"The following excerpts have been taken from the personal diary of the historian, writer, and archivist Azeem al Nazarin, enshrined within his book The Felaryan Melody. The language, while unknown to us, has been recently translated with the help of another person from his native world. We thank them dearly for their aid in bringing Nazarin's work to light, and as such we have left the words in their original form, so as to preserve their authenticity, and to give the following account in the words as the author intended."
    -Regulus M. Krive, Regent.

[Aventeve 04, 791 CB]

    "The day has been a long one. This world is strange, and every new turn brings surprises such as I have never dared to dream before. Creatures towering over a hundred feet seem to swathe the region I have hence seen, as if looking for something. I feel it prudent to make myself undetected, and so have opted to remain hidden, and move only during the mornings and evenings, when I believe everything is slower and less aware. Night is not safe: my first day here proved that well enough. The recollection of my close encounter with that thing still chills me.
    "I have to keep moving forward. I don't know where I am, but a change in the air makes me believe that I am close to a body of water. Everything seems fresher, renewed."

[Aventeve 06, 791 CB]

   "It took me the better part of two days, but I made it. The slowness of my travel is an ingratiating effect, but it must happen. I cannot risk my safety on the off chance that these giant women – and they have all so far been women; it stupefies me that I have not seen a male, but there it is – are friendly. They hunt with a fervor that is unnerving to see, and I have heard, in the distance, screams of terror. No, I need to move slowly, and if it keeps me alive then I will be eternally thankful for my insight into this world.
    "Before me is a sight like nothing I have ever seen before. My homeland is beautiful, but nowhere in it can a sight like this be found. About thirty feet below me, following a sheer cliff drop off, is a sea. Stretching as far as I can see, its lazy blue waters shine like a magnificent Refractory Glass, taking the light of the sun and breaking it into thousands of bars before sending them off in every conceivable direction. It hurts my eyes to look at; it's too breathtaking to keep my gaze away.
    "The water, I see, is lapping drunkenly against a beach of what seems to be white sand. That will be my next destination. I know it isn't the safest idea, but I feel that the coast will give me answers. Perhaps I may find something interesting."

[Aventeve 11, 791 CB]

    "The coast, indeed, held answers for me, though not how I expected them.
    "It took the good part of three hours to get down the cliff. The rocks were steep, and footholds rare. Every now and then, as well, I had to pause, and listen, in case another giant was moving about nearby. Thankfully, I did not have to deal with that – I was afraid my pounding heart would give me away.
    "When I reached the coast, I was surprised. The sand was very coarse and rough, even beneath my boots, as if I were walking not on sand but on small shell fragments. The whiteness of the sand now made better sense to me, and from this close was also much more blinding. A disguised blessing: as I looked away to keep my vision from being overwhelmed, I saw what looked like small breaks in twigs and grass low to the floor. Now, I am not an adventurer by trade, but I have been party to a few, and I know tracks when I see them. Here they were now.
    "Naturally, I went to investigate. The breaks were small and scarce between; someone or something didn't want to be found and tracked, but hadn't done a complete job. I had enough to go by, anyway. They weren't large enough to be a giant – they were more of my size. I guessed humans had made them, and recently. I followed them.  As it turns out, I was right.
    "The clearing was large when I entered. Trees thicketed the edges, obscuring the area outside from view and providing a sizeable area to hide in. Three paths led off to the outside aside from the one I entered by, each obscured by fallen branches and trunks that formed somewhat makeshift tunnels. Campfires burned low and small, each closely monitored by a man or two as they waited for it to obtain enough heat to cook what looked like fish.
    "As I entered the clearing, the men at the entrance to my tunnel looked up from where they had been sitting. Their eyes glared at me, a dangerous look, but they made no move to stop me as I entered, though I noticed that each one had a knife beside him, hands grasping the hilt firmly. To show them that I meant no harm, I slowly put down my pack on the ground and raised my hands, while moving forward one foot at a time, heading towards the center. There a man stood with arms crossed, a black eye-patch over one eye and a small beard growing beneath his chin. His left eye – the only visible one – was stern, but he made no mood to stop me either as I slowly moved up to face him. I don't know why I picked him out as the leader. Perhaps it was because he was the most intimidating man there.
    "Whatever the reason, I gave my name and the reason I was there, and held my breath. I could sense the men around us moving closer, could hear the rasp of several metal blades being removed from their sheathes, and I could feel the man's single eye roving up and down my being, as if looking for a visible sign of a lie or a threat. I held my breath nonetheless, ready for the worst.
    "And then he laughed. It was a gracious sound, full of mirth I had not detected before. He suddenly stuck out a hand, and we shook as if old friends. He welcomed me with a smile, and I could feel the tension leave the thicket like smog suddenly drifting away. The other men went back to their places, each talking to another in low voices as if nothing had happened. I was, it seemed, welcomed home."

