Gallows of Transgression (ON HIATUS)

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A/N: Here's the second chapter!! Sorry for the wait everyone, and thank you all so much for all your support.

In an excited flurry of motion, Remi leapt from the docking plank onto the dark, dry earth. Just as there had been throughout her entire life, the ground was still infused with garbage and junk. Melee stumbled on behind her, a hand on Remi's shoulder for support. A fierce gust of wind picked up her hair and whipped it wildly behind her, smacking Melee directly in the face.

Melee shoved Remi's shoulder hard, scowling fiercely. "Watch it! Your hair is like a whip." 

Remi turned around, giving the raven-haired girl a look of disbelief. "Calm down." She pulled her hair over to one side and smoothed it down. 

Anger flashed through Melee's eyes as she balled her hands into fists by her sides. Her face was still discolored—green and sickly from their short voyage across the sea. She'd spent most of the time with her face hung over the railing of the main deck, puking until there was nothing left in her stomach, then dry heaving the rest of the way. The disarray her hair was in made her look crazy. "Calm down? Calm down?! I've been unloading the contents of my stomach ever since we got on that dreadful thing you call a ship. Then I finally escape, only for your hair to assault my face! It's still stinging, and probably going to turn red. Oh, and did I mention we're practically walking into a lion's den of monsters who have it out for you and anyone with you?"

Remi stared at her blankly, not really sure what to say to such an outburst. "You really have it rough," Remi finally replied, not bothering to hold back her sarcasm. "Not like you're getting paid or anything, right?"

Some shouting to the left drew their attention away from one another before Melee could spew out a retort. Remi glanced over, noticing a group of men with tall, spiraling horns coming their way. They were a family of Elken, which was a lesser common species of Carnean, known for their sharp and deadly horns. "What'chya doin' on our dock, lassies? This is private property!" one exclaimed, his expression one of hostility and annoyance.

Carnean was a general term that included all all races that had animal-like qualities. For example, an Icix or a Clawl would also be considered Carneans. So were Elken.

Remi flashed them a dazzling smile, white teeth gleaming. Her green eyes twinkled brightly as she replied in a saccharine sweet voice, "My apologies for coming unannounced, good sirs. It's just, I really need somewhere to dock my ship for a while."

At her words and smile, the Elken seemed to have lost some of their hostility. One, older than the rest by at least twenty years, reached up and absentmindedly stroked one of the grey horns coming out of his temple. He followed the spiral of the horn up until his arm was fully extended, though the tips of his fingers weren't even half-way up the horn's full length. Those things must weigh a ton, Remi thought to herself. He let out a sigh before finally looking back at Remi with a toothy grin. "And what would letting you dock here get us, hmm?" The other men immediately began nodding their heads, clearly picking up on what wasn't being said aloud as they looked both young women up and down with lustful expressions.

Melee bared her teeth at them and snarled "pigs" beneath her breath.

Remi held back her scowl. She didn't expect anything better from men like this, but it still disappointed and disgusted her each time. "How about nothing?" she tried sweetly, trying to sway them with charm. However, it was to no avail.

One of the younger men, clearly related to the older man with how similar their noses and highest eyebrows were, stepped forwards with a hard stare. "How about no? In fact, how about we just take what we want, including the two of you, your crew, and your ship?"