This choice: A decommissioned navy destroyer, patched up and refitted • Go Back...Chapter #6Meeting the ship and crew by: cheese111   The gnoll pirate ship looked awe-inspiring and terrifying in equal measure. A rusted hulk, patches of crudely fitted metal covering holes from bow to stern. It looked like an old navy warship. The cannons were still there, but they had been loaded with what could only be described as giant grappling hooks. Gnolls were going about their business everywhere, scurrying across the deck. Most of the ship's doors had been removed and the holes crudely cut bigger. These beasts looked like they would struggle inside a regular vessel. It made Simone all the more curious to see what they had done to the inner workings.
"All aboard! The sea, she be waiting." The captain announced grandly.
Simone followed the crewmen that carried her here up the gangplank and with a loud, rumbling blast of the horn they set off. Seafang came down to greet her more personally. To her surprise he didn't reek as badly as the others. There was still a very distinct smell of unwashed gnoll in the air, but she had worried that he had gotten his rank by being the smelliest gnoll of them all.
"Welcome aboard the Slavering Raider, miss Andrewson. I be Seafang, in case that wasn't clear yet. I look forward to this date. Be assured, the crew has been informed that you are not to be harmed or harassed in any way, lest they meet my wrath. Though if you warm up to these cute little puppies I am sure you'll find us all more than happy to share your love." He explained with a toothy smile. Simone breathed a sigh of relief, knowing how some of the crew were leering at her. But before she could get comfortable the captain leaned in, putting a hand on the wall behind her and breathing heavily in her face.
"But if you hurt any of my beloved family... There will be no safe haven in the world that can protect you." He growled threateningly before catching himself intimidating his date and stepping back. She gulped. But Simone didn't start texting this gnoll through Monstr because she was afraid. She steeled herself and turned her attention to the captain's first mate. He'd been standing idly, seemingly waiting for orders of some kind.
"Aw, I don't think I'd ever be able to hurt a big, strong beast like you." She said seductively, reaching up to scratch him behind the ear. The first mate's tongue lolled out the side of his maw as he panted happily.
"Mister Breach, do you not have a place to be? Go and make sure the crew are ready for our next adventure." Seafang commanded sternly. Simone just gave him a smile.
"You're not getting jealous already, are you? I just want to show you I appreciate your crew too." She said, her voice drenched in sugar. "But I'm not here because I appreciate them. I'm here because I want you." Simone put a finger on the gnoll's chest. His heart went aflutter as he felt his love for her be reinforced by her confidence.
"Then you shall see that Seafang leaves no-one wanting. Come, my treasure, the men have prepared a feast for us all." He extended an arm and she took it. Together they walked along the deck of his warship towards the bridge tower. She was curious to see where this would lead, but she hadn't expected to see anything like what the gnolls had done to the ship.
The inside of the steel hull had been almost completely gutted. Only a framework of thick, metal pillars was still left to keep the place from collapsing under its own weight. There looked to be just one lower deck left, a furred frenzy of crewmen moving around. At the front and the back of this cavernous metal hall were holes in the floor, gnolls jumping in an out. Probably the storage hold. Up above she could see the interior of the gutted comms tower, only a few crewmen staying on their posts to steer the ship and keep a weather eye out for opportunities. The back of the tower had still been left somewhat intact, forming the only real separate room within this large shell. It was even more remarkable because it had an actual door in it, not just a crudely torn hole. It was probably Seafang's personal quarters.
It was almost time for dinner and the crew had set up a long table in the middle of the room, covering it with stained tablecloths and preparing an elaborate meal. The food turned Simone's stomach a little as it was very clear gnolls didn't bother with such fineries as cooking their food. Chunks of raw, bloodied meat were stacked on dirty dishes. Seafang could see his date's discomfort and spoke calmly.
"Fret not, I had mister Breach prepare you something more to your tastes. You'll have to forgive his cooking skills, he tries his best." He surprised his date by hoisting her off her feet and hopping down, landing with a heavy thump and setting her down beside him again. "Sorry about that, the Slavering Raider isn't the most... human-friendly vessel in these seas." He mused, prompting a chorus of suppressed giggles from the crew. The first mate emerged again, pointing the captain and his date to their seats and serving them both a roasted meal. Simone was pleasantly surprised. It looked a bit crude, but edible. What surprised her more was the captain being served a similar dish.
"I will not be sitting here and letting you feel all awkward being the only one to eat cooked food. Anyone got a problem with that, my boot is more than ready to listen to their complaints." He said brashly, putting a smile on her face. Of course there were limits to what the gnolls would do to accommodate her and cutlery was probably a bit too much to ask around here. Striving to fit in with the beasts she picked up the roast and dug in.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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