Setting Sail and Slaying Tail

Hurricane winds were enough to capsize any boat should they cross paths with the storm, and it destroyed many ships and left crews scattered in her wake. The Empress was no such exception. It had taken little over a week with heavy pay and around the clock work to get her sails ready once more for the sea. It was a miracle this galleon even made it back in one piece. Her larger sister ship, The Dread, had been safe and sound in the harbor during the time of the storm after heading the previous warnings. Spirits were at an all-time low and the crew was barely functional with the numbers they had lost at sea.

Still, Maxin was daring the waters as he boiled up a new idea in his spur of the moment brain. News of his ideas spread like wildfire until they fell upon the ears of the Pirate Lorde herself. 

“Where is that Captain of yours.” An angered voice called above the crying gulls as she neared the patchworked ship.

“In his quarters-“ One of the crew mates started.

The man was behind his desk looking over a map to set things in stone while he read from what he had learned. Chakiina, by her graces, had taken Max under her wing while his ship was repaired and taught him the essentials of what he would need to know. The rest- well, he would have to learn the hard way. She practically kicked the doors in while the dark haired woman stormed inside, her green eyes ablaze.

“What the HELL is coming back to me- about this sea monster shit?” She roared.

“Aye, ya heard then. Good.” 

“Are you trying to commit suicide? I will Not be letting a fresh captain under MY SAILS, may I remind you, go gallivanting about into the depths of the ocean in pursuit of a Fever dream. Do I make myself clear?”

“No, sit down. Maybe ya will if we talk.”

Maxin pulled up the map and went over his plan with the small fleet of pirates under their command. Chakiina laughed at him to his face before she stood up and approached the back window.

“Just because you hunted whales, Max, does not mean you know how to hunt a Sea serpent… These are the things that hunt you.” 

“Good. That’s just what we want.”

Chakiina let loose a long sigh.

“What is your obsession with this?”

“Making use of my time here.” 

“Your—- oh Max….” She gave him a hard look before turning away to face the windows. “Maxin, my grandfather, was a masterful sailor. My mother never took to it, and my father is drawn to the sea like a lovesick hound. So I guess you could say it’s in my blood.” She didn’t look back at him when he moved a few things on his deck around. “But I did not become a Captain overnight… My grandfather died when I was 12. I did all in my power to avenge him but it has taken many years and many pains… Even at the cost of my own son. And here. I am now, a Lord…” Her hard eyes turned to him with a glare. “And you… you showed up and lifted through the ranks, then a captain overnight. Maybe had I had you around, my story would be different.” She took something off from over her neck and handed it to him. It ws a compass.

“This belonged to my grandfather, he gave it to me for good luck… I want you to have it, you’re going to need all of the luck you can get.” 

Chakiina began to leave the cabin but stopped by the door.

“You will follow us out to the depths… we can talk about your plan more there.”

Maxin looked over the compass and noticed the old engravings. It belonged to a naval officer. 

It was well into nightfall when the ships came to a stop far across from a bay over a ghastly looking island. Ships were broken against giant outcrops and some had hung up on the reefs. This was marked as the Deadzone on the map, an area right next to enormous trenches that went down too far to tell. The rumors appeared to be true. As excited as Maxin was, the crew was anything but. They had just lived through a hurricane, they were considering their luck to be wearing thin. A few reassuring whips from the new Quartermaster, Percy, and everyone stopped their gawking over the railings and returned to work. 

“Drop the anchor.” Maxin called. 

A massive rope was undone and she plunged into the water. It didn’t drop for long before it struck the surface of a reef. The trio of ships teetered right on the edge of the abyss. A catwalk was struck between the ships and Max crossed onto the Dread. He was met with plenty of disapproving looks from this crew as well. With a sigh, he headed to the quarters of the Captain where she would be waiting for him. This was his ticket back to Faline. It couldn’t fail, it had to work. With a catch that has never been caught in these waters, they would have to turn to a large city for big buyers. Faline was the closest that came to. With a deep breath he pushed the doors aside and was greeted by Chakiina, her quartermaster, and another Pirate Lord named Lo, and his quartermaster. All eyes were on Max.

“Let’s hear it.” Chakiina stood.

Ships were in position over the trench and after a few screams, they began to chum the waters. The blue in the pale moonlight quickly turned red followed by an aftermath of hungry sharks. Only three ships present, it took hours of sitting out on still waters for anyone to finally speak.

“Maybe they’re all dead.” Percy mentioned with a shrug.

“Dead?” Max replied. “I heard they ain’t got nothin’ to kill ‘em.”

