The First Storm

"Oi, Lawrence! You alright?"

Flora squinted against the howling wind blowing onto her face. For a moment she thought she felt something familiar. An unsettling feeling in her chest…

"Lawrence?"

A scarred hand waved in front of her, and Flora blinked out of her stupor. "A-aye, Alan? What is it?"

"You drowned out there for a bit," Alan, the woodcarver Flora met on her first day at sea, said. "You alright?"

The uncanny gusts whipped harshly against Flora's back, causing her to hunch forward and fight keep her balance. "I-I will be alright." She assured half-heartedly. "Let's step to this."

"Oog, finally!" Alan tightened his hold on the mast, "I don' like bein' up here truth be told. No good with heights."

Flora took a gander below her and immediately pulled back. Frankly, she did not have a fear of heights, but she could definitely understand why others would. "It's not so bad, really," she tried to say passively, "but let's be quick, this wind is gettin' worse."

Over a week had passed since Flora began her new life at sea, and with each new day, the girl found herself getting more and more comfortable with the Glory's crew and her duties.

It wasn't all blissful of course. Every night she went to bed bruised and aching from her tasks, and more often than not she had to get up a mere few hours later to do it all over again. Some of the food rations were already going bad, just as the crew said it would, and it was getting increasingly difficult to stay out of trouble, and keep her true identity a secret. Multiple times her bandana nearly came loose, which caused her crew mates to double take before she straightened it back out.

Have to be more careful! Flora had thought ruthlessly before she was struck by a pang of melancholy. It reminded her that she was living a lie. No matter how great a sailor she may become one day, and no matter how close she may get to the crew, there will always be a wedge between them.

The thought made her heart ache, in fact having to lie every day in general clenched her emotions into a tight, painful ball, but what could she do?

Unless a day comes where I can reveal myself, I will remain Lawrence the poor sailor boy. Flora firmly decided, and tried to move on from the matter.

Besides, she had to look on the bright side of her new life! Even if the every day tasks-from the mundane to the exciting-made her work down to the bone, she enjoyed it. She liked the hard work; it was certainly more thrilling than watching others doing it from afar.

Her crew mates were also more interesting to be around than any land-lubbing nobles badgering each other during teatime. Each of them had their own story as to why they were there, wither it'd be working simply for the money, a family or life back home, or in Milo's case, heeding the call of the sea with no true intentions of returning to land.

"It'd be a calling not all sailors have, the Captain being a perfect example," Milo had explained the day Flora got to take the crow's nest for the first time. "It's something you feel inside. It soars when you're out here." He gestured to the endless blue around them, "It's a sign you belong, some have said, that the sea is your home." He'd laughed then, "Or it's a sign of utter madness, maybe both!"

Flora soaked the words like a child listening to a bedtime story. Hearing Milo talk about such feelings, similar to what she had felt her entire life, made her heart soar with longing. I wonder if this is how grandpa used to feel, she often thought, I wonder…if this is what mother and father felt as well.

With each day, between the hard work and associating herself more with the crew, Flora felt as though she were growing closer to discovering her true nature, and finding her true family.

But, as she would soon find out, there was more to challenging the seas than the typical duties of a sailor and cabin boy….

"Hold it there…" Flora strained as she tried to sew the hole in the sail shut. "I've almost-got it…"

"Hurry it up," Alan urged pitifully, doing his best to grip the sail while trying not to look down at the same time. The woodcarver sighed with immense relief once the hole was stitched shut, and would've leaned back if he weren't up so high up on the main mast. "That's done, now let's get-" The sailor paused when he noticed Flora had gone stiff again. "Lawrence…?"

There it was; there was no mistaking it now…

Flora instinctively clutched her chest, her tanned face paling as her blood turned to ice.

The feeling of unease had returned, the same one she had felt mere hours before the Barton settlement was destroyed.

No…

"Lawrence? Is somethin' wrong?" Alan's question went ignored as Flora frantically whirled from left to right, eyes wide like a frightened animal. Something was different this time; the feeling was tearing her in two different directions! For what!? Her mind roared, and where?!

