Seawhisper Crew I

1328

 

Haethcyn was locked in a stalemate with the asuran Peacemakers.

This wasn't the first time.

The norn knew very well that their ship was docked in an illegal loading zone beneath the Northern end of Rata Sum. Haethcyn knew, and frankly didn't care. They thought they’d sailed across the elevated lake completely undetected, but when the Peacemaker waiting for them on the shore with a frown of disapproval came into view, the norn rolled their eyes.

Nothing was ever easy with this city.

It was fine, though. Haethcyn was aware that the Peacemakers couldn’t write them up for the violation unless they left their ship unattended. Of which, they had no intention of doing. Their client would come to them today.

With half-lidded eyes, they smiled slyly into a freshly brewed cup of tea - prepared irritatingly lackadaisically as the Peacemaker could do nothing but watch them hum and boil the water - and waved to him with their fingers. They were being a coy little shit, and they were enjoying it. 

“Move it,” The Peacemaker barked, crossing his arms. 

The tea cup clinked as it settled back on its plate. “No.” 

He lifted his chin slightly, locking eyes with them.

Haethcyn got comfortable where they sat, twirling a lock of dark brown shoulder length hair between two fingers. Oh, they could play the waiting game, alright. Nobody could beat a sailor at sitting on a boat all day. "I hope you brought a book," They cocked a brow, lifting their teacup lazily in the air. "Cheers, chap." 

His face didn't change. "We'll see if you're still cheers-ing once I write your vessel up and get it demolished."

They laughed into their tea, undeterred as ever.

"This is not your first violation," He shouted, pissed. 

"And it won't be my last!" They laughed harder. "Even the quaggan have better law enforcement than this. Oh no, an asura glaring at me... How scary!"

Truly, there was nothing he could do, but stand there.

And stand there did he do, with the passion and vigor of a tree. 

And so, the stalemate continued.

 

…

 

In time, Haethcyn’s client showed up with the cargo for them to deliver, fees were paid and Haethcyn was well on their way drifting down the lake’s coast. The disgruntled peacemaker watched them long enough to ensure they were gone, and only gave up once the norn was out of sight, obscured by the coastline trees.

The sailor cackled aloud, marveling at his stubbornness and ultimate failure, and leisurely leaned against the rail of their ship’s hull, not worried about any deadlines to book it out to the sea just yet. It was a pleasant day, after all, why not take in some sights before hitting the open water? 

The pleasant breeze ruffled their hair as they lifted their eyes skyward, admiring the technological, impossibly gargantuan masterpiece that was the floating asuran city. 

Sure, some of the asura Haethcyn dealt with on the daily were boring, egotistical sticks in the mud, but by Weasel’s spirit, did they invent some fascinating things. If there was anything they could respect, it was the creators of the world. In that regard, the charr also commanded their begrudging praise. They’d seen the Black Citadel on several occasions, and every time had left the engineer breathless…Of course, it lacks the sleek design that asuran architecture has, but it’s no less intricate and masterful.

Folding muscular arms across their chest, Haethcyn slowly lowered their eyes back to ground level, attention dragged into the depths of the forest north of them. 

That Pact was still somewhere out there, wasn’t it? They’d heard that the entry into Maguuma went badly, but that the war continued to wage, in spite of the odds. 

… Crazy bastards. There was a rumor among old Aetherblades that that dragon was the one who drove Scarlet to madness. Did they truly hope to win against such a force of destruction? A monster that was able to bend the will from the inside out? 

No sum of gold could convince the pirate to venture into such a war zone. 

Not even saving the world would be worth it.

As they drifted quietly through the water, their keen eyes snagged on something amiss, sharply pulling them from uneasy thoughts. 

There, beneath a low hanging branch between two gigantic trees, was a strange shape. Its form was difficult to make out from their distance, but their interest was piqued nonetheless. Stepping up to the helm, they changed course to get as close to the shore as they dared. Squinting their dark eyes, Haethcyn craned their neck to try and get a good look, and then fiddled with the lens of their monocle when they still couldn’t make anything out.

Peering with effort with the one eye, if they tilted their head this way and that, it almost looked like horns.

And if they were really stretching it, charr horns.

Quickly, they dropped their anchor and jumped into the waist deep water, several paces out from the shore, and made haste for the unconscious figure. Loose sand hardened into solid, dry ground, which gave way to lush grass, ferns, and a rugged lowlands terrain. 

Surely, there wouldn’t be a random charr way out here, they rationalized as they beat back the brush that had initially obscured their full view of the figure. This was asuran land… the only way a charr could have ended up here, in such a bizarre out-of-the-way location, was if a visitor fell off the side of Rata Sum itself.

But… no, there was indeed a random, completely battered nutmeg and white haired charr lying face down on the forest floor before Haethcyn, one hand outstretched towards the lake.

Even passed out as she was, terror and exhaustion were etched into her sweet looking face. As if she’d been running from something.

