A/N: Sorry to my friends whose characters I may portray poorly.

Felix looked out excitedly toward the ocean in front of her. It had been almost 5 days since she received the note that her fathers ship would be docking and offered to carry her and her companions to their next destination. The letter noted that he would be arriving today, so she made sure never to take her eyes off the coast. Her pale pink hair blew wildly in the ocean breeze. She reached into the pocket of her colorful shawl and grabbed a few pins to tie up her thick mane.

Along with the sounds of the waves, she heard foot steps coming up from behind her, "Any luck yet, Felix?" a sweet voice spoke. Felix turned around to see the beautiful elven maiden called Willow standing beside her, with a sweet patient smile and a glass of water cradled in her hands. Thick auburn hair fell softly over pale skin that had an abundance of freckles in all the right places. Felix shook her head no, but the positivity of what was to come never left her expression. Willow approached her, and offered the glass of water. "It's hot out here. Keep hydrated." Felix took a sip from the glass before turning back around and watching the sea contently. Willow walked up and stood next to her, staring out into the sea as well, "I'll wait with you for a moment, if you don't mind."

Felix absolutely adored Willow. She was kind and pleasant and a very good fighter when she needed to be, even though her otherwise glamorous appearance may say otherwise. However, Felix couldn't help but feel a little out of place when she stood next to her. Willow was a red headed, thin, pale goddess to put it frankly. Her hair was incredibly thick and long. Felix didn't think she had ever once trimmed it in her 100 plus years of life. It was kept up beautifully in a maze of pins and jewels and flowers. Her figure was slender and attractive, and her skin was almost pearl-like. So smooth and shiny and almost completely white. Her smile was perfect all the time, and it was only complimented by her stunning green eyes. Felix wasn't quite so lucky, she felt. Her skin had a pretty intense green pigment in it, and while she loved the avian creature heritage that gave her that unusual appearance, she didn't like how quickly people shied away from her because of it. Her hair, while not quite as long as Willows', was a sweet pale pink shade. The mixing of human and avian moth creature DNA had caused her hair texture to be incredibly rough and thick. She found it hard to manage, so she threw it in a pony tail most of the time. It had become knotted and dreaded slightly over the years, but she rather liked the style it gave her.

She was a little on the chubby side. Not that she minded that much. In fact, her large thighs were something she found rather attractive about herself. She never had to worry about trying to conform to wearing form fitting pants, since they often ripped at the slightest bend or rough movement. She decided long ago that she would stick to flowy, colorful skirts and dresses.

"You must be excited to see your father. It's been quite long, hasn't it?" Willow spoke up, snapping Felix out of her thoughts and focus.

Felix took another large gulp from the water glass and turned to the elf, "Yes. Four whole years. I miss him greatly." She thought back to when she last saw her father.

...

They had docked on an island to trade goods and collect food for an upcoming voyage. Felix, her father, and several other men had gone out while a select handful of crew men stayed behind to do maintenance. Felix had just turned 15, and never really could help much because people who weren't familiar with her appearance were wary to sell to her, so she usually donned a large dark cloak to hide her face and try to find some books to keep her entertained on the long treks. She was admiring the large selection of books this island library had to offer her, when she heard a loud commotion coming from outside.

"The ship! She's been boarded, captain!" One of the crew men hollered as he ran toward the docks, being followed by a few other men. Felix had looked outside to discover that there were strange men looting and vandalizing the large boat she had called her home. She watched in horror, unable to move as men she knew and cared for as part of her family fought as hard as their bodies would allow against the strange vandals who were much bigger in stature than them.

She bolted toward the dock, her cloak falling behind her. "Wait! Stop!" She cried out, tears forming as she closed in closer to the ladder of the ship. She felt a forceful tug on her wrist, and was jerked back. She looked back to find her father glaring down at her.

"Go. Run. This place not safe for young girl." His face was as stern as she'd ever seen it, and his thick accent from the northern lands made it all the more intimidating.

"But...Father...Your men need help!I can fight, I swear! Please, let me go." She begged, trying pry his heavy hand off her delicate wrist.

