Amici Natura

Part 1

 "What's that floating in the water?"

"It looks like a girl."

"I think she's still alive!"

The three men occupying the small fishing boat paddled over to the floating shape in the water. The shape was indeed a girl. She was small, a simple gown draped over her body, her raven hair drifting around her. Her eyes were closed and her face was calm, as if she was in a comfortable bed at home instead of in the middle of the ocean with the waves constantly washing over her.

"We have to get her out of the water." With a little difficulty they managed to pull her into the boat without capsizing. Her small frame quvered in the cold and her dark hair was heavy with salt water. Her eyes blinked open with shock. She had not been expecting to be pulled away from her mother's sweet embrace by a strange man. She froze, her face going white.

"Hey," the man holding her spoke with a soft voice. "Are you alright?" His face held lines of concern. That confused her. She longed to return to Mother and ask what she should do. This was not something she knew how to react to. Was she meant to respond, or was he just trying to make himself feel better by asking? He was huge compared to her. He had probably worked for years out at sea.

The small girl in his arms was frozen as she stared up at him, analyzing his face with shock and fear in her face. Her eyes, however, held more than just fear. She had a strength in her eyes. As if she was usually so sure of herself, she had faith in her abilities. What abilities, he had no clue. The air whipped around him. "Bray, you have to get this child dry. She will get sick if she stays this wet and cold for much longer." The voice shocked him into action.

"Right, Max, you take us back to the ship?" He spoke to one of the men in the boat before turning back to the girl. "It's alright, you're safe now. No one here is going to hurt you. My name is Braydon." His voice was gentle, as if he expected her to shatter if he spoke to harshly or too loudly.

He had set her down on his lap but he kept his arms around her. "Are you hurt?" she flinched when he brushed her hair out of her face. She pondered for a moment the consequences of telling him. Deciding that they couldn't be bad, she shook her head. He smiled.

The boat hit the main boat and a girl with bright red hair threw down a rope ladder. She saw his look of panic and almost let a smirk past her stony act. He thought she couldn't climb the ladder.

"Do you think you can make it up the ladder?" Braydon asked, confirming her suspicions. She kept the easy fear in her eyes despite her amusement. She didn't have to fake the fear. She nodded. "I'll be right behind you to catch you if you slip, alright?" she nodded again. He did not need to.

"Max, you first then the girl, followed by me and finally Alex. Got it?" The men nodded. The first man climbed the rope quickly pulling himself over the edge of the boat. A girl with short dark brown hair hugged him once he was situated. The girl grabbed onto the rope ladder and climbed easily. She had muscle, it's not like she had spent her days lounging around. She cringed at the memories that suddenly flooded her mind. She shook them off and let the brown haired girl help her up. Braydon was at the top soon after. The girl could smell a storm on the wind, but did not think much of it. She doubted they would be in it's path. Once Alex head pulled himself over the edge, she was looking out over the edge of the boat and out into the sea I will be okay mother, I promise.

Of course you will. It's not like I would send a bunch of heartless jerks to save you child.

Of course you sent them. Does that mean I can trust them?

Don't get your hopes up too high dear, I'm not so sure of that yet.

"Hey," Braydon's voice whispered next to her, ending her conversation. "Can you tell me your name?" She thought back to what they had called her on the mainland and shook her head. "Well then is there a name you would like me to call you?" The only thing she had been called that she liked was given to her by Mother. She did not want to share that name with this stranger, even if mother had sent him. So she shook her head again. "I guess I'll come up with something then." Braydon grinned when she turned to look at him with confusion. She was still refusing to talk with him. She would keep up her act for a little while longer. "I have to call you something. You won't tell me what to call you so I will have to give you a name myself." She almost let him see her amusement and that scared her. He was tearing down her walls too well. She won't be able to keep acting for much longer.