The Quest

Chapter 7

~Quo~
Alquorien had a massive headache blooming just above his right eye. Unfortunately, he would have to do his best to ignore it, as he and his crew ran up the stairs, trying to be fast. It was hard, what with the boat beginning to sway like a swing from left to right.

Once they reached the deck, he took a pause to swig from his flask. A rush of mead swam down his throat and warmed him up a bit. Much better. His head still throbbed but his brain became loose, clear even. He could relax. He took another swing for good measure.

Quo bounded off again, trying to see where his fellows went. It was hard with the night so dark, not much light seeping through and the waves crashing about! Water seeped around his feet. There were ship men everywhere, shouting orders and pulling ropes but alas his own crew must have been across the deck already. He could not miss this. It was his destiny.

Quo fought to stay upright as he continued his way, nearly falling over as men bumped into him. No one gave him a second glance, how rude. Eventually, he saw Matis and then Di. Waterwell and Long Boar not far off, staying back it seemed. Best fighters my ass. Staying back like nancies!

"Well?" Quo shouted over their impending storm. Di looked troubled and pointed out. There was nothing ahead. Just feral waves crashing over and over, practically asking to wreck the ship. If they had gone on any other boat it would likely have been wrecked, but this was no ordinary boat. He and Matis sought them out, after hearing stories about them living through worse.

Quo looked back and saw Matis take her hand. A pang of jealousy hit again. Now really isn't the time, you fool. He wanted to slap himself. He felt suddenly quite alone. Just look back at the water. She's got magic, she knows something is coming. 

He felt something hit him from behind and turned his head before the howling wind seemed to slap him as well. All around him was a light glow, from Di. A protection spell. Nevertheless, Quo stumbled backward, into Matis, unprotected from the wind. Matis held him up with his other arm, before pushing up back upright.

The howling grew into a vibrating sensation.

"What the fuck is it?" Quo yelled at Di.

"I'm not sure," she shouted back. "It's not good!"

"No fucking way," he grumbled.  A large being crashed out from the waves and slammed into the boat. It was larger than four mean at least and there was another right across -- tentacles. Neither of the monster tentacles broke anything or hit anyone, but they were certainly frightening, what with the storm happening around them and people running around.

Quo wielded his sword and ran to the tentacle closest to him, watching as it released, only to slap the ship again, harder. He and a few others went forth and stabbed at it. It barely cut the first layer of skin. Quo didn't care, he hit it again, lengthwise, going for a slice instead. It bled more, a sickly black ooze, but still, it was just a nick in the skin. The tentacle receded again, flying into the air. It seemed to know who he was as it charged down towards him.

The protection spell barely worked. The tentacle tried to hit, but ever so slightly, it rebounded to the floor next to him, still causing him to lose some footing. He backed up, but still went at it, this time hacking at the tentacle. He couldn't tell who was with him, but other men around him hacked at it, too. Quo didn't care. He knew he needed to fight, he needed this.

The tentacle was beginning to look a little ravaged, but it was still intact. As was the other one. Quo backed up even more as it seemed to be angry, clutching at the boat and receding once again. The floorboards began to show some damage as it went, with one sticking into the crevice he made. Quo looked up to see Matis and the other two staring back at him, Di staying back by a pillar.