Darkness, how many times has it been that I have woken to a cold abyss, to a shattered building. To be spat back out by death over and over, I wonder if that journey will ever stack up to my life. I wonder if the lack of voices should soothe my immediate panic or double it. That small shard of anger, has it released the grip on my soul, or just biding its time to see if I’m worthy after all?
Let’s take stock of what happened. I was a fool, the rumors were true there is much to be hauled up from the wreckage that continues to sink. The Maelstrom’s influence is far reaching. I know some of the lifeboats went out, wouldn’t have forgiven them otherwise. I was never good at keeping ships for long, too ambitious.
Sinking towards the crushing darkness, the man let his tattered form grow heavy, let the cool depths pull him down further and further from the churning waters and stormy skies. He had made sure as many got off that could have, prolonged the damage using everything he could. The sea was cruel, it would be the last time he took advice from one who sailed a ship name like Siren. Now there was nothing left, the Pale Dancer was just a memory, in more ways than one. At least eternity would be met with her face staring back. A corner of his lips curled up in his trademarked smirk, before his eyes shut in acceptance.
His senses surrounded by the all encompassing embrace of the tides, he had always loved being at sea, maybe this was the most fitting burial for someone like him. His first true home, perhaps even his origin, who knew, now it would be his tomb. That smirk held on his features the whole time, waiting for his thoughts to go black in acceptance of finality. A chaotic mind finally at peace. Even that was doomed to be a fruitless endeavor, he could feel his form being lifted up and a voice in the back of his mind returned. A laughter roiling up from the dark recesses of his memory, revived by the sets of hands that were helping support his body and swimming upwards.
Coughing out the cold water accompanied by the overbearing overture of lightning there was no audible speech. The captain just glared daggers as his bosun and quartermaster treaded water beside him and were already directing him towards the shadowed husk of an inlet. The waters this far out were uncharted at least as far as they were readily available. Even as more of the world was set to maps, this still garnered some caution. Perhaps it was fate that had them stumble so close to land, or it was just a way of fitting more punishment on a life.
Nox continued to lay along the stone after the coughing subsided, a steady rise and fall to his chest doing enough to halt the panic in the other two crew members looking over him. Only leering closer to really check to make sure it wasn’t a trick of their eyes. No words were exchanged still, just a reining in of the senses and making sure that they were truly safe on the rocks.
“Guess I can’t hire you out as a weather witch after all.” A gruff tone said through a smile had the two letting out a chuckle, the female night elf, Y’the, reached up to playfully punch the shoulder of the Tauren, Juutahn. “And your turn to face the whip for breaking rank. Told you all to leave and not look back.” The elf broke eye contact with him and shook her head.
“We only got you to the shore, don’t know the tides so get your ass up so we can move inland.” Came her response with a nod towards higher ground. The Tauren gave a nod, patting at Nox’s knee and standing up to follow along after her. “Besides, your not as bad a Captain as you think.”
Slowly the man stood up and brushed sand from his soaked leathers, walking along after his crew it didn’t take him long to see what they meant. Lightning sent flashes of visible sight across the horizon and illuminated the tell tale silhouette of the Pale Dancer. His pace picked up, easily surpassing the two until they caught him and held him back. As the trio grew closer the shimmering orange glow of a fire could be seen from within, sheltered from the elements by the hull. Smashed upon the rocks and split open wide.
Another figure sat huddled up to the fire stoking it gently. Nox managed a brief chuckle before it had him coughing. The troll, Tuhise’Gral remained seated, eyeing up the elf a grin slowly spreading across his cheeks. “I told ya, we be safe dis way.”
“Yea well, a giant shark didn’t save me, and the ship is on land.”
“Aye but we be mostly intact now yea?”
“Mostly.” He shook his head and slowly moved with the other three to slump down against the wall. His head splitting with a headache but still the many thoughts that flashed through couldn’t be stopped. The list of what had to be done growing longer and longer with each passing moment. Memories rushing past, enemy ships chasing them into the storm. He let out another hacking cough this time responded by all of the crew members holding him down until he lay still.
“Rest now, ya be a captain again soon, it only a boat when she a float. For now, ya listen to the doctah. He be in charge.” The troll gestured to the silent Tauren who stared intently into Nox’s eyes until the man gave up and let his head fall back.
There was time now. Just focus on something simple, the steady rise and fall of his chest, order it was there. It’d take more than that to knock him loose. Warmth, elemental and physical, together again would do that. The bonds were strong, and he was not ready to go yet. The story would continue, who didn’t like a third act twist. A smile grew across his weathered features, unseen by the crew that remained as sleep soon found the beleaguered members of the Pale Dancer.
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