[Aventeve 13, 791 CB]

    "My hosts have been most gracious. Following that strange night two days ago, I have been fed with food better than anything I have eaten since I arrived here. They seemed almost earnest to ensure that I was properly 'cared for,' once they had decided I was not a threat. Their generosity has me thanking them almost every night. That such people could exist in this strange world makes me a little happier.
    "The leader's name, I have found, is Wilhelm Blatt, though his men seem to refer to him as 'Captain Klavier.' I don't know why. Interestingly enough, though, is that everyone here seems to be a sailor. It would definitely explain why they are so near the coast. I plan to remain with them awhile and find out more, both about them and this world."

[Aventeve 15, 791 CB]

    "Felarya. That is the name of this world. Interesting.
   "They were quite free with their information. The nature of this world both shocks and amazes me, in good and bad ways. That there are humanoid creatures of such massive proportions does not shock me now as it would have previously, for I have seen them for myself. That they feed on humans and smaller creatures, though… I suppose that is the food chain. There's nothing to really be angry about, I guess. It's their way. It does make me more wary of this place, though.
    "I have noticed lately that the crew seems to disappear at various times of the day while I'm not looking. Also, there are more people here than I remember there being before. The number hasn't changed, but I am sure the man with the earrings and nose ring wasn't present the day I walked into the clearing.
    "There is something they aren't telling me. I will find out what it is."

[Aventeve 16, 791 CB]

    "I asked the captain after what it is he and the rest were hiding from me. The look that donned his face after my question was near foreboding, and I at once regretted asking. The men around the clearing fell silent; heads swiveled our way; and the captain's eye took a dark, beady expression that seemed almost hateful. I was afraid he was going to strike me.
    "And then he started to explain. Because I was new to the world, and because I hadn't been there long enough for everything to sink in, they couldn't know if I was really to be trusted. Felarya was a land of mystery, he said, and at any moment something may turn out that would cause most newcomers to simply 'jump the plank.' They were trying to keep one such surprise hidden from me.
    "Well, it made sense to me. My tension left as he explained it, and by the end I was apologizing for my rudeness in the question. He assured me nothing by it, and, taking the initiative in this lax moment, I asked him to kindly reveal the secret to me. I told him I was ready.
    "His reply was simple. "T'morrow.""

[Aventeve 17, 791 CB]

    "The captain and I departed the clearing at first light the next morning. We took one of the three tunnels out, one of the ones I had never been through. Low branches bundled together almost naturally formed a 'ceiling' that just barely stood above the captain's head. Thankfully, he was the taller of us two, and so I wasn't near as uncomfortable… in that regard. Vines and twigs reached out and threatened to trip or scratch my legs and feet as we walked. He just walked through it all, as if he didn't notice. Perhaps he didn't. And as we walked, he shared with me a story. I have it recorded here in his exact words, to preserve it."

