Sun was searching high and low for you across the ship. He didn't have a special job for you or anything, he just wanted to ask if you wanted a personal tour of Shallow's Isle while the repairs and resupply were finishing up.

The isle was lively with the sound of thunderous feet against wood and people yelling against the wind. The sun shined brightly on everyone, and it made the sea sparkle like it was dancing with diamonds. It was a hot day, but not too badly in Sun's opinion.

Sighing, and exhausting all his options, the solar being turned to the first person he could ask for help and it turned out to be his partner Moon.

"Hello, Moonsugar! Can you help me?"

Moon was standing at the stern of the ship's deck. He was looking out at the sea before his attention was caught by Sun.

Moon gave his brighter counter part a soft smile, "What do you need help with?"

"I can't find Starlight. Have you seen them anywhere?"

Moon's smile shrunk a bit.

A particularly strong gust of wind forced the two captains to hold their big fancy hats to their heads.

"They're up there," Moon said as he pointed up.

Sun looked up to where Moon was pointing, and he could see you leaning slightly out of the crow's nest as you were looking through a spy glass out into the isle. You were wrapped up in your cloak, the sight made even Sun feel stifled despite how much he liked the heat.

Sun grumbled at the sight as the wind died down and said, "They like heights almost as much as you do."

"Mmm. Why are you looking for them?"

Sun turned to look at his partner, "I wanted to give them a tour. Sure, Monty took them out to his family's Inn, but they haven't left the boat since. I thought they'd like to go and explore a bit more before we depart."

"Okay. But why do you want to do it yourself? I'm sure if they want, they could ask any of our other crew members to guide them."

"I just want to get to know them more and talk with them more," Sun stated simply.

"Mmm. Sun?"

"Yah?"

"We've known them barely for a month. Are you wanting to court them already?"

Sun immediately hid his little head flaps around his face to keep them from giving him away as he said, "Moon! What? I—No! I just want to get to know them more. Be better friends. I know I tend to love easily Moon b-but—."

"I know. I know," Moon said, trying to calm him down. The lunar being placed a soothing hand on his shoulder, "I'm just worried. Even if it's a misunderstanding or an accident, I don't like the idea of them hurting you."

Sun sighed. Then he took Moon's hand off his shoulder and held it in both of his. "I appreciate your worry about my feelings, but maybe you shouldn't worry so much about it. Have you tried initiating any kind of conversation with them, besides when you were apologizing to them about our behavior towards them?"

The lunar being was silent as he looked down.

"Moon…"

He sighed, then said, "No. I haven't really attempted anything besides that. I feel like they need their distance from me."

"Moonsugar, I'm pretty sure they're avoiding you because you're avoiding them."

Moon groaned out a sigh as he looked back up at Sun and said, "They're so complicated."

"People are like that." Then Sun brought Moon's hand up to his forehead as a loving gesture.

"Yah," he sighed, sounding calmer.

The two of them stood like that for a while, enjoying each other's silence and comforting presence.

Moon then said, "You know. I won't be mad if you do decide to try and court this interdimensional being."

Sun gave him a flustered look. His little triangle flaps around his head shivered, but he still held Moon's hand to his forehead.

"I mean it. I just don't think they'll like me all that much."

"You know I won't go for anyone if they can't like you too, but I'm sure you'll both like each other more if you tired to actually talk with them," Sun said finally putting down Moon's hand.

Moon placed his hands on his hips as he looked down at the ground again.

"Moonsugar. Please? For me?"

Moon sighed, then he looked back up at his partner and said, "Okay. Okay. No need to beg. I'll try soon. Maybe we can join the crew when we go out for drinks or something."

Sun gave his lunar counterpart his biggest smile.

Then Sun said, "Now I just have to climb up there," his posture drooped at the mere idea of having to climb up the mast.

"Allow me," Moon said.

Then Moon brough his second finger and thumb up to his lips and a piercing whistle filled the air. Sun watched you turn towards the sound and Sun waved enthusiastically at you and motioned for you to climb down.

You nodded your head at him and started to work your way down.

"Welp. Have a good day. I'm going to go with Foxy to the community pool to see the new hatchlings."

"Have fun," Sun said as he waved goodbye to Moon and watched him walk away.

Sun then moseyed his way over to the rope ladder you were making your way down from.

You fall the last couple of feet to the deck. Then you face him, while drawing your hood back far enough for Sun to see your face, and you said, "What can I do for you Captain?"

