Author: Kismet, Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2022 12:59 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Naram gave Cloe some time to breathe after they had escaped the sudden deluge. He was a bit older than her, but he could understand the fear and panic she was feeling right now. Back when they had to run, it hadn't crossed his mind–but Edward's death reminded him of the day his older sister died. It had been so sudden. If he hadn't pushed past the men who tried to block off her tent, perhaps he could have lived the rest of his life with peace of mind. But what he saw in her tent told him that it wasn't some mere accident or illness. The lack of damage inside her tent despite it being clear she died in a struggle, the way she laid–unmoving, eyes open and forever locked with the expression of her last moments… And the strange, inhuman footprints he saw nearby. It was the first time he had come to know fear, and fear death. 

His sister was a shaman. If she couldn't kill whatever took her life, then what did that say of the tribesmen? Naram himself was nearly killed by something like it too, though he couldn't be entirely sure if it was the same creature. If it hadn't been for that ruined shrine, he wouldn't be here. 

He felt Zaya squirming in the sack, and turned to see the cat climbing out onto his back. Seeing her sniffing her nose in Cloe's direction, he sensed Zaya probably wanted to go over to her. Shifting his szabla to his other hand, he half carried the long-haired cat to Cloe and helped her down. Once on the ground, she began to gently headbutt the young woman's legs. Zaya wished she could comfort her more, but it was the best she could do without using her power. She remembered how scared her human was back when they first met. She had more power back then, but without him she might have forever stayed in that shrine. Zaya looked up at Cloe with her pale green eyes and slowly blinked. She wanted to tell her that things would be alright, but she no shaman to speak for her.

When Cloe apologized, Naram shook his head. "Don't blame yourself." There was nothing they could have done in that moment. Maybe Edward knew what he was doing when he tried to attack the creature, but the nomad knew it easily could have been any of them who would die had they been in his place. When one fights against something beyond the mortal world, the only thing you can do is to survive as long as you can. "We'll get those crystals and make it back to dry land again, no matter what." He said. Zaya looked to him with dilated pupils, a hint of fear in her eyes. 

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2022 10:30 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Confidence and courage diminished, Cloe could feel her own panic grow with her every heartbeat. Could the monster hear that too? Would she end up like Edward? Suddenly what was a simple task became overwhelming as her fears finally surfaced. The wooden walls were her death cage and the ice-cold water was the executioner’s blade slowly descending. She just wanted a vacation. That’s it. Now, she just wanted to live to see her dad or mom again.

“I don’t know.” She confessed as tears gathered in her eyes, “I d-don’t know what to do.”

Cloe had seen death before, an old woman dying of old age but nothing as violent as what happened with Edward. Could she have saved him? Was it her fault? There was so much blood when his neck was crushed. She subconsciously touched her own neck as she recalled the disgusting crunching sound of bones snapping. They had one crystal. But would they survive to get all of them?

“W-well that beast is taking its sweet time.” Cloe commented in a shaky voice, “Maybe we can use that.”

Despite her panic, she still was able to pick up the small detail of that creature. It had the opportunity to hunt them down immediately since it could survive in water and out of water perfectly fine. So why was it hesitating? Why did it hesitate before? Perhaps with a clearer mind, she would be able to answer that. Cloe clutched her arms as she tried desperately to warm herself up. Her face was pale as she stared at the floor, her mind still focused on Edward's murder.

"I'm sorry. I should've planned or done something." Her voice had grown to be quiet.

Author: Kismet, Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2022 3:10 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

There was an uneasy tension hanging in the air as they cautiously approached the crystal. While they were discussing the best course of action, something made itself clear that it had no intentions of letting them leave alive. Naram had no time to respond when suddenly splintering wood and an extremely pungent stench of saltwater startled him. With the faint light of his szabla illuminating the area, the nomad quickly backed away as Edward tried to hit whatever had clawed its way out of the woodwork. In the next moment, they all watched in horror as Edward was suddenly grabbed by the throat followed by a sound that Naram knew meant he was dead.

There was no time to stand around anymore–they had to get the crystal and run–now. Cloe quickly pulled the crystal out of its fixture and sprinted towards the stairs as the sound of rushing water filled the nearby walls. Naram did the same, not daring to look back as what sounded like a roaring river began to pour in. As he ran, the long-haired cat being carried on his back looked behind with wide eyes. Although there was a maelstrom of noises from the pounding of boots against wood to the ragged breathing of the two remaining humans, Zaya could hear something else in the chaos. The monster who had killed that man like a bird smashing a snail against the ground was still following. Not only could it track them through their footsteps, it was likely able to see from the light coming from her human's weapon.

Naram didn't know how much time had passed, but everything became a blur as he desperately ran to keep Cloe in his sights. They climbed up to the second floor just in time for water to completely overtake the hall, leaving anyone else down there trapped for good. Although they were no longer in danger of drowning, there was a new problem on their hands. Whatever had killed the scholar was still at large, and was probably still following them. If they went back to the group of survivors now, they could very well lead everyone to a gruesome death. But the opposite choice wasn't much better: risking their lives to collect all the crystals before rejoining the group could lead to losing one or all if he or Cloe died.

"Cloe, what do we do now? We have one of the crystals, but we can't go back and hand it off to the captain and the rest of the crew without exposing them to whatever killed Edward." Moreover, the nomad was no longer confident that he could kill the creature if they came face-to-face with it again. It might be a beast, but it was also an extremely cunning hunter. Perhaps as cunning as a person.

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2022 4:37 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

A shiver ran down her spine as Naram stated they weren't alone. She had no idea where that thing was or why it was going after them. They couldn't even fight it if they wanted to avoid the flood. Remembering her map, she turned to the left, moving as quietly as she could muster. Cloe used the light of Naram's sword as she tried to find the staircase in the middle of the darkness. Her poor toe found the first step. She bit her tongue to avoid shouting out in pain after accidentally walking into the staircase. Turning back to Edward, she decided to question him about the next crystal.

"If we run-up to the second floor, we should be safe, right?" Cloe asked in a hushed tone, still wary of the monster that lurked around them.

"Sort of. You need to get south of the ship to avoid the water." Edward explained.

Cloe nodded and returned to the crystal. There was a long hall to the staircase so whoever took out the crystal would have to sprint for their lives. Cloe observed Edward and herself for a moment then cast her gaze upon Naram. There was no doubt that he would be the fastest sprinter among them. She frowned at the thought but their best shot would be to have him do the crystal runs while they waited on the second floor.

"Naram, I think you'll have the best shot out of the rest of us. Can you-"

Before she could finish her sentence, a hand burst out from the wall, through the hardened wood of the ship. The hand was covered in blue and green scales with sharp knife-like claws. It tore away the wood to create an entrance for itself but before it could finish, a panicked Edward picked up a long large piece of wood and struck the creature's arm. The monster growled at Edward and snatched his neck, dragging him towards the wall. Cloe watched in horror as the sound of a massive crunch pierced the air. Within a matter of seconds, the monster had crushed Edward's neck.

"Cover me!!" Cloe shouted at Naram.

Cloe rushed towards the crystal and started prying the crystal out of its socket with a piece of metal wreckage. With a few tugs, she managed to loosen it just enough to yank the crystal out.

"Run!" She shouted.

With the rest of her strength, she pulled the crystal out and made a dash for the stairs. She could feel the spray of water as it burst through the walls of the old ship.

