As A Stranger Or A Friend?: The Swallow And The Drowned Sailor

Axtapor - 16 Sun's Dawn, 1246 A.D.

"Ye have to 'nnounce it as so, else how will the crew know there be land?" I teased her as we pulled nearer to the white sands of Capos.

"B-But it's just us." She complained softly from her place at the navigation table, "And you can see the island just there..."

I closed my eyes. "What isle? Nay see a damned thin'."

"Axtapor!"

"Aye?" I asked, trying not to laugh.

"Axtapor, please open your eyes! W-What if there are reefs?!" She shouted in something of a panic.

"We be in plain sea, nay heard the call for land." I insisted.

"L-Land ho!" She called out awkwardly.

"Land ho!" I echoed triumphantly, opening my eyes again.

I pushed on one of the knobs at the panel to fold our sails so we could glide easily towards the shore. She looked rather bothered with me, but I gathered that she was not sincerely upset, just overly bashful of being made to do something she'd been opposed to doing. Once we'd gotten to wading level waters, I tossed the anchor over the side and hopped out.

This island looked relatively uninhabited and, as the chart had made clear, quite small. There was tropical tree cover further inland from the shore, and the beach was the sort that was wide and flat, where the water would remain knee height for a decent stretch out into the sea. The weather was fair and actually surprisingly warm for this time of year. Given that and its apparent lack of inhabitants, it seemed more like a place to visit than one to live.

"Come to me, wee cream puff." I said as I waded up to the side where she was standing nearest.

She blushed. "Y-Yes, Captain Oxlo..."

My throat became hot, and I was suddenly glad to be wearing loose trousers today, though she might be able to spot such a proud and full mast if she looked closely enough. I grabbed her by the waist once she was near enough for me to do so, and I only felt my condition worsen. She was quite healthy now after we crossed with Dero, though I'd yet to see her unclothed since she was still ill at ease with sailing, so doing that in the middle of the ocean was out of the question. But now we were on land, and from the looks of it, completely alone, surely I could persuade her to show me her many improvements.

"Steady on." I said as she carefully placed her hands on my shoulders, "Ready?"

"Y-Yes."

I picked her up and carefully took her over the vessel's side.

She seemed alright for a moment but then registered a look of surprise on her face. "W-Wait, Axtapor, m-my shoes! I didn't take them off!"

"Nay fret." I chuckled and hoisted her up over my shoulder.

She screamed as she tried to steady herself, stammering her way to excuses and reasons why I should put her down, while I simply continued towards the shore, laughing the whole way. Once we were there, I set her down safely, and she fretted for a moment as she removed her shoes.

"Be they ruined?" I asked, trying to contain my laughs.

I knew shoes were important to humans, but I could always buy her another pair. There was no need to be so concerned about it, though I supposed something like that was in her nature. She was a humble creature.

"I'm not sure. Perhaps if I lay them out to dry, they can be salvaged." She said in a troubled fashion.

"Give 'em here. I'll set 'em out." I offered, deciding that I probably shouldn't poke fun at her.