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**HyrulianBlackcat** · 07-20-2014, 12:00 AM

Sephira stood at the prow, watching the water part around the ship as they speed through it. Their speed wasn't more than she could accomplish with her wings, but it was still faster than her legs could manage. The wind caressed her face in a way she hadn't felt with her skin, only with feathers. She enjoyed the quickness and was tempted to climb up the central mast, the largest one, to see if its height was greater than a tree's, to see how much she could fly without her feathery guise. She couldn't help laughing. Water wasn't exactly her enemy, but she'd never realized before how friendly it could be. A quick motion and her hair was loose, snapping in the wind as the flag above, her own golden standard.
She glanced over at James, who was also enjoying the deck, and wondered what he thought of this. He'd followed her with little complaint all the way from Hyrule, and supported her through the war. He didn't know what she'd done there, and she hoped to keep those events from scarring him as well. Still, it meant a lot to her how much he'd supported her and helped her. She smiled and turned to lean against the rail, admiring his form from across the deck. He treated Elwood tenderly, protected Midnight and Star, and had looked after the others when she couldn't. Tall and strong, he was a handsome young man too. She felt a slight blush on her cheeks at the thought and turned away, smiling to herself. And he's all mine.

Star was miserable. While she could climb as easily as Sephira, she usually preferred to spend her time on the ground. As such, she didn't have Sephira's natural sea legs. Plus, being surrounded by water made her skittish. As such, she was presently in Sephira's quarters, the best on board, laying in the overly large feather bed, where railing kept it from sliding with the ship's motion. The rocking didn't help Star's seasickness, though, so she simply lay there, curled among the pillows and blankets she'd pushed around, muttering curses against anyone and everyone aboard for leaving her to be so miserable.

Midnight was the furthest thing from miserable. He was presently chasing Elwood down one of the many corridors of the ship, exploring with the boy, but mostly having a fun game of chase. His tongue lolled from his mouth, flapping with his speed as he dodged around sailors and cargo, barking every now and then to warn the Kokiri that he was still hot on his trail.

**Ser Soup** · 07-20-2014, 12:28 AM

Gerrard stood on the deck as the ship left port. The waters parted around it as the sails filled with the gusts of wind. It went faster than Gerrard could have ever ran, comparable to how he could travel on horse. It was a wonder that a structure this big could move this fast. For most of the day Gerrard stood on the deck with most people. His headache diminished, though the laughing stuck around in the back of his mind like a annoying buzz. Most of the day was spent with idle conversation and a sense of wonder. Gerrard was officially in mostly unexplored territory, somewhere he had never imagined he would be before. The ship was sailing west, Gerrard knew. West towards unknown territory, west to his new life. As the sun began to set, he found himself in the galley, his stomach rumbled at the smells and he began to eat. The food was simple, but good. Gerrard ate bread slathered in butter, and a bowl filled with a beef stew with varied roots and vegetables. He stayed on the deck late, finally going down to his room when his eyelids threatened to close.

His shared room was small, two small beds stood inside, with a crude nightstand in-between them. A candle was lit in the middle, its light casting shadows throughout the room., and Gerrard was the only one in there. James was the other who was to share the room, and he was still off wandering above-deck. Gerrard had kept most of his stuff unpacked, and stripped off his shirt and climbed into the bed. He was dimly aware of James entering the room before he began to sleep...

A red sun lay over a pale shore. A man who looked like Gerrard walked alongside a man in black, his face hidden. The man in black smiled and a knife took Gerrard in the back.

He woke up in a dark room. Fear filled his mind as a man in black sharpened his blade, and took his finger.

He was running, running, but running from what. He couldn't move several fingers and Gerrard lost his balance in his run. A man in black appeared over him and fear filled Gerrard as never before.

He fought a blonde-haired woman in a large camp set in a field. His sword parried hers and his hidden dagger took her in the heart.

He stood in a dark cave, Sephira appeared before him and He sobbed as his sword took her in the breast. His friends appeared around him, all dead by his hands. Elliot, James, Sephira, Jakelyn, many more. As Gerrard ran they all followed him screaming. A thousand souls screamed at him, torturing him, Gerrard Screamed.

Gerrard awoke with a yell and grabbed his sword which lay ready at his bedside. His swings and thrusts hit the walls, eventually getting the blade stuck in the crevice between two logs. Gerrard slipped and landed on the bed, the screams and the laughs overwhelmed him. He heard the voices, the voices of the thousand souls and their words hurt Gerrard more than a dagger ever could.

