The Hawk and The Flamebound: Breaking Dawn

(Land map)

Year 1783

The endless waters of Ossian resemble a dazzling mirror under the vast skies. Each wave caught the glimmering golden rays of the sun, nearly turning them into sparkling diamonds embedded in azure silk. Amidst the calm waves, a small galleon sailing steadily, with its durable sails caught the sea breeze and cradled the ship towards its destined path.

At the ship's bow, stood a splendid mermaid figurehead carved in wood. Leaning forward, the upper portion of her body makes a seductive curve while her lower torso evolved into a magnificent tail that flared in a dramatic arc behind her. Her long hair cascaded down her back and sprawled on a jagged rock, almost turning the ship into a vessel of charisma and elegance until one's vision landed on the large white bib tied around her neck, concealing her bosom.

Underneath the figurehead, the name Primrose is engraved in bold letters on the ship's wooden hull.

"Thunk," ... "Thunk,"..."Thunk"

The series of empty barrels sliding over the deck shatters the serene atmosphere of the sea. A man crawled on the floor, scrabbling for something, when he was pulled back by another.

"Jax, didn't I tell you that is mine?" Pax said, trying to get the little ball rolling before them.

"Look clearly with your eyes. That belongs to me," Jax responded, not giving up the chase.

As they wrestled for the ball, it tumbled to the floor and landed near one of the empty barrels. Seeing this, Jax shoved his brother aside and dashed toward the ball, but Pax grabbed his ankle before he could get there.

"Give up. That's mine", he said sternly, tugging Jax by his leg. His hands surged forward, loosening the drawstrings that held his brother's trousers together.

Jax's eyes widened, and he quickly scrambled to his feet, clutching the ends, preventing his pants from dropping.

"You!"

Pax ignored his brother, his gaze drawn to where the ball had fallen. To his surprise, the ball was missing from its place.

"Eek... Eek"

The sound captured the attention of both brothers. They watched the brown monkey in a crimson waistcoat carrying the ball, leaping from one rigging to another before perching on the shoulder of the woman standing on the bow.

The wind blew Mirabella's hair, setting it across her face. When she smiled, a deep hollow dent danced on either side of her cheeks, adding a touch of charm to her small face. She looked down at the small eyeball in her hand, staring back at her.

"It was all your fault, Jax! Did you forget you are right blind?" Pax complained, nudging his brother.

"It wasn't me but you who misplaced your eyeball. This is mine," Jax retorted, nudging him back while tying back his drawstrings.

Holding an eyeball between her fingers, Mirabella approached the twins. "How about this? You both try it on. The person who sees clearly with it gets to keep it," she suggested.

"Mirabel is right," Pax agreed, taking the eyeball from her and passing it to his twin brother.

Getting the eyeball, Jax put it inside his empty sockets. He blinked a few times, looking at the woman before him.

"Mirabel, you are quadruplet!" he exclaimed.

Pax's lips twitched at his idiotic twin brother. He smacked the back of Jax's head, causing the eyeball to pop out of its socket. Before it touched the ground, he caught and wiped it with his sleeves, and popped it into his empty socket.

Jax rubbed the back of his head to soothe the pain. Why was my brother always heavy-handed with me? He complained to himself.

"Then, where is my eyeball?" he asked with an aggrieved expression.

Right then, a gruff voice roared from inside the galley. "Which lubber-head put this weird thing in my egg basket?"

Jax's good eye widened in realization. "Tobyyy! Don't cook my ball!" he yelled, sprinting towards the kitchen.

"Heh... Heh... Heh", Pipo let out a cheeky laugh.

Mirabella chuckled and made her way to the lower deck of the ship with Pipo. Upon arriving at the saloon, she found a man lounging in the dining room, engaging in a lively chatter with the crew.

"Gideon"

Hearing the soft voice of the woman, Gideon's head snapped back to look at her, his cheeks puffed up in anger. "Little egg, how many times have I told you? Call me Captain Bib", he chided her softly and propped his right leg on the dining table like an arrogant hooligan.

The few crew members inside the room cheered at their captain's gusto. Mirabella rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't suppress the smile emerging on her lips. She straightened her shoulders and saluted him playfully.

"Alright. Reporting to Captain Bib. I checked the goods and there were twenty-four barrels of cinnamon, eighteen barrels of pepper, twenty-two of nutmeg, and sixteen of turmeric. Eighty in total"

Gideon looked at his little egg like a proud parent and praised her. "Reports received and verified. Applause for my little egg", he ordered the crew, his voice boomed with authority.

