Licorne

Purple Dawn

Caledonia gripped the side of the ship, rain poured down on the sailors like the tears of a broken heart. Morris spun the steering wheel sharply to the starboard side sending Caledonia flying to the floor. She landed on her shoulder and let out a yelp of pain the rain sending her sliding off towards the stairs. She put her foot out stopping her body from being hurled down the wooden stairs. She struggled to her feet just in time to be thrown back to the floor. Morris saw Caledonia struggling and shouted to Riley to take the wheel for a minute. He stumbled towards her finally reaching her after a great deal of effort. He lifted her up and put both of his arms on either side of her keeping her from falling,

“Having fun?” He shouted, she smiled,

“Loads.” She screamed over the hissing rain, she had gotten much more fierce since she stepped foot upon his boat. He liked it. She grabbed onto his coat holding herself in place while the boat lurched to the right. Morris smiled down at her and she shoved him away,

“I’m fine...” She spat, Morris shrugged and took his place at the steering wheel while Caledonia retired to her room. After the worst of the storm was over Morris went down and knocked on her door,

“Hey Caledonia...” He called out to her, she opened the door. She was standing in her silk pants and a black tank top with her hair pulled back,

“I-I-I just thought that I would see if you were okay...” He stumbled, Caledonia motioned for him to come in,

“I’m fine thank you... and you can call me Dia.” She said sitting down on the bed, Morris joined her pulling up a crate and sitting across from her,

“Want some?” He asked pulling out a flask, Dia shook her head and Morris took a swig. He looked at her and leaned in, Dia leaned back,

“Captain Morris!” She exclaimed slapping him across the face, he reeled back almost falling off the crate,

“Sorry...sorry. I just get a little lonely out here.” Morris apologized, Dia put her hand on his shoulder,

“It’s alright. Good night Captain.” She said leading him to the door, she slowly shut the door not wanting to slam it in his face.

Caledonia woke up to the sound of shouts, she sat up alert at once. She poked her head out her door and saw a man race down the hallway, he looked at her and fell to the floor. Blood leaked from a dagger lodged in his back, Caledonia looked up and saw a fierce looking pirate giving her a gap tooth smile. He started to walk towards her and she stepped out of her room. He reached towards her and she leaned to the left avoiding his hand. He went to pick her up, leaning down and slinging her over his shoulder. Caledonia brought her legs up and rolled right over his back, he let out a surprised yelp as she put her foot on his back and shoved him into the doorway. She opened the door and slammed it shut his head between the door and the wall. She stepped over the knocked out pirate and slipped on her silk shirt walking up the stairs to join the fight.    

Morris kicked a man and he went flying over the side of the ship, he spun the steering wheel sending some of his men along with the others over the boat. He looked over and saw Caledonia stepping out into the light, he left the wheel and jumped over the railing landing on the wooden floor below. He shoved the tip of his sword into a near by man pulling it out, crimson blood dripping from it as he walked over to Caledonia,

“Dia, you have to lock yourself in your room!” He exclaimed grabbing her forearm and leading her back to the door that lead below deck,

“I don’t think so! It’s much safer up here!” She said looking back at him has he opened the door,

“What do you mean?” He asked, Dia grabbed his shoulders and shoved him down catching a fist that was meant for the side of Morris's head. She punched the man straight in the jaw with her other hand. Morris popped his head back up,

“Thanks...” He breathed turning his back to Dia, when he turned back around she was gone.

He looked around panic gnawing at his insides. That’s when he saw it, a man holding Caledonia over the side of the ship. He watched as she kicked her legs and screamed but the man just held her. All fighting seemed to stop in those few moments when he let go. Morris heard her screams, he squinted his eyes and walked towards the man. He watched as the tip of a sword emerged from the man's stomach and then disappeared. Riley stood behind him his holding his sword, his green kilt waved in the wind. Tears slipped down his cheeks as his green eyes met Morris’s.