VIOLENT TIDES (gxg - editing)

14

They anchored off the coast of the island and approached in two rowboats. It was a fairly small but mountainous island, with rocky coasts and sheer cliff faces dropping off into the sea. Thick, coniferous woodland covered the landscape.

The rowboats were hauled onto land in a small, shallow bay. Ainsley jumped out, landing in water that nearly reached the top of her boots, and splashed to shore, followed closely by Gael and a few other men while the rest tugged the boats up the beach.

"The island doesn't even have a name?" She inquired.

Gael's hands rested on her hips as she surveyed the scenery, a salt breeze ruffling her dark hair.

"No. It was never even recognized as an official part of Ellay, though it's close enough to the mainland. It's simply too small."

Ainsley nodded. "Your mother and father live in a village here, you said?"

"Yes, on the other side of the island. We'll spend the rest of the day here and set up camp, and Nathe and I will walk over there in the morning."

"I... think I might join the two of you, if that's still alright, of course."

Ainsley caught the smile that glanced across Gael's features.

"You're more than welcome," the captain assured her.

"And until then?"

"You're free to do as you please. I'll be helping the crew set up camp for the night, but after that there will be several hours before nightfall. I... like to give them some time to rest every now and then." She smiled ruefully in the direction of the busy crew.

Ainsley nodded, opening her mouth to speak and then stopping herself abruptly, switching the conversation in a heartbeat.

"There is a dragon living on this island."

Gael's brows shot up. "Oh? How do you know?"

She wasn't sure she could describe it. She just felt it's presence in the back of her mind, like a faint pressure pushing against her consciousness. "I just do. I think... I can tell it's old, though. A powerful one." She realizing she was staring into the forest that sprung up in front of them and looked away quickly. Gael was smiling again.

"You'd like to go find it, wouldn't you?"

Ainsley chuckled nervously. "I can't help myself. I feel like... I need to find it. It knows I'm here, it... wants to meet me."

"Well, I won't stop you. And I hate to sound overbearing, but I would recommend you return before nightfall. It can be hard for newcomers to find their way around the island in the dark."

"Oh, I'll be back by then, I..." Ainsley's words trailed off as an unexpected idea occurred to her. She found herself speaking it before she could think it over and stop herself. "You should join me."

"Me?"

Ainsley's words tumbled out of her mouth. "I mean, if you'd like to. But it's an amazing experience, really, and I'm sure you'd enjoy it." She barely stopped herself from finishing her final argument- the fact that, for some reason, she really wanted Gael to come along. Wanted to show her something only she could give. Wanted to impress her, almost.

"Well..."

Ainsley wouldn't have thought she knew the captain all that well, but it was clear the idea appealed to her. She even seemed excited at the prospect.

"I don't see why not. Let me help the crew set up camp and I'll join you."

"Oh- I'll help you, of course. We can go when we're finished here."

Gael smiled, and Ainsley had to resist the temptation to smile back.

"That sounds wonderful. Come on, let's see how much progress they've made without us."
—
The sun was high in the sky when they finished. Bedrolls had been unrolled and stretched out in various positions around a crackling fire in the middle of the rocky beach. All the necessary provisions had been taken out of the Finch, which bobbed gently out on the water. Gael was tying up her hair with her bright bandanna, talking to Nathe and Ed when Ainsley approached. She glanced up.

"Ready to leave?"

"Yes."

Nathe gave her a critical state, though his lips were tilted in amusement. "You should take us all with you. Isn't fair that just Gael gets to meet a dragon, I think."

"Well, I don't think a dragon will be quick to trust a large group of people in its home," Ainsley returned, quirking a brow. Nathe laughed.

Ed was grinning, but not in the pleasant way Ainsley had learned to expect from the other man. "I'm surprised you're still alive, princess. You go whisper in the ears of dragons on the regular?"

She glared at him. "I'll feed you to one, bastard."

Gael sighed and placed a hand on Ed's shoulder, pushing him away slightly before he could retort. "Will the two of you give me a break? Come on, Ainsley, let's go find your dragon."

Ainsley tore her gaze away from Ed, hearing his derogatory chuckle follow her as she turned around and stalked towards the tree line.

In the stillness of the forest, it was easier to forget her anger. Tall pine trees closed in around them, letting streams of dusty sunlight filter down to the forest floor and highlight Gael's eyes and cheekbones in gold. Ainsley tried her best not to look as the two stepped over fallen logs and pushed aside low hanging branches.

"You know where to go?"

Ainsley paused, pushing out a greeting with her mind. She got one in return almost instantly- a soft, welcoming presence that urged her eastward. "Yes. Just follow me."

Conversation was limited on their trek, but Ainsley didn't mind. In fact, their long silences were becoming comfortable rather than stiff and awkward. Ainsley wasn't sure when that had happened, but she appreciated it, though it made her nervous, too. When had she gotten so at ease around a pirate? When had she let herself stop hating the captain and her crew?

In the ambient sound of the forest, it was easy enough for Ainsley to push her conflict to the back of her mind. At least for now.

It took nearly two hours of walking before Ainsley stopped again. They had reached the far eastern edge of the island, where a small, grassy plain dropped off into a rocky cliff that plunged into a small cove below. Ainsley stepped up to the edge and peered over. Below, there was a small, curved strip of gravelly beach, and she could barely make out a dark opening in the cliff face.

"Down there," she said, voice quiet. "Is there any way we can...?" Her question trailed off as she noticed a dip in the ground. Gael followed her up to it. There, the cliff face was less steep, with large boulders and stunted shrubs decorating the surface. "We can get down there this way, I think."

Gael went first, taking a first careful step, and then another down the steep incline. Ainsley followed, never more than half a step behind, hands reaching for the sharp-edged rocks around her. The salt spray ruffled her hair, thrown up practically into their faces every time a wave crashed against the shore. The rocky cliff was slick with the residue saltwater.

Gael's feet slipped out from under her and Ainsley reacted instinctively, reaching out to grab her. Her hands wrapped around her wrist and she planted her feet, feeling the pirate's weight tug at the socket of her shoulder. Gael let out a breathless laugh, regaining her balance.

"Thank you, Princess."

Ainsley let go of her and rubbed at the back of head, not sure what to say.

A minute or so later, the two of them were able to safely jump to the ground, pebbles crunching under their boots. Both of them were quiet as they took careful steps up the beach, following the inward curve of the cliff until, finally, the weathered rock gave way to a dark, yawning cave entrance that stretched to nearly three times Ainsley's height. The two stared at it in silence.

"It's in there?" Gael asked, voice soft, as though not to disturb the creature that lurked inside.

Ainsley nodded, voice a murmur. "Yes."

"And you're sure it won't... mind?"

"Not if I tell it you're not a threat. It'll trust me."

Ainsley stared into the gloomy cave entrance. It was impossible to tell how far back it went. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and pushed her thoughts far into the hidden insides of the cave. And after a few moments, the dragon touched the back of her mind. Ainsley's eyes flashed open, feeling the familiar surge of power and friendship that always came with this moment of connecting with a beast so elusive. In a heartbeat, she saw everything it had seen and knew everything about it. She reached out and gently pushed Gael away from the cave entrance, steps taking both of them right to the edge of the foaming waves.

"Here she comes," she whispered.
chapter 14 for yall! please remember to vote and comment if you're enjoying it, as that's the best encouragement for writers like myself <3