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 Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 9:10 pm
Was this it?
Emiyn found himself frantic as he walked back and forth across the foreign beach. Everything about this place should have screamed paradise with its crystal blue waters, beautiful coral reefs, brilliantly white sands and colorful flora and fauna but instead the summoner found himself frustrated by it all. This was the place where they had lost both Ephrym and Yokka! “I failed everyone.” He moaned as he clutched his fists in anger, mostly at himself for not keeping the ship safer during the horrendous storm that had nearly taken the whole crew. What type of weather mage and navigator was he?! They should have never gotten caught up in this mess and should have veered towards the east instead of getting greedy for these islands. Thankfully the ship itself only needed minor repairs due to fortunate navigation during the last half but now while the remainder of the crew regrouped and gathered supplies Emiyn was off searching for their captain and carpenter. Ephrym and Yokka weren’t the type to simply die, right? The man refused to believe that and so here he was pacing the beach, prepared to go further into the islands while the rest stayed behind to regroup and prepare themselves for the voyage out of these cursed islands.
What if they were dead? The very thought twisted Emiyn’s stomach into a knot but he refused to cave. He would have to find proof first! His mouth pressed into a fine line of determination as he tightened his cloak around his shoulders and prepared to press forward. “Yokka? Ephrym?” He called out again as he trudged through the tall reeds around the deeper parts of the island. Where were they?!
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 11:38 am
The storm had come so suddenly. She had been scrambling to get the sails secured when the big waves washed over the edge of the ship. Her feet had slipped over the slick wood of the mast, her body suddenly weightless as she fell through the rain.. and then darkness.
Her eyes opened slowly, pale green slits squinting against the bright sun. It filtered through the tall reeds... she wasn't on the boat anymore. Gasping sharply, she sat bolt upright with shock. The boat! Dizziness made her falter, but she pushed through to get onto her hands and knees. She was shivering against the chill her whole body felt. She needed to get moving... Gods, her whole body ached though. She could feel the bump on her head without even touching it, too, some red still staining her hair. Ouch. "Hello? Anyone here?" she called out weakly. Her nose wrinkled, and she cleared her throat to speak up. Then, in the distance... Was that-? "Emiyn? Emiyn! Here!"
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 11:48 am
Oh spirits. He was already imagining their voices! Emiyn had been at this for hours already and he as already thinking about the memorial pyres they would have to burn at sea for the lost. His heart ached and he had to force himself to stop thinking such things unless he wanted to collapse in despair. But the repeated words made him focus again and when he saw the familiar body hidden in the reeds of the cove a sigh of relief left his lips. "Yokka!" The summoner wasted no time in rushing over and reaching out to his companion. "Are you okay? Can you move?" Oh thank the spirits! Emiyn's gaze burned with tears as he stared at the geian. He was so thankful she was alright.
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:01 pm
It really was him! In her current state, she didn't hesitate to grab Emiyn's arm with both hands for support and tugged him closer. "I just need a minute," she murmured, wincing at the pain again. At least the dizziness was passing now. Of course, the questions began to fill her head next. "What happened? Is the ship okay? I was trying to secure the sails and slipped and.." That was just embarrassing to think about! "Just.. what happened?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:15 pm
Emiyn helped to pull Yokka up, his body barely slipping in the muck as she also tugged him closer. "Take your time." He whispered before starting to look over her. "If you have any serious injuries let me know." He wasn't much of a healer but he knew some basic things and surely could help her out. The summoner's cheeks darkened, his gaze lowering at the question. "The storm took us by surprise and the ship is still standing but both you and....and the captain got swept away. We still haven't found Ephrym and honestly I'm afraid the crew is ready to do a vigil." Emiyn's breath hitched at the words and the fear that Ephrym was lost to them. Thankfully he had found Yokka, but the pure fear of losing either of his dearest friends struck something within him.
"I'm just glad I don't have to mourn you." He managed with a weak smile. "Let's hope we don't have to do the same for Ephrym." Surely their captain was out here somewhere. Emiyn had already seen some of the crew making the standard pyres, the pieces of driftwood that would have some memento of the lost sailor set free in the ocean with a flaming arrow fired upon it. That was how they honored their deceased. Emiyn truly did not want to ever witness that for himself though.
