Disclaimer: I own nothing other than my mind.
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The next two days passed without much incident. A few scraped knees or elbows, a handful of minor scratches and splinters. I had decided, to help gain easy favor with the sailors, that I would become the ship medic for the voyage. Sadly Naran's sea sickness wasn't something my powers could cure, and he relied on soups and ginger tea, which after a few days of regular intake had improved his condition. He was slow to move around on the ship, taking heed of my words to not get in the way of the crew.
At night, after settling into our room, we would talk endlessly about all manner of things from adventures to our childhood. Naran would listen wide-eyed like a star struck child when I spoke of my battles against Primals, and he especially enjoyed hearing about the many different places I had traveled while adventuring. Seeing his eyes light up was the highlight of my nights.
Our fourth day at sea, I awoke to a loud clap of thunder and waves beginning to slap against the side of the ship, hard enough to make my ears hurt. Rousing myself I slipped from Naran's embrace. He was somehow still asleep. Perhaps the chamomile tea had been stronger than Cook Merriweather had anticipated. Truthfully, I was glad of it. Naran's delicate condition wouldn't stand a chance in a storm.
Dressing silently I donned a set of oiled leathers and a wide brim hat to keep the rain at bay. After pulling on a pair of tall well-worn boots I departed our tiny cabin and went above to the deck. The scene unfolded before my eyes: crew members scrabbling all along the deck, Captain Gadwin barking orders with his first mate echoing, and on the horizon, swiftly approaching a brooding storm of rain, lighting, and teeth-rattling thunder.
I hastily maneuvered my way to the Captain and waited as he yelled out a few more orders as the rain began to fall, first a few spatters then in thick plops on the wood of the deck.
"Captain, please tell me you can steer us out of the worst of this, or if you cannot that this ship will hold together, " I yelled over the drum of the rain pelting the deck.
He made a sour face and spoke earnestly, pulling me aside, "Look, Ah can only do so much. Best ta settle yerself below and keep ah good 'old of yer sickly companion. Ah, canna say if Ah can get us clear 'o this, but Ah'll do ma best. "
Before I could utter a sound, he pushed past, his voice booming with authority as he called out to the various sailors bellowing orders left and right as he paced the deck.
Tugging my coat tighter to my body I made a beeline for the lower decks to the sparse comfort of my little cabin. Arriving I opened the door and saw Naran waking blearily, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Where have you been? And why are you wet? " he asked with a low sleepy mumble. His blonde hair was disheveled and almost caused a smile to tug at my lips but our situation smothered it in an instant.
"Bit of rain up top, nothing to worry much about. " I tugged my rain-slicked coat and hat from my body and deposited them on a nail jutting from the wooden wall near the door. As I wiped the rain from my face I heard the unmistakable crack of splitting wood, and my balance was lost as the ship lurched, louder groans and snaps echoed along the ship. The storm was tearing it apart underneath our feet.
Hauling myself back to my feet, my eyes on Naran, I called desperately, "Naran! Are you okay? " He had tumbled onto the floor of our cabin as the ship heaved to one side.
"Yes, I am fine. Mildly queasy, but I shall manage, " he said as he came to his feet, using the sturdy cot to steady himself.
"We have to get to the deck, see if there's anything we can do, or if the captain has a plan in place for events such as this. " I grabbed his hand pulling him close to me as we abandoned our packs and dashed up to the main deck. There was cracked and splintered wood all around us we emerged into the thunderous din of the storm.
Cursing under my breath I pulled Naran along the deck towards the yelling Captain. Spotting us he called, "You two alrigh'? Good that. We'll be boardin' the life boats shortly. This storm is like no other. Ah recomend for your safety to stay nearby. " He stepped away calling orders at his men, their faces grim and rain-soaked.