"Would you like to go tour the isle with me?"

Sun saw you tense up at the idea and you pulled your cloak's hood back over your face.

"I don't think that's a good idea. Not while it's sunny out at least."

Sun considered you and the obvious fear you had. It's odd. Sun acknowledges that people would freak out about you being here, but since him and the crew all, already had their freak out moment, it kind of makes him think the whole world has already freaked out about you with him. It's something he's going to have to work on to remember.

Sun crouched down in front of you.

"Well… I'm not going to force you to leave the ship… but I don't want you having to feel like you have to be afraid to be here. Is there something that you've seen up there that you'd like to see in person?"

You were silent for a bit, and he watched you drum your fingers on the side of your hooded head.

"Is there a tattoo artist here?" You ask.

"There is. Do you want to wait until night fall to see them or do you want to go now?"

You rolled your shoulders then you let out a breath.

"Let's go see them now. I want to see how they all do things here."

Sun stood up with a smile.

"Okay. Let's go. We can also get some food at the market if you like," Sun offered while he offered his hand to you.

You took a second, but then you grabbed his hand in both of yours.

Sun marveled at how small and soft your hands were. It was fun. He wanted to feel all the other soft places you could have on you, but he won't. You just started letting him do these small touches with him, he's not about to ruin that by being pushy again.

"Thank you for accompanying me."

"Thanks for the invitation," you mumble.

Sun smiled wider.

The two of you walk off and down to the dock and make your way to the inner isle. Sun had to walk slower than usual since his legs were so much longer than yours, and it was a little bit awkward for him with the way you were holding on to him, but he adjusted to it easily enough.

Sun squinted up at the sky and blocked the light from his eyes with one hand. It really was getting hot today. Sun looked down at you and guessed that you were smothered under that cloak. Sun paused for a moment to get his bearings. The boats and rope bridges were full of people, so that was unavoidable, but the garden boats looked like the least traveled path of the day. It'll be slightly shady with the palm trees too, so that'll be good for you.

Sun started moving again and you followed along. Soon the garden boats made the daily noise seem muffled and the grip you had on his hand relaxed a bit. Sun smiled at that. The solar being looked around at the garden boats that the two of you walked along in. All of them plant palm trees, of course, but besides that some boats specialized in certain plants.

Sun recognized a few of them. The yellow and red spotted tubers called potatoes. The bushes full of white sea apples. The deep browns and blues of wheat grass. It was good to see that North Shallow's Isle was doing well in its agriculture.

Sun shivered at the memory of the food shortages he grew up with.

The solar being paused when he felt you let go of him. He looked down at you and he saw that you had started walking towards the boat's shrine. Sun followed you. Then he watched you bend down and gently cup the sacred flower and smell it. You're fingers ghosted the eight white flower petals and its green leaves before settling in the dirt. Your hands smoothing the soil down into swirling patterns.

Finally, Sun asked, "What are you doing?"

You spasm like you had forgotten where you were. You retract your hands and hug them to your chest, but you don't move away from the shrine.

Sounding apologetic, you said, "I—I'm being silly. I just really like the look of this flower. Its petals have a pretty rainbow affect and it's cool."

Sun hummed at you as he bent down beside you to pay his respects.

"Do you know what this flower is called?"

"It has several names, but my favorite," Sun paused for dramatic effect, "is Zulon's Heart."

He heard you snicker, then you said, "Of course it's called that." You were silent for a second then said, "The heart of your planet looks beautiful."

Sun's smile softened at that.

"Is there anywhere that I can buy a bouquet of these? I'd like to make a flower crown out of them."

"Whoa!" Sun stood up, shocked by your audacity, "That's not something you can ask."

You stood up with him and you pulled back your cloak's hood a bit to look up at Sun. Your brows were furrowed, and your mouth was drawn in a thin frown.

"Oh. I'm sorry. Can I ask why?"

Sun took a deep breath. He's got to remind himself that you're not being disrespectful on purpose.

You cover your face again and take his hand in both of yours as you wait for him to answer.

"Zulon's Heart is a sacred flower. Growing them is a lot of hard work and the seeds are passed down from generation to generation though the families of gardeners."

"Oh."

The two of you start walking again.

"Were you a gardener before you became a sailor/pirate?" you asked.

"No. I wanted to marry a farmer's daughter a long and far away ago."

"Was that before or after you met Captain Moon?"

