The constant humming of the engines was frustrating at first, but after 2 days of flying I was growing accustomed to this background noise. At least the wards of our vessel, despite being an old and cheap construct, protected us from the wind. So high in the sky, it was no doubt strong enough to send us overboard.

The ever changing vista though, I was not growing tired of. And I hope I never will. There were many tales back home about the jungle of the east continent, a jewel serting these lands from a time before men. I dreamed of it as a kid, and now as an adult I knew that stories had a tendency to blow things out of proportions. I thought that it was just an over glorified forest, so I just had some mild curiosity when I was selected for this urgent mission. I... have never been so glad to be wrong.

The jungle continued far in the sunset, an unending path to the scarlet ball of fire in the horizon. The trees were so numerous that we couldn't see the ground, their leaves, from the darkest green to the brightest of blue, so lush that you could follow the wind with your naked eyes as it made waves on the canopy. From so high up we could believe to be flying over the sea of the south archipelagos, as the few glimpses of the colorful mushrooms, which thrived on the bark and branches of the natives, were akin to the sight of exotic fishes in shallow waters. In some places, a tree overtook all others and almost reached us. These ancient giants were luscious, silver islands that helped us find our way in this vast river leading to the setting sun.

So many unknown living beings should be down there, I hoped I could come back one day and communicate with them. My only chance would be on the journey back home I guess.

'Should I even go back?'

The lab was once my goal, but it had become a prison where I have to use my powers for this damned war. Even worse, I can't go to the Citadel of knowledge since I was unknowingly affiliated with the human army when I got my first job. If only they-

"Cadel! We got a flock of rocks incoming!" Shouted our sentry.

"Aye! I'm on it!" I shouted back.

The bustle of the crew came back now that I got out of my daydream. I slalomed between the crates on the deck, the few that were still full were taken out of the cargo since we had less than a day before arriving. I neared the sails, where the elementalist for this shift was slumped on the mast, bored as someone can be. Keeping the wind around us in the correct course was a simple spell, using it nonstop meant that he was stuck looking at the ground all day and still drained at the end of it. But I didn't have any pity for this bastard. I made a small prayer to the gods while passing by him. Even though I k-

"Move your lazy bum faster mutt, I'll query you some grass if you're useful." He snickered in his grey wizard robes.

I froze for a moment before continuing on my way.

'It's fine, it's just for a week. It doesn't get to you.' I convinced myself.

My pace was now hurried and I couldn't help but focus on the way I walked. I hated this. It was so natural a second ago and now my every move felt awkward. I put my hood up, in part just to move my arms, hoping it will take my focus away from my legs.

"I've grown tired of your antics Kendrik. Make me hear your foul mouth once more and we will return one person less." I heard the captain say in that loud voice of hers.

A part of myself wished to hear the rest, and see the bastard face, but I couldn't bring myself to stop. I'll have to apologize later for all the nods I ignored on the way as I pulled my hood deeper, looking at the ground.

'Curses, grow up Cadel. You're 27, by the gods, you're used to this!'

Even if I wasn't looking ahead, I still took care of not tripping on the steps leading to the bow of the vessel. I didn't notice the person I crashed in though. Because my hood was so damn low! Gods, this day was good until now... Well, at least it couldn't get worse.

"Sorry bud, wasn't looking...here..." My voice went to a wisper at the end.

In front of me was two deep brown eyes staring at something with disdain. Even disgust, judging by her curled lips.

'Of course it will get worse...'

"Hey, I... sigh," I rubbed the bridge of my nose while lowering that dumb hood. "listen, we both had a long day I'm sure. So let's just do this and then go back to... whatever."

She just sighed, rolling her eyes, before slumping on the railings. Well, no answer is a good answer in my book. At least she hated me for who I am, and not what I am. I guess... Hard to say when she seemed to hate everyone that still breathed.

It was the first time she was the one acting as my guard. I kept forgetting she was a warrior, and a damn good one if the rest of the crew didn't make fun of me. Hard to guess it with her appearance.

No armor and no weapons, only a sleeveless tunic made of some kind of white rocks. It had no ornaments but it was so well made you could mistake it for some rough, dyed leather if you didn't pay attention. Her pants were the same with a column of sand, or dust, snaking the length of her legs, constantly in motion. After all that, the basic army boots were kinda disappointing to see. It's understandable, I got a pair myself, really comfy while still sturdy.

She had bigger arms than mine, and I was not untrained. Right, maybe these last years in the lab didn't help. The strange thing though, was how spotless she was. No scars, no marks, no broken nose ridge, nothing.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

This was a high importance recon mission. We had an old relic from the time when they still built flying vessels that looked like boats, sure. But that's only because the captain used all the budget on the recruitment. We had only veterans and experts in their fields.

'I'm no fighter, but even I...' I tough, looking at my right forearm, where tattoos of creepers hide the scars beneath.

"Eyes on the prize wimp." She said suddenly.

Right, the faster I'm done, the faster I get away from that very welcoming person. I hadn't had much use for my path on our trip, a small part of me wanted this day to be different. Only a small part. Not using it also meant not having issues requiring it's use, and I enjoyed the smooth ride so far.

I put on my glasses, the opaque cristal of it blurring my vision until I grasped at its enchantements. The nauseating sensation of my vision being projected so far was still disorienting. I was grateful that the consortium had paid for it, yet it was a shame this tool would become useless to me once I was back at the lab... Will I even go back?

'Focus buddy, work. Important work.'

