Dawn idly twirled a finger in the air as she watched the witch-woman appear and disappear out of the corner of her eye.<i>That</i>explained the magic she had felt, but it didn’t seem like the dark-skinned woman was actually doing anything to hinder them. There was no way she’d been a captive, so why the change of heart?<br/><br/><i>Maybe she’s scared,</i>Dawn thought with a smirk. Still, that didn’t mean the woman was scared of<i>her</i>.<br/><br/>“One step closer, or this bitch will die!”<br/><br/>Her finger still spinning, Dawn let out an exaggerated sigh. Her grey eyes took in the captain with disinterest. Without the threat of his witch, what fun was he? She didn’t like people who took others as their shields without asking. He was just a weak, desperate man, his crew and his witch scattered to the winds. He would<i>hurt</i>.<br/><br/>The arrow hit the mast with a twang followed by the crackling of lightning. The ashen elf and the captain both collapsed to the deck, the man’s dagger skittering across the wood. Dawn’s eyes glanced at the elven archer for a moment, but gave nothing away. Finally, her finger stopped moving, and pointed at one of the few crewmen that had been stupid enough to stay. There was a shockwave-like thud, and the man went flying off the deck with spectacular force. Some time later, there was a distant splash.<br/><br/>Then, she pointed again.<i>Thud.</i><i>Splash.</i><br/><br/><i>Thud.</i><i>Splash.</i><br/><br/><i>Thud.</i><i>Splash.</i><br/><br/>“I told you it would be easier to walk the plank,” she said, shaking her head. She spun around like she was dancing dancing, her robes fluttering behind her. “Captain~” she called softly, her whirling slowly carrying her toward where he lay. “Don’t tell me you’re not still awake after one little arrow.” There was another, smaller thud, and he slid across the deck away from the unconscious elf.<br/><br/>Dawn knelt down by the elf and gently patted her head. “You’ve had a rough day,” she said quietly. “It’s okay to sleep. But more Ashy and less…<i>not</i>when you wake up, all right?”<br/><br/>“Captain~” she called again, almost singing now. “I know you’re awake. Pretending is rather silly.” She tilted her head, and he was dragged upward by some unseen force, suspended by his arms in mid-air. “I’ve got good news and bad news,” she said happily, like she was talking to a pet and not a person.<br/><br/>“The<i>good</i>news is that<i>I’m</i>not going to kill you. Pirates are good at swimming, right?” She smiled. “You’re lucky that it’s me, really.”<br/><br/>“As for the bad news…” She tugged at his trousers until they came free. Dawn gave a disapproving shake of her head. “He’s used to getting what he wants, isn’t he? But he’s selfish. He doesn’t care whether he’s wanted or not.” Dawn cocked her head up at the pirate captain. “Your biggest mistake? Trying to put him where he doesn’t belong.”<br/><br/>She pointed straight at the captain’s cock. There was one last<i>thud</i>, louder this time, and the man flew. She wondered if he’d be able to swim at all after that. Maybe he wouldn’t even be conscious. She waved him off, and then turned around, looking squarely at the pirates’ former prisoners.<br/><br/>“Hello,” she said brightly.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>