From Embers

35 - Sea Sick or Love Sick?

Nausea plagued Twig's stomach like a bug burrowing its way. It would never leave. She was a land dweller through and through. The sea had never called to her and only the gods could force her to take another voyage like this again. It did not help that with a lack of access to washing the stench from the crew only added to her sickness.

"You'll get over it in a couple of days, they said," moaned Twig as she hung her head over the side of the ship. "Don't puke on the deck, they said." Propping her head onto her hand, she leaned against the side of the ship. Jai-Jai leaned beside her, looking equally as green.

"Gods tha' stinks." Rhistel swatted the air in front of her nose.

Twig groaned. "Alanis isn't around is she?"

"What? Tae see ye lookin' greener than a leprechaun? Nah, she's helpin' the cook down below. Anyway, at least ye aren't the only one sufferin'"

"This isn't because my stomach is weak," groaned Jai-Jai. "Blame that damn cook for serving me bad food."

"How come no one else is sick then?" Rhistel grinned. "It's okay. Ye just aren't as strong as the rest of us."

"Once we set foot on land, I'm going to beat you to a pulp. Watch your ears."

"Someone's a little touchy. Would be a shame if my mouth slipped about a certain familial differ-Ow!"

Jai-Jai kicked Rhistel. "Alright, alright. Your ears stay attached to your head for one more day. Just sleep with one eye open."

"Whatever you say, Sparky."

"I take it back. Come here so I can kill you now."

"Gods. Shut up, both of you." Stomach clenching, Twig hurled into the ocean below. "You're both immature babies who I'll end up murdering if you don't close your mouths and get me something to rinse my mouth out with."

"Who peed in her breakfast this mornin'?" Rhistel whispered to Jai-Jai.

"Probably you."

That comment sparked another argument and the two carried on as they left Twig alone. Groaning, the fairy wiped her lips and leaned against crates stuffed with unknown goods. The men working on deck ignored her while busying themselves with work. A knobby jointed boy, no older than fifteen, swabbed the deck. He'd been at it all morning and didn't dare to call anyone out but glared at the dirty booted crew who stomped around. Most didn't give him a second look, only snickering when the lad threw the mop in frustration. He picked it up quickly when the captain glared at him from the helm.

No women were to be found on the ship except for the travelers. Captain Ryo justified this by stating when he did have a more diverse crew, the loneliness of the seas meant that even against rules, the crew would fraternize. After five became with child, he swore to only hire men. Rhistel had called him out why he didn't just have an all women crew if men couldn't be trusted to keep their hands to themselves. To which the arrogant man said, "Because then they'd come for me."

If it wasn't for the perpetuating seasickness, Twig found she rather liked being on the open water. It made everything from her homeland seem like a dream. There was no impending war. The mud humans weren't trying to take back the world. She didn't have to worry that chances of the love of her life and her sister dying increased the closer they got to the Old Americas. A love that had grown so big that Twig didn't know who she'd be without it.

"How are ye feelin'?" the voice that made Twig's heart skip a beat every time she heard it called out softly.

Turning to look at Alanis, Twig tried to smile. "No better than I was yesterday."