Author: Kismet, Posted: Thu Jun 9, 2022 7:11 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

There was a shared sense of relief once everyone was out of the water. Naram was glad to be back on something solid while Zaya knew in her current capabilities she wouldn't be of any help if they were attacked then. When Cloe held out her wrist to her, the long-haired cat began to sniff after giving the woman a look of acknowledgement. The cat's whiskers bristled as her nose went to work in memorizing the new scent. There was the smell of brine and salt, with an underlying fishy stench. It was unpleasant to her in a sort of unspeakable way as well–the same of feeling when she encountered something that had killed more than it needed to eat. When she was done, the cat looked up at Cloe and the other humans before shaking water off her legs and crawling back into Naram's bag. Her pale green eyes were fixed on the water's still surface, ears rotating around as she listened for sounds of movement. 

Cloe's reminder jogged the nomad's memory, and he retrieved his blade. The sheen on its edge was still bright, thankfully. The blessing of the moon's light within had not yet run out. With Cloe taking the lead, they soon found the first of the crystals. As Naram watched the flickering glow in the distance, he was trying to think of how they should escape once the crystal was in their hands. With so much of the area damaged and flooded, it wouldn't be as simple as climbing back up. And it was so dark down here too.

Zaya's pupils dilated in the darkness as the fishy stench she had smelled on the young woman's wrist was getting stronger. She didn't know if the others could smell it as beasts had sharper senses than humans, but to her it was very clear that it was still lurking about–and very close. The cat let out a low whine as her body tensed. Her ears were turning in different directions following the sounds she could hear from the walls. As if to highlight her growing anxiety, she began to paw at the nomad's back through the material of the bag she was sitting in. Sensing her unease, Naram tightened his grip on his szabla. The dagger had been stowed away once he had reached Cloe, and the enchanted lantern was in his other hand. Carefully he tapped Cloe and Edward, keeping his voice as calm as possible.

"We're not alone. It seems my arrows didn't hit any vital points earlier. Once we figure out what route to take after we get that crystal, we need to run." If what Edward said was true, once the crystal was removed they would have no time to focus on anything else. There was no time for a fight when they needled to outrun the incoming flood. 

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Thu May 12, 2022 5:52 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

When he reached her side Cloe grabbed Naram by the arm and grunted with effort as she dragged him onto the hall floor. Once he was safe on the floor she waited for the sound of Edward swimming closer. Cloe could hear his terrified muttering and helped him when he was close enough. The empty blackened hall of the ship was dark and cold, a drastic difference from the warmer levels above. A lantern would have been useful but she was unsure of Naram’s lantern after they had been swimming. Cloe reached out for Zaya and placed her on the floor. Kneeling next to the unfortunate cat, she held out the wrist that the creature had grabbed.

“Zaya, did the monster leave a scent you can track?” Cloe asked the clever creature.

She didn’t actually know if the cat could understand her but judging by its natural response to humans so far, she had a feeling Zaya might be smarter than an average cat. The water had taken away most of the scent but there was enough to use it for tracking. The monster had retreated to the depths of the ocean, for now. Cloe stood up, suddenly remembering Naram's weapon. 

“Almost forgot, Naram the szabla is over there.”

She pointed to the sword that had been stabbed through the hall floor nearest to the waters. Everybody seemed to be on their feet and ready for the next part so Cloe began walking down the darkened hall. According to Edwards’ estimation, they were almost there at the first crystal. A bright green glow lingered from around the corner at the end of the hall. It faded then grew strong again like a beacon trying to signal to a ship.

“The second we pull this crystal out, this section will be flooded.” Edward explained, “We’ll need to find a way out before we touch it.”

Meanwhile the scent of that creature slowly grew closer, as if it was in the walls… 

A soft thump could be heard from the left wall… like someone was trying to walk very carefully. 

Author: Kismet, Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2022 3:15 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Naram was relieved to hear Cloe's voice, meaning she was alright for the moment. While he hesitated to go down, he threw Edward a glance after hearing what she shouted at them from below. They couldn't afford to risk having her get injured, so he began to secure the rope with several knots on the sturdiest leverage point he could find nearby. Then, he slid down the bag slung over his shoulder as he knelt down close to the long-haired cat. Zaya climbed in immediately, and the nomad stood up, ready to descend. Taking in a deep breath, Naram said aloud: "Alright, let's go." Shouting down into the the sunken hole, the nomad spoke: "We're on our way!" Grasping the secured rope with a lantern dangling from his side, he carefully made the descent. The light of the lamp was enchanted, flickering in the direction of what the holder sought. In this case, it would be Cloe–or a safe place where they could get their footing. 

Zaya couldn't wait to go down. She had been worried sick when she heard what was going on below, and at last her pleas were heard. Her head poked out of the bag slung across her human's back, eyes and ears moving to and fro as her pupils widened to adjust to the darkness. The flow of the air, the salty brine, and the light stench of blood were all caught by her keen senses. Scents of her human, the young woman who petted her, and the other man all mingled together as the three arrived at the bottom of the gaping hole. Quickly taking up the lantern, Naram swung his arm around while a dagger was clenched tightly in the other. His bow would do no good here, not enough space or time for him to draw the string back to fire. As Cloe currently had possession of his szabla, he would need to make do. Fighting in wide open areas upon horseback was his strength, but combat in enclosed spaces was not. 

With the light from the lamp, he spotted what looked like a passageway with some wood boards around it as a sort of platform. His eyes could make out a figure in the dark, and he assumed it was Cloe. "We're coming over to where you are!" His eyes looked down at the span of water between that place and their current position, and he steeled himself. "Zaya, Edward–we're going into the water. Swim as fast as you can and go straight ahead." The first was to let the cat know she would be getting her fur wet, and the latter was to inform the sense of urgency they were in. Naram knew something was in the water, but they couldn't jump across. Tucking the lantern in with Zaya, he held his dagger between his teeth before entering the water to cross. With quick strokes, he kicked and pushed his way through the cold seawater to reach the other side. His heart had been pounding in his ears the entire time, fearing he would get caught by whatever his arrows had hit earlier. He couldn't confirm if it was dead, but he sincerely hoped it was.

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:25 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Cloe couldn't see anything but she could hear the creature grasping for the wooden planks she had just crawled out onto. Then there was a thunk as the creature shouted in pain and splashed back into the water. Cloe looked for something to light the darkness but her lantern had fallen into the water earlier. The pitch-black surrounding her did nothing to tell her where on earth that stupid rope was. Either way, she wasn't going to try to go for a swim again. If she couldn't get back up to them, then they'd have to climb down to her.

"You three! Tie the rope to something and get a light. I need your arses down here!" She shouted to them as loudly as possible.

Despite her shouting, the creature or whatever it was didn't try to go after her again. Cloe could only assume whatever hit it was responsible for its sudden retreat. The other three would be fine climbing down, or so she hoped. They needed to get to the crystal and work their way back up to the top of the ship. With a monster on their tails, it only meant they had to move faster.  Suddenly, an idea occurred to Cloe.

"Make sure to bring Zaya. We'll need her!" Cloe exclaimed.

The fluffy cat would be key to their survival.

Author: Kismet, Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 4:40 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

As Naram and Edward lowered Cloe down by the rope, Zaya's tail was standing straight up, tense and twitching. The long-haired cat had an ominous feeling come over her and her pupils widened as she gazed deep into the hole. What the humans didn't hear was the subtle sound of movement from below, like water rippling. The nomad held his grip at the sound of the whistling, and strained his neck to see what Cloe was illuminating without changing where he stood. He was just about to reply when a loud splashing came from below, and Zaya started wailing. The cat was now absolutely frantic, pacing back and forth in distress while unable to do anything. He had never seen her so distraught before, even in the face of danger she normally would focus on reaching him or anyone else in need of help. The cat's claws pitifully scratched at the splintered wood at the edge of the gaping hole, and Naram's stomach flipped when he felt the weight on the end of the rope disappear.