Her heartbeat raced as she searched desperately for the source. There were too many sails in the way; she couldn't see anything from the masts! She had to go down.

"Lawrence? Boy?! Are ya' even listening to me?" Alan's mouth went dry when Flora grabbed hold of a nearby rope, and slid her way back down to the main deck. "OI! Lawrence! Where are ya goin'?!"

Flora seethed and flailed her hands once she landed on the Glory's deck. Hastily sliding down a line like that burned, even sliced, the palm of one's hands if they weren't careful, but at the moment Flora could care less.

The wind slammed against her back, nearly plummeting her onto the floorboards as the sails billowed overhead. The girl pulled herself upright, struggling to keep her bearings when she suddenly heard a seagull call from above. Flora glanced upright and watched as the single white bird soared straight for her. The gull swooped past her head, barely grazing her bandana with its webbed feet, and flew on towards the bow. Flora's eyes followed in its direction, and her heart plunged into her gut.

A massive storm was brewing a few leagues away from the Glory, clouds as dark as the night stretching out on all sides like the wings of a monstrous bird.

That is it…Chills prickled Flora's skin as lightning struck out from the void ahead. This was one of the sources of the unease tightening in her chest, but if this was only one, then what was…?

"Master Lawrence!" Milo suddenly barked from behind, and for once Flora did not flinch. "Fetch the Captain and bring him on deck, now!"

The girl didn't need to be told twice to comply, "Yes sir!" Thunder roared overhead like a waking beast as Flora dove for the captain's quarters. A moment later, Wilbur stepped out on deck, holding his hand out like a shield against the battering wind. "What is it, Master Milo?!"

"We got ourselves a mighty gale brewing ahead," the first mate answered before pointing out beyond the stern. "But that's not all."

"Not all?" Wilbur took out his spyglass and followed Milo's gesture. His jaw slacked, "We're being trailed?"

Trailed? By who? Flora stood beside the two men and took out her own spyglass-Grandfather's spyglass, she corrected herself-to look as well.

Dread spilled into her gullet. There were two ships headed in their direction, one on the port side, the other starboard. Both carried the same sickly aura, rotten hull, and tattered seaweed sails as the Harkaway. The same war frigate that destroyed Flora's old home.

Dread bled into fear as Flora's limbs shook in pure disbelief, He found me!

Yet beneath that fear, there was fury. A powerful, seething rage simmering within her like a volcano ready to blow. She lowered the spyglass, eyes flashing like the violent storm behind her, and lips curling into a beastly snarl. One word pulsed against her dark mind like the heavy beating of her heart: Vengeance.

"Pirates no doubt. They'll be on us within the hour the rate they're gaining." Milo turned to the Captain, his voice eerily calm. "It's either the storm or the buccaneers. What do you suggest we do?"

"We fight."

Milo swiveled onto Flora, briefly forgetting she was there. "What did you say, boy?"

"We fight!" The cabin boy growled. "I'll go ready the guns!"

"Are you mad?!" Wilbur wrenched hold of Flora's shoulders before she could storm off below decks. "This is a merchant vessel, lad! We won't stand a chance!"

Flora thrashed, trying and failing to free herself from the Captain's grasp. "We-have to fight!" She brayed, "They killed my grandfather!"

"Stow it!" Wilbur turned the enraged teenager around and smacked her across the face, "That's an order! Know your place!"

The girl fell limp, a bright red spot burning on the cheek where she'd been slapped.

"Captain's right, lad," Milo said, his composure stable. "Know your place, or it's the cat for you! This is not the time to let your feelings get the better of you!"

You must learn to put your feelings aside and focus on what is more important…

Her grandfather's words rang through her ears like the toll of a haunted bell. Grandpa…

The words from the past lulled the fiery rage, and though it did not quench it, it was enough to see reason…Flora slouched, the tension in her muscles easing. "Yes sirs…"

The Captain breathed and released his hold on the girl. "Thank goodness for that." He took a gander out by the stern, toward the following vessels, and then forwards by the prow, to the oncoming storm.