    ""Well, mind ya don't go an' repeatin' this ter anyone else ye meet, alrigh'? They don' need ter know…
    "Now. Abou'… six years ago, I want ter say, me an' the crew were out at the shore, getting' ready fer the day's fishin'. Normally, o' course, ye can't fish in Felarya. Water's too deep an' the fish're too deadly, see? But there is a special spot off the coastline, 'bout two miles south o' the path ye found us in. Great spot; fish're nice an' small, usually no big predator te get ye, an' if one does happen ter show, ye can see em comin' from long ways away.
    "Now, we were goin' out fer our fishin', when Hash spots somethin' out in the distance. Can' make it out, but he can tell it's massive. Wasn't movin' much neither, he told us. I gave him a nod, and told him ter take the others and return with some o' the large rope we got. If it was beached, we needed ter try an' bring it back ter the water 'fore it died. So they did as I asked, an' I began to approach the creature."

    "Here the captain stopped, seeming a little unsettled. I could tell that he was trying to remember that day. I gave him a warm smile, and told him to take his time. After about a minute, we started walking again; faintly I could smell the scent of fresh water.

    ""Righ'. Well, as I said, I was movin' ter approach the creature. Ter me it wasn' much but a dark shape in the distance. Had ter walk about a mile an'-a-half still. But my heart was thumpin' somethin' fierce. I was afraid it might've been a mermaid playin' tricks on us, lookin' fer food. They do that a lot, mermaids do. So I approached slowly, step by step, waitin' fer it to make some sorta move. Never did.
    "Ye know, it's amazin' what ye remember sometimes, when ye think yer in danger. I can vividly remember all the environment that day… the blue water crashin' towards the sand in lazy ebbs an' flows… the cool wind, colder than the norm' fer that time o' the year… even the coarse grit o' the sand is vivid, now I think back on it all. Amazin'. Yet all the time I could only think 'This could be my last step.' 'Twas somethin' else, somethin' frightenin'. I don't know why I didn' just turn an' run.
    "Abou' half a mile from the thing, it still hadn' moved, an' I was startin' ter feel a little better. Then the boys came back an' had all the rope, an' firearms besides, an' I suddenly wasn' afraid no more. Together we are strong, see? So the shape still hadn' moved, an' by now I could get a good look at it. Couldn't believe what I was seein'."

    "Again, the captain stopped speaking, but before I could encourage him to continue he turned to me and spoke loudly, in almost a shout.

    ""A mermaid! 'Twas a mermaid after all! A young one too, at that, can' have been no more than twenty-two or so. Righ' beautiful, as they all are, an' abou' one hundred an' twenty feet in length I want ter say. Righ' there on the beach, out o' it as can be. 'Twas no wonder why, neither. Three large slashes on her back, an' one ter her abdomen. Wonder she wasn' already dead or dyin'.
    "Well, we couldn' just opt ter send her back ter sea, not like that. Wouldn' a' been right. Good thin' I had the lads bring the rope. We had ter get the entire crew – an' ye haven' met em all yet – back 'round her to get her connected an' moved. That was the better part o' that day.
    "We took her back ter a secluded body o' water we found 'round here an' set her down on the bank. We set a shift over her, an' every three hours it would change. That carried on fer abou' three days. The mornin' o' the third, as we were changin' shifts, she went an' woke up."

