Fawnree awoke.
She opened her eyes slowly, the pain in her head throbbing even more so as the sun shown directly in her eyes.
She was lying on a cot and could hear the sounds of sea gulls flying overhead. Where am I?
Trying to sit up quickly the dizzyness forced her to lie back down shading her eyes with her hand.
"Well there you be lass awake at last" replied a tall bearded man with a Captains hat on. "That be quite a bump on your noggin, tis good to see you are stiring."
Looking up with her eyes shaded she asked "Where am I?, What has happened to my Brothers ?"
The Captain explained what had happened and that they had picked her up floating on a log. They were taking her to a place called 'Refuge Island,' where perhaps I would find my brothers.
"Now lass you stay down and get the fog outta your head, I will send someone with a light lunch for you."
Fawnree thanked the Captain and offered a weak smile.
Would she find any of her brothers? had any of them survived?
She managed to eat a small bowl of soup and some fruit and was feeling somewhat better. She was able to sit up now with the pain easing.
She heard a man grumbling something about a hat somewhere behind her. She felt good enough to go check out some trunks to see if she could find the hat, the man sounded so anxious.
Sure enough the hat was in the first trunk she looked in. She offered the hat to the gentleman and was happy that she had brought a smile to his face.
Not wanting to lay around and not earn her keep she went to talk with the crew to see if she could do anything to help. Ingrid a crew member told her she could help with the rats if she would. She began getting rid of the rats.
It was not long before she heard the Captain say,"Drop the anchor we are at our destination."
The Captains mate, the one she had found the hat for, escorted her off the boat and introduced her to a guard that was standing at the cities gate.
"Take good care of this lass, she is still ailing from a bonk on the noggin."
He handed her a wrapped up parcel.
"The crew and I got together to get you this small token of our appreciation, for all that you did to help on the ship."
Fawnree smiled and thanked the Captains Mate.
She hugged the mate farewell and talked with the guard.
He told her where to go for a nice warm bed and some rest.
She followed his directions and found her way to the Bed and Board Inn. The hospitality of the citizens of this small city were incredable.
The Landlady greeted her upon entering her room, giving her a chandelier as a present from the town folk, which she immediately hung over a small table.
"That looks very nice there, you have done well"
she exclaimed, and after giving her some directions in the city left her to lay down and rest.
Fawnree noticed the parcel she had layed on the table when she hung the Chandelier, she opened it and found two beautiful paintings.
Hanging the pictures up on either side of the big wide window she stepped back to admire the art.
She knew she should rest but she could not. Not until she heard something about her Brothers.
Stepping out the door she was facing Paddi.
"Paddi!" she exclaimed, giving her Brother a big bear hug.
"I saw you come in the inn Sis but you had hurried up the stairs."
"I am so very happy to see a familiar face Paddi, can you tell me of any of the others?"
"I can do better then that," he grinned, follow me into the bar, I have a big surprise for you."