The Kraken and the Bull

It was a sea tossed storm that greeted the view from the crow’s nest. The waves were wild, white tipped and violent, battering against the boat’s wooden sides with every breath. The sky was layered in swaths of gray and black. The rain poured down in sheets, obstructing vision, and completely drenching the crow’s nest’s occupant

Herai pressed herself against the side of the crow’s nest, ears laid flat against her head and lips parted in a faint hiss. She had come up here to escape the water when the ship had left dock, and now she was caught ankle deep in it. The rain seemed determined to fill her safe spot. Water lapped against the wooden planks, drenching her fur, and seeping into her clothes. The cloak she held over her head was little protection from the storm’s wrath.

She hated water. Hated it. No respecting catfolk would allow themselves to be stuck in such a deluge, and here she was, caught in the rain and surrounded by water on all sides.

She should have never accepted this damn job.

Hesitantly, Herai peaked over the side of the crow’s nest. Heights had never bothered her, but the way the boat rocked and the waves splashed upon the deck made her dizzy. She dug her claws into the wood and peered through the rain. Just visible, she could see the others that made up her adventuring group.

In the shadows of the deck, she could barely make out the form of the human, Night. She had pressed herself against the Captain’s Cabin, fingering her necklace worriedly. Well, that was one down. Herai cast her gaze further. Gregaxe was easy to spot. Even in the pouring rain and the rushing waves, the gleaming gold hulk of the minotaur golem stood tall and proud, ready for anything that might burst out of the water. And close to him, holding on to his arm for support, Selene stood, huddled in her own fanciful cloak.

All well and good. Every guard was accounted for, which meant no one had fallen overboard. Yet. At least she hadn’t heard the cry of ‘Overboard’ that would have rung out if that was the case. Still, she wouldn’t be surprised if the sound had been lost to the raging waves. They seemed to be little good for much else.

The boat rocked again, harshly, and Herai was sent skidding across the crow’s nest, her claws digging furrows in the wood. Another wave maybe, one that hit harder than the rest. She didn’t care. With a curse, she sunk deeper into the crow’s nest, nearly sitting. At least that hit had knocked some water out of her hiding spot. It hadn’t saved her tail from getting soaked through.

Wood cracked, and the sound shot through the storm like a cannonball. She froze, eyes staring wide into the pouring sheets of water as cries rang out from below. Fuck. With a muffled yowl of frustration, she spun around, peering over the railing. The sight made her freeze. She stood, staring, her claws digging into the wood and her tail pressed tight against her leg. This – this wasn’t possible. There was no way …

But there was.

A large tentacle had wrapped itself around the deck, squeezing so hard that the wood had cracked. She could just make out the shape of the mass, the curve highlighted by the peal of lighting that cracked across the sky. People scattered at its appearance. Cries still hung in the air, wild and panicked, as more forms burst out of the water, waving, and slicing down towards the boat.

Gregaxe’s roar met them. He’d let go of Selene and tossed himself toward the tentacle wrapped around the deck, the head of his huge axe burying into the flesh. There was an ungodly scream of pain, and it let go, blood spurting from the wound. Despite the rain, Herai could see the cracked wood, the water leaking through to the rooms below.

With a curse, she reached back and grabbed her bow. There wasn’t much she could do from up here, but like hell was she going to get closer to that … thing. Her arrows would have to do. Hopefully, they would.

. . .

Gregaxe’s axe swished through the air as he charged to the side of the ship, his bellow echoing through the storm’s thunder. A keening cry was the response he got, along with a flailing tentacle that hit his side. He barely felt the impact. Nothing could stop his charge.

The creature rose. It was a shadowy shape, with water sluicing off its domed head and its eyes glowing like lamps in the dark. The faintest whistle, a cry of pain, and one of those eyes’ shuttered closed. That would be Herai’s arrow. As always, it had found its mark. The twisting bolt of black light that skittered across the creature’s skin would be Night’s own attack. Selene’s was more subtle. A note of music, barely heard through the rain and the thunder and the roar of his bellow. But for all its subtlety, the effect was painfully clear to see.

With an air splitting scream, the creature recoiled. Tentacles slashed through the air as if battering away phantom enemies. Selene’s song rose, the notes growing wilder, more frantic. The song tugged at whatever brain was in that creature’s head. The eye that wasn’t closed rolled in fear. Gregaxe huffed, steam blowing out of his nose, only to get lost in the storm. He knew what would come next. He’d seen Selene’s music work its magic often enough.