"Cloe?! CLOE!!!" When the rope went slack, Edward realized what had happened too. Running to the edge and kneeling as close as he could, Naram's eyes searched the area below to see what was going on. There was loud splashing of water like something or someone was struggling, and the light Cloe had brought down with her was now out. There was no point in holding onto the rope anymore, but he couldn't risk going down there. They needed two people at least to man the rope so they could come back up. Gritting his teeth, Naram took out an Endapano longbow and notched a whittled arrow with eagle feathers. This particular arrow was made with special components used by shamans in warding rituals. Although he himself had little talent in that area, he didn't doubt their effectiveness. Relying on his hunter's intuition, he tracked the sound of movement to determine where Cloe was. Seeing what should be her emerge near the entrance she had told them about moments before, he fired the spirit-repelling arrow at her pursuer without hesitation. 

All the while, Zaya was staring at the water below, her fur slowly standing on end. She let out a low yowl to communicate her distress, and looked at the two men beside her. This situation was what she had feared the most. Not only was her power insufficient, but what little she still had could not be used lest they all perish. In contrast, Naram appeared very calm. His hazel-green eyes were fixed on what was happening below, his hands moving deftly to notch another arrow. He was at a disadvantage due to his position and inability to see the target's vital points, but he wasn't going to waste any time. Another arrow flew down, the sound telling the nomad he had hit his mark. The sounds an arrow made were different when they hit something inanimate like wood, in comparison to something with flesh and blood. The arrows had unique paralytic properties; what they lacked in lethality they compensated through their stunning effects.

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 12:31 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Edward seemed slightly worried about the plan but he knew it was their best shot if they wanted to survive. Satisfied that the rest of the team seemed to agree with her plan, Cloe double-checked the ropes to ensure they were secure. When Naram offered up the szabla Cloe hesitantly took it. Ever since she had met Naram she had a feeling that anything he carried was of great value to him.

"Thank you." She said with a smile then looked to both Zaya and Naram, "Hey, it's gonna be okay. Takes a lot more than some water or a jellyfish to defeat me."

Cloe gave Zaya a pet on the head then walked over the rope. She tied the szabla to her belt to free up her hands for the lantern and holding onto the rope. Once she sat in the circle she made, she gave the others the sign to start letting the rope over the edge. The hole was dark and foreboding like some sort of abyss with a salty smell. As she descended into the hole, she spotted more details of the ship. She could see broken walls leading into other destroyed rooms and halls with a barrel or two rolling off broken ledges and into the water below. The lantern light was able to show her the seawater at the bottom and she whistled as a signal for the others to stop her descend. There was a massive entrance to the lowest section of the partially drowned ship.

"There's an entrance down here! We can use this to skip ahead!" Cloe exclaimed to the others.

A strange splash caught her attention. Like something large had made a sound. Perhaps it was falling wreckage? But when Cloe looked closer, she spotted something moving underneath the water. The creature had scales but they were closer to lizard scales than fish. Cloe leaned in closer, dangling right over the water as she tried to get a better look at the creature. She could barely see its arms and legs. Was it humanoid? She changed her position so she could get an even closer look. Suddenly a scaled claw reached out from the water and grabbed her by the wrist, yanking her into the water with a splash. The rope lost all its weight and became nothing more than rope.

Cloe kicked the creature and reached for the szabla, managing to free it from its sheath. The kick was able to surprise whatever the creature was and she desperately swam in the direction of the entrance to the hall she had seen earlier. It was close to the water so she knew she had a shot at reaching it.  She resurfaced and reached the entrance. Piercing the wooden floor of the hall with the szabla, she used it as leverage to pull herself out. As she dragged herself onto the floor, she had a sinking feeling whatever that creature was, it was not done yet.

Author: Kismet, Posted: Sun Jan 9, 2022 5:06 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Zaya had been resting with her eyes closed when a pair of hands pulled her out from her bag. The long-haired cat looked up to see Cloe holding her close, like how children would hug their parents or something that made them feel safe. Although she couldn't use magic lest the ship's remaining protections break, Zaya let out a purr to help calm her nerves. She would need to hold back and help the humans the best she could. If helping them feel happier would ensure they would be safe, then Zaya would do it. The cat allowed herself to be carried, keeping her eyes and ears alert. There were so many smells here, probably due to the changes of seawater coming in. Naram had no objections to Cloe holding Zaya. They were all here to see the crystal recovery was done. 

Naram was listening in silence as Cloe used a method to determine how far down the fall was into the hole. From the sound of the smoldering fire going out, water had already seeped in below. Zaya herself was watching too from a safe distance. The wood was broken and not too stable, and there wasn't an easy way back up if they went down. Her nose and whiskers were moving rapidly as she was detecting a new smell, something different from the humans she had met so far. She didn't know what is was, and her eyes couldn't see that far. But something about it made her fur slowly rise, and her stomach began to tense. The smell of salt and seawater was stronger than before, with something else too. The cat's pale green eyes looked with worry at Cloe who was doing something with the rope. Was the human going to go down there? It wasn't safe, after all human eyes weren't as good compared to hers. Anxiously she started to paw at Naram's leg, pacing in circles around the hole Cloe was planning to descend into.

Naram unknowingly shared Zaya's concerns, but he knew that they had to try everything they could while they still had time. "Alright, we'll also try to secure some of the rope behind something to give more leverage in case our grip starts to wear out." He said with reluctance. With some thought, he then offered her his szabla. "We don't know what's down there, but if some of the sea creatures have managed to get in, you can use this to keep them away." Out on the plains, the nomad relied on his bow more for self-protection. The szabla was only used when fighting came too close. "If anything starts to go wrong, just yell and we'll pull you back up as fast as we can." Zaya was mewing and pawing at his leg, throwing glances at the hole while her tail showed her nervousness. He reached down and patted her back, trying to help calm the cat down. It would seem she wasn't too fond of the idea either, but they didn't have time to spare. 

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Sat Jan 1, 2022 11:39 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

"I'll be fine." She spoke decidedly to Naram, as if to convince herself more than to convince him.

Cloe reached for Zaya and pulled her out of the bag. Poor Zaya was cuddled and petted as she regrouped with everyone. Naram had the right idea of moving onward. There was nothing they could do for the dead now. Cloe still kept Zaya in her arms as she stomped through the wreckage. The cat was fluffy, comfortable, and adorable. She would not be separated from the cat.

Meanwhile Edward had been collecting resources like scraps of rope or anything that could be useful. He had been bothered by the death but was more worried about pianos or wreckage falling on top of their heads. He felt sympathy for Cloe but was more focused on the mission at hand. Edward helped clear the way for the rest of the group through the wreckage until they came across the deeper part of the ship.

The stench of seawater mixed with coal and a hint of blood hit their noses as they neared a hole in the ship. The hole led to a deeper part of the ship due to the angle the ship was at. A shortcut. Cloe leaned over to look into the hole but could only see darkness below. Reaching over to a broken wood board that had come from some part of the ship, she peeled off a splinter of wood. Using the lantern, she lit the splinter of wood on fire and dropped it into the hole. The little light plunged into the darkness and fell for some time before dropping into the water at the bottom with a sizzle and splash. During the time of its falling, Cloe had thought she had seen something in the darkness.

Something moving. Instantly a familiar feeling crept into her mind as she placed Zaya on the ground and reached for the rope they had brought. She tied one end of the rope to make a circle. A person could sit in the circle comfortably and wouldn't fall as long as they held onto the rope. Then she tossed the other side to Naram and Edward. Taking the lantern, she gave one look into the hole. Edward, confused by her actions and by her intentions, tapped her on the shoulder and picked up the rope.

"What's this for?" He asked.

"We need to see if this is a shortcut to the crystals at the very end." Cloe explained, "I'll sit in the circle and you two will hold onto the rope and SLOWLY descend me into the hole. Once I'm there, I'll use the lantern and check out what's down there." 

