Knock on Wood

The Dorothy Nott rose on the last calm swell of the early morning, coming to rest on the soft sand. The sunlight gave new angles to the ragged damages taken the night before, and as the ship grounded, the captain walked the deck to survey the toll.

"...Well, we made it, at least," Lorelei murmured, running her hand along the rail. "You did well, old girl."

"Captain? Should we start on repairs?" Coran came over from the helm and stood behind her, questioning.

Hesitating, then shaking her head, Lorrie sighed. "No. Get everyone set first, set up a small camp if you can; we'll work on the Nott later."

"...Aye, Captain."

{{The backstory is coming. Soon.}}

[[Okay.]]

Clara lay in bed, wide awake. Sun filtered into her bedroom, dancing across the covers. Her eyes roved about the room, and silently, she stood, opening the window and letting the fresh sea air into the house.

She strode to her vanity, clearing her throat and taking a seat in front of the mirror. Clara picked up a brush, running it through her hair. Drawing a breath, she sighed. It was going to be one of her good days.

"Come on, now. There's a lad. One step at a time, yeh?" Turning from the rail, Lorrie watched two of her crew emerge from belowdecks. One, a raven-haired man with thick glasses, leaned heavily on the other as he limped out onto the deck. "Too bad ye don't have any wood, eh? Ye could make yeself a pair o' crutches!"

"Thanks, Rudy," the injured man laughed tightly. "I'll get on that as soon as I can."

The captain blinked, surveying Booth's leg. "How bad is it?"

"I'll live," he replied, pausing to wipe his glasses. "Hurts like none other, but I'll live."

She nodded. "Good man. How're the younger two?"

The bulky Rudy wiped sweat from his brow, helping Booth balance. "Nance is scrapin' up the last of his ammo, and the kid's lookin' for her cat. She's got a bit of a scratch, but other'n that, she seems fine."

"...Good," Lorelei sighed. "That's good."

She coughed lightly, scowling. I won't have a fit today; I won't.

The determined face that stared back at her from the mirror was pale and smooth. A rounded hairline seperated the ivory skin and almost-ebony hair. Hazel eyes flashed beneath dark brows. Clara was pretty in a traditional way.

Standing, she exited the room and set about finding something to eat.

Lorrie traipsed downstairs, poking her head into the cannonhouse. "How're things holding up, Nance?"

The redhead glanced up. "We took on lots of water last night, Cap'n. Most of the powder's ruined. We'll need more if we're planning on fighting like that again."

Nodding grimly, Lorelei continued on. "Minikin? Where are you, lass?"

"In here, Cap'n." The child was standing on a stack of crates, trying to coax a bedraggled lump of tabby fur to come out from the corner. "Come on, Tikk," she crooned softly, voice barely audible. "Storm's over now..."

Lorrie smiled inwardly. "We're heading onshore soon," she said. "Looking for some place to get a good meal, and to rest. I'll tell you when we're ready."

"Aye, Cap'n."

Clara entered the kitchen. She was tired, didn't feel like cooking, really...

She turned on her heel, headed back to her room and dressed.

Clara moved gracefully through the house and out the door, breathing in the fresh air. The town was a good mile away, and her house overlooked the beach from a hill.

Stepping off the ship, Lorelei sighed, looking up and down the beach. "Well... here we are."

"Syrus, set up camp, if you will, sir. Rudy and Booth stay here. Coran, Minikin, you're with me." Nodding, she glanced up at the ship. "You, too, Nance," she added.

Minikin blinked up at the Captain, holding a very tense-looking cat in her arms.

Lorrie nodded, and the child beamed.

"...Alright, then. off we go."

Clara stepped purposefully down the well-worn path, staring out to sea. It was so calm here, so peaceful...

And so dull...

Sighing, she traipsed off the path and through the grass, taking a detour to the beach.

"It seems like a quiet little place," Coran was saying. "Not much going on..."

Lorelei nodded, watching Minikin and Tikkat walk along the path ahead, the latter having gotten over his traumatizing experience. "Hopefully there's someone around who can help us, though... and a town. We need wood for the Nott."

{{You don't know th' meanin' of th' word 'traumatizin'. No. Idea. At all.}}

Clara slowly picked her way down the hill until the grass gave way to yellow-white sand. Smiling, she promptly discarded her shoes and headed for the water, walking through the soft, warm, wet sand.

Dashing along ahead, Minikin, chased the tabby along the path while the three older pirates followed behind at a more dignified pace, discussing what they needed to repair the Nott. As they talked, they didn't really notice that the child and animal had stopped.

Almost running over the girl, Lorrie stumbled to the side. "What's the matter, lass?"

She raised a hand and pointed, unblinking, down the path.

"...It's another beach," Coran said, following the child's gaze. "DId we go in a circle?"

Nance shook his head, nodding towards the waterline. "No, look. Someone's down there..."

A slow smile graced Clara's pale lips. Twirling in the ankle-deep water, she kicked and splashed and poorly suppressed a giggle at the mud between her toes.

"Who d'you think she is, Cap'n?" Rudy asked, trying to peek over the taller mens' shoulders.

Shaking her head, Lorelei shrugged. "I don't have a clue. I hope she lives close, though, and knows the area well."

Minikin glanced up at Lorrie, then down at the girl in the water.

Something caught Clara's eye; at her feet, gleaming creamy and pink-white in the sand was a swirling shell. She stooped, caught it in her hand, and examined it, oblivious to what was going on around her.

"Aren't you a pretty thing?" she said to the air, wondering what creature might've previously inhabited it.

"So, are we gonna stand around all day, or are we gonna go talk to her?"

"Look at yourself, Rudy," Lorrie explained. "You might frighten her. Most of us would."

Coran quirked a grin, nodding down the path. "She doesn't seem discouraged."

They all watched in wonder as the silent child went down the path and approached the shore cautiously, Tikkat on her heels. Pausing a few feet from the waterline, Minikin stood, silently watching.

At length, Clara turned from the sea, and when did, her eyes fell about the fair-haired child.

"Well, hullo there." she said, unfazed. "What's your name?"

Lorrie watched the pair, curious.

The child blinked. "...Minikin."

{{Wha'? I don' get an introducti'n?}}

"That's a pretty name." the girl said, nodding, "My name is Clara. Rather plain, not unique like yours."

Her hazel, inquisitive eyes flickered to the cat. "And what a lovely pet you have!"

Studying the pair, Clara spoke, "Are you lost?"

{{Haha... sh' called me luvverly, she did.}}

Minikin shook her head, glancing back up the path at the rest of her comrades.

Clara followed her gaze, and then nodded. "Ahh, I see."

Without so much as another thought, she made her way to the group.

Minikin followed after, Tikkat bouncing behind.

Lorrie watched the woman approach. "Morning," she greeted, nodding politely.

"Good morning, indeed." Clara said. "How are you all this fine day?"

Lorrie smiled. At least she was friendly. "Fine, most of us. We're nearly shipwrecked, though, and one of our crew has a badly faring leg. I was wondering if you knew anyplace, a town or somewhere, where we could rest for the night, and get supplies."

Clara smiled. "Well, there's a town just a mile that way." she said, nodding her head wesward, "But it's rather packed this time of year. You might can find enough board for you all but..."

Clara hesitated. "But, there's always that house up there!" she said, pointing to her own on the hill.

Lorrie followed Clara's point, shading her eyes against the sun. "...So there is. Whose might it be?"