Sabien
Who likes falling out of a hammock? Not me. Well, I guess I should use the right terms for how I woke up this morning... let's see... I was sleeping peacefully, then, randomly, Sasha flips my hammock and I bash my head on the floor. Dang, I can't wait to get him back for that...

"Hey, Sabien, you alright?" Navia's voice startled me.

I blinked, "huh? Oh! Yep, I'm fine!"

"Really?" She raised her eyebrows skeptically. "The aggressive way you're stabbing that bowl of porridge says otherwise."

"Oh, haha, oops!" I chuckled, relaxing my grip on my spoon. "Sorry, I was just thinking."

"Mhm. Sureeee." She winked at me.

"Shush you." I wrapped an arm around her waist, planting a smooch on her forehead.

"Ewwww. Knock it off, you two." Lucia interrupted from across the table.

"Sorry." Navia and I chorused, giggling slightly.

I leaned closer to her, murmuring, "shall we-" I was cut off by loud, thumping footsteps coming down the stairs. Tyler's tanned and tired face came into view, followed by his shaggy mane of black hair.

"Ah, good, you're all up." He said briskly, then did a double take. "Wait, no you're not. Where's Lizzie?"

"She was up," Tazi spoke up with a shrug, "she grabbed a bowl of porridge and headed out on deck. I figured she probably wanted to eat out there."

Tyler frowned. "Well, I haven't seen her up there."

"She can't have gone far." Sasha remarked, "unless she went for a swim. But the only one who's stupid enough to do that is Tazi." The stingray summoner scowled and punched the Zhongese boy's arm.

Tyler disregarded their quarrel. "Hm. Weird. Maybe we should look for her?"

"Look for who?" Lizzie's wind-mussed ponytail appeared behind our guardian, who whirled in surprise.

"Ah, Lizzie! Perfect timing. Where were you?"

"Enjoying my breakfast in the sunshine." The Amayan replied easily, holding up an empty porridge bowl. She squeezed past Tyler and plopped down beside Tazi.

"Anyway, as I was saying." Tyler continued, "we'll be reaching Nilo soon, and with that come many more risks then any other places we've been. It's overrun with Conquerors. And... as was written in Olvan's letter, we may have a traitor among us." I glanced at Navia, exchanging a look of concern with her. "Although," Tyler raised his voice above the mutters and whispers that had broken out, "I myself do not believe this. We are a good team, and we've been through so much together. We're strong, and nothing can break us apart now."

I smiled at his encouraging words, adding to the cheer that rose up, "yeah! We can do anything!"

Tyler grinned at us. "Sometimes it amazes me how much you all have grown. Now go do something productive. Ryan and I must plan." He shooed is out of the mess hall.

"Plan." I snorted as Navia and I headed deeper into the ship to explore. "Sure. He's just eating the rest of the porridge."

Niko, who was accompanying us along with Lucia, snickered. "Oh yeah. Like he's gonna be able to eat all that. There was so much left, some people barely ate anything!" Lucia's elbow connected with his ribs and he quickly added, "not that seasickness is your fault, Navia!"

Navia chuckled lightly. "No worries, Niko. It sucks."

"Hey guys, hurry up!" I beckoned them from where I stood and the top of a small staircase. "Niko, lift the lantern higher! I think there's something there!" We stepped lower, the dim light of the lantern's flickering flame illuminating a... boy?

"That's the captain boy of the Conquerors!" Navia whispered. "What's he doing here?!"

"Looks like we have a stowaway." I muttered in reply.

The boy's eyes flicked open, showing a dilated golden iris and a thin, diamond shaped pupil. "Oh. Hello, my friendssss." His voice was eerie and had a feminine lilt to it.

Niko passed the lantern to Lucia and we walked down the last few steps together. "You're coming with us, stowaway." I gripped his left arm while Niko took the right, and together we hefted him back up the stairs.

"What are you doing?" The boy asked. He didn't sound confused, scared or angry, more... curious.

"Bringing you up to the more responsible adults." Niko replied through gritted teeth as we maneuvered him past Lucia and Navia, heading up higher into the belly of the ship with the girls on our heels. We reached the mess hall, startling Tyler from his "planning."

"Who's this?" The dark haired man asked as he aided them in tying the boy tightly to a chair.

"Not sure." I replied, stretching my arms. "Found him down in the ship."

"A stowaway, huh?" Tyler scrutinized the boy. "Well, Ryan and I should be fine to interrogate him for a bit. You guys go above for a bit, okay?"

"Alright." We responded in unison. Lucia and Niko headed up and split ways, but I clasped Navia's hand and brought her to the railing with me.

"The fresh air will do you good, I promise." I told her, pulling her against me as we stood by the railing.

She laughed softly, her auburn locks whipping in the breeze. A splash from Canal the dolphin drew my eyes to the sea. "I'm truly sorry about your friend." Navia whispered softly, squeezing my hand in a comforting manner. "She seemed wonderful."

"Thank you." I swallowed hard against the sudden limp in my throat. "She really was." I inhaled the sharp, salty air and closed my tired eyes.

As a sailor's cry rang out, "land ahoy!" I opened my eyes again, lifting my gaze to the horizon, where Nilo was visible. I exhaled deeply. With Navia by my side and my team behind me, there was nothing I couldn't do. The Conquerors and the great beasts can throw whatever they wish at us, but it will be no match for our strength. For we are the Chosen Eight.

Holy guacamole! Two chapters in one day? I must be going crazy!! Stay tuned! See y'all soon ;)