The Pirate Cat
Dec. 8th, 2004 12:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dimity_blueDISCLAIMER: Captain Jack may remind some readers of Captain Jack Sparrow. No copyright infringement is intended and this story was written purely for entertainment. The Cat, however, is mine as are the other characters mentioned.
~~~
The Pirate Cat
by Arnie (aka Sarah)
The box sat in the corner of the cell, its lid tightly fastened down. For good measure, three very large volumes of Spanish poetry were on top.
The box was making a lot of very loud and angry noises.
The two captured pirates huddled in the corner watching the box nervously. They were men who had fought in many battles, faced Death a dozen times over and each time they had laughed in Death's face and survived against the odds.
The box had them terrified.
There were airholes in the box and the petrified pirates could see that one hole was definitely getting bigger. In between swearing and cursing (using words that they'd blush to use), one angry claw would poke into the hole, grab the edge and rip a little bit more of a gap.
Finally, there was enough of a gap for a slitted eye to appear and stare at them, the pupil glowing with anger.
Mad Marty gulped. "Do you think she'll recognise us and leave us alive?"
His companion, Harry the Hook (so named because of the hook he bore instead of his left hand), shook his head. He knew they were doomed. He wondered if The Cat would offer them a quicker death than the one promised to them by the Spanish Captain. Once they reached Spain (or the Captain got bored), he and Marty would end their pirating days doing the Hangman's dance. He had no idea what Captain Covas intended for The Cat, but if he was a wise man he'd offer her milk in gold dishes and a fresh mouse every hour.
The eye disappeared and the claw continued its work of savaging the cardboard prison that held it captive.
Marty raised his head. "I've led a good life," he muttered, preparing his soul. "I've boarded Spanish Galleons so often the Captains send me Christmas cards."
Harry nodded. He could attest the Marty's dedication to duty. "I've spent my days doing a Pirate's Duty. I've stolen more than one fortune, spent it all too - every coin went on worthless living. Wine, women and song. And...I've got kids in every harbour in the world."
Marty's hand clasped Harry's shoulder silently. They had lived full lives and Death would surely consider it an honour to claim them.
The side of the box ripped a little more, allowing enough space for a paw to use all five claws to rip and shred.
"When they hear of our deaths, the women will wail, and Captain Jack will vow to avenge us. Not," he added hastily, "on The Cat, but on Captain Covas."
"He wouldn't harm that Cat," Harry agreed. "He'd know she only killed us out of anger because that Covas bastard was out of reach."
The side of the box tore open at last.
"This is it, Harry. Good luck!"
The two men shook hands as The Cat, her fur standing on edge with anger, emerged and glared at them.
There was a thud and the two pirates flinched instinctively. Harry opened his eyes again as he realised that he couldn't feel any claws tearing his soul from his body, nor could he hear Marty's screams of agony. The Cat was still by the box, her eyes narrowed as she stared towards the bulkhead. There was another thud and Harry nudged Marty. "That's outside!"
A mighty roar got everyone's attention. "Avast there, ye Spanish dogs! Stand by and prepare to be boarded!"
Captain Covas was undoubtedly giving as good as he was getting, but as his insults and threats were in Spanish the finer points of them passed our heroes by.
"I'll have your liver for my dinner!" Captain Jack informed the captain pleasantly. "And your eyeballs will make mighty fine earrings!"
Mad Marty grinned. His pale face stood testament to the terror he had endured, but realising that Captain Jack was near and standing ready to board the ship gave him courage. He was surprised to hear Harry give a groan.
"Cheer up, matey!" he cried, slapping the hooked one on the back. "Captain Jack'll soon have us out of here!"
"Aye, that he will. But where's The Cat?"
Marty looked and stared at the space where The Cat had been. Cautiously, he slipped from the bench and moved towards the box. Lifting the books of poetry carefully, he nudged the box with his foot. It slid too easily. "She's gone!" He turned and stared at the bars that prevented them from leaving but left plenty of gaps for a cat to slip through. If anything happened to his precious cat, Captain Jack would have their eyeballs for a necklace so he could give his mistress the matching set.
~~~
The Cat, meanwhile, was making her way along the corridor. One foolhardy Spaniard had tried to stop her but she'd left him behind to tend to his wounds, while his severed finger clenched between her teeth seemed to be keeping the other men at bay.
