The pub

[elphiethegood]

Cathleene rolled her eyes at Grace's question. The woman could not stay out of people's business. Cathleene gritted her teeth as the conversation continued and finally she couldn't take it anymore. Silenty as to not cause another scene, Cathleene walked out of the house and out into the yard. She could hear the birds chirping and the wind rustling the leaves. Cathleene walked the length of the yard, finally spotting a log at the back of the house. Ah. Peace at last. She could listen to her own thoughts without Grace yammering in her ear.

Cathleene stayed behind the house until it began to grow dark and just as she was about to stand and head back into the house, she heard a rustling in the woods. Holding her breath, Cathleene scanned the area, feeling silly for even bothering to do so. It wasn't like she could tell if there was something out there. Hand moving to her pocket, Cathleene pulled out her knife. "Who's there?" she called sharply, trying to keep the fear from her voice. She was a pirate. Fear was not in her vocabulary. "Show yourrself," she ordered, teeh clenched together as her anger mounted and she raised her knife, ready to defend herself.

[Rascal]

"Because my husband and I built this house together." she answered. "Because he died on this road, and because this was where we were meant to live our dreams with one another. This was the house that stated our independence, our love for each other, and our freedom from our parents. This house shown that two from different church can still love just as anyone else can. I have grown attached to it because of that." Rascal said. "And besides, Sea Hounds aren't ones to mess with either. A pirate is a pirate, no matter their crew. -No offense. It's kind of like a "pick your poison" kind of thing." They conversation drew on into the dark, and Rascal showed Grace about the house, and the rooms that would be for her and Cathleene. That's when she looked up, realizing something. "Where has your friend wandered off to?" she asked.

[ganuaile]

Grace chuckled dryly. "Indeed," she said, "And as to where Miss O'Teal has gone I can't tell you. I suppose I should go and hunt her." Standing, Grace walked out of the house and through the grassy front yard. Making her way around to the woods near the back of the house, she heard a voice off to her left. Tightening her grip on her sword, Grace turned toward the sound. In a flash she recognized the voice. "Nice to see you're capable of defending yourself, Miss O'Teal," Grace remarked dryly, stepping out of the woods and walking up to the girl. "Whatever are you doing out here?"

[elphiethegood]

Cathleene slowly lowered her knife as relief made its way through her veins. "Captain," she said breathlesly, placing a hand on her heart, "you scared me half to death." She swallowed. "I did not want to interrupt you and Rascal talking. I needed some air and to get away from you," she added but didn't dare speak the last sentence out loud. "Good evening Captain," she said and without a word headed into the house.

[Rascal]

Rascal walked out the back door instead of walking all the way around the house, before she found her feet following them back in again. With one final glance over her shoulder, Alice gazed at the forest. Somewhere, she thought she heard the grass rustle after the two pirates had gone inside. Her brown eyes scanned the yard, then the forest beyond, searching for some kind of animal. But she found nothing. Scowling, Rascal closed the door.

She walked back to join the two sea-dwellers again. "So, besides killing people, what do pirates do for fun?" she asked. Rascal herself never really spoke of 'fun'. She painted to get her mind off of things, and hunted to clear her thoughts. That must be 'fun'. Or the closest thing to it. But she never heard of what others did.

Just then, Marie came shooting down the staircase railing, sliding as if she had wheels strapped to her paws. "WHOO HOO!" she mewed, hopping the last of the railing and skidding to a halt in front of the three people. "Pirates!" she hissed, her black back arching at them, every last ebony hair standing on end. She bolted back up the stairs and watched them from the top with glowing golden eyes.

Rascal smiled, the closest she had been to laughing in a long time. "You'll have to forgive her." she said. "That was Marie, my cat that is about as antisocial as me. But she'll get used to you. She'll have to."

Marie only glared, and began licking her fur that was all messed up now. "Indeed." she grumbled, sarcastically.

