Closed I Dive Into The Future// But I Sure Know Where I’ve Been Pt3

[Finn Reefdiver]

4th of Spring 519, late afternoon

The day had worn on with little excitement compared to their morning adventures. The wind picked up steadily and had kept the casinor moving along swiftly without any sign of pursuit. However as the day progressed the afternoon skies slowly clouded before they started to darken more and more, off on the horizon in front of them was a stormfront that the duo was headed straight into and he knew it might get a little intense. They would need to secure ship before they reached it if they didn’t want to have things flying around or making a mess. The seas seemed to look quite a bit rougher under the storm compared to what they now experienced.

Finn itched at the scratches on his arm that he received when he finally released the ferret from the decking, it had been irritated enough or at least scared enough that it scrambled and fought out of his grasp. Since then it has watched him balefully from any corner he wasn’t at, until Camira returned and now the bird and ferret had a funny little standoff going on between them. Camira eyed the creature curiously and almost hungrily from her perch above the ferret although he didn’t think the ferret was small enough for the bird to actually eat not that it was any comfort though.

Every time Finn approached the creature, it scurried away to an empty corner as quickly as it could, even the scraps of food he tossed to the furry creature was ignored and left behind until he left the creature alone to calm down for a while. As he approached the cabin door the creature ran again as he knocked on the cabin door before he raised his voice a little to be heard thru the door “Kamilla, we’re heading into a storm, you should make sure things are put away and closed up down there so nothing is hurt. If it can move then tie it down.”

Finn started picking up the deck and stowing anything that didn’t need to be out. Extra lines that he didn’t need were coiled and tucked away as they should be stored. Although he knew it was lazy on his part, he only put these away when he had to as it usually wasn’t worth the effort but he also didn’t want to lose the lines to washed overboard either especially if they needed them later. Otherwise he made sure his riggings were tight and shipshape until needed.

He watched the little creature as it carefully stayed away from him and especially from his ever hungry Tavan, Camira. He laughed at it, “Maybe you’ll be friendlier to Kam now, or at least maybe she will let you into the cabin where you can be out of the weather for a little while and safe from being eaten.” Although he had no idea if Kamilla heard him or not but wondered what she would think of that idea. Never been around many furry creatures before he really didn’t know what to think about it. “What do you think we should we call this little thing?” he asked a little louder as he coiled his last rope that remained out.

[Kamilla]

Kamilla Circe Gordon

”Call it?” Kamilla asked as she emerged from the cabin after a long, much needed sleep, curious to see the coming storm the Svefra has mentioned. In the distance, dark ominous clouds loomed above the water, looking thick with the kind of anger only a storm could express. Hopefully, it wouldn’t cause the tiny boat too much problems. ”You planning on keeping it?” She supposed it was kind of cute, or at least if it didn’t carry the stench of its pirate owner around it with it. ”I suppose it wouldn’t be as unbearable after a good wash.” She crinkled her nose to emphasise her point.

”I think I heard that short pirate refer to it as Pompadour, seeing as it was being used as one, I suppose it was a fitting name... though if you’re planning on keeping it I suppose it’s within your rights to change it.” She shrugged, the creature still looked far too nervous and defensive to even consider what it would be like once it had relaxed. She eyed its filthy fur for a few seconds longer, wondering what it would look like clean and just how intelligent it actually was. ”Anyway, I packed away everything that I could, even put Yen in her cage and secured it beneath some heavier things... Do you think the storm will be a lot of trouble?” As the sole sailor on the casinor, Kamilla was relying on Finn’s abilities to get her and her pets to Syka in once piece.

”I think I better go change into something less... flowy.” She began, turning on her heel and disappearing below once again. While she hoped that she’d be able to spend the duration of the storm in the comfort of the cabin, she did not want to be hindered by her skirt as it flapped around in the wind Incase Finn did need her help. ”I’ll be right back.”

[Finn Reefdiver]

Finn was a little taken back by her remark in regard to the ferret, although he hadn’t actually thought about keeping the little thing himself but it did make some sense and he didn’t have a problem with it either as long as it could handle eating fish because food was sometimes limited when out to sea for extended periods. “Figure the storm will wash him away before we get to land, so it is either attempt to tame him or drop him in our wake for the briny depths, maybe call a shark?” he told her but quickly decided to add “I prefer to attempt to keep him or at least get him to land unless he continues to be a little shyke, he’s done nothing against me.” as he attempted to hide the evidence on his forearm of his earlier battle with the ferret. Nor could he argue with her about the rodents smell just as he couldn’t help giving the crinkled nose mage a big grin for her effort.

