Private Tales Mind the Swells

[Falerumasa]

The kivren appeared again as Kes made her move and it summoned a whirlpool that threatened the ship. She could do nothing without her magick to fight the whirlpool, but she did have an idea if the pair went under. She swam back a ways, her head and neck disappearing below the water as she supped more water and reappeared a moment later inside of the circle and began her work.

The cutting torrent of water she spat tried to cut through the kivren. And her attention shot between it and the ship, keeping her attention on the pair she cared about.

 

[Kestrel]

The ship tilted at a terrifying angle as it began to slip down the surface of the whirling vortex, which was now easily big enough to consume the schooner and hardly even falter. At the center of the swirling water was the Kivren-creature, its dead eyes watching them with that unseeing cunning. Faleru’s narrow beam of water shot through the raging current, only at the last second the creature noticed and reached out -- with her own magic -- and turned it to the side with a flick of its clawed hands. It’s gaze narrowed on her as it began to work the water around her, trying to effectively draw her into the consuming maelstrom as well…

Back on the ship, Kes gripped the railing with one arm, the amulet clutched to her chest in the other. Ahead of her, on the other side of the deck, standing upright like it was no problem, thanks to the enchantment in his boots, Tarvash waited, the wind whipping the end of the scarf that was normally wrapped around his face, tattering the seam with its intensity. He didn’t seem to even notice, his black eyes hard as he held one hand out to her.

“Listen to your Father!” he ordered, his voice lower now, still carrying over the thunder and wind easily.

The half-elf’s eyes noted the shifting of his hand; he was slowly moving his hand back behind him, another dagger or throwing star certainly slipping into his palm. Just as he had called her own actions, she knew enough of what to expect from him that she could see the next few moments playing out in front of her… but the question was, was she willing to do what had to be done. She could see Faleru’s head peeking through the rippling waves, her gaze drifting over to where Gavin clung to his sword… Tarvash followed her gaze, his face stiffening in anger.

“Family lives have been lost over this nonsense, Kestrel. Hand over the amulet and go home, you stupid child!”

Kes felt the words hit her in the chest, as they always did. But this time, there was something else there, an echo of a conversation that rang in her ears. Hard headed, cocky, tricky, beautiful, mysterious, gorgeous, humorous, brave, caring, enticing, clever, and my lady.... But never stupid....

Kestrel slapped the amulet down on the deck in front of her, her amethyst eyes flinty hard as she locked eyes with her former mentor, shifting her grip on her dagger in the other hand, until the blade was held upwards, the pommel closest to her grip.

He saw what she was planning to do an instant before she did it, alarm coursing over his face. “Kestrel, no --!” He withdrew the throwing star and flicked it towards her, but his emotions had compromised his throw and the half-elf was waiting. She twisted to the side, feeling it go right past her cheek, leaving a long gash there instead of burying between her eyes, and in the same movement her other hand flicked out.

An expression of shock coursed across Tarvash’s face as he gripped the throwing dagger at the base of his neck, stumbling backwards as crimson gushed forth.

Kestrel slammed the pommel down onto the amulet.

The resulting shockwave rocked the ship as a blast of red energy shot forward, a concussive force like a slap to the face. Several things happened very quickly -- Tarvash was knocked into the water, but so was Kestrel, toppled off into the water with an expression of terror on her face. The schooner itself skidded towards the center of the maelstrom, where the Kivren reached up with watery hands, keening as it grasped at the ship to pull it into the heart of the vortex and crush it… The blast of energy, however, would have a beneficial boon to Faleru, as she’d feel some of her magic return to her -- not nearly enough, considering the deep reservoir she’d had, but still a significant amount…

 

[Gavin Blackfyre]

G, wake up... G...... Wake up.... G! WAKE UP! The voice echoed in his head attempting to draw him back into reality... But why? They had so much to discuss. The voice he heard now was not that of the Blackfyre. It was of the previous host. The one who past the Blackfyre onto him. He had so many questions to ask. Questions the Blackfyre would avoid answering. So why was the familiar voice attempting to drive him from the sanctity of his mind. Their meeting place where they could talk?

