Chapter 4: The Waters of Menehune

"Might be a bit brutal, but if that kid bolted and ran into one of the boggles..." Regan shakes his head. "Anyway, if we're clear let's wake 'em up and find out what in the hells is going on."

Admiral wipes a splatter of boggle blood from his face with his sleeve before reaching out to gently shake the barbarian woman by the shoulder.

The reaction is immediate.

With a growl deep in her throat, the woman surges into fight-or-flight action—'fight' dominating her instinct. She snaps her shackled hands upward to strike Admiral. Though slowed by exhaustion and bonds, her instincts are quick. Her eyes, wild and burning, lock onto Admiral—but then she hesitates.

Recognition flashes across her face. Her fists lower slowly, confusion and understanding simultaneously occupy her astonished gaze.

"It's you!" she exclaims, her breath heavy and her words hardly louder than a whisper.

She stares at Admiral, breathing hard.

Admiral jumps back out of the way of the woman’s shackled fists with a yelp.

The recognition on her face is confusing. He’s almost certain he’s never met this woman before, but maybe she’s someone he only met in passing. A crew member from another ship perhaps or someone from one of the ports the Whisker frequents, maybe? He looks around to make sure she’s not talking about someone else, but no – she’s definitely looking at him. "Sorry for startling you! Have we, er… met before?"

The woman looks around, seeing the fallen boggles and her motionless companions, and then Regan and the rest of the party.

"What is wrong with the boy?" she urgently prods, ignoring Admiral's question.

"Nothing. He's just a bit mesmerized, as you were. We'll rouse him, as we did you. Or you can, if you'd rather."