"I will take care of puny men who hurt my ship and crew. But, my child, you must leave. You must hide. Obey your father." With that, he let go of her and head quickly toward his ship, keeping a watchful eye to make sure his daughter obeyed his orders. Felix had stood there for a minute in utter panic, before she ran back into the quiet corner library that she had found. She watched from the window as one of the men had lifted the anchor and ordered the others to subdue her father. She closed her eyes and fell to the ground, holding her knees tightly to her chest. The riot had slowly started to fade away, meaning the ship had successfully been hijacked with her father still aboard. Felix cried softly and whispered out to her father over and over again until no more tears would fall.

...

It had been a little over 4 years to the date of that horrific incident. So Felix, could not have been more relieved when she saw one of her fathers many messenger falcons flying through the air with a piece of parchment just for her. It was a message from her father saying that he was indeed very much alive with a new ship and some new crew members to make up for the ones that were lost. It said it would meet her at this location roughly around sundown. It was a few hours until sundown, but Felix knew more than anyone that her father had a habit of being very much ahead of schedule.

Willow looked down and kicked some of the sand out that was nestled between her toes. "I'm gonna go gather our belongings. We should be ready when he comes." She head back toward the makeshift campsite they had built on the edge of the beach along some rocks and an open mouth of a small cave for shelter. When she arrived the rest of the group was taking some well deserved relaxing time. The human bard, Drew was re stringing his lute that had gotten weary from use. The gnoll enchantress, Gahenna was helping out with inventory and making sure everyone had enough food and supplies to last them the next few days. "Everyone, we should start packing. We want to be ready when Felix's father arrives."

Drew sighed and placed his lute on the ground beside him then got up to start roll the bedding, "yes, ma'am." He called with a smirk. Willow looked down at her feet to see the half elf fighter, Max lounging against a rock with his eyes closed.

"Wake up, Max." She cooed, tapping the side of his head with her foot.

"I'm awake." He answered without opening his eyes or flinching. He reached for his sword beside him and stood up with a loud groan.

"What's wrong, Maxi? Getting cranky in your old age?" Willow teased knowing she was at least a couple hundred years older than him. Max eyed her for a second before he grabbed a few bags of food and clothing and carried them to the shore where Felix was standing.

He dropped the bags by her feet and turned to face the ocean, breathing in the refreshingly clean air. It had been a long time since he had been to the beach and been able to enjoy it. Another swift breeze came by, and blew his hair wildly, gently tickling the tips of his slightly pointed ears.

"I'm so glad to see him again. I think he'll be proud of me." Felix spoke up, realizing that Max was there beside her. She turned to see the luggage on the ground behind her and saw her bag. A worn book was peeking out of the top of the drawstring pack, she took it out and admired the cover. It was dark blue, but gray in some places where the years had tarnished it. The gold lettering on the front was still very much in tact. It was written in elvish, but it translated to something like Old Worlds and Empires. She never really knew for sure. She couldn't get an exact translation. It was about the beginning of some of the biggest civilizations and empires and renowned families that had lived in their world. There was a middle section that caught her attention and made her treasure the book so much. The Ashald family. One of the biggest and best magic using and fighting human families to ever grace these lands. She idolized them all. The idea of making something from nothing and fighting to be the absolute best she could be was everything she ever wanted. She looked over at the half elf who hadn't said a word this whole time.

"I wonder what my father would think about me being trained by a member of the Ashald family." She smiled.

Max exhaled out his nose and smiled. "It's my father that's the impressive one. He built our home and reputation from the ground up. I am just trying not to be a complete disappointment."

Felix had been under Max's training the last few months. She had grasped the basics of magic using and fighting, but she wanted to learn as much as she could from someone she really admired and respected. It was a dream come true when she first realized his lineage. That book had stayed by her side since she was newly a teenager and she read it nightly, just to flip right back to the beginning every time she reached the last page. Max was a patient and kind teacher, and it gave him some sense of purpose to be effectively teaching someone all that he knew and watching the improve little by little each lesson.

