Archive of Our Own

This was it. Just the three of them, finally, gone over the waves. Katie had sat at the back of the ship, her legs hanging over the edge, and watched land disappear into the horizon. Their departure seemed to hit her once water surrounded them in every direction. She ran around, up and down the stairs to all the railings. Mae watched fondly from up above.

The wind made the rigging a little unsteady, so Mae gripped either side of her to avoid falling off. It had already happened once. Her foot slipped, it wasn’t her fault! She would get better with time, surely, until she could climb up and down without issue. Practice was all she needed! She had experience with roof tiles and stone walls, not so much water-slicked ropes. And she hadn’t found her sea legs yet. Both Katie and Nom had. Somewhat.

Katie really was so excited. They had stacked their luggage in a messy pile in a corner to wait while they cleared out the bedrooms of the… previous inhabitants’ personal belongings, which they had left as gifts. Yes. That’s what she had decided with Nom as their cover story for why there was still so much stuff on a purchased ship. All part of the deal. They should get started soon, but Nom really wanted to get away first. Mae didn’t disagree on that front. They could sleep rough for a night or two. Pile some blankets up in the common room, a nice little sleepover. Wouldn’t be the first time. 

Nom was able to fall asleep anywhere anyway, he could have the floor. For now, he stood at the wheel. He gripped it rather intensely. Did the water fight back that much? Admittedly, he hadn’t relaxed since they had boarded the ship in the first place, blaming the tension on eagerness to sail at last. They would need to get further away for that. And get food supplies. They had enough for a few days, definitely not a cross-ocean amount.

But they had done it! Horrible to plan, horrible to execute, but it had all worked out in the end. Which was what mattered. 

Now, to not starve. Mae hopped down from the ropes, a short drop really, yet she still lost her balance upon landing. Exclusively from Katie barreling into her. They both shouted in surprise, clutching each other for dear life before they could stumble overboard. Katie’s hands dug into Mae’s arms as she bent backwards, laughter clear as a brook spilling from her. Mae had to hold her tighter when she threatened to dip past the point of no return but her joy infected her. She began giggling, too, and it brought them both to the deck. The freedom made everything exhilarating.

“What the hell is going on over there?”

Nom’s exhasperated call only knocked them further down. He immediately gave up trying to understand. Let him stew in his stress. Mae and Katie would just be here, enjoying life. But maybe not for too much longer, because that wood was still kind of gross and splintered and Mae didn’t want Katie to get something stuck in her hand.

“Wanna help me take inventory of- what they left us? They just wanted to get rid of it.”

Katie nodded jerkily. Her hands slipping to grasp Katie’s, Mae shifted her weight and stood up. It barely took any effort to get Katie to follow. Together, they headed for the trapdoor that descended below deck, leaving Nom to ruminate his thoughts up above.

In the evening, it took them four attempts to properly anchor. They had found a smattering of uninhabited islands, giving them enough privacy to comfortably fail over and over at securing the ship in place. They got there eventually. Mae had found a couple sailing books in a room filled with scrolls of maps and a table that really was way too big. 

Seated near the bow, they ate some of their bread before it went stale. Katie tore through a bell pepper, red as her hair, the juice dripping down her fingers. She gleefully sucked it out of the edge of her sleeve. 

Lanterns illuminated the deck, doted about on the railings. The moon shone bright, a few days past full. No clouds. The stars enveloped them, up above, floating atop the surface of the sea. The waves rolled the boat gently. The wind blew Mae’s curls back.

Everything was perfect.

“Dance with me!”

Mae jumped to her feet and tugged Katie along with her. She stumbled up with a surprised squeal. Fingers interlinked, her other curled at Katie’s waist just above the flounce of her corset, Mae twirled her around. Katie had no choice but to grab Mae’s shoulder for purchase so she wouldn’t spin out. The feather tucked in her hair shivered in the breeze.

“Wait, wait wait- Mae, wait! I can’t play without my hands!”

Nom leaned back on his elbows to watch. He had his legs kicked out ahead of him. Mae made sure to avoid them, pulling Katie further away from him. She turned her head over her shoulder, eyes stuck to the pack of instruments in the corner that Mae wouldn’t let her reach. She didn’t even have the bells at her waist, for once. Nom had told her to take them off, temporarily, to be more discreet on the way out. Because it was just so early, of course.

“We don’t need music to dance, come on. Or just sing!”

Katie had always sung, as far as Mae had known her. From popular songs to little quips at Nom to the hum of new creations, her voice improved year after year until it needed no accompaniment. Katie picked up a hesitant tune as she tried to keep up with Mae. If this was one that existed already, Mae had never heard it. 

Katie sped up, only slightly, to match the rhythm of their footsteps. Her breath fragmented the melody, punctuated by laughs or cries of fear when they inched too close to the sides. She didn’t protest any further than that, though, eventually taking the lead in their dance. She guided Mae into spins, pushing at her waist to keep her momentum despite the sticky floor. After one too many close calls with Mae’s raised foot, Nom vacated the front deck.

At last, a glorious stage!

Mae caught Katie into an attempt at a waltz. She only knew the steps from observing the castle balls from the rafters, spyglass trained on the wealthy down below. Despite her efforts at teaching, Katie still struggled with it. But no matter, she didn’t care about being stepped on when Katie’s face flushed with glee. No longer did she sing, too caught up in the movement. 

Instead, the jolly melody of a cittern came from a distance. Mae took both of Katie’s wrists and began to spin them around. Katie grabbed on with lighthearted giggling. The candles around them flickered in their lanterns, surely from the gentle rocking of the boat, but it felt as though their very motion created a great gust of wind, the eye of a flaming tornado. Their hair entertwined in a wild fiery spiral.

Oh, if every day on the ship was this delightful, Mae could die happy. But she wouldn’t die! Not for a long time. She had a lot more dancing and a lot more sailing and a lot more hanging out to do with her friends! Not when she reached up to secure the feather that threatened to fall from Katie’s hair, tucking it firmly behind her ear for the time being.

They danced again, and then some more. Mae dipped her, steadily holding where she bent at the waist. Katie’s arm tightening around her shoulders was their only warning before her legs collapsed. Her free hand flew up to protect Katie’s head. Unnecessarily. Katie somehow managed to flip them around on the way down. Mae fell first. Even with the bruise that would undoubtedly bloom the next day, witnessing Katie so carefree, she didn’t mind.

Perhaps time to call it on the dancing, though.

The music mellowed out as they got back up, brushing off little shreds of wood. Katie stretched her arms so far above her head that most of her joints popped. She groaned loudly. Mae could only, once again, laugh. 

“Tired?”

Katie nodded. Made sense. Not only had she gotten up early, it had been a day full of emotions for the lot of them. No longer sustained by the thrill, the tiredness came crashing down on Mae as well. She had pulled her fair share of all-nighters before, but none so stressful as the previous night. Nevermind. Time to dig for some clean blankets and crash.

“Thanks for the entertainment, Nom.”

Mae called out as she descended to the main deck. Sat with his back to the mast, Nom still distractedly plucked at the strings of Katie’s cittern. He looked up like he had forgotten the two of them even existed.

“Oh, what, this? Complete coincidence. I just felt like playing to relax.”

He did seem calmer, at least, like all of the pressure of the past two days had finally dropped. Mae half-considered roping him into dance as well. Maybe another time. Nom wouldn’t give in, and as much as she tried to push or pull him, she had never managed to make him move. Just a dense hunk of muscle, that guy. And she was just so ready to lay down.

“You’re so full of it…”

Katie groaned, joining them after going around extinguishing the lanterns. A good idea that Mae hadn’t even thought about. Leave it to her to set the boat alight not even a full day after their departure. And nobody would know.

“Thank you.”

The melodic strum hit an off-note at Katie’s reluctant acknowledgement. Nom leaned into it with some frankly unpleasant sounds that Mae had never heard a creature in danger make, much less an instrument. Typical for their relationship, really. Sometimes, Mae wondered if these two would ever grow up.

“An accident, I tell you!”

Nom insisted, earning himself a kick in the shin before Katie ran off with her cittern, plucked from his grasp.

Apparently not. Mae just hoped they wouldn't try to kick each other over her during the night.

Dear Kitty (and Diarmait)!

I know we’ve only been gone for two weeks but I miss you so bad already. We would have already met up several times… Every morning, I wake up expecting to see you out the window. There’s not really anywhere to stand on out there

I’m sure you would manage somehow, you’re amazing like that

I will admit, it took me a bit to get used to the ship. I was really excited the first day until we went to bed and I realised how quiet the sea is. When there’s no birds, no wind, no nothing, even the waves don’t really make a sound when we stop, it feels weird. I was so used to all the noise in the kingdom and now, all gone

And dark! So dark, I wish I had your eyes. We’re too far from the coast to see city lights so every direction is just navy sky on black sea. It’s even worse when there’s clouds, not even the moon or stars can shine through        like sailing in a void with no end

I’m making it sound like I hate it, I swear I’m enjoying it! Just had to adjsu adjust first

I’ve already gotten shouted at by Nom for going in the water. Multiple times. What does he expect? It’s literally right there, am I supposed to just not go in it? His problem if he doesn’t want to swim, not going to stop me though

I guess you wouldn’t like it either, water’s not your thing… But you’d like the fish! I have been just sitting and looking at them. There’s a lot of them, I don’t know if they can hear my music or something. I hope they can! I hope they enjoy it! Could you imagine if I became world famous but just for fish?  .  .  Crazy stuff

I’ll write you more when we get to visit a new place, we have only been pausing for supplies so far

Love you!

Katie <3

The roll of the waves swayed Scott side to side. Gentle, almost reassuring. He had gotten used to it by now, so much so that he feared stepping back on firm land would disorient him. He hadn't dared get off at their last mooring, still way too fresh on his feet. He didn't want to be carried back onto the ship. But maybe next time…

Scott hadn't entirely missed out, either, with how Nom had so kindly brought him the seeds he had asked for. More than he had asked for, even, entire bags full rather than handfuls. Not only that but also clothing, clothing of his own. As nice as Mae's was, he felt bad taking all of her things.

