"Mates, I call ye to attention!"
The call from the Captain brought the crew of The King Slime to the bow, as the Captain stood at the wheel. The man stood tall, with a beard so large and round that it resembled that of a Slime creature. The mates had gone to calling him "Captain Slimebeard" long ago, and had eventually been caught during one of the Captain's patrols, or so the story goes. But instead of making them walk the plank for their disrespect, the Captain found humor in the nickname and took it for himself. Some mocked him for it. Thought it was a rather silly name. But when they ended up on the edge of his sword, they didn't mock him anymore.
Standing beside the Captain was a young man with long, brunette hair. His quartermaster, Hendrik, was possibly one of the youngest first fates in the history of all of pirating. But he had long learned the right to stand at the Captain's side. The Captain considered him to be his own son, after all. If anyone could take command of the King Slime one day, the Captain hoped it would be his own living legacy.
"We've just about arrived, mates. Ahead of us is uncharted territory! Islands only just even whispered of! If we work fast mates, we could be rich! Famous! The first to discover thee hidden land, and all the treasure that it holds! This... Could be our finest hour! And when we find it, mates... We will break out the BEST of our casks of wine! For we will wine, and dine, and celebrate like kings on this night!"
A rallying woop sounded from the pirates below. Everyone liked the sound of that.
"NOW, MEN TO YOUR STATIONS, TOP SPEED, FULL SAIL! ONWARD TO THE REST OF OUR LIVES!"
"YEEEEAHHHH!"
The King Slime roared full speed ahead, towards the islands uncharted...
... And right into a storm.
It was as if the storm had started the moment the islands had come into sight. And it was a hellish storm at that. The worst that the Captain had ever seen. Every wave that crashed against the ship threatened to capsize her. The crew members were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, with the Captain shouting orders at a frantic pace. Hendrik had been running around ensuring the men knew their orders, and helping patch holes best he could. But it almost seemed futile. But if they could just keep going, if they could just reach land...
They were definitely not reaching land with what came next.
Out of the water came the most savage looking thing the crew had ever seen. A large monster with twelve tentacles. The octopus-like thing immediately slammed its tentacles into the ship's deck, smashing through it and sending several crew members overboard. It was as though the storm itself had been forgotten in the face of the sea monster. The captain ordered what was left of the crew to man the cannons. Volley after volley wracked the monster, but it only seemed to anger it more. The monster spun around furiously, its tentacles stretched out and all hitting the ship one by one...
Hendrik had barely ducked the blow, but much of his crew wasn't lucky. The sails on the ship had been destroyed, though, and when one came down, Hendrik was forced to leap out of the way to avoid being crushed. Hitting the deck, he let out a low groan as he nursed his sore body. But then he heard it. Whimpering coming from below deck. Noticing that the hatch going below deck had been stuck shut, he removed the piece of wood that had been blocking it, and out burst a Great Sabrecub into his arms. Tom, who Hendrik had nursed to health himself and who had become the cabin pet of the crew when the Captain let them keep it, seemed scared to bits as Hendrik held them. But the cat only seemed even more terrified at the sight of the octopus, hissing at it. Tom leaped out of his arms, and to the edge of the boat to growl at it.
... And then the tentacles came up.
Realizing what was about to happen, Hendrik rushed forward towards Tom. Just as the tentacle came down and slammed into the ship, Hendrik grabbed Tom into his arms before the impact sent them overboard...
The Captain had heard the mewling and had rushed over, but arrived just in time to gaze in horror at what was before him. And then he let out a cry...
"HENDRIK!"
Hendrik let out a low groan as he sat up, completely waterlogged. As his eyes opened slowly, he saw a landscape he wasn't familiar with. Then it hit him. The memories from before came rushing back. Sitting up with a start, he looked around frantically for Tom. But the sabrecub was just fine, and he glimpsed him nearby, soaking wet, his fur all puffed out. The poor thing had shaken out the water best it could, but it still looked like an inflated porcupine.
At least they were still alive... But where were they? And more importantly... What of his crew?
