Most of the bar filtered out into the street to see what had happened. Night had long since fallen and the wind had picked up significantly. It whipped her crimson hair around her face making it had to see even though the moon was still visible and bright directly overhead. The dark clouds were still out above the sea but she could see lightning off in the distance. The storm would be here soon if this wind didn’t already count.

As she walked further out into the street and towards the port which was the direction others were going she realised what had made the noise. A latecomer to the port had missed the wind change just as they had done earlier, only this ship hadn’t been quite so lucky. It had sailed right into the port and out the other side, slowing only when it finally hit the shore. Even worse, on its way it it had scraped by the side of another ship, and ripped a hole wide open. Men were now scrambling to save the ship from sinking.

Sirius’s ship was further down the pier and remained as they had left her. Amanda wondered where Sirius was and hoped he had not been on the pier when that ship had sailed though.

She stumbled closer to see if she might help in some way but they seemed to have it sorted. She would only get in the way. No one looked to be injured thankfully.

She watched a little while just in case but eventually the wind got to her. It nipped at even her beer warmed skin and she turned to find shelter closer to the buildings. She made her way back toward the bar she had come from, not pausing to look in any windows, merely glancing as she passed, curious about what wares they might sell here but eager to get back into the warmth. She was wondering how they were going to get back to the ship given the state of the pier, when a dark shape materialised in front of her.

She glanced up to find two muscular looking men. They were swaying on their feet much like she was and they were blocking her path. She eyed them up.

“Hey sweetheart,” one of them cooed in a tone she didn’t altogether like.

“Hey yourself,” she replied evenly and a little coldly. She wasn’t afraid of them. The bar was only three doors away and she had fire on her side. Even as drunk as she was. Still the expressions on their faces made her heart beat a little faster and could she really risk setting them on fire? She would if she had to but it wasn’t an act she looked forward to. Burning human flesh had a distinctive smell that tended to haunt nightmares long after the act. Far better to bluff her way through.

“Ooo this one has bite,” the same man observed.

“How much you charging love? Or is the first one free?” cooed the other.

“Move aside please,” she said firmly.

The one on the right’s face took on a menacing look, no pretense of friendliness existed there anymore and he took a step towards her. “I don’t think so,” he growled.

She started to take a step back when she sensed another presence behind her. Another one? Her breath caught and she suddenly realised she was far drunker than she should have been to walk alone in a foreign town late at night. Fear licked at her neck but she readied her fingers anyway. Fire and fury was all she needed, right?

“The lady said move aside.” The voice spoke from beside her and she was surprised to find she recognised it. It was Sirius.

The next thing she knew fists were flying and then Sirius threw one of them into the wall. The man’s head made a sickening crack and he fell to the ground unconscious. Sirius turned to the other, who took one look at his downed friend and turned tail and ran calling back, “Hey she’s all yours mate,” as he ran.

“You alright?” Sirius asked Amanda.

She nodded in reply not trusting her voice to speak yet.

Sirius stooped to check the downed man’s pulse and she could see the relief in his shoulders when he found one.

“Come on,” Sirius said to Amanda as he turned to head toward the bar.

Amanda glanced down at the one on the ground.

“I’ll send somebody for him,” Sirius replied without a glance back.

She followed along behind thinking how close she had come to setting someone on fire in front of the captain. The near escape pushed adrenaline through her. “I totally had them you know,” she said in a breathless tone that was meant to be light and playful.

Sirius stopped and turned to look back at her. He studied her for a moment before replying with an indiscernible, “Hmm, did you?” Then he turned and continued toward the bar. But half way he glanced back at her again, still a curious look in hie eyes.

She met his with her own and sincerely replied, “Thank you though.”

He nodded and they entered the bar. They found very few crew left and most were napping with heads on the table.

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“What happened here?” Sirius asked, as if he couldn’t have guessed.

One of the crew just raised a finger and pointed the blame at another.

Sirius grunted. “The pier’s fucked, we need to get a row boat out there before the wind picks up too much. Is anyone else coming back to the ship tonight who’s not here?”

“Blowed if I know,” replied the drunken sailor raising his head a few inches from the table this time.

“Well round up everyone who is, we’re leaving in 5,” Sirius told him. Then he turned and walked up to the bar. He spoke to the barmaid. “There’s an unconscious man further down the street who might need some medical attention if you could please send someone for him. And if he has a captain come looking for him in the morning, tell him the lad got thumped for hassling one of Sirius’s crew.”

She nodded and disappeared into a back room, seemingly to fetch someone to go help the downed man.

Sirius returned to Amanda and the slowly rousing remnants of the crew. He spoke to her softly as men clambered up from their seats. “I know it may not seem like he deserves the help, but Wildwater gets cold at night and I’d rather not contribute to the pollution in their streets.”

Amanda didn’t answer but she gave a nod. She agreed with him and truthfully she was beginning to feel a bit tired and even the floor was starting to look comfortable.