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:36 pm
"Um.. just my head, I think? Everything kinda hurts." Of course, hearing about Ephrym's unknown fate had her looking up with wide eyes. "He's.. missing? Wait, a vigil already? How long have I been out?" She clenched her jaw, stumbling against Emiyn a little when a wave of pain went over her again. Exhaling sharply, she looked around as though she might see their captain just walking around through the reeds. "No.. no, he can't be gone. Are you sure you looked everywhere?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 12:42 pm
"Probably a slight concussion. Let me see." Emiyn gently looked over Yokka's head before applying some cooling wind to the area. "Let me apply bandages once we drag you out of this marsh." Emiyn nodded before making a face. "About a day? The ship had to take time to dock and we couldn't do it in the middle of the night. It's already late afternoon." He explained with a small frown. "I think we should keep searching but most are worried about another storm since these islands are so strange from what we know."
"They've looked up the north coast and I just came to this area." Emiyn had to take a deep breath to calm himself as he continued speaking, his chest tightening with each word. "Unless you've seen him it may....may be possible he went into the ocean and didn't come ashore." Just saying that hurt. Emiyn didn't even want to think of the possibility even though the others were already planning their farewells.
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 1:12 pm
A day... No wonder she was so hungry. She sighed softly with the cooling sensation on her wound, calming a little further while letting him support more of her weight. "Can't you tell when the storm's coming? That one was.. just a fluke, right?" They had to keep looking. She understood the concern about the storms, but they ihad to keep looking! "They can vigil or whatever, but I'm gonna keep looking." Not that she could even stand on her own, but she wasn't giving up!
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 1:23 pm
"I should be able to tell. The winds are calm for now so I think we have another couple of days before anything changes." Commented Emiyn though his expression fell into a frown as he pondered things. "The weather here seems to be a bit more erratic. I suppose it doesn't bother those who live here since they can stay beneath the ocean." Why worry about the weather above the land unless it got so bad that the deep ocean was also bothered?
"Let's keep looking after we look at you first." Emiyn murmured as he started to help Yokka up. "There's better ground up ahead. Let's clean you up and then we can start planning for Ephrym." She probably could use some water and food as well. Emiyn thankfully had packed some just in case and he could easily share.
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 1:45 pm
"Just gotta pay attention then," Yokka grumbled. She would go grab a few others to help look this way. He had to have washed up somewhere. He couldn't have gone far.
She shook her head, but that alone was yet another reminder that she needed to take it easy. "Never thought about dying before," she murmured as they headed for more stable ground. "Guess I assumed I'd be buried with everyone else in my family. Not gonna make you cart my dead body around though." She glanced up to Emiyn and gave him a pointed look. "I'm not dying yet! Just.. if it happens, just stick me in the ground wherever I am, eh?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:04 pm
"I am not going to let you die." Emiyn promised as he helped her along to a place where they could sit down. Summoning fresh water he held out a flask towards Yokka and started to pull out bandages so he could wrap her wound. "Is that how they do things in Belrea? We always send our dead back out to the ocean." He commented quietly even though he truly hoped they wouldn't be sending Ephrym to the goddess anytime soon.
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:14 pm
As much as it irritated her to admit to herself, she was quite relieved to be sitting back down again. She would never admit to wanting to take it easy when there was important work to be done! "Yeah.. Don't have gods here so much. No one to send our minds back to. I think they just bury it to both show respect for the person it used to be and for the sake of convenience. Dead bodies smell."
She glanced up at Emiyn and gave him a wane smile. "Thanks for coming to find me.. before I got to smelling too bad. ..We'll find Ephrym, too. You'll see."
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:17 pm
"It's not like you're decaying!" Emiyn protested but the comments did bring the first laugh from him since the storm. "Stop being so silly or should I summon soap for you as well?" He flourished his hand, fragrant petals falling onto her lap, before finishing tending to the wound. Now that ointment was applied and the would properly wrapped Emiyn had a breeze wrapping around them to help clean their clothing of the muck.
"I believe so as well. We will have plenty of years before we have to even think about how we want to be buried, alright?" He stated firmly as he leaned back to look over Yokka once more, his gaze surprisingly gentle. "I'm glad you're alright." He admitted softly. He was still worried about Ephrym but for some reason the panic over Yokka had been almost enough to destroy him as well.
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2022 2:45 pm
The laugh surprised her, but it did allow a smile of her own to rise while gently blowing at the falling petals. "I suppose some soap right about now wouldn't hurt." Now that the initial shock was wearing off, she was able to be relieved that she was alive, and happy to see a friendly face so "quickly" after being lost to the waters. The ocean had always been so warm and welcoming to her that the trauma of fearing the water's embrace.. well, it would take a while for that to clear away. As long as it didn't take her friends from her...
Her gaze met Emiyn's, and she inched a little closer for comfort. "I'm glad you're okay, too." A little time to rest, and then it would be on to the search. They would find Ephrym again. She knew it.
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