The tension that was left in the wake of Eye-Eye's departure was so thick, it could be sliced with a sword.

Jillian, the remaining pirates, and the kids didn't move from the now quiet clearing for several minutes. She assumed the others were in shock, just like her. So much had happened in a short amount of time that needed to be processed.

"We need to move on." Robinson spun on his heel went to untie his horse.

Jillian stared at him. "What? We need to go save Eye-Eye!" She gestured in the direction that he had gone. "Who knows what those bandits will do to him!"

"He knew what he was getting into when he joined them, so he must face the consquences."

She was appalled. This wasn't sounding like Robinson at all. "No," she said fiercely, running over. She grabbed his arm. "You can't abandon him! He saved all our lives and you don't even care!"

"Of course I care!"

"Then let's go get him," Sparky said in a low voice, causing everybody to look at him. His eyes were dull and void of their usual life. "If you care as much as us, then act on it."

Robinson glowered at him. "You forget your place. Eye-Eye broke one of our rules as well. To be a part of the Jolly Roger, you must not be affiliated with any other crew, gangs, or organizations. I would punish him if he was still here. This is for the best."

Sparky blinked hard. "He's going to die and you know it."

These words hung like weights in the silence that followed.

"Please," Jillian whisphered, but Robinson shook his head.

"My decision is final." He looked at the red-head. "Rosie, you're first mate now."

Rosie swallowed and shifted in obvious discomfort. "Yes, Captain."

Jillian felt her eyes well up with tears. How could he be so cruel to replace Eye-Eye so suddenly? "I-I can't accept this!" she shouted.

"You're in no place to argue!" Robinson said sharply. "Don't think I forgot your little betrayal either!" She flushed red with shame, silencing herself. Boulder gently put a hand on her shoulder as Robinson climbed on his horse.

Goose grabbed Jillian's hand. "He's mad, isn't he?" she asked. "I'm sorry for running. Its my fault."

Jillian smiled sadly. "We can't blame anybody for what happened. Now we have to move on."

Sparky and Rosie stared at her. "Move on?"

She sighed, resigned. "Robinson's right. We can't go after him or we'll be killed. We have a destination so let's head over there."

The two didn't look all that happy with that but said nothing and mounted their horses along with the others.

They traveled through the forest, silent as ever. The only words were said by Rosie, who continued to navigate despite his promotion. She supposed no one could read a map as well as him. "The fortress should be just over that hill," he said, pointing to a wooded mound about a couple of miles away.

Jillian bit her lip. They had been so close to reaching it together. Now they were one short. If only they had decided to keep on traveling. Robinson noticed her distressed look, knew what it meant, and wisely decided not to comment. Jillian hadn't exactly been very close to Eye-Eye and he hadn't tried to be the nicest to her when they had first met, but this didn't mean she felt any less guilty about leaving him. It didn't feel like he had left on his own, it was abandonment.

At the top of the hill, they looked down and could see the infamous 'fortress' that the Pied Piper had stashed all the kids from Brooks. Hopefully her brother included.

"This is it?" Jillian couldn't keep the disappointment out of her voice. Below them, was what one could call a small campsite. There were about two dozen tents and huts made out of wood and grasses ringing a large empty pit that most likely became a bonfire at night. The entire area was surrounded by mismatched, roughly cut logs and branches formed in a large circle, protecting it. Jillian could see a few people propped up agaisnt the sides of the 'wall' with ladders as watchmen.

She suspected that they would spot her group soon enough. As they headed toward the encampment, Jillian was proven right as she saw the heads of the lookouts disappear and a distant bell rang to notify the occupants of their arrival.

Robinson scowled as the ringing intensified as they drew closer. "These kids better not give us much trouble."

"Do you think they would attack us?" Jillian asked. She knew from her days at the orphanage that a mob of youth could be particularly rowdy and violent.

Her question was answered as a loud voice called out, "Drop all your weapons or we fight!"

Sparky scoffed. "As if." He tightened his grip on his dagger.

In response, there was a shout of "Fire!" A strangley round rock vaulted over the wall right toward the group. They stared, confused at what it was.

Until it exploded right over their heads.

Jillian screamed along with the others as they were forced to scatter the escape being blown up as a volley of explosives descended onthe group. The bombs exploded with surprising force all aroudn them. Robinson tried to control their horse as the bombs sent up spires of dirt and rocks all around them.

In a panic, the horse reared. Jillian tried to grab the back of Robinson's jacket but she slipped off, slamming into the ground, too shocked to even yell. She lay still for a moment, trying to get her bearings as Robinson struggled to reach her.

A bomb barrled right for her but Jillian thrust her hand forward, sent a blast of ice at it. The bomb burst into pieces of metal and ice midair. The cascade of bombs stopped.

Breathing hard, Jillian pushed herself up into a sitting postion and inspected the blood running down her leg. The fall had torn up her knee and bits of rock and dirt mixed with the blood made it look particularly nasty.

She turned as Robinson rode up behind her. "What was that?" he demanded.

Jillian raised an eyebrow. "Saving my life, no thanks to you."

"Don't use your magic. We don't know how these kids will react so just keep it to yourself." His scowl vanished as he noticed her knee. "Holy Hook, you're bleeding."

Robinson jumped of his horse and bent down next to her. He pulled back her torn skirt to reveal her ragged knee. He cursed and called, "Boulder! Jillian's hurt!"

Jillian rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. Honest-." She was interrupted as the others swarmed the scene.

"What happened?"

"Urg, so much blood."

"Is she gonna be okay?"

"Those brats will pay for this!"

"Move aside." Boulder pushed back the rest of the crew and knelt down. Jillian felt her face grow hot as a silence fell over the group as Boulder studied her knee.

"Well this is certainly interesting." They whirled around to see that the occupants of the fortress had come out and were now standing in a large crowd, silenlty observing. The one who had spoken was a girl near Jillian's age. She had long curly black hair, dark gray eyes, and a look at let you know that she was in charge. She crossed her arms and smirked. "You don't look like much so who might you be?"