**jborgon** · 07-20-2014, 02:07 PM

As he had noticed Gerrard already drifting off to sleep, James moved to the bed he was to live in for the duration of their travel. He slipped off his weapons and shirt, as well as his shoes before settling down on top of the covers. The single pillow that had been provided wasn't all that comfortable, but it served to rest his head when he propped it up against the wall with his back on it. He didn't feel as tired as he should, so he pulled some parchment from his pack and began drawing on it. After a few minutes, he felt his eyes grow heavier as well as his mind. Just as he began dreaming, however, he was rudely awoken by loud yelling and banging. He shot to his feet, sword already in hand and eyes wide open, only to find it was Gerrard. He frowned as he put down the sword and cautiously approached the other man. Something was clearly wrong. He could see his sword stuck between two logs, and the guy had slipped down to his bed. He was even paler than back at the beach, sweat covering his body. He started moving his hand towards his forehead, wanting to check if he had a fever. "Gerrard, what's going on? Can you talk?" In the darkness of the room it was hard to see much, but he never thought of lighting the lantern between their beds.

Shane was in the depths of the ship, the lowermost level. He was quite enjoying himself, a book beside his chair and a lantern to keep him company. Down in the depths of the cargo, no one ever came to bother him. He couldn't believe how well everything had worked out. He hadn't even had to go to greater measures to get Sephira to agree to coming. And now, after so many years, he had finally sailed past the curse that had been lain upon him so long ago. It had been easy, soon after setting sail. He had started to feel the heaviness in his heart and mind as they drew further from the shore, as always happened. But he'd talked quickly with Elwood, asking him to say the exact words that would invite him to leave Hyrule, the very words that were needed to stop him from dying if he left. The little one had had no clue that what he'd done had freed Shane, and now all he needed to do was find the land in the middle of the sea, where in some way he would break the last part of the curse. Where finally he would be free. He laughed loudly, not minding anyone who might hear, and picked up the book again, propping it open to the very page which had brought him this far. And it would take him all the way, he was certain about that.

**Ser Soup** · 07-20-2014, 02:21 PM

Cold sweat covered Gerrard's brow as his headed pounded with the voices. They all whispered in a frenzied chaos and Gerrard could make no sense of them. Every once in a while he could make out words. He heard names, Shane, James, Sephira, and ones he didn't recognize. Every once in a while the laughing would escalate, it was always there, always lurking, but varied in its volume of voice. He was aware that James was awake and Gerrard weakly peered up to see a worried face. His face was so shocked that Gerrard let out a laugh, it carried on for 10 seconds or so before his voices brought him back down to earth, explaining wouldn't hurt.

"I had a dream," he began, I don't remember much of it to be honest, but...but the voices are still bouncing around. Gerrard frowned, he had no idea if he were making sense or not, and he allowed himself to fall backwards so his head lay just below his pillow.

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 07-20-2014, 02:34 PM

Sephira scowled as she rolled into the wall, bumping her arm rather harshly against the wooden planks. Sleeping on the bed would have been wiser, to keep from moving so much, but the softness was foreign to her. She'd grown up sleeping on a simple cot, little more than a layer of padding between herself and the ground. When she'd left the remnants of her tribe, she started sleeping on the ground itself, or high up on in the trees. She was used to the hard support. This feather bed, however, was soft, and she felt like she was sinking as she lay in it. Star could sleep in it, of course; felines can sleep anywhere. And she was doing so now, stretching out to occupy the entirety of the mattress. Even if Sephira wanted to sleep on it, she wouldn't have been able to.
Sighing, she stood, rubbing her arm as she moved to the door. She'd seen some hammocks earlier when touring the ship, where the crew slept. Perhaps she'd be able to get one for herself. It would be safer overall, as it would rock with the ship's movement without dumping her on the floor. Then she glanced at the bed again. It would, after all, be unlikely for there to be any spare hammocks, and the captain would no doubt give her a funny look if she requested one when she had such a bed at her disposal. Maybe instead....
She stripped and placed her clothes in her pack, which hung on a hook in the wall. A moment's concentration and her phoenix form slid over her human. Her beak clacked as she gave a quiet sigh, then she shook her feathers and spread her wings. It didn't take much effort to find a somewhat comfortable perch on the rafters, her claws digging into the wood with ease. She gave a nod of satisfaction, much better. While she didn't often sleep in the bird's shape, she was comfortable enough with it to find sleep. She'd just have to be careful that none of the sailors saw her like this; no doubt they'd try to steal some of her beautifully colored feathers. Star would warn her if anyone entered the room, though. Midnight was sleeping with Elwood, and thus was right next door. It would only take the wolf a moment to come to their rescue if the need arose.

