The sun began to set along the horizon as the great sea vessel Alexandria sailed the salty seas. The sea gulls flew alongside the sails, happily cawing to one another.

The cold sea air began to chill ever so more as the sun disappeared behind the sea wall, and day turned into night.

The ship's crew chattered as they worked to keep the boats maintenance in order.

The ships cook made them their annual, nightly dinner. Fish, yet again. This time it was fried eel and crab. A nice change, but the crew still tired of the seafood. Their long journey lasting far longer than anticipated. The lot getting more than impatient, wanting to arrive at their destination.

Morendail, the country known for its wondrous mountain ranges and gorgeous sceneries. The city Altria, city of elves, was where their boat would soon dock. Hopefully it will be sooner, rather than later.

The captain declared they would reach their destination by morning come.

The ships bunker was full of chatter and conversation as they all ate.

The only one to not join in the chatter, who quietly ate, was Ruby. She took refuge on this ship whilst on the run from her home country. She was sick of being told what to do and being used for her unique power.

There were a few crewmembers on the boat that tried to make conversation with her, but none succeeded. She just wanted to get to Morendail and be on her way.

"Not into friendly chatter, huh?" She was asked.

"Hah. That's an understatement. I just want this little venture to be over with and be back on dry land." She says, poking at her food.

"We should be arriving in Morendail by morning." He says. "My name is Taigious, by the way. Taigious Vellore."

"Ruby." She says, finally looking at the man next to her. He wasn't human. Not entirely. His hair was a long white as pure snow, eyes as blue as the sky. He had a gentle face that was inviting and warm. He had two pairs of dark purple horns protruding from the crown of his head. They suited him quite nicely. "May I call you Tai?"

He nods. "Do so." He smiles warmly again.

She couldn't help but let herself smile back at the interesting man. "So. What are you going to do once the boat docks?" She asked him.

"Who knows? Altria is a city of elves. Maybe I'll find work there." He shrugged. "Or maybe I'll venture out into the vast country that is Morendail. There is plenty out there to enjoy."

"That seems like a sound plan if I've ever heard one." She says. "I may do the same. Whatever to get my mind off where I came from..."

"And where is it you came from, Ms. Ruby?" He asked, leaning back against the barrels behind them, smiling at her. "Riverstead? Ivenshore?"

"Morancreek." She says simply. She came from the isle of Morancreek. It was a channel of small islands lining the edge of the great sea.

"Oh? You come from a small place. Isn't that place known for the-"
"Tobacco. Yes." She says, nodding. "The good kind though. Not the kind most humans make that hurts your lungs. The tobacco we grew healed. With a little help from the lands guardian's power."

"I've heard." He smiles. "I'd hoped to get my hands on some when we ventured past those isles, but the captain didn't want to stop. Then we stopped to get you." He leans back. "I think the captain fancies you, Ms. Ruby."

Ruby couldn't stop herself from glancing to the Captains seat, turning her gaze away however when she noticed the man in question looking in their direction. "I… Wow. I didn't know." She looks at Tai once again.

Tai laughed softly and patted her shoulder. "He hasn't seemed to make any kind of move to pursue you, so I think you'll be safe." He says before standing up. "I'll leave you be. Perhaps we can speak more later on?"

She nods, and he walks off, leaving her alone once again.

With dinner finished and the crew retired to bed, the ship grew quiet.

Ruby, however, sat on the front of the vessel, staring out at the water ahead as it sped through the seas. There was something comforting about the water. She found the sounds of the waves soothing, very calming to her. It distracted from the feeling of dread and discomfort she felt.

She thought back to the night she left home. It was after a heated argument with her father. He claimed she was to not leave the isles no matter what.

"You are not to leave, Ruby! Ever! You'd be going against your duties, against your ancestors if you leave Morancreek!" Her father had raged.

"I don't want to do as I'm told! I hate my duties, and I don't want to be like our ancestors!" She rarely disobeyed or talked back to her father in such a manner. She never spoke with such disrespect to anyone in the Isles.

"Ruby Morenala! You will not talk back to me in such a manner! How dare you speak to me with such disrespect?"

Ruby sighed at the thought of that horrible night. She didn't regret leaving. What she had said was the truth. She hated her duties back home. She had been forced to take up her mother's role when she passed away. And she had hated every second of it.

The sound of the floorboards creaking snapped her out of her thoughts and she spun around, hand going to the hilt of her dagger.

Captain Carnell stood before her, seemingly startled by her sudden caution. "Now, now. It's just me. No need to be alarmed." He says calmly to her.

She eyed him suspiciously but slowly removed her hand from the blade. "What do you want?" She asked him, not trusting him much. She'd never trusted this man. She was just there on his ship to get to Morendail.

"Just wanted to talk. See how you're doing." He says with a coy grin plastered on his face.

"Well I'm fine." She says, glaring at him. "I'd like to be alone, if you don't mind."

"Alright. We'll be arriving by morning, hopefully. So we can all relax." He steps closer to her, hands at his sides. "How about a little chat? I haven't had the chance to talk to you this whole time."

"I don't want to talk." She says. "I don't like talking to others."

"I saw you talking to Taigious earlier at dinner." He says.

"That was different." She says. "I chose to talk to him when he confronted me."

"Well. I'd like to have a conversation with you."
"No."

"Captain, leave her be. She wants to be left alone." Tai walked over, his arms folded over his chest.

Carnell turned to look at him and sighed. "So be it. See you in the morning." And with that being said, he turns on his heal and returns to his quarters.

Ruby let out a soft sigh, relaxing. "Thanks for that." She says, looking back out toward the water.

Tai smiles and leans against the edge of the boat, hands slid in his pockets. "He's kind of an ass, so I figured I'd spare you of his... Troublesome…ness." He clears his throat. "Soooo."

Ruby looks at him. "Yes?"

"I've been thinking, and I was wondering if maybe you'd want to be my travel buddy? For when we finally dock?"

She thought about it a moment. "I wouldn't mind that. You're more tolerable than anyone else on this ship." She stands up straight. "Alright. We'll be travel buddies." She laughs softly.