Luky and the Birdmen

Luky stood watch, Aurielle untied the ropes, and Ezra boarded the sailboat. It had two masts, but it was still crude and unimpressive.

It didn’t look like the ship they’d sailed in a few days ago, and it was probably made of parts from other shipwrecks, but it’d do the trick.

Luky could see the rest of the settlement from where he stood.

There was nobody else here. All villagers seemed fast asleep in their wooden houses. It was like they didn’t suspect anyone would steal a boat.

“Done,” Aurielle said, half whispering.

She and Luky boarded. Ezra took his position in the middle of the boat, and he motioned for Luky to sit behind him.

“You and me on the oars, Aurielle on the rudder,” he directed. “There’s no wind now, so we need to row.”

And row they did. For a while. A long, long while. Now, it was just them and the full moon.

Luky kept on rowing, but he was getting tired. Aurielle had suggested multiple times they switch, but the boy-lynx was firm on wanting to build muscles.

The waves were calm, almost static—he was not getting tired; he was getting bored.

“Where is that storm everyone keeps talking about?” Luky whined. “Do we even know where we’re going?”

Ezra looked to the sky, and Luky did the same.

The stars were as bright as candlelight, even if the moonlight was occupying most of the space. A purplish, silvery glow covered the sea like a silk blanket.

“Based on the stars,” Ezra began. “I’m pretty sure we’re southeast of Indus-Kali, so we’re going northwest. I don’t think we’re even that far.”

“How do you know all this?” Luky wondered.

“I’ve been a traveler for all my life. I know things.”

With a senior traveler, a mage who could shine like the sun, and himself, they’d definitely make it out of here. After that, Luky would ask Ezra all about his travels.

Even if this mishap should have been enough adventure for a lifetime, deep down, Luky still yearned for more.

He’d go back to his fathers, get scolded for sailing into a storm and landing on some strange faraway land. He’d probably get grounded too.

But eventually, he’d go back on an adventure. It was just who he was.

Ezra looked like a man who had seen it all. Luky could learn a thing or two from him. He already had.

Now, Luky really wanted to know what that thing around his neck was. The pyramid-shaped vial Ezra seemed so attached to.

Was it some sort of magical compass? Was this why Ezra always knew where to go? Or maybe it was some sort of forbidden potion.

Luky figured he might as well ask.

“What about this?” Luky pointed at the vial with his chin. “Will you tell me what this is?”

Ezra looked over his shoulder, then his features narrowed. “I’m taking this back,” he said as he took the vial off Luky’s neck.

He put the vial around his neck and turned back, leaving Luky with his mouth half-open.

“Thanks for keeping it safe for me,” Ezra said. His low voice betrayed no emotion.

Luky wasn’t going to get an answer tonight. Come to think of it, the boy-lynx didn’t believe he’d get an answer ever. It made it all the more mysterious.

Luky had not noticed the wind picking up. Trying to get information out of Ezra on the vial had kept him too distracted.

Once the breeze began to stroke his whiskers, Luky looked up to the sky. The moon was still there, but the horizon was pitch black.

It was so dark, Luky could feel a tiny seed of fear grow in his stomach.

Ezra let go of his oars and inhaled deeply. He looked behind him again, first at Aurielle, then at the boy-lynx. “Any last words?”

Luky swallowed hard. Ezra was grinning awkwardly.

He wasn’t serious, or maybe he was, a little.

“It was nice knowing you?” Luky said and grinned, keeping up with the joke.

A flash of lightning suddenly lit the horizon. All three of them gasped, Luky louder than the rest.

The dark mass of clouds had shone blue and purple for a fraction of a second.

“It’s now or never,” Aurielle said. “If I’m going to die tonight, I want to die trying.”

Ezra smiled awkwardly like he was both happy and afraid. “That’s the spirit.”

He picked up his oars and started rowing again. Luky followed his rhythm, slow at first, until the wind was too powerful.

Aurielle left the rudder to lower the sails and quickly returned to her position. They were ready to face the storm.

With one deep breath, Luky rowed onward.

The wind blew hard and loud; the rain poured. The waves were like dragon wings opening and closing.

