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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4831614" data-attributes="member: 3285">Naoke: Part 10 – Sole SurvivorThe lookout on the crow’s nest shouted, “Land, ho!”Not far away lay a verdant island, lush with vegetation.  Though the island itself was rather small, no more than two miles across, it teemed with life.  Most of the island was a dense jungle, and birds flew above the treetops in great number.  ”Mariners anchor here and meet on th’ shore in informal gatherings,” said Captain Baldric.  “To exchange gossip and inexpensive trade goods.  Personally, I’ve never harbored thar.  But if ye be willing t’ take a look, we can drop anchor.”“No,” said Ilmarė sternly.  “No more islands.  We have enough stragglers and enough grief.”“I’ll go,” said Kham.  “I want to stretch my legs.”“Me too,” Vlad added eagerly.“Fine,” said Baldric.  “Ye’ve got three hours to conduct an investigation, just in case thar be something of value.”Kham and Vlad took six crewmembers with them.  Given the extra mouths to feed, Baldric secretly hoped they would gather up more food.  The ship was getting crowded.They rowed to the island. The white beaches bore evidence that the place had been used as a port by many vessels throughout the years: old longboats and dinghies were here and there, along with the detritus that sailors left behind after an excursion ashore.Kham led them deeper into the jungle.  “Maybe we can find some fruit or something to eat.”“Anything but rations!” said Vlad.  The pirates shouted in agreement.With a roar, a horned beast crashed through the jungle, plowing into Vlad and the pirates.  Only Kham dived aside in time.It slowed to a halt, breathing hard.  It was a triceratops and, judging from the numerous scars across its frill and head, had fought hundreds of battles for survival.  “Whoa!” said Kham.  Vlad was down, bleeding from the ears and nose.  Kham didn’t bother to check out the other pirates.The triceratops wheeled about.  It was massive, nearly the size of the Nǎoké.  Without making any sudden moves, Kham drank a potion and disappeared from sight.  Then he padded over to Vlad’s unconscious body and poured a healing liquid down his throat.Vlad blinked awake.“Don’t move,” Kham whispered to him.  “I’m invisible.  I’m going to try to get Billy’s attention here—““Billy?”“The thing that hit you like a ton of bricks. I’m going to try to get its attention by making some noise.  When you hear the signal, run as fast as you can for the boat.  Okay?”Vlad groaned.  The potion had only managed to wake him.  He was still hurt.  “I’ll take that as a yes.”Kham padded away onto the beach.  Vlad could make out his footsteps in the sand.“Hey!” shouted Kham.  “Hey Billy!”  The triceratops that Kham named Billy scanned the horizon. It turned to face the source of the noise. Then two pistol shots ricocheted off its head.That got Billy’s attention. Kham was visible. Seeing a new threat, the beast roared and charged forward.“Now Vlad!” shouted Kham.Vlad jumped to his feet.  Shooting pain lanced through his limbs, but he had no choice.  He fought through the agony, limping as quickly as he could to the longboat.Billy barreled down on Kham.  He crouched.Just as Billy lowered its head to gore him with its three horns, Kham jumped into the air.  He landed lightly on the crest of its nose and then somersaulted onto its back.  The triceratops skidded to a halt, confused.Vlad kept on limping towards the boat.  He was only a hundred yards away.Billy saw him.  With a roar, the triceratops kicked into a gallop.Kham yanked off his cloak and threw it over the triceratops’ horns.  The beast roared and pulled off to the right.Kham launched himself off the beast and dove into the surf, swimming towards the longboat.  By the time Billy shook the cloak from his eyes, Kham and Vlad were long gone.With a mournful bellow, the sole survivor of the island returned to grazing.“What was that?” asked Ilmarė.“Nothing,” said Kham.  “We were just saying hello to Billy.”Vlad winced.  “More like he was saying hello to us.”Ilmarė rolled her eyes.  “Stupid humans. When will you learn?”</blockquote>

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