The fabric, softer than anything Scott had touched before, held pale earthly colours, a declination of greens, blues, creams and browns. Bamboo, it apparently was. Scott had never seen bamboo in person, only depictions of it. Making such a solid plant into gentle, flowing material was impressive. And all the skillful embroidery.

Anemone, cinquefoil, lavender, ash, heather, jasmine, Scott wondered if Nom knew what they meant. A lifetime of bouquets had anchored their common symbolism into Scott's head, but they might have been suggestions from the person responsible for the work. Yet 4C, 4C had said-

“Scott?”

A knock on the door. Right. He dozed off rather commonly, with how peaceful the dim room was, even sitting up. How long had he been in here? He had taken to spending his mornings tending to the plants, before the typically more eventful afternoons. As eventful as it got on the ship anyway. Mostly bickering. Scott called for them to come in, and Katie slotted her head in the opening of the door.

“Good morniiing! Did you have a good night? You still look sleepy. I hope I'm not bothering you?”

Energetic as ever. She got up before everyone as well, rising before Scott. Her quiet playing usually reached him, when it was only the two of them awake. Well, no, 4C was at the wheel, but rather than an early bird or a night owl, he was a tireless- magpie? Magpie slime?

“Don't worry, you would never be a bother. Am I needed somewhere?”

The plants liked her music. They swayed with the rhythm. He suspected it even benefited their growth, although it was hard to tell what came from her or his magic.

“No, not at all! Just wondered if I could spend some time with you? You don't have to say yes, obviously! I'm just curious what you actually do in here. With the plants, I mean. I'm helpless with them. I've tried! Never ended well. Anyways, um. What do you think?”

This was better than Scott thought, he had expected to be pulled away to help her with some cleaning task. He would have gladly done it, of course, but it wouldn't compare with having a friend interested in his plants. He shuffled aside to make some space for Katie, as though she couldn't sit anywhere on the floor. She jumped inside with a happy squeal. Rather than walk over then sit, Katie elected to crawl, leaning close to the soil-filled crates as she passed by them.

“These are not ideal conditions for plant growth, namely because there's no light. Luckily, my magic can get around that. I wasn't sure if it would be enough but the plants are doing well.”

Thankfully, or Scott didn't know what else he would have done. As helpful as Nom was, Scott hardly pictured him sawing into the hull for natural light. He might have gotten away with scattering a few plants in each windowed room. They couldn’t handle being on the deck.

“So are you just casting a spell this whole time?”

There was that too. Scott had barely enough of a radius to reach the plants in this room, he would never cover the whole ship. It felt too much to set up only to take it down when they got him home. He hoped they would manage to take care of them afterwards.

“Mhm, a growth one. It's quite gentle because I'm trying to keep them alive even after they get harvested.”

Much different from flowers to be sold as bouquets, cut from the root, where the intent was for them to grow fast and beautiful. If Scott used the same intensity for food as he had those, he would get the most delightful fruit ever produced and a destroyed sterile plant. Perhaps only for rare occasions, when he needed a particularly impressive one.

“Don't exhaust yourself, okay? We've survived this long without fresh fruits or vegetables. Well, not constant ones. We still have them sometimes. You get my point!”

Scott smiled lightly, nodding. He found Katie’s endless ramblings really endearing. She had so much to say that it all tried to come out at once. Her eyes lit up every time, sweetly. He knew very well that they didn’t need him, he was just a temporary improvement. At least, he could provide that much as thanks for saving him.

“What would happen if you cast it on a person?”

Katie brushed her hand on the frilly carrot tops. They usually took around two months, sometimes three to reach their full size, ready to be pulled from the soil. Scott had only sown the seeds a week ago. Had he put in all his energy on one, it would have grown as long as his forearm in an hour. The crate wasn’t even deep enough.

“Aw, Katie, you’re not that short.”

Her mouth dropped right open into a gasp. Scott pressed the back of his hand against his mouth to laugh softly. He didn’t tease her often, she got enough of that from Nom and 4C, but he couldn’t help himself. Surely the thought might have come to her head with that question.

“I’m not- I wasn’t- I was just asking! Not about me!”

Katie flushed, as she often did, flustered. The wind of her flailing arms sent a shiver in the leaves across the room. She was not even the shortest on the ship, almost a head taller than 4C, but height jokes didn’t stick to him. Which said something, because slime, as Scott had learned, was particularly sticky.

“I know, I know, I'm kidding. I doubt it would do much to anything that isn't a plant.”

Scott hovered near Katie until she slowed enough that he could catch her wrists before she punched him in the face. Her hands were small, sure, but it would only concentrate the force into a smaller area. Scott wasn’t sure how strong his bones were after starvation. 4C said he had to be careful. Her head snapped to him, eyes wide with a bright idea.

“What about the ship? It's wood, that's a plant!”

Scott considered the question, if just to make it up to her. Really, he would have noticed if, affected by the growth spell, the floor sprouted roots or leaves dropped from the ceiling. It would be rather inconvenient for speed. Visually, though? Unmatched.

“Not a live one.”

The wood of vessels was very much dead. Scott could do nothing to help it. He banished the thought quickly, twisting his head to dispel the discomfort creeping up his neck. Katie, in time, tugged her arms away, crossing them as she turned her back to Scott.

“You're no fun.”

The pout, though not visible, was obvious in her voice. Sulking. Scott tapped his fingers over her shoulders lightly, from her neck to the top of her arms and back. She contorted away. Ticklish or upset? Fake upset, in this case. Hopefully. The plants nearest her, carrots on one side and squash, fainted in a bow so deep their tops reached soil.

“What’s your favourite flower?”

Scott should really know that about all of the crew, yet somehow it hadn’t really come up. He leaned around her to see her face. Katie, ever the performer, tilted it far up in the other direction. Her feather fluttered. When he attempted the other side, she simply mirrored her actions.

“Not telling you.”

Stubborn. Scott had gotten some experience in dealing with it, thankfully. Mostly from Nom. It must run in the family. His best solution was to give some slack, getting their guard down, before he pulled again. A tendril of magic reached out to the squash at the edge of its crate. Under focused attention, one singular stem unfurled and extended towards Katie, dotted with a few small leaves. It shivered as it rose, yellow frills blooming in front of her.

“I’m not going to cave even if- that’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

The flower bobbed up and down with the rock of the boat. Katie caught it on one finger, around which it wrapped, just barely. Scott had noted her discomfort with being caught in rope-like things. Maybe that was why she stayed away from the rigging?

“Tell me.”

Scott insisted, to the unfortunate realisation that Katie was now much too distracted playing with the plant. She had pulled the feather from her hair to caress the petals with. They did look really similar, not only in colour but also with the flutteriness of them.

“You first.”

Alright, she needed a little more give, but she would cave soon. Oh, what a haunting sacrifice for Scott to tell her something he loved.

“I like lilies. Of the valley the most, but also white lilies. Those were my mum’s favourite. Now you.”

Scott didn’t linger on the memory. Nevertheless, the admittance tightened his heart. It had been years, he knew well, yet he hated that the past tense had become so natural in referring to her. For a long time, he caught himself talking about her as though she was still alive. No longer. Not since way too long.

“I like field poppies. The riverbank where we come from gets completely covered with them in spring. The petals are so thin, they look fragile but there’s more of them that pop up every year.”

Scott had seen entire clearings of them sway in the wind, in the forest near Barrowhill. A beautiful sea of red, more orange where the light fell on them. He had never known how to describe their shade but now, he had a word for it. They shone the hue of the sun setting into the ocean, exactly as it plunged halfway through the horizon, when it dimmed enough that Scott could look straight at it.

“It won’t last, but… Here you go.”

From his palm, Scott grew a flower stunning in its simplicity. It truly had the shape of a child’s drawing. A single stem, long, covered with fuzz, and crinkly translucent petals around a delicate dark centre. Katie finally turned back to him, her face pinched as she took the poppy with both hands. 

“Scott, I love you.”

It would disintegrate in a moment. Katie would enjoy every second regardless.

The forest floor squished under Katie’s feet. The smell of rain permeated the air, moss soaked with water. She had left the house as soon as the shower ended. Some drops had still caught her, but she didn’t care. The sun shyly peeked through the clouds, a gift to the leaves of their otherworldly glow.

“Hey stinky, get up!”

The call echoed around the trees. Katie had never encountered somebody else in the woods while heading to Kitty’s. They must be pretty distant. She didn’t bother herself with it. If the ground didn’t have so many puddles, she would have skipped to arrive quicker. She was not keen on getting muddy splashes up her legs, unfortunately, so walking would have to do.

“Nom, be nice.”

The second voice was nowhere near as loud, but somehow clearer. She could not see anyone through the trunks, even as she approached the path. A sharp gust blew away the sun’s cover. Goosebumps rose on her arms. But she had sleeves? Gods, the light piercing her pupils hurt. She squinted to dull it until a branch bent down to shield her. 

A branch? An arm. The salty air of the sea. Katie’s lashes stuck together when she opened her eyes. She had her leg bent up, one arm above the blanket. A light breeze from the open window played with the curtains, mostly obscured by Mae standing at her bedside. 

“Mmwhat? What time’sit?”

Nom’s voice definitely should not be the one to wake her up, let alone invade her delightful dreams. Unfortunately, Nom had never been good at doing what he was meant to. Somehow, he was out of bed earlier than her, fiddling with the window. A first. There was also Scott at the doorway, and 4C crouched near her feet. Her feather floated in front of her vision for a second before landing in her hair. Mae pulled her hand back and smiled.

“Happy birthday, Katie.”

