The Salty Sea (Private l Aurora)

Gareth Gruven · February 16, 2004, 05:25 PM

Gareth Gruven had always loved the beach. The sand between your toes and the rolling waves were a perfect combination. The foam and water that sprayed whenever the ocean waves pounded against a rock, the salty air that always accompanied it. The sea, the beach, and everything near it was always an enjoyable played, at least for Gareth.

The Sprite had gone to Olympia for shopping and relaxation, yet felt the need to still explore unknown territory. The moment he felt like he was done shopping he quickly set out to the beach, flying with the waves with his newfound agility and speed. It was great fun, following the rising waves until they hit the shore, then being splashed with water. His hands were free of all objects, and glided against the arrow with the rest of his body as his foresty green wings took him back to land. He wore his dark-green pine cloak, wrapped closely around him to protect his green and tan ranger garb from getting wet. Underneath the garb though was mesh armor that had been crafted for him, wrought of elven steel and extremely flexible. Underneath the garb and armor were black pants accompanied with black leather boots.

In his quiver was his elven-steel composite short bow, Sunrise he called it, customly made to fit his size and demeanor. On the handle of the bow was a radiant sun that had been forged, a beautiful picture. In the quiver were twenty arrows, five of them bearing the same emblem as the bow, the radiant sun. At Gareth's side hung his shortsword, and although he had yet to use it, and was not experienced, he knew it could be a deadly weapon in close combat. The blade bore the emblem of the sun, along with the hilt.

Gareth returned to land and glided down the beach, feeling the salty wind brush against his face. His platinum silver-hair was full of sand and saltwater, he would need to bathe when he got back to an Inn or his home in Arios. His dark-green almond-like eyes admired the view of the beach while he flew onwards, enjoying himself to the fullest.

Aurora · February 16, 2004, 05:41 PM

As Gareth was on his merry way he hears a high pitched scream break though the silence. It was the sound of a young girl's scream. It would of caught anyone's attention but Gareth was the only one there so he was the only one able to answer the call.

With a quick look to the sea he would see the sun outlining a row boat full of men and someone struggling towards a rather large black boat that had a mast over it with a flag of that of a pirate.

Obviously the young girl in the rowboat was going ot be taken away to that pirate ship and who knows what will happen to her.

Gareth Gruven · February 16, 2004, 05:49 PM

Gareth had to think fast, he knew time was the most valuable thing at the moment. If he acted too slow, she would reach the pirate ship, and then he wouldn't be able to rescue her. No, the element of suprise was at hand, and it was his job to grasp it and take control of it.

Using all his wits, he quickly draw his bow and a normal arrow. Knocking it was Sal had taught him, he rested the arrowhead on the bow while he flew in a reckless pace towards the row boat. Looking for the most disgusting man out of all of them, he would presume this man would be a pirate, probably in charge of the others. Shrugging though, he attempted to look and see (once he was close enough) to see if it was pirate's rowing the boat, and he would soon attempt to kill the man by shooting him with the arrow.

As soon as the man would come into his view, and he was sure he could shoot him from there, the Sprite took the proper position in the air and pulled back the bowstring. This would be the first arrow he shot out of it, and he hoped it would hit it's target. Not only that but he also had that magical golden bow clip attached to his bow that he hoped would improve his accuracy. Taking a deep breath, he fired.

Aurora · February 16, 2004, 05:55 PM

Gareth had aimed for the second pirate in command and even though he appeared to be the ugliest out of the six men in the boat, he had picked the second in command. The leaders was sitting next to him.

But his bow hit the second in command in the back of the neck silently. The second in command slumped over and the arrow was then visible. All of the pirates withdrew their swords but no matter where they looked, they couldn't see Gareth because was in the light and no one looked in the light, except for the little girl. She knew where he was, and she tried to motion towards the one next to the one he had just shot, so that he would know to aim for that one.

The pirates though started to row faster trying to get to the ship as fast as they could.

Gareth Gruven · February 16, 2004, 05:59 PM

Gareth silently withdrew another arrow, one of the arrows the Smithy had forged, the one with the emblem of the sun on it. Knocking it, he notched it into the bowstring and pulled back on it. He caught the little girl's direction and aimed for the man she had directed him to fire at. Taking his patience, he silently sent a shaft rocketing off towards him, then withdrew another and shot it at the same man again. Hopefully he would be less likely to miss if he shot two arrows instead of just one. 'The sun has given me aid, now I must use this time to my advantage,' he mused silently to himself as he continued to stay in the same allignment of the boat but began to move slightly closer to help his accuracy.

Aurora · February 16, 2004, 06:04 PM

As he flew and aimed, his mark hit true. Both times. The man then slumped over as well. But his sword that he held ready went into the man in front of him, causing him to fall over in pain and to throw his sword overboard. The girl then tried to kick the men away from her but when one held a sword up to her throat she stopped moving.

Even she knew not to move then. She didn't even look at the sprite as she didn't want to draw attention to him.

