We packed the ship quicker than I thought possible.

I met some other crew and questioned why I, the newest member, got to live so closely to Finnegrin, whilst these others didn't.

Weird.

I didn't see a River board the ship - undeniably on purpose.

"Look through this here, darlin'," Finnegrin holds a monocular up to my eye. We've only just left the port. The morning sun is hopeful, but I see stormy weather ahead. Bad omen.

My one eye looks through the lens and I see a ship in the distance. "We got them?" I hope he denies.

"We got 'em."

Their boat seems so far away, I can barely glimpse it with my naked eye. However Finnegrin ensures that Sea Legs is the fastest ship in the whole of Xadia.

We follow their wake for an hour or two before I can truly recognise how much distance has closed between our boats. I can practically see Rayla and Soren. They tried to lose us - heading into the fog and using Callum's Sky Mage powers to grant them wind.

But it was all futile.

Finnegrin's ship truly is superior and we are gaining on them. I'm walking down the stairs to Elmer, when I'm swept off my feet. The ship coming to a lurching stop.

"Lose the sails!" Finnegrin cries out and immediately the large red sails are drawn down.

Elmer gives me a hand up. "Crazy, innit?" He says. The barnacles on his knuckles are tough and contradict his tender clutch on my hand.

"Yeah," I breathe, feeling motion again. "How do we keep moving without the wind?"

"That's Sea Legs secret, isn't it just?" He motions me over to the side of the ship. "At first I thought you belonged," he speaks quietly so others don't hear, "but now it's clear you don't want to be a part of this."

I look at Elmer sideways. It's quite a candid thing to say knowing his Captain would kill me if he also thought that. "I could say the same thing about you," I retort - and it's true. Ive see his discomfort when Finnegrin calls him names. I've seen how gentle he is at heart.

Elmer grunts. "Those jagged rocks ahead," he points, changing the subject very quickly. I see them about 200 metered away. "Yhose are Garlaath's Teeth."

"And?"

"And," he chuckles, "they're going right into it."

He's right. I watch anxiously as the boat dodges dangerous waves and spikes that would kill. Thank the skies above. There's no way our boat - of bigger size - would fit through there.

But we don't turn.

We dont stop.

We can't fit.

Which is all clearly not an issue. A different sort of motion strikes the boat. It's not like the wind or the waves. It's deliberate, slightly shaky movements. The ship feels... mobile.

From my position at the side of the boat, I observe with an up close view as 4 crab legs and a damn big pincher extend from the ship's right hand side. They stab into the ground below in order to gain balance. I hold onto the side, unsure of how else to react.

My friends are so beyond screwed.

We are all screwed.

She, as in this hermit crab ship, steps over the jagged rocks and starts walking through the ocean in big scuttling steps.

We don't have to travel far before the boat ahead hits a stray ridge. Their ship stops, the prow splintering and breaking. Sea legs stops before them. Finnegrin barks orders for some of his crew member to retrieve the bodies - Elmer being one of them. He leaves my side and then I'm called to Finnegrin's flank.

"Want me to kill the one that stabbed you first?" He remarks. Under different circumstances this would be quite the generous offer.

"Leave my own to me, Captain" I choose to say and he smiles contently.

The fog has mostly cleared at this new spot. The soft sun doesn't resemble daytime - it seems mournful, colours of orange mixing with the mist. Gloomy.

One by one, my friends are dragged onto the ship, their hands tied behind their backs. I don't recognise two - a blind Pirate and a winged woman. They must own the ship. Each of them are forced to their knees in a bow like position. Finnegrin and I stand at the top of the steps. He's a lion surveying his pride-land. As he descends the steps, he motions for me to follow. I do so carefully, every foot placement has thought.

A coin is pulled out of his pocket and he starts flipping it casually. I see Callum and Rayla - both of which seem grateful but confused by my presence.

I really didn't think this through.

This is why I like secure plans.

Something gold and shiny is flicked in my direction and I catch it in my right hand. It's the coin. "Call it, darlin'," Finnegrin chimes.

I open my fist. "Tails."

He would flip a coin to determine the fates of his captured enemies. If heads, he would drown them in the icy depths. If tails, then they wish it had been heads.

Finnegrin chuckles, walking towards Callum. "Take em to the brig," he orders, "they can get all cosy with Sapphire's friend." Rayla protests her captor but each of them are dragged under the ship nonetheless. All except Callum. "Keep the boy seperate," the Captain instructs and I look worriedly to my friend. "I've got special uses for this one."

How do we get ourselves out of this?

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hours that follow their capture are mellow. The rays of sun desperately try to peak through the cloud coverage, but their efforts are in vain.

After being told by Finnegrin to "walk with me," I haven't left his side. On the other hand, the rest of his pirate crew completes chores. They sing a sea shanty as they work.