Sharks were swimming like a pack of dogs swarming a kill. They were so furious that they even bit at the boats. To pass the time, the crew would throw spears at the sharks to practice their aim. A breeze was brought on the wind, a cool breeze, and with it came movement to the calm water. They stared at the ripples and the sharks until their eyes became blurry and they swore they were seeing double.

This entire time Maxin was poised at the wheel, waiting to bark orders. His blood ran so hot that he felt as if he was shaking. He never thought of what might happen if… nothing happened. Maybe he would throw someone overboard to add some panic to the water. He let out a sigh and watched as some of the crew retired to warm themselves in the hull of the ship. 

Something moved out of the corner of his eyes. Max spun around and ran to the railing, staring at what appeared to be a whale fin dipping below the surface.

“MAN THE CANNONS- STARBOARD SIDE” He watched the crew scramble into place, his impossibly loud voice startling the other two ships. On the other side of the Dread, Max watched with a horrified expression as the vessel spun around in a circle, not by its own doing.

“RAISE THE ANCHOR-“ 

All hands on deck, everyone scrambled into position and a bell was rang. They had to angle themselves facing each other, stern to bow, save they blow one another to smitherines with friendly fire from the cannons. A loud scream came out from the ocean, one that rattled Max’s bones and pained the crew’s ears. Find came roaring from the waters and a set of hideous teeth were set towards the Dread. Each tooth stood a man tall.

“FIRE-“

“HARPOONS READY-“

“FIRE-“

Max could be heard commanding his ship, and Chakiina hers. They could not see Lo beyond the Dread, but he hoped she was still standing as the beast lurched from the black water and launched directly at the belly of the middle ship. His daughter. The air was filled with blasts from Cannons and the sickly sound of harpoons hitting flesh. The beast screamed in the air and fell beneath the line of ships with a splash that racked them back in its wake. Floating barrels were launched into the waters and the ships spun around. Sails let loose, and they were on the chase. The goal was to bleed it out, but when the barrels stopped, Max was hoping for a dead beast. Sure enough, it’s lifeless body was floating at the surface. There wasn’t time to chear however, for behind them came at least a dozen more in a swarm. 

The three ships fought to get into a defensive line before opening a wild fire on these enormous creatures. It was a chaotic development. Screaming, things leaping from the ocean, boats crashing, and guns blazing. Some men went overboard but were quickly retrieved. Max got a chunk of monster blown into his face and he laughed like a maniac as he fought the waves to keep the ship from capsizing in all this madness. A fight went on for maybe an hour, and then silence overcame them.

Panting from the crew could be heard and the smell of blood mingled with gunpowder and sweat singed his nose. He it seemed as if it was all over… Max walked down the stairs to the deck and stared out at the waters. It ran red and was filled with bodies. Small ones. From the looks of it, they had killed a mother and her smaller brood. Chakiina was still shouting at her ship, and men were rushing over with nets to get something splashing in the water. It looked like a man until they began to haul it up. Max squinted but couldn’t quite make it out, even with his vision in the darkness. 

They sent out small boats to go chop apart the floating bodies and retrieved what they could with nets and harpoons from the ship. It was to be a very long night. 

“Congratulations, Captain Stubborn Ass. You almost killed every single person here.” Chakiina lifted her mug in a toast in her quarters.

“As long as he makes us Rich,” Lo started, “he can almost kill me any time he likes.”

“Haha-“ Maxin started with a nervous laugh. “I guess it would be a bad time to tell ya I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

They were a little quiet for a moment before they all began to laugh.

“So.” Chakiina started. “Tell me, what’s your obsession with Faline, and why do we have to take our catch there.”

“Oh I uh… left someone behind.”

“A lover, perhaps?” Lo added with a shitty grin.

“Aye.” Max replied and downed the rum in his mug mighty quickly. “Ya done now?” He growled.

Lo nodded and drank up. 

Maxin had fallen quiet and no longer partook in the fun, he only drank in silence and seemed to be stewing in his thoughts. When Lo left, Maxin stood up to follow before he was stopped by Chakiina.

“Nah, I’m not letting you go back to your ship like this. Stay for a bit. Have you written to this ehr… person at all since you have been here?”

“Can’t write.” 

“Figured as much, seeing as you could not read either… Well, come on then tell me what I’m going to be writing.”

Maxin’s eyes got a little wide, but his tail coiled and he followed her to the papers on her very extravagant desk. 

“How long did ya know ya were m’daughter?” Maxin started.

“Not now we have more pressing matters at hand… We’ll get this letter written and at the next port, have it mailed out. See- your mood is already changed.” 

“Thank you…”

And that was it. That was how two beasts had been slain by one sword.