Strange Creatures

Lures and Snares

Well... the best I could do concerning the artist was chingastronaut on tumblr, but uh... I actually have no idea if they actually did it? I went down a rabbit trail of sites, and that's where I ended up, even if I didn't find this specific image on there.

xXx

Keith looked around at the ruckus around him, trying not to let his confusion and curiosity show as he was pulled-- dragged was more like it-- from the top of the ladder towards the side where the captain waited with a smug grin. It seemed like the entire crew was on deck, all of them rowdy and excited for... something. As more and more of them noticed him, they started jeering at him and... cheering? What was going on?

A pirate came from the other side of the deck and said something in the captain's ear, too quiet for Keith to hear over the raucous crowd. The captain nodded, and the pirate disappeared into the crowd.

The captain, with his ridiculous hat, turned to address Keith. "Care to see if the ocean still favors you?"

Keith regarded him warily, his hands still abound in front of him. "I wouldn't say it's the ocean," he said coolly. He could feel Lance growing nearer. He would be able to see him when he went under.

The captain nodded slowly, still smirking slightly. "Mm hmm."

He felt something wrap around his ankle. He moved to pull away as he heard a click, but his foot came to an abrupt halt. He looked down and found a manacle around his ankle, attached to a ball and chain. He stared at it for a moment, wide-eyed, then looked back up at the captain, his eyes narrowed. "Not taking many chances this time, are you?"

The captain raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth barely lifting. "Fewer than you realize."

Keith furrowed his brows slightly, but before he could say anything, he was shoved to the edge of the deck where there was an alarming lack of a railing. He looked over the side briefly, then pulled away. "I suppose you're going to dump me overboard now," he said tensely.

"Not as dull as you seem, are you?" the captain chuckled. Keith glared at him, and he shook his head. He stepped forward and rested his hand on Keith's shoulder. "It's really a shame I had to do this twice," he said as if he were apologizing to Keith for the loss of a pet.

"And it'll work just as well as the last time," Keith muttered.

The captain shook his head and sighed. "I'll be seeing you soon."

Keith suddenly saw the ropes hanging over the side, dangling into the water below. "Wait, no!" He pulled against the captain's hand, but the captain grinned maliciously and shoved him forward. He teetered desperately on the edge for a moment, then found himself falling. He managed to suck stuck in most of a breath before he landed hard in the water.

The ball dragged him straight to the bottom thirty feet below. The water swirled past his face, encouraging him to release what little precious air he had to the world growing farther above. He fought desperately to get free from-- well, really anything. He didn't really care whether he got his hands free or his foot at this point, so long as it was progress.