Lucy steered the Iron Maiden toward the island. She only drifted the vessel a bit so she could identify the island. The sun already rose from the horizon, giving Lucy a clear view. The island has a tall volcano surrounded by jungle wildlife. A few tropical trees stood on the beaches around the island. Good thing it will be easy to land a boat there.

"Lower the sails and drop the anchor," she ordered the crew.

After the ship halted, her notification appeared.

You discovered Black Dog Island!

Why is the island called Black Dog? Some sailors thought it was weird, but others knew the name was a warning. The island belongs to a tribe of cannibal canines, born with dark fur. Anyone who steps onto their island will face a dreadful death. They only eat dogs in their dark ceremony rituals. If you're not a dog, don't worry. They will kill you quickly and use your bones to decorate their territory. Nobody knows their true name since nobody lived to tell about it. The only good advice is to stay far away from the island. If you have to go there, good luck. Only the lucky ones aren't dogs.

Lucy’s heart instantly sank after she read the information about the island. Cannibal dogs?

If those savages find Charles, he will become their breakfast. Lucy has to find him quickly.

"Kiki! Ivy! Tashina! Byron! On the quarterdeck now!" Lucy announced.

Her friends clambered to the deck and gathered around her. Lucy faced them. "I discovered what that island is. Black Dog!"

Ivy shrugged. "I never heard of that place."

Tashina widened her eyes. "Mi did. A saila visit mi village once an tell di tale. Fi him crew mates set foot pan dat island inna search of treasure. Instead, dem meet a pack of strange black-furred dogs who welcome dem. At fos di dogs ave dem food an pleasure. Di next day di saila find di tribe feasting pan fi him men. Whulla dem did dogs except him. Him did di ongle one who escape fi him life tuh tell di tale. Unspeakable horra him witnessed."

A chill ran down Lucy’s spine. She couldn't imagine watching the cannibals eat her friends alive or boiled them in pots to death. The same fate might happen to Charlie next. Whoever goes to the island will never come back, and it didn't matter if you were a dog or another animal.

"What a load of savages!" Ivy gasped through her breath. "Why would they only eat their own kind?"

Byron crossed his muscled, smooth, furry black arms. "Some uncivilized tribes prefer certain meat. It becomes part of their twisted culture and religion."

Ivy stuck out her tongue. "Yuck! I only like fish."

"I don't care what they are. We must find Charles immediately before they do." Lucy glanced at the parrot. "Kiki, scout the island for Charles while I and my small party will row to the island."

"Why can't we bring an army to attack the cannibals?" Ivy asked.

"Bringing the whole crew is too risky. I don't want to start a war against the savages, even if they have Charles. While we are gone, our ship still needs protection."

"Mi wonda." Tashina glanced at Byron. "Wud di cannibals nyam me?"

The panther chuckled. "You are not a dog, silly."

"But dem cud mistake mi as one. Hehehe. Mi meat wi poison dem painfully."

Lucy sighed. "Okay. After Kiki finds Charles or the tribe, we will head there to rescue him. If we meet trouble, I will shoot a flare for the crew to help us. Got it?"

Everyone nodded to her.

Lucy smiled. "Now let's save that pesky scumbag!"