**jborgon** · 07-20-2014, 02:56 PM

James frowned again. Before anything else, he finally remember the lantern, so he turned and lit it to get a better look at Gerrard. He was worse off than he'd originally thought, but it didn't seem like he was actually injured. He guessed it was entirely possible that it had simply been a nightmare, but the comment about the voices unsettled him. "A dream, huh? Have you had other dreams like this before?" He turned and rummaged through his pack, looking for a skin where he had some water. "You look like you did back at the beach. Are you sure you're not getting sick? The oysters might have not settled down well in your stomach." He looked at him with the skin in his hand. "Here, drink some water."

**Ser Soup** · 07-20-2014, 03:19 PM

It was then that Gerrard once again noticed the horrible bitter taste in the back of his throat. He took the waterskin thankfully from James and gulped down several swallows, it still didn't help much, but it was better than nothing. The voices still whirled around in his head, but stopped as he began to speak, as if to listen.

""I had a flashback of sorts, back on the beach. But what I dreamed tonight was no flashback," Gerrard shivered as he thought of the cave, but that memory vanished as quickly as it sprung up in his mind."I think I'm fine," he said with a frown, "Dreams can't exactly hurt you, can they." But Gerrard did not believe those words himself, these voices and the laughter were real enough, and he was sure they could do harm. As soon as that thought passed through his mind the voices began to whisper again, and Gerrard put his hand up to his cold, pounding forehead.

**jborgon** · 07-20-2014, 03:29 PM

James sat back down on his bed, keeping an eye on Gerrard. "I don't know about that, to be honest. I've known dreams to be deadly, when given a chance. But don't worry about it, it can't be that bad." He noticed his hand going to his forehead again, and frowned. "Is your head pounding?" He could tell it was more than pain, though. Something was going through the other's mind, more than he was letting on. Normally he'd suggest going back to sleep to ease the pain, but seeing as Gerrard had just woken from a nightmare before it started, that might not be the best of ideas. "We can ask if there's a doctor aboard the ship. They might have some herb concoction to help. Or," he gulped, "maybe even leeches to get rid of the bad blood." The idea didn't sound appetizing to James, but it was the best he could think of.

**Ser Soup** · 07-20-2014, 03:51 PM

"I don't need a doctor," Gerrard responded, as he shakily pulled himself to his feet. "I just need to clear my head, there's no reason why my stupid nightmares should keep you from your sleep James. So I'll clear my head on the deck and be back whenever I feel tired again." Gerrard walked around the decks until the moon was three quarters to the horizon, then he went back down to his quarters and carefully rummaged through his bags. He took out a flint and steel, and a small leather notebook. He carefully picked up the nightstand and carried it closer to his bed, relieved to find an inkwell and a feather pen jammed into the small wooden drawer. He lit the candle carefully with his flint and steel, noticing that the candle was tallow instead of wax, and set the notebook in his lap and the inkwell on the night stand. He flipped to the middle of the journal, he had last written nearly a week ago, and this was a good way to record his thoughts. He dipped the pen in the inkwell and began to write.

The dreams, the dreams follow me everywhere. The voices began with the dream, it's hard to imagine a life before them to be honest. I tried to clear my head after one dream, wandering the deck on the ship but they wouldn't stop. They kept guiding me, go right the said. Go left, they tried to get me to jump off the ship and I was tempted to be honest. The voices are just so nice sometimes, so caring. They knew what he wanted, they knew him better than anyone ever could...

Gerrard wrote for several hours, his scrawling script covering over 5 pages of the journal, until he heard the crew scrambling over the deck. He replaced the journal and flint in his bag, replaced the top of the inkwell, and placed both it and the feather pen into the drawer. He blew out the tallow candle, which had sunken over the night, and replaced the night stand to its original place. He then headed above deck, and stared over the side as the sun rose over the horizon.

**HyrulianBlackcat** · 07-20-2014, 10:41 PM

Sephira woke early, as was her habit, but felt surprisingly well-rested. She'd expected to feel tired and cramped from the abnormal sleeping position, but on the contrary, she was more relaxed than she'd been in a while. She stretched, extending her long neck and wings and far as they could reach, then glided to the swaying deck. A few moments, and she was human, dressed, and heading to the deck. She hadn't practiced with her sword in a while and wanted to get some exercise with it before heading down for breakfast. Star followed behind her, having finally adjusted enough that the rocking motion of the ship didn't make her queasy.
Sephira was surprised to see Gerrard up already and watching the sunrise. She'd expected her group to sleep in some. Perhaps he wasn't quite so safe on here, or had encountered a similar problem as Star with her stomach, or Sephira with her bed. Either way, she supposed it wasn't really something to worry about. She took a position on the deck where she wasn't in the way of any of the crew, several of whom were also awake, and drew her sword. In a few moments, she forgot herself in the whirling dance of the blade.