Mirabella laughed at the series of claps and shook her head at them. She headed off to the galley to prepare breakfast for the crew. Her steps halted at the kitchen door when a gush of wind rushed past her, scattering cabbage leaves all over her head. The once neatly braided hair was messed up and her head looked like a poorly sickled cabbage garden.

Kreeeeeeee!

On the other hand, Pipo the Foppish is not pleased with his altered hairstyle. He ran his claws over his head to smooth the two strands of hair that stood straight above his almost bald head.

The furs on his body stood on their end when his eyes landed on the two pieces of the chopping board. In the center lies a big cleaver that struck the middle of the wooden table.

"Put your cleaver down, Thaddeus"

The man paused in his actions, who was about to take another cabbage to chop. Listening to the little lady beside him, he obediently took the cleaver out of the wooden table, that is almost on the verge of collapsing under his brute strength.

After releasing the poor table from its misery, Mirabella took the second piece of the chopped wood and placed it inside the cupboard.

"Is this the second or third of this week?" she pondered silently.

Her nimble hands quickly gathered the spilled cabbages and washed them under the flowing water. She poured the oil into the pan and stir-fried it along with the egg.

Thaddeus stood there and watched her little figure moving across the galley in amazement. His large muscular form very much contrasts with the child-like curiosity on his face.

Once she finished, he helped her carry the dishes to the table. Soon, the crew members gathered around for their meal.

Mirabella placed a small bowl for Pipo. Pipo remained calm, unlike the crew, who were excitedly looking at the food. He tied his bib around his neck, grabbed the fork and knife, and sat elegantly in his special chair, waiting for Mirabella to fill his bowl with food.

After serving, Mirabella sat down and looked around as she noticed the crew's delighted look after tasting her food. A serene smile spread over her lips.

"What are you waiting for, Little egg? Dig in, lest the meal goes cold," Gideon said with a grin, shoveling food into his mouth.

She nodded, focusing on the food in her bowl. After breakfast, everyone cleaned and dried their dishes before carefully placing them on the shelves. They scattered immediately to attend to their respective duties on the ship.

Pipo, the last to finish, rinsed his plate thoroughly before climbing and placing it on top of the cabinet, away from the reach of everyone. He detested it when anyone ate from his plate except him.

He is an extreme mysophobic monkey.

Above the deck, Mirabella leaned on the railings and asked Gideon, who was steering the helm at the ship's bow.

"How long will the feast last?"

"Considering it is the marriage of the Crown prince, it could last a month, but I can't be certain," Gideon replied. "His Majesty has issued an order to import spices from four nations to prepare for the grand feast. But who cares? All that matters is to get the king's ransom." He added with a grin.

"I've heard that the quality of the goods determines the bounty," Mirabella commented.

"Hmm. But do not worry, Little egg. Nobody beats our product quality. I got it from a reliable source in the east of Noctara," he boasted proudly.

"By the way, rumor has it that the princess of Aerie Isle, who is going to marry Crown Prince Orion Dawnwing, is a monster," Gideon gossiped in a hushed voice.

"That's ridiculous, Gideon. Rumors also have it that you are a Netherveil pirate. Should I believe it?" She asked, lifting her eyebrows.

"You shouldn't," Gideon mumbled under his breath.

"Of course," she replied, raising her chin.

"Haha, good, little egg," he laughed nervously, wanting to shift the conversation. As they speak, the wind carries a sharp ripping sound of a fabric.

When Gideon looked up, he noticed a group of seagulls soaring past his ship. His jaw clenched in fury, and he yelled in anger. "You bastards! Come back here again, I will pluck out your feathers and fry you up with my spices"

"Leave it, Gideon. It was probably just an accident." Mirabella patted his arm soothingly and went inside to fetch a needle and thread.

"You call this an accident? Those perverted bastards think they can get away with anything! Last time they tore my Primrose's bib!" Gideon huffed, causing his short beard to quiver.

Mirabella returned with the thread and needle and looked up at their sails, noticing the two fresh holes in them.

"It's sewing time!" she announced gleefully.

Suddenly, her visage shifted and two little feathery wings sprouted from her back. She shrinks until she morphed into a small sparrow. Holding the thread and needle in her beak, she fluttered up to the sail to mend the tear.