I make my way through the trees towards where I am supposed to meet Tink. I stop short of my destination, knowing that it is always best to let Tink come to me instead of the other way around. Tink comes out of the trees, seeming to materialize right too too the trees themselves. She gestures for me to follow her. But I have other plans.  

I give her an annoyed look, refusing to follow her further into the woods without an explanation. "Why do we have to meet in her territory? My ship is a perfectly fine meeting place." 

"She felt we needed to speak in a more secure location, especially after the attack on your ship." Tink states purely matter of factly. Only relaying a message and not her personal opinion. 

"More secure?" I scoff, offended at the implication that my ship isn't safe or secure enough. "Yes. Because it's much harder to get to a patch of woods in the forest than it is to get to a ship in the middle of the sea when there are no other boats around. I can see how that makes perfect sense." 

Tink's expression remains blank, but I could almost swear that I can see it crack just for a moment with amusement. "You know how her lands are protected." 

I roll my eyes. "Yes. I know. Before you get to the camp there's the mystic mazes. Only the scouts and the Fae know how to get past them. Then there's the scouts themselves. You don't see them  until they're on you and by then it's too late. Then if by some miracle you actually makes it to the camp there's the guards. And every villager is able to send up an alarm." 

Tink nods. "And you think your ship is more defended than that?" 

I smirk and tilt my head, looking at her sideways. "Every single one of my crew members is trained to fight from the day they arrive by me personally. And I was trained from the day I was big enough to hold a blade and balance it properly. Every single one of them can fight and kill if needed. They are also trained to watch for intruders from a distance. I learned a lot from my father, and he learned a lot from the British Royal Navy before he left to be a pirate." I take a breath before continuing. "Not to mention the fact that anyone trying to break on to my ship would have to find a boat just to get to it. And those waters are not the easiest to navigate. Plus, there's the mermaids in the water that don't like strangers." 

Tink looks at me curiously for a moment before responding. "I suppose it is in your nature to always believe you have to best people, and security. It is not my place to take sides." I roll my eyes again. "Come, we should get going." 

I gesture for her to lead the way dramatically, not that she would notice that it was dramatic. "Please, after you." 

I follow closely behind her. I know that the mystic mazes of the native territory are not to be taken lightly. One could be wandering around them for days, weeks even. Wandering around in circles, and then there's the reason they're called the mystic mazes. Nearly invisible mystic mists fill the area. So those who get lost there are not just lost physically, but lost in their minds as the mists give them visions that mess with their heads. The scouts are specially trained to resist the mists and the best ways to navigate in the maze like woods. And the mists don't work on the Fae, who also have an uncanny ability to navigate anywhere on the island, even places they haven't been to before. Almost as if they can communicate with the trees themselves.

Tink leads me through safely until we finally find ourselves face to face with Tiger Lily. Or more like Tiger Lily and her two bodyguards. Why does she need bodyguards in her own territory? That seems a little overkill. 

"You're late." The princess greets us. If you can consider that a greeting. 

"And a lovely night to you as well Tiger Lily." I respond in a dry tone. 

She rolls her eyes. "I heard about what happened to your ship." 

"Is that concern I hear in your voice?" I ask in a slightly mocking tone. 

"No. I'm simply stating a fact." 

"Well, I'm fine, clearly. Though your concern is touching." I ignore her slightly rude response. I sigh. "Now, care to explain why you dragged me all the way out here?" 

"I thought Tink explained. It's safer to talk here than on your boat." 

"Ship!" I cry out in indignation. I turn to Tink. "I don't have to stay here and take this disrespect. Take me back to my ship. This brat just wants to toy with me. And I'm not going to put up with it." 

I turn to storm out. A few scouts materialize out of the trees. I growl in frustration. "Are you holding me hostage?" I ask over my shoulder. 

"We have work to do." 

I whirl around to face her again. "What work? This meeting is a joke. It's going to go just like all the others. You're going to ask what my plan is. Tink is going to say we still don't know enough to act and I should wait. You're going to say that your scouts will report any suspicious activity to me and Tink will say she will do the same. Did I miss anything? No? Good. Tink, take me back to my ship." 

I turn back around and make to leave. Tiger Lily calls after me. "After what just happened to you and your crew, you may want to be more careful Captain. Allies are in short supply these days." 

A sarcastic laugh falls from my lips. I turn back towards her, annoyed. "Is that what you are? You could've fooled me. Allies don't typically try to antagonize each other." I point out bluntly. "So why don't you play nice from now on, and I'll actually consider you an ally instead of just a spoiled brat who's begging me for help." 

Her guards step forwards, clearly not liking the way I'm speaking to their princess. She holds up a hand to stop them. "I will try to refrain from offending you. At least until this current threat is over." 

I don't acknowledge her words, turning back to the direction Tink and I arrived from. "Tink, take me back to my ship." 

Tink begins to lead me back out of the native territory in silence. She even accompanies me to the beach where my dingy is waiting for me to go back to my ship. I'm about to climb back into the little boat when she finally breaks the silence. "Was that strictly necessary back there?" 

"What?" 

"Your little tantrum."  

"Oh, that." I sigh. How to explain to her when she doesn't understand emotions? "She insulted my ship. Which is my pride and joy." 

"So it was a matter of pride?" 

I think for a second. "Sort of. Even though she was insulting my ship, it was like she was insulting me. It was more than a matter of pride, it was a matter of honor." I pause for a moment. "And I don't like having my time wasted." 

"I still do not understand." 

I nod in understanding. "I know you don't." 

"Was it still necessary?" 

I sigh. "Maybe not. But it did help get a point across." 

"I see." 

I smile and nod. Then I get into my little boat and start to row back to my ship. "Until next time."