Suddenly, Felix's hands were in his soft black hair. It took him by surprise and he felt his face get hot. "Forgive me, Master" she spoke softly, groping her hand around the back of his head "You have some twigs and a little dirt in your hair."

"O-oh yeah. I was laying down back there. Thank you." Some pink crept into his pale face.

Felix never really had a sense of boundaries or personal space. She never asked permission for most things. Everyone was fairly certain the words 'May I' had never left her mouth. What others might have seen as intrusive she saw as calming her own personal sense of satisfaction. But, that was part of her charm. Max and the others were beginning to learn that and get used to that about her. She showed him a small twig she found before tossing it over her shoulder.

A dark figure from the side caught Felix's attention, and she peered out into the sea again. Something was looming in beyond the waves, and as it got closer there was no doubt in her mind that it was a ship. Large enough to carry over a hundred men. A ship that must have belonged to her father. Her face lit up with excitement.

"He's here! Father is here!" She cheered happily as she ran ankle deep into the ocean, as if that would somehow get him here faster. As if it were on cue, Drew, Gahenna and Willow trudged up from behind her with the rest of the belongings in hand. They let the heavy beddings and jugs of food fall on the sand, kicking it up everywhere.

Drew shot an annoyed look at Max. "Thanks for coming back to help." The sarcasm in his voice was almost lethal.

The ship slowed about 30 yards out from shore and dropped anchor. It was gorgeous. A lovely mahogany base with ruby and gold moldings around the edges and scattered into many beautiful designs around the bow. It was obviously worth its weight in gold. Maybe even double that. That raised a few questions for the rest of the group.

"Excuse me, Felix," the gnoll spoke up, "I don't mean to be impolite and assume, but..." She trailed off, fur stiffening from slight nerves. Gahenna didn't really know how to phrase her concern. "Is your father a pirate?" She finally asked, a little more bluntly than she had intended.

Felix sighed. It was not the first time she was asked that. "No, Gahenna, he is not. That word is a little derogatory to be honest. We enjoy fine jewels and money and all that, but we do not steal or pillage. We trade and buy for all we own." Gahenna nodded and apologized. While they were talking, a couple crew men had loosened two life boats and began rowing to shore to collect their visitors. Felix ran in deeper to the water so it drenched the entirety of her skirt, enveloping her almost up to her waist. She recognized the two men almost instantly as they came into view in their separate boats. "Jonah! Henry!" She cheered, as she waved them down. The older one, Henry, got to her first and pulled her into his boat. He was dirty and gruff looking. Scars and sun damage all over his face. At least what wasn't covered by a long, grimy beard. Felix threw her arms around him in a hug, but he kept rowing forward.

"Heya, kiddo. How are ya?" He asked, chuckling heartily at her incredibly happy reaction toward seeing him again. Both boats mad it to shore and the two men stepped out. Felix abandoned Henry's boat to run to the younger, and a bit more handsome man's side "Hi Jonah. You've grown so much!" She pulled him in for a short, tight hug.

"Yeah, I'll be 18 in a few days." The young man answered.

Felix turned to see her companions waiting patiently to be introduced behind her. "Everyone, this is Henry. He is an old friend of my father's, and one of the longest working crew men." She started, gesturing to the old, unhygienic man.

"I used ta be," He corrected, "Now I'm his trusty navagata'! He don't go nowhere without me." He wiped some sweat from his forehead, leaving a streak of dirt behind.

"And this is his son, Jonah. " She finished, pointing to the young man. He just responded with a timid smile and a wave. The others quickly exchanged pleasantries and got acquainted with the crew men. Willow kind of hoped that the state of their lodgings on the ship would be cleaner than the men that worked on it.

"You got yerself some fine folks here, kiddo." Henry stated almost proudly, lifting a hand and rustling through her hair. "I'm sure they could take down an army er two if ya needed 'em to. Even the girly pretty boy there." He gestured in the general direction of both Max and Drew. They looked at each other quizzically. They both were rather finicky about appearance, so he could have meant either one of them. "Welp, let's get goin'!" He clasped his hands together loudly to get attention, "It's gettin' late, and the cap'n has some good eats planned for the lot of ya. Ladies, in my sons boat. Men, carry the luggage."

