The Survivors

    As Juan, in his blood red suit, which slightly sagged with lots of rooms for the arms and legs, like every pirate on this ship had on, looked out across the sea shining from the moonlight rising in one direction and the sun setting in the other he wondered, would he ever see home, or even just be free of the life of a pirate. Juan and his friend Graul, who was over with the captain the big one with a black suit much like his, were originally from Systania, a land rich with easy game to hunt, good soil for farming, and good natural resources for tools. Juan had never seen a weapon, until the pirates came that is. They came into port and looked around, long blades (as he now knows what they are) hanging from their girdles. They just started killing.... everything. But Juan and Graul, they didn't scream, they didn't run, they fought. They both ran to the nearest house, lucky for them it was a smith's house, and grabbed what they could to fight back. With futile effort they fought to defend their homes, and friends. That was the day they were enslaved. They had slowly risen to being some of the most dangerous, and feared, fighters on this ship. No one, not even Captain Ersnic, dared to fight them.

    Juan was startled out of his wonderful daydream by Graul who stomped up in his big heavy leather boots. "I know that look Juan we'll get out of this someday." That reassuring glance from his dearest friend was all he had needed and Juan replied "Ya I know, I just wish it were soon."

"May be sooner than you think... see those clouds?" he said pointing towards the front of the ship.

"Ya they look pretty nasty." Juan said with a look of disgust on his face. He hadn't noticed those storm clouds.

"Those are the Black Clouds." Juan was startled he hadn't seen the Clouds, no one ever went into the Black Clouds, it just wasn't survivable.

"Are we going to adjust course soon?" He said looking directly into the waiting storm.

"Nay" said Graul "Ersnic wants to be the first man ever to sail through the Clouds"

"But thats suicide!" Juan said with just a hint of surprise.

"I know" Graul said with a grunt "I truly do" getting much quieter the second time.

    As they looked back away from that black shadow ever coming closer to them an alarm sounded, storm bell. This was the signal for everyone to strap on for a bumpy ride. Just as Juan and Graul finished tying their ropes to the mast there was a crack. Lightning had struck the main mast that they had just tied themselves to! The shake threw Juan and Graul through the air landing over board. they started to haul themselves back up. As Juan reached the top he heard a snap. It wasn't loud, no it was more like a rope breaking. He watched as Graul fell into the ocean. launching himself back down to save his friend he was too late. Graul hit the water out of the ropes reach. Juan decided he would try, he would save Graul or die trying. He took out his steel dagger, sharpened for hours on end to perfection, and in one quick motion, he cut himself loose. He didn't know what happened next. He remembered snatches of it, just little fleeting glimpses. When he finally came to he was in a cave, Graul was standing over him. "Well look who's finally up." Graul said smiling like Juan hadn't seen in six years, not since their capture.

"It's good to see you too, now where are we?"

Graul looked at Juan "Free" he said.

Juan thought for a second "Well I know that!" he said jokingly "but where in Zurks name are we."

"Zurk? You still holdin' on to that legend, Zurk never existed." Juan was upsetted by this. Zurk was a legendary hero who had once saved the tribes in his homeland from a great enemy. He was Juans hero.

"That hurt me in places where a sword could only dream of hitting." He said

"Sorry guess that was a little mean. But as to your question, stranded" he said

Juan looked at him inquisitively "You mean like on an island?" he said

"Yep" Graul replied. "I've only seen it from the cave and beach but it looks rocky and treacherous, you can't find a stretch of flat land longer than this cave.

    Juan looked over in the back corner. Graul had recoverd some things from the ship, obviously Ersnic didn't sail through the Black Clouds. There were some barrels of water, some boxes of food, and some blackpowder. Blackpowder was a recent discovery, no one had any real use for it but it was very flamable and was good for starting fires. Juan also noticed his bow and arrows in a corner, all 50 arrows if he counted right. These were nestled with his scimitars and his dagger. In another corner was Grauls weapons, the same basic equipment as Juan had. "So you managed to acquire a lot of stuff, our weapons, and about a weeks worth of food." Juan said.