Author: Kismet, Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 3:55 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

The sight of such a gruesome death came as a shock to Cloe. Naram however, was able to stomach the scene. He said nothing while she left the room, understanding how she felt. Life on the plains wasn't easy and as a hunter he had seen death come to animals countless times–but it wasn't the same when it came to humans. After he checked that the person who had been in this room was deceased, he checked the area for anything he could bring back to give the captain. He didn't know who else was on this vessel, but that man should know. The least the nomad could do would be to send the victim's family something to remember them by. Carefully taking the letter that would never be sent otherwise, he exited the wrecked room and chose to seal up the door after they were all out. He took out a hunting knife and made a mark on the door as well. This ship would soon be claimed by the sea, and they needed to know which doors they had explored before.

Seeing Cloe looked a bit pale, he waited a bit before asking. "You alright?" Seeing death for the first time was always the worst. Often it came unexpected, leaving you spinning like a leaf in water. He remembered what happened when his sister was found dead. The other tribesmen found her first, and they tried to stop him from seeing the body. Naram recalled how he had pushed them aside and burst onto the scene, only for his legs to give out when he saw what was left of her. She did not die a quiet death. Even death by illness was not so terrible compared to what he saw that day.

Once everybody had regrouped and had some time to process what they had experienced, Naram urged them to keep moving. Their time was limited before the rest of the ship took on too much water, and it would be best to reach the crystals before then. Expecting more rubble blocking their way, he drew his szabla to hack away at any wooden debris. The less time they wasted, the better. Anything that couldn't be cut to pieces would need to be moved aside. "If you see anything useful as we go, grab it. Just make sure you don't take too much, we can't afford to be weighed down." 

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2021 7:26 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Cloe followed Naram and Zaya as they backtracked through the ship. Her steps were taken carefully as the halls were littered with junk and broken pieces of furniture. The lanterns of the ship flickered and she could hear an echoing groan of wooden beams from further down. When Naram pounded on one of the doors, she could hear shuffling of something on the other side. 

"I think someone's in there!" She exclaimed excitedly. 

The more people they found alive, the better. Cloe allowed Naram and the scholar to try to break down the door seeing as they both had a bit more muscular strength than she. The room inside was once a bedroom but now looked like a pile of junk. The ceiling of this room had a giant hole in the top where a piano from the upper floor had slammed through the ceiling during the crash. The piano was half destroyed. The smell of blood filled the room. Underneath the piano was a hand, the only visible part of the person left. Cloe covered her mouth to stop the scent of blood and to hide her shock. She had never seen a dead person before. Her life as a barmaid showed her a few fights but they were never deadly. She almost puked. Thankfully, she managed to step out of the room to give herself a moment to breathe. 

The hand itself was cold and whoever was under that piano was most certainly dead. The rest of the room was destroyed as well. The bed's frame was in two pieces while the cupboard had fallen over with all of its clothes and other contents decorated the floor. There was a small envelope with a letter from this sailor writing home to her two daughters about the new job she had gotten. 

Cloe realized she likely had seen that person on the ship earlier. Only an hour earlier that person had been alive and walking around the ship. Now they were long gone. Taking in a few more breathes, Cloe began to gather herself. 

Author: Kismet, Posted: Sat Nov 6, 2021 9:53 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Since these scholars and the captain had the most knowledge regarding the ship's functions and survival on the sea, it made sense to Naram that they should stay behind and work on their escape route. He didn't expect the scholars to be capable fighters, while the captain needed something to compensate for his poor sense at planning. Their numbers were limited, so they needed to make do with things as they were. Zaya slipped back into the bag slung over the nomad's shoulder, feeling sorry for herself and everyone. Unbeknownst to the humans, she was still trying to cope with her sense of helplessness. She briefly poked her head out when Cloe gave her human a map, noting the symbols drawn on it. 

Naram was handling the length of rope to create a makeshift lasso which they could use to secure themselves should the ship destabilize again when one of the scholars approached. When the man stated he wanted to assist them with reclaiming the crystals, he raised an eyebrow. He supposed they could use another pair of hands. With no more objections, the three people set out in a race against time. Naram hoped they could find more people to speed up the building back on the deck, but he understood not raise his expectations too high. Not everyone might have been as lucky as them.

Backtracking through the tilted ship was difficult with the walls and floor all askew. The nomad found himself bracing against wall fixtures with his hands to stay upright and avoid falling. There was junk lying around in piles as some rooms had their doors unlocked at the time the ship went down, causing them to slide out into the halls. There was smashed wood and obstructions everywhere. There wasn't water in the area they were in right now, so he pounded hard on the doors that were closed. "Anyone there?!" He was hoping that whoever was still inside was at least conscious. Zaya's ears twitched as she listened, taking in the scents in the air. There was a strong seawater smell that hung about, mixed in with other things she couldn't describe.

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Fri Nov 5, 2021 9:44 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Naram was on the same page as her and that was all she needed. She agreed with him on the search for survivors though she doubted they would find any. The others seemed to have lifted their own hopes through Naram and Cloe's plans. The sailors and captain were immediately on their feet and going through the supplies they had managed to drag to the room after the ship had crashed. The scholars were already getting out a map of the ship to show to Naram and Cloe. They spread the map out on a nearby table as Cloe drew close to take a look.

"If we go to the furthest end of the ship and work our way back, we can collect the crystals without getting in too much trouble." Cloe planned as she pointed at the map for the others to see, "Naram and I will collect the crystals and search for survivors. The rest of you need to work on making that boat."

The choice of who to collect the crystals was obvious to her. Naram and Zaya were the only two people she trusted on this ship to get the job done properly. Though Zaya was only a cat, she was a smart kitty who could potentially be very useful. And the cat was too cute to leave behind. Snatching one of the pens, she scribbled a number next to each crystal location then rolled up the map and handed it to Naram to hold onto. Then she snatched some rope from the room and also dumped it on Naram to carry. Edward, one of the scholars, approached both of them with a serious expression held onto his face.

"I'm coming too." Edward declared.

"If we need a moron we'll let you know," Cloe said.

"You'll need somebody who can help you get those crystals out without damaging it." Edward pointed out, "Look… I want to fix our mistake. I was the head of this project and it's my responsibility to see it through."

Cloe briefly looked to Naram then back to Edward and let out a small sigh.

"Fine. Bring that medical kit and lantern."  Cloe gave in.

Once the supplies were gathered, she gave one last look to the scholars and sailors then took her step into the unknown.

Author: Kismet, Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:06 AM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

As the shouting in the cabin kept rising, Cloe's terse shout quelled it in an instant. As the men were cooling their heads, she went straight to the point and asked directly about the limitations of these crystals keeping them alive under the cold waters. Their situation although dire, wasn't without hope. As long as the crystals weren't damaged like the one where the flooded part of the ship was, they would still work. Naram exhaled slowly, relieved. Zaya's eyes dilated a bit less now that the shouting was over, but she still felt tense. From what the people were saying, they needed to make a boat and put the things that created the yellow light on, then they could safely return to the surface. But the string of bad luck they were experiencing wasn't over yet.

Taking command of the situation, Cloe interrogated the scholars who had went out with him to bring back those old pieces of broken objects. The nomad crossed his arms as he watched. Apparently that heavy chunk that they told him to load up onto the sleds had something frozen inside. He thought it would be a miracle if it wasn't fully melted by the time they reached the southern Adelunian coast. It was still warmer inside the ship than outside, and they wouldn't risk leaving their precious cargo above deck. If they were in a better situation, he'd ask what was the use of bringing back an old beast's corpse–however he didn't interrupt. All this effort for a frozen corpse…he shook his head just thinking about it.

