The storm struck at dawn.

If Umae held any fondness for well-slept sailors, the sea god must have forgotten it amongst the throws of his infamous temper. Lightning streaked across the previously still sky with unsettling ferocity as the first towering wave sent warning cries into the air. Despite the hour, a dozen feet pounded across the deck within seconds. Water crashed across the boards, heightening the danger as each body fell into their respective roles with minimal complaints.

Iliana, herself, made no effort to muffle the curses falling from her lips as she caught her bare foot against the edge of the nest's railing, before seizing the line at her shoulders and swinging out onto the yard. Between the screaming skies and deafening thunder, there wasn't a single man capable of hearing the muttered vulgarities--nor one who would care even if they could.

Of course it was during her watch that the sky would break without even a cloud of warning. She couldn't find it within herself to be surprised--her infamously shit luck occasionally felt as if the gods held some personal vendetta against her. How else would a perfect night turn into the thing of nightmares?

The yard's slick wood felt cold and unsteady beneath her toes, but she didn't have time to worry about the risk of it all as a booming call to strike the sails carried above the furious winds. Rain struck her fingers like ice as she loosened the ties that typically secured the fabric.

Another body fell into place beside her. She couldn't help the faint vein of competition that struck the back of her mind as the sail near instantly loosened on their end. At least she'd beat him to the yard this time. There wasn't a chance he'd--

"Got my knot! How's yours?"

Iliana gritted her teeth. "Bullshit! There's no way you finished already."

A particularly harsh gust of wind tore the sail free of her scarred fingers, forcing her to lunge after it in order to snatch the fabric back into place and secure her ropes. It took everything she had to stay focused as laughter broke out over everything else.

"Still got some sleep in your eyes?"

"Oh, shut up."

"Secured!" a voice called.

Realizing the announcement came from the other side of the mast, Iliana ignored whatever retort her friend gave and refocused on her second rope. She'd be damned if she was the last to finish again.

"Iliana? Kain?"

"Got--"

A wave slammed into the bow. Iliana tangled her fingers in the rigging as the sudden lurch of the ship nearly sent her plunging overboard. Another bark of laughter had her sorely wishing she could loosen her fingers long enough to send the voice's owner flying himself.

"I think this makes us five-to-one? Or was it six?"

She might have snapped a response, but the captain's call to strike the second sails had them rechecking their ties, before jumping to follow orders. They knew better than to hesitate--a second could be the difference between life or death at sea.

A handful of close calls and several minutes later found the duo tucked behind the main mast, fingers twisted into the ropes. Iliana's forehead rested against the old burn scars that coated the back of her hands. If they started down, the captain might call for the next sails to be struck before their feet touched the deck. While dangerous, the smarter move was to stay aloft.

"That's one way to start the day!" Kain shouted.

Iliana snorted and lifted her head. The sting from flying saltwater combined with the unending downpour made seeing him difficult. Despite that, Iliana caught his dark eyes and smirked.

"It is," she agreed. "Always a good morning when I get to see you look like a drowned rat."

"Thanks," he retorted.

It was true enough. The knitted gray cap that always blocked all view of Kain's locks had been turned near black by the rain. When combined with his half-dressed state--the storm had likely sprung too quickly for him to bother with a shirt--and the way his dark brown skin glistened in the moonlight, he looked quite younger than his twenty-one years.

"Iliana! Kain! Feet on deck!"

The two exchanged glances. She hadn't imagined the storm light enough for navigation to be solved by only striking half the sails, but orders were orders. Tucking her own thoughts on the matter away, Iliana climbed down with care.

"Go down below," their captain ordered the second they reached him. "I want you to double check the cargo and bail out water if we've got leaks. The six of us have things up here. I'd hate to lose a hundred 'cause Umae decided to be an ass."

"Don't think you're supposed to call a god an ass," Kain joked.

"I'll call him whatever I damn well please! Now, get to it!"

Not about to argue given the situation, the two of them started for the hatch.

Just as Iliana grabbed the handle, a hard wave crashed against the rails. The impact nearly sent the deck vertical and for a single heartbeat, Iliana could see the ocean beneath them. Her breath caught in her throat, green eyes widening, as Kain lost his balance.

Her instincts screamed, sending her lunging forward to seize his wrist as her other hand caught the rigging.

The ship righted itself within the minute and she released him. Kain offered her a grateful smile. Iliana nodded back, before tugging open the hatch and starting below deck.

"And that's three me, zero you," she said, shooting him a grin over her shoulder. "Pretty sure winning the savior score is better than the ropes."

Kain rolled his eyes as he trailed behind her.

"You're forgetting the times I've hauled you out of the way of a nightmare," he pointed out. "Rather certain death by sea monster is just as bad. Should at least be three-to-ten."

"You know that doesn't count."

The second they reached the lower level, Iliana turned for the next hatch. This was always the worst part of a storm for her. She hated climbing around in the cargo hold. The lower levels were always too dark to see given their lack of gemlight. Any potentially sustained damage would have to be felt out by hand and instinct alone.

"I never agreed to that," Kain argued. "Just because I learned the sword and you haven't doesn't mean you get to overrule me."

Despite knowing she should move, Iliana paused after bracing the trap door against the wall. There wasn't a single bit of her that wished to jump in--the most she managed was crouching next to it as her fingers combed her tangled, brunette locks. Her hands stilled where the strands ended at her chin, palms resting against the skin.

The pounding of her heart felt deafening in her ears.

"Scared?"

She scoffed. "Of course not. Come on."

It was pride that forced her into the dark. The knowledge that if she said something, Kain would nudge her aside and do the task himself--then lie, after, to the captain as if she hadn't hesitated at all. He wouldn't bring it up again, but they'd have both known the truth.

So, she jumped.

The metal charms of her anklet jingled as the impact of her bare feet against the barrels. Despite the screaming wind outside, something about the noise seemed to echo through her unnaturally loud. She paused, then shook her head in dismissal.

Her mind was playing games with her as it always did. And there were more important things at hand than her fears. Her job, for one.

"Let's get to work."

She heard rather than saw Kain drop in after her as she began to run her fingers along the wood. Warmth settled in her chest as he gave her shoulder a squeeze, before moving away.

It would be fine.

She just needed to ignore how unnervingly similar the strike of a palm against skin was to lightening, and how the musty wood reminded her of aging shelves in dusty cellars.

She wasn't in Aeolis.

She wasn't trapped.

"I bet the next watch I finish first," Kain called out.

Iliana drew in a ragged breath and forced herself forward. "You're on." 

A/N: Hey guys!! I think I'll be updating on Mondays. <3 

Thank you for reading and joining me on this journey as we go forward into one of my favorite worlds to write in.

And for those of you who are returning readers--I know the changes were small, but I hope you enjoyed them.