Divided Nation

The Sea States

Harman escorted us down a narrow staircase that lead down to the dock. Even though it was guarded by a wooden wall, the storms still struggled and howled against the wall, making creepy ghost noises. After a while, we finally reached the bottom of the stairs where a single ship was docked against the dock that was being pummeled to splinters. 

      "There's your ship," Harman shouted over the howl of the wind, "The captain should know the way to the center islands. Get to the center islands and stay put."

      "You're going to need my help," I tried to tell him, but the wind blocked out my voice and Harman walked back up the stairs.

     The last that I saw of him was him climbing up the stairs with his sea blue cape flapping behind him in the crazy wind.

     "Let's go Hayden," Alexia shouted as she pulled me towards the ship, "The storm's going to destroy the dock, we have to hurry!"

      I followed my friends along as we staggered across a half destroyed dock. Alexia raised her staff and the rain was subdued a little, but the wind still threatened to push us off and into may of the holes that were on the dock. 

      When we were maybe halfway to the ship, Kyxio shouted and stumbled, his foot going straight through the thin wood. Alexia pointed her staff and Kyxio was suddenly encased in a golden bubble and brought back up, but that brief spell must have messed up here previous one because the rain went back on full blast and pounded all of us like crazy. 

      Finally, we reached the boat, but it wasn't docked at the dock any longer. The captain must have thought the ship would smash onto the dock, so the boat was floating a couple meters away.

      "We have to jump!" I shouted, "Chole, go first!"

     She jumped without hesitation, her legs hitting the hull, but her arms found the top of the boat and she pulled herself up. On the boat, there were people, sailors I assume, scampering around, trying to keep the ship upright as waves as tall as buildings were forming in the distance.

      Kyxio jumped next, making it fully inside. One of the sailors got a rope, and threw it to us, but it really made no difference with all the wind. I jumped next, it wasn't that hard, especially after summoning some energy from my sword. I landed right next to Chole, making Alexia the only one that hadn't boarded yet.

     "Alexia, get over here!" I shouted as the captain fought off another wave.

     She bent her knees and jumped... right as a giant wave hit the dock, sweeping what was left of the dock away. I reached my hand out and felt hers on the other end. The waves rocked the ship close enough to the jagged rocks at the base of the peak that I could easily touch the rocks if I stretched my hand out. 

     I grabbed onto Alexia with all my might and pulled. My sword grew uncomfortably hot on my belt, but I noticed that it alleviated a bit of my fatigue. The captain swore and turned the ship towards another wave that nearly capsized the ship. With my final bit of strength, I heaved and threw both Alexia and I on a tangled heap on the deck of the ship.

     "Let's get out of here!" Kyxio shouted and guestered at the captain.

     The captain nodded and wrested with the steering wheel until we were far clear of the storm.

     _____________________________________

     The storm broke a couple hours after sailing away from the serpent. Our sails were in tatters, which meant we had to resort to the oars, but at least we were still in one piece. As we sailed closer and closer to the center islands, I noticed a couple islands that we passed.