Sun could hear the slightly playful tone to your voice.

"It was before."

"Oh man. Moon must have pulled the rug out from under your feet if he managed to steal your heart and make you want to go sailing as a job," you mused.

Sun laughed at what you said, surprise and giddiness and a bit of melancholy mixed in his heart as he laughed loudly and long.

"Okay… Okay! What's so funny? What'd I say wrong!?"

Sun started hic-uping as he tried to stop laughing so hard, "No. No. No. It's not—hic—you! I—hic—I'm just f-flattered that, that you think Moon—hic—was the one to romance me."

"Oh? And why not?"

"We met during a hard time in everyone's life," Sun said, sobering up, "He wasn't willing to trust me all that much in the beginning."

"Aaaa… I see… I doubt it took you too long to get his trust though. You are quite the charmer," you say.

Sun put a hand over his chest and silently awed at you. Then a mischievous smile stretched across his face as he bent down low enough to almost whisper in your ear.

"So, you think I'm charming?"

"Yah! Especially when you keep your hands to yourself."

"…Oh…"

Now you started laughing at his defeated tone of voice and that made the solar being straighten a bit. Your laughter made him smile even though he still wanted to pout a bit more.

After a few more minutes of idle chatting, Sun successfully led you to the boat that does tattoos.

Walking below deck, it was lit by several lanterns, giving the usually dark area a soft warm glow. Unfortunately, it wasn't any cooler below deck and even Sun was pulling at his shirt collar at how stuffy it was in the boat.

After the stairs they walked straight ahead into a room without a door and there were a few people inside. At one corner was two alligators talking about getting matching tattoos to a frog. In another corner a toad was currently getting a tattoo of a oogoole destroying a ship on his back, the artist being a hippo. Watching over all of it was a gator woman, who was obviously the captain of this ship because of the big fancy hat on their head.

Sun tipped his fancy hat to them, captain to captain. They didn't return the gesture as they walked up to Sun and you.

"Hello," their voice was high and reedy, "What are you looking for?"

As you spoke up, Sun felt you grip his pantleg, "Um. I'd like to get a tattoo of the flower Zulon's Heart. If that's okay?"

The gator woman looked down at you and then they looked up questioningly at Sun. Sun only shrugged.

"Okay," they said looking down at your covered form, "Let's talk about what skin I'll be working on."

Sun stood close to you as you nervously spoke to the captain of the ship. You explained what you wanted and when you want it done, specifying that you don't want anyone to see you. You just wanted a simple little tattoo on your arm.

The gator woman captain agreed to all of what you wanted, even though each weird request you added made them look up at Sun, asking with their eyes if this is normal. Sun only smiled at them.

"Okay. You can come back later tonight. I'll do the tattooing for you since I have the fastest and steadiest hands here and based on your description, it will take an hour or less to tattoo it on you."

Sun heard your purse clicking as you untied it.

"Thank you for your time, Ma'am. How much should I pay you?"

"I haven't done anything yet," they said.

Even Sun was looking at you in confusion.

"No. I know," you said as you started pulling out a few quartzers, "This is just the down payment and for the time you took to work this out with me." You pulled out four quartzers and displayed them towards the captain on your cloth covered hand, "Will this be enough?"

Sun watched the captain with a scrutinized eye. You were offering way too much money for something so simple. Sun only knew of this boat's work through Pigpatch. The pig never said anything about how much he pays for the works he has done on him.

The captain of the tattoo boat looked at Sun for just a second before they took one quartzer and said, "This will do. Thank you."

Sun relaxed only a little bit, but he got the feeling that if he wasn't here, the captain would have taken more than that. Sun didn't like swindlers or liars.

"Thank you, Ma'am. I'll see you later tonight then."

They nodded and Sun grabbed you by your elbow and started dragging you up to the deck.

Once the two of you were on the deck you asked, "Hey. Are you okay? You're gripping me kind of tight. Was I rude by accident or something?"

Sun loosened his grip and he slid is hand up to your opposite shoulder and he pulled you close against him. Your head resting comfortably against his hip as the two of you kept walking.

"No, but we need to have a serious talk about how you handle your money."

"You know, that would be great." You said sounding tired.

Sun taught you how to use the money when you two went to the food stall boats. You managed to get the general idea quickly and you learned about the barter system for more broad goods like how all the clay that they dug up was used to pay for the supplies that they get on the ship.

