"I'm going to try to find my family." She tried to say it as if she just hadn't seen them in awhile. That was another secret, she'd been taken away from her family, and everyone thought she had joined piracy of her own free will. But, that just wasn't the case.

Nicki was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "Has you always spoke like tha'?" he asked.

"Oh sorry, I've been forgetin' lately to speak like ya and da crew." She couldn't resist, her face lit up in a grin as she tried not to laugh. If she was going to tell Nicki the secrets she'd been keeping, she could have a little bit of fun. "I'm use'ta speaking like that, jus been coverin' it up."

Nicki smiled back. "Ya do a good job," he complimented her.

When they got back to his cot, Nicki sat back on it at once and sighed in relief. Now the world wasn't spinning as much. He looked up to Andrew, another question in his mind. "I's guessin' yer name's not Andru', right?"

Andrew smiled at the praise, "Thanks cap'n." She still couldn't resist saying it with a teasing tone than. Not a soldierly like reply she gave when it was orders around other people. Not that she was a soldier. She just replied like that.

Getting back to his cabin, she watched as Nicki's shoulder sank in relaxation from the relief of sitting. And had to laugh softly as he asked her a question. "No, it's not my name." She smiled, "Though it'd be a mite funny for a girl to be named Andru' wouldn'it." She grinned brightly. "My name's Amelia."

Nicki smiled, feeling a little drowsy now. "Tha's be a loverly name," he replied before moving to lay down. For some reason the old cot felt like the greatest thing in the world right now. He closed his eyes with a sigh. "I's must say one's thing tho'," he said softly. "Ya won' leave ta ship wit' no proper goodbye ta me," his tone a little teasing.

"Well I can give a proper goodbye since you know." Gonna say goodbye to Bartelby to... But she'd heard the teasing tone in his voice and wondered if he meant something different than how she had taken it. His eyes were closed, and she couldn't help looking him over quick. Gonna miss you Nicki...

She walked to the door, "I'll see ya at dawn Cap'n Nicki. Still yer cabin boy 'til port." She gave a smile and than left back up to the ropes, and the night sky.

The next morning Nicki woke feeling a lot better than yesterday, thankfully. He found his coat and hat again and hurried up onto the deck to head for the wheel. After nearly a whole day of drifting, he was going to have some trouble getting back on course again. He glanced out to the horizon as he bounded up the steps and paused suddenly. Off in the distance, and not very far at all, was the shore of an island. That wasn't supposed to be there. How could the ship drifted so far, even if it had been a whole day?

Nicki continued on up to the wheel and grabbed up the map that was tucked in beside it. He spread it out over a shelf made just for it and started tracing back along the route he had made.

Nicki's footsteps woke Amelia up who had managed to get down the ropes to the floor of the deck before falling asleep. Now she stirred and stood up. She hadn't done that since ...well probably since she had first been captured. Her head spun slightly and she realized with a shock that the rum had affected her slightly. But not enough to leave her struggling to stand up like the captain had been.

The feeling quickly passed as she was facing the rails when she stood up. Her mouth opened in awe as she walked to the edge and looked out. An island! her excitement came from having been on the ship so long and heard so many stories. She made a connection to the Island of treasures that everyone had been looking for, every ship searching the seas for years for.

Nicki found the mark he had made the previous morning and looked around at the area of map surrounding it. There was nothing there for thousands of miles in every direction...or that's how it had seemed. He looked back out to the island, a grin slowly spreading on his face. He took the wheel and tugged to the left to begin steering the ship in the right direction. As he did, he glanced over to where Amelia stood at the rail.

"Oi, Andru'! Get tha' crew up an' movin'!" Nicki shouted to her.

Amelia turned and looked at him her eyes lit up and sparkling with excitement, "Yes'ir cap'n!" She ran below decks yelling as she passed the cabin doors where the crew was sleeping. "All 'ands to deck! Cap'n needs the crew! She kept running until she reached the galley.

She put her hands on the counter and lifted herself into the air in excitement. "Bartleby, I think this is it. The rumors that have plagued ships of an Island of treasure. I think we found it!" She couldn't help saying it. She'd found solace the cook since he'd known what she was and kept it secret.

Barnaby looked up from his soup pot and nodded before turning his attention back to the food. "Took care o' ta wheel some fo' 'im. Thought Nicki cud' ta use some mo' time 'fore headin' ta port," he replied in a low voice. He stirred the soup and added in some more meat. Up above the sound of the thundering footsteps were heard all over the deck, along with Nicki's voice shouting orders.

"Barnaby.. I thought." She looked at him curiously falling silent. "That was nice of ya." She finally finished with. She nodded in confusion and than turned running back out of the galley and for the deck. Her excitement was to much to restrain her from keeping away from Jozo.

Up on deck, most of the crew could be seen up on the ropes adjusting the sails. Jozo was up by the wheel with Nicki, both bent over the map.

Amelia ran to the ropes making sure lines were secure, tightening or fixing the knots of the ones that were not. Her eyes would flick constantly to the Island as it got closer. The thrill inside her building.

Nicki soon had the ship pulled up as close to the island as he dared to take it. He shouted for the anchor to be lowered and an row boat put out into the water. Both were done quickly and the crew started to gather in a group on the deck, excited about getting out to the island. Nicki came down from the wheel with Jozo following and stopped before the gathered crew, looking around at them all.

