Chapter 153: Raging Waves

The sun rose in front of them, wind blew from the east—behind the ship. It has been an hour or two after the ship anchored in the middle of the sea. The fishing team, with Xi and the twins (Okkil and Okkir) together with the Adjao crew, went under. Often Xi and the twin rose from the right side of the ship. They brought a small boat, the last of the lifeboat, to haul their catch.

"Granny," Toni said. Fingering dark hair across her forehead, tucking it behind her ear. She smiled, remembering how would Toni look like an infant. "Do you know Ned's parents?"

Granny shook her head, she didn't answer but it was enough for Toni that her query was answered. "He loved the kid, little lady. He loves Ned."

Ned. Toni thought sighing, a white dress, and dark hair flattered against the breeze. Antito's trade were garments, rare spices, and papers. It was where Lady Zoreena bought Toni's dress. White silk adorned with simple ornaments, edges glittered with beads until the end of her long sleeves. Pants adored with straps, and boots cut above knees. She doesn't care if the top of her dress was like from a ball and her pants were that of a hunter. As long as Kikido'rra daggers hung behind her waist, making an X. Toni didn't speak. Eyes looking at the twins boarding the small boat.

In the middle of the ship, along with the captain's cabin, was a small warehouse. It was used to store the trades of the ship. But after the incident, it was now used by the kids and dozens of non-fighting passengers ( old ladies, young ones, and wounded). Outside the warehouse was a stair going down the deck, there, Grant stayed and hiding. He was mad: his master gone; his brother went ahead. Grant was mad going insane, unsure what to do. And he seemed sick from the scratch of the ghoul.

"Will's a fighter, and so does the kid," Granny added after they went quiet. Sasani stood at the top of the rook's nest with Coco walking the edges of the nest in a circle. Granny pulled a pipe under her chest pocket. She wore a robe, all white aside from the ornaments that looked like a flower with yellow petals. She then opens a soft pouch, inside were dried and torn leaves. With the tip of her fingers, she took a small amount of the dried leaves. Sprinkled it inside the pipe. With a soft tap-tap and a gesture, the tip of her fingers sparked and the pipe went red and smoke started to pop. Granny took the time and sniffed the smoke. Closing her eyes, she smiled blowing the smoke out her soft mouth. "I'm sure they will find a way, as long as the two are together, they will be fine. So"—inhaling another smoke—"raise those shoulders. We needed you here."

Toni smiled, her eyes twinkled with relief. And as if she was dreaming, she heard her name being called out from the distance. She wasn't—Granny frowned looking above the sails. "What now," she said. Her eyes gleamed blue looking above. "That busty miss your friend right?"

Toni looked above and nodded. "Sasani," she said a whisper and frowned, seeing Coco climbed down through the ropes and went straight to Toni's shoulder. "Coco." She then stroke Coco's white fur. The cat closed his eyes with satisfaction from Toni's soft and satisfying fingers.

Coco shook his head in protest, fur waving back and forth. With his paw, he pointed forward the darkening sea.

Dark flying-figures clouded the sky. Rooks, hundreds of them, covering the calm and blue sky. The swarm of rook passed Antita ship, it went dark for a moment. Then the wind went calm after the passing of the rooks. Sun shone strong yellow. Then a great growl echoed ahead of the ship. The sea, without a strong wind, rose like a tsunami along with bubbles bursting.

The wooden door from the captain's cabin fanned open. Captain Bajo limped with a distressed face together with his crew, his wooden foot tapped against the wooden floor. His brown eyes, typical color for Adjao's, looked at Toni, Granny, and last Sasani above. Sweat ran his wrinkled forehead. "Is it true?" He cried. It echoed and Sasani nodded. He then walked passed Toni and Granny and stopped at the very tip of the ship. Footsteps came from behind Toni. It was the Handlers, following Captain Bajo. Toni strode along, leaving Granny with her pipe—smoke swirled her shoulder.

Toni could hear murmurs coming from the crew and the Handlers alike. They crowded a wooden platform, raised to see what was ahead of the ship.

"By the Maker!" Captain Bajo cried, he then raised his hand. "Set the sails! Pull the anchor! Maker of Storm! We need to leave, now!"

The crew gasped. Without delay, they worked their captain's command. They ran here and there.

Less crowded, Sedas moved beside captain Bajo. The wind helped to blew their conversation close to Toni. "What is that, Captain?" Sedas asked. Hands crossed behind his back, eyebrows knotted.

"By the Maker!" The captain said again. "We need to leave its course. We need to leave. Now! Ajajo! Jappet! Prepare the deck! Spjelp! Gather the passengers! Majo! Majo! Where is that fool! Majo! Signal the fishing crew to board back the ship! And... And, someone! Someone help Sasani down!"

Caption Bajo commanded his crew with great effort. The sea growled with the upcoming tsunami, the day then went dark. The air thickened.

Toni cried: "Sasani!" She then looked back to the small boat. She gasped. "Xi!"

"Meoww!" Coco growled to Sasani. He then jumped to go back to Sasani.

"Captain!" It was Sedas once more. Hands pulling the captain's shoulder.

The wave coming near. A massive dark creature made a glorious silhouette behind the towering waves. The sea robbed from its silence, the air went quiet.

Captain Bajo jumped from his place. Back to reality, he spun and turned to Sedas, brushing off Sedas hand against his shoulder.

"By the Maker good lad," he spoke to Sedas, lips trembling against the forming mist. "Lev'rath!"