I apologize for the shortness of this chapter, to make up for it, my next one will be much longer, I promise! Enjoy!
Chapter 3: End of a Long Day
Aryll skipped happily through the dark halls of the ship, singing as she went. Makar kept up as best he could, but the little girl's flailing arms and legs terrified him. It seemed like at any point, one of those appendages could knock him to the floor again.
"This," Aryll said, flinging open a door, "is the galley. It's where we eat!" Aryll danced away, letting the door swing shut behind her. "And this," she pointed to a closed door, "is Tetra's room. Don't go in there, or Gonzo will get mad!"
Makar studied the patterned door carefully; he did not plan on getting on the wrong side of the large pirate. Aryll skipped up a nearby staircase and threw open the door above.
"This is the deck!" Aryll said, spinning in a small circle. "You can see for miles up here!"
Aryll skipped away and leaned over the railing of the ship. Several seagulls landed gently next to her, cooing softly. Makar noticed that the ship was skipping through the water of the sea. He looked up and saw the sails, swollen with wind. Aryll--noticing that Makar had not followed her—turned and motioned for Makar to come over. Makar complied quickly and waddled next to Aryll. He looked out across the Great Sea. The sun had begun to sink below the horizon and sent its orangey rays rippling across the water. Makar completely forgot all the troubles of the day; jealous Niko, loud Gonzo and crazy Medli.
They stood there, watching the sun set as the seagulls hopped around them. A sudden breeze caused the seagulls to take flight. Most landed on the wooden deck of the ship, but one seagull decided to rest on Makar's head. The problems of the day crept their way into Makar's mind once again. He tried to swat the feathery rat off of his head, but his poor little arms were too short. Makar tried jumping to dislodge the seagull; however, every time the bird was disturbed, it simply settled on Makar's head once he landed. Makar whined softly and Aryll turned around and shooed the gull from Makar's head.
"You've had a hard day, haven't you?" Aryll said softly as she carefully lifted Makar from the ground and cradled him gently.
Makar sighed and shook himself free. He turned away from the ocean only to find Medli standing right behind him. Makar jumped and made a feeble attempt to escape from the girl, but Medli cut him off.
"I see you found the deck, yes?" Medli said looking around.
"I-oh, yes I have." Makar said, a little panicked.
"Would have shown you around, but you were gone when I came out!"
"You shut the door behind you!"
"That does not mean you shouldn't follow!"
"Medli, this is Makar. He is going to be with us for awhile, so be nice to him, k'?" Aryll said in an attempt to spare Makar an awkward conversation. "Why don't you show him to his room?"
Makar did not like the suggestion at all. He wanted as little to do with the Rito girl as possible. Medli looked down at Makar before nodding.
"Let us go, yes?" Medli said, walking back to the door leading to the dark inner hallways of the ship. "Hurry up now!" Makar cast a single annoyed glace at Aryll before rushing after Medli. They wound their way through more and more hallways. Medli stopped suddenly. This time, Makar was paying more attention, so he did not ram into her.
"This is your room, yes?" Medli said, opening the door.
She revealed a small, square room with a simple bed along one wall, and a small desk across from it. Makar stepped carefully inside to examine the interior. He had only taken a few steps before the door slammed shut behind him. Makar turned around, but nothing but the closed behind him. Makar sighed and waddled to the small bed. He jumped in and tried to relax. The events of the day had tired him more than he realized—moments later, he was sound asleep.