Following his fathers orders, Jonah extended a hand to Felix and helped her carefully into the boat. Next he offered out to Willow, who thanked him with a smile so lovely he could have swore his heart skipped a beat or two. Finally, he reached out to the gnoll female. She looked a little confused. "Me? Really?"

"Course m'dear!" Henry answered as he helped Max and Drew gather belongings, "A lady is still a lady no matter how much hair she covered in."

Drew chuckled, "Well, I guess we disagree there." Max shushed him and dug a sharp elbow into his ribs.

...

With both boats loaded, Max and Drew helped push them off the sand to get them started, then jumped in to continue the rest of the way to the ship. As it grew closer the incredible design and detail became much more noticeable. Someone really spent a lot of time and poured their heart and soul into this thing. They rowed up to each side and signaled to the men above that they were ready to be pulled up. Some ropes were thrown down and fastened to some hooks on either side of the small life boat. The group was hoisted up by a line of grunting, sweaty men. "Pull!" The line leader commanded to the men behind him. He shouted that several times before both boats were lifted as high as they could go and then locked into place. They were surrounded by a hoard of equally dirty and sun damaged men as they helped pull the travelers and their possessions out of each boat. Before Felix could even set both feet on the ground she was hoisted up by two middle aged men that were in serious need of some grooming and dental work.

"Men! Pay your respects! The Captain's daughter has returned home!" One of them shouted. There was a playful roar of applause and shouting from the dozens of men on board as they welcomed their long lost friend back home. She was greeted by a sea of hugs and hand shakes and welcomes as people practically lined up to see her.

"Awright ya bunch of leeches!" Henry snapped, almost pushing the crew off of her. "Her father been waitin' for her longer than any of you sorry lads. An' you know what happens when you keep the cap'n waitin'." The men cleared a path for them, and Henry gestured to the rest of them to follow. He opened a hatch near the stern of the ship behind a small wall that had a staircase leading downward. They followed the slight spiral staircase to the bottom where there was a long hall of paintings and expensive tapestries on display. Gahenna and Max stopped every few feet to study the art that adorned the walls of the lavish hall.

One large painting depicted a pretty gruesome battle between gnolls and orcs. The gnolls looked feral in nature, unlike Gahenna who was always so proper that people often forgot her lineage. They littered the ground as the orcs took complete hold of their land and destroyed their army. She gulped hard. She knew the history of her race, and what battles they often got into because of their typically frightening and predator-like nature, but she'd never seen it illustrated. She wondered if it was on display because the captain had something against gnolls personally and wanted to be happily reminded of the bloodshed on a daily basis.

Willow and Drew had their interest piqued by some old and dented pieces of armor. They had scorch marks and scratches all over. "Looks like somebody didn't do so hot in battle." Drew said quietly to the elf, lifting up what was left of a metal glove and tossing it up and down with one hand. Willow caught it in the air and put it back where it belonged.

Max reached for a piece of silk that hung on the wall. The details and stitching were quite beautiful. It looked like the crest of a rich and powerful family, possibly hundreds of years before his time. He gently rubbed the soft material between his fingers, careful not to damage it with the oils from his skin. "If I'm not mistaken, this is the symbol of the Shortengard clan?" He asked Henry who was a few steps ahead of him.

"Aye, it is." Henry confirmed without ever looking back. "The Cap'n docked a few hundred years ago and traded it from Magdiana Shortengard, the widow of the famous gnome blacksmith. He forged almost ev'ry sword an' shield that was used in war all those years ago."

"A few HUNDRED years ago...So Felix's father must have the Moth creature genes" Max thought to himself. He suddenly got inexplicably nervous and tugged at the collar of his shirt.

