I didn’t understand why John was so grumpy and against me joining a Pirate ship, I can make my own decisions, and I’m sure if I stay anywhere on this continent I’ll be found because who in this hell of a world else has eyes as red and creepy as mine? I realise it's a dangerous decision but it's way more dangerous for me to stay here, he realises that right?

I sulkily walked back to where the horse now lay on the rocky and twig filled floor, I sat near the chestnut mare’s head and stroked it calmly as it fell asleep. It whinnied a few times before nudging me towards its abdomen as if telling me to lay there instead.

“What’s up with you? You want to comfort me?” I spoke softly as I lay my head against the mare’s side, she whinnied in response and nuzzled my head with her nose. Soon enough after we had both fallen asleep.

I awoke later that day, well night really, to the sound of a crackling fire and loud deep voices yelling about things I couldn't clearly hear. I groaned groggily and opened my eyes wincing at the light among the darkness of night in the woods. The mare I lay my head on huffed out a sigh at the disturbance and whinnied in annoyance. I looked around to see John arguing with a tall long-haired figure in the darkness.

“What the hell were you thinking?! You could’ve gotten killed or worse you could have got the girl killed! What’d happen to me or Lowen if that happened you, idiot!” An unfamiliar deep voice yelled, his loud voice disturbing the birds from their slumber.

“I was saving her! If I had kept going they would have figured me out anyway and killed me and her there and then!” John yelled back, I stood up and stretched my back that was aching slightly from sleeping on the hard forest ground.

“John?” I said rather loudly to try and distract them from yelling. Those guards could be close by and find us if they kept going. My voice went unnoticed by both men, I walked towards them slowly, they didn’t notice me and they kept arguing loudly.

“Excuse me!” I yelled trying to get their attention. I wanted to know who the person that was yelling at John is, I knew it wasn’t Lowen by his tone of voice and the way he spoke. I remember him being rather fond of his older brother and the colour of his hair wasn’t blonde like this man’s hair.

“WOULD YOU TWO STOP YELLING ALREADY!” I finally yelled I was fed up of being unnoticed, they both finally stopped yelling at each other and turned to look at me in shock.

“You were awake?” John said confusedly.

“I just woke up thanks to you two,” I grumbled at them, I crossed my arms across my chest as I looked at them both with a slight glare.

“You didn’t have to yell at us like that.” The unknown man grumbled at me, his clothing looked shabby, dirty and torn. It was kind of obvious he was a pirate, even if he himself looked rather clean.

“Yes, yes, I did because you didn’t notice my last politer attempts at shutting you both up,” I grumbled back at him, my glare intensified as I looked him in the eyes expecting him to look away in fear. “Who are you anyway?”

“Oh right, we haven’t been introduced yet. Not that we’re going to be together for too long but I’m Geoff. Captain of the ship that John is on.” The man said walking towards me to shake my hand and as he did so his face became clearer thanks to the fire that was still crackling in the background. He had long blonde messy hair, his eyes were blue and looked rather frightening, but I guess I can’t say much and I’m surprised that he hadn’t mentioned them or stepped away from me when he looked me in the eye.

“Eevee, and what do you mean we won’t be together for too long? I’m joining you on your ship” I said with a small smirk as I shook his hand.

“What? No, no woman is allowed on my ship. Especially not one that’s being hunted by the royal guard.” Geoff said moving his hand away from me, I smirked more with a glint in my eye.

“Well, that’s rich coming from a pirate.” I sneered.

Geoff looked at me shocked, the turned to look at John who looked away towards the horse.

“Did John tell yer that?” Geoff asked looking rather irritated.

“Even if he hadn’t I could’ve noticed by just your clothing and the way you speak” I replied as I looked him up and down, He looked like a Pirate so much I was almost shocked when he told me he had tried to ‘disguise’ himself.

“Oh, come on, I even tried to hide the fact not to freak you out!” Geoff grumbled annoyed that I’d figured it out so easily.

“I can see why you always get caught...” I mumbled to myself.

