17 Rescue:
"Gilder?" Clara's voice echoed over Glacia's topography. "Oh dear. This isn't good. Can somebody explain to me what happened?"
"You see, Miss Clara, we was explorin' Glacia." a scruffy looking member of the Claudia explained.
The sailor scratched his stubbly chin nervously. Rodney, Clara thought he said his name was. If he put on a clean shirt, she could set him up with Belle. Her gunner always had a thing for rough looking men.
"Cap'in Gilder went ahead to scout a landin' area. He must've lost control of his raft an' crashed." Rodney concluded.
"But where's Gilder?" Clara asked. "The life raft is here, but Gilder's not."
The tattered remains of the life raft were at their feet. The yellow craft had a jagged crack down the side of it where it had nearly been torn in two.
Rodney frowned. "The only thing I can gather from this mess is that this wall he crashed into was hollow." he muttered. "It was prolly a tunnel that led from the ancient civilization to the outside world. So if we're lucky, Cap'in Gilder's on the other side of this caved in debris."
"And if we're not lucky?" Clara said hesitantly.
"Then Cap'in Gilder's underneath all this caved in debris." Rodney announced grimly.
Clara gasped and fanned the frozen air at her face with a gloved hand. "Oh my." she murmured. "That's really bad."
"Aye." Rodney replied.
"You know, I received a tip from Polly back at Sailors Island that Gilder would be heading this way and that's why I stopped by." Clara said. The color had drained from the woman's face.
"Polly?" Rodney chuckled. "That woman's a meddler."
"I even wore a new outfit for the occasion." Clara continued, dazed. "I thought maybe Gilder would notice. Maybe he'd think it looked pretty on me."
"Aye. That's a lovely pink frock you've got on there." Rodney turned and watched Clara carefully.
"Thank you." she whispered.
Rodney grabbed her by her shoulders as her knees buckled. Clara glanced up at him, her large brown eyes misted with tears.
"What if he's dead?" she asked.
"Oy! Enough of that nonsense." Rodney demanded.
He stood Clara back up. When he was positive that she wouldn't tip over if he let go, Rodney freed his hand to slap her cheek a few times.
Clara's mouth hung open in shock, her hand grazed the flush mark on her cheek. "Don't you care if Gilder's dead?" she spluttered.
"Of course I do, he's me Cap'in." Rodney replied matter-of-factly. "I care if he's dead, but that's a big 'if,' Miss. I'm thinkin' we'll be lucky an' we'll find Cap'in Gilder on the other side of this crushed wall."
"I—I think you're right, Rodney." Clara looked at him, her eyes steeled with a newfound determination, her unshed tears a memory.
"Course I'm right." Rodney said.
"Belle!" Clara commanded. "Nara! Lilly! We've got work to do!"
The three girls scurried out of the Primrose, all wearing matching mittens and earmuffs. Belle reached Clara first and offered a salute.
"Captain?" the girls said in unison.
"My man is on the other side of this mound of shattered ice." Clara said with a hint of calculated fanaticism. "We are going to dig him out."
"How romantic!" Nara gave an excited swoon.
Lilly giggled as she made her way towards the wreckage. Belle looked at Clara expectantly.
"Do you ladies need any help?" Rodney asked.
Clara shook her head. "The crew of the Primrose will be fine here." she said. "I want the Claudia to fly out of here as fast as she can to Crescent Isle."
"What do you expect us to do at Crescent Isle, Miss Clara." Rodney wondered.
"Ask Vyse the Legend for assistance." Clara replied. "The girls and I will start clearing out the debris here, but we're going to need help. Vyse can make use of his Cutlass Fury and Miss Fina can cast magic. In a worse case scenario we'll also need medicine, bandages, splints and blankets. And hot chocolate. Lots of hot chocolate. Is that clear?"
"Aye aye, Miss." Rodney saluted Clara before he jogged back to the Claudia.
Clara could vaguely hear Rodney's crude shouts as he gathered his crew to race to Crescent Isle, but her mind was elsewhere. She brushed a ringlet of hair from her face and grabbed a large chunk of ice.
"Gilder, I'm coming darling." Clara promised.