Legend of the Seven Seas

Chilly encounters

Up in the cosmos Eris was watching the interaction through some bubbles in her never-ending bubble bath.

"Enough talking." She droned with an eyeroll.

Eris' eyes lit up with mischief as the goddess reached for a bubble.

"Time for some screaming." Eris schemed in glee.

Eris breathed into the bubble, causing it to ice over. She took it in her hand and firmly shook it like a snow globe, smiling as the storm whirled around inside.

...

On earth the crew watched in disbelieve as everything around them instantly froze over, dropping the temperature and getting their ship stuck in the ice right in front of the exit. Even Spike's saliva had turned into icicles from the sudden burst of cold.

"For crying out loud what next?" Sinbad groaned. He turned and jumped back at he nearly collided with Cale's chest.

"Oh, get a shirt on before you poke someone's eye out." Sinbad muttered jokingly, sliding around the large man.

Cale rolled his eyes. Sinbad walked over to the rail to look out over the ship.

"Ok guys, get down there and break it up. We have to keep moving." Sinbad ordered. Turning around he caught sight of Eris, holding her arms across her chest and shivering.

"You cold?" Sinbad asked worriedly.

Eris rolled her eyes.

"No I'm dying of heat stroke with all this tropical weather we're having." Odette shot back, the chatter in her teeth taking away from her mock serious tone.

Sinbad hovered awkwardly for a moment, unsure of what to do. He hesitantly reached over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, wincing internally at how nervous he was. Odette instantly melted a little from the surge of body heat. The two stood there silently, Odette glancing at him curiously out of the corner of her eye and Sinbad desperately trying not to make eye contact.

"You know as much as I enjoy this, do you think you could spare any winter clothing?" Odette finally piped up, turning her head to look at him.

Sinbad chuckled, scratching the back of his head and nodded. How come he didn't think of that first? Keeping his arm around her he led the way down to the lower deck, his crew watching in amusement. Turning to look over Odette's head he glared at them, silently ordering them to 'shut up'.

Not long after, everyone had bundled up into their winter clothing as the summer ones they had dawned were no longer suitable. The crew used pickaxes and spears and hooks to try and break up the ice around the ship, hoping to loosen it up enough to sail through.

"I don't understand why I can't go out and help." Odette huffed, turning to look at Sinbad.

Sinbad shot Odette a curious glance at adamant she was about this.

"I don't think a princess should be doing the dirty work." Sinbad countered easily.

"That's all you see me as? A princess who needs to be waited on hand and foot like a spoiled child?" Odette inquired warningly.

Sinbad paused with wide eyes.

"No of course now! You know I don't! I see you more as..." Sinbad said panicking.

"Yes.." Odette cut in curiously, staring up at him with wide brown eyes.

Sindbad gulped as he stared down into them, forgetting what he was about to say. Odette blinked patiently up at him as they fell into momentary silence while his words hung in the air.

"....as a woman who shouldn't do man's work unless necessary. And it's not necessary." Sinbad finally spoke up, gathering his senses once more.

Odette rose an unimpressed brow.

"Then explain why you are on the ship too?" Odette asked dryly, her eyes gleaming deviously.

Sinbad instantly bristled at her insinuation and she grinned, knowing she had gotten a rise out of him.

"I am here to supervise and protect the damsels in distress." Sinbad quipped with a smirk.

Odette snorted out a laugh but quickly quieted down at Sinbad's put-out expression.

"It's damsel. Marina isn't used to this, I however am no damsel in distress as you tend to see me as." Odette pointed out haughtily.

Sinbad grinned, thinking back to this same argument they had as kids. It was one of the many things he liked about Odette, she would refuse to be the weak link and insist on saving others rather being saved herself. As if sensing his train of thought Odette grinned too and they both chuckled.

Suddenly, Spike barked warningly, sensing something amiss. Sinbad paused as he heard the bark and started scanning the area around them, shifting in front of Odette who was watching silently beside him. The rest of the crew paused their work. Marina, who was currently on the other end of the ship, pulled off her hood and stared out curiously towards the horizon. Spike rushed up next to her and continued barking. A white wisp flew from one peak to the other in the distance. Odette frowned and tried to peer closer at the creature that had silently appeared. The crew instantly took a defensive stance and Sinbad's eyes widened, getting a better view of what it was. Spike barked once more before whimpering and running off to hide, instantly putting the others on edge. Everyone stood stock still, waiting in eerie silence.

A loud screech caused them to jump as a giant ice bird falcon out through the rock ruins over their area. The crew ducked as the bird swooped over the ship lowly, scanning each and every one of them as it passed. As the creature swooped to close for comfort, Sinbad grabbed Odette and threw them to the ground to avoid the talons.

"Everyone back on the ship!" Sinbad shouted, shooting back up and watching the bird swing around for another run at them.

All the men shouted encouragements to move faster and run as they darted for safety. However, one had been out farther than the rest. Marina watched in horror as the bird bared its talons at him and swept in for the kill. She watched as he quickly lept into a pool of ice water to avoid it but putting himself in another dangerous situation at the same time. The bird screeched before heading out to swop back around.

"Bret!!" Marina shouted in worry as she waited for him to surface.

Brett sputtered as he scrambled to pull himself up onto the small piece of ice that was floating nearby. Marina quickly reached over to grab a spare piece of rope and tossed it out.

"Grab the rope!" Marina ordered and began tying it off. Odette was busy helping others onto the ship when she noticed the bird whipping its head around and spotting someone. Looking over she followed its line of sight to Marina who was busy helping Bret.

"Mariana!" Odette shouted, darting after her.

The woman looked over at her instantly before looking behind. Odette raced for her as the bird swooped in. She shoved Marina out of the way just as the creature reached out, snagging Odette instead.

"Odette!" Marina shouted out in alarm as she watched.

Marina's cry grabbed Sinbad's attention and he whipped around. His eyes widened in fear as he spotted the brunette struggling to wriggle out of the claws latched around her waist. Sinbad raced into action and lept up grab her hand, holding on with a vice grip as he was dragged across the boat. He was forced to let go when he was slammed into the railing. All he could do was watch with wide eyes as she frantically struggled to free herself from the creature's grip as they climbed higher and higher towards an icy peak.

"Sinbad!" He could hear the shout getting softer and softer as they both disappeared out of sight.