Gavin didn't understand. He felt so comfortable... Weightless as he floated by... no not floating.. Floating would be staying in place. Gavin began to feel something... Moving. He was moving... Sinking.

G Wake up! The voice pleaded once more and Gavin responded, eyes snapping open in terror. He wasn't in a peaceful dream state... His place in his mind he had learned to retreat to, the safe haven to discuss with the entities that shared his body, something entirely crazy all together, was not the darkness that surrounded him. The growing pressure in his chest as he sunk, the cool embrace that held him close. He was in the sea and sinking fast.

Gavin struggled to recall what happen. The fight with the assassins, the amulet and the ordeal with Fal... Kes... Hell, Kes! Gavin righted himself and looked about. The boat had went down, that much he could gather. Which meant the half elf which had the buoyancy of a sack of bricks, was not fairing any better. Gavin abandoned his worry and began to swim upwards, his powerful limbs shooting upward. He'd breach the turbulent surface gasping for air, looking frantically for Kes as he did so. Everything was forgotten at that moment despite the circumstances. All that existed was the drive to save her.

 

[Falerumasa]

The boon of magick she felt as the kivren drew her in was something that made her open her maw with a roar as she leapt from the grasp of the water into the open air of the maelstrom . Magick of her own now formed a spear point at her nose as she dove down into the kivren head on, using it's pull to her advantage. The ship was shortly behind her, and she dove deeper to avoid it.

She ignored the creature now. The knowledge that the vessel had now sunk well in her mind as the glowing eyes scoured the dark depths around her. She spotted two slowly falling forms, and the flowing bit of hair at its head set her course. She swam like a giant serpent, her dark form roiling and twisting in the water as it approached Kes and the pair of glowing orbs dissapearing as the maw opened and sucked her in.

It would be a strange thing for her, the rush of water carrying her into the dark and pitch black as something large and wet rolled her gently to one side. Like a vacuum behind her, a wall sealed off as she was held in a cramped and seemingly safe space. It was terrifically warm and stuffy, with a small bit of water that she was now sitting in. A deep rumble could be felt and heard, making her shake with it. A few hard points could be felt on her backside, and they moved as she did. If she touched them, she could easily pick them up being no bigger than her hand.

Her attention now focused on the captain, she turned about and began to search for him. He was at the surface and her form soared to the top of the water, her head breaking the surface as her mouth opened once more drawing in water and Gavin both. Kes could hear the water and the storm now, but no water entered the space she was in.

 

[Kestrel]

The kivren barely dodged Faleru as she dove forward, the maelstrom now big enough and with enough momentum that even the disruption of the creature’s stance didn’t pause it any. The shattered remains of the boat swirled around them, spiraling down into the depths before sinking away into the blackness…

Kes didn’t even register hitting the water. When she opened her eyes, she was simply floating, suspended, a sensation similar to her own invisibility, but whereas her magic felt warm and tingly, the water around her was cold enough that it would have taken her breath away -- if the impact of her hitting the water hadn't already done that. She moved her arms and legs in vain, trying to climb up and towards the surface, but the sea around her was unconvinced, and the depths around her grew darker, the surface more distant…

The only heat she could feel were at the corners of her eyes, a scalding tingling. She just kept seeing Tarvash’s face, the betrayal and shock there, and suddenly the blackness clawing at the edges of her vision didn’t seem quite so terrible.

She’d just given in to it when two glowing orbs pierced her vision, then everything went black.

A heartbeat later, and suddenly the water was gone, and she felt herself tumbling again, though this time, it was something firm, not something liquid doing it. She was just so tired, though, she just wanted to close her eyes and let it all go.