“Couldn’t care what that pompous pirate fool called the creature." he grumbled. "Probably a smart move on caging Yen, we are small enough that if the seas get rolling much then we will know it quickly enough but with a little luck it won’t get too bad this far out to sea.” he tried to sound a little more confident then he was. “Don’t want your things to injure anyone, Roo secured?”

“You get seasick Kam?” He asked with a grin as he watched her go below to the cabin. He laughed to himself as he looked up at Camira while she cried at him. “You’re on your own as usual and be safe dear! Best stretch your wings for a chime before hand if you want” he told her. Whether she understood him or just felt the wind changes herself, she took wing and flew over the ferret before she caught the wind and soared away as the ferret scrambled for a new hiding spot which it found directly beside the cabin door. He let it sit there as it watched for the seagull and himself, not sure which of the two of them it was more scared of.

The wind had picked up some again while they talked and the ship groaned as it picked up speed as it started to list to one side. He knew he couldn’t control that kind of list yet so he unlashed the wheel and started to turn the ship a bit to keep the wind more behind them to be safe for now. The ship turned and started splashing through the waves before the surge became rhythmic and comfortable again as they sailed straight again as they headed toward the billowing clouds above. He leaned against the wheel to hold it in place as he watched the storm ahead of them and waited to turn with the wind as it slowly changed direction with their approach to it.

[Kamilla]

Kamilla Circe Gordon

The Svefra seemed to have decided to attempt to keep ferret for the time being, despite its stench, though Kamilla supposed that she could understand. Being a lone sailor, she was sure that Finn would appreciate some company during his voyages, especially since it seems the giant bird he called Camira was more often flying about than keeping him company, often sleeping when she was perched on the tiny ship. Maybe the ferret would serve as a better source of companionship? Regardless, Kamilla didn’t mind so long as it didn’t effect her in any way and got a wash.

As she changed in the cabin, swapping out her skirt and chest wrapped scarf for a pair of tight black pants and a black blouse, Kamilla suddenly realising that her wardrobe lacked any warm clothing, other than a fur lined cloak and one wool dress. ”Yep, Roo’s safe and sound too!” She called up as she pulled a pair of knee high boots on over the pants before finally re-emerging from the cabin. ”Do you want to stick Pompadour in the cabin as well? Both my companions are safe behind their cages.” Although she asked, she doubted they’d be able to get the mammal down below with ease.

It seemed she appeared just in time to witness the giant gull flying off to avoid the storm. How wonderful it must have been to have wings. Perhaps one day she’d find a way to experience it for herself, the magic of morphing came to mind. If only the deceased mage Felius’s memories had come with his magical skills as well. Speaking of, Kamilla wondered if the dread she felt at the approaching storm and likelihood of getting wet was one of Felius’s traits or just her own.

Kamilla’s gaze followed the gull as she flapped and drifted away from duo on the ship before finally turning her gaze back on the Svefra. A slight frown played on her features at his question, Kamilla diving into her own memories in search of anything related to being ‘seasick’, nothing came up. ”Not that I know of. It would have revealed itself by now wouldn’t it?” Not that she knew anything about it other than the basics.

She made to open her mouth and say something but was thrown off and thrown off balance by the sudden tilt in the ship, grabbing onto the cabin for stability. Watching as Finn quickly busied himself with getting the ship back on track, Kamilla felt the looming dread grow, eyes wearily watching the nearing dark clouds. ”It’s kind of beautiful, the storm that is. At least while we’re not IN it.” The statement was aimed more at herself than to him, not that it mattered.

[Finn Reefdiver]

“Not sure if you would have better luck but it is way too wild for me to get near unless you wish to try. A good dousing of rain might make it smell better or maybe give it a better disposition, do you think?” He asked as the mage appeared from below and looked nice in her freshly changed clothes. “If you leave the door open for a few chimes, it may make its own way down though.” He really had little idea how to care or train an animal such as this yet as his tavan cared for itself more while he just helped it do that.

He kept a close eye on the storm and ship as he talked with his Kamilla, he didn’t want to neglect the being prepared when needed. The ship moved quickly through the water as they caught up to the storm, way off in the distance he started to see the flashes of lightning. Luckily it was well within the middle of the storm which concerned him a little but he still couldn’t say how hard it would get.

“Probably if you sailed before, although a casinor can get a little rougher if the waves are too big. Sounds like you should be fine though.” Seasickness made for a horrible time at sea for anyoneso he was glad she wasn’t prone to it.