The norn stood there for a moment, one hand braced on their hip, the other raking through thick brown hair, perplexed. 

Now what? They.. didn’t know where this charr came from, didn’t feel too keen on giving her to the Peacemakers, didn’t want to leave her here… She clearly needed medical attention. They sighed and glanced about, looking for clues and finding nothing.

Oh, but a flamethrower lying abandoned a few feet away? How classy! Haethcyn hummed as they picked it up and turned it over in their hands, admiring the craftsmanship. This thing looked as though it packed a punch… Maybe madam charr could write them schematics in return for saving her life. A win on both sides?

“Hey! You! I told you to scram!” Returned the familiar bark of that wet sock Peacemaker. Haethcyn jumped and spun their head, watching him in exasperation as he approached at an annoyingly fast speed. “You docked and exited, I’m going to tow your vessel!”

Gripping the flamethrower firmly in their hands, they whirled it around to face the Peacemaker and set it off at full blast, cackling at the kickback it generated, and at the speed in which he backtracked, and with such fear, too. “Back off punk! You’ll have to beat me to it!” They cajoled before slinging the weapon over their shoulder and hauling the charr into their arms as they broke into a full sprint for the water.

“You! You! What do you think you’re doing! Who is that you’re carrying? I’ll have you detained! I’ll have you banned from the city! Stop right there!” But there wasn’t much the poor asura could do. In a battle of heights and war with the water levels, water that was up to only Haethcyn’s knee was nearly up to the Peacemakers chin. The pirate was up and over the side of their ship before he was even halfway there.

Leaning over the rail, they gave him the sweetest, shittiest smile known to man, and blew him a kiss. “It was a valiant effort, don’t feel too bad. I’m sure you’ll get Peacemaker of the Quarter for your… unending dedication to your job.” He splashed about in the lake, fury all but steaming from his ears. He cursed obscenities that a well-behaved sailor like Haethcyn would never repeat in a millennia, and nearly choked on the lake water in the process. “See ya next month. Same day, same time. I’ll give ya a second chance, hm?” 

Content to ignore him for good now, Haethcyn backed away from the rail and set the charr down on their cheap cot, haphazardly bolted into place on the main deck. Built for a norn, the size complimented her, and within moments she seemed to relax into a more fitful rest. 

Humming their satisfaction with the arrangement, Haethcyn worked to raise the anchor and redirect course for the dam on the way out of here, ready for a bit of solitude at sea. 

Unnoticed, built-up tension in their shoulders disappeared once the vessel began picking up speed and approached the dam ahead, and in their merriment, they went so far as to sing a little jovial tune to themself for a job well done, and another Peacemaker’s day ruined. In only a few long strides, the pirate sat down at a control center designed to toggle the ship between nautical and aerial builds, the latter being only a temporary setting at this point.

It was enough lift to clear waterfalls, dams, and hostile forces out in the ocean, but it could only generate and maintain altitude for a little over an hour at a time.

… On a good day.

Aerial technology had never been on Haethcyn’s repertoire of engineering skills, not until they were hired by Scarlet two years prior, but they liked to think they’d learned a lot among the Aetherblades, and had gotten passable results on their own thus far. A little rough around the edges, sure, maybe a little turbulent at times, but it was a design that was constantly being tweaked to be more and more efficient. When you’re busy designing Tyria’s most versatile vessel, you need to be willing to take some risks, and if the ship goes down… Well, they do say the captain ought to go down with it. 

That said, not only did the ship continue to pick up speed, but as it did, it began to gain altitude too. Haethcyn exhaled in a grin as they operated the various levers and buttons of the airship controls, grateful for the calm weather making the transition easy. They weren’t in the business of crashing with passengers on board, nor looking like a fool in front of the asurans above and below. 

Despite the dam being in imminent range, Haethcyn’s strange hybrid ship had gained enough lift that the bottom of the hull was completely removed from the water, and it cleared the stone wall with several feet of air to spare. They let loose a delighted whoop as the rising wind whipped their hair behind them, and got back to their feet after ensuring the ship’s autopilot was on track for the next hour or so.
Really, however long it would take until Haethcyn heard the engine stutter and start dropping. No big deal, though! Live in the moment!

A small sound from behind, barely perceptible over the roaring of the engines and the wind, caught the pirate’s attention. Throwing their head over their shoulder, brows raised high in curiosity, their dark brown eyes came to meet a wide pair of rosy pink. It seems their sleeping beauty had awoken to the clamor, and was glancing about fretfully, muzzle agape. 

“You-”

“I’m flying?” She gasped, and belatedly pawed at the strands of loose, silky white hair that were lashing against her face. “How… When… Who?” 

Four separate times, Haethcyn had opened their mouth to respond to the one word questions, only to be cut off by another, until they gave up, consigned to wait until the charr had gotten the bewilderment out of her system. 