Except there came a rumbling that rattled her and another shock of thunder, and she wasn’t sure, but they’d come from two different directions, and her surprise made her cough. Then her coughing made her spit out liquid, shoulders heaving and hunched forward as wet, humid air hit her lungs instead of the seawater she’d swallowed. She was… somewhere? She didn’t even understand where she could be -- black and squishy underneath, and the sounds of rushing water that made her jerk in surprise but none of it made contact with her.. There were hard, sharp things underneath her, and her hand closed around one of them, her other hand pressing experimentally into the wall of her newfound enclosure, drawing it away slick with gooey… saliva?

Wait… Wait was she in a mouth? Was she in Faleru’s mouth?!?!

“F-Faleru?! Gavin??” she called, experimentally, her voice trembling. Okay. Breathe Kes. Or, rather, continue to cough up seawater. But keep breathing. Right? Right. It was just in her imagination that the walls -- cheeks ohholyshit -- were closing around her. Faleru had been joking about eating people. Right? Probably not. But not them…. Hopefully?! Ohholyshit.

Kes was pretty sure she’d never been claustrophobic, but this was a good case for being so.

Even as Faleru swept up the captain, however, she wasn’t alone. The Leviathan had abandoned the vortex, which was now collapsing in on itself in rushing, crashing waves -- rushing, crashing waves loaded with sharp debris that the kivren collected and sent rumbling towards the dragon on the surface, its keening cry of anger floating over top of the water…

 

[Gavin Blackfyre]

The process of coming to terms with being swallowed whole was surprisingly easy Gavin came to understand. He had been sucking a deep breath in preparations of diving and the next moment, Fal in all her dragon glory breached the surface, opened her maw and swallowed him. He always envisioned battling the creatures of the sea, sword in hand and black flames conjured in the other, the makings of an epic tale all but writing them self! The truth couldn't be any further and he felt the scope of difference between them, both in power and size. Perhaps if the dragon were a threat, he would have reacted differently, but he knew her as Fal... And so a level of trust had been establish. That would be the story he would go with years from now when recanting the tell, glossing over the fact that he was just to shocked to react.

So into the maw of the beast he would go, drawn in and then deposited into her mouth and finding himself near something.. Someone?

"Kes?!" He blurted out as he laid on his back against Fal's cheek.. her warm... And wet cheek. He would have laugh at how absurd the moment was if he wasn't worried about the half elven beaut, and so he waited for a response while trying to remain still. The last thing he needed was to trigger some gag reflex and the the fact that he was in a dragons mouth... Breathing in dragon mouth air and finding himself coated in saliva, pretty much grounded him to the spot he now rested.

 

[Falerumasa]

Both now caught and contained in either cheek, she dove quickly. The battering force of the debris annoying as it broke upon the plates on her. More than a few times her own breath was held as she felt pieces skitter across the exposed spot on her back as she rose to breath in new air for those she had trapped in her mouth.

The vibrations of the two yelling to each other had to be identified, almost causing her alarm since the only thing she was used to carrying in those pockets were gems and other bounties. Luckily for the pair she resisted the inital urge to spit them back out. The deep rumble of her own voice the only speaking was going to do until that blasted thing gave up.

So she dove deeper after taking another gasping breath for the duo and headed for deeper water. The two could plainly hear each other once she closed her maw, and it was a relatively smooth ride given the twisting motion Fal was using to move in the depths. Her head remained stationary, the guide for the rest of her body as she wove between the jutting rocks and steep drops that were part of this unseen world.

 

[Kestrel]

Kes nearly tried to get to her feet at the sound of Gavin’s voice, but the hollow of Faleru’s cheekpouch that she was in wasn’t at all big enough for that, and a moment later it felt like they were twisting and turning through the water and even the half-elf couldn’t keep her balance through all of that… So down she stayed, gripping the hard piece that she’d picked up from underneath her in one hand and a piece that she dimly realized to be the amulet in the other. She didn’t even remember grabbing hold of it, it’d just… happened. Not surprising, considering she’d spent the last few weeks cognizant of its whereabouts at every waking (and sleeping) moment…

“Gavin are you all right?” she asked, having to raise her voice so he could hear her. He must be in… another part of Faleru’s mouth.