Birthday. Katie’s birthday? Already? She knew it was coming up, but she hadn’t thought it so soon. She hadn’t looked at the calendar recently. She sat up against the headboard, tugging down the mischievous sleeve that bared her arm to the chill, as the room erupted into singing. They all followed their own tempo, out of time from each other. Despite its softness, she could pick out that Scott’s melody differed slightly. A Barrowhill nuance? Katie clapped rhythmically in an attempt to align them, but the chaos was stronger. 

It was the most loving song Katie had ever heard.

Had it been her only gift of the day, she would have been satisfied. It was not, however, as Mae sat on the bed beside Katie’s legs to reveal the pile of wrapped presents in the middle of the room. How had they managed to sneak that into her room without waking up Katie? Must have been 4C and Scott. Nom’s very existence made noise, and Mae had trouble with her own feet a little too often to be given the delicate task.

All of them used the same paper, brown like the bags they got from resupplying. One present, considerably larger than the rest, was haphazardly covered, with some gaps where multiple pieces had to be glued together. Mae didn’t hand that one first, but a rather small one. Some kind of solid cylinder, neatly wrapped with a ribbon tied around an artful bloom of extra paper at the top.

“Oh, mine first, alright. Well, I hope you like it?”

Scott took just another step into the room as Katie carefully pulled the end of the ribbon. It unraveled and the paper fell away like a flower opening in the morning. He must have some experience wrapping bouquets. Inside, a small bottle shone cobalt blue. It had no label or anything to indicate what it might be, but it became clear as soon as Katie opened the lid. The smell, sweet, floral, slightly fruity, permeated the room. 

“Perfume?”

She looked up at Scott with wide eyes and he nodded. She couldn’t place a name on the flower, even though it was horribly familiar. Katie rubbed a drop of the oil into her wrist as Mae took the bottle to sniff it. A fainter scent peeked through the rest, a crackling fire of deep woodsy tones that grounded the intense sweetness.

“You- you mentioned you liked the sweet peas before. There’s also pear and some resin. I have other ones from my tests but this had the best balance, I think.”

Sweet pea, that’s what it was, of course! She remembered their unusual butterfly shape now. Mae nodded as she recapped the bottle. Tightly. Yes, better not spill it everywhere in Katie’s bed. Well, the smell would be nice, just really strong, but the oil would not be so pleasant in the sheets.

“Thank you, Scott! I love it, I can’t believe you made that. You’ll have to tell me how.”

Scott agreed. A second gift fell into her lap, another kind of glass container judging by the shape, although much heavier. The paper had been pulled tight around the curved side, crisply folded over the top. Very clean, until she turned it over and saw the scribble on the side.

A silly drawing of a bee on a flower, a little smudged from the side of a hand. Katie undid the wrapping carefully to protect the sketch. She could put it up somewhere. Placing it on her nightstand so it would get crushed, she then looked down at the contents. A jar with six sides, too big for her hand to wrap around, filled with something so dark that it could be shadows encapsulated.

That’s what she had thought of it the first time. No need to even glance at the tag attached at the neck to recognise her favourite honey. Katie turned her eyes to Nom who shook his head and pointed to 4C. Was he not going to take credit?

“4C! How did you know? Oh my gods, where did you find it? I thought this one was local to Blue Kingdom!”

Owain, of all people, had recommended it to her while she and Graecie discussed what they wanted to bake next. Still on the training grounds, Owain had walked over to their bench to suggest honey cakes with this specific one. Apparently he knew a lot about honey. And he was right, too, Katie had tried a lot, from all over, but none had ever tasted as good at this one. Something about the oaks and the blackberries of the forest. 

“Yeah. I got it when we were there. Passed by the, uh, market stall. I recognised the one you had.”

Katie had a jar stashed away, almost empty, that she saved for special occasions. How had he found it? Surely her hiding spot behind the pile of buckets was great. 4C didn’t clean, he shouldn’t have been back there. He better not have taken any. But well, if he had, he had gotten her much more. Katie might be able to forgive him.

“Thanks 4C, this is the best one. Thank you.”

Nom cleared his throat. When Katie glanced his way, he indicated Scott with his eyes. His fingers picked at one another. What was Nom trying to say? Why couldn’t he just speak? Ugh. Oh wait.

“I meant best honey! Not best gift, not that it’s not a great gift, I just wasn’t ranking them! I swear!”

4C snickered, lifting the blanket up just enough for the cold air to infiltrate beneath. Rude. Katie tried to kick him but she couldn’t reach him without also attacking Mae. Mae didn’t deserve that. Not when she reached for the large gift and- oh she picked it up without issue, Katie had expected it to be heavy. But no, it was a comfortable weight. Her hands fell to the top of it naturally.

“Why are you keeping yours for last?!”

Nom protested loudly. The messy wrapping made a lot more sense, all of a sudden. He had never been good at arts and crafts. He didn’t have the patience nor the will to try again, just bullheading his way through. Oh well. He had ego problems, Katie couldn’t do much about that. Except for making fun of him.

“Best for last, obviously.”

Mae had pulled hers into her lap while it waited its turn. She giggled, patting Katie’s leg. Then she threw a sandbag at Nom- had 4C stashed some away even in her room? Those were just everywhere, apparently. Nom barely dodged and it rolled off under the dresser.

“Should have been giving the gifts if you wanted to choose the order.”

Katie’s hands roamed the uneven surface one last time before starting to tear off the paper. She didn’t have much care for it considering it literally did not cover the entire thing. However, she only needed to reveal the copper shine of a circular divot to recognise what had torn her heart in the past.

“Is this what I think- You- Nom! You rotten boy, you told me I couldn’t buy it!”

The handpan sat so perfectly under her fingers, the curves gorgeous and delicate. Katie needed only to tap her fingers, brush them really, at the edge of a ditch to pull a warm resonant note from the instrument. This was so perfect, she had regretted leaving it behind for so long! She kept telling herself that she could have just sneaked it onto the ship without telling him!

“Well yeah, you couldn’t because I got it first.”

Then Katie would have had twice as many! And what was better than one instrument if not two? She was so offended.

“You, you, I can’t believe, you’re so mean and rude.”

Nom laughed loudly. Katie could not wait to start exploring what it could do, to learn all the quirks and tricks, to hear how different music sounded on the metal. She had no instruments anywhere close to this one. But that could wait until later.

“Okay, enough for him. Maeee, can I get your gift now pretty please?”

Batting her lashes at Mae, Katie reached over the handpan, resting her arms on top. Best for last, Katie meant what she had said. Mae flushed slightly as she handed out her gift.

“I feel like you’re expecting too much now.”

The near-square shape draped over the curve of the handpan. Katie pressed at it, attempting to guess what it could be before actually opening it. Soft, light. Not a book, that’s what Katie had considered when she had thought of her birthday a while ago. Rather, it felt like maybe some kind of clothing? 

“No, no, you could never disappoint me.”

Katie was not as into reading as Mae, but she would have been happy with even the thickest, most boring book. Not that Mae would even give her that. She was way too thoughtful. That would be more of a Nom thing, if he could read any substantial amount.

“And the wrapping is bad, I would have redone it but it was the last of the paper because somebody used it all.”

Mae continued, as though the crinkled paper betrayed lack of attention rather than her many attempts. Obviously, she had tried multiple times over because she wanted it to be the best it could be! Who would believe something else? Especially with the red twine tied in a bow!

“The shape was weird and really hard to work with!”

Katie ignored Nom’s outcry. Even though she probably wouldn’t have done much better in his place. She removed the twine gently, placing it besides 4C’s drawing, then pulled apart the paper. A triangle of fabric, was that linen? Maybe. A muted chestnut brown with steel grey ruffles that lined the middle and along either side. 

“Oh? Oh wow. This is so cute? I actually love it so much?”

Upon being lifted up, the long ends unraveled. Mae grabbed one of them, rubbing her finger against the seam. Katie honestly couldn’t pinpoint its intended use, but she could already picture multiple ways to use it. As a shawl, a sash, a belt…

“Really? Oh joyous day! Don’t mind the uneven stitches, it was kind of hard to see with the candles because the thread and the fabric are so close in colour-”

What was she even saying? Katie couldn’t have asked for anything better, her skills certainly wouldn’t do anything near as nice. Mae took the end she held over Katie’s head, who let go and allowed her to adjust its position. She crossed both points under Katie’s hair, at her nape, loosely tying them together before fixing the messy strands at the front of her face. Or a headscarf!

“But there’s a special spot for your feather!”

Plucking it from Katie’s ear, Mae planted it right at the front. Katie felt it sway back and forth when she turned her head. Scott nodded in approval.

“I knew you could sew but I thought it was just mending, not- not something so lovely!”

Katie patted at the headscarf. It felt so soft and flouncy, kept her hair back out of her face. Oh, this would be just perfect for when she cleaned. Her fingers still playing at the ruffles on the side, Mae smiled bashfully. Maybe they could have matching ones! Wouldn’t that be so cute? It would. It really would be.

“I’ve been dabbling in clothes making but this is my first finished piece. The rest are just stuffed under my bed.”

Great spot to store things until you had to clean it, Katie had learnt the hard way. Dusty down there. It made for a pretty satisfying swipe of the broom, if you didn’t consider the unpleasant crouch necessary to reach. Mae was just incredible. So skilled with her hands.

Katie looked at her friends. She looked at her gifts. She looked at the door. Then she asked.

“Do I get breakfast birthday cake?”

Katie tapped her fingers together in anticipation. Her stomach rumbled. She wanted cake so bad, the most anticipated part of a birthday. She waited for it all year-long.

“No, you greedy thing, we haven’t even made the cake yet!”

Katie threw herself back against the headboard at Nom’s denial. But cake! How could they wake her up, when she was already the earliest riser of them all, only to not give her cake? This was awful. Katie should just go back to sleep. Forget the gifts, day ruined. 

“You’re making the cake? I don’t think I want it, actually.”

