“All right, we'll see you later tonight,” Lana smiled as she and Ariana logged off. Those who were staying on waved goodbye to them, and then headed to ensure their vessel was in ship-shape.

When did I separate Sean and Lana, anyway? Daaang it, that girl is too cute here to be Sean in real life some days... where does one begin and the other end? Lizzy wondered to herself as she began tinkering with things on her portable-crafting table. As she adjusted the steel-wrought brace so that it could be easily fitted to the ship in an emergency repair, she smiled to herself. We've done some crazy things, huh, chick?

“Lizzy, you sure about this? Your folks won't get upset or anything, will they?” Peaches asked her with a serious look.

“My folks? Pffft. They're surprised I have a nearly perfect attendance record so far this year, minus a couple work days I negotiated for around the holidays. Besides, they're in no position to lecture me about anything, really.” Lizzy returned.

“Oh-ho, it's one of those families, huh?” Peaches softly grinned, patting the young woman on the shoulder.

“Yeahh... can't wait to get away from them next year and house up with Heali and Der.” she replied, making sure her adjustments were secure.

“You should do this sort of thing for a living.” the older woman noted as she admired the craftsmanship.

“I've thought about it,” the other nodded back. “Maybe when or if I get tired of my current job I'll go for an apprenticeship in welding or something...”

“The new face of Rosie the Riveter, huh?” Peaches smiled.

“Ooh, heck yes!” Lizzy beamed.

“Peaches! We're approaching it,” Snow Dancer called from the helm.

“The Veiled Sea?” the leader of Dreamers Fables returned as she and Lizzy looked out towards the horizon ahead of them.

“Whoa,” the Nordian girl whistled.

“Masters, this sea is something even I have not heard of before; let us be careful,” Fyu Dongtian remarked as he ventured up on deck.

“Oh defs.” Lizzy nodded, placing her hand on the dog-beast's head.

“Bubs!” Peaches clapped her hands, and the little gremlin appeared.

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“Master!” Bubs replied.

“Get to the lookout,” Peaches said, handing him a spyglass, “And keep watch for anything that might hinder us. We'll play some cards later.”

“Oh yes, master, yes indeed! Bubs will keep watch!” the gremlin grinned, scurrying up to the crow's nest with the spyglass in hand.

“Come to think of it -- Snow, can't you use your magic to make floaty light things to help us see?” Lizzy asked the silver-clad Ch'rquoi mage, who gave her friend a funny look.

“If I think it necessary I can do so, but our lanterns should be enough for now.” she returned with a smile.

“Gotcha.” the other nodded.

“And they're called were-lights.” Snow Dancer added with a smirk.

“Ooh, sounds Halloweeny!” Lizzy grinned.

“Mas-terrrs!” Bubs called from the lookout. “They's rocks ahead!”

“Great.” Cloveroak grunted. “We'll have to be super careful; let's bring the sails most of the way up so we don't ram into them.”

“Right,” Snow Dancer nodded.

“On it!” Lizzy said as the two of them began hurrying to get the sails up as instructed. Cloveroak and Peaches took care of another, slowing the ship down just in time so that the Changeling Sage could maneuver them away from the first cluster of sea rocks they saw in the Veiled Sea.

“How long until we're through?” Peaches asked.

“At this pace?” Cloveroak shook his head, “We'll get through just in time for the others to get back. Well, for all of them to get back, at least,” he said.

“Yeah, Ari, Lana, Der, and Anhe should be late getting on.” Lizzy nodded. “So we have about two or three Panarena days in this miserable stuff, huh? Swell.”

“On the bright side, Venomheart may only just be getting here by that time, hopefully,” Peaches estimated. “I'd guess after our little trick and their response to it, they'll decide to go around the Siren Sea.”

“Heh. That poison cloud must've knocked out nearly half their crew,” Cloveroak chuckled.

“Sweet!” Lizzy grinned. “How will we fend off a bunch of poisoners if they catch up, though?”

“Don't underestimate me.” Cloveroak returned. “I've gone up against Jana and Clara before; technically I guess it was a draw, but neither of them could ever get me below half my health. So I'd say I won.”

“And their health?” the blonde girl returned skeptically.

“That's what you're here for.” the other grinned back.

“I guess so!” she beamed back at once.

“Focus! More rocks ahead!” Snow Dancer said to her guild-mate, who began turning away from the next sea rock in their path. Lizzy went back to her crafting then, letting out a soft sigh as she picked up her hammer.

Lana... hurry back.