"Orders, sir?" Milo asked.

A gust of wind took Wilbur's hat off, and he quickly snatched it back before it could be swept out to sea. "What choice do we have?" He sighed as though admitting defeat. "We take the gale."

"Mister Lawrence! Are the life lines secure?!"

Flora checked the lifelines for what felt like the tenth time. Every knot was tight, and every member of the crew, including herself, were strapped in. "Life lines secured, Captain!" She hollered.

"Good!" Wilbur stepped away from the wheel, "Take the helm, Master Milo!"

Milo grunted and took the wheel. By all means he should be Captain of this vessel with how ill fitting Wilbur could be, but there was no time to argue about that now. "Brace yourselves, men!" He bellowed across the deck, just as day suddenly turned to night. The Glory had passed into the storm.

Heavy rain assailed the crew like icy shards, the wind biting into their skin and clothes like invisible hounds. The tides began threshing, slamming into the Glory with indescribable strength and size. If the sea wasn't eager to batter its way into the vessel before, it certainly was now!

Flora held onto a crew mate, who was gripping the main mast in turn in order to stay standing. Both suddenly let go as a massive wave crashed on deck, drenching them in seconds and tipping the Glory dangerously to the port side. "HOLD FAST!" Aided by another crew mate, Milo turned the wheel as fast as he could, trying to even the ship out.

"Gods!" Flora gripped her line as though holding her life away from the Three Fates. She'd never been through, much less seen, such a violent storm before! Was this because they were out at sea? "Ye alright?" She asked her mate.

"Save it for when the gale has passed!" The crew mate answered, which was good enough for Flora.

Lightning sparked across the blackness, lighting the world for a single second before plunging it back into the void. "Ready about, lads!" Either the Captain or Milo bellowed against the rumbling thunder that clamored afterward. "Keep an eye on them masts!"

Wind whirled and whipped across the deck as the Glory tacked through the storm, and Flora tightened her grip on the lifeline when she started slipping. So much was going on in so little time; she could barely focus!

The girl bared her teeth as she fought to hold on, and turned up towards the masts. The sails weren't hoisted yet. Why were they not hoisted yet?! She swiveled towards the stern. To stay ahead of Jolly Roger's vessels of course, though such a gamble could cost them their lives! The thought of being unable to fight still made her bristle, and she cursed the Captain for not taking a stand, but there was nothing to be done about it now. The decision was made; all that was left was to fight the gale and hoped they survived.

Another wave rose from the darkness like a shapeless creature, and struck against the deck, barreling over everyone caught in its wake. No matter the differences between each of them, they all shared one common thought right now: take care of the ship, heed any orders, and live to meet another day.

Flora moved along with some crew mates towards the masts, each of them waiting for the order to hoist up the sails before they took too much damage. She was wondering about the fates of Jolly Roger's vessels when someone suddenly shouted: "WATER! WE'RE TAKIN' ON WATER BELOW!"

Dismay swept through the girl like the tides crashing around her. They were all doing they best they could, how can they be taking on water below decks?!

Then she remembered: the hole! The hole in the port hull she'd discovered on her first day at . The same hole she neglected to inform anyone about.

Curse you, Flora Barton! Flora pounded herself on the head and nearly sobbed as multiple crew members untied themselves from their lifelines, and hustled below decks with buckets in hand. One mistake. One wave or one wrong tilt of the ship could cost all of their lives. And it would be her fault.

Salt water sprayed on Flora's face, wiping whatever tears she had away, and lightning bolted across the sky shortly after. She listened to the thunder afterward, feeling as though its roar was directed at her, and she clenched her fists. The memories of that night returned. How helpless she'd been, no matter how hard she'd tried she couldn't save anyone. Not even her loved ones…

Her expression hardened, her storm-blue eyes reflecting off another lightning strike. Not again! She declared. I will not make the same mistakes again!