Okay, that was the weirdest thing she’d ever thought to herself. Of course, then the full realization of just why they were in Faleru’s mouth instead of peacefully on their ship sort of hit home and Kes gritted her teeth, squeezing her eyes shut as she gripped the amulet hard enough that the shards of the ruby that had been set into it cut into her palm. She hardly even noticed, because all she could think of was Tarvash’s expression as he dropped backwards into the water, and the tears burned at the edges of her eyes.

“I’m sorry -- I didn’t know they’d -- Faleru, I’m sorry…” She didn’t even know if the dragon could hear her or understand what she was saying, but she couldn’t not say it… Once again, her Family had nearly killed them. She wouldn’t blame them if both of them wanted to spit her up on shore and take right off.

Faleru would have to deal with another battering round of water thrown at her by the kivren… but as soon as she began to move it became very clear that the creature simply didn’t have her speed or power moving through the water. It gave chase, but rapidly lost track of her, its keening cry disappearing into the distance as she swam, fading into an echo….

 

[Gavin Blackfyre]

He was pressed against her cheek and was keenly aware of the teeth close by. Her teeth. her large teeth. This was by far the oddest thing to have ever happened to him during his trek across the seas and it would take lot for this to be topped. He heard a odd muffled sound which he could only assume was Kes though making out what she was saying was another matter entirely.

"Ke-" He began to say but was cut off as he felt Fal shift and he was once more pressed into her cheek... Her warm fleshly, moist cheek...

At this point he didn't care much that this was how he was being saved... He was praying that with no movement on his part, he could avoid being swallowed. Now that was an outcome he could live with.

 

[Falerumasa]

Faleru hadn't thought much about the kivren once it was clear that it could not keep up with her in the water. She continued to swim, keeping to the depths for a while longer after she no longer heard the keening behind her.

It wasn't easy telling exactly what Kes was saying, given that the woman was stuck within her cheek and was slightly muffled, but she managed a grunt in response as she turned her gaze up.

She hoped enough distance had been put between them that the surface was relatively calm. Rising slowly, she broke the surface and spied at her surroundings. The storm still raged behind them, but it was easy enough here that the pair might have preferred to ride on her than in her mouth.

Her head and part of her neck above the surface, her maw opened and the wall her cheeks formed now opened, allowing the pair to see each other and outside.

She waited patiently for them to leave, resisting the urge to snap her mouth shut with the tickle they both put there.

 

[Kestrel]

Kes wasn’t sure how long Faleru swam, once it became obvious that the dragon could hear her but couldn’t respond (not surprising, since they were literally in her mouth) and that she and Gavin couldn’t hear each other well enough to actually talk, the half-elf just sort of closed her eyes and … waited. She was wet and exhausted and her chest hurt, not only from all the water she’d choked on before Faleru had scooped her up…

She ran her thumb over the amulet in her hand; she could tell just from the feel of it that the ruby that had been set in the middle of it was fractured, a large chunk of it missing from the center where the pommel of her dagger had hit it. She had no idea what the repercussions were of her action -- she hadn’t planned on actually destroying it. She’d always thought she’d just find somewhere to tuck it away and that’d be the end of it… but Tarvash, calling her stupid. It’d made her mad. And she’d never been mad before, only properly chastised…

She pressed her fist to her forehead. Oh, gods. If that didn’t get her a Writ, she didn’t know what would. And Father was going to be so pissed at her… Tarvash was his most trusted assassin and she’d just -- just --

Kes sighed and tucked the shattered amulet into the band of her pants, it’d be safe enough there… for the time being, anyway.

The sudden cracking open of Faleru’s mouth flooded her little pocket with light and she held one hand up against it, her eyes having adjusted to the darkness. What she revealed didn’t exactly fill her with excitement, either -- just a long, rolling view of the white-tipped waves, not a boat or spit of land to be seen.

