Author: Rayne, Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2016 2:29 PM, Post Subject: Beastly Affairs [Rated R, Open]

He wasn't sure what purpose his passenger had at that dreadful island, but the amount of gold was too much to pass up at the time. It wasn't until they were coming closer to the Isle was where the oarsman was starting to feel troubled and weary of her motives. As he rowed, he looked from the corner of his eye to study the quiet woman. Not since paying him off had she muttered a single word, opting to remain silent and still instead as she conversed in her own thoughts. The large pouch of coin given to him was still beneath his feet and it only now dawned on him of how strange all of this was. No one in their right minds would want to go there, if they knew of the dangers of course. Surely she knew of it since she had very specifically referred to it and that she wished to go there. Guilt was starting to build up in him the closer they came to it. She didn't appear to be some fabled warrior or a prepared adventurer; all that she carried was a beat up staff and the robes on her person.

There was no way that she would survive there long enough to seek out whatever she was looking for. Still, for some eerie reason, she didn't seem as concerned as he was. "Miss…I was thinking a bit. Surely you know of the rumors of Bakulaw Isle; I…could turn back now and refund your payment, or hell, take you anywhere else close by."

The woman lifted her gaze up at him and stared for a moment, the defiance in her eyes was all that he needed to know that she was adamant in venturing forth. The oarsman quieted down and kept rowing, the hairs on the back of his arms rose as fear stirred up inside him. She could easily see his body shaking with fright of the unknown, it was not unlike the vast majority of people that kept off the isle. Sonja, on the other hand, was determined to get what she wanted from here, despite the cruel beasts and other lurking dangers. Once they reach shore, he helped her off the boat and onto the damp sandy ground. "I will not be staying for too long, perhaps a day's time and that's it. Be sure to come back and wait for me", she spoke softly yet there was a coldness that lurked in her voice. It would be in his best interest to return, or she would find him and make him pay. The oarsman hesitantly nodded and pushed the boat back into the deeper waters and rowed his way back, but not before taking another look at the mysterious woman and she turned and started to walk along the beach. Her green eyes looked high into the afternoon sky with the sun towering overhead before coming across one of the early settlements made here centuries ago. Much of it had indeed been taken over by the island; its plant life made no effort to be discreet in taking back the shantytown with its vines and roots.

Aside from that, it appeared to be frozen in time- one of the buildings was covered with dust inside it while the possessions were as they have been left when their owners fled. Or were devoured. Spotting a small collection of books, she picked one up and blew the blanket of dust off its cover. Opening it, Sonja sat onto the makeshift bed and begun glancing through its pages. The language itself was one long forgotten and yet there were some illustrations that resembled strange plants and wondrous animals. Many of them were not familiar with her, so she suspected that the book's owner had witnessed some of these things here. A dreadful silence surrounded her, save for a strange, honking sound nearby that was followed by more. And then silence.