Serious: Wynter Pirates Chapter 2: The grumpy old git (Ended)

Josh saw Morris heading towards him and watched as Tarin head butted the other gorilla who had hit him in the stomach. Seeing the gorilla go sown dazed by Tarin's kick Josh was amazed and knew he wanted this guy in his crew from simply seeing him take down such a strong creature so easily.

He felt his stomach still aching making him feel like he was going to be sick, Josh wanted to rush around to help Murii to her feet and untie her but with Morris rushing towards him he panicked unsure of what to do.

When Josh looked across the flames to Muri he saw she was no longer the damsel in distress lying on the ground but the beautiful freckled girl he had seen before. He noticed she was sweating and he didn't blame her those flames were hot but his wrist was hotter due to the bullet which had skimmed his wrist.

Josh stood there clutching his wrist tightly, he couldn't punch this gorilla or use his strength to slow him down, this creature was simply too big and strong for him to stand a chance against. As he closed his eyes preparing himself for the collision with this brute the last thing to cross his mind was, What a shit way to go, killed by primate."

When he noticed he hadn't been hit for a few seconds Josh opened his eyes to see that Morris was stood perfectly still with a shocked look upon his face as he gazed at something before him. Josh looked across to Murii and smiled realising she had saved him from a beating. before he took too long gazing at her grateful he shook his head then faced the beast again.

Seeing Morris again Josh swallowed seeing that he had been knocked to the ground by Tarin who had clothes lined him. Josh smiled happily standing up straight still holding his wrist. "Thanks you guys, you really saved my ass there." Remembering there was a chimp with a revolver here previously Josh noticed he was gone all that remained was the other gorlla.

Josh approached the gorilla angrily and the gorilla sat there just looking at Josh a little frightened. Until Morris grabbed a stick from the campfire which was on fire and leapt back up to his feet and began swinging it at Tarin trying to light him on fire.

Josh looked behind him then back at the other gorilla who threw a punch towards Josh's face. Josh ducked avoiding the punch and swung his fist up to upper cut him only letting his fist instead make contact with the gorilla's throat. The gorilla fell backwards clutching his throat and threw a rock towards Josh which he avoided by leaning to the right.

Gruniz who had hidden during the chaos had climbed a tree and leapt down behind Murii with revolver in hand. Gruniz watched her from behind smiling controlling his breathing carefully so as not to give away his position and leapt down onto Murii. he wasn't so heavy he would drag her down. He pointed the revolver to Murii's head and screeched loudly.

Morris looked sideways to see his boss Gruniz and grabbed another flaming stick from the fire in his other hand. Morris grunted angrily at Tarin as he thrusted both fiery sticks towards his chest.

The gorilla opposite Josh saw him avoid his stone he threw, Josh got closer so he could punch him again till he heard Gruniz screech and turned to see why.

Murrii looked first at Morris, he looked terrified after having seen the illusion. Murii smiled and looked then at Josh, he closed his eyes and looked to be in pain. Once he opened his eyes he looked relieved. Murri smiled at Josh. Murii saw Tarin how Tarin knocked Morris to the ground. Josh stood up and Murii was so relieved. Murii saw how Josh suddenly started fighting with the two gorillas, she sighed and tried to remove her feet from the branch. She was impressed by how strong Josh was but she become even more impressed by the old man. He was very strong for his age and he certainly had a devil fruit. Murii suddenly saw how Morris took a stick and set fire to it. "Look out!".

Suddenly she feels that something was directed against her head, the first few seconds she wonders what it is and is about to turn her head to look but then she knew what it is! "Grunzi, please remove it". Her body trembled in fear. First, she feared that she would take her life, and second as she was afraid of guns. Unexpectedly a horrible laugh breaks out. "Josh, help me!" Murii slowly pulls out her legs from the ropes but she happened to touch Grunzis feet with her elbow. She looks up at him, but he seems not to have noticed anything. Murii could have used her illusions on Grunzi but she did not do that, she hardly dared to move beacuse of his weapon. Murii could only hope that Josh would have time to save her before it was too late!

