Barbarians Blood

Chapter 4

Sawyer looked down at Willow. She was soaking wet. But she had teal spots trailing along under her eyes, her hands had webbing like fish fins, and he was sure he saw gills on her neck. Willow was staring down at her hands. She was just as confused as he was by the look of it.

"Kitten... Are you okay?" He asked.

She nodded.

"Then let's get you dried off," he said picking Willow up and carrying her back to their room. He was pissed that his parents and brother tried a silent attack on his crew. And by the sound of thunder closing in on them, he knew the storm that was coming was no longer a normal one, but one now created by his anger.

Sitting Willow down on the couch Sawyer grabs her a towel, blanket, and a dry change of clothes. Helping Willow dry off and change into the dry clothes, Sawyer asks," how long have you been able to do that?"

"I don't know," Willow said pulling the blanket tightly around her shoulders," my mother made sure I never went swimming or near the ocean."

She sat there straining at her now normal hands. He too sat down. Pulling her closer to him he held her in a comforting embrace. Outside the window, Sawyer could see the now blackening sky. Soon it began to rain. The wind blew exceeding hard and, it thundered and lightened prodigiously. He could hear his crew securing the last of their things before making their way to their rooms. They knew Sawyer would use his powers, as they like to call it, to keep the boat sailing and in one piece. But this storm was different. It was one created by nature and taken over by his anger. One that was more violent than any storm that they faced.

"Kitten, why don't you go to Eleanor and Treasures' room," Sawyer said," I have to go back up on deck for a while."

"Why?" Willow asked now looking up at him.

"I have to make sure the ocean doesn't damage the boat," Sawyer explained," and I would feel a lot better if you were with someone while I tended to the storm."

He watched as she thought it through. She then nodded her head and agreed to go to Eleanor and Treasures' room. Escorting her to their door he told her when the storm passed he would return for her before he would go to their room.

Walking up onto the deck Sawyer was greeted by the pouring rain and strong wind. Sawyer watched as the violent wind rose the sea presently to a great height. Making his hands glow a vivid bright blue he waited for the attack. The sea struck down and Sawyer moved his hands making the slaty water part and miss the boat. He repeated this throughout the night. By four o'clock in the morning, the thunder and rain abated. But the waves were still thrashing the boat. By six o'clock in the morning, the waves calmed down and the storm clouds began to part letting the sunshine as it slowly rose into the sky. His hands stopped glowing blue and he pulled out his chair from where it was being kept safe. He sat down wanting to rest a little before going to get Willow. But sleep tugged at him and he was soon fast asleep.

                          ***

"...Sawyer..."

"Sawyer..."

"Sawyer."

Someone was calling his name. Opening his eyes he was greeted by the bright sunlight. He quickly closed his eyes and tried again this time prepared for the bright light. He looked over at the person who was calling his name. Willow stood at his side nudging him to wake up. The rest of his crew hung back cleaning the deck, except for Eleanor who stood beside Willow.

"Glad to see that you're not dead," Eleanor joked.

"Hahaha, that is so funny," Sawyer said sarcastically.

He stood from his chair and instantly regretted it. His head began to spin. He had about fallen back into his chair if Eleanor and Willow hadn't grabbed ahold and steady him.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked fear swimming in her eyes as she stair up at him.

"Yes, I just used more power than I'm used to," Sawyer said," I just need to rest for a while."

"I think you both do," Eleanor said.

He stared at her for a moment before realizing what she meant. Willow was up all night. He let Eleanor lead him to his room where she gave clear instructions to him and Willow to get some rest and not do any work for the day. He opened the door to his room and let Willow walk in first, and followed behind closing the door as he walked into the room.

Willow had already climbed into their bed by the time he reached it. He could see that she was tired, and knew she had fought to stay awake all night while he fought the storm. Climbing into the bed he pulled her close and they both were soon fast asleep as their crew worked on cleaning the boat.