Henry turned to Felix who was walking beside him and nudged her lightly on the arm. "Smart kid, that half elf. Your father will be impressed that yer hangin' out with someone so brainy with a taste for history."

She smiled.

...

After a few more minutes of walking and repeatedly stopping to look at the expensive artwork along the walls, they reached a large wooden door. It seemed to be much bigger than the actual hallway it was part of. Henry grunted and used all of the strength he had in his old body to push it open. The group stepped in. It was actually a pretty small room, but as lavishly decorated as the rest of the place. Layers of bear and wolf skin rugs were scattered all over the room, and were a perfect place to lay down and relax in front of the huge fire place. The fire place was already lit, and just above it was a portrait painting. A man decked out in all the trappings of a wealthy ship captain. He was handsome. Incredibly handsome, in fact. His eyes and smile were absolutely hypnotizing, and the majority of the bottom of his face was covered in a full and long black beard. Next to the man, stood an equally lovely woman. Short auburn hair, and the finest jewelry hung from her ears and neck. She was looking down blissfully at the small child she held in her arms. A tiny green girl, with short pink curls and deep black eyes. To the left of the painting was a closed red curtain that was the entrance to another room.

"Sir! Yer daughter is home!" Henry called, a little out of breath from pushing the door.

A few seconds of silence passed, then the red curtain was opened so quickly it almost ripped it clean off the hooks it hung from. Out stepped the man from the painting. He was just as young and handsome as he was depicted. Even after all these years that had passed. He was incredibly tall, and each step he took toward them made the floor shake slightly. He nearly had to duck under the doorframe he stepped out of. "My daughter is returned." He said with next to no emotion in his voice. He looked at Felix, held his arms out toward her and smiled wide, "Come, little one. Your father has missed you."

All of the excitement Felix had felt up until that moment poured out like a stream down her cheeks as she ran into the arms of the gruff and slightly intimidating man. "Father!" She cried, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. The man let out a booming laugh of joy as he picked the girl clean off the ground and spun her around a few times.

"Is joyous occasion, indeed!" He cheered, still holding Felix as tight as he could without hurting her. Willow felt some tears coming on as she watched the reunion between estranged father and daughter. Gahenna gently threw a comforting arm around her and smiled.

He placed her down with an arm still wrapped around her shoulder. "I am Captain of ship." He started, his voice incredibly deep and powerful. "My name is Bones. Please, visitors, make yourself at home. We shall meet properly at dinner tonight." He looked down at Felix with a warm smile only a father could give his daughter. "Mama has been working hard in kitchen making delicious meal for my little one. She will be happy to see you home safe." He turned to the rest and signaled for them to huddle closer. He took his arm off Felix and put one on Max's shoulder, and the other on Gahenna's, with Drew and Willow nestled comfortably between the two. "Thank you for keeping my Felix safe. I am very lucky she has friends like you." He said softly, panning his eyes across the faces of the four before him.

"Of course, Captain." Willow was the only one that spoke up. "Thank you for stopping to collect us on your voyage."

Bones smiled and removed his heavy hands from the travelers. He turned back to Felix one more time. "I must go prepare for festivities. Show your companions where they will sleep. I will fetch you when dinner is ready." He gave the moth girl a small kiss on the forehead before exiting out of the giant wooden door they entered from. Henry followed behind to take mental notes of all that needed to be done.

They all stood there for a moment. Drew pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to Felix, allowing her to wipe off what remained of the happy tears that still stained her face. He looked back up at the giant painting above the fireplace. Bones and his wife holding a green child. The similarities couldn't have been farther apart. "So," Drew began, looking down at his feet "Bones is your father?"

"Uh huh" Felix replied, handing him back the handkerchief.

He snatched it from her and cocked his eyebrow in doubt, "your REAL father?" He asked a little more aggressively.

"Drew, back off." Max snapped, having been mostly silent this whole time.

"Are you kidding me, Maximillian?" Drew raised up his hands defensively, "It's a valid question. They look nothing alike they probably aren't even the same race."

