Mistic Pets

Welcome to Issue 28
Created by The Mistic Pets Team

The Adventures of Captain Jack Skillow: Part II -- Fey
Written By gemajgall

It had been a rough couple o' months fer Captain Jack Skillow 'n his motley crew. Th' Black Pyre was still o'errun wit' Kelpies 'n th' rough storms o' th' winter months were handsomely approachin'. But th' fearless leader guided th' ship towards th' shores nigh Banshee Swamp where he 'n his most trusted mates disembarked as th' numerous sand bars would easily cause th' Pyre t' run aground.

“Capt', where we be headin' in this miserable weather?” asked Dibbs, a bulky Mandoran.

“To find her.”

“Her?”

“Aye,” responded Skillow, mysteriously. He handsomely looked around t' make sure th' wrong scallywags wouldna hear his next comment.“My ship is overrun with those bloody Kelpies! And blast it all, I can't do a thing about it. That's why we're going to see her. Savvy?”

“Her?” echoed Dibbs, still not understanding.

“Aye. Here,” ordered Skillow as th' longboat started navigatin' through a path o' sorcery-lit candles that floated o'er th' murky waters.

At th' end o' th' swampy path was a wee cottage that was made up o' reeds, thatch, moss, 'n wee stones that could be found nearby. They moored th' longboat 'n hopped ashore, Captain Jack Skillow leadin' th' way other th' steps while Dibbs 'n th' mute Yexhil named Wool. Even Wool's Piratakeet seemed uneasy 'n fell silent.

Th' door t' th' wee shack opened afore Skillow's paw even touched it. A warm but ethereal voice greeted 'im from inside. “Come in, come in Jack Skillow. I be waitin' for you.”

“Don't worry mates,” Captain Skillow said. “Tia Malda and I go way back. Thick as thieves. Nigh inseparable we are...were...have been...”

“I'll...I'll watch your back,” stammered Dibbs.

“It's me front I'm worried about,” mumbled Skillow, his smile instantly seemin' a wee forced.

“I knew de winds were goin' blow you me way tonight,” greeted a strange-lookin' Fey, who rose when Skillow boarded. She had been sittin' amid assorted magical equipment that none o' th' pirates could even begin t' imagine how t' use. Behind her, in th' shadows, sat two silent female Fey as strangely adorned as Tia Malda.

“I knew you knew me,” Captain Skillow responded, attemptin' t' maintain his cool. “And I knew you knew that I knew that you knew.”

“Captain Jack Skillow,” Tia Malda replied in a scoldin' tone. She walked o'er, closer t' 'im, 'n picked up a wooden branch curled o'er 'n o'er upon itself. Hair had been wrapped around it. “You be showin' up here only when you be needin' my help? No, no Jack Skillow. Dat be no way to treat Tia Malda.”

She enjoyed watchin' th' pirate cap'n squirm under her dark, deep gaze. “I...I would have. But my ship has been overrun with bloody Kelpies! I need to get rid of them!”

“With out being dragged down to Davy Jones's locker,” added Dibbs wit' a weak chuckle. He fell silent.

“You be askin' to ask de spirits to change de destiny of de Pyre.”

“I want my ship free.”

“Fine, but I be expectin' me payment,” Tia Malda instantly said, somethin' mischievous flashin' in her eyes.

“P-Payment?” squeaked Dibbs, lookin' around at th' glass jars that contained assorted body parts.

“Payment will come after de service 'as been fulfilled,” Tia Malda continued, teasingly 'n condescendingly. “Me handmaidens will go wid you. You will not be leavin' dem anywhere. When your voyage is complete, dey will be findin' and bringin' me me payment.”

“I don't need any...!” Skillow started t' protest, but one look upon th' Fey let 'im know that he had already lost this argument.

“Give me you hand,” stated Tia Malda.

Skillow sighed 'n held his paw t' her. Much t' his surprise, th' two quiet Fey loot his paw. He felt as if icy water had been poured o'er 'n through his palm. Two sets o' eyes held his wit' expressionless depths. He shuddered t' reckon about how he may 'ave been marked.

Meanwhile, Tia Malda resumed her seat. She picked up a dark jar 'n scattered its contents across her battered table 'n th' map that lay across it. “A touch...of destiny!”

Th' bones 'n teeth clattered t' a stop, clearly clustered around one location on th' map o' Mistica. Captain Jack Skillow felt as if his luck had suddenly gone from bad t' nonexistent.

“Gargoyles!”

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