"That would be our best bet to get out of here alive." Naram replied in response to Cloe's question. If what Edward said was correct, that is. He highly doubted the wisdom of these scholars after seeing their supposed fool-proof ideas fail. But this was their only chance now, they had to try everything while they still could. "We can start building the boat above deck. There's still space now and once the crystals have been brought over, we can try floating up." He threw a glance at each of the others, clearly not letting go of their lack of foresight. "–And if we can, we should try to at least see if there are others still alive in the parts of the ship that are currently dry." As far as this expedition went, they might as well abandon the artifacts. They didn't need the extra weight.

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 8:30 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Something in the back of Cloe's mind was telling her that she wasn't seeing the whole picture. She had no doubt that Jennat, Edward, and the captain were all telling the truth. But she had a feeling they were all forgetting an important detail. Then she was told about how they were the only ones who showed up and a shiver ran down her spine. There was no way that all of them had drowned in the back end of the ship. Maybe they were trapped in a room or got knocked out? That shaking did throw her about. With that explanation in her mind, she felt somewhat relieved.

Her precious hope died when they mentioned that magic was unusable and they had no backup plan. Naram shouted at them for their idiocy and Cloe was half tempted to join him. Instead, she plopped down on a chair and began thinking through all the information they had been told. The only reason why the ship sank was that the chunk carried them downwards. Otherwise, they would have floated. That meant that even if the ship was underwater, it would have popped right back up if all the crystals had been working. The shouting from everyone grew louder and louder. The tension in the room was high and Cloe no longer could think with all that noise. She hopped onto a table and shouted at the top of her lungs.

"QUIET!"

All at once, the room fell quiet. Perhaps growing up with a loud family had taught her a thing or two after all? Cloe jumped off the table and approached the scholars.

"Would the crystals deactivate if we moved them?" Cloe asked.

"No. They only deactivate or activate with a specific spell or if they're broken. It's why we can't use magic now." Jennat explained, "But if we moved them, that part of the ship would fill with water."

Cloe gave them a nod then walked up to the captain who was clearly expecting a question or request. Instead, she slapped him across the face. Hard. The sound of the smack echoed through the room and the captain stared at her, stunned. She grabbed him by the collar and glared at him, eyes full of rage.

"I can excuse the scholars. They've never been on a ship before and belong in their libraries. But you are a captain. It is your duty to protect those on your ship. You should have seen this coming and been more careful." She said in a low bitter voice, "If anyone has died today, that is on your conscience. Do you understand me?"

The captain's face was full of conflict. A mix of embarrassment, shame, and realization at the horror of what has passed. He silently nodded and she allowed him to return to his seat. She turned back to the scholars, still showing a dark expression of both anger and dread.

"Now tell me… what was in that iceberg you brought in?" She asked simply.

For a moment, all of the scholars were quiet. They had no idea what this had to do with the ship. Edward was the first person to respond, though he had little idea as to why Cloe wanted to know.

"W-we brought in a specimen. We think it's an ancient ocean creature who died thousands of years ago and was frozen in Itjivut." Edward explained, "We were planning on melting it in a laboratory back in Adeluna."

Cloe gave a look to Naram and shook her head. Seeing as he was the only person in the room who had a lick of sense, she decided to tell him her plan.

"The flooded part of the ship is what's holding us down. If we were to make a smaller boat and surround that with crystals, wouldn't we float up to the surface?" She suggested to him.

Author: Kismet, Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 7:20 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Seeing Cloe's attempt to test the strange yellow force keeping the water out, the uneasiness building up in his stomach grew. "Right…" He knew this ship was different from most, but he wasn't sure just how different it was. Back in the main cabin, he took a good look at the people there. Cloe did most of the asking while the men he recalled instructing him on how to load the expedition's findings answered. So apparently this ship had special devices built in that were supposed to cover the entire area just like what they saw outside. But for some reason, one side failed to work–causing the pitching and sinking earlier. From the way Edward and Jennat described it, the whole ship was supposed to be floating. They were convinced that there was damage instead of one part failing on accident, which made Naram wonder.

"Where is everyone else on the ship? Shouldn't there be more people here?" The nomad knew that there should be more people. At least those who were further away from the flooded end should be arriving about now, unless there was something stopping them. Was there more damage to the ship than the men here thought? "We're not sure ourselves. So far you two are the only ones who've showed up. All the crew coming aboard was told to head to the main cabin in case of an emergency." Nathan said nervously. 

Zaya was listening in on the people talking, but all she could understand was that there should be more humans here than there were now. The ship had stopped moving and was under the sea inside a strange yellow shining light. They were nervous and unhappy. Pushing herself up, she rested her front paws on Naram's shoulder. "So how are we going to get out of here?" Naram asked. The food and supplies they had wouldn't last forever. Also he didn't believe the strange barrier could protect the ship from attacks from sea monsters if one showed up. There had to be some sort of plan in case the 'prototype' machines failed. The scholars exchanged looks. Jennat spoke up. "Normally we'd be able to stay afloat until we reach land, but with one of the crystals malfunctioning, part of the special integrated system is offline. We believed we took all the necessary precautions to ensure this wouldn't happen." 

He let out a sigh in frustration. Being trapped under the sea was a terrible way to die. Your body couldn't be returned to be buried with your tribe, your spirit forever separated from your ancestors. He'd rather die under an open sky. "Can't someone just make one of those doors using magic to bring everybody out?" Naram knew there were shamans in cities who were able to travel between lands without a beast or boat. It was much better than waiting around trying to fix something that might be permanently broken. Edward quickly interjected: "I wouldn't do that if I were you–using magic will interfere with the barrier crystals and deactivate the wind barrier."

"You–what?" Naram couldn't believe his ears. He glared at the men, barely holding back his anger. "What do you mean there isn't a plan in case it fails to float?! You–you!" The nomad started pacing the cabin, rubbing his face and holding his head. Turning around he jabbed a finger at the supposed 'scholars'. "This is all your fault! You didn't pray to the spirits to protect us out on the sea! I bet one of you made them angry or something!" 

Edward scoffed at his remark. "Be sensible! Your superstitions about spirits have nothing to do with this, clearly there's a logical explanation!" At this point Naram was too angry to listen to his reasoning. "Then why didn't you make another plan?!" The man was taken aback, leading to a short silence before the captain defended the scholars. "Our plan was ingenious. The only way it would fail is if something purposely destroyed something!" 

"WELL WHAT IF SOMETHING DID?!" Naram shouted. "If I die out here, my spirit won't be able to rejoin my clan or my ancestors! All because you put your faith in your ship!" The atmosphere was becoming tense, and Zaya's eyes widened. When she heard one of the men her human yelled at say that magic couldn't be used or the water being pushed out would come back in, the long-haired cat's body shook. Before she had been wondering what she could do to help, but if what she heard was true,–Zaya didn't know if she could help at all. When she had sacrificed a large portion of her power to become the nomad's spirit guardian, Zaya had accepted it. But now…the feeling of complete helplessness overwhelmed her. If one of them were injured, she couldn't even heal them without causing them all to drown. 

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 6:06 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

There were no words that Cloe could find to explain the ship or any of their questions. Taking a step towards the edge of the ship, she reached out her hand towards the barrier as far as she could go without falling off the ship and touched the yellow magical barrier. Her hand passed through it and touched the freezing water with her fingertips. Quickly pulling away, she took a few steps back, turning to Naram and Zaya with a realization of her own.

"The scholars said this ship was a prototype. Let's go see what they meant by that." Cloe suggested.

With that, she climbed down the ladder and raced straight over to the three scholars who were quietly talking in the main cabin. The first scholar had a fragment in his hand, the second had a piece of parchment, while the third had nothing at all. It was evident that everybody else in the room had already seen the ship and had more of an idea of what was happening.

"Why is there a barrier?" She began.

