Chapter Text
I sat on a low branch of an oak tree at the top of a hill overlooking the busy port of Rylan, reading a novel based on the adventures of captain Arkos of the crew of crimson. The sound of an explosion followed by a cacophony of screams fills the air as a shockwave knocks me from my perch. I look out over the town and see clouds of ash rolling across, tainting the ocean sky. More explosions sound as volcanic rocks hurl themselves out from Mount Turin colliding with the city and the ships docked in the harbour.
I scanned for our ship, Owen and Captain Nate were trying to calm the crowds piling on as the rest of the crew were preparing for launch. My feet left my mind behind as instinct took over, I had to get back to the ship, to my source of freedom, my refuge from the fear overcoming me. My seagull was circling above me, his eyes locked on me as I felt a tickle in my mind, "oh this is going to be fun" it was Tyll the trickster god I was contracted to, "get somewhere good we're gonna want to see this."
Squeezing through the frenzied streets I made my way to the ship, at the bottom of the gangplank a crowd had formed, pushing through each other for the perceived safety. Tyll in seagull form landed on the top of the mast next to my usual spot in the crows nest. I sent my mind out to Nate's. "What's happening captain? What should I do?" His usual grunt at my invasion rebounded back to me. "I'm a little busy Vander, get in position ready to...." His thoughts paused as another loud crash echoed around us, this time I could see parts of the castle tumbling down.
The screaming and panicked pleas were overwhelming me, everything spinning, I made my way up to the crows nest and hid myself. My hands covering my ears and squeezing my head, trying for a brief respite from the chaos, when everything quietened. A gentle glow illuminated from the centre of the ship, it's aura emanating out, it felt like a blanket had been draped over my shoulders.
"Oh, we've definitely gotta watch this now" Tyll's cackling voice filled my mind as I peered at the source of the glow. The glow started to shift and expand as a golden winged lion took shape in the centre. Kneeled before him I noticed what could only be the royals, the twin brothers and their sister hidden at the back.
I couldn't make out what they were saying but the lion looked to be in pain, pleading for swiftness. Cracks were forming in the shield of light surrounding our ship as molten rock disintegrated on collision. Another loud explosion erupted from the mountain, the shield faltered, a large piece of mountain debris crashed into the ocean just off the side of the ship.
Then a flash of white light and suddenly the only noise was the crying from the children aboard the ship. It was now night and as I looked overboard we were in a sea of giant redwood trees, with one sticking straight through the ship. The lion had shrunk down to the size of a regular tabby, and the golden glow retreated to a slight shimmer.
We weren't in the harbour anymore.