She undid her lifeline and, ignoring Milo's orders to stay put, she rushed below decks.

"What are ya doing, boy?!" A crew mate named Edmund demanded as Flora by-passed the other crew members hard at work, and stepped into the flooded waters beneath.

The girl shuddered and pressed her hand against a post. "Fixin' my mistake," she hastily declared. "There's a hole below decks here!"

"A wha-" Edmund paused when the answer came to him. "There was a hole in this here hull the entire time, and ya never told anyone?!"

"A blunder!" Flora responded with a glare. "I'm going fix it!"

"Are ye mad?! You can't swim!" Edmund shoved his bucket to the side and followed after Flora as she navigated her way through the bulkheads. "You ain't going' alone, I'm comin' after ya!"

It was true. Despite her love for the sea, Flora had never learned how to swim. She'd never had the time. The truth made her feel pathetic, but this was not the time to think about it! Right now she was glad to have someone accompanying her, and for the fact the water hadn't risen to the point of swimming yet. "Here!" The girl removed some floating debris to the side as the hole came into view, "It's around here!"

The Glory's hull creaked loudly as she suddenly tipped to the starboard side. The flooded water swerved along with the Glory, taking Flora and Edmund along with it. "Criminy, hold on!" Edmund grabbed hold of the cabin boy and held on long enough for the ship to even out. The sailor gasped as they swerved back to the port side, and glared down at Flora. "This is all your fault."

A knot tightened in her torso. "It is," She admitted, "That is why I'm down here. To amend it."

At last, the two made it to the hole. It had gotten much larger since Flora saw it last, but with enough planks-and enough time-it should last the storm. "Can we do it?" She asked.

Edmund scrutinized the hole and nodded. "We got some planks in the cargo hold, we can do it!" The two gripped a few nearby barrels as the ship tipped forward. "You stay right there!" The sailor directed at Flora, "I'll be right back!"

The crew mate struggled his way into the cargo hold, leaving Flora to shield the hole until he returned. Despite herself, knowing that one more mistake could cost lives, Flora peered through the hole.

The last time she'd looked through it, the skies had been clear and the sea mostly at ease. Now there was nothing but ink black, with the lightning offering only the barest glimpse of the waves wreathing and rising like thousands of eldritch monstrosities below. The sight terrified her, there was no mistake about that, and yet…. against all thoughts and wishes, it also inspired her.

The sea farthing instinct within relished the morbid sight. It was a reminder that the ocean could not be controlled nor tamed, that even the wind and weather bowed to its whim, and it was glorious!

"Got it! Got it!" Edmund hollered as he returned, panting like a dog. He stared at Flora. "What the bloody 'ell are ya doing?! Why are you smiling like that?!"

Flora did a double take, and the smug, jubilant grin turned upside down. "Nothing! Nothin'…"

"You worry me sometimes, Lawrence," Edmund said as he got some of the planks ready. "Let's hurry it up before the Captain' notices!"

Something told Flora that the Captain would discover her actions regardless. Nothing can be done about it, she thought shamefully before nodding, "Okay, show me what te' do!"

By the time the hole was covered and the flooded waters excavated, the sails had been folded and hoisted onto the masts, and a few sailors were pointing out a few sun rays piercing through the gale. A good omen, they said, that the storm was beginning to break, but that wasn't all.

"They didn't make it!" Captain Wilbur cheered as he peered through his spyglass. "Bloody pirates thought they could make a try for it and failed! Look at that!"

Milo reluctantly pulled away from the helm and took Wilbur's spyglass when it was handed to him. It was true. The two sloops that were trailing them were broken to bits, the masts torn from the deck as though snapped in half. From the distance, it was impossible to tell what caused the wreckage. An incompetent crew, the first mate guessed grimly, rogue winds, or lightning strikes. Or all of the above.

Milo lowered the glass and handed it back to the Captain, feeling uneasy. This didn't sit right with him. The hulls were rotten and stained from what he saw, and yet they had both sailed perfectly without incident until now. Was it simple bad luck that caused them to sink? He thought, What happened?

