Technically you’re traveling north-by-east, with a slow lean to the east, leading you to imagine that you’re most likely sticking with the coastline.

Can’t be fooled if you never trusted his word in the first place. You are definitely aware that a stranger crammed you in a small, dark box in the middle of the sea; if the context was slightly different, you’re basically a missing person. 

Hm, perhaps you should’ve just prayed to the Light Dad himself instead of coming out here; maybe you’d’ve got Iron delivered to you on a spark-steel platter. Why didn’t you think of that? 

You’re going to rest your head and tell yourself that these guys aren’t the ones that have actually tried to kill you yet. I mean, it’s not like you’re on the menu.

And if they get touchy, there’s always Plan D.

What the hell are you talking about?

Not a bad plan. You’re not above taking advantage of how people see you, though that can sometimes work too well. Ugh, you really wonder if your life would’ve been less turbulent back home, you know— had you fallen off of Crust one day and smashed your face on something—lost a few teeth and all that.

Maybe you’d not have drawn the ire from the wrong people that day. You’ve witnessed a type of safety in plainness.

Maybe you could’ve just been born a man. Imagine that; You’d be strong like Dad. You wouldn’t even be in this mess.

Seriously, you wouldn’t even fit in here if you were his size.

Did he? Wait… t-there was something about his hand that got you thinking, what was it?

Ugh… Forget it. It’s starting to get stuffy in here.

You start feeling hot. Can this thing stop swaying so much? Your sense of direction is starting to spin.

You start working up a sweat in here, and your brain clouds with fog. You push on the cargo hatch, but it won’t budge. Red-haired bastard must’ve barred you in here. You decide to pry off your coat to cool off a bit.

Though you seem to cool off a little bit, for what pitiful fracture of time you can keep up with, your head spins even faster, your internal compass sensing only a blurry smear.

You reach a half-conscious state, and completely lose track of time.

…You hear some thudding, followed by muffled voices outside.

The cargo hatch creaks open.

You upchuck a coffee-tinted sludge of fruit chunks and pastry dough.

“Why?”

“Nautical sickness, mayhaps?” Yenkaran shrugs.

“No you bellhead, why are you trafficking this woman?” You pick up on the stranger’s voice, sensing a low hiss of a whisper but loud enough to still make your eardrums throb.

“I’m certainly not! This is Glass; she’s our new Sister: A lonely stray we found in the forest yesterday. Glass, I would like you to meet this fair maiden, we call her—”

“This is another maw to stuff.” she interrupts. “Have you bagged anything since I’ve been away?”

“Not exactly but—”

“My God, man.” 

“Sister, we’ve been making do just fine. As a matter of fact, Glass has earned her own supply, and has even offered to be so generous to help us secure more. Isn’t that right, Glass?”

Your ears are ringing. 

She scowls to Yenkaran, “You know, if Mikella was here right now, she’d actually just kill her.”

“Oh, but quite the contrary; She invited her!”

“Okay, so then Mikella must have drank from a Qothic fountain—is what you’re telling me, yeah? Because when I left, you had victuals for two weeks. I’m gone half-a-month and now she’s fine with bringing in a stray?… It seems to me that everything’s already falling apart. And if you think I’m coming back to camp to fix everything— again, then you’re out of luck.”

“Sister, that’s not something I ask of you. Very thoughtful of you nonetheless to know how much we had left before you ran apace.”

“I’ve been doing my utmost to avoid you people. I wanted to know how much time I had before my alone time was spoiled. And guess what. Like clockwork.”

“I made it known to you that I was going to make sure you’re okay, and like clockwork here I stand. Now come, dear Sister; What’s been on your mind? How have you been faring?”

“I don’t know, Yen.” she sighs. “How about yourself?”

“Well, it’s been a pleasant night. Glass has been good company sharing with me how she hunted in the faraway land of Gnomanya. Although I am reconsidering the method of transport— albeit with some compunction. She did let on about acquiring more scores of Nanzuul. Are you hungry?”

“I had a bread-fish pottage for supper.”

“No, Sister. Are you hungry?”

“Of course I am hungry.” she growls.

“Then she’s here to help. Give her a chance; there’s more to her than meets the eye.”

Your brain is pulsating. 

The White Hunter with the Busted Headlamp scoffs at you, “That’s fantastic to hear because right now she’s starting to remind me of someone we know.“

Yenkaran smirks, “Three weeks in solitude has done little to clear your mind, eh? Fine. Let me— Glass… Can you tell me what country you’re in?”

“Who gives a shit— none of ‘em want me.” you slur.

“Hey Freckles— He asked you a question. How about a more respectful answer?”

“I would give her a wide berth, Sister. She has a swift hand.”

“And I don’t? If your little guest swings on me I’ll maul her. Here, hold my steel, I’m checking her pack for water or something.” 

Suddenly, you remember… There’s something in your bag… that you don’t want Yenkaran to see. What was it?

Whatever it was, you need to keep it from them. Get your bag, now.

You find what strength you can muster and try to snatch your bag back. Immediately, she mounts you like you would a trampler, wrapping your arm across your own neck and crushing you between the hard edges of the hull. You feel the wooden corners digging into your back and ribs, waking you up. She smells like a bakery, which is somehow pissing you off even more: You’re being pinned by someone who smells like a cake.

“Stop.” she barks. “Stop.”

You growl, twist, and squirm at her.

You snap at her, feeling rage you haven’t felt since Gnomanya. “G-get off me! Grrr, I’LL KILL YOU!”

“Then kill me, don’t be shy.” Her grip like shackles.

“Effi! Would you stop hurting her!?” Yenkaran scolds.

“She’s fine. Now search her pack.”

“I’M GONNA CLAW OUT YOUR THROAT!”

“Uh huh.”

Yenkaran grabs the Waterskin and hands it to her, “Here, now get off of her! This is no way to welcome a Sister into the pack! She’s already had a horrible experience with us and now you just sit on her!?”

“Yeah.”

She gets off and hands you the Waterskin. “Now drink.”

Yenkaran speaks up, “My sincerest apologies, Glass. It seems very clear to me now that you and I are the only ones in this pack with manners.” he leans into her with a scowl.

You rinse your mouth and spit in that bitch’s face.