Serri woke up late the next day, the sun much higher in the sky than she wanted it to be. On the other hand, she and Tairdi had gone to sleep when the sun was just kissing the stars. They had their language written down though. Keywords with symbols, an alphabet for when things needed to be spelled out, and even a few things that meant how long, short, or difficult the message would be. The stones! She shot upright and started touching all of her pockets. They were right where she left them, the inside pocket on her chest’s right side. The papers... Ah, the other side gave off a crackling sound.

“Did you need anything to eat before you go?” Tairdi was speaking to her from the door’s arch, wearing a different outfit than xe’d been in yesterday.

“...I’m not awake enough to be polite and pass that up,” Serri said, yawning. “It’s less money we have to spend and it’ll be nice to have a meal off ship. Please. And thank you.”

“I’ll make a second helping of my own breakfast then,” xe said, already turning and moving away from where xe’d been standing. “Do you need to wash up?”

For a split second she wanted to say yes, but the thought of putting dirty clothing back on after cleaning herself off was enough to squash that idea.

“I probably do, but I won’t do it here,” she said, getting out of bed. “I don’t even remember coming here.”

“You fell asleep in the study and I carried you here. No, no, don’t feel embarrassed. All beings need their sleep, and that means some more than others.”

“Thank you.”

“I look forward to the woman you’ll be one day, Captain Seren.” Tairdi’s voice was soft, almost as if xe didn’t want her to hear xem. “I’ve seen small pieces of your future, and those are memories I cherish.”

That was a lot of pressure to wake up to. Also, how was a person supposed to respond to that?

“Um... Thanks? I think.”

Xe simply nodded and moved away; maybe it was her that was feeling pressure that wasn’t there?

Serri slid out of the bed and automatically made it behind her. “There’s nothing that special about us, is there? I mean, sure, the ship is weird and unconventional, and the crew wasn’t all hired at the same time, but if we’re going to be sky pirates, then having a stolen ship sets the tone.”

Bed made, and as she left the room she started combing through her hair with fingers, dividing it into three and containing everything with a sloppy braid.

“Tairdi?”

“Over here,” xe called out from her right side. “I’m in my personal kitchen instead of the one I keep for visitors.”

“It’s a lot bigger,” she said as she stepped in, “than the other one.”

This room had at least three cold boxes at the side of the walls, and in the middle was a large table. As Serri tried to figure out if she could sit and eat at a table that high, Tairdi passed and snagged something from underneath.

“It’s a nesting table? That’s cute!” And practical, her mind pointed out. If they had something like that on the ship, then they could all eat outside and enjoy the views together, instead of eating one at a time at their only desk.

“Because I’m not the only one that eats here, so it’s good to have a different size. Here. I hope you’re hungry.” Xe slid a plate onto the Serri-sized table and returned to the stove. “Grilled fish, vegetables on the side, and a touch of honey with the bread. Drinks are water, tea, and coffee as needed.”

“Do you eat this much all the time?”

“I’m cooking even more for myself,” xe answered, taking three fish out of a cooler and throwing them into the pan. “Breakfast is the best meal for me since I’ll sometimes get too busy during the day to eat anything other than dried foods and snacks.”

“And coffee, of course,” teased Serri. “I saw how much of that you drank yesterday.”

“There are some nights that I want my brain to keep working and coming up with ideas. Last night was one of them, since we were on a time limit.” Tairdi poked the fish and flipped them over, not using a tool like Serri or her parents would have, but using xyr claws. “And I wanted to offer you something hot to eat as well.”

“Thank you again. And if you don’t mind, I’ll have some coffee.”

“It’s on the table and there’s a cup in front of you. Pour and drink as much as you want.”

She took the carafe and poured herself a cup of black coffee, sniffing it and remembering mornings when her dad would pour himself a cup, give her father a glass of milk, and then pour the coffee so that the milk held a hint of darkness.

“Vachlan and Rive should be up here soon and ready to leave. Will you meet them on the ship, or at the entrance?”

