Skyrun

Chapter 7; Dinner with absolute madmen is truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Once the sun set on the horizon, casting the airship in its golden glow, Sinclair let Liam go for the night, promising that there would be plenty of work tomorrow.

Bloody fantastic.

Sighing, Liam found his way above deck where all the other pirates were busy eating supper and telling loud stories and crude jokes. Grabbing some food-- which looked unappetizing, to say the least-- he found a barrel to sit on away from the others, hoping none would take notice of him.

In truth, he was starting to regret climbing aboard this stupid ship; why, if his friends hadn't dared to do so or if his father had let him go to the bloody festival in the first place, he wouldn't be in this mess. He could be home about now, braiding Eliza's hair while she talked of the adventures of the day.

His heart broke a little then at the thought of her and, for a moment, he wondered if he would ever see his sister again.

Sensing someone beside him, he looked over to see Tophsy sit down on the barrel next to his own. She gave him a warm smile, her eyes twinkling like stars. 

"I suppose Sinclair put you to work then, eh?"

Liam snorted, "I'll say. My back will be aching for weeks after this."

"You'll get used to it." a playful grin flickered over her lips and she leaned back slightly on her barrel, crossing her legs. "I remember my first day on the ship. I was younger than you, no older than fourteen. Still, it didn't matter how young I was-- Sinclair worked me near to the bone. I had blisters on my hands for days, yet grew to love this life... and you will too."

"How do you know?"

She gave him a look as though he was going mad. "Everyone wants this life; a life of adventure, of open sky for miles around, of seeing new places."

"But being constantly hunted? Don't you wish for your old life back? One of peace and normalcy?"

The smile vanished from her lips and her face darkened. "My old life was anything but 'peaceful' or 'normal'."

Liam nodded and turned back to his food, wanting to know more but preferring not to pry.

 That hadn't gone over well with Sinclair, after all. So instead, he simply remained quiet, choking down his food and grog until Tophsy spoke once more, her voice bright and filled with energy again.

"Well, since you'll be part of the crew now, I suppose you will need a pirate name, eh?"

"Don't be absurd," Liam scoffed, "My name will do just fine."

"Trust me, my good sir, if I don't pick your nickname, someone else here will, and it's not always a good one. You're not allowed to be called by anything else until the crew sees you as one of them... " she rolled her eyes then, "Also, it is bloody tradition and you wouldn't want to look down on tradition, now would you?"

He didn't. So thus began the searching for a good pet name-- which, to be sure, was quite a bit harder than either one expected.

 Finally, Tophsy pointed out that he had a rather hawkish nose and decided that 'Hawk' would most likely be the best fit. Then, much to Liam's utter embarrassment, she yelled out to the other pirates, "OI! THIS HERE IS HAWK! HE'S ONE OF US NOW!"

A great cheer rose up into the quickly darkening sky and for the first time that day, Liam smiled as they chanted his new name.

"See now," Tophsy whispered in his ear as the chanting grew louder, "They like you."

But what Liam saw told a different story; the pirates were cheering, for certain, but the look in their eyes was almost ravenous, animal-like. They saw him as prey, fresh meat. A new toy to torment.