Finally she reached the stairs that would take her to the upper deck, but before she could make her way up them, a foolish short-sighted sailor grabbed her.
He began to mutter Spanish endearments to the silly cat who was making her way into battle, but his murmurs turned into screams as the cat became a whirling dervish of claws and teeth in his arms. Within seconds she was free and halfway up the stairs, her fury fanned into incandescent rage. Pausing only to hiss a curse on his children, The Cat disappeared onto the deck and into the open air.
All around her, the battle raged. Captain Covas was fighting like a madman against Billy the Cook who was wielding his frying pan with deadly accurancy, while Captain Jack was forced into a corner by three of the Spanish sailors. Although he was holding his own, the frustration he could feel at not being the one to take down the captain of the ship was written on his face.
The Cat glared, her entire body transmitting a clear signal of fury as she leapt at the three unlucky Spaniards. She ran up the nearest one's back then, as he swung away, screeching with pain, she leapt onto the next one's head.
The battle paused as the men saw the second sailor run mad with a cat, her fur huge with her anger, clinging to his head. She left him as he rounded the mast, and for a second a horrified Billy thought she was heading straight for him. He clapped his pan over his face and prayed to God. With a swerve she was past him and the Spanish captain came face to face with his feline prisoner.
She leapt but her prey fled before her. Sailors and pirates scattered to left and right in front of them, not daring to get in their way. Finally Covas reach the bow of the boat and with barely a pause, he threw himself into the sea and onto Neptune's mercy. The Cat screeched to a halt, her claws digging into the wooden floor and her disappointed howl of fury followed the captain and he swam as if the hounds of Hell were behind him.
Balked of her prey, The Cat turned to glare at the Spanish sailors. One by one, their weapons dropped to the deck as they surrendered. Marty and Harry, released from their prison cell, were sorely disappointed to have missed the entire battle, and not even their friends' welcome could cheer them.
Captain Jack made his way to the bow and went down on one knee before The Cat. He smiled slightly, aware of her anger, but surer than ever that she would never attack him. "I'm glad you're on my side," he whispered, holding out his hand to his queen.
She ignored it and stalked past him although her tail brushed his side as she went.
His smile grew. She forgave him. He'd just have to beg a little to get her to admit it.
~the end~
~~~
The Pirate Cat
by Arnie (aka Sarah)
The box sat in the corner of the cell, its lid tightly fastened down. For good measure, three very large volumes of Spanish poetry were on top.
The box was making a lot of very loud and angry noises.
The two captured pirates huddled in the corner watching the box nervously. They were men who had fought in many battles, faced Death a dozen times over and each time they had laughed in Death's face and survived against the odds.
The box had them terrified.
There were airholes in the box and the petrified pirates could see that one hole was definitely getting bigger. In between swearing and cursing (using words that they'd blush to use), one angry claw would poke into the hole, grab the edge and rip a little bit more of a gap.
Finally, there was enough of a gap for a slitted eye to appear and stare at them, the pupil glowing with anger.
Mad Marty gulped. "Do you think she'll recognise us and leave us alive?"
His companion, Harry the Hook (so named because of the hook he bore instead of his left hand), shook his head. He knew they were doomed. He wondered if The Cat would offer them a quicker death than the one promised to them by the Spanish Captain. Once they reached Spain (or the Captain got bored), he and Marty would end their pirating days doing the Hangman's dance. He had no idea what Captain Covas intended for The Cat, but if he was a wise man he'd offer her milk in gold dishes and a fresh mouse every hour.
The eye disappeared and the claw continued its work of savaging the cardboard prison that held it captive.
Marty raised his head. "I've led a good life," he muttered, preparing his soul. "I've boarded Spanish Galleons so often the Captains send me Christmas cards."
Harry nodded. He could attest the Marty's dedication to duty. "I've spent my days doing a Pirate's Duty. I've stolen more than one fortune, spent it all too - every coin went on worthless living. Wine, women and song. And...I've got kids in every harbour in the world."
Marty's hand clasped Harry's shoulder silently. They had lived full lives and Death would surely consider it an honour to claim them.
The side of the box ripped a little more, allowing enough space for a paw to use all five claws to rip and shred.
"When they hear of our deaths, the women will wail, and Captain Jack will vow to avenge us. Not," he added hastily, "on The Cat, but on Captain Covas."
