping rhythmically as I ran around bushes, and loose rocks with the Sheriff close behind me. 

  He seemed to be getting closer to me. I could practically feel his breath on my shoulders. I grunted, and picked up the pace, disappearing into a tree. "Alright, you rogue!" called the Sheriff, drawing his sword. "Come down with yer hands up!" he growled. I meanwhile, had sneaked myself out of the tree, out of view of the Sheriff, and made my way around him, finding my disguise, and putting it on. I then returned to find the Sheriff, patiently staring up at the tree, panting heavily as if he'd been engaged in some sort of hunt. I huffed rapidly, getting myself winded as I trotted up to him. "What happened?" I huffed. "We got 'er." replied the Sheriff, not even glancing at me. "Did we get her?" I asked, huffing. "You bet we did, deputy!" he snickered. "Oh, that ol' Ironclaw ain't so smart now, is she?" He grinned, obviously pleased with himself for finding me. "So, uh, you saw her, too?" I asked. "I saw her alright. White fur, just like you, if you can believe that." he replied. Gee, I wonder why...I thought.

  We soon returned to camp when Ironclaw didn't come down from the tree. "Maybe she slipped away?" I tried. "With that heavy iron leg of hers?" questioned the Sheriff. I got away from you, didn't I? I thought snidely. "It could happen," I shrugged. "Mm, let's get a fire goin'." He instructed. "You do know how to set a fire, don't ya?" he questioned. "Ye of little faith." I replied, going to make a fire. I placed the wood I had collected in a pile, and made the fire. "Wow, I'm impressed," Nodded the Sheriff in a sarcastic, condescending tone. "Yeah, thanks. You're too kind." I replied with as much enthusiasm as he did. He chuckled to himself, and nudged my shoulder. "You ain't so bad." he grinned. Well, for a fat Sheriff bent on my capture, you aren't so bad either. I thought with an internal smile. "You aren't so bad either," I replied. 

  "So," Began the Sheriff, sitting down. "When we finally get Ironclaw, what do you plan to do with your share o' the reward?" He asked me. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Well, we catch her together, we share the profits." he replied. "You gonna use it to pay that newcomer fee?" he asked jokingly. "I don't know," I replied. "Well, I'm just trying to make conversation," shrugged the Sheriff. He doesn't have many friends, does he? I thought. "What do you intend to do with the reward?" I asked curiously. "Oh, I need to install a new cell in the dungeon, and make a few renovations in my office." He replied. "Oh, really?" I questioned. "Yep," he replied. "Cool," I said, casually nodding my head. The silence that followed was long, and awkward, except for the occasional clearing of throats, twiddling of thumbs, and casual shuffling as the Sheriff tried to get comfortable. I sat on a near boulder, and tapped my foot. 

  "Uh," I said, trying to break the silence, and start the conversation again. "Huh?" asked the Sheriff, as if he was thinking about something, and I interrupted him. "What?" I asked. "I asked you," he replied. "What's up?" I asked again. "Nothin', just thinkin' is all." he shrugged. "Okay, about what?" I questioned. "The mission." He replied, and dropped the conversation there. Alright, I get it. I thought. He's disappointed he didn't get me, and now he's moping about it. I thought. "We should get some rest." He suggested. "Yeah," I nodded. "G'night, Silverfur." he replied, going to sleep. "night," I replied, resting against my boulder. Boy, did we have a long day tomorrow. I thought, watching the Sheriff drift into sleep. We still need to catch Captain Ironclaw. Plenty of time tomorrow. I thought to nyself as I drifted off to sleep. 

  I then thought of the recent events, such as  my ship being destroyed, and my crew. Ah,  my crew... I thought, staring up at the night sky. I found myself missing my crew. What's a Captain without a crew to back her up? I thought to myself.  I turned on my side,  and thought of all the fun I had at sea.  My first mate,  Skully would always repeat orders I'd be giving to the crewmen. I smiled sadly.  Oh,  how I missed it all. Being a feared Captain,  the open ocean,  the wind in my fur, the salty sea air,  my ship,  and my crew.  I reclined on my boulder, in deep thought, and slowly fell asleep. We had a long day tomorrow. I thought.