Gareth Gruven · February 16, 2004, 06:11 PM

Gareth's brows furrowed at the situation. Sure, he could try and aim at the man's head, and hope that he wouldn't miss the girl's, but would he really take that chance? Nope! He slowly lowered his bow as he contemplated what to do. There were still enough pirates to make it back to the ship, and well, what would he do if there weren't any pirates to row back? He wasn't strong enough to carry her back to the island, nor was he strong enough to row it back so far to the island either.

He frowned, he didn't really care for the situation, not at all. Sooo, he decided he would at least pick off the other men until it was just that one man and one other. Yes, that would be a good idea, then they could row back to the ship, and he could besiege that if he wanted to. Besides, he had his knapsack with him, andsurely the men on the ship had arrows for firing...he could steal theirs if he got too low. With a shrug, he decided it was safe to spend two more arrows on the pirates, so he fired one at one of the other pirates, and one at another, hoping they would aim true.

Aurora · February 16, 2004, 06:17 PM

The girl struggled a little but she felt the arrows wiz by her, as they hit the pirates well. Soon it was just like he had planned. The pirates that were left started to row for their life and they shouted up to the sky. Do it again and we throw her over board to the sharks you get us!?!?

The rowed faster and didn't have time to throw the girl overboard. They had planned to for a bit, but the plans were changing. They neared the ship and the other pirates on board noticed that something was wrong, so they threw over the ropes to haul everyone up. So they took the girl up first and then other pirates got on board as well, watching for the attacker to come rowing up.

Gareth Gruven · February 16, 2004, 06:28 PM

Gareth smirked, glad to see that his arrows had killed two more people. Deciding it was for the best, he snuck around towards the other side of the ship, and hung down their by the waves, listening to hear what they were planning to do above him, where the pirates stood on the deck. He notched an arrow into the bowstring, and rested the arrowhead on the handle of the bow, just in case he was to be discovered.

Aurora · February 16, 2004, 06:35 PM

THe men grabbed the girl and started to shake her. They screamed at her. You were lucky someone was trying to kill us or else you missy would of been shark food! Why did we even kidnap this brat anyways captain?

The man who was obviously their captain walked forward dressed in black and red. His beard was different from other captains, he had braids in it. He smiled and chuckled a little. Because lads, this gilr will make a fine piece of gold for us at the slave auctions. Why look at how pretty she is. You can't deny the fact that she will fetch us the money we all so desire.

The men around him nodded and the captain spoke yet again. And we need to keep her healthy, put her downstairs in the cabin next to the cooks. Don't spoil her but give her only what she needs understood!

The men nodded and walked away with the girl as the captain looked out to see and spoke to one of the crewmen. Our gold is still secure below right? The man nodded. Good, we raid another ship tonight, go make room for more. The crewman nodded and left leaving the captain to think over his thoughts.

Gareth Gruven · February 16, 2004, 06:50 PM

The sprite sighed as the little girl was brought down below. So much for saving her while she was on deck, now he would have to battle through the pirates and such. But two other points intrigued him. One was the fact that there was still more slaves below, they were probably the ones that row the boat. The other was the mention of gold below. 'Exactly how much gold did these men have and how?' he asked himself. Duh, the answer was right there before him. They sold slaves, that was why they were going to raid a ship. 'I might be their only hope...' he silently mused.

Deciding he would play his cards right, he slowly decided to shift on over towards the opposite side of the boat, the starboard side. But before he moved to the other side, he called out at the top of his voice, "Aye a Captain should know better not to raid ships or capture slaves when a Ranger is abroad!" With that, he quickly flew to the other side of the ship, keeping low to the waves he kept his arrow notched in case of danger...or even worst, discovery.

Aurora · February 19, 2004, 09:20 AM

When the words were heard from the ship, the captain rushed over to the side and looked down, but seeing no one he yelled out, All hands on deck!! I want to find out who this bloody fool is! A sound of a herd of men running up steps could be heard and it seemed to shake the boat. All men arrived on deck, and kept looking over all sides of the boat, but Gareth was too small to be seen from the top of the boat, and the men kept looking around.

Have you found the fool yet? All men reported back no, and so the captain had an odd smile on his face as a sudden thought came to his mind. He then yelled out. Men, get ye bows and fire at the water. We'll make him come out rather he wants to or not.

The men nodded as they all gathered up their bows and notched them and fired into the water as commanded. The arrows flew past Gareth and one of them barely missing him.

Gareth Gruven · February 19, 2004, 10:02 PM

Gareth let out a few mumbled select curses. Honestly he did not care for the situation very much at the moment. With the arrows coming down swiftly upon him, he half-thought about simply taking off and leaving the girl and slaves to suffer to their own demises. 'Who knows though' he silently though to himself. 'Maybe one day this very ship might take half the population of Arios, with you and your friends in it and force them to row the oars'. The thought had an unappealing taste to it as well.

He knew he had to act fast or he would be done for. He swiftly glided to the very edge of the boat, hoping that the men would not be able to shoot directly down over the rails of the deck. He would then stick to the side of the boat as if it was the only path off of a dangerous flat cliff, and try to fly over towards a side that was receiving the lesser end of the downpour.