We had barely moved come dusk and by then an afternoon fog had rolled in. I spied passed the dense air, it was not the fog that interested me.

I store at them, the supposed ‘were cats’. In all my years as an idol I had never once heard of them.

The two I stared at, Serah and Merah, were just humans by the looks of it. Shaggy albeit, humans nonetheless. As of that moment they seemed to be engaged in some game. One running and climbing, the other in hot pursuit.

Black Ink had said they transform at night.

I peeked over my shoulder, shielding my eyes instinctively. The daring rays of the sun cut through even the fog, blinding anyone who looked its way with the shades of rust. Just beyond its reach on the other side of the sky was another celestial giant, another light which pierced the mask of mist. It was the shattered moon. It seemed faded in the orange sky, though I imagined not for long.

“I see you bear the fruits of curiosity, allow my company while you pluck them off.” Black Ink had a habit of saying odd things.

I rose a brow, “How are these humans anything other than human? I have studied them for at least an hour and I am beginning to doubt you. Wonder how that plays for any future lines you play on me?”

“Keep watching tree walker, as the Night paints the world in shadows, so to do their hides. Just because you see it not now, does not mean it is not there.”

I looked at the strange paper man, “I do not understand a word you say.”

“Just look.”

I returned my eyes back to the ‘were-cats’, they were climbing the masts with both agility and speed. In seconds they were upon the nest. They were still after that. Petrified almost.

I waited as they did. Scanning the horizon until the last light faded. Instantly something felt different, from what little I could see, I could tell that they were stirring.

“Ah, this is it.” Hummed Black Ink.

I squinted. The Crow’s nest now directly in front of the shattered moon flickered. Then two slick figures crept up from it. They were tall, very tall.

I found that I could not stop watching. They mystified me. I wanted to see more. The two figures stood to their full height and in the full light of the moon they let all see their second forms. I watched as they fell on all fours, grappling the mast with their outstretched claws.

Black Ink pushed my back, “Go Treewalker, see them for yourself.”

I stumbled, with a quick glance at Black Ink, I continued. Despite myself, I rushed down the stairs. Then I saw the two cats towering above the lighted cabin

No. They saw me first.

Their verdant eyes bounced about me. I stopped moving, my gaze fixated. My breathing quickened. Beating and beating till only thumps pressed against my ear.

“Look Merah, the tree god is shorter than me!” hissed the first creature

“Serah, height is trivial. Though I am the tallest.” retorted the other.

I backed up unwittingly. What was it about these creatures? What forces did their very presence employ? I staggered back when I saw them close. Their approach was quick, an unforeseen blitz.

One of them leaned towards me. “Oh? Do we frighten you?” it started chuckling.

I swallowed hard and focussed on these creatures. They were slick beast men, very tall with the fur of a panther. Their muzzles were much longer than what I expected of cat men, it almost reminded me of a wolf. The more I stared at them the more the world shrank. Their eyes seemed trapped in a perpetual glare, two of their back teeth sharp and protruding out from their mouths.

“Serah.” Said Merah as he circled around me, “Ever wonder how gods taste? Will it be sweet as the nectars of heaven? Or bitter as the blood of a tainted dove? I wonder.”

The other, Serah, leaned in closer, “I’d say a minty pine flavor.” He sniffed brashly at me, “Maybe a hint of cedar.”

I had to defend myself. I felt my hand curl into a fist.

“Cat men? Black Ink speaks true.” Ersel’s voice was a comfort to hear.

“Who is that?” asked Merah.

Serah snarled, looking away from me, “The girl, the noble remember?”

Merah approached Ersel while his head tossed from side to side, “I tend not to remember when I’m hungry. So hungry.”

His teeth flashed in the moonlight and Ersel gripped her dagger.

Then they lunged. At first I thought it was to Ersel, that was the logical conclusion. Instead they leapt past her, now feasting on a slab of meat on the deck.

One of the earlier crew members walked towards us. Perhaps the only one I had not talked to. Not that it was anything to have missed. My expectation of the crew had quite plummeted after my first encounter.

It rubbed its hands together then cleaned it off the ends of its shirt.

“Don’t mind them.” It said with a peculiar accent, “They get arrogant when their hungry.”

“I wouldn’t call that arrogance, isdamari. I would call that aggravation.” Spouted the noble.

