The Third Star

Chapter 3: Lonely Sun

Tiger Lily gazed out at the open sea, idly braiding the long grass that tickled her thighs.  With her feet dangling off the edge of the cliff and the water's surface over one hundred feet below her, she felt a subtle thrill at the natural danger.  This was her favorite spot on the island, where she could sit peacefully and watch ripe tangerine sunrises in utter solitude.

How lonely it must be for the sun to shine alone all day, waiting for nightfall so it may be reunited with its beloved horizon, she mused.  Tiger Lily reached into her boot and pulled out a bright, red feather.  She ran her fingers along its spine, drowning in the onslaught of memories that the feather delivered.

Eighty Years Earlier

A sturdy ship tossed its anchor down near the shore of a local village.  The natives crowded the shore, anxiously awaiting the return of their leaders.  The tribe's chief was lifted aboard the ship by some sea-weathered sailors and led to the main deck, where the captain was waiting.

"Hello there, Chief.  Are those new feathers?"

A rugged man dressed in black leather stepped into the light.  His eyes were as blue as the ocean he sailed, and he looked like he hadn't shaven in a while.  His undeniable good looks were marred only by the ugly, menacing hook that replaced his left hand.

"Captain Hook," the chief nodded stiffly.

The pirate casually strolled towards the edge of the ship and leaned lazily against the railing.  "It's been a fair while, Chief," he said, looking disinterestedly out at the dark water.

"Where is she, pirate?" Chief stared coldly at the captain.

"Ah, you mean the princess.  I might have seen her around," Hook drawled.

Chief's eyes narrowed.  "No games, Hook."

Hook's eyes widened in mock innocence.  "Of course, this is a serious matter.  Bring her out, boys."

Two burly seamen came forward, dragging a malnourished Tiger Lily between them.  She hung limply, forcing her captors to support her rather than contain her.  Chief gasped at her disheveled state.

Hook crouched down so he was at eye level with the weakened princess.  "Hello, love.  Someone's here to see you," he said with a wink.

Tiger Lily raised her head and spat in his face.

Hook grimaced and stood up, wiping his face with his sleeve.  "Quite a daughter you've got there, Chief," he said dryly.

"Let her go," Chief hissed.  He stepped towards the captain, but the sailors held him back.

Hook approached the upset father and leaned forward until their faces were only inches away from each other.

"You know my price, my dear man," he breathed with a smug smile.  "You give me the gold, and your precious princess will be home skinning deer and picking berries like she never left."

Chief glared at the pirate.  "And you know I can't afford it.  Not without starving my people."

Hook smiled.  "But it's your daughter."

Chief looked brokenly at the young girl kneeling on the deck.  She stared desperately back at him, her eyes pleading the words she could not say.

"It is, and I love her dearly," Chief said softly, looking lovingly upon his child.

Then he turned and looked Hook dead in the eyes.

"But you ask too much.  I cannot sacrifice my tribe for anyone, not even for her."

Tiger Lily's head snapped up, her eyes confused.  Hook looked at the native chief incredulously.

"You'd give up your princess, your only child, for gold?" Hook said in angry disbelief.

"For my people," Chief corrected firmly.  He turned to his daughter and looked at her sadly.  "I do love you.  You need to know that," he whispered.

There was a pregnant pause as everyone processed the chief's words.  No one wanted to believe it, each for their own reasons in addition to the tragic atrocity of the whole situation.

"What?  No!  Father, please!  What are you doing?"  Tiger Lily found the strength to stand as she realized what was happening.

"I'm so sorry, Tiger Lily,"  Chief's voice cracked.  "But one day...one day, you'll understand."

And with that, Chief turned around and climbed into the rowboat, which lowered him into the water and back to shore.

Tiger Lily broke free of the sailors and ran to the edge of the ship.

"FATHER!"  she screamed.  "DON'T LEAVE ME HERE, FATHER PLEASE!  I'M YOUR DAUGHTER!  DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME!"

Hook shouted furiously down to the rowboat, "You step on that shore, you'll never see your daughter again!"

Chief didn't turn around.  He didn't even look back.

"FATHER!"  Tiger Lily sobbed.  "COME BACK, PLEASE!"

The two sailors came and hauled her away from the railing, dragging her as she screamed.  They brought her to Hook, who looked sadly at the girl.

"Orders, sir?" asked one of the men.

"We failed," Hook said in disbelief, shaking his head.  "We didn't get the gold.  That son of a bitch."

Tiger Lily had stopped fighting and was now crumpled on the ground, sobbing.  The sailors looked back and forth between the crying girl and their incredulous captain.

"Sir," one of the men said helplessly, unsure of how to handle the tearful princess.

Hook came out of his reverie and sighed.  "I guess we've no choice.  Take her to her room."

The men half-carried the weeping Tiger Lily below deck.  Hook wearily looked out at the village, which had so easily given up its princess.  Were there no decent fathers in this world?

The rowboat had returned, and the sailor who had escorted the chief approached his captain.

"Sir," he said, "I have a gift from the Chief.  For the princess."  He handed a small parcel to Hook.

Puzzled, Hook unwrapped the parcel and found a stained piece of parchment.  On it was written the words, "Forgive me."

Tied to the note was a parting gift:  a bright, red feather.

Present Day

Tiger Lily twirled the feather in her fingers.  She gazed out at the quiet ocean as the sun approached the waterline, casting a thousand diamonds of light across the sea.

I am the sun, she thought.  The only difference is, I will never meet my horizon again.