She hesitated, not exactly keen on repeating the whole ‘nearly drowning’ bit again, but also keenly aware of the fact that she couldn’t just exactly stay in Faleru’s mouth.

Yeah, still insane to even think it.

She didn’t even have a smartass remark to make… she just sort of hovered there until either Gavin or Faleru made some sort of motion to encourage her, and only then would she swing herself up Faleru’s cheek towards her back. She was assuming that was the plan, and not Gavin and Kes swimming. Because only half of that would actually be successful, there.

 

[Gavin Blackfyre]

"Never in my life." He mumbled on as Fal opened her mouth and after the briefest of surveys of their new surroundings the ship captain would clambered out and past her sharp teeth while balancing on her spongy tongue to dive into the water. Riding inside the mouth of a dragon was not a moment he was eager to relive any time soon.

He was sure to wash himself clean and free of the thick saliva which clung to him before resurfacing. Bobbing up and down with the bouncing waves, he gave Kes a curious stare as she seemed frozen. Truly her fear of the water would not prevent her from jumping in... Would it? "Come on Kes... Wash yourself off." He called to here, curious as to what her next move would be. Diving in would be better then be swallowed right? As great as Fal was, could long could the dragon hold her mouth open?

 

[Falerumasa]

Faleru waited, feeling one of them vacate her mouth before patiently waiting for the other to leave. But they didn't, and instead kept lingering where they were. A grumble came from Faleru as her mouth began to salivate from being left open so long, the splat of saliva from roof to floor the signs of impending doom for the woman as her tongue wiggled lightly.

Encouragement to move, even though in the light now it was easy to see that what had been jagged stones beneath Kes were actually gems of various types. Rubies, sapphires, and a sprinkling of other precious stones were in the spot she had been safely tucked away just a moment ago. Almost like a rainbow they shone against the wall of her cheek, dazzling even in recognition of the dangerous place she was in.

 

[Kestrel]

Kes watched as Gavin dove out of the dragon’s mouth and into the water, splashing around in the waves despite everything that had just happened with, oh, the boat sinking and them nearly getting drowned and… the captain prompted her to jump in as well, which reminded her of how sore her chest was and elicited a painful cough from her. She hadn’t realized how long she was lingering until Faleru grumbled, her tongue wiggling pointedly, and the half-elf flushed with embarrassment.

“Ah -- sorry, Fal --”

The half-elf carefully climbed out of Faleru’s mouth, finding hand and foot holds very carefully on the dragon’s cheek before scaling up to the back of her neck. There were plenty of holds for her to use, but she didn’t exactly want to put her foot in the dragon’s eye or anything untoward like that, so she double checked each step.

Faleru’s back proved spikey and not exactly super comfortable for sitting, but it was a sight better than being inside of the dragon’s mouth -- even if said adventure had left the half elf with a souvenir in the form of a very large ruby, the hard thing that had pressed into Kes’s hand while in the dark, now brilliant red in the sunlight. Strands of dark hair fell into the half-elf’s face as she stared down at it, her mind flicking to the other ruby that had just caused them so much trouble. This one, however, just glittered. It didn’t shift or menace or seem to have something slithering just underneath the surface.

Of course, her seated left Gavin still bobbing in the water, so she tucked the ruby away, holding onto Faleru with one hand before offering the other to the pirate to help hoist him up onto the dragon’s back. He’d have to climb a bit, but it’d be at least some degree of help for the last little bit.

That was… if he still wanted it. Kes wasn’t at all confident that either of them would be too terribly happy with her right about now.

“... less saliva-y, up here,” she noted with a small smile.

 

[Gavin Blackfyre]

He wanted to say that her fear of water was too cute. Of course that was a response for a less tense moment. Given what they just survived, the captain chose not go forward with his response. Instead he spent a moment longer in the water, and began to realize oddly, how cold it was. Strange, he never noticed such things.