Finn agreed with Kamilla as he watched the storm and her “Funny how nature makes some of the most beautiful things that can also be so very dangerous. This one doesn’t look nearly as bad as others I have seen.” He definitely had a healthy respect for storms ever since he had lost his mother to a monster of a storm some years ago, not that he feared them but he was much more careful of them now and hoped it would bolster spirits.

The wind had started to fluctuate more than they had been doing so he kept them going with the waves so they didn’t take too big of waves onto the sides that may cause them to roll over which would not be good for them. The work wasn’t hard or fast but it became constant with the passing chimes so he was unable to leave the wheel for long at all. Sprinkles started to slowly be felt on the wind as he lifted his face to sky and let it slowly wash the salt off with a quick rub from his hand. Off in the distance they could see the line where the rain came down harder and he doubted they could skirt the rain entirely. Not that it wasn’t probably obvious to her already as well “We are going to get wet soon I think”.

Fairly certain they were going to hit some of the storm he looked at her slightly concerned “Considering the storm, if you feel uncomfortable or unsteady on your feet…….” he started but didn’t want to insult her. Finally he just finished his thought directly as he couldn’t make it more polite in the given time “if you go overboard I might not be able to find you in these waves so If you need to then go below in the cabin to be safe or at least tie yourself off with a rope so I don’t lose you over the side again.” He finally shrugged at her and stopped to adjust their direction again.

[Kamilla]

Kamilla Circe Gordon

Distracted by Finn’s words, Kamilla looked between the Svefra and and small mammal perched at the complete opposite end of the ship before smiling in amusement. “”No thanks.” She had no intention of going anywhere near the stinking ferret, brown eyes eyeing the creature suspiciously. She’d heard the pirate’s command after all, he’d sent the ferret to attack and distract her from her spell, she didn’t suddenly assume it was going to be friendly just because it was stranded with them.

Turning her gaze back to the storm, Kamilla gripped onto the cabin a bit tighter than before as the wind began to fluctuate and the sea grew tougher. In the distance she could see flashes of lightning dancing across the clouds, the air rumbling as if patiently waiting until their ship was well within its grasp. In that moment, surrounded but a seemingly endless expanse is storm and sea, Kamilla felt a deep fear well up within her, a humbling fear.

Kamilla was so entranced and overwhelmed by the surrounding storm that it took her several ticks spent gawking at the sheer mass of heavy clouds above to realise that Finn was speaking to her. The Svefra raised some good points, she did not want to fall over again, nor did she want to get cold or wet, a preference she was reminded of as a few stray drops of water landed on her skin.

”I’d prefer to wait this out alone if you don’t need me.” She assumed he wouldn’t, after all, she had no experience when it same to sailing and he had surely experienced many a storm while sailing on his own. ”Goodluck.” She added with a small smile before disappearing below deck, leaving the door open a few moments longer in case the ferret wished to join her below, Kamilla almost jumping out of her skin as a thunderous roar filled the air. ”Oh, gods.” She muttered to herself as she calmed down, finally shutting the cabin door.

Meanwhile, as the duo focused on the storm ahead, a familiar ship began to close the gap from behind, far less concerned with toppling over due to its superior size.

[Finn Reefdiver]

Finn began to care less about the little ferret by now and more about the oncoming storm. He knew it had already found several small cubby holes that it could ride out the storm if it needed to and it may just have to. He focused more and more of his attention on riding out the storm although he had to return her smile as she relayed her thoughts on the little beast. Camira and it had already had a long standoff so he really should of listened better to Kamilla but that was a common failure of his.

The skies continued to darken as the clouds blocked out Syna light, it made it look much more ominous and intimidating. With their approach, the thunder rolled much quicker with the flashes of lightning that flickered across the sky. The line of rain approached closer and closer, even now the first drops struck the pair as they watched. Kamilla only appeared to catch to listen to a portion of his talk, but she seemed to have caught at least the important bits as she willingly watched the around them. She seemed out of sorts but he didn’t know exactly why. His only guess could be swimming, not sure if he added to her discomfort or not but hoped not.

“Understand and be safe” was all he could say as he worked the wheel of the ship to keep the bow into the oncoming waves. It would be one less worry of his to watch out for her if she was below in the cabin, he would miss her company though but likely it was safer for all. Every time the wind gusted it would push his little ship one way or another and he would adjust the wheel for the change only to return it back after the wind changed again. It was constant if nothing else and it kept him busy, he nodded at her as she went down to the cabin. Her muttering made him glance over to her as she closed the door, he couldn’t be certain but he thought he saw a blur of dark fur scampering thru the doorway to the cabin with Kamilla. He didn’t have time to check on her or the little ferret at that time but he didn’t doubt she could take care of herself if forced.

