"Mitralla the Gray-Hair seemed nice." Fenna grins at me as we make our way up the hillside.

I look at that grin, those big eyes, that red hair. So sweet and innocent. She's too sweet for this world. I can't imagine what she's doing here.

"I think you always try to see the best in people. But, there was something a little off about the old lady to me," I say.

"I suppose a lifetime of practicing voodoo magic can do that to a person. Make them seem a little off." Fenna chuckles. “I'm sorry cap'n, it's not funny. I shouldn't be laughing."

"These are dark times," I say. "Any time you can laugh, you should. I like hearing you laugh."

"Really?" Fenna smiles at me, brushing her hair from her face self-consciously.

"Seeing you on the ground earlier, I thought for a second you were dead." I pause. "Again."

Fenna's grin simmers down. "I'm not going to die on you," she says, placing her hand over her bosom. "I promise."

"That's not something you can promise, Fenna. Not at all. It's not a decision. It's not up to you."

"I know. But I want it to be. I'm fighting to be by your side, cap'n. Doesn't that count for something?"

"If it means watching you die, I don't want to be here. I don't want to be your captain or anyone elses."

Fenna's eyes flash with disappointment and frustration. "Don't say that."

"I want to get out of here. If I can figure out a way, will you come with me?"

"You can't just leave your ship and your crew, cap'n. You're in charge. In charge of me. Of Rufus." Fenna points behind us.

Rufus flubbers his lips and gives us both a dismissive hand gesture. Thanks, bud.

"You are the cap'n," she goes on. "We're a team."

"And teams don't let each other die, which is why I want to rescue you from this shit world. Look around. This place is completely insane. It's sick and twisted."

"That's just the curse on this island."

"No, I think there's a curse on this whole world."

"Cap'n. You're not going to let me die. I know you won't. You've proven that already." Fenna steps closer so that our noses are almost touching. "Connolly…" She brushes a speck of dirt from my eyebrow with her thumb. "There's something about you. Something different. You're a powerful man, and you just have to let it out. Back in the forest, when that hound came for us, and I was worried I might miss the shot, you had faith in me. Well, I have faith in you. You will always protect me. I believe that."

Fenna stares into my eyes as if to let her words marinate in the silence. Her expression to me is like when she's aiming—fierce and focused. Unflinching. She means every word she says.

I nod, trying to believe her, even if I don't entirely. Fenna kisses me, her soft lips nibbling on mine in slow motion as she presses her body against my chest. I return the gesture, wrapping my arms around her, finding my new skill in wrestling allows me to hold her just right. I hug her firmly and warmly, not controlling or tackling her, but rather pulling her entire being into mine with such control that she melts and relaxes into my steady arms.

Your relationship with Fenna has advanced! Fenna's love for you swells in her heart. But as she has seen what kind of man you can become, so too begin to unlock deeper, darker desires within.

Relationship: Fenna

* Love [4, Dedicated] (+1)

* Exhibition [4, Coy]

* Corruption [2, Yearning] (+1)

We kiss like that for some time and then just stop making out and hold each other, feeling our bodies expand together as we breathe in unison.

"Even if Mitralla has a hidden agenda, I think we need to do this. Not for her but for her people. And the poor girl who's being held up there. Someone ought to save her. And for the treasure, because we're pirates, god dammit."

"That's right, cap'n. Someone ought to save her. A man like you," Fenna says, making sure I can feel her breasts pressing into me. "That's why I'm here, and that's why you're here too. If this world is twisted, then it needs a hero. Not to escape from it, but to save it."

“Eeeee”—Our moment is broken by the squeals of everyone's favorite monkey companion. As I go to curse him, I realize that Rufus is right for once. A sizable patrol of skeletal shamblers spot us on the mountain path and immediately attack.