“Ship would be best, so I can stow away things. This fish is wonderful!”

“Thank you.” Xe slid into xyr seat across from her, the plate in xyr hand steaming. “My recipe, with spices that I’ve been studying on how best to use.”

“Yesterday, I asked if you had any books that you wanted to get rid of.” She ate a few more bites before continuing. “Did you happen to find any after I went to sleep?”

Xe laughed. “Funny you should mention that. I found some I don’t mind parting with. If they’re something you want to read, though, is another matter.”

“I’ll take them!”

Tairdi nodded. Xe picked up a fish by its tail, tilted xyr head back, and swallowed it completely. Serri felt her eyes go wide.

“They’re small fish,” xe explained when xe saw her look. “Or at least, there are bigger fish I can get, but I enjoy being able to eat it whole.”

“...any reason why?”

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“Mostly amusement. Also, I want to see how big my jaw can go sometimes.”

That was a weird thing for someone to want, but Serri didn’t question it. She focused on finishing her food and when they were both done, she stood up from the table.

“Thank you, Tairdi, for everything you’ve done to help us.”

Xe made a noise she couldn’t place, but eventually nodded.

“I’m going to head back up to the ship; Rive, Vachlan, and the threader she’s bringing should be here soon, and I’ll need to greet them.”

“Then this is where we part,” xe agreed, holding out a hand. “May your winds be swift, the skies provide you comfort, and the clouds cover from whoever tracks you.”

“And blessings on you and your library.” Serri gave a curtsy as her father had taught her and Tairdi took a step back.

“Where did you learn that?”

“My father taught me. He said it’s how people in his family act when they’re in the presence of elders. Why?”

Xe smiled, but it seemed forced to her. “You have a few unique parts to it I haven’t seen elsewhere in the world. The fact that you have your right hand at your shoulder top, for instance.”

“Ah. Um, as far as I know, this is what my family’s done for generations.”

“Thank you for sharing that fact.” Something caught xyr attention because Serri saw xyr eyes flicker off to the right. “I think I hear your crewmates coming. The books I’m gifting you are by the doorway, and though the pile may look large, you are more than welcome to all within. Some are even for Vachlan, if she ever reads something from me again, and I believe there are a few titles that might even intrigue your engineer.”

Serri wanted to conclude with another thank you, but that would be repeating herself. Instead, as she finished her curtsy, she lunged forward and hugged the bearkin.

“Monitor my stone, Captain Seren. Any message I send will be broadcasted for as long as I’m able.” Xe let go and gave her a little push to the door. Serri left, walking through the door and heading along the pathway that should take her to the landing pad. The noises were becoming louder, and soon enough she could distinguish Vachlan, Rive, and one other being talking with them.

She stood and waited, holding Tairdi’s gift of books and waving as they appeared.

“Captain Serri, this is Jael.” Vachlan pointed a wing at the young being they’d brought up. “Jael is Azmar’s only threader, and like I said before, ze’ll be able to look over the tree, I think you said? But ze might not have the power to counter whatever threading ze finds.”

“It’s a start,” said Seren, nodding. “Thank you, Jael, for looking over the Picotree Drop.”

“We anchored the ship nearby, so one of us will need to shimmy up the rope.” Rive snapped their fingers. “Then we can spread the net I bought and bring up people and cargo that way.”

“Sounds like a better plan than forcing people to climb up with a bag of supplies,” said Seren. “Are you volunteering to go up first?”

“Yep!” Rive readjusted their backpack. “And although I’ll be up soon, it might be about a five-minute wait until I can anchor the net, which will allow everyone on board.”

“Thank you. You can leave everything else but the net down, you know?”

“I could,” agreed Rive, “but it’ll be easier this way.”

Vachlan cleared her throat. “You need someone to get to the top, yes? Why not ask the person with wings?”

Jael let out a small giggle as Rive and Seren just looked at each other, and then at Vachlan.

“I...” Rive cleared their throat. “I didn’t think you could fly?”

