The Island

The sun blares down on his body. As he shakes his leg slowly his arms moved up and down feeling the soft grainy sand against his arms. It took a few seconds to register he could cover his eyes with one arm. Sitting up Owen felt his back cracking and realigning into place. Where was he?

All he could get out of his throat was a groan of irritation and confusion until water came recalling up his throat. He had to force himself to bend over to get the excess water and salt taste out of his mouth unless he wanted to drown on land. The liquid torture passes by his lips making him even more thirsty even though all the liquid was exciting him.

Coughing up the last few drops he brushes his lips before he looked all around him.

Palm trees, sand, sun, even noises of birds all around him. He had to be on some island. He crushed his hand into a fist. Once he felt nothing, worry flashed across his face. "Brorym."

Jumping up on his legs, he looked all around himself. He had to make sure the little creature didn't wash up beside him. He started to kick the sand up a bit to see if he was buried until more worry and clarity started to flash across his mind. If he keeps doing this, he will harm the little guy.

Owen bent down and started to toss the sand around. He had to be here. He remembers grabbing the small dragon in his hand before jumping overboard so where was he?

Looking down at every step, he made sure to be careful, but the concern started to grow the longer he could not locate the half-breed. As he picked up his pace more and more sand flew past him. "Dragon! Half-breed! Come out now!" flicking his head side to side memories of his past played like a movie reel in his mind. He could not lose this tiny. He could not lose this chance. "Brorym!" Owen approached the jungle practically running. He had to find him. Pushing apart a batch of long vines, his foot met wet ground instead of sand. Would he take this chance? He's had his life on the sea, not the jungle.

"I didn't even think you knew my name. I'm touched."

Owen jerked his head to the left to meet the small red dragon perching on a branch just out of his reach.

"So you did listen to all of my ramblings." the brown-haired boy flashed his few sharp teeth in a grin knowing full well he caused a heart attack in the older man.

"Get down." The captain glared up at the dragon with stern eyes.

The boy started to giggle. "Why would I do that?"

"Get. Down. Brorym."

"No."

Owen marched up to the tree. He sized it up. Maybe if he just grabbed the branch, he could pull himself up? He jumped up off the ground stretching his hand up. If he could just reach it. Above him, he could hear the teen laughing. It was probably hilarious to watch an almost thirty-year-old jumping like a child trying to reach a snack or grab something just over his head. Teased. For it to be just out of reach. He was so close yet so far. He walks a few steps backward then ran and jumped for the branch. This one last time he just barely wrapped his fingers around the bark. He could feel the brittle wood chip off in his grasp. If he had enough strength he could pull himself up, but he was exhausted from the swim.

"Your almost there. Come on Owen. You almost have me."The small red dragon walked up to the human's fingers and brushed his feet across them. It didn't take much pressure before Owen's fingers started to lose their grip. "Oh come on. Don't give up."

Owen's fingers released from the grip. His body came tumbling to the ground and instead of a concern for his safety, he could hear Brorym's high-pitched laugh echoing in his head.

"I'm sorry. You even have to admit that is funny."

Owen stood up searching the teen almost fall out of the tree himself from rocking with laughter. His wings were flared out while his tail wagged back and forth.

Standing up, Owen brushed the dirt off in an aggressive manner. With his patience gone he reached down for his sword, which was no longer there. "Shut up you rat."

Brorym sat down with his legs dangling off the branch. "I think I'll just stay up here."

The Captain was so focused he didn't even realize there was a sword to his back until he felt the point dig into his skin and Brorym shut his mouth pointing at something behind Owen. Slowly he raised his hands above his head and turned. Standing behind him was one of his crewmates. Honestly, he didn't even know the name of this man. He was just one of the lower crewmates he hired to have more bodies on his ship.

"Come with me to the beach." the man said in a demanding voice.

Owen practically chuckled at the audacity of this man. Did he really expect to keep him at sword point? "Alright boy. Just lower the sword and join the others. I have this under control."the sword point drew closer to Owen's neck drawing blood. He could feel the drop draw from his skin, running down his body. Only one drop but it could be more.

"To the beach."

"Alright. Alright. I'm going."he looked up at the tree to see Brorym on all fours watching the scene. He seemed to have a face full of concern instead of greed. Most creatures who have been captured would take this valuable opportunity to escape.

Being pushed forward Owen stumbled a few times towards the beach he just washed up on. With every step, he was losing sight of his treasure which irritated even more with the situation. Turning his head forward, his face turned white. All of his crew was circled on the beach. Over half of them had weapons drawn while the other half waited impatiently with angered expressions. They all had a bone to pick with him, and Owen had nothing to defend himself with.