Blood of Legends and The Union of Damned

1 The fishing line pulled taught, sending the reel whirling outward until a pair of mighty hands locked the line in and began the fight. Pulling back on the rod as he slowly reeled the line in with enthusiasm, Jesse was surprised to land a fish so quickly after initially casting out his line. “Don’t that beat all.” Duke remarked while he was still engaged in attaching a lure to his fishing rod. Reaching over the side of the boat, Jesse grabbed his fishing line and hauled in his catch onto the deck. He stepped on the head of the fish and withdrew the hook, minding the fish’s teeth. Jesse picked up the fish from its gills and threw it in a nearby cooler. “I didn’t think you could get Calicos way out here.” Said Duke. “Tell that to my friend in the cooler.” Jesse replied. Duke chuckled as he impaled a sardine into the hook of his fishing rod and cast it far into the ocean. “What’s all that racket?” Said Bruce as he walked up the steps on the deck from the cabin. “Funny bones here already caught himself a fish.” Duke said, his eyes fixed on his own line. “Is that so?” Bruce said with his hands doubtfully at his hips. “What do you bet the no good cheat already had one on his line when he cast?” “That’s right.” Said Jesse. “I was using a Calico for bait.” He laughed to himself. Sitting atop the roof of the cabin, Bloodbeard watch the argument unfold. He considered the mocking humor of humans something esoteric and the comedy found in their exaggerated lies simply revolting. Still, he managed to find some identity in the distrustful nature he so often witnessed in the company of human beings. “Hey, David, why don’t you come down here and catch yourself some supper?” Duke asked from the deck. Lost in his own thoughts, the question caught Bloodbeard off guard. “I’m fine.” He replied. “That land loving lily couldn’t catch a cold.” Bruce laughed to himself. “Come on and show them how a real man does it.” Duke instigated. “You can use my rod.” Jesse said as he threw his fishing pole up to Bloodbeard. “You’ll need to catch yourself some supper at some point or another.” Bloodbeard was forced to jump from his perch in order to catch the pole or otherwise get struck with it. “Yar. Alright then.” He said. “Let me show ye how it’s done.” Grabbing a sardine from the small bait bucket on deck, in one liquid action Bloodbeard attached it to his lure and cast it far into the ocean. During many of his former crew’s long voyages Bloodbeard was often left depleted of their gory rations. Although he didn’t particularly enjoy the taste, catching and eating fish proved a decent alternative to starvation. In fact, Bloodbeard had found himself in this situation with such frequency that he actually began to grow an affinity for the amphibian appetite and as such he found his ability to bait and catch them increase gradually over the many years he had been at it. He considered carefully the idea of simply killing and eating all four of his traveling companions once they had set sail, however he was unsure of three things. That he could operate the vessel alone. Every ship requires a crew to operate it. That he could accurately navigate alone. He wasn’t sure where his missing ship had gone and what leads the humans had been operating by. And that he could successfully murder all four of them alone. Especially the one who wore silver spurs, Duke, whom looked especially experienced. Still, Bloodbeard was sickened by the company he was forced to keep. It wasn’t longer before Bloodbeard felt a heavy tug on his line. He reeled it in with driving tenacity. “Well I’ll be a mermaid’s cliterous.” Jesse laughed to himself. “Impossible.” Bruce muttered. Bloodbeard pulled the fish from the ocean and flung in onto the deck. The fish flopped around for a few moments before Bloodbeard stomped on its head with his boot, withdrawing the hook. He removed his boot and the fish no longer wriggled with vigor. “That’s a fine sea baas you got yourself.” Duke remarked. “Yar. Tis what I do.” Bloodbeard said, daring to let out a little chuckle. “If and when you ever catch anything, Duke, I’ll start cooking these up for us.” Bruce said with his arms folded and leaning against the mast. “What’s the matter, Bruce? Afraid to get your pole wet?” Jesse asked with a smirk. “You remember the deal, joker. Tonight, you guys catch and I cook. Otherwise I’d out fish the lot of you.” Bruce answered. “Yeah, I hear housewives make the best fishers.” Jesse said, laughing as he walked into the cabin. “I’ll catch something soon, I will.” Duke said to himself. “But I wonder how old Clint is making out.” At that moment Clint walked from the bow of the boat, beaming and holding up a line with three fishes on attached.