Distant Shores 2: Waves Of Time

Dead Man's Waters

Three weeks later....

The weather towards the north is dangerous. Storms are happening frequently and you and your crew have to navigate through different hazards like rocks, and shallow reefs. You start to wonder if the Tritons are responsible for making these waters difficult to sail through.

The weather isn't the only thing changing. You're now in your thirteenth week of pregnancy and you have a small bump that is beginning to be noticeable. You had to make more adjustments to your clothes, but you didn't mind. Your heart swells with pride when you look down and see the physical proof of your and Edward's love for each other. Despite all the chaos, the crew never forgot you were with child and did everything they could to make sure you were safe and comfortable. You couldn't ask for more loyal friends.

And Edward of course is being the most loving and attentive man possible. You still don't know how you got so lucky; that somehow you traveled back in time, only to fall in love with the most amazing man you've ever known.

You're walking up the steps to the quarterdeck when you hear Sunset squawking from behind the stairs. You curiously look around and see that the twigs and branches she and Robert's parrot collected at St. Sylvian have been intricately weaved together to form a nest, which can only mean one thing; you're not the only one on this ship expecting.

"Sunset! You're going to have babies?!"

She looks at you and repeats,

"Babies babies! Had sex!"

You groan and run your hand down your face. Robert's parrot looks at you gleefully and you feel like he's mocking you.

"I guess I really am stuck with you now, eh boy?"

He squawks and nuzzles up next to Sunset. You continue walking up the the stairs, fighting the urge the vomit, and this time not from your pregnancy.

Robert I swear when I fucking find you, I'm punching you! Your bird knocked mine up!

Later, you're doing a sweep of the ship, checking on everyone when you look up and notice how dark and gloomy it has gotten. You can hear thunder rumbling in the distance. Charlie approaches you and hands you the spyglass.

"This storm looks like it's going to be one of the nastiest ones yet, love"

You look through the glass and see how ominous and eerie the clouds are. The lightening that is beginning to strike is filling up the whole sky. The waves ahead are getting larger and more volatile. This is the kind of storm that would make you dock and seek shelter, but as you look around you see you're in the middle of nowhere. Edward comes up behind you and gently takes the spyglass from you to see the storm for himself. He looks at you.

"I've just finished checking the maps; we are directly in the middle of Dead Man's Waters."

As soon as he says this, a thunder clap fills the air. You hear Ginny let out a squeak of fear as Jonas carefully pulls her into a protective hug. The twins are tightening up the last of the sails. You shout up,

"Ax, Ada, please be careful the storm is getting worse."

Ada shouts back down,

"Don't worry, Coral! We've climbed through worse during circus tours!"

Kendrick maneuvers around a rough wave to keep the ship steady. You walk up to him on the wheel.

"How are we looking?"

"I can navigate through anything, lass, but this is rougher than the time I was about ten pints in at this brothel and then-"

You cut off him off.

"I'd love for the comparison to stop there please."

"Aye lass, but remind me to tell ye about it later, it's a good one."

You laugh as you walk away,

"Just keep her steady best you can. We'll get through it."

Charlie and Henry finish taking the last cargo supply crate down below, right as a giant wave rocks the ship. You wrap one hand around the railing while protectively cradling your stomach with the other. Edward wraps his arms securely around you to make sure you keep your balance. You can barely hear his voice over the winds and the downfall of the heavy rain that has started.

"You need to be in the cabin where it's safer!"

"No, our family stays together! I'm not leaving you to face the storm out here without me!"

Before he can argue you hear Ax shout from the yardarm,

"Captain, look ahead to the right!"

You, Edward and the rest of the crew rush over to the front of the ship and see what Ax pointed out. You all let out a horrified gasp. There is fire surrounding a ship. The ship's mast creaks and tumbles down, igniting the flames even more with the extra kindling; the flames completely engulf the ship. A huge wave surrounds the ship and pulls it down towards the bottom of the sea. Just before it sinks beneath the waves, you make out the name on the side. It's the Tinsel Mary.

"That's one of the ships Oliver was sent to find."

Charlie stands next to you, looking through the spyglass.

"I don't see the Intrepid anywhere. Do you think we beat it here?"

You hope with everything you have that you did, but you know there's another possibility; and it's too terrible to even voice. All of a sudden you hear Maggie shout,

"Sail ho!"

You look out past the horizon and sure enough see the familiar outline of the Intrepid and it seems to be sailing calmly through the storm with no damages. Charlie let's out a sigh of relief next to you. Edward puts his arm around your waist.

"The storm isn't over yet. We need to signal to Oliver's ship to-"

He's cut off as another loud clap of thunder shakes off the last moments of peace. The waves start getting rough again and you see the more intense, viscous waves are heading towards the Intrepid. The lightening is striking over where it's sailing. You realize that while you had to sail through rough waters as well, the brunt of the storm is targeting Oliver's ship instead, which means this is no ordinary sea storm. And the Tinsel Mary being struck by lightening and sinking wasn't a coincidence; the Tritons are here. You quickly inform the crew of this.

"They're not going after us because they have to know that either I'm a descendant or we have the ruby."

The storm around the Intrepid is getting worse. Charlie shouts out in a serious, worried voice,

"How are we going to stop them from attacking Oliver?!"

You turn to Edward.

"Go get the compass and the ruby. I have an idea."

Moments later Edward returns and hands you the compass. You pop open the compartment and take the ruby out.

Please work. Ruby, if there are Tritons nearby or we are close to Atlantis, please give us a sign.

All of a sudden the ruby shoots out a red beam, almost like a laser pointer. It keeps glowing brighter and brighter until it breaks through the storm clouds. You hold it up and let the light surround the entire area like a lighthouse beacon. Within moments the storm stops. The clouds drift away and the waves subside. Did this actually work?