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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4820131" data-attributes="member: 3285">Naoke: Part 3 – Sea SerpentThe ship’s sails were struck to permit a handful of sailors some time to attend to a leak in the Nǎoké’s keel. “So…” asked Kham as nonchalantly as possible.  “Who’s the father?”Ilmarė was unflapped.  “That’s none of your business.”“Oh I know.  I just figured I should ask.”“It’s not who you think.”Kham smirked.  His throat was feeling better, although he would have the ugly scar across his throat for the rest of his life.  “Well it’s not me.  And I’m pretty sure it’s not Quintus…” he was watching her reactions, but the elorii’s beautiful features were impassive, as usual.  “Shouldn’t you be resting?”“I’m fine.”  She turned to look out at the ocean.“Look...” Kham rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry about pushing you through the portal.”The elorii didn’t look at him.  “I would have done the same to you, were you to reveal something I wanted to conceal about my past.” She patted her stomach.  “Fortunately for the both of us, the child is fine.”Kham stared at the deck.  “Maybe you should consider…you know, retiring.  It’s one thing for us to get into danger, but you’ve got responsibility now.”Ilmarė didn’t say anything.  She was staring upwards.“I know, I know, I’m one to talk about responsibility.  But I’m sure the father, whoever he is, would agree that he wants the child safe.”Ilmarė blinked, speechless.  The sea churned beyond the deck of the ship.Kham continued to stare at the deck.  “So it’s the silent treatment huh?”“Sea serpent!” shouted Baldric from the stern.  “Evasive maneuvers!”Kham looked up.A column of flesh and scales reared out of the surf.  The beast spread its fins outwards like wings and the shadow encompassed the whole of the Nǎoké.“Get back!”  Ilmarė shoved Kham.  A huge cord of tail slapped across the center of the ship, wrapping around it.  Crossbows fired, but they were nothing to such a huge beast.  Its light green underbelly sparkled in the sunlight.“She’s gonna drag us down!” shouted Baldric.“Not if I can help it!” shouted Beldin.  The dwarf threw a hand ax at the beast.  The blade, infinitesimally small compared to the sea serpent, bounced off its snout. The sea serpent’s head whipped about.  It had red flukes along the side of its skull and equally glaring red eyes.  The sea serpent’s maw opened impossibly wide, revealing two pairs of yellow fangs.  “Got your attention now?” shouted the dwarf.  “Pick on someone your own size!”More coils slapped around the bow of the ship as it entwined the Nǎoké like a python.The head shot downwards with blinding speed, gouging out planks of wood where the dwarf had stood only moments before.  The sea serpent lifted its head and swallowed.Kham stared, agog.  “I think we just lost our dwarf.”The serpent’s head swayed, its glaring eyes tracking the tiny figures on board the ship.  It focused on Ilmarė.“Ilmarė, look out!” shouted Vlad. He fired a crossbow from the aft of the ship.  The sea serpent ignored him.The head reared backwards.  Ilmarė stared upwards at the beast unafraid.  With a shriek, the sea serpent’s head darted forward and then abruptly stopped.  Its eyes crossed.  Then it began whipping back and forth, jerking to and fro.  The coils loosened.The sea serpent convulsed and vomited onto the ship.  Beldin, along with dead fish, seaweed, and all manner of debris, splashed onto the deck.With another bone-shaking roar, the sea serpent sank into the depths and disappeared.Beldin rose to his feet, brushing seaweed out of his beard.The pirates looked on in shock.  “Guess it doesn’t like the taste of dwarves,” said Beldin gruffly.</blockquote>

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