The weary and terrified Tigerpaws stood huddled together upon what little ground they knew to be solid. The voice that had called out to them bore a message of peace, but upon this isle of terror, nobeast could be sure. Tygura clenched his bagh-nakh, feeling how slick the metal grip was with his sweat. The group all seemed to be frantically searching for the source of their deliverance, the pale rat Verimm was squeaking softly with anxiety. Before any of the Tigerpaws could locate the speaker, she emerged, like a ghost, from the thick bamboo and ferns.
Their savior was a vixen, tall, lithe, and calm. Her fur was dark and mottled, possibly dyed to enhance the effect, serving as flawless camouflage in the lightless forest. She wore a simple, if slightly tattered, tunic of dark cloth, reinforced with leather. A bow was draped over one shoulder, a quiver of arrows and a sword fixed on the belt at her waist. Hematite earring studs shone dully along the lengths of both her ears, sharp blue eyes fixed serenely upon the pitiful cluster of panicked corsairs before her. A slight smile passed over her lips, fading again as she spoke.
"Fear not, I am a friend. However, I wonder how you could have been so foolish as to stumble this deep into this accursed dark forest?"
The vixen seemed about to go on, then caught herself, smiling again politely.
"Forgive me, I should introduce myself first... Siduri Star-of-Dusk, I am called. My companion here is Ashmoon."
At the mention of a 'companion,' the corsairs again cast their gazes wildly about in search of the aforementioned creature. Even the usually heavy-lidded ferret Ogrilkt had his eyes wide open, peering about in the weak light. Siduri could not resist a chuckle, snapping her fingers softly. With that noise, another pair of eyes appeared, ones that threw the corsairs into pandemonium yet again. Ever-paranoid Verimm squealed aloud.
"It's another one o' them light-eyed demons! Yaaagh!"
Sure enough, a pair of luminescent eyes shone out of the shadows, though they seemed dimmer. Siduri laughed again, and a great black wolf formed out of the dark nothingness. He moved on all fours, unclothed and savage, his shaggy, thick fur was a glossy shade of night. The mighty beast licked a small amount of blood shining on his muzzle, casting his shining gaze upon the corsairs lazily.
After a minute had passed, Tygura managed to patch together enough of his jostled wits to speak, stammering slightly.
"W-we are the Tigerpaws, myself being Sergeant Tygura, of the fine galley, the S-Sayladar. We were separated from our f-fellow crewbeasts while out searching for water on th-this island, miss. We've about no water left on the ship, and we couldn't risk waiting for rain..."
Siduri nodded in understanding, smiling slightly as she watched Ashmoon leap gracefully over a patch of dark ground, presumably marsh, to settle on his haunches beside her.
"I have a good supply of water that I have taken from the sacred pool at the center of this island. It is not easy, nor exciting, dwelling here with the ferrets, with their haughty Chief Mooneyes... but Ashmoon and I manage. If you and your corsairs will take me with you from this isle, I will bring all my supplies to share with you all. Getting more water will be easy for Ash and I. We shall guide you back to your Sayladar..."
Ashmoon the wolf grinned eagerly, getting up off his haunches and stretching out his front paws with another yawn. He trotted a few paces ahead, turning back to gaze at Siduri with anxiousness. Siduri Star-of-Dusk only smiled.