"Now, ya all's aware tha' we's only has one boat, an' no pointin' fingers 'bout it," Nicki added as the crew began to look around at each other suspiciously. "We's go in turns, an' Jozo 'ere will be ta rower," he said as he turned to gesture to the man beside him. Nicki then went over to the rail where the rope ladder hung down to the small boat. He glanced back around at the crew as Jozo climbed down to get in. "You four," he said as he pointed to a random few in the front of the group, "An'..." he looked around more before spotting Amelia. "...Andru'. Y'all come wit' me," he finished. Then he swung himself over the rail and scaled down the ladder swiftly.

Andrew was a bit shocked at first that Nicki had picked her to go with the first group. It seemed a bit odd that a cabin boy would be going to the shore and she quickly moved forward ignoring any gazes from the crew encase they were angry shots of jealousy, confusion, or hatred towards her. Swinging herself up over the rail as Nicki had done, she descended the ladder to the small rickety row boat.

She hoped that Jozo would be silent about things as they went towards the island. She hit the row boat and moved towards the far end so that the others coming down the ladder would have space to get on. She had to pass Jozo to do this, he'd be in the middle rowing. This way she'd be behind him so he couldn't see her.

Jozo watched her climb in with a skeptical gaze. Once she was in the boat and seated, he glanced behind at her. "Seems the captain favors you all of a sudden. Why're you not up there with him?" he commented, gesturing ahead to where Nicki stood at the front of the row boat. The other four that climbed in gave her strange looks as well before situating themselves in the boat and pushing it off away from the ship.

"Why? Ya jealous Jozo? I wouldn't speak up to loudly about that, people might start to think yer gay. I just happened to be up on deck when da cap'n saw it. I'd say he's jus bein' fair, don't you?" She hissed back under her breath right behind him. She shot small glares at the others looking at her funny.

It wasn't her fault Nicki had picked her, and she could only guess at the reasons why without asking him.

Jozo's face turned red. "Shut yer mouth!" he spat in a low voice before turning back to the oars. He continued to grumble to himself as he rowed to the shore. Nicki was about to sit down when he noticed Amelia behind Jozo. He frowned, but didn't say anything. It would be unwise to call attention to the both of them in such a small place.

Once the boat touched the sand, Nicki jumped out along with the crew. The men grinned in relief as their feet touched the sand. It had been months since they had really stopped to enjoy solid land.

(the boat really confused me. XD i'm used the rower facing backwards and the front of the boat would be where Andrew went to. *so confused* XD haha )

Andrew smirked in her silent victory and stayed quiet for the rest of the trip. Once they touched shore she mimicked the crews movements swinging back out of the boat. She was confused slightly having expected Jozo to go straight back for more of the crew. But that wasn't her call, oh he was just pausing slightly. Probably checking out the land or grumbling about me or something. Suspicious git.

Ignoring her thoughts she turned to scan the landscape. It seemed like a long beach with a beautiful group of trees in the middle. She was extremely curious what might be on the island and wanted to run off and explore, but she knew her place.

{changed my last post, sorry for the confusion}

Nicki breathed in deep the cool air and sighed with a grin. Then he motioned for the crew to follow him up into the thick trees and undergrowth of the island as Jozo began to row back. He didn't want to waste any time in getting to explore the island. The thought of all the things this place could have hidden was far too much to ignore for even a moment.

(its all good. =] i shall edit mine slightly as well. =])

Andrew almost missed the wave to follow from Nicki, she'd been admiring the trees and just the general landscape of the area far to much. She'd been water locked practically since the day she was captured. It wasn't very often that cabin boys were actually allowed to go ashore when ships made port. Only long enough to help carry goods on board or something similar.

She jogged over to catch up and walked behind the crew following them up for the start of the exploration.

The crew turned out to be as useful with their legs as a drunk dog, to Nicki's disappointment. But then again, all they ever did was drink rum like water most of the time, which he noted with a little jealousy. He pushed the though aside though and climbed up nimbly to the top of a tall, twisted root, turning to address the crew. "I's admire ta effor' men, but ta mus' be's gone ahead. Continya on's ya own." Then he turned and leapt down from the root, disappearing from the crew's sight.

Nicki sighed as he left, relieved to finally be alone and away from the crew. Of course, Amelia would be...enjoyable as a companion in his little adventure. But that would cause too much suspicion. He drew his sword and began to whack away at the undergrowth as it became even thicker the deeper in he went.

Andrew listened to the short speech and took it with good cheer. That meant she could explore on her own! She quickly moved further down the beach following along the tree line but not entering yet. Something told her it wouldn't be important to check the trees just yet.

Well, that and as a cabin boy she didn't have a sword or anything. The beach seemed very small compared to being out on the immense sea but with only walking around on the ship, it was a huge distance. She stumbled here and there not quite sure of her footing. Have I really grown sea legs? She thought absentminded. There was a large rock formation up ahead and she grinned taking to climbing it.

Up she went until she came upon a rock that was smoothed out and had a hole filled with water, it had to be a couple feet deep at least. There inside at the bottom was some kind of shell pattern. Like someone had laid it out. She crouched at the edge studying it.