Berrybottles' Travel Guide to Terra

Day 2

Observation Journal Entry #2

Morning, Cloudy Weather

Breakfast: Fresh Mountain Coffee, Sunnyside Fallu-Fallu Eggs over Bofflebean Toast, Assorted Berries on Matcha Yogurt, & Apple Muffins stuffed with Bacon. So. Good. (^―^)

Hello Travelers,

Oh my!! (#^ ^#) I wasn't expecting such a warm response for my first journal entry. This is beyond exciting. Thrilling. Inspiring even! Thank you, fearless Travelers! I'm elated to have you explore the world of Terra with me. This journey is now far less lonely. Even if we're spanned across distances, and I'll never hear your laughs, or see your noses curl at the daring delights I plan to dine, I'm extremely honored to have you in my party.

This might come as a shock for many who get to move about freely, but this was my first night sleeping away from home. And I'm pleased to report, it was awful! (―。―#)

I've been aboard Zephyrs before, but only for short hops from city to city. Nothing overnight, and certainly never on my own. The wood creaks and groans like a drunken Dryad, and it smells like I'm staying on the inside of a cedar rum barrel. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if some of these patch jobs upon my door and wall were from the barrels that honeycomb just to the left of my room. And when a gust or disturbance in the atmosphere strikes, the entire thing shivers its timbers as if it saw a ghost. Only one of the Underworld folk could sleep through such a rumble tumble. But me? I'm more of a pampered, not shaken or steeped in spirits, kind of being.

But don't worry. I'm still too wound up on excitement (and now coffee) to feel the lack of sleep. I'm not sure what I was expecting, though. I know that the Rough Delight isn't a normal Zephyr. It's smaller, fast, tricky, and infamous for its mercenary crew. It's not a Charter or an Imperial vessel.

But I'm not scared of them, they're all good people (or my mother paid them to be so). They've gone out of their way to check on me, and make sure I'm doing ok. Last night, whenever we hit some turbulent jet streams, Zora, the First Mate, came immediately to my room when the air was calmer.

I told her I wasn't scared, even though that was totally a lie. I'm pretty sure the fact that I physically screamed "I'M CALM" at her, while sitting on my table, wearing my Goggles and Breather, clutching my backpack, and strapped into an emergency parachute, really sold it. Because she smiled and said, "You're one tough cookie then, because my pants weren't brown before." I kinda love her. All of them, really. The Rough Delight is exactly who you'd imagine soft hearted mercenaries to be, and would do pretty much everything if the price is adequate. (Or if they have nothing better to do.)

What is a Zephyr? What a good question, though I've never met anyone who didn't know. You must be more cloistered than I was! (＞ω＜｡) A Zephyr, is a ship that sails the skies instead of seas. Crewmembers are called Windsailors, and the Captains are, well, still called Captain.

I'll sketch and describe the Rough Delight soon, but for now, hopefully you can picture a sailing ship, high up in the clouds, with hot air balloons, and a large glowing crystal that creates a warm, breathable barrier on deck by channeling some of the steam from the engines.

We haven't made it to our "royal patron" yet, but I'm hearing whispers we'll be there soon. For now, though, I'm going to learn how to play Fade. It's a really big card game that I've only ever passed by in streets. The crew doesn't play for money, though, they play for stories. And as I come from a long line of Watchers, I'll be the wealthiest player at the table. There's a word for that... A dolphin? A tuna? Oh well, it will come to me. In the meantime, wish me luck!

Oh, and one more thing, as a side quest, I've given myself the task of getting the ship's cat, Tempest, to let me get close enough to snuggle it. (A simple pet will never do! I must snuggle that fluffy being or I may surely die!!! (*≧ω≦)) So, a little luck for that as well.

Anyway, bye for now, friends! Stars are like smiles, for they keep us from true darkness.