Island

(Starrk's POV)

"What the.." I said as I opened my eyes

Was it a dream?

I don't remember anything. Last thing I remember was being chained up in that warship and it was attacked.

I was laying down face-down sand beneath me. I felt as water hit my feet .

"Ugh…" I groaned as I pushed myself up, "What in the hell?"

My entire body was sore as hell. Moving was a burden for me. What in the hell happened back there?

I managed to stand up to a slouch. I looked around, I saw that I was in a beach. Did the warship sink or something? How did I end up stranded here?

My head was throbbing, as if someone beat the shit out of it. I clutched it, thinking it'll ease the pain. It didn't.

I felt the wet sand beneath my feet and i wriggled my toes a little to see if i can feel them. Don't know why that's my first thought, but whatever.

"Wait." I said aloud before looking down at my bare feet, "Where are my boots? Why am i bare footed?"

Did the marines take my boots away? No, I don't think so. What the hell happened to them?

I looked around again, this time a bit more focused. I saw that i was around a hundred feet away from what looked like a forest. I guess I'm on some sort of forest island? I then looked back towards the ocean. On the water I saw a bunch of debris such as broken planks and pieces of metal from the warship.

It either sunk or was heavily damaged. Either way a bunch of it's pieces ended up here, wherever this is.

I looked along the shoreline and saw several crates and barrels were also just laying around. I guess I wasn't the only thing to end up here.

I then noticed something.

I looked down a couple of feet away from me and saw a bunch of footprints on the sand. It looked like they belonged to a human.

I narrowed my eyes, "People?"

I then walked towards them and began to follow them.

They started to lead towards the forest.

I sighed, "Man." I said, "I hope my feet can handle this walk. And who the fuck took my boots?"

I kept following the prints inside the forest, walking slowly as I clutched my side. It hurt the most for some reason. I still can't remember what happened back there, but whatever went down, I got hurt pretty badly.

As I walked, I started to pick up the scent of smoke.

I sniffed, "Smoke?" I said as I looked around, "Someone making a fire?"

I then heard a distant shout. It came from the direction the footprints led to. I looked down at them, they were starting to be less noticeable since the ground went from sand to actual dirt.

I then made my way to the shout, not knowing what to expect. Maybe it was some marines that also ended up here.

As I made my way past trees and bushes, I could make out the smell of smoke even better. Someone definitely had a campfire or something.

I then tripped on a log I didn't see and fell down on my face.

"Agh!" I yelled out

I then heard a voice call out, "Huh? Ricky?! Is that you?!"

I started to get up and I heard as footsteps approached me. I looked up to see three men as they walked over some logs and rocks.

"Huh?" One of them said as he looked at me confused, "You ain't Ricky."

He was wearing some sort of medieval peasant type attire. A white shirt and some pants. He had long black hair and dark brown eyes. He also had a scar on the bridge of his nose that was distinguishable.

"Uhh…" I said as I tried to straighten up

"Oi, who're you, mate?" One of the other guys said as he pulled put his knife, "Where's Ricky?"

This one was a short and bald guy. He wore nothing but pants. Like seriously, he didn't have a shirt or boots on.

I slowly raised my hands, "Ricky? Who's that?" I asked

The third one walked up, this one was the tallest. He had short brown hair and looked muscular as hell. He wore a tight white shirt, maybe it was tight because of his frame, and some black pants.

"Now hold on, Mick." He said, "Lets not be too hostile."

The guy Mick slowly lowered his knife and gave me a glare.

"Sorry, bruv." The tall one said, "And who might you be?"

I don't know who these guys were and I sure as hell don't know if i can trust them. But whatever, I guess I'll try my luck.

"Uhm.." I said, "Name's Starrk…"

The tall guy nodded, "Alright. Starrk, name's Liam." He said gesturing to himself, "This here is mick and Leo. We're not gonna hurt you, apologies for Mick's little hostile nature. We're just waiting on our pal, Ricky."

"I see.." I said, "Well I just woke up. I guess I was unconscious or something since I don't remember ending up on a beach alongside debris of a ship."

Mick widened his eyes, "Oi, you were on that marine ship a couple days ago?" He said, "Man that was some nasty battle it had with some pirates. We managed to see it from the cliffside deeper in the island."

We were that close an island? I didn't even notice.

I saw as the guy Leo looked at me weirdly.

"Hey, buddy." He said, "You saying you were on there? What are you? A marine? A pirate?"

I shook my head, "No." i said, "I was a prisoner I suppose."

Liam chuckled, "Well guess you're just like us, then." He said, "We also were once prisoners of the marines. Hey, come and have something to eat while we wait for Ricky."

He gestured over to follow him as they all started to walk away.

I just followed them for some reason. I really didn't know if I could trust them or not. Best guess is that these guys are bandits or something, all the way out here in the forest.

They led me to a small clearing where there was a campfire. The small flame flickering as a pot was being hanged over it.

I watched as Liam proceeded to sit down on a log as he grabbed a wooden bowl of stew and gestured me over.

"Come 'ere." He said, "Have some food."

I reluctantly walked over and he handed me the bowl and a spoon.

I sat down and saw as they all grabbed a bowl from where they were sitting and they started eating.

I looked down at the contents of mine. It looked like lamb stew. I haven't had it in a while so whats the hurt in eating it.

"Okay.." i said as I started eating

"So where are you from, Starrk?" Liam asked me

I shrugged, "Don't know." I said as I ate, "Don't remember."

He chuckled, "Is that so?"

"Suppose so." I replied

"What were you captured for?" He asked

"Attacking a marine officer." I said, "Self defense, though."

"Like us, then." He said, "Although that was a while back."

I looked at him, "Who are you guys anyways?" I asked

He looked at me and smiled slightly, "Oh you know…" he said,

"Just some outlaws, I guess."