"That's the prototype. We created a ship that connected to a wind enchanted crystals. There are several smaller wind crystals on each side of the ship that the main crystal connects to. It was supposed to make a bubble around the ship and prevent it from sinking." The second scholar explained, "My name is Edward by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you both."

"My name is Jennat. We think one of the crystals on the other end of the ship was damaged so the connection couldn't be made. A good chunk of the ship began sinking and took the rest of the ship down with it." Jennat explained.

"The real question is, who damaged the other end of the ship? Each crystal had a protective metal casing to prevent any accidents." The last scholar explained.

"He's Nathan." Jennat said for him.

The captain was sitting on the chair, his head in his hands and a bottle of rum sat on the table next to him. One of the sailors was anxiously pacing about while the other one was fussing over the captain. Cloe's brow furrowed as she looked at their small numbers. By now the rest of the crew and passengers should have been here. This ship didn't have a large selection of passengers beyond the scholars but they had far more crew than what was present. Only a chunk of the ship had been filled with water so why were there so few people?

Author: Kismet, Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 12:22 AM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

It was a struggle to make way towards the main cabin after Cloe with his balance been thrown in every other direction. Several times he slammed onto his arms while being tossed, doing everything in his power to avoid falling on his back. Inside the bag, Zaya felt it her weight was being swung around violently from side to side, and she did her best to push in the opposite direction. Finally, the three of them made it to the place. The nomad felt battered and bruised, but still in one piece. He never imagined being inside a shaking ship would be worse than falling from a horse running at full speed. When Cloe broke the storm of arguing voices, she asked the question that was on everybody's mind. But when the 'Captain' didn't give a clear answer, Naram had a bad feeling about this. Being addressed, the long-haired cat assumed it was fine to reveal her presence. Poking her head out of the large sack slung over her human's shoulders, her pale green eyes surveyed the strangers here before retreating back inside.

The shaking had subsided, so Naram was able to follow Cloe at a closer distance. He never expected what he would soon see once they were above deck. For a moment he stared at the sight before him. Fish moved like birds and there were plants waving about on a rocky, sparsely covered floor. Having lived in the plains nearly all his life, this was the first time the nomad had seen the bottom of the sea. Perhaps this was why his mind was in a daze, barely able to comprehend reality at this moment. If the 'sky' was now the sea, then how on in the name of the Great Spirits were they dry and able to breathe? He was too stunned to say anything. Zaya stretched her neck to peer at the bizarre paradox of their situation, being dry yet miles underwater. She could smell seawater and sense humidity with her whiskers, but this strange yellow-colored force was keeping it away. Even if it had been a different color, being beyond an ordinary beast meant she would be able to see it regardless.

Her pupils dilated slightly as she assessed the situation. This was quite troubling indeed. The lady who had patted her and her human were silent and standing still, staring at the swimming fish in the darkness outside. Craning her neck, she let out a small meow. Why had they stopped moving? The sound of Zaya's voice brought Naram back to his senses. Dumbfounded at their current situation, he gasped: "How…how are we still alive? What happened to the ship?!" And more importantly–how were they going to get back ashore? If they had fallen into the water they could have tried to hang onto pieces of wood until they reached land. But if they were this deep, they'd drown before they saw the water's surface.

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 6:08 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

"I don't know!" Cloe shouted back as she clung to one of the walls.

The shaking continued as she felt her stomach rise…it was almost like they were falling. Then there was a loud crash and Cloe found herself being flung into the other side of the wall with a massive slam. The shaking stopped and the entire ship was still once again. Cloe's head pound and she felt pain all over her arms and legs. Managing to pull herself to her feet, she looked over to Naram and Zaya to see if they were injured. A little bruised maybe but both alive.

"Right. Okay. So…" Her words were flustered and for once she felt more than shaken up, "The emergency pro-pro… the orders are to go to the main cabin. Come on!"

Every ship had emergency protocols just in case of a crash or any attacks. All passengers and crew were supposed to go to the main cabin to receive orders from the captain. The entire hall was slightly tilted downwards but she was able to carefully walk out of the hall. She led the others to the main cabin where a group of people had already gathered. The captain, three scholars, and two sailors. The captain was silently sitting in a chair while the sailors and the scholars were shouting and screaming at each other, panic in their eyes. Irritation flickered in Cloe's eyes as she watched them all squabble.

"SHUT UP!" She shouted at the top of her lungs.

All at once, the room became so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard. Cloe, slightly surprised that actually worked, took a step forwards into the center of the room and glared at each and every one of them.

"We have some of the greatest scholars and sailors but none of you are being useful right now." Cloe started before looking to the captain, "Captain what happened to the ship?"

"Go on the deck and have a look for yourself lass." The Captain sighed.

"Fine. I will." Cloe huffed then turned to Naram and Zaya, "Pretty boy and kitty, with me."

She walked straight up to the ladder and began climbing her way to the deck like she was on a mission. Once she got on the deck, she saw what the others were fighting about. The ship was at the bottom of the ocean. Most of the ship was surrounded by a yellowish barrier keeping the rest of the ocean out and giving them the oxygen they needed to survive. The ship was tilted slightly downwards, as the seafloor was not exactly flat. Cloe's eyes were wide with fascination as she watched colorful fish swim about and seaweed dance in the tides of the water. The only source of light this far down was from the ship itself, the rest of the ocean was covered in eerie darkness. For once, Cloe was completely speechless.

Author: Kismet, Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 3:18 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

While Naram was frowning at the long-haired cat in his arms, Cloe immediately began fawning over her. Zaya's pale green eyes blinked innocently as she was patted, coddled, and poked by a new face. Her human crossed his arms as the cat patiently waited until the lady was satisfied. She wasn't a young skittish kitten, and Zaya did enjoy being given attention. Her tail swished from side to side as she purred in contentment. Just as quickly as she had been picked up, she was then returned to the nomad's arms again. This wasn't a new sight for Naram. Wherever he went, people were fascinated by her. Zaya was larger than most domesticated cats, and her long voluminous fur enticed people to hug or pet the cat. Although Zaya was behaving now, she felt that her human still wasn't too pleased with her, judging by the subtle difference in how his arms held her tight.

Naram was relieved that Cloe reacted surprisingly well to Zaya. All this time he had taken great care to keep the cat hidden, bringing her food along with his own meals. "I had a sneaking suspicion when I didn't see any small bite marks or wood shavings. It's a good thing that we don't need to worry about pests on board." There was also the fact that only sardines had gone missing. "I appreciate the goodwill Miss Cloe, though it'd be best not to spoil her too much." The nomad said, looking down at the furball nestled comfortably in his arms. Zaya licked her lips, flicking her ears as she avoided his gaze.

While Naram was thinking of how to discipline Zaya for her unruly behavior, he quickly grabbed onto the nearest thing fixed to the wall with one arm with Zaya in his other. The shaking didn't stop, and he started moving out of the kitchen to avoid getting injured by falling objects. Even if it slowed him down, Naram wasn't willing to put the cat down–she might injure herself if there was broken glass. Zaya's pupils were now dilated and her ears were twitching wildly. So many sounds and noises happened at the same time, causing the guardian beast great concern. She recognized the screams of people and her tail tucked itself between her legs in worry. Once he was able to stand safely without support, he made his way towards his room to grab the bag he used to sneak the cat in. With an unspoken understanding, Zaya knew she needed to get in. Once she was inside, Naram slung the bag over his shoulder, leaving the top open for her to peer through. If something was going on, he needed his hands free.

