Just Another Day

"Crew? Upset?" Shanku stood half crouched with her wings and claws arched around her. Her head was low and her ears laid back. She bared her fangs and hissed, "For the past five years, they were my family! And you jackals butchered them!"

Shanku lunged at him again. With Turai's leg painfully injured, he was unable to dodge a second time and caught her full in the chest. He grunted as his back hit the ground. Turai grabbed her forearms and tried to keep her from slicing his chest open, or his neck. Shanku growled viciously and arched her tail and wings high above her. She sunk her claws into his chest and glared at him, contemplating her next move.

Suddenly, she twitched and looked confused. Her ears askew, she began to sniff at his neck.

What the—? A cautious and surprised Turai watched her closely.

"Unca Turai!" Shanku exclaimed excitedly.

What the—!? Turai looked at her in shock.

"What possessed you to be a pirate?" Shanku asked angrily, one ear laid back.

"Remove the claws and we can talk," Turai said flatly.

Turai tentatively released his hold on her and she pulled her claws out of his chest. Turai grimaced and sat up. He grumbled and wiped away some of the blood trickling down his torso.

"Er, you alright?" Shanku asked bashfully from near the door.

"Been better but healed from worse," Turai muttered. He looked at her grumpily. "I don't know you. How do you know me?"

"I'm Shanku! Zanzen and Nari's oldest!" Shanku chirped. It was so nice to see family for the first time in many years!