As Milo pondered on the stern, Flora stood on the main deck, double-checking everyone's lifelines. The skies may be brightening, but it did not mean the storm was over.

Thunder bellowed overhead, and Flora looked on to it. Another wave buffeted the hull and knocked a majority of the crew over, Flora included, but instead of panicking, the girl smiled. The unease that guided her in the direction of Jolly Roger's sloops was gone, sinking into the depths along with the vessels' remains, leaving the unease towards the gale. Only now the unease was fading, replacing itself with…fascination.

Lightning struck once again as Flora hustled over to the railing, her instincts reaching out and soaring. Not even she could describe such a sensation! Between the thunder, the pelting rain, and the raging seas, it almost felt as though the storm were an extension of herself! Each crack of thunder and lightning felt like an exclamation of joy, the rain of pure bliss and sorrow, and the seas, rage. So many emotions were unwinding at once, and Flora relished every moment of it!

She crossed her heart with another lightning strike, and then spread her arms out when the thunder crashed. As the sea reached out for her in the form of another wave, the girl began to howl with sheer sublime glee.

"What the devil?" Captain Wilbur peered down and gaped at the child. The crew followed in suit, gawking at their cabin boy as though he had lost his mind. All of them except for a minor few, including Milo.

"Milo!" Wilbur yelled, "Has the boy gone mad?"

"Perhaps," The first mate cackled with an amused shake of his head, "either that or he's feelin' it! Feelin' the power of the seas flowing through his veins!"

Wilbur blinked at him, "Don't tell me you've lost it too…?" The Captain groaned, just as Flora let out another bay of glee.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The cabin boy hooted and laughed as if she indeed lost her mind . "Is that all ye've got?! Show me more!"

Thunder boomed, and another wave pelted the Glory and everyone else onboard. Yet the child continued to laugh….

"So…" The Captain started with folded arms and glaring beady eyes. "There was a hole in the port side of the hull, and you never told anyone about it?"

Flora hunched her shoulders and hung her head low. "I didn't, sir…" By now the storm had passed, the seas settled, and the time had come for the punishment regarding her blunder.

"You realize what could have happened, don't you boy?" Wilbur's face was beat red. "You put the entire crew at risk! On top of that, you disobeyed direct orders from your first mate to stay put!"

Let it pass…! The girl flinched under Wilbur's hard words, let it pass…"I disobeyed to amend my mistake, but I don't deny that it was wrong sir. I apologize."

It shouldn't be wrong! She growled to herself. The crew and I fixed it!

Yes, but it wouldn't have happened if I told 'em to begin with! I deserve this…

The Captain growled and turned to his first mate. "Master Milo." He placed the cat-o-nine tails in his hand, "Your charge."

Milo nodded and gestured to a few crew mates. "Up against the mast."

Flora flushed as the crew members removed her overcoat, and squirmed as they thrust her against up against one of the masts. At least the jerkin shielded her secret; at least they weren't going to remove her shirt for this…

"Three lashes you get for this, lad," Milo stated in a disappointed tone. "Know this: you could've gotten off much worse, but your honesty and prowess today saved you."

Honesty…Flora nearly laughed. If only they knew…

The Captain narrowed impatient eyes as Milo raised the whip. "Brace yourself."

Let it pass-! Flora bit into her lip to keep from crying out as the whip sliced into her back like daggers. Let it pass…!

Not much to say here except I enjoyed writing this one a lot-except for the whipping scene of course. I listened to Rodan's theme from Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) over some heavy thunderstorm ambience in order to get the atmosphere right (I hope I succeeded).

"Hang on now!" I can hear some of you saying. "What about her blood since she's gotten a taste of the cat?" I actually forgot about that for a quick moment. I'll just say Flora should be thankful that she's wearing a black jerkin right now, though that's not going to keep her blood hidden forever. Now were those two vessels really sunk by the storm or was it something more? I'll leave that up to you.