The Reptile's Wrath

6

Swift didn't want to be stuck on this ship anymore. Especially with Bark, who still wouldn't even look at Valor. He had tried to give the mask back to her and talk, but she had just walked away whenever Swift approached. He felt like he was stuck in the middle of a fight that he hadn't really seen start.
Valor wasn't helping things either. Whenever he and Bark had to be in the same space, he just kind of froze up and didn't say anything. The atmosphere would be a lot better if they would just talk all this out.
And now, here Swift was, sitting on the edge of a hammock with a bucket while his stomach did flips and tried to tear itself out of his body. He still didn't understand why travel on the water got to him. His spirit animal had never minded water. Though at this point, he was pretty sure the seasickness didn't come from his spirit animal. He had never been on a ship before he had merged with the pine martian.
"Swift!" Valor called.
Swift groaned softly before Valor came within earshot. Mustering his strength, he responded. "In here!"
Valor appeared a moment later in his cloak and mask, holding up a scroll. "Orders from Stead," he said. His voice lacked its normal steadiness. Now he sounded tired. "We aren't going back to the torch."
Swift had assumed that, but his heart sank all the same. Before he could respond, his stomach heaved and he took a moment to steady himself. He grimaced apologetically. "That isn't good," he managed hoarsely. "Where are we going instead?"
"We're headed towards Nilo to stock up on supplies and then we're headed for Stetriol."
"Stetriol?" Swift squeaked.
Valor nodded grimly. "I'll answer any questions you have in a little bit. I need to go and try to talk to Bark about it."
Swift stood up shakily, his head spinning. "Let me come. She doesn't hate me quite as much as you at the moment."
"No, Swift, don't. You're sick." Valor caught him before his face could meet the floor. Swift gritted his teeth.
"It's time for you two to make amends and it's clear you aren't going to do that on your own. Come on."
"Swift--"
"Yeah, I know this isn't about that but this entire mission will go better with you two talking to each other again."
"Wait--"
Swift was leaning on the wall with Valor's hands fluttering uselessly. Swift never would have talked to him like this normally. Maybe the seasickness was blocking out fear.
"Hear me when I said talking to each other," Swift continued. "That doesn't mean just stand there and let her yell at you."
Valor seemed to be at a loss for words. Swift hoped he would be cured of that by the time they made it to Bark. Swift also hoped his most recent stab of nasia would be cured too. That's just what the two of them needed while they worked this out. Swift being his weak old self again.
Bark was sitting against a wall, sharpening her sword. She glared up at the two of them when they approached. "What do you want?" she said sharply.
Swift winced. "Valor has news."
Valor slowly offered the scroll the Bark. "We're going to Nilo and then Stetriol," he said as Bark snatched the scroll from his hands.
"So that's it?" She glared at the paper. "First we lose Thrash, then we have to go to Stetriol?"
"Stead doesn't know that we--"
"You think I'm stupid? Of course he doesn't. And who's going to lead us on this? Big, strong Valor, I assume. He is the one who got Thrash captured in the first place."
Swift glanced between them. Valor let his guarded expression slip for the first time, looking angry. "If you don't want me to lead then I won't, Bark, but Thrash--"
"Yeah, Thrash wanted you to protect us and all that crap."
"Bark, please. Calm down. I swear to you I didn't mean for Thrash to be taken."
"Where is he then?"
Bark got to her feet, trying to stare him down. Their difference in height would almost make this comical if the situation wasn't so awful and Swift didn't feel like his stomach was trying to crawl out of his mouth.
"I'm sorry, Bark," Valor said finally, taking a step back. "Thrash, he... He shoved me into the water in the middle of the fight."
Bark's eyes widened and then narrowed. "And you didn't think to say that when we first got onto the ship?"
Swift squeezed his eyes shut as another wave of nausea passed over him. "It looked like you jumped," he said finally.
"I didn't jump and I didn't want to leave Thrash behind."
Bark nodded slowly and extended a hand. "I'm sorry I got so angry, but you need to talk to us about stuff like that, alright?"
Valor nodded, taking her hand and shaking it. "I will."
Swift sighed. "Great, you guys are friends again. I'm going back to my only friend, the bucket."