4C squawked with laughter so loud that Katie feared he might choke. Nom’s baking was deadly, and not in a good way. It was actually baffling how bad he could make his bakes. Katie didn’t want any of that.

“Hey, no! Scott’s helping- actually, I’m helping Scott but anyway, you’re eating that cake or so help me-”

Well obviously. If Scott was making the cake, Nom would definitely force Katie to eat it. Which she would happily do anyways! One of Nom’s creations, though, she would fight back. Hiss up a storm, scratch his face, potentially bite his hand off. She had learnt a lot from Kitty. From the best.

“Good luck, Scott.”

The amused thumbs up from Scott pulled a gasp from Nom. And he called her dramatic? What was wrong with wishing somebody luck before an admittedly complicated task? Nom would have done the same if Scott was- uh. Teaching Katie to- What was she even bad at? She was great at things, amazing even. She couldn’t think of one thing that she would need teaching for. But she could come up with several others for Nom. That proved a point, surely.

“Katie!”

Nom jumped towards the bed and Katie shrunk herself into the corner of the wall and the headboard. Needlessly, as Mae had shot aside to block his path. She grabbed his hands and they wrestled in their spots to make the other give way.

“It’s my birthday, you can’t touch me!”

Katie called out, hoping it may deter Nom. Of course, it didn’t. Her brother didn’t abide by the laws of the universe such as that of birthday immunity. He only obeyed his own decisions. 

“He’s a horrible student.”

4C leaned over to whisper to Scott, although he was very much not quiet. Scott nodded thoughtfully. Katie suspected he was already aware, Nom had a bit of a reputation in that domain. They did share a bed after all, gods knew what sort of secrets they told each other before going to sleep.

“I’ll do my best to teach him.”

Katie couldn’t wait to see the outcome. And eat it. She carefully moved the two glass containers onto the nightstand, the hand pan to the floor, for safekeeping.

“If I can’t have cake yet, then I guess I’ll have to do with a-”

She paused, waiting until Mae turned to look at her to pounce. She plucked her at the neck and dragged her right back down. Mae’s shout of surprise cut off into a giggle.

“Birthday cuddle!”

Katie squeezed Mae tight, indulgently, before she let her find a position where they didn’t spear each other with their bones. Thankfully, 4C had none. He didn’t fight as he got pulled into the pile, laying over Katie’s legs. Only remained two standing, one of which already ran for the door. The other blocked his path, unintentionally.

“Nom, get back here! It’s my birthday! You don’t even have to get in the bed, just sit! Please?”

Katie pleaded. She highly doubted he would actually give in, Nom was allergic to physical affection, after all. However, the only guarantee she had was that it would never happen at all if she didn’t ask. Mae rolled over to slot herself between Katie and the wall. She raised a hand towards both of them.

“Scott?”

He stepped in place hesitantly. Looked down at Nom. Back to Katie. His pale hair floated over the uneven beat of his ears. 

“Are you sure I fit?”

The bed may be larger than the one Katie had grown up with, but it wasn’t massive. Still, this was a birthday cuddle, not a birthday scattering. Being all stuck on each other was not only expected, it was also the point. At least there was a wall. They could cram further against it without being at risk of falling, only Nom’s way too open bed. Awful for cuddling, really.

“There’s always enough space for you.”

She patted the sliver left at the edge of the bed enticingly. Scott caved. He crossed the room with small quick steps. He had that sunrise flush on his cheeks as he half-draped himself on Katie’s lap, face to face with Mae. Cute! She rested one hand on his shoulder, the other playing with Mae’s curls. 

Katie raised a taunting eyebrow to Nom, who had frozen in front of the doorway since Scott slipped past. One weakness, hm?

“Nom, just don’t fight it. You know she’ll be grumpy all day otherwise.”

4C would have gotten a kick for that if Katie didn’t have two people on top of her legs. She would save it for later. At least, it broke Nom’s resolve. He came to sit on the very corner of the bed next to Katie, patting her head reluctantly.

“Happy?”

Katie smiled.

“Very.”

Nom may have stiffened when she leaned her head on his shoulder, yet she felt how he dropped it to hold her up better. Mae tapped her finger on Scott’s nose. 4C caught Katie’s eyes to send her a wink.

What better way to start her twentieth year? 

Dear Graecie,

I hope you and Shan are doing so so good!

Can you believe Nom lied to me! again! Now before you worry!! it was actually for a nice reason this time, he just prevented me from buying what he wanted to get me for my birthday. But still! Everyone got me really nice gifts, it was really hard not to cry

Mae made me a whole headscarf with ruffles, it’s so cute, you’d really like it. And Scott and Nom baked not just one but two cakes! With a recipe from you, apparently? Don’t know what was in it but it was good! as expected!!

Enough about the birthday though

We’re headed to Maedo Maid ___ Meadohall? next, we’ve been there before (still can’t remember the spelling though) it was quite busy last time so hopefully we should find a cargo job. They’re the best because I don’t have to do anything, I’ll be able to go in town when the boys have to argue about moving stuff around 

I hope they’ll have street performers! They’re always so fun to watch

I’ll let you know what intr interesting food I find, still dreaming of those stuffed leaves I had last time, maybe I can get those again… but I still want to try new stuff as well

That’s always the issue    OH I know! 

I’ll take Mae with me, then we can have twice as much food and Scott too! Three times the food. Yes, good plan, great plan. I’ll see if I can write to you again to send it before we leave, otherwise it will have to wait until the next time we dock someplace that will allow cross-sea pigeons. I would send my letters by land but apparently nobody knows where the Blue kingdom is? When I asked in Birgrandia, they looked at me like I was making stuff up!

Say hi to Owain for me! Or bubble him! Whichever one of you gets to him first!

With love,

Katie the bravest

PS: 4C said I had to ask you to pin this to his door? he’s watching me write so I don’t have a choice but it’s just a really ugly rainb~~_______ ..

i got attacked save me

Preparing for sleep was a little different for 4C than the rest of the crew. One, he went to bed specifically when everybody else was awake, which led into both two, usually the beginning of the afternoon, and three, Mae and Katie liked to stick around for a bit. They sat together in the corner couch watching 4C go around.

Well, couch. More of a bench drowned under several layers of blankets and cushions because they otherwise deemed it too hard. A human thing that 4C had adapted to by keeping those soft materials in his room since they were here so often. 

Like his bed, Nom complained about its stiffness but 4C was a slime! He didn’t need his surfaces to have bounce, he provided it himself. A soft bed would absorb him entirely. It made on-land travel difficult, but he sometimes managed to convince innkeepers to remove a mattress or give him a room with a harder one. Otherwise he just slept on the floor. It wasn’t bad, really, slimes much better suited for it than any other species. Thankfully.

His time in the Ring could have been so much worse.

Today, however, was a slightly different situation. They had anchored earlier, meaning that 4C should have been able to sleep in. He had, instead, been rudely awoken by Mae who dragged him out to the ropes despite her own squeals. Scott and Nom were communicating their feelings for each other, after months of words unsaid. And now, although 4C’s want to return to bed was warranted, the girls elected to debrief in his room.

“Sooo what did we think of the whole sinking the ship thing?”

Mae prompted first as she curled up on the couch, feet up in front of her. Katie took the spot next to her, not leaning against her. Too hot for that, apparently. 4C’s sleep shirt hung looser than usual. Yeah, he must have evaporated a little as well. Humid heat didn’t make him shrink as bad as dry heat, but this was pretty warm.

“Do you think he’d actually do it?”

Katie pulled the feather from her hair, running it through the curl of her thumb and index over and over. Nom loved the Hoard. He loved the freedom, the exploring, the vastness of the world unravelling ahead of him. He loved his ship and all that it allowed him.

4C knew that, at the end of the day, none of it mattered.

“No doubt.”

Nom had no qualms about sacrificing what he loved when it had come to Katie, 4C had that experience first hand. It seemed that Scott now also fell into that category. Good for him. Scott was kind. He deserved that unconditional loyalty.

“I think you're right… Scott would never let it happen, though. Right? ”

Katie pleaded. Looking for reassurance? She did love the boat too. Scott regulated Nom’s temper better than the rest of them. The times he had gone haywire, too far to listen to reason from 4C or Katie or Mae, Scott had managed to calm him down. But only after allowing him some time first. Maybe Scott was a little too forgiving, but he wouldn’t let it go so far that Nom would actually sink the Hoard.

“Unless something happens to Scott.”

4C dropped himself on his plank of a bed with a thud. He bounced a little, it was not that hard!

Still, he thought, would things have happened any differently if Scott had been with them back then? If today was the day where 4C spilled, by accident, what he had been told to keep quiet, would Scott have stopped Nom from throwing him over the edge? Or would he have helped 4C get out while still siding with Nom? 4C wasn’t sure he would want to know the definitive answer there.

“Why! Why would you say that? Don’t jinx it!”

A cushion came flying straight at 4C’s head. No time to dodge, but thankfully Katie had a rather bad arm. The spin meant it only clipped his cheek rather than flattening itself over his entire face. It then got stuck in the gap between the bed frame and the wall. How could she? 

“Ow- I didn’t- I’m not- it’s fine! Nothing’s going to happen! He’s strong, and he’s got Nom and the Mage God watching over him!”

He retaliated with a sandbag to her knee. 4C had once stumbled into his thorns, entirely by accident, which Scott had melted into apologies for. And it hurt, rather badly. The crew, of course, was aware that the colour of his slime could change on occasion. Depending on what he had ingested, he could have slightly different shines, or if he was particularly tired or dehydrated, he paled to an icy blue. This incident, however, had been the first time he changed hues entirely. 4C remained purple for several hours. A muted lavender colour, sort of pulsing with each painful movement. 

Impressive magic. Scott had this demure look, his quiet attitude, but he was anything but a pushover. He would defend himself if he had to.

“And us!”

