Even the toughest of humans was susceptible to the merciless world in which they lived. When faced with harsh weather, dangerous predators, or their own needs, they were nothing more than fragile piles of flesh.

A small fire glinted in the darkness; it had been ignited reluctantly, due to necessity. Blood poured when the sun set, for an unlucky six-hooved deer fell into a trap. A figure cleaned the carcass carefully with a cutlass, unable to ignore the hunger that had previously been ignored.

The light and smoke perhaps kept the beasts of the jungle away… but it was bound to attract attention, nonetheless. Although she had not slept at all and escaping those ruins had worn her out, she was alert.

Without her coat, the coldness of the night had quickly pierced through her skin. The fire was the only thing that was keeping her from succumbing, yet she despised its warm glimmers. Her mind was still haunted by the sounds those savages made, their animalistic garments creaking faintly as they lurked.

Leaves rustled; it was only a matter of time they did. All ever slowly, she let go of the piece of meat she had been biting, to retrieve her sword. With a sickening bloody rip, she took the blade from the carcass, to then stand and face the direction of the noises. Something, or someone, was nearing.

Barbara took a defensive stance, snarling silently. If an arrow soared from the darkness, she wouldn’t see it coming. Dead was certain if those savages spotted her; unless they wanted to encase her in stone, of course, like they would with that fool.

She would put up a fight no matter what; running would not help her. And so, her feet stomped on the damp foliage and her hands clenched tighter around the handle of her sword. Then, she roared defiantly at the figures she knew crept not too far off.

“Come on, you sneaky bastards! Face me and stop hiding like insects!”

There was a gasp, followed by others. Her green eyes opened in surprise, not because she managed to startle her stalkers, but because familiar voices echoed.

“Captain?!”

Her hand lowered instantly, the tip of the cutlass brushing the moss at her feet. The rustling of leaves intensified; what had been a cautious stride turned into a sprint. Not only one figure had been wandering through the jungle, but multiple shadows. Soon, her crew came into the small clearing where she settled for the cold night.

Their eyes hinted the same surprise as hers, relief not taking long to grow stronger. Olivia was the first to regard her presence, even if multiple women let out expletives or comments about her urge to chase.

“Barbara!” Any other captain would have slapped their second in command for daring to speak their name. Perhaps she would have protested in other circumstances, but she decided that she could not afford to do so now. Her most loyal comrade was glaring at her as she neared, quite inquisitively. “Where have you been?! Some were beginning to bet you had died!”

Barbara smirked faintly with a tired sigh, hearing indeed the exchange of coin between some. She let out an observation while she sheathed her sword, disregarding Olivia’s reprimand with her usual pride.

“I’m glad to see that you evaded those ants.”

Most of her crew did not like that comment. While some crossed their arms and scowled, Olivia groaned and put her hands on her hips, accusing her hastiness.

“We managed, but not thanks to you, captain!” Olivia brushed her brown hair in frustration, softening her tone. She eyed their surroundings with the same wariness as her comrades, hating how the jungle was eerily quiet. “Does not matter now. We found you at last. Let’s just get the hell out of this island. We’ve seen some shit while tracking you down, and gods be dammed, I don’t want to deal with any more thorn worms or spiked slugs.”

Right on cue, there was a loud groan and intense squirm. For once, all empathized with Maria and her hate of crawly beings. Barbara did share that dislike, but her heartbeat fastened as soon as the concept of leaving was mentioned.

“We can’t leave yet, I have to-“

Not only did Olivia cringe, but all the others. Barbara could not finish, for the words came quickly and with disbelief.

“You let him get away again?”

Barbara tensed, realizing now why they had not inquired about the trinket as soon as they saw her. Her posture changed instantly, the firy determination in her gaze fading a little. The crew did not care for that heirloom, only wanting to get away now, at any cost.

Her hand wandered into her pocket, feeling the treasures she had procured. She chose her words very carefully, noting the expressions of her comrades. Although they were close and shared a bond that was stronger than the ones of other pirates, they were still scoundrels and bloodthirsty fiends.

“That… son of a bitch has been taken.” There came the uncaring snarls, and that sealed how she would proceed. “We were found in some ruins by those savages. He had the necklace with him when they struck him down. I must get to him before they encase him alive in molten metal.”

None shared her fears.

“The risks far surpass the gains, capt’n.” Ru, a very tall girl and the sharpest of the group spoke up, tilting her head defiantly, in contrast with her usual quiet self. “We won’t put our lives on the line for that trinket anymore. We got enough loot from that ship already. The natives will rip us apart.”

There were multiple nods of agreement, a few rough ayes. Barbara was quick to stomp her foot down and assert her dominance against their boldness.

“That heirloom is worth much more than all the treasure we could hoard in our entire lives!” A few scoffs. Even the most caring, like Maria, displayed a cold disregard. “I need to find him and-“

She was interrupted.

“Gods, no. You better not be…”

Barbara flinched, noting the surprised tone in Olivia’s exclamation. There was momentary confusion in her green eyes, but she soon caught on what her comrade was pondering over.

“Oh, hell no! Don’t you dare assume that!”

Olivia placed a hand on her chest, leaned, and then gave Barbara the most judging look she could muster.

