You'd been at sea for weeks with no sign of land in sight. The whole crew was exhausted and very tired of eating fish and rice as those were the only provisions you had left. You leaned against the mast from your perch in the crows nest lazily shielding your eyes from the sun glaring off of the endless ocean. A warm breeze ruffled your clothes and blew your hair off your sun kissed shoulders. It seemed like forever since you left the winter island. Your life had been all tank tops and shorts for over a month.

You scanned the horizon again catching a glimpse of something small and black far in the distance to the west. Fumbling through your pockets you pulled out the den den mushi Kid had given you. He or Killer were always able to answer.

"See something?" Killer's voice rang smooth through the transponder.

You held the snail down near your knuckles as they made contact with the wood wall of the crows nest spelling out L-A-N-D in morse code.

*chank*

The den den's eyes closed and you pocketed it. Moments later Killer pushed through the hatch in the floor that hugged the mast.

"Where?" He asked almost excitedly.

You pointed westward.
His hand rose to brim whatever holes he was peeking through his mask.

"That's an island." He murmured, "Nice job F/N."

You gave a quick nod watching him lean over the edge of the nest to holler at Heat.

"We need to keep to the west. F/N found an island. Tell Captain and get a scout crew together just in case."

Heat nodded slowly blinking his half lidded eyes and heading toward Kid's workshop.

"I hope there are cows on this island." You scribbled on your notepad.

"I'll take you hunting." Killer chuckled.

"How long do you think it will take?"

He brought his left hand up to stroke his goatee, "Maybe a day if the wind stays like this."

You were practically drooling at the thought something other than fish and rice. A loud growl rumbled through your belly making you wrap your arms around yourself. Killer laughed at your expense before kneeling down to open the hatch he'd just passed through.

"Come to my bunk when Kai relieves you."

You gave a sharp nod and went back to your post against the mast. It was normal for the first mate to call you to his quarters. You spent most of your time together unless Kid had him doing something in which case you hung out with Kai or Heat. Though the bluette could be a bit of a downer you enjoyed his calm demeanor. Kai was just a kid barely 17, a runaway. You felt like you could teach and protect him; not in a motherly sense - you weren't that much older, but you could certainly be his big sister.

"Hey F/N." The brunette popped through the hatch.

You waved tossing him a smile.

"I heard you found land." He grinned.

You nodded vigorously.

"I hope there's food. I can't eat anymore salted fish." He stuck out his tongue.

A silent chuckle shook through you.

"I'll bring you dinner." You scribbled in your notepad.

"Thanks. See ya later then."

You waved again before lowering yourself through the hatch and making your decent. Once your sandals touched the deck you pivoted and strolled toward Killer's room. You couldn't help but feel a little giddy adding a skip to your stride. The weather was perfect you now had the evening to read and there was hope for beef in the almost immediate future.

You began tapping all over the first mate's door creating a random pattern with your knuckles. He hated when you did it - which of course was very entertaining. The door swung open.

"I told you not to do that." He murmured sternly.

You only smiled taking a seat on the floor in the middle of the room. He was still getting used to that face. Recently you'd smiled a lot more and he wasn't complaining. You moved back to your room once it had been repaired but there were still a few nights when your nightmares became too much and he woke up to you tapping on his door. He enjoyed your company and was satisfied with being the person you came to in the middle of the night. That smile made the cramped sleepovers in his single bed worth it.

"I have a surprise for you." He crossed the room opening a cabinet above his work bench and removing a plastic bag.

You watched him unravel it revealing something brownish red inside. Sticks? You curiously quirked a brow as he removed a few pieces and offered them to you. Gently you took the objects and began inspecting them. It strangely resembled leather and smelled like peppered meat. Was this edible? It certainly didn't appear to be.
Killer chuckled watching you sniff the dried beef.

"It's jerky. You can eat it." There was a smile present in his muffled voice.

Your eyes widened as the cured meat hit your tongue. It was salty and peppery even a little smoky. Killer crossed his arms observing your reaction to the foreign food. You tore off a piece and chewed. This was the best thing you tasted in weeks.

"Like it?" He asked.

You nodded mouth now full of jerky.

"If we get a cow or even a deer on this island I'll show you how to make it." He rumbled.

As he went to take a seat Kai's voice rang through the megaphone kept in the crows nest. From inside you couldn't quite make out what he was saying. Killer yanked you up from your spot on the floor and pulled you out onto the deck.

"Marines! Small fleet due west, approaching fast!" Kai's voice rang clear in the warm dusk air.
Killer turned grabbing your shoulders, "Go get your daggers and sword."

You nodded as Kid's voice boomed across the deck.

"Get ready to fight, there's no avoiding them now!"

You rushed to your room strapping your daggers across your chest and slipping a vest over your torso. Another band of knives wrapped around your right thigh and finally your cutlass hung sheathed from your belt. Kid was already cackling from the bow as he repelled incoming cannon balls.
Soon the deck was teaming with lower level marines. Bullets and daggers were flying. You ran across the deck searching for a corner to hide behind or some sort of shield. A young marine slid over the planks in front of you unsheathing his thin blade.

Shit.

You were tying to avoid close combat because you still weren't comfortable with the cutlass. Barely managing to anchor your stance he was on you, blades grinding, teeth gritting. Both hands on the hilt of your sword you pushed all your weight forward forcing him back. He stumbled raising his blade back for another blow. A canon ball blasted through the rail behind him sending him flying.

Way to take out your own men.

You fell back shaking it off and scrambling back to your feet as another marine replaced the previous. Two more arrived circling you, all of them had blades drawn.

Fuck

Suddenly Killer tumbled through the group slashing one man's legs from under him. Your confidence returned at the sight of the masked blond.

"Get ready." He ordered.

You nodded standing back to back. The gaping hole in the deck was directly behind the man you were squaring off with. You just needed to push him back and he'd be in the sea. Before he could get ready you were chucking daggers in his direction. Pain swiped your left calf sending you to the wooden planks below. A rumbly yelp escaped your lips shaking the ship and sending the marine back into the sea.

Realizing what you'd done you threw your free hand over your mouth.

"She's a devil fruit user!" Someone shrieked.

"F/N!" Killer shouted from behind you.

Before you could scan the area, you were being lifted off the deck by bird like claws digging into your shoulders. Black feathers flopped over head as you were swiftly carried away from your crew. In seconds you were released.

The air reserved in your lungs was suddenly forced through your nose and mouth as freezing seawater surrounded you. Your limbs drifted helplessly away from your sides as you sank closing your eyes.

After all of the shit you'd been through...this was how you die?

_____________

Your eyes fluttered open in the dark but not pitch-black room. You glanced around from the bed you were in, panic settling in as you realized you didn't recognize these steal walls. Restraints cuffed your wrists and ankles making you gasp and writhe.

"Those are more for your own protection." A smooth lethargic voice filled the room.