    "For the third time the captain stopped, and this time he just stood there, staring at me expectantly. At first I could not understand what he may have been expecting. In the midst of his story recollection, we had wandered to the entrance of another large clearing, surrounded by massive trees and what looked to be rock formations similar to small mountains. I could smell fresh water, and noticed a rather sizeable stream (almost a river) running behind the captain and past us, presumably down towards the clearing, though I did not immediately look. Indeed, I didn't pay much attention to that area until I heard, from the clearing (and thus behind me) a rather child-like giggle. By then it was too late.
    "My body was jerked upward. I could see the ground below me, quickly becoming smaller and smaller; I could see the captain down below, pointing at something behind me with a rather stern expression. There was a pinch between my shoulder-blades, gripping my coat, and I could only guess that that was what held me. I began to struggle frantically, though of course to no avail. And again that childlike giggle, much louder and closer than before.
    "And then something wet. It was soft, and squishy, but strong. Its heat was almost overwhelming, and the way it stroked my body back and forth gave me goosebumps. Then it slipped into my view, and the sight gave me chills. Large and pink, saliva coating its ridged surface, it began to run all around my body, lapping up and down and thoroughly soaking me. A tongue. I was being tasted by a massive tongue.
    "Fear gave birth to hopelessness and despair. I shut my eyes, unable to stand the sight of reality as it leered me in the eyes. I was expecting to be plunged into a damp, hot mouth, the tongue curling around me as the teeth closed like a prison, my last glimpse of despair as I was swallowed.
    "It was not to be. As quickly as I was snatched, I was placed back on the ground. The overwhelming feeling of gratitude towards the ground made me trip once I was released, and I fell to the dirt, happier than ever to have it beneath me. Then came that voice again, giggling softly, and I was flooded with fear once more. Slowly I rolled over, the better to see what had me.
    "The clearing was indeed massive, at least ten times the size of our camp. A good portion of it was solid ground, flourishing with flora of all kinds, and filled with tents and the people who inhabited them. Many of them I recognized. But my gaze did not last on them for more than long enough to register their presence; they were drawn to the other portion of the glade – the portion filled with water. It must have been a sheer drop off from the bank to the center, because near that center was a mermaid, floating lazily in the water and smiling down at me in a rather mischievous manner.
    "Her hair was a shade of orange, but not quite orange, and rather shortly cut; it didn't even reach her shoulders. Each ear sported a golden earing, and her neck had a necklace of a similar material, in a simple but lovely design. As well, numerous tattoos adorned her body – the most prominent one that I could find began between her breasts, and portrayed a trail like one might find on a treasure map, with the 'x marks the spot' printed where her stomach would be. Despite all my misgivings of her, I could not deny that she was lovely. An odd thought.
    "At first, in my terror, I could hear nothing. But now, after a few seconds of looking at her, that fear began to fade away, and my normal senses returned. I saw she was laughing, with a large grin on her face. And I could hear others laughing with her; the other men and women in the camp, who seemed to take her presence for granted. I turned my head to the captain, and saw him grinning down at me, a chuckle quietly escaping his lips as he offered his hand to me.
    "I took it, trying to look dignified as he helped me up, and took my time pretending to dust off my clothes as I worked up the nerve to ask my questions. Then I turned to him, opened my mouth… and found I could not yet speak. Silently, and in horror, I stared at him, mouth agape, and he just roared with more laughter, echoed by the crew and the mermaid. Once they were done, he wiping tears from his eyes, he took me round the shoulders and gestured to the mermaid, who stood now tall and proud in the water. "Azeem," he said, "Meet Becky."

[Aventeve 18, 791 CB]

    "I have to admit that it took me awhile to get over the shock of Becky being there. It's quite something to hear it in a story, but another thing altogether to see it in reality. But I was able to overcome my trepidation enough to walk to the bank, some hours after the introduction, and just talk with her.
    "I was surprised at her demeanor. She was certainly playful, as I've been told mermaids are, and she liked to tease me just to see my reactions. But her actions and attire spoke of an acquired affinity with the people around her. In many ways, I could see her as the captain's younger daughter. When I asked her about it, she nodded her head up and down forcefully, as if the intent of her agreement would somehow punctuate its seriousness to her, and said:

    ""Yup! Ye know, has he told ye the story of finding me on the shore? Yes? Well, okay, good! Well, as ye know, I woke up one morning during a shift change. It was all dull for morning light, but I could tell the time, an' so I woke an' there were all these people below me, ye know, just all shocked that I got up, an' I was hungry like ye wouldn't believe, an' of course because I hadn't eaten since I washed up I just started reaching for the closest humans an' they were all like "ahhh!" an' I was going "Stop moving and sit still!" an' they kept screaming "Run!" an' I started pouting because they wouldn't stay put, ye know, an' then the cap'n came up an' was like all "let them go" an' I was like "why should I" an' he shouted back "ye kill those who save ye?" an' I was all like "I'm too hungry!" an' then he pulled out some shiny mechanism thing an' it made a big noise an' some smoke came out an' something hit me hard an'-"

