Opavia

35.

Vitani's eyes flew open at a violent sob, leaping to her feet. She looked around in their room, her eyes adjusting to the little light as she leaned against the wall of the ship.

"Vitani?" Kierra staggered beside her, Vitani pressing her ear against the door.

"Shh." She listened intently at Chopper weakly speaking to an unknown person.

"We're in the Upper Yard." Vitani reported softly. "The only person around is Chopper, everyone else was separated...I think he's going to kill him."

"Kill Chopper?" Kierra whispered back.

As it fell silent, Chopper suddenly screamed and Kierra threw the door open. Zeze and Eos ran forward, Zeze bowling the attacker's large bird over the railing and into the water.

"Vitani! Kierra!" Chopper cried as Kierra caught the man's sword in her hand before it hit Chopper. As it erupted into flames, she released it and stepped back, Vitani swiping the man's feet from below him. She attempted to grab his neck but he moved out the way and placed the tip to her head. She twitched her ear, looking up at the arrival of the sky knight. He entered combat with the stranger, Chopper excitedly cheering.

"Why didn't you wake us earlier !" Kierra demanded as she sprinted towards him, Chopper looking up.

"I tried!" He insisted. "You two wouldn't wake up!" He grabbed Kierra's leg. "I was scared!"

Vitani looked up, narrowing her eyes. "So this is the Upper Yard?" She hummed and looked around.

"Yeah, and everyone's out fighting in different ordeals. There's four guards before we actually get to meet the God."

"And this is one of them?" Kierra asked.

He nodded, Vitani balling her fist. She watched the Sky Knight's fight in silence as Kierra hummed.

"Was there any sign of our brother?" Kierra asked, rubbing Chopper's head soothingly. As he shook his head, Zeze and Eos crawled from the water. They roared at the Sea Kings behind them angrily, walking up the steps.

"Tryva, Zeze. (Easy, Zeze)." Vitani soothed, squatting and rubbing her head.

"Eos! Cice icrametzva! (Eos, you aren't even bleeding!" Kierra huffed, Eos laying out on the ground. "You slept enough! It's time to fight!"

Eos bellowed in response.

"Eos says no one can ever sleep enough." Chopper spoke softly, Kierra pulling her ear.

"Get up!" She snapped. Vitani blinked and her eyes suddenly widened upon the realization the sky knight was stuck in the sky. She noticed the glint of a string and immediately aimed an arrow, the Priest nearing the sky knight.

"Vitani!" Chopper cried, believing she was attempting to shoot the sky knight. As she released her quiver, Chopper pushed her arm and the arrow strayed away from the string.

"Chopper!" She roared. "He is caught!" The pair looked up to watch the Sky Knight stabbed before plummeting into the water. Chopper began to fret, Kierra balling her fist.

"Chopper. Vitani. We need to get the hell out of here. Now!" She hissed.

"Chopper!" She screamed as he dove into the water. Vitani ran after him, leaving Kierra alone. Zeze dove in after the three, Eos growling. Kierra leapt onto Eos, holding on tight as the Rekran dove down as well. As Eos attempted to retrieve them, Zeze accidentally kicked her head and the Rekran fell unconscious. Vitani stared up at the sky, her jaw parted slightly.

Chopper.

Her brows furrowed.

You idiot.

A sudden weight slammed into the water and latched onto Zeze and Vitani, another grabbing the Sky Knight and Chopper, another grabbing the Sky Knight's Pegasus, and finally Eos and Kierra.

Kierra's eyes flew open and she shot up, coughing up water.

"Vitani! Chopper!" She shook them, turning to the Sky Knight. "Sky Knight!"

Vitani slowly opened her eyes and immediately broke into a fit of coughing, spitting out water.

"Chopper!" She rasped as he fretted over the Sky Knight. A sudden weird call hit the air and they looked up, giant South Birds towering over there. Zeze and Eos looked up, their ears pinning back at the large quantity and sizes of the individual birds.

"What's going on? Why are all these South Birds here?" Chopper whispered.

"And why are they so big?" Kierra added.

"So you all saved us?" Chopper asked, Vitani staring up at them nervously as they bellowed.

"That's God?!" Chopper cried, turning to the Sky Knight.

"What?!" Vitani cried.

"No way!" Kierra whispered. "Dear Lord, I'm so sorry for ever saying a bad word or stealing, please forgive me!" Vitani smacked her head.

"Hush!" She hissed. "Chopper." She turned to look at him. "If this is God, Maybe you should...you know. HELP HIM!"

"Oh-oh!" He stammered nervously. Vitani and Kierra helped carry him inside, sitting around Chopper as he worked. They had both changed into Opavian outfits, sitting around the Sky Knight.

"Chopper." Vitani hummed from closed eyes.  "They're calling you."

Chopper immediately rushed outside to see Nami and Zoro, Kierra following.

"Vitani!" She waved excitedly. "Everyone's here! We're back together!"

Everyone met up on the deck, Vitani marching forward. She smacked Zoro's Head.

"You idiot!" She hissed. "Leaving Chopper here alone with us, how stupid can you be?!"

"Chopper can handle himself." He huffed. "Besides, you two were here."

"We were unconscious,you stupid idiot." She reminded him irritably.

"Are you now?" He leaned forward as she scoffed, pushing him away. They headed out to the forest to camp, Vitani silently eating. She had thrown on a sweatshirt alongside Kierra, the pair bundled up together.

"Cold, Kierra-san?" Sanji hummed, Kierra giving a sheepish smile.

"More or so." She admitted, Eos nuzzling against her leg. Zeze was off with Chopper and Luffy, the pair admiring and looking over her. Vitani looked up as Zoro sat down beside her, sighing.

Luffy boasted about going on a gold hunt after everyone had shared their discoveries on the island, Kierra laughing softly.

"You aren't cold?" Vitani asked curiously, looking at Zoro's sleeveless shirt. "

"I am." He admitted with a laugh, Vitani offering some of her jacket. As Kierra took a blanket for Sanji, Zoro and Vitani pressed against each other and shared the large jacket.

"Qwezta (gosh), you were cold." She shuttered, feeling his cold hands against her waist, pulling her closer.

Zeze watched from the distance, her eyes landing on Zoro. She turned her head, lifting it up and looking around.

Zoro and Chopper left to retrieve fruit, Kierra molding bowls for them to eat in while Vitani helped Sanji cook.

As he handed out the stew, she smiled and gave him a look of gratitude.

"Thank you." She whispered, Sanji giving her a faint smile. They discussed the plan, Nami instructing Luffy to put out the fires. Once he argued, wolves quickly appeared, Kierra looking up in interest. As Chopper translated, Nami knocked one over the head. Upon returning to a conscious state, Luffy declared they would have a bonfire together.

Vitani took a sip of sake and was immediately drunken, dancing with Kierra to the beat of Usopp's drum. She laughed and giggled giddily, Their Rekran watching from a distance. Eos was nudging and bumping Zeze who remained her posture, gritting her teeth in annoyance.