[b][i]Aboard The Siren[/i][/b]

The day started out peaceful. The waters were calm, the waves sending a pleasantly cool spray into the air. [i]The Siren[/i] glided lazily on it's way, only occasionally rocked by a stronger wave. The sky was painted a stunning scarlet color, interrupted by a few large, fluffy clouds.

The wind blew Aiden's blonde hair back out of his face as he leaned over the rail of the ship. He stared out over the water, a feeling of anxiety settling in his chest. He had expressed his concern to a few of his crew mates. The men laughed at the youth's proposal that something dreadful was awaiting them. They told him to relax and enjoy the calm while it lasted.

Just a short while later, Aiden screamed over the howling wind. [b] “Told you so!” [/b] The winds had picked up suddenly, bringing with them a storm like no other. The beautiful sky had been plagued by dark clouds. The waves reached up the hull of the ship, spilling cold, salty water onto the deck.

“Shut yer trap, kid!” Someone shouted, shoving a bundle of rope into Aiden's arms. “And git those scrawny legs moving!”

[b] “I'm not scrawny!” [/b] He retorted, accepting the rope anyway. The wind tore at his hair and clothes. He pulled his lucky bandana off his head for fear it might be stolen by the storm and shoved it in a pocket. He moved across the deck to where two men were struggling to tie down some loose barrels. The barrels rocked back and forth unsteadily, threatening to roll away and crush an unsuspecting pirate. 

The three pirates hastily tied the barrels together, then to the rail. It wasn't their best work, but it'd have to do. [i]The Siren[/i] creaked and moaned underneath them, and Aiden worried about her stability. 

He noticed as Seth, the captain's First Mate, stumbled onto the deck. The man looked around briefly before he rushed past, probably on his way to find the captain.

Aiden's attention was ripped away from the man when a chunk of debris grazed his shoulder. It sliced through his sleeve and left a thin line of red on his skin. [b] “She's comin apart!” [/b] He cried, pointing to a section of deck where the wood planks were loose and being slowly torn away from the frame of the ship. A few men gathered to help secure the wood, but they were feeling short handed in the midst of the storm. Rain had yet to break the clouds, but they were sure it wouldn't be long before it did.