They had one goal: face the waves and make sure to stay on top.

Luky wasn’t even feeling the cold. He focused all his strength and willpower on the oars.

“Keep going, boy!” Ezra shouted, the rain muting his words. “Whatever happens, keep rowing. We’re not going down without a fight!”

“Yeah!” Luky cheered.

He looked over his shoulder at the only reason they could see the waves in the first place. Aurielle was shining bright, like a beacon of light, showing them everything that surrounded them.

Her eyes shimmered like two faraway suns. She had her hands on the rudder, maintaining their course, but the rest of her body was entirely focused on lighting their way.

They pushed forward through the storm, the waves sending them miles above the earth and back down. No matter how shaken he felt, Luky kept on rowing.

For as long as his friends wouldn’t give up, neither would he.

“That’s it!” Ezra called. “Look!” He pointed to his right.

Silver light pierced through the clouds where Ezra pointed. Even if it was surrounded by lightning strikes, this was no lightning bolt. It looked like a magical beacon, like Aurielle!

“What is it?” Luky asked. He had to roar to be heard.

“The eye of the storm, boy!” Ezra shook rainwater off his face. “That means we’re doing great!”

All three of them rejoiced. They probably all had flashbacks of the ship and the storm that had brought them here in the first place.

But seeing the moonlight through the eye of the storm was like experiencing hope for the first time.

Luky laughed wholeheartedly, overwhelmed by this intense feeling of euphoria.

They were going to make it.

Though when the silver moonlight disappeared, Luky was left with a feeling of emptiness.

The clouds turned even darker. Aurielle’s light dimmed. The thunder shattered the sky like hammers on glass.

What was going on? Why couldn’t they see anything anymore?

The rain poured so hard, Luky had trouble keeping his eyes open.

“What’s happening?” Luky asked.

“I don’t know, son,” Ezra replied. “This is probably the worst part, just keep rowing!”

Luky did so, but now, they were surrounded by this whirling darkness. It was almost unnatural. It was like the storm was alive, and it followed them.

A wave rose high to their side. The boat was lifted up and almost rolled over once released. Aurielle lost focus, and everything went black.

They were going in blind.

“Are you okay, Miss Aurielle?” Luky shouted over his shoulder.

She didn’t respond at first. The wave had swallowed and spat them back so quickly. Luky hoped dearly Aurielle was still on board.

“I’m...good!” she said, coughing, then her light was back.

“Here’s another one!” Ezra yelled.

And it happened again. It happened over and over, waves coming from all sides as if the ocean was out to get them.

Luky and Ezra kept on rowing, but they couldn’t keep going like this. Where was south? Where was north?

Another wave struck them with full force, breaking the mast, sending the sail flying.

“Shit!” Ezra exclaimed. “Luky, on the rudder. Aurielle!” He shouted louder. “Your Highness, get in front of the boat!”

Both of them complied. Well, they tried. Aurielle managed to reach Ezra, but as Luky was about to lay paws on the rudder, something snapped.

Whether it was the second mast or the front of the ship, Luky didn’t know, but water quickly swallowed his feet.

Now, the boat was facing down. Luky had to hold the rudder so he wouldn’t fall into whatever abyss the ocean had opened. Even with this loud thunder and wind, Luky heard Aurielle scream.

When he looked down, he realized that the previous wave had swallowed Ezra.

No, this couldn’t be it. Luky held on as tight as he could.

No, no, just no.

This wasn’t it.

What...what is that thing?

There was something in the water, something large, something big, and it was coming towards him.

The tallest wave Luky had ever seen rose right above him, and inside that wave was the crystal blue shimmer of some sort of creature. It moved in perfect harmony with the sea.

As Luky examined it, something warm and soothing settled in his heart. The creature stared at him through the water. It was like looking at his own, ethereal reflection.

At this point, Luky felt all the happiness and sadness he’d ever felt at the same time. The regrets, the remorse for getting on that boat, but also the fulfillment that had come with this adventure.

Luky closed his eyes. He used the last of his strength to clutch the rudder and cling on to the boat. Whatever happened, he would never let go.