Felix smiled slightly and shook her head. "We aren't. He's an Aasimar, and my Mama is human. He adopted me." She looked back up at the painting. "My birth mother was a poor human beggar. She birthed me and couldn't take care of me. She traded me to Bones for some gold an silks and enough food to last at least a year. He and Mama have taken care of me ever since."

"Well, Aasimar would explain why he's hundreds of years old and doesn't look a day over 30." Max thought to himself.

"So you don't know your birth parents?" Gahenna asked, sympathy laced in her voice. Felix shook her head again. She didn't need sympathy. Bones and Mama provided her with all the parental love she could have ever wanted.

"Sometimes I like to think he was a handsome moth prince who fell in love with a human woman. When she was pregnant, he unfortunately passed and as much as she loved me, she couldn't give me the life she wanted me to have. So she gave me to someone who could. I think she really wanted me and misses me." Felix said, her voice trailing off just a bit as nausea and doubt built up in her gut. She knew full well that a human beggar woman bearing the child of a non human entity and desperately selling her had...other implications.

Max sensed the uneasiness in her, and quickly changed the subject. "Hey, how about a tour, Felix?" Felix snapped out of her unhappy thoughts. "This place is huge. I'd like to see as much as I can in the time we are here." Felix appreciated the effort, and nodded her head in agreement.

"Okay everyone. We can start with your bunks. Jonah dropped everything off there already." She lead the crew out of the room and with Gahenna's help, shut the massive door behind her.

...

The ship really didn't look this big from the outside. They had gone through a small hatch that had hallway after hallway, room after room of so many different bunks, and washrooms and lounges. Enough for the whole crew and then some. The bunks were plain, all in the same cream colored sheets and pillows. The walls in every room were the same mahogany as the outside of the ship, but some of the crew men had taken it upon themselves to decorate with chalks and paints. Felix rounded a corner and reached a small room. It was the only room on this side, so anyone in here wouldn't have to worry about loud crewmen and running feet going by every few minutes. "This is where you guys will sleep." She turned the handle and opened the door to a small bunk room. Really similar to the others they passed, only there were more luxurious and colorful sheets and blankets layed across each one. The beds were stacked two pairs, one on top of the other. Someone had placed a vase of freshly cut daisies in the corner of the room to give it more of a welcoming vibe.

"Men on this side!" Drew exclaimed excitedly, hurling himself on the top bunk closest to the window.

Jonah had already neatly piled their belongings in the corner, so Max and Willow started to unpack. "We'll have to thank the Captain again for such hospitality." Max said, pulling out some clean linens and clothing and laying them on the bottom bunk below Drew. He rummaged through his bag again and pulled out a few spell books. He turned to Felix and smirked. "Should we show him what you've been learning? I think he'd be impressed." He stacked the books and handed them to Felix, who held them close to her chest, much like that other book that meant so much to her.

"I think so too. Especially when he learns who you are, Master."

Max looked at her quizically. "Does your father know of my family?"

Felix shrugged. "I don't know if he does personally, but he's been all over. He knows parts of this world that many can only dream of knowing." She approached Max and gently clasped his hand in between her own. She looked at him with eyes so full of dedication and adoration that Max couldn't help but feel his face and ears get hot. "If anything, he'll appreciate that I finally got to meet and learn under my hero."

"H-hero?" His face must have been beet red at this point. He pulled his hand away swiftly and collected himself. "I'm glad you think highly of me, but I am no hero. Not yet, at least."

The others watched this awkwardly cute exchange and smiled at each other.

Felix, completely oblivious to the feelings she just stirred up, turned and head toward the door. "I'll be back! I have to go see Mama. Please, get settled in." She happily skipped out the room and disappeared down the hall. Willow and Gahenna chuckled to themselves and looked at Max, whose face immediately turned red hot again.

Drew smiled as he lounged on the top bunk and spoke out in a sweet sing-song voice "You can't stick your long sword in that sheath, Max. Captain Daddy will have your head."

"I don't want to stick my anything in anyone." Max answered gruffly, looking down at the sheathed sword at his side. What a euphemism.