Rejoining Cloe, when he caught up with her he raised his voice so she could hear him: "What's going on?! Is the ship being attacked?" But weren't they supposed to be anchored? What was making the ship shake this much? As the ship was thrown into confusion and panic, Zaya's nose picked up the scent of sea salt and water…

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 12:03 AM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

At first, Cloe was confused as to what Naram was up to but figured he must have an idea. Maybe a trap they can set for the rats? She shrugged her shoulders and got on her hands and knees to look for any holes or dead rats. Maybe there was just one and that would explain why all the other food was untouched? Before she could continue her investigation further, Naram returned with a fluffy fur-ball. It wasn’t a rat. Cloe quickly jumped to her feet and had a big smile on her face.

“A baby!” She exclaimed as she scooped up Zaya into her arms, “The sweetest little kitty ever!”

Poor Zaya was cuddled and held like a baby as Cloe was completely entranced by this little creature’s cuteness. The cat would find its face squished and her nose booped. It was only until after Zaya’s fur was all messed up that she realized she might have been stepping over some lines and quickly returned the cat back to Naram. Her face was pink from embarrassment as she gave a quick cough.

“Um anyways. It’s good to know it wasn’t a rat.” Cloe stated, “And if the little kitty cat needs a snack I’m okay with letting her have what she wants from the kitchen. Besides, nobody else on this ship eats sardines anyway.”

Suddenly the room jolted and shook with such a force that sent Cloe falling to the floor. Several jars fell from the shelves, crashing against the floor along with boxes and a few food items. Shoving herself up from the floor, she dashed out into the hall, away from all the clutter of the storage room. The hall was shaking just as violently and Cloe had to hold onto the wall to keep herself from falling. Shouts and screams from above deck and other parts of the ship lingered in the air.

Then she noticed that the hall looked a little bit odd. Almost as if one end was lower while the other was rising. The change was subtle and barely noticeable but troubling. Wasn’t this ship supposed to be unsinkable? Cloe looked back to see how Naram and Zaya were. After confirming that they were safe, she motioned for them to follow her as she began sprinting up the hallway. They needed to find a room to go in and find out what the hell was going on. 

Author: Kismet, Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2021 3:02 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Cloe's attitude drastically changed once they arrived at the kitchen. Concern, worry, and perhaps a bit of panic set in. Following on her heels, Naram noted the open door which was supposed to be closed and a container that shouldn't be empty. There was a smell of fish oil coming from it, which made him wonder… Before he could take a closer look, he was pulled away. Cloe explained to him why she was so anxious at this sight, answering any questions he would have had otherwise. He let out a sigh and gave a nod in understanding. Rats were a problem everywhere, but in a space that was closed off like a ship, her concerns were right. The nomad began inspecting the bottom shelves of the unlocked pantry area for any signs of rodents. Small holes, chewed bits, and even droppings were telltale marks of their presence. Even holes that didn't seem big enough shouldn't be overlooked–people didn't realize that rodents were more flexible than they appeared. Just as cats were able to slip through gaps that looked too small for them.

He suddenly stood up, eyes wide. Naram quickly glanced over the remaining shelves and noticed the grain, cheese, and dried meats were free of any bites or marks. Yet the sardines container was completely clean. Too clean. He narrowed his eyes before turning to Cloe. "I think I have an idea where our fish thief went." He motioned with his hand for her to wait before going back up the stairs. His brow was furrowed, and he quickened his steps as he headed towards his room. Opening the door, he found Zaya lazing about on the bed. The long-haired cat opened her pale green eyes with a yawn, stretching her legs with a purr. Her human looked down with a sigh, then scooped her up. 

Zaya's ears were moving about as Naram carried her in his arms like a child. Wasn't he acting a bit strange today? Before he always told her to stay in the room and not to make a mess, but now he was taking her outside. With a stern look on his face, the nomad returned to the kitchen holding a large mackerel tabby house cat. Holding up the cat by her arms, he showed Cloe the cause of the missing fish. "I found the 'rats'. I thought it was strange that the grain and cheese were untouched, yet not a single drop of sardine oil was left behind." The man eyed the cat, who innocently looked in another direction. 

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2021 2:22 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Naram was honest and frank, never becoming impolite but keeping that bluntness. Perhaps the rest of this trip would improve with somebody else to talk to? With a small smile, Cloe led him down towards the kitchens. There was mostly dried food with a few crates filled with never melting icicles to keep the fresh stuff cold, and even that would only last for a few weeks. The kitchen itself was fairly large and as clean as a whistle mostly thanks to Chloe's work. She couldn't stand unhygienic food places. But when she opened the door to the kitchen, a frown had formed as she ran in. 

"Oh shit oh shit." She muttered as she ran to one of the open cupboards nearer to the ground.

A container that had been filled with sardines laid empty on the cupboard floor. If it was human, it would have cleaned up after itself. That could only me one thing. Her eyes widened and she began rushing through the rest of the kitchen, checking to see if anything else had been bitten or scraped up or even moved a little. Luckily, it seemed the only thing that had been affected was the sardines. For now. She turned to Naram and grabbed his hand, pulling him out of the kitchen. 

"We need to search this ship. If we have rats onboard we need to tell the captain as soon as possible." Cloe explained, "And we don't eat anything until those rats have been found." 

Although this was the first time on a ship, Chloe knew the dangers of rats getting into the kitchens. Rats carried plagues, infestations, fleas, and a thousand other problems. All it would take was one person to get infected for the entire ship to get sick. A ship full of sick people was deadly. She dragged Naram to the storage room then freed him, beginning to check the shelves for any rat nests or anything else. 

"Search some of the bottom shelves and I'll look at the top." She instructed, "There's always the chance they're in the walls but since this is a thin-walled ship I doubt that's as likely to be the case." 

Author: Kismet, Posted: Wed Oct 6, 2021 12:37 AM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

All this for some old objects buried in ice? Naram furrowed his brow at her answer. He was frank with the woman when she asked why he was here. "They needed a few extra hands to help with loading what they found. As hunter, I at least had some knowledge of how to survive in the wilderness. Seems like I've just come along for nothing then." The nomad was disappointed in learning that the people who hired him likely wouldn't know anything about the creature he was looking for. They were already focused on something else; they wouldn't have time to answer his questions. "My name is Naram." The people of his tribe did not have more than a given name. His clothes showed he was used to living away from civilization.

Nomad or not, offering to share food was a way of building bonds across all lands. Giving Cloe a nod in reply, his green eyes made a sharp contrast to his dark hair. "I won't turn you down on that. I was just about to head there myself." She reminded him on why he had stepped out earlier. Maybe he could bring back something nice for Zaya today. The cat wasn't a picky eater, but he wanted to make up for leaving her on her own for most of the day. However, he would soon learn Zaya was much less well-behaved than she appeared. While the two had been chatting, the spirit guardian managed to avoid detection from the ship's crew in her little stroll. Following the smell of something savory, Zaya made her way below deck into the kitchen's larder. 

The doors had been locked, but that wouldn't stop a cat of her caliber. Crouching low on her hind legs, the large mackerel tabby cat leaped up to paw at the lock. With a bit of magic, the door opened without a hitch. She then wormed her way inside, slipping in through the door that was ajar. Climbing the shelves, Zaya waved her tail as she took in the various smells. There were grains, dry beans, and other foodstuffs that weren't edible. Hanging from the top were tasty goodies like dried meats and cured cuts. Her pupils dilated as she licked her lips, eyeing them. Fortunately she discovered something else more suited to her tastes closer to the ground: a container filled with sardines. These were salt-cured, but the top layer had been removed revealing delicious non-salt encrusted fish. 

As nobody had noticed her intrusion, Zaya proceeded to help herself. She enjoyed sampling the sardines, taking her time to lap up every last drop of fishy goodness. Once she was finished, she emerged from the pantry, pushing the door closed behind her. She then trotted back to her human's room, leaving the kitchen staff and crew none the wiser. Not long after Zaya left the scene, Naram followed Cloe's lead into the kitchen. 

