Blackbeard; The Legend

The Treacherous Strait

Akahana slumbered in her cot, the thin wool blanket the only thing between her and the cold of the ship. Outside, the bleak clouds swirled around, grey light shining through the glass. Akahana buried herself in the pillow, refusing to get up, as she was dreaming about that same lullaby, except Ryota was there, jamming away on his shamisen while belting out the words in an entertaining matter with color and noise and-

BWWWWAAAAAAAA!

An ear-deafening blast jolted Akahana awake, snapping out of her dream and back into reality "Wake up hearties!" Stormfeather's voice shouted down from the stairwell. "Get yerselves up here!"

Groaning, Akahana drew her coat and katana before leaving her room. From one of the rooms, she could hear a baby crying, and another voice trying to soothe it. Walking up to the deck, she was surprised to see Takahiro already there, but he looked so radically different that it took her a second to recognize him. His feathers were all ruffled and astray, his eyes bloodshot with fatigue. 

"How dare you?!" He shrieked. "Do you not know that my sleep can't be uninterrupted?!" He drew out a small mirror from the folds of his pajamas and glared at his reflection. "I look absolutely horrendous! Thanks to you!"

"Well guess what ye ungrateful bilge-sucker?" Stormfeather shot back. "Me wouldn't have called ye up here if I didn't have a good reason now, eh? And besides," He spat. "Ye ain't in some pretty palace anymore, yer on me ship, and I can wake ye whenever I want!" He slapped the mirror from Takahiro's hands, sending him racing to get it back. Akahana watched, a bit amused, and as more passengers emerged from their slumber, Ryota arrived, yawning heavily.

"What's this about?" He asked sleepily.

"I'm not sure, but I bet he'll tell us." She replied as Stormfeather cleared his throat.

"Alright lads," The captain said, motioning for silence. "Ye are probably wondering why are called of yer so early." He chuckled. "Well, let me tell ye, it's for a pretty important reason." He turned and pointed towards the direction where the ship was heading. "Since all of yer know we're heading to the Svellands, what ye probably didn't know is that there is a strait we gotta go through. And that strait," He turned back. "Has a few monsters."

"Monsters?" Came a worried voice from the passengers, and it sounded like the raccoon lady.

"Aye, monsters." Stormfeather said. "So that's why me and the crew need a few volunteers to help."

"You want us to fight the monsters?" Ryota asked, bewildered.

"Don't worry mateys," Stormfeather raised a hand to quiet the murmurs. "I've asked this of all me passengers that came before ye, and they managed to survive."

"You ask your passengers to fight your battles?" Takahiro asked in disbelief. "What kind of ship is this?"

"There are not enough hands to fight the beasts off, aight?" The captain sternly spoke. "Ferrying all of ye to the Svellands needs all of me crew to steer the ship, so don't blame me if I ask for a few more extra hands."

"So what you're saying is that everyone must fight?" Ryota spoke up beside her.

"No, no," The captain answered. "I need a few, not all of ye." He beckoned with his hand. "Those who can fight, step forward."

At first, nobody stepped forward, anxious murmuring filling the crowd. Then, Ryota walked up and stood next to the captain.