"The dark-eyed sailor"
"Ship's adrift and the sea's his jailor"
"Drag him down, down, down, down"
"Down in the wicked depths below"

I take note of what task everyone is completing. It's all very normal, ship upkeep from what I know. But how did these people get caught up with Finnegrin? I guess the greed for power truly is the most corrupting influence in the world.

"Woe to the man"
"The dark-eyed sailor"

"Ship's adrift and the sea's his jailor"
"Drag him down, down, down, down"
"Down in the wicked depths below"

"Lost at sea, the sailor cried"
"I will not die"
"The sea shall bow to me"

Finnegrin starts humming the tune, singing the words to the last verse. Its unnerving. "Im gonna check in on our little mage," he says, heading towards the peculiar office room. "Gotta get us that dark magic spell before we let them free." He stops outside the door. "Go occupy yourself, Sapphire darlin', and tell Deadwood to meet me in here... I may need his help."

The Pirate Captain enters his cabin, shutting the door behind him. I walk across the ship to where Elmer is piling some crates. "Finnegrin wants you," I say quietly. He stops what he's doing and heads in that direction. I make the most of the fact no one is in our direct vacinity and speak in a hushed tone. "Your thoughts don't make you who you are, Elmer, your actions to."

The slight delay in his steps lets me know he heard me.

Now to find the brig.

       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ship is bigger than I thought.

I need to search non-suspiciously, but the other crew members don't seem to be as cut throat down here in the shadows. Alas, I reach a door with the sign:

SCUMBAG PALACE

Definitely where my friends are. I open the door quietly to see 5 jail-like cells. I spot five figures within one of them. Every single person stares at me when I enter, their frowns morphing into joy.

River and Soren get to their feet from the floor. The former is stripped entirely of his armour. Ezran stands by the double eyepatch pirate. Rayla, who was already standing, comes directly to the bars. "Where's Callum?" Her voice is laced with worry.

I grab her hands through the metal. "I don't entirely know," that doesn't help. "He's in a room - I think the same as Bait and Zym..." it's obvious she doesn't like Finnegrin so I don't say he's with Callum. The lack of confidence in my sentences isn't helping, and the more I talk, the more confidence I lose. Rayla nods her head, giving a slight nod to the left side of my face. "Claudia." It's an explanation within itself that receives a raise of eyebrows. "Not now." I glance around the cell. River's face is covered in cuts so I motion him over to me. "I'm so sorry," I mutter, putting a hand on his face to heal the wounds. They're shallow.

"Still alive," he chuckles, taking a couple steps back from the bar once I'm done.

"Finnegrin, (Y/n)?" I face Rayla. "Seriously? What was your plan?" Her voice is harsh. She clearly knew more about his reputation than I did.

"I didn't know," I reply. "We needed to find this prison that keeps Aaravos... and I was making plans based off of a five minute conversation with Kazi!?"

It's clear she's stressed about Callum and it's extending onto this. "He could've killed you- (Y/n) what were you thinking!?"

"I wasn't." Soren comes to the bars and reaches his arm through it. I relish his grasp and notice River smile softly, now at Ezran's side. "The main thought on my mind was finding you guys... I was dumb and you guys are facing the consequences... I am sorry." It does feel weird to be on the other side of the bars.

Ezran speaks up, "no, (Y/n), I stole the baby glow toads... don't blame yourself." His smile is weak but genuine.

I nod gratefully, looking around the cell. "Are you missing one?" The woman with the wings isn't here.

"Bloody Nyx bribing her way out of it," the Pirate mumbles grumpily to himself. "Name's Villads," he shouts in my direction. "Aye, Lass, I've heard lots about you from yer friends here."

"Nice to meet you, Villads..." Rayla nods her head humoured. "I believe I have heard stories of you,
too."

He grumbles a truly pirate arr in approval.

"So," Soren gives my hand a squeeze, "what happens next?"

I wish I knew.

"Finnegrin is unpredictable..." I can't look Soren in the eyes. Thinking that the last person that kissed me isn't him... it makes my stomach churn. "Stay alive?"

"That's always a good idea," Ezran mumbles. The look shared between Rayla, Soren, River and I, depicts the dreadful truth.

We may not all get off this ship.

The door is forced open and a large figure walks in. It's Elmer. He sees me there with my friends, but I pull up Soren's hand, twisting it a bit around the bar. He winces unexpectedly. "Don't try anything like that again," I sneer at him in hopes Elmer believes it.

I drop Soren's hand, giving a curt smile before turning sharply on my foot.

"Finnegrin wants them on the main deck," Elmer instructs, watching me as I walk towards him.

I slow as I walk past, giving him an exaggerated look to say ugh, prisoners, am I right?

However as I go through the doorway, he whispers to me. It's not agressive, or malicious. Elmer's words are consolation. The statement sticks with me even as I hike back up the stairs.

"It's only a matter of time till Finnegrin sees through your lies."

~~~