The Queen of Iris

- Chapter One -

Waves crashed loudly, banging against the wooden planks of the big boat.  The oceans water leaking into small cracks of the pirates roof, into the lower sleeping decks.  The sound of swearing pirates waking up from their short rest and scurrying to get ready and get upstairs to help with the rushing storm.

  "Aspen...Psst Aspen" I heard a rusty voice call out. My hammock beginning to rock, being pushed and snagged at by someone else's hand.

"Aspen get your ass up!....Your late again!". The hands grabbed my curly, knotted, dark brown hair, taking a big tug. I jumped up, my chest forward and putting my hand to the center of eyes and pinching my nose, feeling an immediate head-ache.

"October what tha' hell..." I mumbled under my breath as I yawned to the awakening by my dear friend, October.  His big grey puppy dog eyes staring at me, "Well, C'mon now!  Get outta ya under garments and puts some clothes on...Captain needs us upstairs immediately and everyone's already up there and..."

"Oh shut up already, i'm up, i'm up!" I spat at him, interrupting his ramble of my once again, sleeping late routine.  "Well alrighty then bitchy pants." He laughed at me, his light brown fluffy, somehow healthy hair bouncing as he turned away to walk out the door, his pale olive skinned hand slamming the door behind him jokingly.   I laughed at myself as soon as he left.

"My god isn't he stupid..." I smirked and picked up my clothes from under my hammock, that I usually wore on an everyday basis when doing usual boat duties.  Since no one else was in the sleeping deck with me, I went ahead and changed in there. 

Slipping off my cream white colored under garments, I then put on a white clothed baggy sailors shirt, with my regular leather brown corset over it.  I added in my baggy clothed pants with other mis-matched fabrics falling on the sides of it, my leather boots and the regular torn up brown limp jacket over it.  Not really even helping with the cold, but I liked it.  I was about to leave the sleeping deck until I stopped myself, how could I forget...
My rock

                      Running back to my hammock I grabbed the small little grey rock with the name Aspen carved into it, and placed it into my baggy pants pocket, My lucky little rock.

Finally being ready in my regular outfit, i kept my dark, thick hair as messy and fluffy, i think it brings character.  I walked to the door and took a small turn to the little mirror that all of us had to share.  I stared into my eyes, one green one brown.  A burden i've had to live with for seventeen years now, but I was used to this burden.

Walking out the door and practically skipping over the small wooden stair case to the main deck which showcased the ocean view and the large sails flying in the air, I took a deep breath in, smelling in the scent of cigars and Ocean water.  I liked that mix of smells strangely, it felt peaceful and at home to me on the regular.

"Oh Aspen.....!" I heard a voice call with a linger, looking over I saw the tall, skinny, boy as usual. "And how may I be at yer service October?" I replied looking at him, even though October was tall I never had to keep my neck up to meet his eyes. I had to say I was one of the 'taller' girls on the boat, yet not the tallest, the tallest was my dear friend Victoria, though she liked being called "Vicky".

I could see Vicky not to far away,  she was helping tie the rope on the sails as the storm started to quiet down, but taking safety precautions as always followed.  She had dark skin and light grey eyes.  Her dark black hair was in long, shiny, ringlets.  When she was younger the women on the boat would have to take special care of her hair to keep it is beautiful way.