THE EASTERN COAST OF ORIENTA

The crashing wave rolls over the shore, wiping the sand and creating bubbles of salt. The water sparkled as the sun reflected at its surface, in each wave the fishes lifted off the surface.

Above the sea, the sky is clear and the sun is shining brightly. As the little clumps of clouds formed thinly. All the while the seagulls are flying along with the warm summer air, letting out a high pitch squawk.

"Wow~" Feli's eyes widened with wonder as he stared at the vast ocean, the gentle breeze brushing against his soft feathers.

"What is that?" he finally asked while his beak pointed at the ocean.

"It's the ocean Feli, it's a body of water with a lot of fish inside," Darius explained.

"Darius," Brennan called. "Let's go to the inn first. We were told that the ships will arrive tomorrow."

"Sure," Darius nodded his head. "Feli you have to hide for now okay."

"Okay!" the young griffin replied enthusiastically.

The travelers ended up settling in a lodging near the shore.

Judging by the dining area it was a dissent establishment with wooden walls, rows of benches, and neatly arranged tables. Massive anchors and a huge head of a swordfish, hanging behind the counter as sort of decoration.

Entering their room, Darius immediately released Feli from the bag. Which is now a little too small for the young griffin. To the point that Darius had to remove the contents of the bag just to fit Feli.

The young man sat on the bed, "We need to figure out how to conceal you in a better manner." Darius sighed.

"How?" the young griffin tilted its head.

"Well… I'm going to have to think about that one."

The sound of waves called their attention, as each time the water came crashing to the huge rock in the shoreline.

"Can we go there?" Feli asked his eyes sparkling as he looked up at Darius.

"We can but we will go later, after dinner perhaps. Once the people started leaving the beach."

"It's okay I can wait," Feli hopped into the bed, the young griffin circled before settling to sit on the mattress.

"Are you tired?" Darius asked.

"A little bit," the griffin muttered.

Darius smiled at Feli, "Then go ahead and sleep."

Feli's right wing touched Darius's hand as he closed his eyes.

"Don't worry, I will guard you as you sleep," Darius assured him.

A knock on the door woke up Darius from his unintended sleep, beside him he saw Feli still sleeping peacefully.

Walking over the door, he opened it to see Brennan and Clara.

"We've brought dinner," Brennan chimed with an odd smile on his face. It was just like the usual… but Darius reckoned it has more eagerness behind it.

He stepped aside to let them inside, "You're acting suspicious Brennan." Darius squinted his eyes, meticulously analyzing the younger man.

Brennan laughed, "Why are you looking at me like that?" He said, scratching the back of his head.

"Just say it."

Brennan sighed, "Alright… we were thinking that we could go to the beach later. You know, once it's secluded enough for Feli to run on the sand."

"Ah… well, we are planning to do that," Darius admitted.

"Good, then we can start by having dinner and head out." Clara chirped.

"It's that late?" Darius furrowed his brows. He didn't even realize that the sun had gone down.

"Yeah, the dusk ended like an hour ago," Brennan told him.

"I see," Darius muttered.

"I'm full…" Feli laid his head on Darius's lap.

"Don't lay down, you just ate." Darius lectured.

The dinner was consist of bread and soup – one that they are not entirely familiar with. But it was said to be a delicacy in Orienta. It was made with cubes of carrots, peas, tiny cuts of fish, peeled shrimp, and clam – all mixed together in a thick creamy soup with some minced parsley on top.

"Surprisingly, Feli ate more of the soup than the bread," Brennan said with a smile.

"It was nice…" Feli said in almost a dreamy tone.

"You look too full to go to the beach, I guess we won't be going huh?" Darius said jokingly.

"No!" Feli started flying. "I want to go please…" He begged.

The three adults chucked, "Of course." Darius petted his head.

'So innocent.' He thought.

If only he was as carefree.

The waves are much stronger this time of the day, the wind was colder, and the shore was dark. Above the vast ocean, the moon shines along with the stars. Their sparkling light, reflecting into the water.

"It's so pretty~" Feli said, the young griffin flying beside Darius.

"It is, isn't it?" Darius smiled.

Would it be so bad to just stay here? Ah yes, a small cottage near the shore. Where they can watch the sun, rise and fall into the horizon. Just living day by day without worry, no duties, no deadline, no enemies.

Just them.

Darius pondered at the thought.

After I saved my brother…

"Hey, Feli…"

"Yes, mama?" The griffin looked at him with its round eyes, filled with youth and innocence.