    "At this moment she stopped to catch her breath. Up through her story I could almost feel her excitement growing as I listened, and she began to speak faster and with fewer pauses, until finally she couldn't take it. It was clear to me that she liked telling this story by how happy she became at exclaiming it, and as she caught her breath I asked her if she could tell it slowly and calmly. She gave me a weak nod this time and murmured that she'd try before resuming:

    ""So he shot me with his gun, an' I didn't know what it was. The next thing I knew I had taken a serious blow to my shoulder, an' all the men were running away except for the guy who shot me. Him, he just stood there looking sternly up at me, gun pointed right at me. Now, I was too weak to use any magic, and that gun really hurt, so I told him I'd stop. An' he nodded. I hadn't expected him to nod.
   "Well, ye know how the cap'n is. We had a long talk, an' we learned about each other. He convinced me to not try and eat the crew, an' would instead find something else for me, to help me get my strength back. At the time, I thought that it was a trick, so I warily agreed to it. But not an hour later, he came back with two men that he had captured from a roaming party. I didn't ask much of the details, just scarfed them down. An' that was the beginning!"

    "She fell silent with a reminiscent smile, and I could tell I would obtain no more from her. I got up from my sitting position and thanked her for her time. As I turned to leave, however, I felt a familiar jerk along my legs, and suddenly I was being lifted up into the air upside down. That terror from before began to fill me as she brought me to her face, a large smile donning her lips. And then she licked those lips before opening them wide, drawing me ever closer…
    "… And then I fell into the water with an audible splash. It was cold, but not unpleasantly so, and it took only a few seconds for me to gather my bearings and swim back to the bank. Soaking wet and still filled with vestiges of fear, I turned back to look at her. She was laughing again, smiling brightly and sticking her tongue out at me in a playful and childlike manner. I couldn't stay mad at that. Indeed, as I turned again to leave, I couldn't help but give a small smile back."
   
[Aventeve 23, 791 CB]

    "It's been six days since I met Becky, and she's really come to grow on me. Honestly, I find it amazing that the crew could have adapted and absorbed her so well, but every time I watch them interact I do not see humans and a mermaid but a seamless crew. Yet, look at how quickly I grew used to her. I suppose anything is possible.
    "Every day, at first light, a group of about ten sailors would get up and bring out about four fishing boats, each capable of sitting around four people. They would begin preliminary inspections, checking the wood and form, making sure there were no visible signs of damage. Once that was done they would place them in Becky's water, and she would create sizeable waves, sending them against the boats and gauging how they perform. Once satisfied that they would not break in the rough conditions, she would then give them back to the men for the gear and supplies to be placed inside. About this time the others would be waking up, getting dressed and ready for the day's work.
    "I have surmised that there must be another clearing like this one that the 'river' connects too. Once the other sailors are ready, most of them climb into small, two-man boats and proceed into the 'river.' I don't know exactly where they go, but I do know that it isn't down to the sea, and once the last of them are gone Becky follows, giving me a small, knowing smile as she does.
    "I have also noticed that Becky, while a free-spirited individual and exceedingly playful when free, loses all of that while at work. I have, in my short time knowing her, seen her help carve and create giants beams of wood, easily twenty feet in length, with a look of utmost concentration. She works quickly, efficiently, almost like a machine, and makes none of the usual jokes or playful moves that I normally associate with her. It's like a whole different person.
    "I have closely inspected the interactions between her and the crew themselves, both at work and play. All evidence I have seen points to the deepest of bonds, like a community that knows they are strong by the person beside them. She teases them when free, and they all just laugh it off, used to the actions. She'll occasionally 'clean' a sailor with her tongue, but will never go any further than that, and the sailor offers a 'thanks' for the free bath, a grin on their face. And remarkably enough, in work there is no deference. The same task that a sailor may do on a given day may also belong to Becky, though on a much larger scale; be it cutting wood, formulating designs for future tools, or else helping to scout the area (she's surprisingly good at this for a creature so large and so obviously aquatic) or just giving advice when asked.
    "Only the captain, as expected, will give her an order, and she will shout, with glee, "Aye cap'n!" as if she sees herself only as a member of the crew and nothing more. It is simply amazing.
    "I wonder what is in that other clearing, however. No one will tell me, and they stopped me from entering the one time I tried to see…"