Sun wanted to walk around with you more, but the two of you almost got roped into an Agony Cultist's speech to join their party and you also said you were starting to feel a little woozy under your cloak, so Sun led you back to the Crusty Waters.

Once on the boat, Sun watched you jog towards the stairs that lead below deck. You immediately shucked off your cloak once you were in the shade and cover of the stairs and you were fanning your self with your hands as you slid down the wall to sit.

Your hair was matted and dark against your head and you looked flushed like you were sick. Sun felt bad. He probably should have taken you back to the ship sooner. If only you could walk around without worrying about how other people will react to you. Then you and Sun could have had more fun together.

# # #

The night was a relief to you. Sure, you were still stuffy under your cloak as Sun led you back to that tattoo boat, but at least the night breeze was cooler than it was during the day.

People were still out and about despite the night, but they were frequenting the Inns and food stalls of the boat areas than just milling about all over the place, so it was easy for you and Sun to find the two of you alone more often than not. There was only the distant sound of chatter to remind you that you were on a floating city.

Speaking of a floating city. You were starting to wonder where these people get all the wood they need to make boats like this, since there is no land and therefore are incapable of growing forests. Like sure there were palm trees growing on every ship and not just on the garden boats, but trees take forever to grow properly… Unless that's not the case here.

You finally decided to just ask.

"Hey, Captain Sun."

"Yes?"

"How do you guys make wooden boats without trees?" You motion towards the palm trees the two of you were walking by.

"Well, we do make boats out of the trees."

"Really?"

"Not with the physical tree itself," Sun clarified, "and I don't know how the process is done, but the coconuts that grow from the palm trees are harvested every other month and then they are processed and compressed into planks or masts or anything else that we need on a boat. Gosh. Imagine if we made boats out of actual trees. We wouldn't have as many boats as we do today."

"Oh. Cool."

"There also another way to make boats, but that's too awful to talk about," Sun added quickly.

"Oh…"

There was a moment of silence as the two of you kept walking through the lantern lit boats.

Sun asked, "So the world you're from has boats."

"Yep."

"And they are all made out of trees?"

"No. Not all of the boats. Some are made of a special plastic that floats on water just as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't decompose very well so when a plastic boat is torn apart it choaks the environment instead of returning to it."

"Oh… How is it made? Do you know?"

"Nope. And that's for the best."

The two of you continued to talk. Sun eventually asked you for some stories from your world and you told him the name of some classic kid stories, offering to tell him the story that he picks, and he picks the story of Little Red Riding Hood.

You were halfway through the story when the two of you were standing at the stairs of the tattoo boat.

Sun had started walking down it without you as you stayed where you were.

You were staring down the stairs, debating whether this was a good or bad idea… Well, actually, this was a bad idea, but was it worth the risk? You don't have to get a tattoo. You don't need one. You should just be staying on the boat, but you don't want to be on the boat for forever. You want something to remind you of this place if… when you get home.

You're sure you've already made the tattoo artist suspicious of you and hell, this isn't just your life you're risking by getting this tattoo, it's everyone's life on the ship. What if things go wrong? What will they do to you? To the crew that are covering for you?

"Starlight?"

You jump at being addressed by Sun. His round face was visible from the bottom of the stairs.

"What's wrong?"

You lowed, like a cow, "Mmmmmm—I don't think I should do this anymore. I don't think it's safe."

Sun walked back up the stairs.

"Okay. Let's go."

He had grabbed your shoulder and was turning you around with him when the two of you heard a voice.

"Oh, hello. Are you ready?" the tattoo artist asked as you heard clawed scaley feet climb up the stairs behind you.

Before Sun could answer, you did a one-eighty and said in a cheerful voice, "Yep! Can't wait."

You heard Sun sputter behind you a bit.

You felt bad. You didn't want to be rude. It'd be rude to just not show up, which is why you insisted on paying a down payment since you weren't sure about your plan from the beginning, but to just turn your back on this hard-working person, while they were in front of you, made you feel even worst.

You didn't know how to say that to your Captain currently as you followed behind the tattoo artist.

Soon you heard Sun following behind you.

The stuffy, deck bellow wasn't lit as brightly as the inn Monty took you to, but it was lit enough that you could see where you were going and what you were doing. The soft lighting was only slightly brighter than moonlight. Unfortunately, it made your eyes think there were people or things hiding in the darker corners of the room.