"Would you like to live here?" Darius asked him.

"Yes!" Feli happily replied.

"We should stay here! You, me, Clara, Brennan, and grandpa!"

"Who?" Darius asked confusedly.

"W-well… Brennan said once that Oraculi is like a grandpa. It was when he was feeding me the…"

"The… um… ham! The pink thing that was in the kitchen."

Darius gapped his mouth, before asking "Brennan told you that Oraculi si your grandpa?"

"Not quite but he said, oh he's like a grandpa spoiling his grandchild," Feli said while mimicking Brennan's voice but failing miserably.

Darius was not certain on what to say… it was too odd to even think about.

'Brennan and his stupidity know no bound.' He shook his head, a sigh leaving his lips. Yet a smile gracing them soon after.

"Hey, Darius we found a pool!" Brennan shouted. "Hurry!" he eagerly waved his hand, calling the older man to the rocks.

"It's amazing huh!" Brennan exclaimed while looking at the small pool of water separated in the sea by a thin wall of rocks. As the waves came crashing, it washes over the pool. Which keeps the water clean.

"It's like a small lagoon! Let's go!" Brennan looked at him, like a child ready to open his present even before Christmas comes.

"I… Don't really feel like it." Darius shook his head.

"Oh come on!" Without even waiting for him, Brennan jumped into the water.

"See? It's fineeee…"

Clara giggled, as she sat on the side of the pool. Her feet soaking in the water.

"And you?" Darius turned to Feli but he only shook his head - no, the young griffin still flying over their heads.

Brennan splashed water at them, the young man laughing as he did.

"Stop…" Clara chuckled.

"Do it again and I'll drown you," Darius laughed.

"Then that means you'll be swimming here too," Brennan retorted but Darius only chuckled.

The waves kept crashing into the rock, spraying salty water at the travelers. The scent of salt, fish, and seaweed filled their nostrils.

"Ah!" Brennan gasped, looking confusedly at the water.

"What?" Darius asked confusedly.

"I think something bit me."

Clara stood up, "If that's a sea snake you're as good as dead. Let's go back so we can check it." She offered a hand at Brennan.

"Y-yeah…" Brennan swam to the edge of the pool.

But as he was starting to climb up, a massive wave hit the rocks. Tons of water washed over the pool, sending Clara in the distance. Her back hit the bigger wall of rocks behind her.

On the other hand, Darius lost his balance and fell into the water.

"Bloody hell," he cursed as soon as he swam back up. "Are you alright Clara?"

"Y-yes… but my back hurt a little." Clara rubbed her behind, trying to ease the pain.

"Feli are you alright?" He then turned to the young griffin.

"Yes, I'm flying the whole time. But Brennan swam to the ocean." Feli told him.

"What?" Darius turned to look for Brennan but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Brennan!" he shouted.

"There!" Clara pointed at the distant water.

But there was nothing to be seen, other than a splash of water and a fair of shimmering blue-gray fins.

"What's that?" Darius asked dreadfully.

"I-I…" Clara shook her head.

"Take Feli back to the inn!" Darius commanded before lifting over the rock wall and cove into the sea.

"Darius wait!" Clara tried to stop him but it was too late. Without much choice, she hides Feli in the bag and runs back into the inn.

The sound of slamming doors attracted the attention of the people drinking inside.

The cheering stopped and all eyes are on Clara. She was soaking wet and parts of her body covered with sand, she breathed heavily. The bag sling behind her.

"M-my friend!" she began, her tear-stained eyes begging for help.

"He was washed away by a huge wave! My other friend was there trying to find him but we desperately need help!" Tears finally fell from her hazel-colored orbs.

The old men stood up, "What happened?" one of them asked.

"We were at the rocks in the west side of the shore. He was swimming but then he said something bit him. When we said we should head back, the wave came and we never saw him again."

Clara looked at them helplessly, her heart beating wildly.

"And the other one was still there?" An old man with a white beard asked.

"Y-yes, we saw a tail on the sea. So he went jumped into the water to find our friend."

The old man pointed at the innkeeper, "Take her back to her room. We should save the other one at the very least." The old man said.

"W-what? The other one?" Clara followed the old men as they exited the inn. She was worried and confused.

"Listen girly, your friend was taken by the sirens and he is beyond saving. But hopefully, the other one can still be saved."

"NO." Clara collapsed on her feet.

"This must be a dream." She muttered