Mae added, her hand on Katie’s shoulder. The frown on her face didn’t seem too convinced. She stared straight at 4C still. He didn’t really like being stared at, it usually didn’t mean anything good. 4C brought a leg up to his chest, tugging his shirt over it. The internal slime of his throat churned but hopefully, they were too far to see.

“Mage God?”

Oh, she was confused, not upset. 4C should have known. What other god would look over a mage? That was kind of the whole point of Them. They each focused on Their own little groups of troublemakers and stayed out of each other’s way. The Mage God, as 4C had been told, wasn’t much involved in a mage’s life after granting them magic, but surely It would step in if Scott was in danger of death. There were stories like that floating around.

“Yeah, It’s the only god that cares about keeping Its people safe. The rest of the gods are just punishing.”

4C didn’t have great experiences with the gods.

“I didn’t realise you were- religious.”

Knowing about religions didn’t make 4C religious! How Katie didn’t, when she swore on their names multiple times a day, was rather surprising yet not out of character for her. She should be glad the Bard God was incredibly passive. Probably too busy entertaining the lot of Them, wherever They might be. A party of gods sounded like a fun time until 4C considered how much trouble They probably kicked up.

“Oh, I’m not! I’ve just come to realise stuff that wouldn’t have happened if the gods cared. Mages are safe, though, because there are so few of them and they were chosen-”

No god looked affectionately over 4C. He held that belief as certain. Katie’s eyebrows angled up into a sadder face. For some reason?

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

4C also did not like when people looked at him sadly. He didn’t want to be pitied or even perceived. He just wanted to live peacefully. The crew rarely did though.

“You say some very concerning stuff, you know.”

Katie knew where Nom and 4C had met, but he hadn’t told her any of what had happened prior. She just knew that 4C had been trapped in a fighting ring. Not lying so much as keeping the truth from her. She wouldn’t enjoy knowing what 4C had been put through, the conditions he had been kept in.

This really was not something that 4C wanted to think about just before going to sleep. 

“Ha- let’s change the subject. Speaking of looking at people- Have you noticed they’re always just staring at each other? Across the room?”

Mae hurriedly said as she shook Katie from the grasp at her shoulder. During one of their late night discussions, 4C had recounted everything to her. The isolation, the endless fights, the beatings, the crowds roaring for his defeat, the endless cycle. It made Mae cry. 

“I know! It’s like they can talk without speaking.”

4C jumped on the new topic, thankful for the change of subject. Nom and Scott did do that. All of the time. What they were searching for in each other’s faces, 4C had no clue. It’s not like they changed day to day. Over time, sure, but not to the point of checking every other hour, if not more.

“Creepy.”

Katie sighed, brushing her hair back over her shoulder. Love, or whatever they called what they had, was a weird thing. 4C didn’t particularly care for it. It destroyed kingdoms just as quickly as it built them. Thankfully, they weren’t part of one anymore. 

“I don’t know, it’s kind of cool. I wish I could do that.”

A ginger curl wrapped around her finger, Mae leaned her head against the wall with a sigh. It would be rather convenient to talk without others knowing. Or talking from a distance. Or through the ship. 

“Let’s try.”

The feather returned to its rightful place atop her head, Katie fully turned to face Mae, grabbing her shoulders for them to face. Mae nodded excitedly and mirrored her position. 4C sat back to watch as they squinted at each other. Groaning and grunting with effort, Katie’s face distorted in a variety of ways. They both strained closer until their foreheads met. Despite being in his own bed, 4C felt out of place.

“So?”

4C interrupted, perhaps, their mental conversation. Katie sighed loudly as she pulled away. Unsuccessful, hm?

“Nothing.”

Yeah, that didn’t surprise 4C too much. Speaking to another through their mind would probably be some mage’s gift, not an ability that anyone could have if they focused enough. Had either Mae or Katie been a mage, they would have noticed a long time ago. Through one or two or maybe many more disasters. Not to say that 4C would do any better.

“They’re about to get so much worse, aren’t they? They’ll stare and then they’ll kiss and we’ll have to stand theeeere..”

Katie whined, her fists pressed to her eyes. The snicker that pushed out of 4C’s came more from her misery than anything else. She made a problem out of something that hadn’t even happened yet. Also laughing, Mae patted her head comfortingly.

“Just look away.”

4C doubted this would even happen at all, not for a rather long time. Scott, although he had opened up with time, had a more reserved nature. And of course, Nom hated showing any sort of feelings or vulnerability where people could see it. Apart from his backhug that had become all too regular now, that Katie did love to complain about as well. 4C hardly expected them to start kissing out in the deck tomorrow.

“Ugh.”

Another groan was all Katie gave as an answer. Moments like these reminded 4C that she was still, in fact, the youngest of the crew. Scott was barely any older but also he had no siblings. No more family to speak of. The way you were raised had to account for something. 4C’s sister had a lot of traits in common with Katie. The tantrums, mostly. He hoped she was doing well.

The door opened without so much as a knock when Nom barged in. Immediately, he got pelted with the couch cushions and another sand bag- had they been sitting on it? That could not be comfortable. Humans and their double standards…

“Hey, what the hell- it’s me! Stop! What are you three gossiping about?”

Nom asked as though he wouldn’t have been listening at the door for several minutes. He should know exactly. What else was there to gossip about? They were five people on a boat. Not much happened apart from what did happen. Not much to be kept secret.

Nom’s shirt was somehow more open than earlier. 4C hadn’t thought it possible.

“Conspiring against you.”

Katie taunted and only obtained a roll of Nom’s eyes. Any attempt at mutiny, not that it had ever crossed 4C’s mind, would be squashed very rapidly. This was a cargo ship, they didn’t have any sort of cell. Unless someone got locked into the hold? Or their own room, supposedly. Otherwise, it was back to the ocean.

4C wasn’t too keen on going for another dip.

“Haha. Very funny. Mae, here’s your spyglass. Katie you can- go kick rocks, I don't know.”

Nom tossed the spyglass in a very large arch, giving Mae plenty of time to catch it. He aimed on the couch anyway, so had she missed, it would have been safe. Still it fell right into the palm of her hand.

“There's no rocks, we're in the middle of the sea, bonehead.”

Katie tried to pull out another cushion to throw at him, but it was stuck beneath her own weight. 4C was just glad she didn’t have any sand in her pockets to scatter across his room. Then it would get stuck all up in him.

“I don't know, I can see one rock.”

4C had his eyes trained on Nom, one arm up on the headboard. A stubborn hardskulled rock. Nom took a second to catch on but it only made him laugh.

“We're all rocks to you, 4C.”

In a way, they were. What were bones if not rock of the- flesh? Crunchy and sharp, holding up the rest of everything, and rather painful to be hit with. Katie had accidentally elbowed him one too many times. Slimes didn’t bruise, sure, but he could still feel pain! Maybe if he had bruised, Katie would have known about the Ring so much earlier on after he joined the ship. Silver linings?

“I’ve eaten rocks before.”

Well, eaten rocks was not quite the truth. Or- hm. That used to be how 4C ate back in the Swamps, where everyone was a slime and did the same thing. He had quickly learnt humans didn’t enjoy seeing it. Still, it was more shoving a handful of precious gems so far into his mouth that they entered the slime of his neck, far down enough to be hidden under his clothes. What better place to hide borrowed goods than where they wouldn’t come looking?

“What?”

The confusion in Mae’s voice mirrored the one on both Nom and Katie’s face. 4C hadn’t eaten humans. He had dropped the metaphor already. They didn’t need to look so shocked. Had he never told the story before? He could have sworn he had, it was kind of funny in retrospect. Not at the time though.

“It wasn’t great, they were just floating around for a while.”

Slime digestion could take care of many things that humans didn’t, 4C had learnt. Both from the medicine books and being in close proximity with them. Nom had a knack for putting random things in his mouth. Which he really shouldn’t be, but he didn’t listen when 4C told him that. Their perk simply came in the fact that their systems processed food a lot faster than 4C. Feeling his meal from several days ago knock about his chest sometimes brought unpleasant situations along.

“And then what?”

Katie asked, eyes wide, jaw slack from fascination. She always was quite curious about slime biology. Every new bit of information she got always seemed to bring on another wave of questions. However, unfortunately, 4C might have to bend the truth for this one. He would only say what would have happened to them in a regular situation.

“… Dissolved.”

Not dissolved. He could see them in the pile of other lawfully acquired items on his desk. Getting them out hadn’t been much fun, though. While slimes could technically mash their body parts within themselves, it didn’t make for a pleasant sensation. 4C would still take it over getting his shoulder sliced straight off and then reattached though. Somedays, it still felt like part of him remained in the Ring, stuck within the dips and cracks of the uneven ground.

“Okay, let 4C sleep. You’ve already bothered him enough with your peeping. I need him tall enough to see over the wheel.”

Nom crossed the room to grab both Mae and Katie by the wrists. He pushed them out into the hallway despite their protests. As 4C laid down to finally finish his- night… Nom grinned and shut the door.

4C contemplated the mess of the couch, the cushions and sandbags littering the ground, everything he would need to pick up in a few hours. He thought that Nom could be helpful sometimes. And even in all his tiredness, all of the discussing topics that he didn’t want to think of, all of Katie’s whining about displays of affection, 4C was happy to have his sleep interrupted to spend it with his friends.

The wind played at Nom’s hair, loose at his back. He had lost his hair tie, yet again. Mae must have taken it. At least he still had his glasses, he needed them to man the wheel. The shore drew over the horizon, muted green hills, or maybe they could be mountains. Hard to tell from a distance. All Nom cared about was following it loosely, Mae kept an eye on it from the crow’s nest. She had Scott with her up there as well. Nom heard them chat, just enough that he could tell they were but not enough to understand.