There was a chair for you to sit in with a stool next to it. A small table sat between the two chairs with black liquid in a cup, a clean but used rag, and a long needle that had a well inside it like an old-fashioned dipping pin. You internally groaned. You imagine your pain tolerance is pretty good, but you were starting to doubt it with the look of that needle the tattoo artist was going to use.

The tattoo artist sat on the stool and from under your hood, you could see her patting the chair across from her. You got the picture as you went over and sat down. Sun stood beside you.

From under your hood, you watched scaley clawed hands confidently prepare for their work. You pulled your left arm out and leaned against the table. You saw the scaley hands pause and you started to feel nervous. Sun cleared his throat, and the hands continued their preparation.

With a steady dip into the ink, the tattoo artist then brought the needle to your arm, and you took in a sharp intake of breath at the feeling of the slight burn from the ink and the needle going deep into your skin. You hold still though, and soon you're able to compartmentalize the pain and shove it to the back of your head as you hummed under your breath, all while Sun and the tattoo artist made small talk.

In one hour, like promised, your tattoo was finished. You looked down at the side of your left bicep and admired your palm sized flower tattoo. The stylization of Zulon's Heart made it look like it was fluttering in the wind, despite it being only line art. It looked really good.

You pull out five quartzer from your purse and hand them to the tattoo artist.

"Thank you. This is lovely."

"Oh! This is too much," she quickly said, sounding hesitant.

"I know," you said as you lay the quartzers down on the table, "I'm just really happy with your work. Have a good night."

You stand up and pop your arm back under your cloak and you feel Sun's hands on your shoulders as the two of you walk out and up the stairs. It was a relief to get out of the stuffy boat and even though your arm still hurt, you were glad you got the tattoo.

You were now on the Crusty Waters.

You were in the ship's dining area, by yourself, gently cleaning your freshly tattooed arm and wrapping it lightly in gauze. You were humming to yourself as you worked. You really do love the art, but more specifically that flower. You don't know what it was about it but looking at that flower on that ship made your heart sing. You wish you could have a whole garden of them.

Satisfied with your work. You pick up your used items, drape your cloak over one arm, pick up your lantern with the other hand, and start putting away everything. As you're putting away your makeshift medical supplies you heard a ruckus on the deck. You wondered if the rest of the crew was celebrating the finishing of the ship's repairs and the going back out to sea.

Once you had everything put away, you put your cloak back on and walk towards the stairs. From the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the deck, you could hear that the ruckus was less jubilant and more argumentative.

You blow the flame out from your lantern and set it on a random hook on the wall, then you creep up the stairs on your hands and knees to see what all the fighting was about.

Peaking over the top of the stairs, you saw Foxy, Monty, Chika, and Captain Moon arguing with a few strange animal people that were half on the ship and half on the board walk. There were probably even more people out on the dock with how loud it was.

Oh no, you thought. You've officially pushed your luck here too far. Someone on the crew has told tales about you and that tattoo artist spread the word about your weird arm or whatever. You've got to find a hiding spot.

You pull the hood of your cloak over your face. Then staying close to the ground and hugging the shadows, you make your way over to the rope ladder that would let you climb up to the crow's nest.

Was it the smartest move to trap yourself in a high platform? No it wasn't. But you weren't thinking of the smartest move, you wanted to be where you felt safest, and you felt the safest in a high area.

The crew and captain of the Crusty Waters argued with the people that were trying to push their way further onto the boat. They sounded like those Agony Cultists that you've heard crying out their propaganda.

As you were sneaking, you heard Chika squawk and heavy feet running on wood. You look up to see a robed fox running towards you.

You scramble to run away but just as your hands and feet touch the rough rope you feel clawed hands wrap around your waist and pull you down.

"Let go of me!" You shout as you kick and struggled.

They used one arm to pin your arms back as they walked you towards the other side of the boat where everyone else was.

As you struggled, you could see from under your cloak's hood that the crew that was present and Captain Moon were unmoving, but you weren't sure why, until the robed fox guy pulled your hood back and you saw that the Agony Cultists had guns and knives pointed at everyone.

You saw mostly gators and frogs and toads dressed up in purple robes, with a rabbit among them.

You were terrified.

What where they going to do to the crew and this boat? What were they going to do to you?

A robed gator stepped up to you as you struggled. There were tears in her eyes and she spoke in a high, reedy voice, "It's finally time."

Huh?

The gator grabbed your face gently and said, "You'll set us free."

