Further in the jungle, the three women stopped near a rushing river in their path. Ivy smiled with delightfulness and raised her arms to cheer. “Yes! We can bath here!”

Lucy grimaced. “I said we don’t have time for a bath. We have to meet the others now.”

“Just a quickie and I won’t take my clothes off.” Ivy charged and dived into the water like a dolphin.

She rinsed herself off and stepped out on the other side. The river washed the mud off her clothes, but she was wetter than before.

"See! It was bloody quick!" Ivy exclaimed.

"Me next!" Loretta dived into the water and swam to the other side.

She stepped out and shook the water off her body. The sprinkles rained toward Ivy as she blocked her face.

"Hey! You're getting me wet again!" Ivy shouted.

Loretta laughed. "I always wet the women."

Ivy laughed too. "So do I."

Lucy growled and marched through the water. She has no time to watch the ladies goof around when the others might be in trouble.

"You can both flirt later. Keep going!" She ordered after she marched from the river.

Loretta and Ivy then continued through the jungle.

"Is she always bossy around you?" Loretta whispered.

"Only when things get serious," Ivy answered.

*****

Ivy approached a tall tree in another clearing. The tree was thinner than Loretta’s tree with a wide brush on top. Another decent place to hide.

By the time Lucy and the two women approached the tree, a loud cry shouted, "Loretta!"

Charles fell down and landed on his sister. He hugged her on the ground.

"You're alive!" He cried.

Loretta laughed. "Of course, I am dummy. I missed you too."

They hugged and rolled like two pups playing in the wild. What a bunch of odd siblings. Lucy might never understand them.

Tashina and Byron climbed down from the tree. They smiled in relief at Lucy and the others.

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"We're glad you survived," said the panther. "What happened to you?"

"I got lost in the fog, but Loretta saved my life," Lucy explained.

"Wi climbed up dis tree wen di ghosts surround wi," said Tashina. "Gud ting wi send Ivy tuh find yuh wen di sun rise."

"I appreciate that." Lucy turned when Charles and Loretta approached her.

"Loretta, this is Tashina, Byron, Ivy, and Captain Lucy," the wolf explained.

"Yeah, I already met Lucy and Ivy," said Loretta.

Charles chuckled. "Right… How in the bloody hell did you get stuck here? And where is your crew?"

Loretta grimaced. "None of them survived. But first, we should head to my shelter before the night returns. Daytime doesn't last long here."

Lucy nodded. "Of course."

*****

Back inside Loretta’s tree house, the party rested as Loretta explained her story. When she first set foot on the island, it was calm and peaceful during the day. It was a paradise where no player or mob disrupted the environment.

But when the night arrived, the island revealed its true dark colors. The ghosts of the Zootec tribe swarmed Loretta’s crew before they had the chance to fight back. Loretta was the only one who survived by hiding in a tree. That was how she discovered the ghosts avoided the trees.

The island moved before she could reach her vessel. Without a ship, she became stranded and alone with fear. However, that didn't stop her from surviving.

For days, she built the tree house and collected food while avoiding the spirits at night. Fruits and vegetables were the only substances to keep her strength up. Rinse and repeat were all she did to survive.

"Did you even find the dungeon with the treasure inside?" Lucy asked, sitting on the floor with her friends.

Loretta scratched her head. "Yes, I found the hidden city after I grew a thicker bone to explore further from my comfort zone. The problem is, I never figured out how to open the damn temple."

"Really?" Charles widened his eyes. "For one bloody year, you never solved the way to enter the dungeon?"

Loretta shrugged. "You know I suck at solving puzzles. Fighting and sailing is my bigger cup of tea."

"What puzzle?" Ivy asked.

Loretta rolled her eyes. "A very complicated one. You'll have to see it to believe me."

Lucy rose to her feet. "Then let’s go to the city now."

Loretta held up her paw. "Hold on. It will be dark soon. We should rest first before the long walk."

"How long will it take to reach there?" Byron asked.

"One day I think. This island isn’t too big."

"It looks bigga wen wi arrive," said Tashina.

Loretta bit her lip. "Really? It's been so long…" She shook her head. "Anyway, I don't have much, but we can all sleep on the floor. I only have one sleeping mat here. My bloody back can't handle the hard floor."

Ivy held up two fingers. "Is there room for two?"

Loretta only replied with a giggle.

"By the way, you should join my crew, since we are now together if you like," Lucy suggested.

Ivy nodded her head with a big grin.

"Hmmmmmmmm." Loretta rubbed her chin until she shrugged. "Very well. I might as well get off this bloody island with you lot."

Congratulations! You received a new member. Crew: 51

"Remember, we raid the dungeon first before we leave," said Lucy

Loretta smiled. "Of course. Why would I leave some good treasure behind?"