Tarin grumbled to himself as he saw Murrii's outfit. "Such a disgrace! girls should cover up more, after all back in my day men had to work just to see ankels, why should the new generation get it easier?", he complained before turning round to see Morris lunging at him with a pair of flaming sticks, to which Tarin fell over in suprise, narrowly dodging the flaming weapons as a result, which singed some of his hair as he fell flat on his back. "Oh for f*** sake! I have to fight animals trying to be bloody clever! This is really getting on my nerves!", the old man growled as rolled to the side from which he snarled the words; "Gator Gatling!" before unleashing his named technique, where he quickly struck at the bad tempered gorilla with a series of vicious jabs, painful hooks, and nasty looking uppercuts. "Bloody fall over already!" Tarin sneered as he attacked Morris, before noticing the girl had been taken hostage by that pistole wiedling monkey. "Oh bloody hell! Why not tie yourself up in a ribbon with a sign that say free hostage!?" Tarin said sulkily to Murii, before shouting at Josh; "You bloody save her, im busy going ape sh** on these apes!"

Josh saw Murii being held hostage and felt stupid for letting her get captured, he looked back at the foul mouthed old man Tarin noticing him having a little bit of trouble with Morris. When he looked back at the gorilla who'd tried hitting him Josh saw the gorilla's hand gripping around his throat and squeezing it tightly. Finding it difficult to breathe he began trying to pry the gorilla's hand from his neck but as he was lifted off the ground and choked he found grip getting tighter and tighter and the grin on the gorilla's face getting bigger and bigger.

Looking at the angry gorilla squeezing his throat Josh began to realise as his wind pipe was getting crushed he couldn't pull the gorilla's hands away. But he could kick the bastard.
Swinging his legs wildly trying to land a blow on the gorilla Josh kicked at the gorilla landing blows on his chest which he ignored, till Josh's foot reached that little bit further and hit him in the chin with such force that he let go dropping Josh and falling backwards smacking his head against a tree.

Josh hit the ground coughing trying to catch his breath and looked around feeling slightly dazed. One down two to go he thought to himself.

Morris received all the attacks that Tarin had to deliver and they were powerful hits, he dropped the sticks setting fire to the ground. Morris took a few seconds to catch his breath before he looked back up at Tarin and charged through the fire full pelt towards Tarin hoping to deliver some serious damage to him.

Gruniz watched as another gorilla fell to the ground unconscious and gritted his teeth in anger looking at Josh. Gruniz aimed his revolver at Josh furious with him and hoped his next shot would finish him. Gruniz began pulling the trigger his grip around Murii's body tightened. Josh turned to look at Gruniz and saw the revolver aiming at him.

Murii felt stupid for having been held hostage so easy, all she had succeeded in was creating problems for Josh. Murii knew that she needed to fix what she had done but how? She looked up at Josh and saw one of the two big gorillas strangled him. "Let him go you stupid monkey!". After she said those words, she put her hands to her mouth.

What if Gruniz would shoot her now? She waited a few seconds and nothing happened. She was still trying to find a way to help Josh. Suddenly she hears a noise, she quickly looks up at Josh. The monkey was unconscious, Murri looked shocked at Josh then she smiled at him. Murii then looked at the old man, Morris had set fire to so much. If the fire was not extinguished soon it would most likely burn down the whole forest.

Murii felt the gun lifted from her head but she also felt that Grunzi pulled her body closer to himself. She was relieved, but then she saw Josh's face. Something was wrong! She turned her head towards Grunzi and Murii saw how he put a gun to Josh.

He began pulling the trigger. "No. Please do not shoot him, I'll do anything". But nothing happened! Murii began to move so that Grunzi would fall over but he had a good grip! Murii knew that her illusions would not be much help, and she knew that there only was one way for Josh to survive ... "You old man! Help Josh, please! She screamd with tears in her eyes!