A curious look knitting his brow, he swam up to the dragon and when close, began he ascent "Never in my life..." A phrase is uttered before as he climbed up, taking the offered hand and settling behind Kes.

"I see that you my dear... Are all types of fun." He said, hopefully putting to rest any fear she may have held.

Gavin knew what to expect when taking on the task of aiding her. This was but another trial to have faced beside her and he knew this particular one didn't end in their victory persay. They escaped yes, but what was that odd bit with the amulet? And the man she felled... She knew him. "Kes... You did what you had to." He near whispered as his arms slid around her, for comfort of riding of course and totally not because he was worried that they both nearly died.

 

[Falerumasa]

The patience Faleru had as she felt Kes climb and carefully pick her way up made her wonder if open water like this was a fear for her or if all water was. She hadn't been particularly afraid in the cave, but then again they had both been in her mouth just moments ago and safety on what could equate to dry land was likely more appealing than remaining in the hold of her cheek.

A gusty breath came from her as she closed her mouth before Gavin climbed, bringing the spot Kes had chosen just a bit closer to the water level before lazily swimming along once they had both settled.

The amulet that she had tried to hide was now broken it seemed, the smell beginning to fade from her as she took in saltwater and let it rinse out her mouth. While it was only a smell, it still lingered in her mouth and made the desire to chew on something nearly irresistible.

"All must do what they can to survive. It is the law of nature." Faleru rumbled beneath them, the water below them keeping her somewhat strange voice to a tolerable level of volume. It was hard twisting an inhuman mouth to make mortal words at their volume most of the time.

"You may wish to bathe shortly Kes. The smell will linger on you for some time if it dries." Faleru rumbled once more, an arm coming up to her neck as she stopped swimming. It cupped against her, creating a little pool of water that wouldn't let them be washed out.

 

[Kestrel]

Kes wasn’t sure what she expected when Gavin climbed up next to her -- anger, perhaps a demand that she account for what had just happened, frustration that she’d almost got them killed and cost them their boat, and put Faleru back in danger again… It wasn’t the playful banter levied her way, or the fact that he climbed up behind her and immediately wrapped his arms around her. Or for Faleru to rumble her support underneath them, not mad, just so very large and fantastical…

She didn’t respond right away to either of them -- she couldn’t, her throat sort of choked up, refusing to let her speak or get anything around the solid ball of grief lodged right there. She simply leaned back against Gavin, closing her eyes…

… until, of course, Faleru directed her to bathe.

“No -- I’ll wait -- I, uh, can’t swim --” she began to protest, unable to hide the distinct note of fear in her voice at that instruction, because even with Faleru sort of making a little pool, it was still a pool without a bottom, which was mostly the concern that the thief had. But even as she protested, she was becoming rather keenly aware of just why the dragon was suggesting it. She smelled like fish and slobber and other less-than-savory things, and the idea of it ‘baking’ into her was… not pleasant at all. Pressing her lips in a tight line, she finally sighed, swinging both of her legs to one side in preparation to dunk herself in the water. Before she did, however, she glanced over at Gavin with a faint smile.

“... mind holding on?” she asked, holding a hand out to him. It was, perhaps, a bit more of a trusting gesture than most might anticipate. She’d told him the story of the time she’d tried to learn how to swim, and how it was her friend letting go of her hand that had resulted in her sinking and nearly drowning. Once she had his hand, however, she’d slide into the pool Faleru had created, splashing water on her and dousing her clothes to try and get any remaining saliva off of her as quickly as possible.

Once she was relatively sure she was clean, she’d use Gavin's help to climb back up onto Faleru’s neck, settling down with just a slight shiver. The water was awful cold, after all, and not even Gavin seemed to be as warm as he normally was.

“Faleru, how far are we from somewhere safe?” she asked. "The Leviathan. It'll... It'll keep coming. It doesn't have a mind of its own, it just follows orders, whatever they are. I don't know if it'll be able to find us -- not with the amulet broken, but --" She trailed off, leaving the rest of that statement, 'it's going to keep trying', unspoken...