I considered the creature, “Isdamari? Is that your name?” I asked.

It’s black and yellow cheeks suddenly brimmed with green and it glanced at the floor.

“No Bramble.” Waved Ersel, “It’s her race, this is Salis. She’s the cook of the Calypso.”

“Oh.” I rose one brow, “Then you are of no use to me, Salis cook of the Calypso.”

“Bramble!”

“No it’s alright.” Salis looked up at me with her blindfolded eyes. How did she even cook like that? It made me question her cooking methods. Not that it mattered to me.

The cook continued, “He told a good story, I am grateful for that.”

“Well,” I confided, “you did remove those awful cats from my presence.” I quickly glanced at the cat-folk. Not that I was nervous. A god such as I, nervous? Preposterous.

I jumped as I heard Merah growl, then two laughs of which both I was familiar. One laugh was Ersel’s, evidently mocking me, the other was Black Ink’s. His subsequent steps foretelling of his descent.

“You seem quite threatened, Tree walker.” Echoed Black Ink. “I thought you would get along, they are strangers to nature just as you. They, like you, are something else.”

“Is it true then?” perked Salis, “You’re made from magic?”

Magic. I had not considered the subject and in truth I did not know much about it.

“I suppose so yes.” I settled.

Slowly, Salis approached me. “Can I see your mark then?” she hushed.

I swear de-cloaking just for the amusement of mortals was debilitating even to consider. My past self would have reviled at just the thought.

“No.” I answered.

“Oh have a heart Bramble.” Pushed Ersel.

I rose my other brow, “Of course I have a heart. I do not understand the relevance.” I said.

Ersel rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, “As my familiar I order you to take off that cloak.”

I mirrored her, crossing my own arms, “I do not bow down to you. I-I” I huffed. Somehow the air had gotten very very hot. I could even feel sap rolling down my arms. Then the sting of humid air. I shuddered.

Ersel kept her arms crossed, her face smug. Black Ink glared on, studying more than watching. As for Salis, she was holding her hands to her mouth which had now formed an O shape.

I could not handle it anymore, I thought I would burn. Reluctantly, I pulled the cloak off. It was cool once more. Magic, if that was anything, it was magic and I would surely not forget it. I glared at Ersel as Salis shuffled behind me.

I flinched as I fealt her rubber like fingers cold against my back. The audacity! It was a small shock compared to the extreme heat I had felt. I frowned at Ersel, I had her to thank for that.

“Wow. Just wow. This is incredible! This is magic!” she stopped her incessant touching to spy at Ersel, “Teach me some magic, he is your familiar.”

Ersel shook her head, “I’m sorry Salis, I cannot do that. A witch made him my familiar, not me. Why not ask Black Ink. He seems well read on the subject.”

Black Ink hummed at the subject, positively brimming to have been brought into it, “How keen of you, starchild. Though you are correct and incorrect at the same time. I am well read, but I cannot preform magic. Atleast not the magic young Salis desires.”

Salis bit her lip, “It’s ok. I just thought- well because you are stranger that maybe.” Her voice trailed off, seemingly distant before she caught herself “As for now.” She turned back to me, “Thank you once more Bramble burn. If only I could make it up to you” Again she perked up, “I know! Come with me!”

I really did not want to, but it seemed Salis was intending to give me a gift. I liked gifts. As long as such gifts did not include severed animal parts.

“Alright.” I shrugged, staring at the small creature. She was a little taller than Ersel, but from the way she talked she seemed shorter. She ran ahead of me and I followed at my own pace. Little creatures had too much energy.

Black chuckled behind me as we walked.

“What?” I asked him.

“Nothing, nothing. She seems to look up to you.” He noted

“Well yes I am taller.”

“Not that tree walker, as a role model.” explained Black Ink

“I suppose gods are the highest standards of role models.” I replied.

Black Ink cleared his throat, “you are not-”

“It’s not that.” Interrupted Ersel, “you are as dull as the wood you are made from if you do not see it.”

See what? Sometimes I thought Ersel said the most incomprehensible of things. Words which lay barren until, well they had meaning. I glanced at the small noble as we walked. What did I not see?

“Here, here!” shouted Salis. She had been holding the cabin door.

I stopped at the door way, my head bowed low.

Inside, I found the entire crew, save the cat-folk, either seated around a simple table or leaning against the walls. Liawynn was talking to Mossman by the wall. Bilal eating at the edge of the table, next to him the creature that had so brashly interrupted me before.