Josh saw Gruniz aiming at him and gulped as he saw the trigger pulled and the fear in Murii's eyes. He wasn't ready to go out just yet but he was feeling rather beaten and found breathing painful after the gorilla gripped his throat so tightly. As the revolver's trigger was pulled a bullet fired out aiming straight for Josh.

Remembering the words Tarin shouted to him Josh nodded to himself and as he saw the bullet whizzing towards him he leapt to the right quickly narrowly avoiding the bullet which embedded itself into the ground. Hearing Murii's cries made him feel more of a reason to try and survive and he stood up then readjusted his hat which left a shadow over his eyes.

He looked at Gruniz through the shadow being cast over his eyes and muttered, "I may be a depressive, but I'm not ready to die just yet." Gruniz screeched again deafeningly loud near Murii's ear. Josh clenched his fists and looked Gruniz in the eye.

Gruniz pointed the gun back at Josh and he fired his last few shots, Josh saw them coming and crouched slowly letting them fly over his head and grabbed a pebble from the ground and looked at it.

Gruniz threw the gun at Josh then leapt up from Murii's body to a low hanging vine and climbed up disappearing into the trees.
Josh remained on the ground crouched turning the smooth pebble over and over in his hand.

"Murii stay there and be quiet." Josh wasn't trying to be mean but he stood there listening quietly to the sounds around him. All he could hear was the grunts from Morris and Tarin's cursing. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the sounds. He could movements in the trees , they were quiet sounds, he heard twigs snapping behind him and leaves rustling above him.

"Where are you chimpanzee?" muttered Josh as he gripped the pebble tighter in his palm.

As Morris charge at Tarin, the old man almost managed to side step the colossal beast but managed to get knocked sideways when his shoulder was caught my the ballistic primate, making the OAP pirate landed with a thud. "Ow! Damn monkey! You shouldnt knock the elderly over, there bones are much for fragile than yours!", Tarin grumbled before rushing over to the gorilla, lowering his head as he charge at full speed at the ape, carrying on until he tried to tackle the big brute. As he did he quickly glanced over to check if Josh was doing okay, to which he saw him glaring into the trees and small ape missing. Well, at least he aint shot, an absoulete hassel to treat my own wonds let alone some annoying brat with no confidence., he though to himself until he the colison between him and Morris, where he merely though one thing: OWWWW!

Murii looked at the old man with tears in her eyes. She hoped that the old man would save Josh butt he could not, he was to busy fithing that damn gorilla! Murii feelt how the sorrow spread through her body. She heard how Gruniz pulled the trigger. She looked away, she could not stand the thought of seeing Josh die. Suddenly she heard how Josh said "I may be a depressive, but I'm not ready to die just yet."

She turned her head and her face just could not stop smiling! There Josh stood, he was quite hurt but he was alive! After those word an awful sound could be heard. Gruniz was screeched and he did it so close to Muriis ear, she put her hands over her ears but it didn't help much at all. She then saw how Gruniz pointed his gun back at Josh. " No!" Murii screamd!

Gruniz fired his few last bullets, Josh didn't seem to worry at all. Murii saw how Josh easily avoided them. Murii looked at Josh, how could he do that?! He had been fithing with strong monkeys and he had been shot too! Murii saw how Gruniz threw threw the gun at Josh.

Murii was relieved to know that no more bullets would be fired. She feelt how Gruniz let go of her and she the saw when he climed up a three. Even though it was great that she wasn't a hostage anymore she thought it was scary not to know where the enemy was. She looked up among the threes but she couldn't see Gruniz anywhere! Murii looked at Josh, he also was looking up among the threes. When he told her to stay quitet she did as he said. She didn't want to give Josh anymore problems than he already had.

Murii looked at the old man and saw how he fought the gorilla, they made so much noise! Then Morris was able to hit the old man, it looked as if it was a really storng punch and an old man like him couldn't take those kind of hits, right? She then saw how the old man seemed to be okay. " Thats a really strong guy, but his so old... How is that possible? " Murii thought to her self. Then she looked back at Josh, would he be able to beat the monkey?