“Last I remember…” She sighed, pressing a paw to her forehead and wincing, the other sitting awkwardly limp in her lap, “Um…” 

“While I am curious about what you last remember, don’t push it yet. I haven’t gotten a chance to treat your injuries,” Haethcyn pointed out, pushing away from their control desk and walking over to the charr. Timidly, she shrank away from their tall, bulky form, curling her tail into her lap. She didn’t seem to be afraid, just… overwhelmed. Wary. 

“Who are you?” She asked again, a little calmer.
“My name is Haethcyn. The hunk of junk we’re standing on… Well… Welcome to the Seawhisper, hun,” They grinned, kneeling down to the cot’s level. “I found you passed out on the beach a bit of ways north of here, so I brought you on board with me. Mind if I take a look?” They asked, gesturing to the arm she’d begun to subconsciously cradle gently with the other.

“Huh?” She breathed, taking a moment longer to process the question. “O-oh, of course,” and clumsily placed it into Haethcyn’s outstretched hand, the motion evidently taxing and painful for her. She grimaced in discomfort as they examined it, gently bending her joints forward and back to test their mobility. While her wrist seemed only stiff and mildly injured, it was her elbow that prompted a short cry of pain when touched. Thinking she was holding her shoulder oddly in general, they ran their hand up her bicep and across her shoulder feeling for anything amiss. Along the inside of her neckline, she gave a hiss and pulled away, afterwards murmuring a demure ‘sorry’. Retracting their hand, Haethcyn hummed thoughtfully and moved to briskly examine all her other joints, quietly apologizing in return for causing her pain with their probing. 

One knee appeared slightly twisted, but aside from that, it seemed that the rest of her wounds could be chalked up to scrapes. A lot of them, but very few seemed serious. 

“So, now I ask what the hell did all this to you,” They commented, rising back to their feet with the intent of retrieving medical equipment to patch her up until they could dock somewhere with a real doctor. But the look of helplessness on her face stopped the norn in their tracks. 

“I don’t know,” The charr whispered, placing her good paw over her eyes and slightly shaking her head. “Everything's so… blurry. I’m trying to remember. I’m sorry,” She sighed, voice beginning to tremble. 

Raising their hands in concern, Haethcyn waved them slightly, as if to gesture not to worry. “Shit happens, I get it. I’ll still try to patch you up, so it’s ok. You’re safe here, at least,” They smiled, trying to sound reassuring. “I don’t bite!” 

It took a moment for their words to hit the intended mark, but she eventually lightened up, though the crease never left her brow as her eyes sluggishly followed the captain as they sauntered over to the crew’s quarters and emerged with various bandages and vials.

“By the way, I don’t think I’ve heard your name yet, my feline friend,” They lifted their voice over the wind as they returned, keeping an easygoing smile on their face to keep the charr’s nerves down. 

But it wasn’t working, apparently.

She opened her mouth, as if she was prepared to answer right away, but a moment passed and the thought seemed stuck on the tip of her tongue. Her eyes blinked several times, each becoming progressively more distressed. “I’m… I-I’m…” 

Haethcyn stepped up to her, grunting in concern while setting their equipment down. “Don’t overdo it, Hun,” They said again, and reached out to hold her chin. Instructing her to watch their pointer finger, they moved it across her vision and back again, noting with interest how delayed the reactions seemed to be. “Do you recall hitting your head?” 

Lifting her paw to her forehead, she responded with an uncertain nod. She thought it seemed that way, too. 

“No worries, then,” Haethcyn said, remaining chipper as they examined her arm once more. They were pretty sure her elbow was fractured, and collarbone broken. “Let’s give ya a few days to rest up, then we’ll try to figure out what happened to ya, alright? As for everything else, I’m going to clean your cuts, put that arm in a sling, and set your knee straight and brace it. I think you’ll recover in no time.” 

The charr sighed in relief. “Many thanks for your kindness, Haethcyn. Never thought I’d find it on a flying pirate ship, though.” 

Haethcyn laughed as they got to work on the finer details. Some alcohol there, bandages here, stitches there. Before long, she was looking like a brand new charr. “Don’t sweat it, I’ve learned some things about cutthroat teamwork lately. Guess I’m just feeling a tad generous.” 

“Besides,” They added as an afterthought. “Some company’d be nice. Just been me for a while, now. Been needing some harmonies on my sea shanties!” 

She laughed as well, and made some comment about how she was sure she couldn’t hold a tune to save her life, but Haethcyn could tell she was growing groggy again. They were content to let an easygoing silence fall between them as they finished wrapping bandages and fit her arm into an old sling.

Looking much more comfortable than before, she yawned and settled back down on the cot, ready to resume her nap from earlier. Haethcyn waved her along, cleaning up the supplies and making for the ship’s controls. It was getting close to an hour, which meant the altitude would start to fail soon. Best to guide it back down to the sea and set a maritime course for Lion’s Arch, rather than wait for the spirits to decide their fates.  “Get some sleep, honey. I’ll treat you to dinner when you wake up,” They told her as they worked. 

She didn’t need to be told twice. In fact, she was already fast asleep.