**jborgon** · 07-21-2014, 12:48 AM

"Gerrard, right? I thought I might find you up here. How was your first night aboard a ship?" Shane's smile didn't do much to hide his obvious gleeful mood. He stood behind Gerrard, watching him stare out at the ocean. "If it was pleasant, I'd go ahead and suggest not to get too used to it. With ships, and being in the middle of the ocean, dreams tend to turn a bit," he leaned in close and whispered in his ear, "nightmarish." Pulling back, he smiled again, and as he turned and walked away called back. "Remember breakfast will be ready within the hour." Apart from Gerrard, the only other member of Sephira's group that was awake at the moment was Sephira herself, and he wasn't in the spirit of getting his mood doused by her distrust in him, so he headed down below deck instead.

Elwood thought he'd heard Sephira's door open and close nearby, but he was too deep into his dreams to wake. After all, he was back in the forest where he'd grown up. The tall trees that surrounded all of the Kokiri buildings were blossoming with spring flowers, and the waterfall smelled of cherries and tulips. He was running around, playing tag with Nia, only vaguely aware of the shadow that kept staring at him from across the village, hidden behind a tree.

James awoke when Gerrard left the room. After his offers of help had been promptly dispatched the night before, he'd decided he must be worrying too much. Pushing Gerrard out of his mind for the time being, he'd rolled back into bed and drifted off quicker than before. His night was dreamless, something he was grateful for. When his dreams were dark and bloody, he got no rest from the night, and when they were cheerful and lovely, his mood was somber for the entire next day as nostalgia or longing for the dream plagued his mind. Dreamless nights were the perfect occasion to regain his strength. As his eyes slowly pushed off the weight from the night, swung his legs over the side of the bed and carefully stood. The boat wasn't swaying too violently, but in his state of half-awareness any movement could easily send him tumbling down face-first. He considered if he should head up above, or down below once he left the room as he drew a shirt from his pack and swung his cloak around his shoulders. Though the air was humid and salty, it felt chilly to him down in the depths of the ship. Clutching the edges of the cloak to his chest, he exited the room and slowly began making his way above deck.

**Ser Soup** · 07-21-2014, 08:24 AM

Gerrard's emotions rode with the waves while the voices rode with the ship. As the water parted itself in front of the ship and obeyed its command, his emotions parted itself for the voices and obeyed its command. As the voices spoke, he feeled, but how he felt did not necessarily affect how the voices spoke. Suddenly a chief voice rose over the din of his mind and the voices diminished themselves as if to listen. It took Gerrard several moments to realize that Shane, the owner of the voice, stood behind him. As the chief voice spoke of nightmares a shiver ran down Gerrard's spine, and as soon as the voices stopped, they started again, and Gerrard rode with the ship as the sun inched ever more over the horizon

**amaterasu** · 07-21-2014, 08:42 PM

Jackylin didn't spend much time exploring the ship when they had first boarded, she'd spent much more time getting used to the constant movement. While her dad worked on the lake, she'd never been on a boat, and the irony made her laugh to herself, and it helped her fall asleep. She'd woken up when she started smelling good things from the kitchen, no doubt the land food that would spoil soon. She rolled out of bed, dragged a brush through her hair, and changed into fresh clothes, humming to herself while she did. Jackylin braided her hair and climbed the stairs out onto the early morning deck, where the light was bright and the air was salty. Gerrard and Sephira were already up, he looking sick and she practicing. Shane floated around as well, but she had mostly been making herself scarce around him. Keeping the same attitude, she stood next to Gerrard to lean over the railing and watch the sea. "Are you alright?"

**jborgon** · 07-21-2014, 11:54 PM

James watched from afar as Sephira practiced with her sword. She was fast and steady in her motions, always putting the blade where she wanted it without any hesitation. He knew he should be practicing as well, he hadn't in so long. And if they needed to fight where they were going... He drew one of his knives from his sleeve and studied it closely. The blade, made out of Hyrule's finest steel, was sharp as ever. The hilt still felt smooth to the touch, despite the meticulous carvings that were engraved on it. He smiled, remember when he'd been gifted it and its twin. After another few seconds, he slipped it back into its sheathe. Practice could wait. For now, he was enjoying the ocean blue and the soft air of the morning.

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