[ganuaile]

Grace arched her eyebrow at the cat. "Pleasant creature," she remarked dryly. "She and Cathleene should get along beautifully." She turned her gaze back to Rascal. "How can you do that? Talk to animals I mean?" She tried to keep her voice cool, non-threatening. She didn't want to frighten the girl, after all.

[elphiethegood]

Cathleene rolled her eyes. What sort of mixed up place was this? Talking animals? Cathleene bit the side of her cheek to keep back a retort and brushed past Grace, walking into the guest room. She plopped down on the bed, trying to ignore Rascal's explanation of how she'd come to talk to animals. Grace seemd fascinated and Cathleene wanted nothing more than to knock some sense into her Captain.

Cathleene was so lost in thought that she didn't see the cat enter the room until she felt it brush against her legs. She screamed and jumped, eyeing the cat critically. "Go away you fury hairball," she muttered through clenched teeth. "I hate cats," she said under her breath and thought she heard the cat sigh. She shot another glare at the fury creature. "Get out," she said and pointed toward the door. "They say you can talk. Do you undersand me? Do you know what the word get out means? It means i don't want you in here." Cathleene waited for the cat to run out of the room but when it didn't Cathleene picked it up and threw it out the door, slamming the door behind her and locking it. She leaned against it, closing her eyes. She wasn't sure how much more she could take.

Sighing, Cathleene changed for bed and was nearly asleep when there was a scratching sound at the door. "GO AWAY," she called and pulled the covers up over her head, ignoring the knocking that came next.

[Rascal]

Rascal shrugged. "Simple." she said. "I open my mouth and speak!" One of her few sarcastic jokes. But then she was serious. "I'm not really sure. I've always been able to do it. Just a gift, I guess." she said. Her eyes went back to the glaring cat and then to Cathleene. "Yeah, I guess I can see their similar personalities." she observed.

Marie turned her head away with a doubtful and annoyed "Hmph." before trotting down the hall into Cathleene's room. It was only seconds afterward that Marie was flung from the place after a one-sided argument with the Pirate.

"She can't understand other people!" Rascal called up the stairs, trying to explain, before calling Marie down from the hallway. The cat sat upon the banister, tail flicking angrily.

Afterward, Alice could hear Cathleene yelling something at the door, though no one was there. Marie still upon the banister, Artemis beneath her cloak, and Grace and Rascal infront of the staircase. She turned to the Captain and whispered, "Does she hallucinate?" But then she could hear the knocking, too.

[elphiethegood]

Cathleene couldnt take it anymore and she hopped out of bed, staggering in the darkness as she tried to get to the door. Fumbling for the knob, she threw open the door, expecting Grace to be standing on the other side. But what she found, however, was no one there.

Growling loudly low in her throat, Cathleen stormed out of the room and found Rascal and Grace standing at the top of the stairs. "Very funny you two," she said, annoyance lining her tone, "I am trying to sleep. Are you two going to stay up gabbing all night?" She stared at her Captain and then without a word, walked back into the room, slamming and locking the door behind her.

[ganuaile]

Grace rolled her eyes. "Why I 'ever' offered to take that girl on board I'll never know." Gritting her teeth, she started up the stairs. Not bothering to knock, she pushed open the door. "What was that knocking about? Is someone about?" She turned and called down the stairs to Rascal. "Have you another pet about that we've not met yet?"

[Rascal]

Rascal shook her head no. She tilted her head, still listening, before she realized that the loud knocking wasn't coming from upstairs at all, but the back door. Puzzled, she went to the door and opened it. There was a flash, and a scrambling into the bushes. Snarling as always, she took her bow and an arrow from her back, aiming it. "Who's there?" she growled, but no one answered. Angrily, she shot the arrow off into the darkness and slammed the door, bolting it and all the others in the house. "Someone's outside." she muttered. Alice wasn't the least bit frightened. Well, maybe a little. She always feared that the Sirens would come back for her. But it couldn't be them. If it was, they wouldn't be hiding. Not those filthy old hags.