Quoted By:
With great difficulty, you lifted one hand and gave her a thumbs up. Wherever she was going, it was probably to do a job different from what you were assigned. And in this storm, she’d need all the luck she could get.
She gave you an appreciative nod in return, and a moment later, she disappeared over the edge. You didn’t even hear a splash. Not that you expected to hear anything in waters this turbulent.
You let your head fall back and rest against the hard, chipped-
No, wait. The floorboards were no longer chipped. Their condition was almost immaculate, in fact. As if it were brand new.
You decided to pay careful attention to them when the next wave hit, and there, you saw it! Little splinters of wood were washing up along with the water, settling into the cracks and repairing themselves a moment later. Sometimes, a particularly vicious wave would slam into the bow, bringing a wooden board along with it and washing a portion of moss away from the railing and mast. Little by little, the ship was repairing itself in the storm.
You wanted to watch the whole thing, to see this through and ensure the safety of your allies, but your body felt so heavy and cold. You’d been using up all your energy to stave off sleep this entire time, and now, it felt impossible to hold out any longer.
Slowly, your eyes closed shut, and darkness enveloped your mind.
—-------
You next awoke to the sound of seagulls passing overhead. The sun was warm on your face, and the waves were gently rocking you back and forth in your catatonic state.
You rolled onto your stomach with a groan and carefully rose to your feet. Without thinking, you stepped outside of the ward and panned your gaze around the deck. You allies were staggering to their feet, in a similarly groggy state and looking around, the same as you were.
None of you spoke. You exchanged a few nods and meaningful glances, but nothing more than that. You all approached Prowler with a bit more caution. Considering the state that he’d been in over the course of the trip.
Glass seemed the least shaken up out of the group, with Anastasia being a close second.
There was a short roll call, and everyone sounded off, with Pandora Peters, of course, being the only one missing. When the others expressed confusion and panic at this sudden development, you gave them an account of your experience during the storm. No one seemed to have any idea of where she went, why she would jump overboard, or whether she survived the ordeal in the first place.
Considering the confidence with which she committed the suicidal act, it was probably best to trust in the magician’s ability, and try not to think too hard about it.
Instead, the shocking changes in the environment and its weather conditions were taking root in the forefront of your mind. The skies were clear and blue, and the waves were nowhere near as choppy as they had once been. It was like you were in a different place entirely.
(Cont.)
