Litam stepped off the wilde's back and onto the dew-soaked grass. He had regained his composure while he was still airborne, and the griffin had calmed down considerably.
He had just agreed to save Lanyur, even though he didn't have the first clue how he could accomplish it. However, the mouse knew that he had no choice in the matter—she didn't deserve eternal or even temporary torture.
The air was thick and humid, the smell of saltwater assaulting Litam's sensitive nose. They had landed by the ocean, mere feet away from the coastline. The mouse peered around, unsure of his next step.
He looked up at the sky and whispered: Shalyon? Selassei? I can't do this alone… This feels silly, and I don't know the first thing about how to say it, but… I need your help. I don't know what to do.
A curious thing began to happen then, catching the mouse's eye. The ocean settled, the waves calming to ripples, and three bulbous shapes began to rise from the water. They were not objects breaching the surface, but actual extensions of the sea itself. Litam found this fascinating, and walked toward them, wanting to get a closer look. They soon approximated his height and shape; shortly after, they were sporting limbs and heads.
Then the water's surface broke. Litam jumped back in surprise, and saw the water cascade back into the ocean, which was again moving. In place of the columns were three creatures.
They seemed to be made of the water itself, though they were murky rather than completely transparent. They were nude (after all, how can clothing be supported by water?) and their features approximated the female form. The poor mouse averted his eyes, but the nearest one looked directly at him and spoke.
Are you of the griffin's litter?
she asked, her languid voice a resonating hum, a sound completely alien to Litam. The mouse blinked for a moment, caught off guard, before peeking at her and answering.
Of course not! My name is Litam, and I am a mouse!
he said.
What is a moss?
asked another creature.
Why… a mouse,
he emphasized, is something that looks like me.
Is a mouse a small griffin, then?
the third creature wanted to know. To us, you look like them.
And to me, you look like water,
Litam replied. The lead creature laughed a melodic chime.
That is because we are water! Have you never seen an ydrovi before?
she asked, splashing ocean water playfully at the mouse.
No, I haven't,
he replied honestly.
Well now you have, Litam. I am the sound of the sea against the rocks.
She hummed something to the other two ydrovis.
I am the sad song of the whale,
said the second.
And I am the wail of a hurricane's wind,
bowed the third.
The griffin was intrigued, seeing the movement of a potential meal, but not smelling any meat. Litam watched as the massive wilde lumbered into the water and began pawing at Sad Song's head. The water creature made a sound not unlike a gull's caw, and disappeared into the ocean. She rose back up on the other side of the griffin, sending a small wave of water crashing into him.
The wilde roared and leapt for her again, but she easily dodged him. Frustrated, he sat down on his rump and cocked his head at the water being, not understanding why he couldn't catch her.
Sad Song saw his hunger and she hummed a single low tone. Then, responding to her call, a huge fish rose from the sea, held by tendrils of water. It was easily twelve feet long from nose to tail, wriggling in the sea's grip. The griffin stared at it, confused for a moment, then smelled the flesh and attacked.
Litam turned back to Sea Against The Rocks, who was again paying him attention.
It is curious,
she said, how you have names like 'Litam,' and 'Lanyur.' Our names are sounds of the ocean, not—
Lanyur?
Litam squeaked loudly. How do you know that name?
Why, she is the one in deep slumber at the ocean's north edge. We all know of her.
How long has she been here?
Litam felt a sense of urgency rising.
Oh, we do not know that. The ocean whispered us her name, but the ocean speaks very slowly,
intoned the water creature, distracted by a small fish swimming near her and dawdling through her words.
I need to find her. If I don't, she'll go to Gvirra, and it's my fault,
Litam told the ydrovis.
Gvirra!
all three of them resonated in horror. They then began to hum between each other.
Please, can you help me get to her?
Litam told them what had happened back in the living world. The ydrovis continued several different tones, and then Sea Against The Rocks spoke again.
The ocean whispers of a great galleon near here, the captain of which can take you to the ocean's edge,
she said, placing her hands upon Litam's shoulders and looking into his eyes.
The ocean also whispers of Kveilaz,
her voice rose in fear. The Dark One speaks of a terrible fate that will befall us if we aide you any further.
Come with me,
Litam suggested. I can use all the help I can get. Kveilaz has made a promise to me: he can't send me to Gvirra unless I am unable to save Lanyur, and I'm not giving her up. I'll try and use that to protect you from him.
Do you promise?
asked the ydrovi.
I can't, but I'll do my best anyway.
She broke into a slow, mournful hum, asking the ocean to protect her and the other ydrovis from Kveilaz. Then, addressing Litam again, she spoke: We cannot leave the ocean, but we will follow you along shore and on the ship.
Litam nodded and smiled at her. Which way to the galleon?
Follow the coast to the east, until you reach a great city. There, you will find it moored at the docks.