Morris began laughing and beating his chest when he saw Tarin go down, he was happy with himself and found it funny seeing the large old man fall over. He looked to Gruniz who had gone then back at Tarin who was no longer on the ground but charging towards him. Morris didn't have time to react so he placed his hands in front of him trying to catch and stop Tarin. As Tarin charged at him and made contact with his hands, he burst through the middle of his hands and managed to head butt him.

Morris was smacked right in the face by Tarin's head and this knocked him back on his ass. Morris as unconscious and not going to be getting back up any time soon.

Leaving only Gruniz left Josh played with the pebble in his hand and listened for him in the tree. He heard a branch snap and saw a tin one fall and land on the ground in front of him.

Hearing Morris hit the ground put him off and he looked up, in that moment of distraction Gruniz leapt out from behind him and gripped his shoulders. Josh was shocked by the attacks and felt a tight grip on his shoulders.

"Get off me!" he shouted as he swung his fist around at Gruniz's face, Gruniz had his mouth open and bit down on Josh's fist causing him to open his fist. As he opened his fist and pulled it away Gruniz began to laugh as the pebble fell from Josh's fist it landed on Gruniz's tongue and when he began laughing it travelled down his throat.

Josh tried pushing Gruniz from his back but couldn't do it properly as he began digging his fingers in deeper. Gruniz began choking and Josh realised the pebble was gone. Gruniz's body fell from Josh's back and he sighed looking down at Gruniz's unconscious body on the floor, he was a hairy little guy and he had hurt Josh's fist badly.

Looking at his fist Josh saw his fist had little bits of blood on them from the cuts where Gruniz's teeth had torn through his skin then looked at Murii smiling then at Tarin.

"Thanks old man, it was great having your help. This is my friend Murii."

As Tarin awkwardly got back up on his meets he was met with the sight of an unconcious Morris, though despite Tarin victory he still had a face full of thunder. "So much for being a deadly primate! Bloomin just needed a few knocks to head and he broke! Rubbish Gorillas shoud stay out of the way of experienced pirates! Huh, disn't even break a much of a sweat, let alone use my devil fruit powers! Useless monkey." , the old man complained, as he turned stroppily over to the young pair, Josh introducing Murii to grumpy pirate, who quickly, and nastily, replied; "Where's the rest of your clothes madam? Your showing way too much skin for a lady! You should be ashamed of yourself! And you, boy blue, don't get all cocky just because you could slap a monkey! Take more than animal cruelty to be a pirate! Now, since your both not dead, you can do me a favour and either give a lift to the next island or p*** off! I'm sick of this rubbish plant nursery of a jungle, too many damn monkeys!", then mumbling under his breath about they way monkeys should behave.

Murii looked at Josh as he listend for the monkey. She tried to listen for him too. Suddenly Murii saw a branch falling down from one of the trees. She wanted to tell Josh but she knew Josh alreeady knew, who wouln't? Murii saw how Gruniz jumped down from one tree. " Watch out Josh!". But it was to late the monkey attacked Josh from behind and Murii really wanted to help but Josh had told her not to move and she would for sure make some trouble! As Josh tried to hit Gruniz he was bitten and it looked like it really hurt.

She wanted to ask if he was okay but he could not lose his controll, not now when he was fithing Gruniz! Murii ignored Gruniz laugh, she just wanted to she him dead! Why couldn't we beat this monkey, if we can't beat a monkey we can't continue our journey. We have to get stronger, much stornger! Murii thought to her self. Murii then heard a sound, it sounded like sombody was choked.

She looked at Gruniz, why was he choking? What had happen, Murii haden't seen anything that could made him choking. He falled to the ground and Murii thought it was great but also very creppy to see someone like that! Murii stood up as she smiled at Josh, he did it! He really won! She then heard what the old man had to say.