You stilled in your struggle.

What?

"What?" Captain Moon and the crew asked.

You're unable to say anything as you gawk.

"Franny. Put them down," the gator woman commanded as she let go of your face.

The fox woman put you down gently on the ground.

You didn't attempt to move. You were in too much shock.

The gator women bowed to you and all the other robed figures that didn't have a weapon against your crew followed her lead.

"We've been searching for someone like you for a long time. You will finally bring an end to all are suffering. We apologize for your mishandling, but we had to be sure. What do you want us to do with these nonbelievers?"

Oooooooooh this is so dangerous. You barely even heard of this cult and they're already trying to make you into some kind of godly figure head.

Your brain was thinking rapid fire, but your mouth was stumbling over itself.

"Uh-um. To uh, leave them be," you manage out as you try to remember what little of their speeches you've heard, "They can't escape from the plan that's set-in motion?"

You don't know if the cultists register your uncertainty or if they don't care. But the gator woman nods and motions for everyone to start heading out.

The gator woman puts a strong hand on your back and said, "Follow us this way, Our Key. We'll set sail for our leader's position tomorrow morning."

You smile nervously as you pull the hood of your cloak back over your head and try to lean away from her touch. You catch Captain Moon's eye as he's gawking at what's happening.

You mouth, "Run," at him, before you're led over the edge of the boat and down the ramp towards the dock.

You weren't paying attention as the gator woman talked about how she knew you weren't from their world the moment you uncovered yourself for the tattoo. You were trying to figure out when it would be the best time to run away.

If the Crusty Waters crew is left alone like the gator woman is implying that she's doing, then they should be long gone by the time you're able to run. So that means trying to find a good enough hiding spot to lay low in before you can… do… something? Where would you go? Where can you go? It's not like you can steal a rowboat and navigate the sea. You don't know how to navigate via the stars.

You were mentally cursing being on a water planet and feeling the hopelessness you felt when you first climbed the crow's nest all those weeks ago.

Then you noticed that the gator woman was taking you down below the deck of a ship that was on the outskirts of the isle of ships. With only a few ropes and rope bridges connecting the rickety ship to the other ships, it could easily depart from the isle with a few quick cuts to them.

As you walked down into the bowels of the ship, you asked, "I won't be down here for long, will I? I need to keep an eye on the stars to stay connected to the world around me."

You hope you sound convincing. You don't want to be boxed in with no way to bail.

"If that is what you need, then of course you may go back up on deck, Our Key, but first I must show you to the rest of our group here on the Isle," the gator woman stated, "My crew is eager to see you."

"Yay," you said with as much enthusiasm as you could.

The hood of your cloak was once again ripped away from you as you face a crowd of animal people, all of them wearing purple robes or wearing purple make-up or anything purple.

You nodded along as the crowd spoke to you. As they told you about their woes and the hope they have at the sight of you, you felt bad for these people. They were obviously being used. You don't know what they are being used for, but with the way they tell you how you'll end their suffering and bring them back together with their families, it doesn't bode well for you.

You try to play up your part just so they don't get suspicious of you leaving, but you were worried that they would start taking off despite saying they'll leave in the morning.

An exhausting long night later, you were allowed back onto the deck.

It was still dark, but the tell-tell sign of the sun rising was evident by the pink-ish orange light dusting the darkness's horizon. You weren't alone on the deck like you had hoped. You were being watched over by the fox woman that had captured you previously.

As you were loosely walking around the deck, trying to get closer and closer to the edge of the boat with out suspicion. You were humming quietly to yourself to make yourself feel better.

You honestly doubted that the Crusty Waters crew would try to save you and you did tell them to run, so you hope they did, but you wish that you could have been with them a bit longer.

You hop onto the boat's railing and sit while swinging your legs back and forth. You smile and wave at the fox woman. She nods at you. Then when she looked away you leaned back and fell overboard.

The shock of the cold water almost took your breath away, but you swam as fast as you could with your cloak on under the water. You didn't resurface until you were on the other side of a different boat.

When you resurfaced between the cracks of two boats, you could hear the panic from the rickety boat that the Agony Cultists were going through. Taking another breath, you dive back under water and keep moving. Even if it was useless, and it hurt your eyes, you kept your eyes open underwater just so you knew you were heading in isle.

Every time you resurfaced for air you could hear the ruckus that the Agony Cultist people were making. You wish you could discard your cloak, but you'll need it to keep yourself covered when you get out of the water.