[Aventeve 24, 791 CB]

    "Becky does not like anything unhappy.
    "I spent the day with her today, since the captain decreed that we were to relax instead of work. He seems to make sure that the crew has at least one day of relaxation every ten or so days. It seems that most of the crew take this as a sign to drink the day away, though others take the opportunity to just visit and chill with their friends. Becky is no exception, and was glad to entertain my company.
    "We talked a lot about her, and her past six years. She wouldn't go any further, strangely enough, and I learned not to pry. But I did find out that the captain's kindness, and the crew's friendliness, was one of the major reasons she didn't go back to the sea.

    ""Well, ye know, I didn't have too many friends out home in the water. Maybe a few, but not like this. An' the sea is so vast that it gets pretty lonely. But up here, with the cap'n and the crew, I feel like I have a family, a big family, ye know, all of us together, laughing an' working an' just sharing our lives with those next to us. Really, what could be better than family?"

    "Based on these words, and the interactions between her and the crew, I can only state that family must be an extremely important concept to her, family and friends. Perhaps something happened to her own family. I dared not ask.
    "Thankfully she got over her excitement at talking to me – and her tendency to lift me up into the air. We had a nice, peaceful talk, taking our time and fleshing out the details. She really helped me get a sense of the geography of the world around the Shimmering Sea, and with that and what the crew could give me I had a nice guide of where I might head next. We talked of water creatures and things we'd both seen. Then, feeling obligated, I started to talk about my world, my past. Where I came from, she ate up like a sponge, but when I began to speak of my past she quickly interrupted me.

    ""Ah, no, don't start it. I don't want to hear it. Why would ye want to bog down these happy times with all those painful memories of the past? Leave them behind, ye know? Let them stay in the past, where they belong, an' look towards the future an' tomorrow. Ye've got us now, an' that's all ye need. This is your new beginning."

    "She smiled at me as she said it, but I could see a dormant pain, deep within her eyes, reflected in her words. I didn't press the issue."

[Aventeve 27, 791 CB]