She looked at him irritated... " If u dont like it, then dont look u old man!" She looked awway and turned around! " And stop telling us how strong u are! U had a hard time just beating that monkey now didn't u! And Josh, dont u insult, he's a freaking hero!"

She turned her head and run over to Josh and Hugged him" " Thanku Josh!" Then she looked at him....And hit him on the head "But u never jump of that boat again!" She smiled at him, she was so happy to see him again!

Tarin merely grunted in reply to Murii, before adding in his usual grumpy fasion; "Respect your elders girl, besides im not the one that got took hostage by something lower on the evolution chain." He then wearily sat down on a large tree root nearby before going on to say; "Hero huh? Heroes are aren't real, there either old tales made to distract kids or bollocks made up by goverments for an excuse or a distraction. And show some concern for the elderly why don't you? That last tackle really jolted my spine." He then turned to Josh and moodily told him; "Well, ya girlfriend is free so can you please just leave already? Had enough pains in the as* for one day. And are ya gonna give a boat ride to the next island or not? Can't swim there you know."

Josh looked at both Murii and Tarin happily as they had beaten a bunch of monkeys, he was happy he had managed to beat them and this wasn't going to be his last battle. As Murii hugged him he wrapped his arm around her and felt how relived she was at his safety. He listened to Tarin and Murii's argument about her clothing and laughed a little, he didn't mind Murii's little clothing one bit.

As Murii hit him Josh rubbed his head and nodded to Murii agreeing not leave her at sea again.

"Murii I'm no hero, a pirate can't be a hero they're seen as criminals by everyone in the world." replied Josh then he looked at Tarin who asked him about getting to another island. He got the hint straight away and smiled, he knew this old guy only wanted to get off the island but perhaps he could change his mind and make him join instead along the way.
Just then something Tarin said hit him like a brick to the face as he realised, he had said Murii was his girlfriend!

Murii his girlfriend, Josh+Murii? He had never thought about it or her as his girlfriend, but he did like her. Josh's cheeks began to grow red and he began to feel embarrassed.

"S-s-she's my navigator of my pirate crew, and Tarin your free to join us on our little row boat if you want to get off this island, but I want to ask a favour of you first. Me and Murii are new to being pirates so I wanted to ask if...you could train us maybe? Help us get a bit stronger, perhaps stronger than yourself."

Murii looked at the old man with a angry look "But u didn't wander around in this freaking forest alone!" And listen up u old man! U don't know anything about Josh! He saved me many times!" Then Murii heard what the old man said... Girlfriend?!? She blushed and looked down on the ground, she had never thought of it that way before... She then heard what Josh said an she looked at him and smiled " Josh, maybe u aren't a hero to the goverment and maybe to nobody else, but to me your my hero!

U saved me so many times!". She then saw how Josh blushed, why did he blush over that? Murii then heard what Josh asked the old man if he wanted to join the crew " W-w-wait! He's gonna join us?!? He dosen't even stand the way i look!" She first looked at the Josh with a shocked face and then at the old man. She then nodded her head a little and said...

" If it's ur order Captain but he better not complain about my clothes again!" She knew that they needed to get stronger but she didn't like this old man at all!And it was kinda sad that she could be alone with Josh, but she wanted the best for the crew so she took a breath and then smiled again. She sat down and asked the old man " So u have a devil fruit huh? So what's it's ability? " She really wanted to know! She tried to be as nice as she could but she just could not smile at him.

Tarin smiled with geniune warmth for the first the young pirates met him when he saw the pair of them blush over hsi girlfriend comment, though quickly dissapeared when Antler gave him his proposition. "Fat chance of getting stronger than me boy; you'd need to head back to old age for that! But since were lumped together on a wooden coffin I'll teach ya the basics, then the rest ya learn on your own when you head off from the next island and my new home.", he grumbled before sulkily replying to Murii; "Fine! I won't comment about your clothes questionable length, and how disgraceful they are. And who says I have a devil fruit, all I said is I cant swim to the next island." He then got back up on his feet and began making his way to the shore, calling behind; "Get your ar** in gear, we're ditching this overgrown veggie garden!", while thinking to himself; Why the devil does everyone figure out i've got devil fruit powers!?.

