The Zodiac Cycle

2.7 Dance The Night Away

"They're late." I tapped my foot impatiently. Keith's group was the only one that hadn't made their way back to the ship. The sun had just dipped into the horizon, the sky still shades of pink and red.

"They'll be here." Carson assured me, stepping off the boat. Him, Rebecca and George had been putting the supplies they had bought away.

"You did reserve the inn, right? You didnt just ask if they had the space?" Alex asked leaning against the railing on the ship, looking down at me.

"Of course I did." I assured them. "I just wonder if one of them got hurt. Keith has the Tracker, so I dont know if we could find them."

"Well, taking the Tracker was dumb of him." Alex chuckled a bit.

"How come you dont get motion sick?" Iris asked them, a hint of spite in her voice. She was sitting on the dock beside Carson.

"I have motion sickness, I just dont get it on smaller things, like rivers. We will probably want an extra bucket when we set sail on the ocean though." Alex shivered. "I've heard its rough."

"Well that's just great." Iris groaned.

"Hey look who decided to show up." Carson pointed toward the city. Keith's group had finally emerged from the cluster of buildings and stalls. They had someone with them, but in the darkness, I couldn't get a good look at them from where I was.

Once they got closer, I could finally see her.

She was a dragon. She had voluminous brown hair that graduated into a bright yellow at her shoulder blades and was pulled back on her right side. Her eyes were golden and slitted. she was white with traditional spiked markings over her cheeks and shoulders and had a thick, straight marking running down her chin from her bottom lip. Her attire reminded me of a pirate, with a wrap around skirt, a belt with leather pouches and compartments, and a closet and laced bodice. She also had knee-high boots and elbow length gloves. She had a tail with spikes on the end and wings with a dark yellow skeleton to them. There were holes and scars through the flaps on her wings and several visible scars on her arms and neck. She also had two horns poking straight up out of her hair.

"Amber, we found someone." Nolan motioned to her with his head and she nodded at me.

"Evenin'" she put her hand out to me and I shook it. Her voice also reminded me of a pirate. "The name's Jest."

"Hello Jest, welcome to the party." I smiled. "I'm Amber."

She removed her hand from mine and looked at our ship. "I was told yall 'ad a small one, but I expected it to be a smidge bigger."

"Well, unless you have any better suggestions, this is what we've got." I was a bit offended. I really appreciated the gift the wendigos had given us, especially when they were not expected to.

"It'll do for now, let's just hope we dont hit a big storm, yeah?" Jest put her hands on her hips in confidence.

"Yeah. Let's hope." Iris nodded. Alex eagerly agreed.

"Well, now that that's settled, who wants ta go to a shindig tonight?" Jest asked.

"I love me a good shindig." Clementine looped her arm with Jests. "What about the rest of ya?"

"Why are we digging shins?" Elizabeth was confused. "Wouldn't that hurt?"

"I think they mean a party." Rebecca patted Elizabeth's shoulder.

"Oh. That sounds like fun." Elizabeth got excited.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Iris also seemed super excited. Brianna eagerly followed her to stand by Jest.