Crawl by the Despot

Carrion Crow – MtG by AaronMiller

Jacques awoke amongst scattered bodies. His head throbbed where the mace had struck. Nearby, a crow alit on a dead soldier’s chest, plucked an eyeball, just like Laura would pluck vine-ripened grapes. His hand squeezed bloody muck. He envisioned the rich soil of his farmland. He grabbed limbs of the dead, pulled himself forward. He’d crawl back to Laura.

A boot stepped in his path. “Where you heading, mate?”

“Please,” said Jacques, touching the boot.

“Got a live one ‘ere, Sarge,” called the boot.

“Cap’n said no quarter.”

“Sorry mate,” said the boot, grinding Jacques face into the muck.

Mutiny by John King

Ship Battle by 88grzes on DeviantArt.com

Shipwreck. Barbados. Rudder splintered o’er the shoals. Keel cracked n’ bleedin’ water.

Royal Navy’s colors close behind.

No matter.

Me cutlass be out, carvin’ the scuttling crew.

Nick, ye mutinying bastard. I’ll be in gaol so long as you’ll be in hell.

The screaming turns ye.

“Avast, Thom, you bilge-rat” says ye, drawing steel.

Grape-shots burst the deck around us. This confusion of sky and sea and bone.

Your blade is a butt-end, which ye drop o’erboard.

I jump smoking gaps between planks. Ye swing a belaying pin, which I lop your hand off for.

Next goes your head.

Eye Failed by Katherine Parker

Pirate by Glumych on DeviantArt.com

“Mind the jib!” Urgot the One-Eyed bellowed from the watchtower, a telescope in one hand and the guardrail in the other. “The chase be on!”

His crew stomped the deck, curved blades cutting salty air as they whooped and hollered.  The dark body of their victim came clearer into view with each passing moment, lying heavy in the sea with her belly full of gold.

“She’s taken anchor!” he cried, triumphant, “Prepare to boa—“

The figurehead screamed as Urgot the One-Eyed was thrown from his perch, the hull of his ship crushed by land.

“Shoulda used mah good eye!”

Cabin Boy’s Plight by The Despot

The Sinking by frog648 on DeviantArt.com

“Discipline,” shouted the captain, “is essential! Three days in the crow’s nest.”

Better than flogging, thought Jim, until the nausea started. Every wave swung Jim in a dizzying arch. He curled up, retching. “Damn the captain.”

Shouts below. Jim peered over the lip.

A ship swung broadside, releasing grapeshot. Gunwales splintered. Sails shredded. Decks ran red.

Another salvo. The ship listed, sank, swallowing captain and crew.

The sea approached. “Save me,” Jim prayed.

The hull crunched on coral, suspending Jim a fathom above water.

The attacking ship sailed off.

“Come back,” Jim called.

It didn’t. Not all prayers are answered.

Crackers of Doom by Tom Lucas

Pirate Parrot by Aeyolscaer on DeviantArt.com

The rival ship was thundering toward them. The captain, his gloriously plumed parrot perched on his shoulder, addressed his merry marauders.

“Kill them all. And be sure to grab all of their crackers,” he said in his peculiar singsong voice.

The men rumbled. One brave soul raised his hand. “Sir? We are ready to fight, but we have some questions.”

“There is no time. Crackers await!”

The parrot fluttered his wings and took to the air. The captain’s limp body, a crudely stuffed effigy, immediately fell to the deck.

“Called it,” said another.

Soon sabers and talons would cut deep.

Call You What? … Spell that. by Jeff Hurt

Moby Dick by scumbugg on DeviantArt.com

I knew why they’d come. Albino skin makes me a target. I’m twice the size of others of my kind. It makes me a challenge.

A nasty scar, stretched along his face and down his torso. Greying temples beset his dark eyes. Lunacy behind those eyes. I had seen men like him before.

Battle begins.
Searing pain.
Steel pierced flesh. My flesh. …
My turn.
Thrashing my massive fluke, I broke free, destroying their craft. I tore off the leg of the scarred man, swallowing it whole.

His screams echoed through Big Blue for miles.

Doubtful I’ll see him again.

Blood by Name, Blood by Deed by Joshua Begley

Pirate Duel by WouterBruneel on DeviantArt

There. Richard saw it, the key to victory. War erupted around him as his crew fought the mutineers, but his attention stayed fixed on his first mate.

“You’re too gray, too weak to be captain anymore, Blood.”

Richard smiled and concentrated on his footing. The ship pitched and yawed on the waves. Blood and body parts rolled on the deck. One false step and it was all over.

The first mate went into his pattern, two feints and a slash. Richard stepped into the slash and ran the mutineer through.

“Blood by name, blood by deed, Captain.”

“Aye,” Richard said.

Rock, Scissors, Paper by The Despot

Message in a Bottle by paulchensmom on DeviantArt.com

“Cheats!” Cap’n bellowed, throwing our dice overboard. “I’ll give ye a game o’ chance!”

Bad loser. That scurvy scoundrel marooned us four atop this coral atoll. The gallows woulda been mercy. Nary a shipbiscuit to share between us.

We ate up the crabs n snails n Slushy’s pet monkey.

Ate Slushy next. Poxy bastard lasted two days. Spoiled in the hot sun.

Us last three played rock, scissors, paper—winner take all. No gambling this time. My rock found Mick’s head. My scissors, Gummo’s throat.

My paper, I wrote my last story on it, n stuck it in this bottle.

Deadly Dance by The Despot

Volatile by Rilrae at DeviantArt.com

Pushing blades through mama’s belly, Captain Cruz shanghaies Shelly, claiming her as concubine. Though just thirteen, she obeys his foul desires. It’s survival. Afterward, to numb the pain, she dances like mama danced.

Months later, the ship sets anchor offshore her island home.

With two fluttering fans, Shelly twirls on deck to fiddles and catcalls. Cruz, craving private performance, calls her to his quarters. He licks his lips as she slips from sarong, undulating unadorned, her fans concealing her treasures. Captain’s captivated until the razor-edged fans slice out his eyes, his tongue.

She slips silently overboard, gliding toward moonlit shore.