 

[Gavin Blackfyre]

"Of course." Came his answer to her request. He would make sure she didn't sink like the rock she was.

Moving with her, a relief look befell his face. He didn't want to say it and offend the dragon, but the knew perfume Kes was now wearing wasn't the most flattering, and having it sink in as her clothing dried was not something he was looking forward to. Still, there was a measure of respect that had to be given for the fact he would have endured it for her. The lengths a man would go for a woman who stole his heart.

Once she was done, the pair resettled upon the dragon and Gavin was sure to hold her close, keeping warm his aim. That should have been a easier task. Shaking the thought away, he focus on her warning. "Sharks can track prey for miles... I don't see why this creature would be any different... We've past the storm... though.. But that doesn't mean we are safe."

He was nor mumbling to himself as he twisted about trying to get a heading on where they were. The sky was growing dark with each moment, the setting sun the only real clue to where they were. "We're north of the storm.. When means if he head west, we will come upon dry land... Should be able to direct us to another hideaway... The closest one that comes to mind would be inland though... Food... clothing... Actual beds sound good?" Of course it did. "We can rest... And talk... We need to know our next plan.. And.. Just what that amulet was."

 

[Falerumasa]

The plates on her back told her little of their progress towards a bath. Their voices picking up after what she assumed was a safe amount of time to allow for one as questions and answers, or perhaps spoken thoughts came from both.

"Another place to hide would not be so bad. Land would not be my first choice but given that...things tenacity it is likely better than the water. Direct me." Faleru instructed Gavin, beginning her slow winding pace forward. Gavin's words on the last part brought a question to her mind.

"If that amulet is broken, it should not be able to find you, yes?" She asked.

 

[Kestrel]

Kestrel didn’t object when Gavin put his arms around her -- in fact, she leaned back against him a bit eagerly… For warmth, obviously, since Faleru swimming was causing a breeze to slide over them now, chilling them in their cold-water soaked clothing them. Certainly not because she was gritting her teeth against tears, against a complete breakdown, and even just the fold of his arms around her helped stave that off just a bit more…

Her fingers drifted to where she’d tucked the broken amulet into her belt as Gavin mentioned asking what it was, her lips pressed tightly together. She hadn’t intended to say anything, to tell the secret that was her Family’s and her Father’s… but she wasn’t sure how she really could refuse, especially after everything they’d just been through. Still, before she could say something more as far as an explanation, Faleru was speaking again, her voice rumbling through underneath them and up into the air.

“I don’t know,” she said, honestly, speaking loudly so the dragon could hear her. “I didn’t think they could track the amulet… Otherwise when I was -- well, when I was fleeing the main Estate, they should have been able to find me. And Tar--” She sort of choked on his name, grief welling up inside of her so fierce it nearly took her breath, but she shoved it all down, swallowing and continuing with, “The assassin -- he needed to touch the amulet to activate it, not use it from afar. I don’t think it was the amulet they were tracking… I don’t know, maybe… maybe blood. Father’s skilled at blood magic…”

She didn’t recall Father having any of her blood, but… well, she couldn’t make any guarantees. But then, again, if he’d had that available, wouldn’t he have used it to stop her from making it out of the Estate completely? She sighed, shaking her head, her stomach a hard rock inside of her. There was something more to what had just happened, she just… she didn’t know what...

 

[Gavin Blackfyre]

He wasn't worried that she couldn't answer him now. They would have plenty of time later. With Fal's request for directions, Gavin would lean over and pat her left side three times, hoping she'd be able to at least feel that. "Westward we go."

With the directions issues, he pulled Kes closer still, a chill rising through his body. It had been forever since he felt this cold and it called back fond memories to his trip to the Spine. He wasn't to alarmed however, simply blaming the occurrence on the use of his magic earlier before. This distraction nearly caused him to miss out on Kes but luckily he came to realize how shaken she was.