   "A question has been bothering me for a while now. If a mermaid's diet consists mainly of humans, how is Becky getting by? Surely she cannot sustain herself long with whatever can be found in her 'pond,' and what about the last six years? How is she keeping herself alive?
    "The answer was revealed to me earlier today, when I asked the captain again if I could go down the 'river' with the crew and see what was in the second clearing. I expected a shake of the head, and him telling me that it was too early for me to see it. Instead, however, he gave a sigh, and then nodded as he informed me that it was time I saw the whole thing.
    "That's what found me, an hour later, getting into a boat with the captain himself, preparing to depart up the 'river' and find the second clearing. Thankfully the current wasn't very strong, and the captain was a seasoned sailor, so the two of us together (even though he did most of the work) were enough to go against it. The water here was a nice blue, though not as clear as the sea into which it eventually flowed, and must have gotten deep pretty quickly, as I could only see the bottom near the banks on either side. But then, it was large enough for Becky to get through.
    "After about ten minutes we reached a kind of 'intersection' between this little branch of the 'river' and the actual river itself. The current flowed down to our left, much stronger than before, on the main body, and only a small portion of it veered off towards the branch we were currently in. That explained why our current wasn't very powerful. But the real thing was much stronger, and the river containing it much, much larger than ours. And of course, instead of going left and with the flow, we went right and against it.
    "I thought for sure we would be swept away. The struggle to keep moving was immense, much more difficult than earlier, and the captain apparently had prepared for this a long time ago. On the ground of the right bank, twenty feet apart, were solid wooden stakes driven into the ground. On each plank was a thick, intricately-tied rope, and the ends of the rope were floating lazily in the current, the nearest one within reaching distance of the captain. He grasped it firmly in both hands, and as I rowed, he pulled hard, as if trying to force our boat up the current. It actually worked surprisingly well.
    "That second bout took around another twenty minutes – the length wasn't as long as before, but we moved much slower. Finally, however, we passed a kind of 'wall' of trees on either side of the bank and emerged onto a venerable lake. And in the center of the lake was a good sized island, upon which rested a rather amazing sight.
    "A good half of it was taken by a massive wooden structure that looked incredibly like a pirate ship, except that it was rather missing its bottom. Instead, the sides were rounded out and down in narrowing length as they progressed from bow to stern, as if they were instead to be placed on something else that would then float. Something massive… And then it clicked. Becky.
    "And indeed I then saw her – for she had come here early in the morning – floating lazily on her back in the lake, holding something up in her hand. A moment later I saw that the thing was struggling desperately to free itself from her grip. She just smiled up at the thing, giggling happily, before licking her lips and opening her mouth wide, dropping the struggling prey into her gullet and swallowing it down in one fluid motion, the bulge in her neck moving swiftly down past her breasts and towards her 'treasure.' She gave a hearty sigh of happiness before picking up another creature from where it stood, terrified, on her stomach. I realized they were humans, and could watch only in morbid fascination as she downed them, one by one.
    "As she finished off the last with a satisfying 'glug' from her throat, the captain drew his arm around my shoulders and directed my gaze to the 'ship' with a broad smile and a sweep of the other arm.

    ""Beautiful, ain' it? The last rumble we had, 'bout a month ago now, really tore her up somethin' fierce. We've had ter almost completely rebuild it. But finally she's done, an' can sail again!"

    "Then he looked at me, and his grin was almost ear to ear.

    ""Ready ter go sailin' t'morrow?""

[Aventeve 28, 791 CB]

    "I slept on the ship that night, as did the rest of the crew. It was a large vessel, with plenty of room for all of us and more to sleep, and the hammocks were actually rather comfortable. Even though I was filled with trepidation for the next day, I slept soundly.
    "That morning we got up before light began to appear in the sky. The crew had to move around, check the mooring and rigging lines, inspect the cannons and sails, make sure the plotted course was good and the weather conditions, as much as could be discerned, were favorable, and in general just ensure that the ship would survive its trek. Being not an official member of the crew, I stood beside the captain as he shouted orders, though the crew seemed to know what to do regardless of what he said, and I doubt he was bellowing for any meaning.
    "By the time the sky was fully lit, all the preparations were complete. Then Becky, who had been giving the ship a scan as we worked, nodded in satisfaction and tipped the vessel almost completely onto its side as she prepared to place it on herself. The crew and I quickly grabbed a handhold on anything we could find, bracing ourselves for the sudden change in gravity. She gave us a moment to make sure we had ourselves braced before she slid under the exposed ship and, quickly and carefully, slid it onto her back, trying hard not to rock it too much or cause it to flip.
     "Once that was done, several crew members immediately began to move, taking ropes placed along both sides of the boat and jumping down with them onto Becky's shoulders, or else to hang around her stomach. With some help from the mermaid, the men were able to tie the ropes around her shoulders or stomach, ensuring as best they could that the ship would not fall off or rock too much while at sea.
    "Finally, that done, Becky helped the sailors back up onto the ship and, with a bellow from the captain, began to move towards the opening of the lake, where the river began. Her body was powerful and lithe, and the ship swayed and rocked with the force of her movements as she moved down the river, towards the sea. Trees and landscape almost blurred past us with her speed, but it was not unpleasant, and the movements of the ship were more soothing than anything. Truly a wonder.
    "As we moved towards the river, the captain again came to stand by me. Together we watched the forest swim by, and he spoke to me of the peculiar arrangement between the crew and the mermaid.