Copper curls and white gold strands tangled together over the side of the railing, shining in the sun that had finished rising over the land. Scott’s hair had taken on loose waves as it grew out, nothing like Nom’s straggly lengths. For some reason, Scott liked running his hands through Nom’s hair, the only reason he hadn’t cut it yet. He tended to at least trim it when the short parts covered the tops of his ears.

Nom supposed it didn’t feel too bad either. He could deal with it if Scott liked it. Whatever he wanted. 

Katie sprung up from the stairs like a demon trapped in a box. She charged at Nom with a low growl, her hands raised as claws. He raised an unimpressed eyebrow at her when she held the pause for frankly way too long. She even tried a few more noises, insistent on whatever she was up to.

“You’re frozen in terror, aren’t you? Wasn’t that so scary? I’m the most intimidating thing you’ve ever seen.”

She nodded, proud of herself. Such a wild imagination on that girl, Nom thought as he returned his eyes to the horizon. She could really convince herself of so many interesting things. Came with her artistic mind, probably.

“Hey, okay, no- whatever. I did have something to talk to you about. Something important.”

Katie interrupted her boasting to wave her arms wildly in front of Nom’s vision. A little more and she would try to climb the wheel. Okay, none of that, the idiot might just fall over and hurt herself.

“I’m listening, go ahead.”

Rather than precariously perching herself on the rail as she tended to do, Katie came up beside Nom. Okay. Maybe she was actually serious about something. It never meant anything good. Nom should have gone along with her act, that would have delayed the conversation enough for him to escape. Potentially. 

No, probably not, 4C still had several hours left before he took up the wheel again. Nom was stuck here until then, unless he wanted to risk crashing into the coast.

“If you hurt Scott, I will-”

Alright, absolutely not what Nom had expected. The tension that crept up his arms dropped, hands releasing the wooden handles. Just a common normal regular threat to his life-

“Wait, you’re my sister! Aren’t you supposed to be on my side?”

Nom cried out in offence, and Katie, rotten girl, only snorted. Surely that was how it was meant to go, right? You weren’t supposed to go threaten your own sibling about protecting their… Um… It had been a few days but Nom and Scott hadn’t discussed names. Nom didn’t think about that sort of thing! But anyways, it shouldn’t be the other way around, surely.

“When was I ever on your side?”

Katie crossed her arms, and honestly? That was fair enough. Nom huffed, the wheel turning when Mae signalled to adjust their direction. It did seem like the shore came out in a point ahead, better to angle off now than a tight turn later.

“True.”

The sails rippled with the changing wind. It went over the curve and along the mast to spray the metallic lengths of hair up like a geyser. Nom had seen them before, on a volcanic island far out into the White Sea. They were impressive. They should go back, Scott might be interested in that.

“Anywaysss, as I was saying before you rudely interrupted me! If you hurt Scott, I will push you off the Hoard and pull the ladder. Alright?”

Katie gave Nom a sickly sweet smile that frankly was more scary than her pathetic attempts at catching him by surprise earlier. Which truly didn’t mean much, because even a rat would have been scarier. Well no. A rat would cause more problems. The smile fell somewhere between her monster impression and a rat. That was a good and efficient scale.

“Oh don’t you worry. I would never hurt him but if it happens, somehow, I’ll jump off myself.”

Nevermind the depths for him to slip into, or the monsters circling beneath his feet, or the water taking the place of air in his lungs. No pain would be greater than knowing he had inflicted it upon Scott. The glimmer of his blonde hair called Nom’s eyes as iron to a lodestone.

Katie’s eyebrows went high high high under her bangs. As though she doubted his dedication. Well, she must, since she had come to warn him in the first place.

“Right. I’ll hold you to that.”

Nom almost answered that he never broke a promise but that was simply not true. However, he now had two to uphold, which tied together in this moment. For Scott not to encounter hurt and for Katie to never raise a weapon. Should he fail at the first, so would he at the second. No doubt the other way would also find a link. He could not afford to let it happen. What a weight on his shoulders, to keep safe both a treasure and a sister, although one he would carry to the ends of the earth.

Hm. These thoughts were slowly drifting into an area that he didn’t much like. Time for a distraction!

“Hey, Katie?”

She hadn’t quite left, just wandered off to the side. One arm leant over the bannister, the other up to resettle the feather that tried to fly away, she stopped gazing off at the hills in the distance to look at him. 

“What’s up?”

Katie’s tone sounded curious but her eyes still had an annoyed glint to them, for whatever reason. Or maybe the sun shone a little too bright into them. She didn’t have the eye colour for it. Scott did, his eyes were a lot paler, Mae as well even though she rarely seemed too bothered. And 4C- did 4C get impacted by light? The colour of his eyes leaned more Kingdom blue than teal.

“If you get me the cittern...”

It had been too long since they last played together but Katie immediately picked up what he meant. She whirled around, all bright and eager. A younger Katie appeared for just a moment. 

“Yes! I’ve been- ahem. I think you mean my cittern, actually.”

Katie got a hold of herself quickly, crossing her arms over her chest, hip cocked to the side. Oh well, baby Katie was nice while she lasted. Much easier to rile up. She hadn’t changed too much, honestly, still sensitive, yet Nom fondly remembered a time where every single thing he said could set her off.

“Sure, whatever, get me your cittern.”

Nom could let her have that one, he would get her back soon enough. He always did. Katie tripped over herself running off, down the stairs in two hops. She didn’t need to know that it was the cittern Nom had learnt to play on, getting it repaired before he gave it to her. He hadn’t thought it looked that different afterwards. The wood had been stained darker, polished to a perfect shine. The years since then weathered it, though, and the original colour noticeably peeked through again. 

He doubted Katie would recognise it after all this time. Observation was not her strong suit.

Nom’s fingers had that antsy tingle in them. Itching to do something. He didn’t usually mind standing at the wheel for hours on end. These days though, they wanted to hold something other than polished wooden handles. He forced his gaze not to wander upwards. Nom only noticed how hard he glared forward when strings dug into his nose. He grabbed the cittern.

“How are you going to hold the wheel though?”

Katie had her hand pan under her arm, resting atop her hip, as she watched Nom push one of the lighter crates in front of the wheel. He settled on top, cittern on his lap.

“I’ve got feet, don’t I? They’re good for other stuff than just walking.”

The gaps between the spokes were large enough to hook his boots in, caught at the low heel. Not the first time he had done it, although his hands were usually full of dice rather than instruments. Katie’s back leaned against him as she sat facing the stern.

“I am going to forget you ever said that.”

To dispel the thought that, really, she shouldn’t have had such an issue with, Katie threw herself into a song. Nom followed. His fingers danced over the strings with ease. The swift melody rose playfully. Nom forced himself not to get caught into Katie’s swaying, so that the wheel would remain steady. 

They weaved songs into each other as they had done so many times in the past. Katie belted without restraint, sometimes stumbling over her words or relying on humming when she simply couldn’t find them. Nom stuck to his lower register, providing an even background for her to fall back on. A safety net of sorts. 

When she messed up, Katie laughed. Moments like this, where her joy exploded so freely that it might well surf the waves to the shore, to another ship in the distance, made it all worth the worries. Nom could no longer imagine a life where they hadn’t left the Blue Kingdom. Because it meant that, really, Katie would have left without him. For her to be out there, like their parents, travelling, seeing the world, growing, Nom unable to witness any of it, stuck with an oath that only meant something if she was there. 

If Nom had ever done one thing right, not letting her go alone was definitely it. His life would be bleak and empty without her. 

Something pale swung from the crow’s nest. Scott. He had turned around to watch them, cheek resting atop his forearm on the railing, the other hooked at the elbow to hang down. His peaceful expression split into a brighter smile when he noticed Nom’s gaze. He wiggled the tips of his fingers and Nom answered with a wave that stole some notes. Katie elbowed him in the ribs lightly. He elbowed her back.

They sang louder.

Eventually, Katie grew tired, or maybe distracted. Her pauses extended, fingers slowed, head turned aside, until she stopped altogether. Nom picked at the strings softly.

“One seagull. Two seagulls.”

Her head tipped back, feather brushing at his cheek. Crimson spilled from Nom’s shoulder. He barely glanced down at it, disinterested, and let her. Katie followed the trajectory of the birds upside down until she pressed Nom to lean forward. They landed on the rigging, bobbing along the waves that rose a little higher this close to shore. One of them, still dappled with the grey of youth, spread out its wings, beating at the air to keep balance as it turned to face the other.

“That’s what happens when you’re near land. The seagulls come out.”

They rarely boarded the ship, admittedly. The closest bird curled its neck back. It laughed in that ever so unique way, loud and shrill. The other reprised the call without missing a beat. Were they reaching out to other birds in the distance, letting them know they had found a place to land? Or did they simply talk to each other? Hard to tell. 

“They should make a song about that. We could make a song about that. Nom, let’s write a song!”

Katie was more of a writer than Nom. He had dabbled in composing, sure, but he didn’t have the patience for drafting over and over until it was perfect the way Katie did. He had seen how many sheets of paper she scribbled notes on, crossed out, crumpled. Paper was expensive! She wasn’t the one buying it, she didn’t know, but still! He would gladly leave that to her. Nom preferred losing himself in the moment, however many mistakes it might hold.

“What, two gulls on a rope? That would never catch on.”

Leave the dreams of fame to Katie. She might actually go write that if only to spite him. And it would be the best song she had made yet, by some miracle. Katie always managed to surpass herself, although Nom would, of course, never say that to her face. It was impressive with how much she screeched that her real singing voice sounded so nice.

As Nom took control of the ship with his hands again, cittern tucked close, Katie remained at his back. That couldn’t be comfortable. It certainly wasn’t for him.

“We’re mooring in Stormfort tomorrow, right? I’ve heard that they have a really nice restaurant there.”

Just for the night, to resupply before their next long stretch through the ocean. They had a delivery to make on the other side that Nom had already dawdled on for a bit too long. He couldn’t help it, Scott wanted to look at the island. It was just one day. One very important day.