Shortly after the cabin door closed, the rain picked up slowly and it was only chimes before he was soaked to the bone but he was cleaned of the salt spray of the day which was nicer than he would admit to anyone. The lightning started to brighten his view while the rolling thunder rattled his ship down to the keel as it cracked through the sky. The rain slowly became constant as they continued to sail into the storm, which only intensified as they approached it quickly. The mast and sails groaned under the pressure of the wind, Finn began to worry that it was going to be too much on the gear and he may need to reduce the sail so things didn’t fail or break away. Losing the entire sail might be very bad for them, he couldn’t let that happen.

[Kamilla]

Kamilla Circe Gordon

Despite the hint of guilt she felt at leaving Finn on deck to brace the elements, Kamilla found herself infinitely more comfortable in the safety of the small ship’s cabin as she shut the door behind her. From above she could hear the pelting of the rain on the deck as well as the roars thunder that shook the wood of the already swaying casinor. She was forced to hold onto whatever she could just to keep upright, making her way towards the bed, still concerned for their safety but choosing to trust in the Svefra’s abilities, not that she had any other choice.

At first, the only sounds came from the storm outside, along with the groaning of wood, but very soon Kamilla found herself startled by the sudden hissing of Yennefer from within her cage, something she knew the gray yowlwing wouldn’t do without reason. ”It’s just a storm Yen, there’s nothing I can do about it.” Another aggressive hiss from the feline and this time Kamilla smelt the antagonist before finally spitting it.

”Pompadour!” She spat in the ferret’s direction, eyes narrowed with loathing as her nose crinkled. The ferret had seemingly snuck in behind her and she was now trapped inside it and worse, it’s offensive stench.

She had two choices, either chase the smelly rodent out OR out of with the creature and it’s pungent smell for however long that storm would last. While the latter sounded unbearable, Kamilla didn’t hate the ferret enough to condemn it to what would likely be death by drowning.

A loud sigh escaped her lips as she dropped onto the bed, remaining in a sitting position as brown eyes remained trained on the ferret as the hiss off between the two mammals continued. ”Calm down Yen, I know it smells but it hasn’t technically done anything wrong.” Unsurprisingly, the yowling seemed to understand at least some of what she’d said, the feline eyeing its owner once more before settling down and curling into a ball. Honestly, she could sleep through anything.

Kamilla was unsure for how long they’d been trying to get through the storm, it had at least been several chimes spent listening to the noises from above, while eyeing the foreign ferret every so often to make sure it wouldn’t try anything. She hoped that the Svefra was doing well on the deck, but trusted him enough not to go check, after all, they hadn’t capsized or sunk yet.

It was then that she heard a loud scraping noise from above, followed by another and another, the grating noises beginning at the far end of the ship and sliding across until they finally halted, the entire ship stopping its swaying quite abruptly.

”What the...”
”What the...”

It seemed both Kamilla and Roo had had the same train of thought, the mage having almost forgotten the talking pot plant was in there with her.

The moment the sounds could be heard above, the ferret, Pompadour, began to eagerly bounce and scratch at the cabin door, Kamilla quickly realising what the noises were, eyes widened in surprise and concern. ”Grappling hook... oh gods.” With this realisation, Kamilla got to her feet, forcing her way out of the cabin and into the icy cold rain, with the ferret hot on her heels.

”Finn!” she called out, trying to find her balance and look toward the Svefra at the same time, her gaze catching the ominous sight of the larger pirate ship right beside their far smaller casinor. ”Petch, they’re persistent.”

[Finn Reefdiver]

The storm gusted and howled through sails, it tossed the small ship around however it wanted to at any moment. The waves weren’t huge but plenty large enough to cause them problems if he didn’t pay attention to them. The wood creaked and groaned as he slowly fought to keep the waves breaking over the bow of the ship and off the sides where they could capsize them. Lightning flashed on top and all around them while the thunder shook everything onboard the vessel and deafened the young Svefra as he kept his station at the wheel. The rain went from a drizzle to an onslaught of sheets which drenched everything in its path before it would calm down again for a few chimes before it repeated the cycle over and over.

