Smoke on the Water

Somehow the boat changed to accommodate the sleeping arrangements of the passengers aboard the little vessel.

Dania, Mairwen and Eira were able to lay down on the benches or bottom boards near the bow while Renat took up most of the back of the rowboat with his massive form. After their talk of scratches and transforming, the members agreed this was the best arrangement.

Between the two groups, Alaron and Polymedes rowed, trying to put as much distance as they could between themselves and the abominations. It was a peaceful evening. Well, mostly.

The brown wolf snored loudly, occasionally whimpering about something as his feet gently scratched against the side of the ship. Polymedes was impressed that the women to his back were somehow sleeping in spite of the noise.

"Does he always do that?" The satyr asked the Guardian quietly.

"Not to this extent. I think going feral today rattled him more than he cares to admit. That kind of thing has to haunt you." Alaron's eyes flashed dimly in the darkness.

Over the past two years, he himself had had many nightmares about past choices and mistakes. But as the fallen prince had made those choices, he would also have to live with the consequences.

The saving grace for Alaron was that he was a Guardian now. He had the chance to fight against evil and if not fix past mistakes, then at least try and make up for them a little.

Renat did not have that luxury. What's worse, he had not had control over the choices he made. The brown wolf claimed he had basically no memory of when he went feral, but what if that was only half true?

What if the memories returned during Renat's dreams? Reliving that kind of carnage, especially when the damage was done by one's own hands, would be brutal. Each death would feel highly personal.

Alaron shuddered.

His dream coming to its climax, Renat let out a particularly loud whine as his foot shot out against the side of the boat. The boards creaked against the pressure, but managed to hold.

'Maker be with him,' Alaron thought silently. To punctuate his point, he made the symbol of the fates with one hand releasing the oar between strokes.

"That wolf better not poke a hole in my boat," Polymedes mumbled.

Without the advantage of emotions, the satyr lacked empathy. His selfishness was his moral compass.

"I am holding you responsible for every scratch, Guardian. You are the one who let him onboard after all," Polymedes huffed. "If I had been you, I would have left him on the shore with his kind."

"Then it is a very good thing that I am not you," Alaron's tone was sharper than any blade. "Those abominations aren't his 'kind' any more than you are. My sister was lucky to find a man like him, and I would rather give up my own life than leave him behind again."

The Guardian had replayed the flood over and over in his mind. If he had just been closer to the lanky scientist when the water hit the wall, then perhaps he could have pulled them both to the surface. Perhaps he could have saved his brother-in-law the torture of transformation. Perhaps...

But there was no use in maybes and should haves. There was only the future. Alaron knew that better than most.

"I am surprised. Based on what has been said, he could snap at any moment and kill all of us. Are you sure you don't want to dump the monster overboard while he sleeps?" Polymedes lowered his voice until it was almost inaudible even to the Guardian.

Raising one eyebrow, Alaron leaned in as he rowed. "You know what? I think you have a point. I'll dump the monster over the side right here and now. Do you want to go in head first or feet first?"

"There is no need to be snippy." Polymedes unconsciously scooted away from the cloaked man.

Alaron snorted softly. "Then don't be obnoxious. I thought I was bad, but it is clear why you have no friends. Any ones you had are probably at the bottom of the lake because you chucked them out like yesterday's garbage..."

Polymedes choked. "Have you been talking to Brutus?"

"Who?"

"Nevermind."

The two males fell silent as one of the forms at the bow of the boat stirred slightly. While the rowers were trying to stay awake, the others were trying to get rest. The last bit of banter seemed to have roused at least one of them from their slumber.

They stopped speaking and put their full energy into their rhythmic rowing. The small wavelets made the water more soothing than a mother's lullaby. It was really no wonder how the others had remained asleep even with the hushed conversation.

Now, without the words, the shushing of the water beckoned even the most vigilant watcher to lower his lids.

That's why when Alaron saw an unexpected movement far out to his left, he nearly wrote it off as a figment of his imagination. The fog which had been on the far shore earlier had moved onto the surface of the lake, making wisps of phantoms rise and fall with the wind.

He turned his gaze to survey the strange phenomenon. If nothing else, it would keep his mind occupied.

The smoke-like tendrils grasped at the air before succumbing to the denser patches below. If not for the sense of unease that it gave the Guardian, it would have been strangely beautiful.

Another bob of motion broke the surface and sent the fog into a flurry of motion. Because Alaron's eyes had been trained on the exact spot, he saw the entire thing even in the darkness.

From the grunt beside him, Polymedes had seen it too.

"I thought you said the lake was empty…" Alaron did not dare to take his eyes off the spot. Indeed, Wai had also told him the water was now void of life.

"It is…or at least it was." Polymedes sounded unsure.

They watched a little longer and a cluster of disturbances all breached the water at once. The fog swirled in tiny tornadoes to escape the sudden movement.

"Then how do you explain that?" Alaron furrowed his brow.

"I cannot," Polymedes said. "Though there is a tale of a creature that frequents the very depths of the water. It lives in the heat of the fire that purifies out the magic. It has eight long snakelike arms and a head like a massive candy drop. It can wrap its arms around almost anything and take it under. But no one has ever actually seen it and lived."

Alaron slowed the pull on his oar. "What you described is what humans call an octopus. I saw a small one washed up on the shore once, but those only live in salty water, I think. It sounds like an old fish tale to me…"

Still the Guardian could not dismiss it. After all he had been through, anything was possible.

The boat slid to a stop and settled dead in the water. Both men watched carefully.

"Do we wake the others?" The satyr asked, his hands twitching.

"One more sighting and we will. I'm still not fully convinced it wasn't debris in the water…" The Guardian did not want to needlessly worry. Once the others were up, they would be too anxious to sleep again.

Moments passed, then minutes. Nothing happened. At last, Alaron breathed a sigh of relief.

"I think we are making mountains out of molehills," he said at last. He took the oar back in his hands and prepared to go.

Polymedes shifted awkwardly in his seat to prepared to match the man's long strokes. "There is a story about a giant mole too, you know, but I suppose you think that is false as well."

The Guardian laughed dryly as he pulled at the oars once more. "Oh no. That is very real indeed!"

————

Morning dawned with Eira and Renat on the rowers bench and the others still safely tucked in cloaks or blankets in various positions. Even Polymedes had uncoiled his long scarf to use more efficiently.

With a yawn, Mairwen sat up and looked at the sky. "Why did no one wake me?"

"We need your mind more than your might," Alaron said briefly as to why the princess had not had a turn at the oars, "and either way we are nearly there."

"If it's any consolation, they didn't wake me either." Dania said as she looked at the Guardian meaningfully. "It was the best sleep I have gotten in months. Thank you."

"Think nothing of it," Alaron answered, tipping an invisible hat. "You are my sister's dear friend. It was the least I could do."

The princess rolled her eyes. "Ignore his charms. He is enjoying playing the hero for a change."

"Did you just call me a hero, Mair? Will wonders never cease?" Alaron flashed a winsome smile.

Turning around to look at the upcoming shore. The stones on the beach glistened like diamonds.

"No brother, I don't think they will…"