Josh looked at Tarin as he spoke about training him, he smiled and laughed loudly at Murii and Tarin's argument about her clothes then nodded to Tarin and replied, "Ok Tarin I can't wait for you to train me and help me get stronger. But since you don't seem to want to be here and we both want to get some where safer I guess we're all going to be heading to wherever our next island is then. Can you train us on my little rowing boat, its not much but its all I have for now. B-but one day I'm going to have a huge pirate ship and be really strong. Well I plan to be. In fact Tarin your a strong guy. Join my crew!....please."

He felt stupid asking and pleasing but he wanted a strong guy like Tarin in his crew it would be handy having a guy like him who could save his ass whenever he got in trouble. He saved Murii when she was in trouble and Tarin could perhaps help him out.

"Sooo Tarin will you join my crew?"
Josh looked at Murii hoping she would approve and smiled at her, "You wouldn't mind having him aboard the crew right? or having him train you?"

She looked at the old man and smiled " Good then!". She did feel reallty happy when Tarin said he would train them. They needed to get stronger, much stronger! Although Tarin said he had no devil fruit she knew he had one and she was determined to find out what his ability was. She could not stand not to know who he was, maybe he was a dangerous guy and Murii had to protect her captain, right?She then heard how Antler wanted him to join the crew, he looked at her and asked her if it was okay. She didn't like Tarin so much but she really wanted to know what his ability was so she said " Your call caprain and ofcourse it's okay!" She smiled at Josh. Why did she have such a hard time to trust this guy?

Tarin didn't even bother looking back, still making his way to the shore. "Eh, i'll tell ya when we get to the next island, though don't push your luck. ", he replied gruffly, almsot at the shore's start. He took one look at their rowboat before piniching at between his eyebrows and sighing. "For god sake, at least a get a proper bloody boat if you want to become a pirate! This piece of driftwood won't last five seconds against a sea king! And that's just if they pop up out of the blue, let alone actually trying to eat us!", the old man grumbled, while thinking to himself; Huh, now i've got to baby sit these two! Well, at least I get a free ride, even if im on lump of a ship reject. Still, gonna be fun messing with the pair of them, after all I only teach how to fist fight., smirking to himself at the idea of tormenting them.

Josh was happy to hear Murii was fine with having Tarin in the crew he noticed she didn't seem excited about it but he had just insulted her dress sense and looking at Tarin's dress sense his wasn't exactly less revealing. Josh just smiled laughing at his own thoughts before realising how random it was to laugh out loud.

When Tarin said he'd tell Josh if he was going to join or not when he reached the next island he felt disappointed and dropped his head, even if Murii was happy about it he wasn't, he had wanted Tarin to join and train him so he could become much stronger, but it was up to Tarin.

As Tarin commented on his little rowing boat Josh smiled lifting his head, he was showing some sort of interest by talking about his boat! Josh rushed to his rowing boat with Murii and hopped in, the boat shook a little as he jumped in then he smiled at Murii and Tarin.
"I plan on getting a huge amazing ship Tarin, a ship to beat all ships, better than Gol.D Roger's." For the first time in a while Josh was feeling happy, cheerful and smiling allot,perhaps this cockiness was misplaced, or perhaps these things really where going to happen, but only time could tell.

As Josh raised the sail gleefully and a strong breeze blew through the trees and filled the sail the little row boat departed from this small beach island.

"So Tarin what you going to teach us first?"

[High in the trees overlooking Josh, Murii and Tarin]

A figure covered by the shadows looks down at the three of them as they sail away, a sharp grin spreads across the face. A black chin strap of facial hair is seen growing out from olive skin, 2 small eyes are seen looking out with one brown and the other green.

To Be Continued...