The gusting winds sent a chill down the wetness of his back as he shivered and wrenched with the wheel, which turned the ship back with the wind and into the oncoming waves again. He could feel the warmth of the sea spray on his face in stark difference to the storm that continued to assault them. With his attention focused ahead of them and the thunder that rang in his ears he noticed nothing of the larger ship that shadowed them from behind. The other ship slowly approached in the storm, the larger ship and more experienced crew handled the onslaught of weather with more ease and speed.

Their approach wasn’t fast either but it was methodical and carefully thought out so Finn didn’t have any forewarning until they were upon him and drawing alongside all to closely. Once their bow drew alongside him, he immediately saw the new threat and took it in. The pirates were ready and waiting at the rail with multiple grapples to leash the pair’s vessel and not let them escape again which he couldn’t let happen and he knew it. It only took a tick or three for him to take in the situation and decide what he had to do to try and save his ship.

As the pirates threw the hooks onto his deck where they loudly scraped across the wood to find a spot to latch into and not let go, he spun his wheel to send his ship away as quickly as he could. The bow slowly turned away with the wind as the pirates quickly pulled on the lines to pull him in. Turning his ship almost succeeded in pulling one pirate into the sea, however he let go at the last tick and let his rope drop into the water where it quickly trailed behind them as a streamer would.

Kamilla appeared out of the cabin just as the other two lines started to reel them into the other ship, the whole ship jerked oddly as the pirates and the wind fought each other over the little vessel. He scowled past her as he answered “Very petching persistent!” while the little rodent seemed to be looking for a way back off his little ship. As soon as the dirty creature saw the grapple lines it headed for the one at the back of the ship.

“Anything else you can do about them by chance?” He questioned her as he worked his way past her, the ship continued to jerk in the ongoing struggle as the wood groaned in retaliation. He made his way toward the center line as he slowly freed his cutlass so he might be able to cut through the offending lines. The feel of the weapon in hand felt good as he steeled himself for a fight that he now expected to come soon.

[Kamilla]

Kamilla Circe Gordon

The chill of suddenly being drenched by rain and blown about by winds reached deep down, all the way to her bones, but Kamilla had no time to worry about comfort now that they were under attack. Doing her best to step upright, the mage made her way over to the rope Finn had pointed out earlier and began tying it around her waist, to take care of at least one of their quickly piling concerns.

Hearing the svefra’s question, Kamilla squinted through the rain in search of any details on their current situation that might change their luck for the better. Three grapple hooks, a ship bigger than their own, a storm, two of them against an unknown number of pirates with a minimum of the three they’d seen earlier, though there had still been a rower or two. Things were not looking good.

”Thought you’d seen the last of us, ey?”

The short pirate.’s haggard voice cut through the sound of the storm, sounding far too smug about the situation than he should have. She couldn’t understand their persistence, surely the storm was a higher priority than whatever petty plans the pirates had.

Unable to do anything other than glare at the short pirate, bald from missing his precious ‘Pompadour’, Kamilla chose to remain silent. She’d used far too much of her djed propelling the ship that morning to be able to do anything significant now. Things were not looking good, but she couldn’t say that out loud to Finn, or the pirate might grow more bold.

Right now, the best she could think of as to keep the pirates from making any real moves while Finn tried to detach the grapples, but how? The only viable option seemed to be intimidation.

Kamilla let her posture relax somewhat, smirking confidently at the bald pirate as she began to focus on her inner pool of djed, flecks of glistening lavender res forming in her palms in tiny amounts. ”Don’t worry about it, if they try anything I’ll just sink their entire ship!” The words were shouted out over the storm, Kamilla making sure it was loud enough to reach the pirate’s ears.

Already there were two more figures peering over the side of the enemy ship, swords already in hand as they watched the residents of the smaller shop, seemingly eager to board, the bald pirate suddenly bursting into a fit of laughter.

”Sink our ship? Bah! Yer bluffing mage! And stop right there Svefra! One more step towards that there grapple and my first mate’ll put an arrow in ye.” As if to illustrate his captains point, the more average height and completely unremarkable looking man beside him pulled a crossbow from the deck and pointed it right at Finn. The pirate beside him, getting ready to repel down onto their little ship.

Kamilla felt her heart drop somewhat before stopping herself to solidify her emotions into one, determination. She returned his laugh with her own, trying to seem as confident as possible as she produced even more res, both palms now holding a small ball’s worth, her arms and body already feeling light and heavy at the same time due to the overproduction of res for the day. While not blatantly obvious, if Finn looked close enough, he might be able to notice the tremble in her arms, due to strain. ”You sure about that little one? You saw what I did earlier and that was a piece of cake.” She hoped her bluff would work, they needed it to.