Just Another Day

"Sweet Algod in Heaven!" Maston yelped as his arm was wrenched down and another clawed grip took his upper arm. What once was a somewhat normal-looking little girl was now a great, hairy, dog-like monster.

"That 'fat, old man' just happened to be my dearest friend!" Shanku growled vehemently, her black lips pulled back in a fierce snarl. "And you gutted him like a lowly, briny salmon!"

Shanku clenched her fist and punched his jaw with a power she didn't know she had. With renewed energy and the strongest bloodlust she'd ever felt, she knocked him to the ground. Savagely flowing from one movement to another, she had in a moments time brushed away his desperate hands, turned his head forcefully with a clawed paw, sunk her teeth deeply into the side of his neck, and ripped out his throat. Maston had a look of shock and fear, and gurgled pitifully as his life left him.

Stepping off from her kill, she looked around. She watched in devilish glee as the others had recoiled and stared at her frightfully. Some had drawn their weapons, others were getting below deck. There stood Captain Dodger, unflinching and daring her. Shanku fixed him with an angry glare and took a few slow steps forward, growling nastily. What was to stop her from fully avenging her crew now?

She crouched, and sprang. Turai tackled her to the ground before she could land on another of his crew. Shanku snarled and thrashed, but Turai managed to keep hold of her.

"No, Shanku, don't! If you kill him and the others, we'll never make it to land on our own!" Turai tried to reason with her in their native tongue. "This isn't how you were raised. What would Nari think of this?"

Shanku began to still, her sides heaving as fatigue set in once again. She felt her skin become hairless again and she was herself once more. She hung her head and Turai kept his grip around her.

"A deal's a deal," Shanku said weakly.

"Indeed," Captain Dodger said thoughtfully.

Shanku showed no sign of resistance and Turai was able to stand without incident. Shanku glanced at the remaining pirates from the corner of her eye. No guarantees for your crew.

"Interesting cub you have there, Turai. Keep her in line and you may have found something valuable," Captain Dodger said calmly to Turai. He tucked his hands behind his back and went to shame his crew into composure as he was wont to do. Turai said nothing as the captain walked away.

"Dogs are so barbaric," Ryoichi said with disgust.

"You have no idea, R'ichi," Turai said.

With her remaining strength, Shanku climbed the shrouds up to the sails and hid in the masts for the rest of the afternoon.

Turai brought her water and some bread. To his relief, she at least had a drink. Turai spent the rest of his day trying to convince his shipmates that she wasn't about to descend at any moment to eat their bones.