Timestamp: 90th of Summer, 514 AV 6th Bell Seran yawned, his groggy form shuffling down towards the Shipyard of Zeltiva. Of all the places he'd visited the past season, there had been only one locale he'd not frequented after moving up in the mountains. The Shipyard. A place of ceaseless work and productivity, always moving and constantly noisy with the sounds of shouted commands, tools banging away and the soft background of waves lapping against the coast. The smells of salt and fish were as good a scent to wake him as any other, and he straightened noticeably as he kept walking. As Seran walked, a particular ship caught his eye. It was almost complete and made of a beautiful cedar wood. The mast of the watercraft was topped by a brilliant green sail that fluttered gently in the morning breeze. In fact, to call it a ship was almost an exaggeration, for the boat was only just bigger than Sol. The boat would surely capsize if the horse were to enter it. It seemed to be best for no more than two or three sailors at most. That it was still in the Shipyard, meant it was incomplete but to Seran it seemed to only just be unfinished, with very few jobs left to do to make it seaworthy. And yet strangely, not a workman was in sight of the boat. Part of him whispered of how he could just take a look at it, and then be gone. Seran knew that part of him well. It was also coincidently the part of him that had moved him to try and climb atop his house as a child. That was the day he broke his wrist. Of course, it was also the day I learned to fly... He shook his head, No I can't do it, I won't. It's...illegal. He ran a hand along the prow's smooth wood and more and more of him began to wonder if the boat was just waiting to be moved. Before Seran could stop himself, he'd climbed aboard the vessel. Curiosity overwhelming common sense, the Kelvic pranced about like a youth who'd just found a new secret place to run around in. He peeked over the starboard side, as well as port and saw no identifying marks to show what she was named. A shiver ran down his spine and an idea popped into Seran's head. "Her name should be 'Flyleaf!'" He exclaimed, thinking of the vibrant green sail. As humble a sailboat as it was, Seran had already fallen in love with it. He sat back heavily by the tiller and sighed, knowing he'd need to leave it but not wanting to go. Seran felt a tipping sensation, very slowly but then faster. Uh oh. Twisting in place, the frightened Kelvic saw that his weight had unbalanced the scaffolding on which rested Flyleaf. With a creaking groan, the flimsy wood gave way and broke apart. Seran was flung to the deck and felt the whole boat fall. A great splash of water soaked his back and he felt the rocking of waves. Uh oh! Getting to his feet, Seran saw that Flyleaf had fallen from her scaffolding off the pier and into the water. Her momentum was carrying him out and away from the dock faster and faster. To Seran's dismay, he could see and hear the lively complaints of workmen who'd come running at the sound of breaking wood. For only a tick or two, Seran thought he could shift and fly away from the angry craftsmen but then he dashed the thought from his mind. It had been he who'd acted so recklessly and it had been he who'd landed Flyleaf in this mess. By his honour as the son of Edward Sully, Seran swore he'd sail Flyleaf safely back to shore, regardless of the consequences. |