Cups full of red drink clambered and spanned the table, while plates of bread and meats filled the gaps. I heard a clank as I entered in.

“To Brambleburn!” shouted Bilal.

“To Brambleburn!” echoed Mossman and Liawynn.

Salis tugged at my cloak. “They do this all the time.” She ensured me, “Toasting to anything and everything.”

A sluggish Bilal swung his cup in the air, the swish of wine escaping its grail. He slurred loudly, “Salis, you’ve made a fine dish tonight. Let me toast to your honor! To Salis!”

“To Salis!” shouted the other three.

“To Salis.” Echoed a low voice from the back. I followed the sound of that voice and caught a most particular sight.

A large hulking creature leaned against a corner. It was a wonder to why I had not noticed it. It wore a cloak just as I did, hiding its form almost entirely.

“This way Brambleburn.” Salis motioned me to the table, “sit.” She issued.

I sat when I saw Ersel do the same, though that in itself was not enough to convince me to stay. Drunk humans were not very good company. To think how worse the other creatures got. I did not want to know.

As for Salis, she was gone the instant I sat down. Disappearing behind one of the three doors on the other side of the room.

“Black Ink, return to your watch.” Ordered Bilal.

Black Ink bowed, “Aye Cap’n”.

I watched the stranger in the corner as Blank Ink’s steps bounced of my ears. Soon only the sound of pots and pans filled those wooden hollows. A moment later the ruckus subsided and Salis burst out of the door, carrying with her a small pouch.

She got to me in seconds, fumbling to hand over the pouch.

“Open it.” She bristled.

I looked at that pouch a little longer. I had no reason not to. A gift was a gift.

I took the pouch from her rubbery hand and held it in my own.

Very little possessions in this world interested me. Gold I cared not for. Food was pointless to me. Even gems lost my interest, despite their rarity.

I opened the pouch, gazing deep into its contents.

“Huh.” I said aloud. In it were three seeds, each about the size of a small pebble. Seeds. Nothing but seeds.

“Do you like them?” asked the Isdamari.

Ersel studied the seeds as curiously as I. I had to ask, “What do they grow into?”

She smiled, expecting the question. “They are magic seeds, the teardrops of Esari. It is said they can grow into any tree given a name. My mama gave it to me when I was very young.”

A chair rasped across the quarter floor. “Salis, you do not have to do that!” shot the owner of the chair. I matched the voice as soon as I heard it, yet I glanced at him anyway. Bilal’s face was drained of all joy. Not even a hint of his carefree self remained.

Salis shook her head at Bilal and pressed two fingers against her blindfold. Bilal store at her a little longer before sitting down.

“It was a promise I made to her before the slavers took me a way. When Brambleburn told the story… I knew he was the one to have it.” Said Salis.

Another former slave. I stole a glimpse of Liawynn. I was starting to sense a pattern.

I was about to note my discovery when the deck rumbled for a good heartbeat. Instantly, the room went quiet. As if expecting the anomaly to speak again. As if we were all afraid to interrupt it.

Then everything shook. The table, the floor, even my head. What was that sound? The ship quivered as if the very sea quaked underneath it and the sound of a horn rattled it more.

“Stars!” shouted Ersel.

The trembling seized a second later and again we were as still as the dead. Bilal stood up.

“Black Ink!” He roared, storming out into the mist, “Back Ink! What have you?”

I followed the captain, Ersel close behind, Salis close behind her.

“Go back inside, Salis.” Warned Liawynn, passing us all.

“Not good.” Echoed the paperman. “that was the call of Ogrin the Bounty hunter. Remember him?”

Bilal scowled under his breath. “Aye.”

Liawynn stood by her captain’s side as the mist started to clear. I walked to the edge of the railing. Something large was on the horizon.

“Captain.” Said Liawynn, “What are your orders?”

Bilal breathed deeply, narrowed his brows, and spat to the side, “Yinji, Get Salis and Moritmer to the lower decks. Everyone else with me.”

He spun to Ersel and I, “Can you two fight?”

Ersel flipped her dagger and caught it with one hand, “I can hold my own.”

“Brambleburn?” asked Bilal.

I swallowed hard, “Not unless my life is in danger.”

Bilal smiled, “good.”