Sirius surveyed the remaining crew, most of whom seemed ready to go, even if many were a little wobbly on their feet. Even the one under the table had been roused and was now draped over a fellow crewman’s shoulders while he mumbled to himself.

Sirius turned and led them out into the night.

They followed him down to the wharf, where he managed to signal to one of the remaining crew on their ship to bring one of the long boats in to take them all out.

“It’s a good thing we already unloaded eh captain?” One of the men slurred as he climbed into the long boat.

One man tripped over his own feet as he got in, much to the amusement of the remaining crew. Luckily he fell forwards into the boat instead of backwards into the water and a couple his mates caught him.

Amanda heard Sirius sigh.

Finally it was her turn. She eyed the bobbing boat, not completely convinced she wasn’t going to have trouble getting in herself. Indeed, as soon as she stepped one foot on the boat, the entire thing started to shift out into the water. She yelped, thinking she was going to end up in the dark salty water below. But Sirius’ firm hands grabbed and pulled her back gently to the shore. Then he reached out and pulled the boat back in close with one toe.

“You need help?” he inquired.

“No, I got it,” Amanda replied. This time she committed and made it into the boat, sitting down swiftly before she could fall. She smiled back at him with a satisfied grin.

His own moon-lit face reflected an expression that looked like amusement. He stood there on the wharf, an imposing shadow, tall and alone but with mischief in his eyes. Seeing him standing there like that Amanda forgot all other thoughts. Her mind was captivated by the monster of a man and his gentle movements. He was so sensible too.

He stepped into the boat with the grace of a cat. He stayed standing, never a second off-balance. He moved them out into the water.

Amanda couldn’t take her eyes off him. Each stroke of the ore in his hands moved them forward with strength and assuredness.

She kept watching as they rounded the other boats. As they turned toward their own, waves lapped against the side rocking the boat, and Amanda finally had to glace away, lest she lose her bearings.

As she turned her gaze to the horizon she felt her stomach rock with the boat. This was no longer a pleasant feeling, but brought to mind, that maybe she shouldn’t have had those last few drinks. Around her, she could hear a few groans from men who likely had much the same thought.

As one particularly large wave sent them lolling in it’s wake, she felt her stomach contents rising in her throat. She reached for the side of the boat, leaned over, and vomited into the sea. She heard some chuckles from the crew and then someone else doing the same as she had.

She had to be helped out of the boat and onto the ship and once there she made a dash for the ship’s railing. Someone held her hair back as she retched and as other men wandered off to find their beds. Finally she turned to find Sirius standing there. She turned and hid her face over the railing again with a groan. Then she sighed, and sat down on the deck.

“Come on, I’ll help you back to your room,” Sirius offered her a hand.

She looked at it in a daze. Then she lay down on the deck. “Mmm, I think I’ll just sleep here for a bit.” She closed her eyes, too tired and too drunk to want to move.

Eventually she felt Sirius pick her up and carry her there, although she only vaguely remembered the last of it.

She woke the next morning to find herself in her cabin, under the sheets but still wearing the same clothes from the night before. Someone had removed her shoes. She groaned and held a hand to her forehead. She hoped the pounding would disappear soon. Maybe this ship had some painkillers in it’s medicine store? After a quick detour to the bathroom, she went off in search of both food and medicine.

When she finally made an appearance on deck the sun was high in the sky.

“Sleep alright?” She recognised the captain’s voice and the hint of amusement that carried in his tone. She turned to face him and was met with a dashing smile. Had he always looked that handsome?

“The crew seem to enjoy your company at the Windrush last night,” he remarked more seriously as he took a step forward.

“The Windrush?”

“The bar we were at.”

Amanda ran a hand through her messy hair. “Oh, that’s good I guess.”

“Never seen someone win them over so fast,” he added as he walked past her and further out onto the deck. His tone was thoughtful now.

“Oh, well that’s…” Suddenly she noticed the blue sky above them. “The storm’s gone?”

He turned to face her, the smile back on his face, surprise in his green eyes. He chuckled. “Yeah, it passed right by in the night, faster than we thought.”

“I don’t even remember it.”

Another chuckle. “I’m not surprised.”

Then she noticed something else. Something far more important. “We’re sailing again?”

He grinned. Oh gosh that smile.

He sighed. “Couldn’t find someone I trusted enough to take you back.” Then as if that wasn’t enough of an explanation he added with a shrug, “Besides, like I said, the crew seems to like you, and you seem to know a bit about the creatures in the hold. Figured we might as well use your skills. We’ll take you back eventually, just a few more weeks if that’s alright?”

“Sure.” Amanda tried to hide her elation. She had more time to figure out how to rescue that pegasus now, and she had to admit, she did kind of like being on board. The crew were fun. The captain was intriguing. And a not-so-small part of her sort of liked the idea of getting to know him a bit more. Although a small part of her did miss home and she did briefly wonder if she should find a way to let her parents know she was okay. Maybe at the next port?