Yasen's finger traced the black and white sketch of the mysterious woman she was going to hunt down. The woman murdered an important man, and she was severely wanted. Only details of her slanted eyes peered back at her behind a bandana that covered the top of her nose down to her mouth. The drawing was very vague, but on the bottom of the poster it mentioned she had green eyes and golden hoop earrings.

The woman's head was worth a hundred thousand gold. Obviously, she would not be an easy one to hunt after, and she sounded more dangerous than others she hunted before. However, the large sum of gold motivated Yasen to attempt the hunt. She knew the risk that her life would be on the line, but the path she had chosen herself had always put her in dangerous positions. This would be no different. A little dangerous adventure would not be so bad. Also, with that gold, Yasen thought all the things she could buy with it.

Good food, a decent home… Yasen thought wistfully. She had always wanted to buy a piece of island and live by the sea alone. A good-sized house she could always come back to—not too big or small. Whatever was enough to fulfill the amount of movement and space she would take up. She would finally own a private home and not keep renting rooms in inns.

Tearing off the poster, Yasen folded it to put inside her pocket. She left the market square and headed back to the inn with a new determination.

~~~

"Isra…"

Isra awakened to Manami's hand resting on top of her forehead. Surprisingly, her mind did not feel groggy, and she felt a bit refreshed.

"Seems like yer fever calmed down," Manami said, removing her hand from the pirate captain's head.

"That's good," Isra replied with relief. They could soon leave for Brassport tomorrow. She pulled herself up and rubbed her eyes. It was good to feel physically well again. No headaches, chills, or dizziness. "Report to Damon that we will be leaving Brassport tomorrow."

"Ye sure, captain?" Manami asked.

Isra nodded, feeling her own forehead. It had cooled down a bit almost to her normal temperature. "I'll be completely well tomorrow."

"Aye then, captain," Manami replied. She immediately left the room to find Damon. 

Stretching, Isra rose from bed and stared out the window. It would be a few hours before noon. A racket tore her eyes away from the window, turning them toward the door. The sound of glass crashing on the ground quickly sent Isra moving on her feet downstairs.

It sounds like a fight. Squinting, she hoped one of her mates did not start any fights with travelers or the innkeeper himself. They would end up having to pay for the damage or get kicked out of the inn.

Isra's face literally twisted with outrage when she met Lyall strangling Yasen on the bottom of the stairs. Manami and Damon were trying to break up with the fight with little effect. Roaring with fury, Isra stomped downstairs and broke it up herself. She hurled Lyall against the wall, glaring at him face-to-face with her fists ready to punch his cheek.

"What is the meaning of this?" Isra demanded angrily, staring furiously at Lyall. She assumed he had started the fight; it would not been surprising at all knowing how he was.

"The bitch gave me a look," he spat, eyeing Yasen icily.

Yasen rubbed her neck, glaring back at him. "I return back attention what I receive," she replied cheekily. Her morning was ruined once she returned to the inn with the bounty hunt in mind. She was just minding her own business when she was about to order food until Lyall called out nasty names to her in a corner. He glared at her rudely, so she returned back the 'respect' he had given her. Apparently, that made him furious and he ended up aiming his glass cup toward her face, but it missed and crashed on the floor.

Manami scowled at Lyall's childish hostility. Damon sighed as he explained Isra the details what had happened from teasing Yasen to wrestling her on the ground. Both of them were close to killing each other.

Disgusted, Isra tightly pulled Lyall's shirt collar and released him. "You hit her again, fool, or anyone else, and you're out of the crew."

Lyall's blue eyes widened rebelliously. "Ye kick me out, and ye lose other mates."

Isra glanced toward Lyall's friends that were on his side. "I don't care. Take your friends with you."

Lyall scowled, stomping out of the inn with two of the crew members. 

Isra returned her attention to Yasen to check if she was okay. A bruise splotched her left cheek, and her neck was still reddened from the strangling.

"Are you all right?" Isra asked, inspecting her slight injuries.

Yasen massaged her neck. "Yeah, I'm all right," she replied. 

"You need ice on that," Isra said, touching Yasen's bruise. Yasen's heart raced as she felt Isra's warm fingertips linger on her cheek. She gazed at Isra, her annoyance was slowly dissipating as she focused on the beautiful woman before her.

Realizing she had just touched Yasen, Isra quickly pulled her hand away and broke eye contact. She did not know why she touched her bruise, and why she felt more unusual concern for her. It was slightly bothersome, but at the same time, it made her feel pleasant in some way.

Damon cleared his throat, drawing both of the women's attention. Winking at Isra, he said, "Well… now that is o'er, we shall celebrate tonight!"

The crew cheered in agreement. Manami seemed indifferent about the celebration, but she said, "Aye, we should celebrate to honor the captain's recovery, and Garnet's survival."

"Then we shall," Isra replied, receiving smiles from her mates. "Damon, you may do the arrangements." Looking over to Manami, she added, "You can care to help him if you want."

The redhead shrugged. "Parties not my thing. I get nothin' practical from ale and wenches."

Damon patted Manami's back. "Ye need more fun in yer life, I say!"

"Fun is what to ye, not to me," she replied.

Isra had to agree with Manami. They were both alike in what they considered 'fun'. Being introverted, Isra was not into social gatherings or parties. But she did have them just for her mates because they enjoyed partying. It was a treat for them for being loyal and respectful toward her as a captain. It was the most she could do to keep them happy.

While Damon and the rest of the crew discussed the arrangements for the night's celebration, Isra recalled Lyall and his followers. It was not unusual for mates to quit the crew or betray them for another ship. It had happened in the past, and it did not bother the pirate captain. There were always recruits, and pirates that wanted to join. Lose some, find more in the sea. Besides, Lyall always made trouble. Garnet was better off without him and his kind. 

"How are you feeling?" Yasen asked, drawing Isra's attention.

Remembering that she had touched Yasen, Isra felt slightly intimidated and self-conscious. "My… fever seems to be over. I feel much better."

Yasen smiled, making Isra blush a little. "That's good to hear."

Isra nodded. "Will you stay tonight for the party?"

The brunette pondered on the invitation. "Well… I'm not much a partier. Then again, I won't leave until tomorrow."

"I'm not into parties myself, but they are throwing it in part of my honor. Though, I mostly think it's for their sole fun," Isra replied, chuckling at the irony. Although it was a celebration, it was mostly Damon and her mates that took full advantage of it. It was more of an excuse of pleasure to them than what it was for the actual meaning.

"I will keep you keep you company then," Yasen decided. It saddened her a bit that they would depart tomorrow. She knew the pirate captain for a few days, but she she grew attached to her.  

Isra was very pleased that Yasen would join them tonight. "Come on now, we need to get you ice for your bruise."

The bounty hunter felt an unexpected tug by her arm as Isra led her to the back of the bar.