Byron carried Charles on his shoulders while Tashina and Ivy ran behind him. Lucy dashed ahead of them, but not too far so they wouldn’t lose her lead.

They ran across a clear dirt trail through the shadowy jungle. Light glowed straight ahead, indicating the beach wasn’t far.

The trail was the same path Lucy and her party took from the shore. It ended when they reached the grassy ground beneath the tall tropical trees. Knowing they were close to their escape helped calm down Lucy’s nerves.

Behind them, the cannibals’ howls echoed across the wild. Possibly a million of them, charging to get their food back. They will not stop until Lucy and her friends are off the island.

When they reached the beach, Lucy spotted the Iron Maiden close to the coast. It won’t take long to row the boat to the ship now.

“We’re almost there!” Lucy shouted.

Byron reached the rowboat first and laid Charles down inside. The girls hopped in as the panther pushed the boat into the water.

Behind them, the cannibals charged from the jungle. An entire swarm, running on all-fours like wild beasts.

“We’re not going to make it!” Ivy cried.

Lucy checked the cannibals’ statues.

Black Dog Warrior Level: 50 HP: 500/500

Her heart sank. All of them have the same level, which meant defeating them all would be impossible. Escape was the only option.

Halfway across the beach, the cannibal mob stopped when the ship fired its cannons. Explosions popped around the tribe. The sand splashed into the air and a few bodies shattered into digital crystal figments.

While half of their army met their fate in the explosions, the rest retreated into the jungle. In the aftermath, the beach turned black with nothing left.

Lucy and the others sighed.

“Boom baby!” Ivy cheered. “That’s how you blow your enemies away!”

Lucy giggled. Her cabin girl was still young, with a boyish attitude.

Byron climbed into the boat and rowed the paddles through the water. “That was close. We would have been breakfast if the ship didn’t stop the cannibals.”

“Yeah.” Lucy checked Charlie below her feet. The poor wolf still has life inside his unconscious body. He has nice abs, but Lucy shook her head. She still needed to question him back on the ship.

*****

Quest Completed! You received 1,000 EXP! You leveled up! One proficiency point received!

Lucy clambered to the main deck, where Kiki landed in front of her.

“I ordered the crew to fire the cannons!” The parrot explained. “They are very obedient. Squawk!”

Lucy grinned. “Good. We wouldn’t be alive if you didn’t.”

Although the crew was supposed to obey the captain only, Lucy instructed each mate to obey all members aboard her vessel. If anything happens to her, someone else has to take the wheel.

After her party climbed to the main deck, Lucy turned toward Byron, still holding Charles in his arms. “Please take him to my quarters. I will need water and some remedy.” She pursed her lips. “And I want to be alone with him.”

Tashina smiled a playful grin. “Alone? Sounds like sum'ady wa get dutty wid har man. Hehehehehe!”

Lucy scowled at her. “No! I need to speak about a private matter to him when he wakes up. You can check on him after we come out.”

Ivy giggled. “Whatever you say, lover girl.”

“Remove his pants so he can be comfortable in your bed.” Byron winked.

Lucy sighed. Apparently, Ivy wasn’t the only one who acted like a child. “Ivy, just move the ship away from the island. And Kiki, keep an eye out with her.”

“Aye, captain!” Ivy shouted, and the parrot squawked in reply.