It's in the eyes. Always the eyes.

Chapter Twenty-one| Salty Encounters

        Night had fully fallen over the open ocean, and the ship glided across the dark, calm waters. The earlier chaos had finally quieted, but tension still lingered. There were still pirates aboard, though luckily none had come to check on their supposed prisoners. Just to be safe, the group had crafted life-sized dummies of Crash and Coco, using sandbags and rags found in barrels and crates. Hanging them up at the front of the deck, the dummies swayed in the darkness, and in the low light, it would be difficult for the pirates to realize they weren't the real deal.

Penny, always thinking ahead, had suggested keeping a lookout just in case. "One of us should take the first watch for an hour, paired with one of you." She gestured toward Aku-Aku and Lani-Loli. "An extra set of eyes is better than one."

Aku-Aku agreed with her plan, nodding thoughtfully. "Then it's settled. Coco, you and I will take the first watch, then it will be Penny's turn with Lani-Loli. Crash and I will take the final shift."

With the plan in place, everyone settled down for the night. Penny lay with her back to the others, trying to rest while Crash, exhausted from the day's events, quickly fell asleep beside her. Coco and Aku-Aku sat together, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings, their senses on high alert for any movement or noise. The first hour passed without incident, the stillness of the ocean almost eerie.

Coco quietly approached Penny, who was lying still on the deck, and gently nudged her shoulder. "Penny, wake up. It's your turn," she whispered softly, careful not to disturb Crash.

What Coco didn't realize was that Penny had been feigning sleep. She hadn't been able to relax, her mind still spinning from the day's events, memories of Tawna's accusations and her strange vision haunting her. Slowly, Penny fluttered her eyes open, turning over to glance at Coco. "Did anything happen?" she mumbled, her voice groggy from the weight of her thoughts.

Coco shook her head, offering a soft smile. "Nope, all quiet."

Penny sat up, stretching a bit as Coco laid down beside Crash, finally able to catch some sleep. Aku-Aku, too, leaned back onto a wooden crate, his calm presence finally resting for the night.

Grabbing the sheathed sword by her side, Penny stood and made her way to where Lani-Loli hovered, waiting for her to begin the next watch. She took a seat on a small wooden crate beside the mask, her back to her sleeping friends.

In the stillness of the night, Penny's eyes sharpened, adjusting to the darkness around them. Her heightened sense of sight was one of her gifts, allowing her to detect even the slightest movements in the blackness. She kept a steady gaze on the shadows and the ship's distant corners, her grip on the sword a quiet reminder of her newfound responsibility.

Lani-Loli floated nearby, his usually chatty demeanor quiet for the time being, sensing Penny's need for silence. Together, they kept their watch as the ship sailed on, the soft creaking of the wood and the gentle crash of waves the only sounds accompanying their vigil.

When the hour was up, Lani-Loli floated closer to Penny, his voice soft but clear as he called out to her. "Hey, time's up. You should rest now."

Penny didn't move from her spot on the crate. She continued to scan the horizon, her fingers tapping lightly on the hilt of the sword. Lani-Loli hovered in place, slightly confused, thinking that maybe she hadn't heard him. "Uh, Penny?" he repeated, a little louder this time. "The hour's up."