I starred at the flock coming toward us. The humongous birds of prey were not as dangerous as they seemed. Not for us at least. Their wingspan was bigger than the boat but they won't go for something so risky unless they're desperate. And as I thought, it wasn't a flock. They live either solitary lives or in relationships of only two individuals. In front of me was two adult specimens with two fledglings, all darker than their western counterparts with a taint of brown that was close to swamp mud, striking on the mostly black feathers. If they were in a situation that would make them attack a flying vessel, they would have abandoned their children far before that.

"Nothing unusual, they're probably migrating after the shedding. This species change their whole coat once every 4 years in the span of a few days so they change locations to a place with more fish or prey who have a lot of-"

"Just tell me if there's a problem." She cut me off.

'Sure. Why learn something when you could just stare at the ground.'

I knew I had a habit of rambling but it was just small talk here! She didn't need to cut me off! Whatever, I guess. And they wonder why I prefer to speak with animals... Even dryads were not as dry as some of them.

"Eh." I couldn't help but chuckle at the pun.

Yea right, roll your eyes, you wouldn't appreciate my fine humor even if I told it to you. Easy to mock the half human.

'Easy there bud, its a slippery slope.' I reminded myself.

It's incredible how one hateful man could warp my vision of... everything. I couldn't even take jokes on elves yesterday because I took them personally. They were good jokes even, what a shame...

I took off my glasses and just enjoyed the horizon, slumped on the railings of the bow. The shedding rocks back home must also be migrating towards the west coast to feast on cartilage, an event observed by many aspiring zoologists. At least humans kept researching every little things despite the war. I wish the gods would intervene to end it, it was so silly really. Letting your children resolve their own issues surely had a limit. But who am I kidding, they were probably enjoying a festival or working on their next creation. I doubt they will make a sentient so soon, but another take on jellyf-

"Wait something's wrong..." I said as a thought creeped into my mind.

I straightened myself as some tension started gripping me and answered her raised brow, almost speaking to myself.

"If they are shedding they would go to the east, not the west. They shouldn't even know there is a sea on the west, it is too far from their habitat. Normally they wo-"

"Do we need to raise the alert or not?" She asked curtly.

"Give me a moment." I answered.

I put my glasses back on. The rocks were close enough now to see them without it, but it also meant I could see more details with it. Disturbing details. I thought the darker shade of feathers was because of the environment, but I must have been wrong. The muddy brown was not from their coat, it was a strange gas that emanated from them. Almost sticky but not liquid. I froze for a moment, cold sweat making my back shiver, as I saw their eyes. All glassy, a sickly pale yellow. Without pupils or irises. Only pale yellow. Oozing the evaporating mud. My soul stretched as I attempted to reach them, to open contact.

"Fuck." I said.

"'I shit my pants for nothing' fuck or-"

"Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck!"

I turned around and slammed my knees on the wood so hard that I hurt myself, putting my palms on the floor as if I suddenly had the weight of the sky itself on my back. I could have activated the enchantments without moving but the panic made me lose some of my reason. I hurried to grasp at the alarm, finding the only aspect of the vessel I was authorized to use amidst the sea of restrictions. The gong echoed on the flying ship, its beat bringing a semblance of clarity back in my mind. But not calm. Definitely not calm.

"What's happening?!" She asked with urgency, shaking my shoulder.

"I-I-I..." I took a deap breath. "I don't... know. It's bad, very bad."

"What should we be expecting?"

"I don't know."

"You! Sigh, what should we do then?!"

"I don't know!!!"

I shaked off of her grasp and ran to the sails were I knew the captain would be. I missed a step and fell my way down the stairs, pushing the floor with my hands as soon as I was on the ground to launch myself back up. I had to hurry. Faster damn it, faster! Wood shards were stinging my palm yet I barely felt them. I prepared myself to speak, but putting it into words made it more real, gave it sharper claws for my guts.

"Cadel! Why in the gods would you put the alert to 8!?" The captain shouted, blocking her ears.

"Because you didn't let me put it to 10! Yaoa-" I stammered, the air in my lungs far from enough to shout over the noise.

'Breath damn it, breath!' I ordered myself.

"It's just a few enraged birds Director Cadel, keep yo-"

"It's not!" I urged. I had to tell them, I had to make them understand. "Listen, I have heard most of the known fauna, I walked with the God of prosperity through the scorched coast, I even spoke with a demon! I know how life is supposed t-"

I had to stop. My breaths were short and shallow, and it took most of my willpower to break the rythme of my burning lungs.

"These things are not possible! Should not be possible! A soul doesn't sound like that!"

I slumped on the withered planks, my face so contorted it hurt despite the rest of my body feeling like moss. My eyes were dried, refusing to close not matter how much I tried. It made me able to witness the face of the captain fill with worry and resolve.

She turned around and shouted as the gong stopped. "Everyone to your battle stations, this is a last stand protocol! No management of ressources! Restrictions are lifted for wizards, path striders and blessed!"

Good! It was good. At least my name held enough weight to move first and explain later. These things couldn't be allowed to be. Or met. But we couldn't flee when they were so near. I had to decide fast. Being caught unprepared was not worth a very slim chance of flying away...right?

'I made the right decision.' I convinced myself. "Right?..."

I shuddered, my bark creaking, as I remembered the... things. The moment I tried to connect with them. When I touched their soul. Only a cacophony of sounds. And a screeching.

Not of rage.

Not of pain.

Not of madness.

A screeching of rust against steel. Of claws against their own scales. Of flesh being ripped apart.

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