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Tue Oct 5, 2021 4:18 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

A man with a beard and a tanned complexion stood next to her with some unique clothes and wildness about him. Cloe quickly glanced back at rolling waves beyond her reach. Small chunks of ice floated up and down to the whims of the wind, all too small to become a problem for the sturdy ship. The smell of the salty ocean was as strong as ever and could wake anybody from their daydreams. The stranger mentioned the expedition and asked what it was about. A look of surprise was unavoidable. She assumed everybody on the trip would have heard something about it by now. It's all anybody talked about.

"They're looking for some ancient artifacts that got frozen in the snow. From what I heard, they didn't find anything beyond a seal and some broken armor pieces." Cloe explained, "All those scholars are still giddy like kids even if it's just a few fragments."

She could understand them getting excited over magical weapons or something that was actually useful. Instead, they had a collection of tiny fragments from old armors and weapons. Maybe these scholars didn't realize that a fragment was only a tiny piece and wouldn't get them any closer to what the real ancients had. Or maybe Cloe was still bitter over being tricked into work and no play.

"I'm Cloe Lockwood. Who are you?" She asked, "You clearly know nothing about the expedition so you're not a scholar. You ain't a sailor either. I can tell. What'cha here for?"

The stranger seemed pleasant and he lacked the overconfidence most sailors were corrupted with. Cloe's question was blunt since she hated wasting words but there was no ill-will coming from her. There was genuine interest in her eyes as she spoke and a hint of curiosity. She listened quietly to his explanation, nodding in the correct places but not saying much else. Once he was done, she gave him a small smile.

"Tell you what. Since you're a decent person and I'm bored, how about we head down to the kitchen for some snacks?" Cloe offered, "They're not paying me enough to not steal."

The kitchens were below deck and close to the storage room. She had been careful to befriend the chef and he gave her full permission to come and go whenever she pleased. The chef would overlook any missing items as long as it didn't interrupt dinner. In exchange, she helped him cheat at games of cards with the other crew members. Little did she know, somebody else was already in the kitchens.

Author: Kismet, Posted: Sun Oct 3, 2021 6:51 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

Naram was still looking for leads relating to the mysterious creature that he had encountered back in Parvpora, but so far his search came to a crawl. He had built up trust with the Bohar tribes so that he was welcomed as a friend and hired himself out as a hunter when they needed money. Fortunately Canelux was a fertile and plentiful land, though with the seasons changing he and Zaya would need to seek warmer pastures. The nomad had heard of the ice island, a land far south below the edge of Canelux. Despite being a far harsher climate than he was used to, he chose to take a chance. Perhaps the elves and people there knew something about a creature with six fingers? Naram offered his skills when he saw sailors asking around for individuals willing to come along. They were reluctant at first, but after a display of his archery, they decided to give the nomad a place on board. Zaya happened to be outside grooming herself after taking a stroll around the docks, so the sailors had no idea they were getting a two-for-one deal. Naturally wherever he went, Zaya would come too. 

Zaya didn't know they were going to be on a boat until her human brought out a large bag he often wore slung over his shoulders. Typically this bag would be placed on the backside of a horse, but it seemed they wouldn't be bringing the beast of burden today. Setting the large backpack down, Naram made an opening and laid it on the floor near the cat. Zaya's pale green eyes looked up at him curiously. Did he want her to go inside? Perhaps they would be traveling for a long time. Usually Naram would carry her in the bag when they moved to a new place. She would fall off of the back of a horse and she could take a nap inside the bag too. She wasn't a fussy cat, so she went in and turned around inside so her head poked out of the opening. With some difficulty, Naram hoisted the bag up and slung it over his shoulder. "We'll be visiting a place we've never seen before, Zaya. There's going to be a lot of ice and snow. But you'll be fine, at least." He chuckled. Her dense coat would keep her warm. "You'll need to be quiet for a while, I'm not sure if they'll be willing to let you on the ship."

Zaya purred to let her human know she didn't mind. And so, no one suspected a thing when Naram came aboard with a rather large sack. They assumed it was just supplies. The ship was much more different than the nomad had expected. He had been on ships before–they were mostly made of wood and had the lingering smell of brine and salt. Quarters were cramped and uncomfortable while there was this swaying motion that you needed to get used to to walk straight. The small room he was given was much better than his past experiences on ships this size. It smelled clean, no stale air or stagnant saltwater. As he put his belongings down, he let Zaya out and told her not to leave markings inside. They would only be here for a little while, this wasn't new territory. 

He was called to help load up a large chunk of ice secured with ropes onboard. He had no idea what it was or why they were taking it, but the people who hired him believed it was important. There was something large trapped inside of it, but the ice was too occluded for him to see through. After cleaning up, he returned to his room to see how Zaya was doing. The large house cat woke up from her spot on his bed, having spent most of the day napping. He scratched her ears and patted her back before preparing to leave again.

He told the cat he would be back in a bit with something for her to eat. As Naram closed the door, Zaya waited until the sound of his footsteps faded before leaping up to place her paws on the handle. Cats were independent creatures; just because you told them to stay put didn't mean they would listen. Zaya understood he was worried, but felt it was important that she inspect their new living area for danger. As a guardian spirit, it was her responsibility. A large fluffy cat emerged from an ajar door before trotting off down the hall. She caught a new scent in the air, and immediately went after it.

Cloe was met by a bearded man with a tanned complexion and dark hair. His clothes were a mixture of cloth and furs, and he looked more suited for the wilderness than the sea. Squinting his eyes at the cold sea breeze, he replied back to her. "I feel less tired out here than in a small room down there." Turning to look out at the ocean, Naram saw dark blue as far as the eye could see. He could feel the chill coming in through the wind. It had a bite to it compared to the crisp coolness of the plains. "This is the most comfortable ship I have been on, considering things. What exactly is this expedition about anyway?"

Author: Cloe Locke, Posted: Sun Oct 3, 2021 1:14 PM, Post Subject: The Deep [P][R]

When a group of sailors came to the Adeluna taverns with job offerings for any barmaid who wanted to go on a grand trip to see Itjivut, this was not what she had in mind. Cloe slammed a drink on a table in irritation. She wasn't allowed to go off the ship, she got tasked with additional duties including laundry and clean up around the ship, and she wasn't even included in the expedition.  The whole point of the trip was to go to Itjivut to do some research and test out the ship, which happened to be a prototype.

The ship had a special emergency defense system. A magical stone had been embedded somewhere on the ship which would use air magic to circle around the ship like a bubble and keep it afloat even during massive storms or if the ship got damaged. Fortunately, they hadn't run into any trouble yet and she wasn't too keen on testing out that particular part of the ship. The scholars had just brought back a massive ice block aboard the ship after docking on Itjivut. The scholars believe it was a giant seal trapped in ice from hundreds of years ago. They also found some other strange discoveries including what they hope to be some old armor that was left by an ancient society.

"Oi! We ain't paying for your bad attitude." One of the higher-up sailors shouted at her.

"So sorry." Cloe managed to force a smile.

The only reason she even joined this trip was to get the chance to see Itjivut and even that was denied. Her irritation was getting the better of her. Despite her disappointment, the pay was good and she might even afford a trip of her own with a couple more months of savings. Cloe continued to smile as she served a few more customers and listened in on their conversations. Once her shift was over, she hung up her apron and put away the rest of drinks.

"The bar's closed already? Come on!" Someone complained.

"If you want it to ever open up again then keep your mouth shut." Cloe retorted.

There was only so much she could hold. Cloe left the dining room and made her way to the top of the deck. Her eyes glanced up to the beautiful bright blue sky. She could feel the warmth of the sun despite the cold wind from the ocean. Suddenly, she heard someone's footsteps though she made no move to recognize them or look at them.

"Needed some fresh air?" She asked them.