We sat around the fire and discussed me going on their ship and helping them with their ‘disguises’ for the mainland and they're both as dumb as each other when it comes to costumes. They thought that just washing their hair and face was a good disguise. The amount of facepalming I did during our conversation was shocking.

At some point, Geoff had walked off claiming he needed the can. He’d been gone a while but John and I had carried on discussing the matter.

“How about I show you how to ‘disguise yourselves’ in the public with different clothing? Then would you let me stay on your ship?” I asked innocently knowing exactly how to play it. You offer one thing in return for another. It’s how our world worked, unfortunately.

“You know Lowen won’t accept that.” John sighed,

“Well boo hoo, if I stay on this continent then I’ll be found and hung, People with my eyes aren’t everywhere John, you saved me once but you can’t save me again. Just let me stay with you.” I pleaded I don’t want to stay here.

I want to be with people who understand me. People who won’t judge me by my eyes. I want to be free from these stupid shackles that bound me inside that old house all these years.

“What about your horses? Shouldn’t you go get them?” John said trying to change the topic.

“I taught them to escape If I were captured, they should be fine in the wild. I hope they are, it’s not like we can keep them on a boat or anywhere else they’d be recognized. They all have unique qualities in them like me with my eyes. One of them has two different coloured eyes, One blue and one Brown. My fathers’ horse is unnaturally tall and his mane is pure white while his coat is pure black. And my mother’s horse. Her eyes are pure blue, like an icicle. Her mane is a chocolate brown and her coat is a light grey.” I spoke as I remembered my three best friends, they’d helped me through these years as the town grew increasingly weary of me. I would miss them dearly.

“Funny you should describe them... they seem to have followed you,” John said pointing behind me, in the dark thicket of tree’s you could make out three horse shapes. There was a loud whiny and three horses came galloping out of the thicket.

“Lilly, Toby, Cindy! How’d you find us?!” I exclaimed as I stood up. They stopped in front of us. Cindy nuzzling me with her nose.

“I brought them here.” Geoff’s voice sounded. I looked at him surprised.

“Why? I can’t take them into towns, they’ll be spotted a mile away. And I’m sure no one will take them in with strange characteristics such as the beautiful ones that they have.” I said as I stroked Cindy’s neck hugging it after a while.

“Well little lass, I’m sure they don’t wanna be separated from their special little gal, so they can join ya on yer voyage to a newer more accepting continent,” Geoff said with a grin, though, his eyes still looked menacing, Geoff looked almost kind with that soft grin of his,

“You're letting me come with you?!” I asked quite shocked he’d decided to take me with him.

“I’ll take you with me as well as yer three horses. But, you cause any sorta trouble with my crew and I throw ye overboard.” Geoff warned I nodded with a huge smile, a tear rolled down my cheek as I looked at him, he looked at me quite concerned.

“Wh-what. why are ye crying?! Stop please don’t cry.” He panicked, the expression on his face made me laugh,

“I’m crying from happiness. Thanks to you, my favourite three friends are saved.” I smiled.

“Don’t forget about yourself. You’ve also just been saved. So, as repayment, you will help Lowen with our disguises, the cooking and cleaning. You also must clean your horses.” Geoff said. I agreed to his conditions without a second thought.

“Eevee! Are you insane! Why can’t you just stay here and look after them? Stop making such rash decisions on your own damn!” John yelled.

“Oh, for god sake John! Can’t you see! If I stay here I will die, if they stay here they will die! I don’t care what I must do if they are safe, they are the only family and friends I’ve had for the past 11 years while you were off playing pirate and forgetting all about me! You can’t make my decisions for me so stop trying!” I yelled at him, my fists were clenched, my eyes squinted to a glare.

“Eevee...”

“Stop. I don’t care what you have to say.” I cut in, holding my hand up to him. “I’m going for a ride,” I mumbled as I mounted Cindy. I started off at a low trot but soon found myself galloping through the forest trees. I didn’t realize how far I had gone till I heard male voices, the clanking of armour and the clipity clap of horses’ hooves.

“Where’d that cursed girl go?! I bet she took over the cap’n mind!” One soldier growled. My heart squeezed in pain. Even now I’m the ‘cursed girl’. Can I ever escape that damn name?!