Towards The Bloody Harbour (closed to jdd)

[Philomel]

Whispers throughout Radasanth rung with the rumours of an ancient bloody dynasty. Promises of vast riches beyond all understanding and the ruins of a vast castle standing upon a cliff edge were on the trembling lips of many a late-night wanderer. The words 'horror,' 'terror,' and 'blood-sucker' ran like hunted deer through the narrow back streets, swift as an arrow. The stories varied wildly, from the prospect of a child who had explored his heritage, to the discovery of an ancient house filled with darks secrets. However, when one sought properly, when the veils made by rumour-mongers were shed, one could find truth. In the fact that two people, named Bael and Elaine, were asking for answers in relation to these rumours, and that they would gift any treasure found to the finder. All they wanted was information, in connection with the southern tip of the Tular Peninsula, where a vampire aristocrat had made his home.

A month after the rumours had begun to lull in conversation, and the popularity of them had been replaced by an alternate tale, a ship carved through the southern seas. It was a light but medium sized ship, made of a fair-toned wood and proudly bore three masts. Six sails heaved the vessel through the waters when it attracted a fair wind, and ten pairs of oars pushed else. At the front of the ship a proud fox reared his head and fought the winds and waves, his teeth eternally bared as he faced the horizon. Strongly he bore them forth, representing the ship and her crew with little problem, battling through storm and sun to take them towards the unknown. And between the ears of the figurehead another fox was present - however he was alive. His tail twitched, his eyes stared, and very slowly his chest rose and fell, taking in the seemingly endless sea around them.

"... Well?" came a voice from behind him.

Clomping over the wooden planks on two fine hooves came a tall and graceful faun. Her violet hair was pulled back around her massive spiralling horns and plaited down her back. Nestled between said horns was a black leather hat, shaped into a tricorn and it matched the simple dark leather corset and jacket that adorned her body. Two mighty swords and various other weapons hung from her belt, showing her to be a fine warrior. As she approached the fox lying there in the bright sun she watched the soft wind ripple over his fur, making it shimmer and move like grass in the savannah.

"Well?" she repeated.

Well what? The fox's two blazing golden eyes turned from the horizon in that moment to fix the faun with a stare. Into her mind he spoke directly, focusing with intensity to the one he was bonded to.

"Well, have you seen anything yet?" she asked, her brows raising, "Darling, you have been staring at that horizon for three full days now."

The fox, or rather earth-spirit, for he was only a fox truly in form, flicked his ears in annoyance and showed a row of bright white, sharp teeth.

Philomel, he said, addressing the faun by name, If I had seen the peninsula I would have said. Now if your barings are correct, and if the wind is truly as strong as we are thinking, then we will get there. Soon. But not yet.

Philomel, the faun looked back at him a moment, narrowing her eyes. But then she considered that this dear being was her friend, her dear heart's companion and possibly brother to her own soul. Fighting with him never led anywhere but sorrow for them both.

"Fine," she began to say, "But let me-"

"SAIL, HO!" came a cry from far above them.

Both looked up, right to where the noise had come from - the crow's nest on the middle, and tallest, mast. Eyes piercing through the glare of the sun they stared until a small silhouette of a hand and arm appeared over the edge of the round platform, and pointed to the starboard side of the boat. Instantly the fox and faun turned, their own eyes growing with surprise at the prospect of another ship on these demonic seas, and what it could mean. Heart pounding and hands going to the hilts of weapons they joined the fifty or so other members of the crew in glaring at the horizon.

Where, as the crow's nest lackey had spoken true, a white sail was now appearing.