High in the crown of the pirate-occupied tower the trunk split outwards into the tree's highest branches. Between these steeply angled branches was a cradle-like depression at the top of the trunk filled with healthy black soil and a small but flourishing ecosystem of plants and critters. There was even a small pond of surprisingly clear water that seemed to swell up from beneath the soil, within which swam a few small fish. The breeze was a strong and unending force in this tiny forest that sent perpetual ripples across the pond and forced the plants to grow thick and durable stems to withstand it.

Eli thought of it more like a garden than a forest, as the tallest plants only reached his chest, but it seemed to be wild -- or at least unmanaged -- growth. He supposed it was possible the people of Fale Nalore had carried this dirt up here to intentionally create it, though he leaned towards his theory that over many years the fallen leaves from the overhanging branches had collected in the cradle and decayed into soil.

It had taken some doing to get here. Though the constructed tower surrounding the trunk had stairs and ladders up to its highest floor, he was still forced to climb no insignificant height beyond to finally reach the top of the tree. His powers weren't suited for that kind of traversal, but the increased strength and agility of rank combined with the climbing techniques he had learned from Cameron made it a relatively safe, albeit arduous, task.

A few moments ago the wind had carried away the loudest whistle he could muster, and now he stood on the edge of the bark-covered lip around the garden with his hand over his brow to block the evening sun. He was about to whistle again when his panning gaze caught sight of the dot. It stayed steady in its place, but grew rapidly larger. He smiled at the incoming screech, then was struck a moment of panic and kicked off the bark to land on the soft soil below.

The griffin landed on the lip only long enough to fold shut her wings and kick off, twisting in the air before landing in the garden and crushing several plants. She charged forward, ripping up roots with her talons and trampling over bushes as she bounded towards Eli, who greet her with a joyous laugh and arms wrapped around her neck in a tight embrace.

"I missed you too, girl," he spoke into her feathers as she twisted her neck to nuzzle against him.

He had seen her in the distant sky most days, as she always stayed near to the ship as he flew. Opportunities to actually be near her, however, were rare, and the last one had been when the ship was briefly stranded in a tree out in the wilds.

Part of him was surprised she had followed him this far despite the circumstances, but that was the nature of bonded familiars. They were creatures who were more intelligent than the others of their species -- perhaps by magic, perhaps by happenstance -- and, for whatever reason, had elected to spend their lives befriending and assisting others. He wasn't the griffin's first companion, and was sure he wouldn't be her last, but for now she had chosen to accompany him in his adventures.

Though anyone could theoretically call and bond with a familiar through the use of complicated rituals, Eli had an advantage over most. His Special Ability, the unique power he'd received upon absorbing his first Thread of Power, allowed him to call out to unbonded familiars for hundreds of miles and form the bond without a ritual. As long as he could come to an understanding with the creature, and they both wanted to form the bond, it could be done with only a simple touch. That was how he had first found and bonded with Glimmer, only days after stepping off the boat on the western shores of the continent so many months ago.

Glimmer soon plopped onto the ground and settled into a casual lounging posture, and Eli took his usual seat beside her with his back leaning against her folded wing. She started preening her feathers and checking her lion-like fur for pests, occasionally reaching over to gently poke her beak into his hair as if checking him for pests too.

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"I have good news," he announced, prompting her to twist her head curiously, "it turns out we might not be going to sea after all. We might be getting off the ship near the coast and going on foot from there for a while."

She chirped happily.

He chuckled, "yeah, it means we can stay together a while longer."

She looked upwards and chirped several times in celebration.

"I hoped that's what you wanted to tell me," another voice approached through the garden, "because I showed up a little early and just overheard it."

Glimmer's head snapped towards Cameron with a critical glare that lingered for a few seconds before she relaxed and chirped in his direction.

"Does that mean I can get closer?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes," Eli smirked and rolled his eyes.

Cameron still hadn't completely overcome his wariness of the griffin, despite her only occasionally attempting to bite him and Eli's many assurances that she was only playing. He waited until she looked away to continue grooming herself before taking a step forward, and she immediately snapped her head back towards him and resumed her glare. He froze in place with a foot still hanging in the air while Eli burst into laughter and Glimmer chirped and trilled.

Cameron dropped his shoulders and sighed, quickly trudging towards them as if he had accepted his fate if she decided to attack. When no attack came, he plopped onto the ground beside her and dropped his head on Eli's shoulder. They sat like that for a while, simply enjoying each other's presence and savoring the constant breeze.

"You never answered my question," Cameron eventually spoke up.

"Yeah," Eli said softly, "that was what I wanted to tell you. My party and I are planning to bail before the ship sails out to sea."

Cameron was quiet for several moments. Eli could only his see his face his periphery but didn't glance down to see his expression, instead giving him this moment to think in relative privacy.

"I guess I'm coming with you, then."

"Just like that?" Eli looked down with surprise, "you said this was your dream job."

Cameron lifted his head and sat upright but stared at the ground as he spoke, "yeah, well, turns out it's less fun to see your bombs blow people up than it is to make them."

Eli offered a empathetic grimace in response.

"Besides," Cameron said before a deep breath, "what's a dream job compared to a dream man?"

Eli let out a quick laugh, "oh is that I am? What happened to casual?"

Cameron looked up and met his gaze, lingering in the moment before speaking, "you just gave me a life changing choice, and it was easy to make. There's not much point in pretending at that point."

Eli stared back into his eyes for a moment, then smirked, "you know, I never actually said you could come--"

"Wow," Cameron said in mock offense as he pushed Eli's shoulder and scooted away.

They enjoyed a long laugh before coming back together, this time with Eli's head on Cameron's shoulder.

"So," Cameron said after a while, "fill me in on the details. How badly did you guys argue about this?"

______

In the galley of the Gaping Maw, Autumn and Adan were silently preparing lunch. Despite most of the crew spending the bulk of their time ransacking the tower, most still returned to the ship for their meals. Killup was off somewhere with them, having consistently blown off his duties as assistant chef in favor of joining in on the looting. While Autumn chopped fresh vegetables on the counter, Adan stirred the large cooking pot with a pole-armed ladle. He broke the silence with blunt words and a matter-of-fact tone, not looking away from or pausing his work.

"I would like for me and my father to leave this ship."

Autumn paused mid-chop and half-glanced over her shoulder, "that's probably not something you should say out loud."

"No one else can currently hear us."

Autumn didn't bother asking how he could be certain of that, instead she wrestled with her own conflicted feelings that were rising in her chest. She resuming chopping before speaking again, "I bet there are some others who want to leave too."

"Yes," Adan said, "I imagine there are. I would like them to know that my father and I would join them, if allowed."

"Well, I'll pass it on if I find any of them."

The two continued working quietly for a moment before Adan spoke again, "thank you."