Wait, what was the second part of what Katie said?

“Heard where?”

From the birds? The voices in her head? The whispers of the waves? He tried to look at her, but that came too close to kissing her hair. That was reserved for when she would not notice. Showing affection to an awake Katie went against Nom’s principles.

“They do cute little vegetable pyramids.”

Katie ignored him completely. This didn’t seem like the start of a joke, but Nom wasn’t ruling it out. She had some very long-winded setups sometimes. Still, Nom was concerned. They hadn’t been to Stormfort before. The weather may be mild in this season, but this part of the sea raged at other times of the year, pelting hail and shearing winds that made approach dangerous. Nom half expected the city to be carved directly into the ground.

“Katie, we’re in the middle of the ocean, where did you hear this?”

Well maybe not quite the middle, shore was nearer than usual, but it didn’t change the fact that she would not have received any sort of information from land. Unless they had come up with advertising pigeons delivering messages on behalf of businesses to ships out sailing?

“It’s called the Rosemary. Y’know, if you think you might want to go there.”

Katie nudged her elbow into Nom’s spine, rather painfully. Nom didn’t care about fancy restaurants or vegetables. He was happy enough with his oblong potatoes, he didn’t need pyramids.

“Hello?! Are your ears full of water? What is happening?”

He wouldn’t put it past Katie to have snuck a swim in when Nom was asleep. A quick one, jumping off at the bow and catching the ladder as it came by. She had done it before. Nom hated it. Maybe she had gotten an infection in there. One that made her go mad.

“Very popular with couples.”

Ah. So this was a set-up. Just not a humorous one. Nom glanced at the crow’s nest. Maybe he would float the idea by Scott later. If he wanted to go, Nom wouldn’t be opposed. He could eat a vegetable.

Well played, Katie. Six ones.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I hope you’re doing well. Things on the Hoard have been busy interesting, that’s definitely the right word

Nom finally got himself together and admitted he liked Scott. Well, it was a lot messier than that, you know how he is with talking about feelings. He said a bunch of meatp metaphors that don’t really make any sense. He tried, I guess. He didn’t even initiate, actually, it was Scott who did because Gods know Nom never would have otherwise. He’s still absolutely useless at romance but at least they’ll stop looking at each other longingly every two seconds, it was getting kind of gross

But he looks happier. Scott brings out a new side of him I like seeing

Don’t tell him I said any of that.

Not that you really can. Where are you right now? What have you been up to? I wonder everyday when I go to bed. Have we been to the places you went before us? Did we eat the same food, walk the same streets, look at the same sky?

I kind of miss being tucked into bed I miss you. It’s been too long. No, I’ll say it, I do miss being tucked in bed or getting hugged or just… Mae likes physical touch, Scott too, 4C will get roped in (I can tell he’s not very comfr fortable) but it’s not the same. I miss my parents in general I miss you both a lot

I just    I wish         Why can’t I find the words!!

As much as I love travelling around like this with Mae and 4C and Scott (and Nom too, kind of), I miss when we were all together back home

but then you left

nothing more to do than to carry on

. . ___

following in your footsteps is one way to feel closer to you

Maybe we’ll run into each other at one point. I can’t really send you this letter anyway

I don’t know where you are

Thinking about you, 

Kate

Katie’s legs hung over the side of the armchair, swinging without worry. On the other side of the low table, 4C sat directly on the rug. He muttered to himself as he jerked the cup forward. The dice spun on the wood with loud clatters as he loomed over them threateningly, arms spread far to either side.

Three, six, four, three, four, two. Farkle.

“Oh come on! How am I so unlucky?”

4C chucked himself backwards and bounced into the couch only to fall back in the exact same spot. If he had any hair, he would have pulled it all out already with how he tugged at his head. Katie leaned to scoop the dice into the cup. She threw them.

“You’re on a really bad streak today. Or maybe I’m on a good streak!”

Four, four, five, two, four, one. Five hundred fifty. Not bad. But she could do better. She believed! She rolled the remaining dice, at the risk of losing her scored points. 

A one. Hot dice!

4C slammed the table hard enough to make the dice jump. Katie giggled. She usually did worse, so this was great for her.

“4C, you’re losing to Katie? Of all people? That’s embarrassing, man.”

Nom came into the living quarters. Katie wondered how it took him so long, the sounds of Farkle usually alerted him a lot sooner. Yeah, maybe according to statistics, Nom was the best player, but he didn’t have to be so cocky about it! Especially since 4C and Katie were near enough tied!

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

Back when they had first started playing the game on the ship, they would bet money. No longer. Either Nom gathered it all, or they passed the same few coins around. Katie was saving up, she couldn’t recklessly gamble it all away. Even though… she could make more.

No, no.

4C reached towards Nom like a drowning man as Katie rolled the dice once more.

“Nom, you don’t understand. I’ve just Farkled four times in a row. In two separate games. Save me.”

And yet he kept going. Maybe Graecie had been right in warning Katie against addiction. It was so easy to tell yourself you would only play one more, only for it to not be satisfactory. That, again and again and again until they were two hours deep and 4C had won less than a third of them. The deeper into it they got, the more rash his decisions got, animated by desperation. Like re-rolling when he had already banked four dice. Greedy.

“Sorry it’s my bad, I took all the luck. I fell in the luck stew and ate it all and now there’s none left for you.”

Nom threw himself across the opposite couch, taking up the entire length of it, much less gracefully than Mae. Legs crossed at the ankle, she had her head propped up on one hand, book long abandoned to watch the Farkle match. Katie thought it might have flipped a few pages with the breeze too. Hopefully Mae would find her spot again.

“And you say we’re dramatic?”

Mae laughed when 4C deflated, superficial slime bubbling with a long sigh. Katie was nowhere near their level although they refused to admit it. She only did it for entertainment. And maybe it was her own entertainment most of the time, maybe so! But not exclusively! At least, she could stop it, Nom never had learned how to.

“I know, right. Boys can’t even handle a little loss.”

Katie prodded at the arm that kept Mae’s head up with her foot. Their eyes caught. A gleam swirled around Mae’s lovely green eyes when they formed mirthful crescents. They both devolved into giggles that heightened when 4C scoffed with offence.

“A little? I’ve just lost five times straight, Katie!”

Ivory clicked on wood.

Six, actually. He would need both hands to count now.

4C disappeared under the table. He better not have actually melted, Katie refused to clean his slime from the rug. It always got stuck in the fibres and took forever to remove, even if she soaked it completely. She would make him do it next time.

“Not my fault I’m so good.”

Katie shrugged. 4C emerged from the other side of the table, near her armchair. He shuffled over the rug on his back until he was far enough to sit. Nom, one hand clinging to the back of his couch, reached out to grab the dice.

“I’ll play you next then.”

Oh no. Katie needed to keep her win streak going, and she knew for certain that Nom’s luck would obliterate it. Stupid luck, rotten luck, even.

“I’m all Farkled out actually! Lots of playing, I think I’m starting to see doubles. How many fingers am I holding up, 4C?”

Katie pushed her hand into his eyes. He moved back, if only not to be hit across the flat of his face. Thankfully, he didn’t have a nose. Katie would definitely have bumped it. She twisted her wrist left and right, 4C’s eyes following along with the movement. 

“I don’t think that’s how you’re meant to do that?”

One finger, two fingers? He hadn’t answered. Maybe 4C should also be concerned about his sight. That could be why he made so many stupid picks, rerolling when he shouldn’t. Mae sat up properly, her book now fully discarded. She might pick it up later in the evening. Mae quite liked reading before sleeping, a few chapters which often turned into the whole night. Katie didn’t understand how she did it, reading in bed made her eyelids heavy. She had dropped a book on herself once, startled back awake. With a bruise across the forehead.

“Me, play me!”

Mae jumped up and down on the couch. It creaked in protest, softened when 4C climbed up on his back. He propped his legs up vertically against the wall, head dropped at the edge of the couch. Jealousy poked at Katie. She couldn’t hold that position on account of the blood rushing to her head. He didn’t have to worry about that.

“Yeah, you two play. I need a break to contemplate my life choices.”

Okay, maybe he had other worries. Katie didn’t dissolve the moment she jumped in the ocean. She couldn’t even imagine having a real reason not to. That would majorly suck.

Her eyes jumped to Nom’s opening roll and- Yeah, she was glad to not have gone up against him because what even was that? Even Nom huffed with disbelief.

“Oh. I win.”

Six ones. Lonely dots on every single die. Just a casual highest scoring roll possible.

“You’re so- ugh! Nevermind, I don’t want to play anymore.”

Mae crossed her arms and propped her feet on the table. She turned her head petulantly, avoiding everyone’s eyes. She handled it much better than Katie would, honestly. She would already be screaming that he had swapped out the dice for weighted ones. A ploy with 4C, all to bring Katie down from the high of her consecutive wins.

“Who can’t handle a little loss now?”

Nom taunted. Without losing balance, impressively, 4C gathered all the dice into the cup and put it on the ground out of reach. Yeah, good idea, call it there on Farkle before people got to strangling each other. Mae babbled for a few seconds before she finally remembered how words worked.

“Well- uh- At least I’m not at someone’s beck and call!”

The snide retort pulled down Nom’s sharp grin. He glanced over to the kitchen, from which came the quiet clicking of cutlery. Scott liked things arranged neater than the rest of them. He was very organised.

“I am not at Scott’s beck and-”

Nom's insistence was entirely a lie. Everyone knew that Scott had Nom wrapped around his finger, even upon their first meeting. On a day in a port town, she had accidentally run into the two of them. A merchant accosted them as they walked, holding out hands full of jewelry to Nom yet bringing them up over Scott. As though her cheap fakes would match him. She almost got her head taken off, had it not been for Scott interlacing their fingers. She scampered off quickly after that.

“She didn’t even say his name.”