This time was no exception. With a final cry of terror, the creature submerged under the waves, fleeing from Selene’s song. Indignation flared. Always, always, the satyr scared the best opponents away. It had only been a lump of blubber. They would have had calamari for dinner if not for that song.

“Someone stop Gregaxe!” Night called. Her voice sounded tiny and small compared to the thunder’s boom.

Gregaxe bellowed. He charged forwards; the axe held high. Not this time. They would not lose another fight to the bard’s music. Selene cried out. Her fingers brushed his arm, skin slipping against gold, but such a fragile creature had no chance to stop a charging bull, much less him. Somewhere above, there came a roar of frustration, just touched by a growl. “You stupid bull! Don’t you dare jump!”

It was too late. Gregaxe's feet hit the wooden planks, and with a mighty bellow, he leapt over the railing. His axe buried itself into the sinking top of the creature. A tentacle lashed out, smashed against his side with the force of a battering ram. It was a reflexive strike. Even so, with nothing to brace again, Gregaxe was thrown from the creature’s back. He hit the waves with a splash, the gold of his body swiftly swallowed by the foam tipped waves.

. . .

Herai climbed down from the crow’s nest in a panic, shivering in her soaked clothes and fur. Selene waited at the railing, peering into the storm-tossed waves for any sign of the impulsive minotaur. Night started shouting orders, move, move before the thing came back to finish them off.

They were taking water. It might not take the creature to sink them, the damage it had done, and the crashing waves, might be enough.

Herai lashed her tail and moved up to Selene’s side. “Watching isn’t going to do anything.” She pointed out. Still, she couldn’t keep the worry from her voice. “He’s either sunk or he’s not. Right now, we need to get this boat fixed before we sink too.”

Selene glanced at her. Those big black eyes were tight and fearful. She glanced back at the cracks in the deck, the water pouring through. “The supplies will be ruined.” She swallowed, then nodded. “You’ll watch?”

“Yeah.” Herai said after a long moment, staring at the waves in disgust. “I’ll watch.”

. . .

What passed underneath the water between the creature and the bull could only be guessed at. The crew of the Sea Kata certainly didn’t know, and none of the other guards could give a clear answer. All that was known for certain was that three hour into the repairs, Gregaxe appeared in the waters, flailing around as only a sentient hunk of gold could.

Herai cursed and leaned over the railing, her claws digging into the wood. “OVER HERE, YOU IDIOTIC BULL!” Her cry cut over the receding thunder of the storm.

He bellowed back, disappeared under the waves, then popped up again. With heavy strokes, Gregaxe cut through the water. One golden hand rose above the waves. Herai leaned forwards to catch it. She nearly cried out as her shoulder yanked painfully, but the strain eased as he dug his fingers into the wood and pulled himself over the railing. With a thud, he hit the deck. Already, cries from the crew, Selene, and Night were rising. Shock or delight, it was too hard to tell. Probably, it was both.

Herai took a step back, rubbing her hand. She watched Gregaxe carefully. He’d been battered, the metal that made up his form scratched and bent in places. He’d lost his axe to the creature or the depth, who was to say? But he was back in one piece. Herai supposed that was what was important. She crossed her arms. “You’re an idiot.”

He huffed and stamped a hoof.

She glared at him, her tail lashing through the air. “Honestly, I know it's annoying when Selene makes them run away, but that’s no excuse to jump off the boat after some sea monster. You could have sunk to the bottom. I’m surprised you didn’t.”

He huffed again, shaking himself. Herai opened her mouth to make another point that he would no doubt ignore, but she didn’t get the chance. With a cry of joy, Selene tackled him, Night dragged along behind her like a particularly unhappy bag. Gregaxe made a softer huffing noise and wrapped an arm around them both. The other he left out, giving room for her.

“I don’t do hugs.” Herai bared her teeth at them.

Night met her growl with a blank stare. “If I have to be in this hug, you have to be in this hug.”

Gregaxe stomped his foot.

Herai hissed and lashed her tail, but … they would only drag her into the hug anyway. Sentimental idiots. “You’re all soaked.” She hissed.

Gregaxe grabbed her arm and dragged her into the embrace. Selene giggled faintly. “So are you. Like a drenched cat.”

“Better than a drowned bull.” Herai grumbled.