Glancing at Naran I could feel the dread clenching ahold of my heart and said, "Halifax is still below in the hold. I can't leave him, Naran. "
I could easily see the battle of fear in his eyes, but his voice was sure when he spoke, "Promise you'll be quick. That we'll get through this together, Rayah. I don't know what I would do without you. "
Biting my lip I nodded, "I promise. Follow the directions of the Captain. I'll be back faster than a flying arrow. " Before I could turn to head back down into the bowels of the breaking ship, Naran pulled me into a tight hug, and even though we were both soaked to the bone I could feel the heat radiating from deep within him. We broke apart and I leaped down the stairs, two at a time, heading for the hold.
I got down to the lowest hold, my feet sloshing through calf deep water as I made my way towards the livestock area. I heard a familiar kweh and peered into the dark corner from which it had emanated. "Faxy boy? Are you hurt? "
His tattooed beak shot from the darkness as he hurtled towards me, almost bowling me over into the cold water. Laughing in relief I steadied myself against his damp plumage. "Let's get you out of here buddy. " He replied with an enthusiastic kweh and followed me to the stairs. Another deafening cracking noise rippled through the hull and cold water began filling the hold at a more rapid pace.
"Hurry! " I yelled and pushed the hesitating chocobo up the steps as the water began swiftly rising from my calves to my waist. "Just have to get to the deck and regroup with Naran and Captain Gadwin. " I muttered to myself almost like a mantra. As we went through the next hold the water was doggedly on our heels, gushing and rushing it's way through the ship, pulling the structure and its occupants further into the icy depths.
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My feet slipping on the drenched boards of the stairs I stepped up onto the top deck to see shattered wood, broken cargo, frayed ropes, and worse of all was the lack of any crew members in sight. Had they been washed overboard or perhaps they were successful with the life boats. Hearing an excited kweh pierce the disturbingly calmed air I looked around to see Halifax rushing towards the broken foremast and what appeared to be Naran, Captain Gadwin, and a handful of sailors.
Gaining better purchase on the slick deck I began running towards the group following my chocobo's footsteps when a groaning pop echoed all around me and an incredible tumult of water crashed into the deck, sweeping my legs from under me. I hit the deck hard tasting blood from a bitten cheek. Before I could even attempt to stand the ship rocked crazily and another wave of water slammed into my pushing me across the deck. Thankfully the sturdy railing was still intact though it left me with a few bruised ribs as I spluttered and cough sea water from my lungs.
I tried in vain to wipe the salty water from my eyes as they cast about looking desperately for Naran and the group. They were almost located port bow on deck and as the rain picked back up into a torrent, I could just make out the rough image of a life boat being loaded. I couldn't spot the familiar shape of Halifax so my only hope was that he was on the life boat already.
Hauling myself upwards I used the railing to pull my weary body along, trying desperately to call out to Naran over the noise, but my throat had been scoured raw by the salt water. All I could manage were horse yells of a pitiful volume. My felt like it was gripped tight with a frozen fist as panic began to build within me.
As I reached midship Naran's scarlet gaze finally picked me out of the curtain of rain obscuring the entirety of the ship and he turned and yelled something to the Captain. Not waiting for a response the Xaela began running in my direction, stumbling and sliding as the ship rocked crazily on the choppy waves.
We were a couple of yalms apart when the ship began tipping drastically to the starboard side causing a few sailors, Naran, and myself to slide into the railing or anything else that caught our path. I landed hard, knocking the breath from my lungs as I saw one sailor hit the railing and topple over into the ocean. My vision blurred for half a second then I managed to gather my wits.
"Rayah! Hang on! " I heard Naran yell, the desperation in his voice was thick.
As we half crawled, half pulled ourselves to one another the battered ship could hold out no longer as it cracked and twisted, ripping apart. I watched, helpless, as crewmen were thrown from the slanted deck almost like the ship was a great beast shaking to rid itself of pesky insects.
I stared at Naran in horror as the ship broke apart all around us. With a burst of panic fueled adrenaline I pulled myself upright and using my powerful legs I launched myself towards Naran.
I didn't make it. As my vision faded to black my last conscious thought was of those brilliant red eyes and his flame-kissed skin.
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A/N: Sorry, not sorry for the cliffhanger. Life is in better shape for me now and I plan on updating more frequently. Thank you all for your support, big and small.
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