Eventually, you come across a netted area. Through your blurry vision you could see tiny little creatures swimming lazily about. From what you could tell, it also led to a place of solid ground.

You grip the netting with both hands and a foot, then force it open with a dull tearing sound. Then you squeezed yourself through the hole.

The lazy swimmers on the other side of the net became more frantic but some of them came closer to you. Through your blurry vision you saw a gator about the size of a two-year-old human.

Oh, no! You thought to yourself. This is that community baby holder place that Monty was talking about.

You resurface quickly to get some air, then you dived back down to the hole you made. You shooed away the kids that were curiously looking through the hole, then you took off your belt and as quickly and securely as you could, you sewed up the hole.

You got out of the baby pool as soon as you could, but the kids making noise at your appearance had alerted the adults watching over the area and the Agony Cultists that were chasing you.

You got rid of your pants, since you didn't have our belt anymore and they were just dragging you down, and your ran over the decks of various ships. Ducking down and hiding in the shadows and hanging off the side of boats as best as you could.

You were hesitating about whether you should go into someone's ship to hide in the laundry room or something, when you felt clawed, scaley hands wrap around your arms and over your mouth. You scream on reflex as you are pulled backwards into the darkness of some dense foliage that was growing on the garden ship you were on. You were glad that your scream was muffled, because not long after you were dragged into the foliage, a group of Agony Cultists were looking around for you before moving on.

The person holding you sighed in relief then said, "Sorry we're meeting each other again on such bad terms, Cher."

Their grip loosened and you turn around to see a gator woman with long red hair like Monty has, but it's in a braid instead of up in a mohawk.

Your eyes widen at the sight, "Val?"

"The one and only," she said with a wink.

You realized your hood was down and you bring it up and over your face.

"You're helping me?"

"Of course. Monty and the rest of the Crusty Waters asked for help, but I would have lent a hand if I found out about this before they asked. Now come on. Let's get you away from this Isle."

Taking your hand, Val leads you over and, sometimes, through the boats of the isle. Expertly weaving and winding her way to a destination you trusted would be safe.

As the sun started to jut its head over the horizon, you saw that Val had led you to a far side of the isle that looked abandoned but cared for. On the deck of one of these boats, you saw a few people standing by a hanging rowboat that had people waiting in it.

You immediately recognized the figures in the rowboat.

"Chika! Monty!"

You run at them, flinging yourself overboard and flopping onto the side of the rowboat.

You're picked up by feathery hands and are immediately embraced.

"Oh! Chick-a-pea! We were so worried about you."

Chika's swinging you side to side as she hugs you tightly.

Your hood to your cloak falls back and Monty took his chance to rough up your hair as Chika hugged you.

You said, "I'm so happy to see you guys! I thought you all left!"

"We weren't going to leave you behind, Sug'," Chika said.

Monty rumbled his agreement.

There were a few murmurings behind you, and you look over your shoulder at a frog, a black bear, and a withered old looking gator gawking at you. Val's smiling a toothy smile at the three of you.

You wiggle out of Chika's grip and pull your hood back over your face.

"Thank you everyone for helping to set this up and thank you for leading me here Val. Also, I broke into the child sanctuary area so please get someone to fix the netting properly, and soon, okay?"

The frog staggered at that, then lightly bapped at the black bear, "Let's go take care of that."

The two of them run off while Monty talks to the grandpa looking gator and Val.

"I'll see you guys around next time, though, we may avoid coming here for a while," Monty said.

"We know you'll be taken care of," the older gator said.

"Head bump!"

Val and Monty head butted each other. Their scales clacking as they did.

Then Val turned to you and said, "It was good to actually see your face."

"Are you sure about that," you asked.

Chika and Monty were lowering the rowboat.

The old gator and Val leaned over the railing of the boat to watch the three of you lower into the water.

"Of course. It's not everyday you get to see an interdimensional creature like the people do from the legends. Keep them safe from Sirens for me will, ya?"

You raise your hands up at the gator woman and yelled, "That was a fluke!"

You could hear their laughter over the sound of the rowboat splashing into the sea.

Monty waved at them, "Bye!"

Chika started rowing away.

There was a few moments of Monty loudly waving goodbye to his family. Then there was silence.

Monty took a seat by Chika to help with the rowing and Monty asked you a question.

"So, what happened to your pants?"