Tough Girl: The Coming of the Kraken

Reuniting with Tia Dalma

     "Wow, sounds like you've had quite the adventure." Will chuckled. I had just finished telling him about my travels since I last saw him. Including my not at all exaggerated story about the hurricane. Will said I was overreacting when I described certain parts, but I mean I'm terrified of storms so of course it's going to seem way scarier to me then it will to others. "Sure did. Now tell me, what's new with you?" I asked. "Well, you already know that Elizabeth and I are engaged..." I nodded. "...and that's really it. Things have been pretty normal for the most part. I smirked. "Normal to you is a regular work day. Normal to me is sailing around the seas escaping the evil jaws of death and capture." Will laughed at my statement, but it was true. "Now you see why I wanted the pirate life?" I questioned him. "I guess..." He admitted. Will and I both turned to a the thumping of boots coming towards the door. "Am I, intruding on anything?" Jack asked as he slowly opened the door. "No, not at all." I assured him. He shook his head and closed the door behind him before making his way over to us. "So here's the deal." He began, strolling towards us. "We are setting sail to Tia Dalma place..." I jumped out of my seat. "We're going to see Tia?" I blurted out excitedly. Tia and I lived together for a year. Captain Teague wanted me to go there so I could learn some stuff from her. She and I became really good friends. "Yes, love. But this time, we're going to her for help." 

     I cocked my head to the side. "What sort of help?" I inquired. Jack shuffled his feet nervously. "To uh..figure out the whereabouts of the key of course." He stuttered. I raised an eyebrow. "Will, why don't you go back on deck with Mr. Gibbs? Ok?" I tried to hint that I wanted to be alone with Jack. He nodded and exited the room. As soon as that door shut, I got down to business. "Alright Jack. What's the real problem?" I put a hand on my hip waiting for his response. "Nothing. I don't know what your talking about, love." He rubbed his left hand as he said this. I noticed that his left hand was bandaged. It wasn't like that when I left to go to Will's wedding. "So, did anything happen while I was gone?" I questioned him further. "No." He answered quickly. A little too quickly. "Mhmm." I demurred. "Then why is your hand bandaged?" Jack twiddled with his thumbs. "I..well...ran into an old friend, I guess you could say..." He muttered. I put a hand on his shoulder. "If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. But I could help you ya know." I stated. Jack smiled and moved my hand to his face. "You could help me in other ways, love." He was obviously hinting at what what he wanted me to do. Sighing in defeat, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. I haven't actually kissed him kissed him since that first time on the island. My grip around his neck tightened as Jack held my face in his hands. When I pulled back, I smirked at him. "Better now?" He smirked back. "Much better, love."

     I rested my hand on the hilt of my sword, alert and ready for anything. Living in this jungle has taught me a lot of things, even though I was only here for a year. And trust me, one year is enough. Will noticed the tension radiating from me. He put his hand over mine. "Relax Jes." He soothed. I took his advice and let out a deep breath. We had climbed into the longboats and were gliding on the river to Tia Dalma's place. Jack was in the front most boat, scanning the area. I was sitting next to Will with Gibbs, Pintel and Ragetti. "Why is Jack afraid of the open ocean?" Will asked Gibbs. I was glad to hear a conversation start, for I was immensely bored. "Well, Jack has run afoul of Davy Jones," He began. At this, I perked up.Ragetti and Pintel leaned in closer to listen. Will still looked puzzled. "Some say, that there's a creature that does the biddin' of Davy Jones. A fearsome creature with giant tentacles that'll suction your face clean off." He made a grabbing gesture with his hand. Pintel and Ragetti whimpered. "And drag an entire ship down to the crushing darkness." Gibbs continued. He leaned in closer. "The kraken." He whispered darkly.

     Pintel and Ragetti exchanged nervous glances. Even Marty, who was at the front of the boat, turned around wide eyed. I myself was shocked. "The kraken?" I gasped. Will turned to me. "You know of this creature?" I shifted my gaze to him and lowered my voice. "I've heard tales about it. Being near that bloody thing is a death wish." Gibbs nodded. "They say the stench of its breath is..." he shuddered as if the kraken were here now. "Imagine. The last thing you know on God's green Earth is the roar of the kraken and the reeking odor of a thousand rotting corpses." I placed my hand back on my sword. If anything comes after me, I'm killing it. Gibbs nervously smiled at Will. "If you believe such things." He added. I scoffed. Whether I believe in it or not, I'll slice it up if it even dares to lay a tentacle on me. "And the key will save him from this." Will commented, as though he were asking a question. Gibbs did a sort of half shrug. "Well that's the very question Jack wants answered." He paused to look away. "Bad enough even, to visit, her." Will patiently waited for Gibbs' response. "Her?" He urged. Gibbs nodded. "Aye, her." I shot both of them a menacing look. "Tia Dalma is an absolute friend of mine. Sure people think she's weird and creepy, but that doesn't mean you can judge her like that." I growled. "I will not let you gossip about her behind her back." Will and Gibbs hushed immediately.