The Forgotten Zodiac

"Yes, well...we found him again, by the way. Did you know that? Bermuda is safe with the Manakete now. Bershee saved him and Verolen. That's why she's here, really..." Aries explained, then stood and headed below deck with the others.

Bershee, on the other hand, stayed. She watched Eltanin for awhile, sitting just so on the railing of the ship. She wasn't in the way, but she wasn't helping, either. Just watching with her lips pursed as though she wanted to say something.

"Quay told me as much," Eltanin said to Aries, then watched as she went below. He ordered his crew about until they were well out into sea and costing along at a good clip, then turned his attention to Bershee.

"Not below with the others?" he asked. Then, he shrugged. "Most of 'em get seasick. I can see why you wouldn't want to be down there."

"The sea is my home," Bershee said quietly. "Just as much as it may be yours." She paused for a long moment, then said, "I took in two before winter settled in. Ina and Vuelo are their names. Ina...she landed headfirst on one of the rocks. It was remarkable she survived...she remembers nothing of her parents. Vuelo is a smart little boy, but his arm was completely severed. Those Sirens know they can't stop me, so they sharpen and increase the number of rocks, to decrease the chances of survival. Five...five young corpses now sleep in the forgotten trench."

Eltanin listened quietly to what Bershee had to say, then gave a solemn nod. "We had thought that all of them died," he said quietly. "But you say a few are alive? That is... heartening news."

"But you won't let them come back, will you?" A Selkie who was listening said gruffly.

"No. Not until this digusting excuse for a war is finished." Bershee replied, turning her wise gaze at him. "Such bitterness in your voice. Do you have a child who was taken?"

"Leron." He answered, his gaze nothing short of a glare.

"Ah, yes...he's a talented kid. Very good at collecting food. But...he misses his family greatly. He's homesick. They all are. But I won't let them return...I have strict rules, and they know its for their own good. Because their wellbeing is more important than anything. I won't let the Selkie race die off like the Octi did. Can you understand that, Lethro?"

He continued to glare, but eventually turned away and got back to work. Bershee sighed heavily, sliding onto the deck and leaning against the railing. "When will it end, Eltanin? The war...sometimes I'm led to believe that your people hate me. Quay, that little one...called me a 'snatcher'. I'm not hurt by his comment, but I'm curious...do you and your people think I like this? Taking in injured and dying young, nursing them back to health and sheltering them, just so that there may be a future for their race?"

Eltanin said nothing, instead settling to go order about a few other sailors who had stopped to listen to the Octi's tirade. When they had dispersed, Eltanin came back over to Bershee.

"Listen, it'd do you well to not talk like that," he said in a low tone. "You're provoking them, you know. And I doubt I could hold them back if you got them really riled up."

"But why does it provoke them? I'm saddened just as you are!" Bershee said hotly, rounding on Eltanin. "Yes, I separated them from their young. But I saved them! I rescued those young from their certain death, and now I'm protecting them!" She gritted her teeth in order not to bare them at the Selkie. She lowered herself down again, frowning up at Eltanin. "As if you would hold them off anyways. You looked for me for months when you heard rumors that I had Suzie. You're angry like the rest of them..."

Eltanin cut his eyes away and sighed. "Suzie was my only blood relation. Thuban, Adhara, and Quay are my siblings as well, but..." he trailed off. "I rescued them from the Naiads, you know. And I've protected them this long."

"And she still is. She's alive and well, Eltanin." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't mistake my keeping them for cruelty or selfishness. Or even kidnapping. I want them safe. I don't want them to have to go through the trauma of being taken twice, or even three times. You know very well that once this war with the Naiads die down, everyone will come home. Not just Suzie, but all the young that I've saved." She turned away again, sitting on the railing of the boat once more. "But for now...I can see I'm not wanted here. Not on this ship, and certainly not in Rasalhouge. Goodbye for now, Eltanin. May we meet again on a better day."

Eltanin gave a small nod to Bershee, then turned away. He heard her splash into the ocean and sighed, not turning to watch her swim off.

Belowdecks, Byrne and Sylas were sitting on two crates of oranges, watching the others flit about "exploring" (in the case of Gabe and Quay) or sit and make conversation between themselves. L'arc was seated nearby the two humans, though not saying much. He appeared to be deep in thought.

Sylas was explaining to Manny where they had found him, which the Dark Matter seem to have forgotten. Sylas opened up an empty box and set Manny inside, which seemed to spark memories. "I know now, I remember!" He said excitedly, crawling out of the box and taking Eve's hand in his, smiling happily. "I remembered, Eve."

Sylas watched them for a moment, then looked over at L'arc. "What's up?"

Eve smiled at Manny, taking his hand and holding it. "Good, I'm glad," she said quietly.

L'arc didn't hear Sylas the first time, and when Byrne called his name, he had to call it twice before L'arc shook himself out of his thoughts and looked up. "...sorry," he murmured, shaking his head. "What did you want?"

Manny practically purred, hugging Eve tightly. "I love you, mommy."

"I want to know why you're practically dozing off there," Sylas raised a brow. "Are you worried about something? Oh, here," He pulled a penny out of his pocket. Human currency that he had gotten from who knows where. "Penny for your thoughts," He said as he handed the small coin over.

((Pennies are small and can fit into most crude screw heads. -coughcoughhinthintkeepthepenny-))

((Das a good hint.))

L'arc smiled slightly and shook his head, pocketing the coin. "All right," he said, sighing softly. "I'm just worried, is all. About Bermuda. He's... practically a brother to me. We spent our childhoods together. If something... if something has happened to him that's hurt him permenantly, then..."

"He might not be the same?" Sylas blinked at L'arc, then sighed. "I know how you feel, L'arc...recently, I've...felt different. I thought maybe you would...you wouldn't like me or something. Because I'm different than before. Because I'm not the same. I...wouldn't worry too much, though. He didn't seem too physically hurt. You'll get used to him again, no matter what happened.

Sylas smiled slightly. "I haven't eaten in awhile. I am seasick, but there's nothing there for me to...toss. So to speak." He patted his stomach, then patted L'arc's back. "You seem to be doing fine, though. That's good."

((.   _   .))

((Doh.))

"Getting used to it," L'arc said. He paused, then lauged softly. "Ignoring it, rather. I like to pretend I'm not in a boat. That helps. Also helps that the water is fairly calm today. It feels like, I mean," he explained.

Byrne nodded in agreement. "Thank goodness for that."

"Yes, well," Sylas stood and smiled. "Since none of us are tossing cookies today, what do you say we go do something? We can...play hide and seek with Gabe and Quay or something?" He suggested.

"I'll pass," Aries said, examining something she had found in a box. "Sylas, look at this."

"Hmm?" Sylas blinked as he was handed the object. "Looks like a longbow. No string, though...these can be pretty powerful, if you have the arm for it."

"You need it more than I do. Get a line on that thing. We could use your sharpshooting skills, you know." Aries pointed out.

"Ah, right." Sylas nodded.