"I'm here for you..." He whispered to her. All this must have been overwhelming. What ever concerns he had for himself would be placed aside for now. He would make sure that she walked away from this. Starting with getting her onto dry land.

 

[Falerumasa]

Faleru said nothing more, allowing them some sense of idle privacy as she followed Gavin's direction. It was likely the time would come for an explanation later as they needed to get to the shore before that thing caught up to them. The pats almost went unnoticed, but given the importance of the cargo on her, she had been paying mind to them. She swam easy and calm, keeping herself reined in from trying to keep her pace safe enough for them to not have to find a handhold to cling to.

 

[Gavin Blackfyre]

The rest of the going was in silence, and Gavin came to realize how tired he was. The battle on the ship and the jaunt in the water really drained him. It would have been so easy to fall asleep and he wanted to though he forced himself not to give into the gentle rhythm the dragon fell into as she swam to shore.

So instead, Gavin kept watching, twisting to look back every so often to make sure they weren't followed. Not that he could hope to see anything beneath the service where the real horrors rested. Still, it eased him to at least look back.

With in time, the land mass in the distance would begin to grow and what first appeared to them as clouded shapes began to take form. It seemed during the storm and the ensuing battle, they had been thrown off course a great deal. They weren't near the bend that would take them into the western river but they were close at least.

"Fal... Put us right there...." He pointed to a outcrop of rocks that wasn't so much a beach as more a collection of rocks. They would be able to climb over them into the over growth and from there. Well, Gavin would have to lead the rest of the way. "Short walk from there... Well hidden and stocked... This is a private one so only my crew know about it... well and the care giver... Owner of the land."

It seemed they were heading to one of the many safe houses he had on this side of the river. Hopefully, his promises weren't empty, being that his stomach chose then to growl.

 

[Kestrel]

For her part, the half-elf didn’t say anything more. She was cold and shaking, though she’d be quick to blame that on shivering, not on any sort of emotional turmoil. Riding on Faleru, too, was… uniquely terrifying. There wasn’t exactly much of anything in the way of handholds, so they just had to count on the dragon’s seamless movements not to jarr them out of their position, and that, for Kes, was distinctly harrowing since the ocean beneath was deep and unending.

Plus. They were on a dragon. On a dragon.

Thankfully, by the time land had appeared, Kes was… composed, if that was the word for it. She’d done what she was good at -- compartmentalize -- and the appearance of land in front of them gave her something to focus on that wasn’t the dull ache in the base of her stomach or the trembling in her hands. She never would have expected Father to send the Leviathan… not after her last conversation with him. Did he really want them all dead? Was the amulet really that important? Was --

Focus, Kes, she told herself as they approached the beach, more rocks and sloshing water than actual sand or an appealing slope… but the half-elf didn’t question Gavin. The fact that it didn’t look like an inviting place to set down was probably one of the reasons that it had been chosen for that exact thing. Plus, dry land meant a distinct lack of ‘drowning’ threat, which was certainly a big plus in its favor as far as Kes was concerned. Her chest still hurt from gulping so much water.

“How far inland? The Leviathan can’t go too far from water,” she asked, her voice determinedly even and steady.

 

[Gavin Blackfyre]

"Far enough... Higher ground too.. Water flowers down... Should be good for us." He assured her. No worries of some water monsters coming ashore... Well.. Aside from the dragon in their company.

As they neared the rocky shore, Gavin eyed the rocks wearily. Sure Fal should have been able to scale it with no worries but did they want to run the rusk of being seen? Never know if there was a fisherman about casting a line. "We should get off here... And Fal, perhaps you should shift into something... Less noticeable... The man who owns the land prefers to keep to himself... Not one for attention. Talk of a dragon on his lands is just that." He said with a bit of a chuckle. For this corner of the word, nothing much really happened, and so them running about would certainly be something to talk about.