    ""This was our deal. When Becky an' us finally came ter an understandin', she decided she couldn' go back an' live in the see. I could see the pain in her eyes, an' a deal was made. Ye see, she wanted a family, an' I don' think she had one anymore. An' we needed protection. Fishin' in the small spots be well an' good, but it could only get us so far. We needed ter get out ter the deeper waters, an' fer that we needed Becky. So she became part of the crew, an' became our ship. We became comrades, friends, an' family. And fer her, anyone we captured on sea or on land, if not proven friendly, would be hers ter do with what she wanted. She really liked those terms, she did."

    "Now it all made sense to me. I had to hand it to the captain for making such a beneficial deal with a cool head, when things could have easily gone awry. Looking down at the powerful tail of Becky behind us, pushing up and down to rapidly propel us forward, I begin to really appreciate that relationship. It's an amazing thing, to have such friendship bloom in such a place.
    "Before long the trees gave way to shrubs, and then to sand, and then, before I knew it, we were surrounded on all sides by the shimmering water of the sea, the water shining brightly around us with the glare of the sun. A happy laugh caught my ears, and I smiled to myself; Becky must still love to come to the sea, even if her family was no longer there. Or perhaps it was because she could take her family with her.
    "Our trip lasted for several hours. We found some nice fishing spots, and the sailors went about their work as if it was long ingrained into their bodies. The fish here were much bigger, and it took about three people to reel in a single one. However, even just one fish was of such size as to feed a good portion of the crew, and this helped offset both the difficulty of reeling one in and of killing it. We only needed about ten of them to keep ourselves fed for several days.
    "As we fished, Becky lay in the water, sighing happily and simply letting the cool flow ebb around her skin. I could tell she was definitely happy, even though she wasn't really doing much, and I was grateful for it, as it wouldn't seem fair if she was unhappy while the crew enjoyed their catch. And I was also grateful for her presence, as it probably deterred larger predators from getting close – perhaps that was why I never saw one. Either way, it was a pleasant trip.
    "On the way back towards the river, we did run into two other groups of people. Their ships were much smaller than ours, unfortunately for them, and they didn't put up much of a fight; a few waves from Becky had them capsized and the crews afloat. I won't go into specifics here, but shall we say that by the time we reached the clearing again, Becky was well fed with some to spare for tomorrow."

[Frostmorn 1, 791 CB]

    "Yesterday was my departure from the crew and Becky. I learned earlier that they were pirates, and I find that incredibly interesting. They didn't seem at all like what I'd heard pirates to be like. I would have liked to stay for longer, but unfortunately I had to depart. I couldn't remain with them forever, even though I would have liked to.
    "I gave the crew my proper departure, and it felt like I gave them all a hug. It wasn't until that moment that I realized just how close together we had become, and how much like a family we had grown to be. That moment of departure felt like hours, but it probably was not even ten minutes.
    "After that, the captain and Becky took me out to sea. The captain and Becky I had grown most attached to, and I think they felt the same way, because we had a long reminiscence as we sailed across the massive body of water. I almost didn't want to leave, but I had to, and I forced myself to dwell on the happy memories as we discussed them. By the end of it, when we reached land again, all three of us were in tears at the departure. Becky seemed especially upset. I gave her my attempt at a cheerful smile, and told her not to worry. I'd be back, for sure.
    "This is becoming hard to write. Soon after they departed back across the sea, and I turned to face this new part of Felarya. What would await me I did not know, for I did not yet have a map for this place. But after my stay with the captain and his crew, I felt that I could overcome the challenges of this world.
    "With a newborn determination, I moved forward into the unknown."

                      -From the writings of Azeem al Nazarin, The Felaryan Melody.