“Not in Azmar, no. For several reasons, before you think to ask why.” She was already stretching her wings, forcing the others to step back or risk getting a mouthful of feathers. “The next that you’d like me to cast down, it’s in Rive’s bag?”

They held up the backpack, and she snatched it with a talon.

“The trick will be to anchor it to something that’ll hold all of our weights.”

She nodded, then walked over to a tall rock and lifted her wings. The fierce wind almost blew her off her position, but she readjusted, jumped off, and hovered over the ground.

“That’s amazing!” shouted Seren, clapping her hands. Vachlan flexed a wing and allowed the wing to take her higher. As she soared higher, she soon became a speck in the sky.

“Well, that’s one person we won’t have to worry about falling to the ground,” said Rive. “Maybe we can ask her to help us land in the future.”

“Better than you,” replied Seren immediately.

“And you,” Rive replied.

Jael, who didn’t know they were talking about Rive’s earlier landing attempt, didn’t join in the conversation. They all waited, and sure enough, after a few minutes, the edge of a net thudded to the ground.

“Can you also toss down a rope?” asked Seren. “Or something smaller for my books?”

She didn’t have to wait long, and when the rope dropped before her, she shouted thanks. Books were put in a tight pile, wrapped with rope, and knotted so the whole thing wouldn’t loosen in mid air.

“Finished? Last one up’s a rotten egg,” declared Rive, one hand already grabbing the rope. Seren sped past them, pretending it was one of the trees back home and she was climbing it to get at the honey.

They raced to the top, Seren narrowly beating Rive as she hauled herself over the side.

“I see what you mean when you told me I’d have to see the ship for myself,” said Vachlan, standing nearby. “I never would have believed otherwise that this was a working ship. And you’re correct, Rive, there is little I can do to change the structure via my element.”

“Yeah, I thought that might be the case. Seashell isn’t made of earth. Hell, we’d probably need a necromancer. They’re the only ones I know who understand bone.”

“I’m not sure if seashells are bone, but that’s something we’ll have to figure out.” She turned to see Jael reaching the top. “And thank you very much for coming up here!”

“Maybe,” ze gasped, “in the future you can have a chair lift? I’m not very athletic.”

“Sorry about that,” apologized Seren. “Sit down for as long as you need to. There’s no rush.”

“And I’ll figure out how I can make it easier for people to get around,” said Rive.

“I’ll add a bit more to your payment, Jael.”

“You’re paying zem?” asked Seren, turning to Vachlan.

“Yes.”

“I thought ze was going to do this for free, as a friend.”

“What part of ‘I have no friends or family’ didn’t you understand? And besides,” continued Vachlan, stepping forward, “even if a person was a friend, I would like to pay them for any work they’ve done on my behalf.”

“If it makes you feel any better,” added Jale, “I’m not charging her what I would charge tourists, just my basic fee.”

“My ship, my payment,” said Seren. “Please let me know how much it is and I’ll pay you back.”

“I had extra coin from here that I needed to spend. Don’t make a big deal out of this.”

She frowned. “Very well. But if the ship can have for you, such as a... a perching branch, or something, you’ll let me know about that, right?”

“In the rare case that I’ll need something to be made, I’ll request that Rive take care of it.” Vachlan smiled. “But I understand what you’re asking of me, and yes, if needed or wanted, I’ll mention it..”

Seren smiled. “That’s all I ask.”

“Captain Serri, I’m ready to examine your tree now,” said Jael, pushing zirself to stand up.

“Thank you.” She turned to her first mate. “Could you bring up the books tied up below and start putting things away? If you’re not sure about where it should go, or if there isn’t space, put it on the table for now.”

“Will do.”

“Do you have any orders for me, captain?”

She looked at her newest crewmate and tried to think best about how to use the winged woman’s strengths and skills.

“For now, I’d like you to learn about navigation. You already know a lot more about wind movement than either Rive or I would, and if you’re able to help with scouting, then that’ll be the best thing for you at the moment. For now, I need to know what’s happening with our tree.”