A tail for an eye - Eren x Levi

Chapter 4

'A Bad Sign'

As hours eased on by, the golden sun began to make its way down and cast a gorgeous palette of reds and pinks and oranges across the sky. It merged with the shadowed gathering clouds to produce a rather elegant sight. The Captain had called to slow down as a means to not attract unwanted attention from below the sea. Unfortunately knowledge like that to a pirate came from experience not books. The broad off-white sails still fluttered rather noisily in the wind, which had picked up overtime. Each pirate had their own little task at hand. One pirate was in charge of being a lookout the entire time - Jean, a little short tempered and dimwitted at times but essential to the team. He knew his job and his place, that was that. They couldn't take dumb risks such as not planning ahead based on what was visible. He'd been with the ship long enough to be able to show his boredom up ahead on the watch beam where he leant against the wood and twiddled with a penny, flicking it over his thumbs. Others had stolen jobs from the swabbies and were cleaning the deck, mopping or sweeping or dusting. Some were reading other were playing card games. 

Zoe made herself busy with steering, hours had passed and she was still there after taking the job from Levi - who was sat outside on a bench, just outside his office room. He held a book about mer-people, the facts so far known. The majority of it explained information on how deadly they were and how they'd been evolving over the years to fend from pirates. Their strength was rapidly increasing and the weight of their tails were becoming equivalent to pure muscle. Levi felt rather entranced in the book, though his grip had become violent, partially crinkling the pages.

Though he'd read the book many a time before, anger still travelled through his veins with every fact spoken about those stupid creatures. Why did they have to be so strong? Why did they have to be so wanted and hunted by pirates? Why couldn't they stay in their territory and not kill innocent pirates. If they simply refrained from murdering pirates then Levi would hold little against them. Perhaps they weren't as intelligent as this book claimed.

"Movement ahead!" A voice yelled from above. Jean's stance was much more alert now, focusing intently as he leaned over the banister and rose his telescope to his eye. 

Levi abruptly stood, tossing the book aside on the bench. He, too, grabbed his pocketed telescope to view the issue. He travelled to the edge of the boat, amongst the rapid words of the crew. Everyone gathered in an instance, but parted ways for their Captain.

"It's something bigger than a whale I think!" Jean's voice rung out again. 

"Captain, should I began turning?"  Zoe yelled from behind. 

The creature in question appeared to be heading almost directly towards them. It was certainly a giant, whatever it was. It matched the width of the boat itself and didn't hesitate to race directly towards them. 

"Start turning port!" Levi commanded to Zoe, he turned to another crewman who still held cards in his hand and a shock in his face, "take note of the compass so we don't lose our direction.

"Yes, Captain," he instantly responded with a nod, picking out from his coat a small compass and pressing it against the side of the boat, watching it with care.

Levi stared back out at see, using his telescope once more. Something wasn't right about it, there was strange ripple patterns forming over the movement. The ripples also appeared to be travelling closer to the surface and any moment now they would break through the water and be visible. This was the act of multiple creatures working together. Any moment one of them would emerge from the water.

"A herd of orcas!" Jean then called out as one appeared from under the water. He seemed to have noticed it, too.

"Wow!" One of the pirates called out. 

But something was still wrong, and though gradual they were all beginning to think it. Late autumn, this wasn't migration season for orcas. Though sometimes they did travel early or late to avoid collisions with other herds. Or sometimes they'd get lost and spend sometime swimming around. Or even they'd be stragglers who were left behind and rushed to meet the rest of the herd. But Levi had a drop in his stomach as they approached the orcas. They seemed to be in slight distress.

"Captain?" A pirate asked, timid. He was a scrawny, young boy who hadn't been with them long, but knew his facts about the sea and when something wasn't right.

Levi didn't answer, but placed down his telescope. The orcas seemed to pick up the pace and soon they'd be passing by the boat. If Levi's calculations were correct - and they always were - they'd pass by the orcas peacefully and avoid each one.

"Captain, they shouldn't be migrating yet, should they?" The same pirate asked. Though the question was rhetorical, they both knew the answer. Everyone else had heard and all were staring at the boy and their Captain.

"What's happening?"

"They could just be moving early, isn't food getting sparse at where they migrate?"

"No," Levi stated, catching everyone's attention in an abrupt manner. The orcas were now about to pass by the boat, "they're running away from something."

A few gasps and sharp breaths were heard, but also a mumble of agreements. 

"It could be a kraken?"

"Or a megalodon?"

"They don't exist!"

Theories were thrown out all over the place in fairly hushed voices. Seconds passed in silence and within a blink the orcas were mere moments away from crossing paths with the boat. Most people travelled to the side to watch them pass by. They paid no mind to the boat just inches away from some of them, but were determined to continue ahead.

"Ahead! Look ahead!" Jean yelled with panic.

Levi snapped his head to the front, more ripples were forming, much larger and much less uneven. This was one creature. One beast. And it was racing to them.

"Brace yourselves. Turn the wheel all the way port!" Levi said, holding onto the side.

The boat had a slight yank to the side, all they could hope for was this creature wouldn't collide with them. All of a sudden, the creature was right by them. However, everyone yelled out as they fell back from one side of the boat being lifted up. Levi grasped to the side with a firmer grip, colliding his hip into the side from the force. Momentum caused the boat to tip back down and sway side to side. Pirates who'd fallen to the floor, rolled around attempting to get up. Levi leaned over the side to see a mixture of orange hues within the water travelling away from the boat and heading directly for the orcas. It was gigantic and moved strangely. Almost as though made with no skeleton or organs.

"What was that?" Someone asked.

Levi didn't speak, he didn't want to worry the crew. However, he made eye contact with one of the pirates who seemed to have seen the same creature judging by his pale face and wide eyes filled with dread.

"Don't mention a thing about it," Levi hissed at him. The man gulped and nodded. Levi turned to the rest of the crew who were recovering from being flung back as the boat steadily regained its balance, "I think it was just a large whale."