“What else should I think?! When that trinket was inland, protected by a huge royal army, you were fast to discard the idea of assaulting the port to get it! The hideouts of the natives will be even more dangerous, yet you are very eager to set off there!” Olivia whipped her head and looked down at Barbara, even if she was taller. “You’ve fallen for that sailor, haven’t you?!”

Barbara’s face turned as red as her lost coat, but not due to being flustered. Her blood boiled, unbelieving that whispers were echoing, pondering the notion.

“Quite handsome, but enough to smite her of all people?”

“Never has fallen for any men. Always made them fall instead.”

“We have clear rules, she can’t go now and break them.”

Olivia unsheathed her dagger slowly, with a grim expression. Barbara took a step back, even if she knew that it would not stab her… at least not in a deadly manner.

“Captain.” Her whole crew took a step closer, their stances now much more threatening. Weapons were unsheathed, and their thoughts were as clear as their intentions. “We can’t have you running behind some boy.”

More steps. Her heartbeat fastened even more, both in rage and dread. For a split second, she looked at her whole crew, regarding every single one of them. All had been outcasts, burdened by common griefs and struggles.

Olivia, she had befriended in a brothel she frequented; both set off when an altercation occurred in it, between her and its filthy owner. Ru, they had caught as a stowaway in their newly acquired ship, before they named it La ostra roja; few had the means to leave their native islands unless they were rich or part of shady dealings. Maria, wishing to shed the name of Marlon, quickly pledged them loyalty when she came upon them in a busy port. Dolores, whose face she luckily couldn’t see now because she was guarding the ship, only befriended her after a duel caused by a drunken brawl.

All, in one way or another, hated men or the ways in which the kingdom disregarded their existence and autonomy. Her crew recognized emotion in her gaze and believed the worst, even after years of camaraderie.

Barbara did not waste time, she couldn’t spare it.  Pirates were not to be messed with. Fast as lighting, she unsheathed her cutlass before they could get too close. Her next words were growled, direct and accusing as well.

“So, this is a mutiny…”

Olivia replied, coldly, yet with concealed care.

“For your own good, Barbara.” She noted how she did not say the word captain. “We’ll beat some sense into you once back at sea. If to make you forget that sailor we must keelhaul you, then-“

She could not say any more words. With a fast move of hand, Barbara swung her cutlass with dangerous precision. The dagger Olivia had been brandishing was struck. It twirled in the air, to then sink into the ground.

The whole crew took another step forth, but they did not have time to prevent Barbara from doing so first. With their second in command disarmed, there was plenty of room and opportunity for a stab… yet that was not what their captain did.

Olivia blinked once, then twice. She could only stay still in surprise while Barbara kissed her angrily. As quickly as she grabbed her, she let go of her with a growl, only to shout at them all with the most furious of tones.

“I won’t tolerate any slander! If you wish to question my reputation, come test it for yourselves!” She pointed her cutlass at her whole crew, puffing her chest out, managing to make most of them cower under her glare. “You better get this straight; I’ve never loved any man, and I’ll never do! The only desire that drives me forth is the thought of grandness! That trinket and its history are what attracts me! Now step back and sheathe your weapons, you insolent hags!”

There were a few meek murmurs, some snarled whispers. Still, all hinted submission, knowing not to anger her more. Her strong furious exhales were proof enough that she was not acting on foolish love, for there was no trace of a lie in her words. Doubling down and affirming that she really had fallen would make them walk the plank and sink into the ocean.

Olivia took some seconds to regain herself, the kiss quite forceful and sudden. When she managed to clear her thoughts, she scowled again. Her doubts were gone, but that did not mean she was supportive.

“You truly have gone mad for that heirloom.”

Barbara averted her gaze, frowning with a tired smirk.

“I have, yes.” With no weapons threatening her, she put her sword away, to then whisper. “My hunt has risked the fortune I’ve managed to gain through years of struggle. I can’t have that.”

Olivia stayed very still while her captain turned to face her again, to express an ultimatum.

“Give me two days. Wait for me at the shore. If I have not returned when the third sun rises… set sail and keep plundering the seas in our dear red oyster.” She gave them her back, to then begin to walk away with one last proclamation. “If I am to be a queen, I must prove my worth and might.”

None stopped her, and no one followed as she ventured into the darkness of the jungle. The pirates stayed quiet while their captain left them behind, not wishing to endanger their lives to fetch a necklace, not even for her.

Once they were truly apart and distant, Barbara paused in her march towards the volcano that crowned the island. Her hand moved slowly into her pocket, and her fingers set aside the coins she grabbed in that trove.

She closed her eyes, lamenting having lied, even if she simply omitted a truth. The necklace felt heavy in her hand, hidden away since the natives threw it onto the hoards of the ruins. With him unconscious, they took it from him, one more thing to use as fuel for their rituals.

It would have been wise to leave. She should have admitted she had it. Yet she did not. If they had known she had managed to get it, they would have forced her to go back to their ship… and then his luck would have ended. Not a single member of her crew would have allowed her to set forth to save a sailor, not due to altruistic reasons.

“No puedo ser más estúpida.”

She knew why she was going to rescue him, and she hated it more than anything. The pride she was feeling was not one she was used to, and she would never admit it was caring.

Her green eyes opened fiercely after a deep breath, and then her steps resumed, unfaltering through the deadly jungle.