"He wouldn't harm that Cat," Harry agreed. "He'd know she only killed us out of anger because that Covas bastard was out of reach."
The side of the box tore open at last.
"This is it, Harry. Good luck!"
The two men shook hands as The Cat, her fur standing on edge with anger, emerged and glared at them.
There was a thud and the two pirates flinched instinctively. Harry opened his eyes again as he realised that he couldn't feel any claws tearing his soul from his body, nor could he hear Marty's screams of agony. The Cat was still by the box, her eyes narrowed as she stared towards the bulkhead. There was another thud and Harry nudged Marty. "That's outside!"
A mighty roar got everyone's attention. "Avast there, ye Spanish dogs! Stand by and prepare to be boarded!"
Captain Covas was undoubtedly giving as good as he was getting, but as his insults and threats were in Spanish the finer points of them passed our heroes by.
"I'll have your liver for my dinner!" Captain Jack informed the captain pleasantly. "And your eyeballs will make mighty fine earrings!"
Mad Marty grinned. His pale face stood testament to the terror he had endured, but realising that Captain Jack was near and standing ready to board the ship gave him courage. He was surprised to hear Harry give a groan.
"Cheer up, matey!" he cried, slapping the hooked one on the back. "Captain Jack'll soon have us out of here!"
"Aye, that he will. But where's The Cat?"
Marty looked and stared at the space where The Cat had been. Cautiously, he slipped from the bench and moved towards the box. Lifting the books of poetry carefully, he nudged the box with his foot. It slid too easily. "She's gone!" He turned and stared at the bars that prevented them from leaving but left plenty of gaps for a cat to slip through. If anything happened to his precious cat, Captain Jack would have their eyeballs for a necklace so he could give his mistress the matching set.
~~~
The Cat, meanwhile, was making her way along the corridor. One foolhardy Spaniard had tried to stop her but she'd left him behind to tend to his wounds, while his severed finger clenched between her teeth seemed to be keeping the other men at bay.
Finally she reached the stairs that would take her to the upper deck, but before she could make her way up them, a foolish short-sighted sailor grabbed her.
He began to mutter Spanish endearments to the silly cat who was making her way into battle, but his murmurs turned into screams as the cat became a whirling dervish of claws and teeth in his arms. Within seconds she was free and halfway up the stairs, her fury fanned into incandescent rage. Pausing only to hiss a curse on his children, The Cat disappeared onto the deck and into the open air.
All around her, the battle raged. Captain Covas was fighting like a madman against Billy the Cook who was wielding his frying pan with deadly accurancy, while Captain Jack was forced into a corner by three of the Spanish sailors. Although he was holding his own, the frustration he could feel at not being the one to take down the captain of the ship was written on his face.
The Cat glared, her entire body transmitting a clear signal of fury as she leapt at the three unlucky Spaniards. She ran up the nearest one's back then, as he swung away, screeching with pain, she leapt onto the next one's head.
The battle paused as the men saw the second sailor run mad with a cat, her fur huge with her anger, clinging to his head. She left him as he rounded the mast, and for a second a horrified Billy thought she was heading straight for him. He clapped his pan over his face and prayed to God. With a swerve she was past him and the Spanish captain came face to face with his feline prisoner.
She leapt but her prey fled before her. Sailors and pirates scattered to left and right in front of them, not daring to get in their way. Finally Covas reach the bow of the boat and with barely a pause, he threw himself into the sea and onto Neptune's mercy. The Cat screeched to a halt, her claws digging into the wooden floor and her disappointed howl of fury followed the captain and he swam as if the hounds of Hell were behind him.
Balked of her prey, The Cat turned to glare at the Spanish sailors. One by one, their weapons dropped to the deck as they surrendered. Marty and Harry, released from their prison cell, were sorely disappointed to have missed the entire battle, and not even their friends' welcome could cheer them.
Captain Jack made his way to the bow and went down on one knee before The Cat. He smiled slightly, aware of her anger, but surer than ever that she would never attack him. "I'm glad you're on my side," he whispered, holding out his hand to his queen.
She ignored it and stalked past him although her tail brushed his side as she went.
His smile grew. She forgave him. He'd just have to beg a little to get her to admit it.
~the end~
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Date: 2005-07-11 08:39 pm (UTC)