I have a question,
Litam began slowly, wanting to know one thing before he set off again. Do you know where we are?
Hurricane's Wind replied: The creatures of the ocean have asked us this before, and told us too. Those of you who come here have died, or so we are told. However, the ydrovis do not die, for you cannot destroy the ocean.
Litam thought back to when Selassei had shown him the Endtime, and how Kveilaz would poison the seas.
Yes, you can,
he whispered.
Litam approached the ship with some apprehension. It was hardly a great galleon; rather, it was dilapidated and probably not seaworthy. Its huge sails were tattered and its hull was heavily barnacled. Nevertheless, it was still afloat.
The mouse looked over the edge of the pier, and saw a ripple at the surface, probably Sea Against The Rocks (though which one it actually was, he couldn't be certain). He took a deep breath and walked up the gangplank.
Is anyone here?
he called out. He didn't see the captain anywhere in sight, until down he dropped from the mast.
What're you do'n' on m'ship?!
snapped the otter, looming over Litam. As the first normal face he had seen in a while, it gave him only a mild start.
Litam took a step back. The sandy-furred beast's clothing was tattered, the remains of some naval uniform or another. A few brass buttons remained in various places, and the cap of a captain perched atop his head.
Why're you on m'ship?!
he asked again, threatening the mouse with a height at least a head greater. The mouse pointed down to the water.
The ydrovis told me you could help me,
he said. The otter cringed and looked down past the pier.
Ugh, those wretch'd thin's. Th'always think they're helpin' when th' throw fish aboard m'ship. Unfortunately,
he peered over the rail and called down, live sharks an't terribly useful t'me!
They mean well, and either way, I still need your help,
Litam said. I need to get to the ocean's north edge, to find a mouse named Lanyur.
Y' think m'Elategav would make it tha' far?
The otter scoffed. It barely stays docked without bein' flooded!
What are you worried about?
Litam pushed, It's not like you can drown.
The captain harrumphed and pointed his finger at the mouse. Y' just got here, din' you? Let m'tell you somethin': y' can drown here just as easily as y' could back in y'old life.
Difference is,
he paused to tug at a limp corner of the Elategav's mainsail, when y' sink to the sea floor here, y' din' bob back up some place safe. Y're gone, t'Aarta or t'Gvirra, whichever y' picked with y'life's actions. Here, hold this.
He handed the mainsail's corner to Litam, and started tying down an attached rope. He no longer seemed worried about having the mouse on his ship; he felt Litam was too naïve to be trouble.
Has it happened to you already?
Were y'even payin' attention?
snapped the otter. If it had, I wouldn't still be in this place! In Shalyon's name, why did it have t'be the thick one who came t'visit? Couldn't it be a lonely otteress, is tha' so much t'ask?
he asked, looking upward and shaking his paws in defeat.
His head snapped down again and he eyed Litam sharply: An' whatever y'next question was, I probably din' know the answer! I'm not a seer, y' know.
I didn't mean to say you were, captain…?
Litam asked patiently.
Good, I can answer tha' one. I'm Voga Kena, an' I din' have a crew n'more, so y' can forget the captain bit. Who're you?
I'm Litam of the family Witinh Hae. I'll ask you again, I need your help. A friend of mine is being held by Kveilaz, and unless I can save her, she'll go to Gvirra.
Voga nearly choked on his tongue: An' y' want me t'help y'?! Do y' think I'm a complete idiot, goin' against a beast like Kveilaz?
the otter asked, staring directly at Litam. I'm only still here since I'm probably headed for Gvirra myself! I'd like t'put that off as long as possible, thank y' kindly. Now get off my ship; I have work to do.
The otter turned away from the mouse, but the mouse grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. Litam was nothing if not stubborn.
Look, if I don't do this, she's doomed and it'll be my fault. If I can get through it and save her, though, both she and I will be released to Aarta. Maybe if you help me, your fate will be reversed as well.
Voga's whiskers twitched in rhythm, and he thought hard. When he addressed Litam again, his speech had changed—it was more formal, more sombre, and it made Litam's fur stand on end. There was a cold calculating mind behind the words.
I've slit more tha' my share of throats on the seas—I'm not a mere merchant captain, in case y' got tha' idea; I've simply slowed down in m'old age. I realized too late that m'actions would have consequences, an' I discovered just what they would be when the Mitarian navy crippled m'ship and captured m'crew.
I may be a little less hasty in m'step, but we otters ne'er let age be an excuse. I'm the same beast I was twenty years ago, an' I'm not going to do this because I want t'save your friend; I've ne'er met her and din' have a care who she is. I'm going to help y' only because it may be the good deed I've been looking for that will send me t'Aarta rather tha' Gvirra.
Y' said she was across the ocean's edge, din' y'? Tha's a long journey, so we'd best prepare.
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