4C snickered. Well, who else would it even be? Nom didn’t just have a weakness for anybody. Especially when there were so few people around. In all of their lives, Nom had never gotten so attached to somebody. Not even his own sister.

“Nom?”

His head immediately snapped to the side, where Scott peeked out the doorway. The pale flowers atop his head swayed lightly among their glittering braids. They had appeared quite suddenly, green peeking through the blonde, but their growth took a while. Katie thought they suited him well, precious white petals. And the smell that trailed after him…

“Yeah?”

Nom’s answer didn’t miss a beat. It drew Scott out, gliding across the floor right up to Nom. From behind his back, he brought out- A jar of pickled onion? Yeah, definitely, the bright pink liquid was unmistakable. Maybe he got hungry tidying up the kitchen? They had eaten dinner already, but Katie could use some food too.

“Could you open this for me?”

Scott batted his lashes. The jar was gone from his hand in the next second. Impressive. He really knew how to play Nom. A different instrument from the ones Katie used, but he was just as skilled with it. The lid popped open with a single turn of Nom’s strong grip. Scott almost curtsied in bending down to retrieve his onion.

“Thank you.”

As he turned back to the kitchen, Scott had a repressed smile on his lips. He sent Mae a wink that Nom wouldn’t be able to see. Katie watched him stare at his retreating lover. His hands clenched at the edges of the couch. Even when Scott slipped away from view, Nom kept his eyes trained on the opening for the chance of another glimpse.

Nom took nearly a full minute to realise Katie, Mae and 4C observed him curiously. He waved his arms around.

“What? He needed help!”

Nom. Stupid Nom. Did he actually believe that? Scott knew exactly what he was doing, he had been listening in. Any time he took part in teasing one of them, always keeping it light enough for no one to get upset, it made Katie’s chest warm. Even when she was the victim of it. It was how Nom showed love, after all.

“That was already half-empty.”

4C stated as he rolled onto his stomach. Maybe Nom hadn’t noticed, too distracted by Scott’s eyes. So green and so sparkly and pouring all his attention straight at him. And the chains that poured from his hair as vines off a tree. Katie understood that. Easy to falter under such an intense gaze. Nom was nothing but a fish on a golden hook.

“They get stuck sometimes!”

Nom also sat up to defend himself. This was an involved discussion worthy of his focus. Her legs swinging more excitedly, Katie looked at him upside down. Listen, she could have a little bloodrush as a treat every once in a while. She wouldn’t hold the pose too long.

“He opened it this morning.”

That was true, although Nom wouldn’t even know. He had stayed in bed longer today, Scott getting up first. Rare, these days, to find one without the other trailing behind. Katie wouldn’t complain about eating without someone throwing peas at her, though.

“You know, it’s a good thing you’re pretty.”

Mae did her best to speak without cracking, but her smile peeked through her voice. Now that Nom had stopped looking, Scott returned to the door. He watched the conversation from afar, a play for his entertainment. And Nom followed the script so well!

“Aw, thanks- wait.”

Nom frowned upon catching up with the implications of her quip. Katie couldn’t control herself, snorting loudly. It sparked Mae and 4C to join in, their laughs in unison. The dejected expression on Nom’s face only sank in deeper. He turned to the kitchen with a pout.

“Scooott, do you think I’m pretty?”

Katie could not remember Nom ever sounding so… coy. Even if he put it on intentionally, it was disturbing. The hearts in his eyes were definitely real though. Scott laughed and blew him a kiss.

“Yes, Nom.”

Gross. Disgusting. Katie gagged so hard that it made her stomach hurt- Alright, enough upside down time, her core muscles had their fill apparently. She might have torn something. Mae reached over to pull her up, a helping hand that Katie gladly took.

“It’s okay, Katie, you’re pretty too.”

She brushed her fingers over Katie’s forehead, playing at her bangs. Or readjusting them? Or her feather? Hard to tell. Mae curled one of the longer side pieces around her index before tucking it back behind Katie’s ear.

“Oh- thank you.”

Katie answered belatedly. Mae smiled with a little shrug of her shoulders, her eyes disappearing at the rise of her cheeks. What a nice sight. Katie grinned back. 

“Farkle dice, am I pretty?”

Katie tore her gaze away to go past Mae. One finger drawing shapes on the couch fabric, 4C stared down at the cup as though it held the secrets of the very universe. He shook it in a circle for the rattle of an answer. He huffed, slapping at the air playfully.

“Thanks, dice, you’re so sweet.”

The clear of a throat. 

“Oh come on, you can’t let me join?”

4C sighed, putting the cup back down. Katie didn’t want him to feel left out! Did he? 

Hm.

She supposed they had been two pairs for a long time. With the addition of Scott, there was one person leftover. 4C didn’t have the best esteem of himself, though he tried to brush it off as a joke. Or maybe- what if he had tried to talk about it and gone unheard? No. No, that wouldn’t happen. Right? Mae was closer with him. She would know.

“You’re pretty, 4C.”

Scott had returned, arm draped over the back of the couch where Nom lounged. Yes, yes, build him up, very good! Katie grabbed the arms of her seat, her nod swift as she leaned forward.

“Yeah! You’re a bright summer’s day!”

A cloudless sky, warm and inviting, the type that made her feel like a kid all over again when she woke up, but in a good way! A reminder of the good times that had gone, and all of the next ones soon to come! Where were her instruments? He needed a nice song to cheer him up.

“Some people have stars in their eyes but you have them in your everywhere.”

Slime was impressively reflective, yes, much more than skin. It caught every light, no matter how small- well, except when he buried himself in his cloak like that. Only his fingers, tugging the hood down, remained visible.

Ah, her harp was in the corner, why was it there? She didn’t remember leaving it there. But it was so far out of reach…

“You’re like a- wave.”

What a poet Nom could be. He really had a way of speaking, he should have apprenticed to be a wordsmith. Nom would find his purpose in being an author, most definitely. Even 4C poked an eye out to give him a befuddled stare.

“What? The waves are good! We all… love the waves. They take us around.”

His explanation didn’t hold any more than the rest. Because both Nom and 4C loved the waves. Obviously. Just as much as Katie, they foamed at the teeth at the idea of jumping overboard. Were there any sandbags nearby? He needed a nice thump to the head to set his mind straight. 4C waved him off.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough. I get it.”

Katie would still need to check up on him. Later. Not tonight. Maybe it was all in her mind, but she didn’t like the idea that he might be putting up a front around them. They had known each other for years now, lived in such proximity! She had even caused, in part, his greatest suffering. They should have gotten closer after that. She didn’t want him to think he had to hide some part of himself.

“Speaking of stars… look outside.”

Nom’s instruction got Katie to look up from her hands and out the window. She saw the night sky, dotted with stars, brushed over by a few fibrous clouds, nothing out of the-

Light shot through, diving down towards the ocean. It grew brighter, leaving a bright slash in the darkness, and fizzled out before it could get anywhere close.

“Oh! They’re falling!”

She jumped to her feet, rushing to stick her face to the glass. It was fine. She could clean off the oily marks in the morning. All that mattered was the rain of stars, their reflection distorted on the loose waves of the ocean. Here, and there, and yet another one. It was so fast!

Katie had seen a couple shooting stars in her life, but never such a spectacle. 

“My mum said that- they show connection. You can see them even in the Fae Wilds somehow.”

Scott said, suddenly by her side. She hadn’t heard him come close. Connection, huh? Who else was looking up at the sky, sharing Katie’s marvel at the wonders of nature? Kitty and Diarmait amongst the trees? Graecie and Shan in their garden? Owain through a castle window? Her parents? 

Wherever they were…

Katie wouldn’t know. What she could, however, was ensure those close to her would see it. She whirled around and grabbed 4C’s cloak. He flailed when she dragged him to his feet but gave up on fighting it. When Katie had an idea, it was no use. She hooked her elbow in Scott’s arm. At least he had the decency to lift it, make a bit of space for her. She dragged off the pair to the deck outside. Behind her, she could hear Mae push Nom to follow.

The entire sky opened up over her. Over them.

4C had his head craned all the way up, hood fallen off. Mouth parted, he glimmered with a thousand suns. More than a thousand! He reached up as though he might be able to catch one, pluck off a dot from the firmament.

“It’s so pretty! See, this is like you, 4C. And Mae, and Scott. Not you though.”

She stuck her tongue out at Nom, who did the same. He scrunched up his nose with little high pitched noises that she knew were meant to be an impression of her. A very bad one.

“You stink.”

Katie ignored him, although he stole Scott from her arm. She would have fought it if Mae hadn’t taken his place immediately, closing the circle of where she already held 4C’s hand. She brought them into a spin that Katie joined with all her might. They picked up speed quickly. Hair made its way into Katie’s mouth with how she laughed. She couldn’t quite spit it out. It didn’t matter. Her heart beat so fast.

Nom, ever the killjoy, had elected to sit on the bench at the base of the mast with Scott. At least, he wasn’t telling her to be careful not to fall overboard. They were anchored anyway, it would be fine.

“Katie, come here for a second.”

Slowing only slightly without reaching stillness, Katie managed to tug the circle closer to Scott. She almost tripped right into his lap. She impressed herself by managing to avoid that! He watched them with a smile, one hand reached up. A gentle green illuminated his face.

Scott’s fingers brushed at her back in the next rotation, and the deck suddenly filled with a dozen more Katies. Mae laughed brightly while 4C let go to reach for one of the copies. It thinned like smoke through his fingers. When she spun, so did all of them. Katie danced, fading into the crowd of herself as Mae slipped around.

4C climbed up the ropes, launching himself from one to another.

The boat rocked.

Scott leaned his head on Nom’s shoulder.

Katie shrieked when Mae caught her.

“You shine brighter than they do, you know.”

The stars. Not the other Katies. Hopefully? 

Katie sent Mae around into a twirl. And so, on the night went.