Silent Departure

Having successfully gotten hold of Ambrose, he didn't dare let go. His tiny legs kicked lamely behind him, just wanting to reach the surface again. Was he still alive? He couldn't tell, but it didn't matter. Breath was running short.

Luppa's gasp mirrored Ambrose's only slightly, before he looked to him, his expression completely concerned. He was alive! Luppa's heart swelled with pride. His master would be so pleased with him. Even though no words were spoken, a finger was raised to his lips as if to silence him. "Your breath is to be saved for living," he told. "A duty that I did was only needed to be performed!"

His one wing continued to tighten around his frame to keep a secure hold. He... hadn't planned this far. They were both alive and afloat, but what now? There was still that strange man aboard the boat - there was really no one else he could rely on.

"Sir!" he cried. "Master sir! A-a help is... needed!"

As always, Luppa's words were true and brought sensible comfort to Ambrose. He did as he was told, saving his breath for life.

Disaster did not move.

Oh, yes, he heard the call. He heard the cry for help, the need for assistance. The only problem was, he was Disaster-- as much as he loved to meddle, he didn't usually save people. He destroyed them. Simple as that. That sense was coming back to him . . . The creature really was the perfect servant. Too perfect, in fact. Its existance brought Disaster pride, joy that could not be conquered. He controlled the thing's fate.

Still . . . there was Ambrose. They couldn't let Ambrose die, as much as others wanted him to.

He knew the most logic course of action to take. Ambrose wasn't going to be happy.

"Hand me Entropy-- Ambrose-- first!" he ordered the creature, knowing that it would have to obey. Priorities came first: Ambrose had to live.

A hand stroked through the damp, red hair, with the intention to soothe, but the dilemma's franticness probably made it feel more like mild clawing.

The demand behaved like a sudden jolt in his system, and he snapped his head up towards the man. His first instinct was to immediately follow his bidding without question. It was what he'd done for over a hundred years. But there was a stubborn nagging feeling in the back of his mind that kept him paralysed. Was it the right thing to do...?

His hesitance lasted a few seconds, quite possibly the longest time he'd ever hesitated under a command. His mind was conflicting, but finally, he submitted, unable to go against his nature. He unwrapped his remaining wing from around Ambrose, releasing his hold on all but the collar, which he still held to with one hand.

"Yours for the taking... master."

Disaster's smile flashed like lightning, deadly yet gone in a second. Perfect.

"I thank you for the gift . . . servant," the flamboyant man returned, immediately grabbing ahold of Ambrose's shirt collar and heaving him over and into the small sailing craft. He then turned towards Luppa . . . and smiled sadly.

"I can't let you in," he told the creature frankly. "You cause too many problems for him." He glanced his vibrant eyes towards the unconcious Ambrose, in a wet bundle, resting on the wooden floor. He was glad Entropy was unconcious for this. It was for the best, but . . . he wasn't going to understand. Not yet.



"This is good-bye."

Disaster walked patiently, calmly out to front of the boat. His face was now emotionless. Being the epitomy of natural disasters, he could not take sadness in what he was about to do. He didn't have to take joy in it, though.

With a wave of his hands, he whipped-up a malestorm, the combonation of violent wind and waves hurling the boat fowrard. Forward and away from the obedient Luppa.

A smile twitched at Luppa's mouth. A thanks. He was appreciated! Loved! He'd done well as a servant, in fact, he was more than a servant, he was a hero. His previous endeavours at the beach had been less than successful, but this was a moment in time he was more than ready to treasure for the rest of his ageless life.

His pleasant line of thought was interrupted as Ambrose was yanked away from him, and he reached his arms longingly. Problems? When did he ever cause problems? He did good! He saved his life! Not understanding, a low whine emitted from him. Goodbye? What about Ambrose? What about---

The last thing he saw was Disaster's emotionless face, and his eyes widened in desperation before a wave knocked him over. His arms flailed in the gushing water, streams of bubbles escaping from his mouth in a silent cry. His head resurfaced, his eyes darting around in despair. The boat was nowhere in sight.

"MASTER!" he wailed. "Master! Don't leave me!" He paddled forward pathetically. "Don't leave me all aloone..." He didn't understand. Had he not been a good servant? Had he failed? His one wing flapped lamely in the water - flying was far out of the question. He whimpered, the coldness beginning to sting. He waited for his masters to return. To apologise, to lift him from the freezing ocean.

They never came back.

Deneli had a thrill going through, the kind that often kept her up at night. She just wanted to swim forever, though she knew she'd regret it later during the day. Something about the water seemed unsettling today though. Deneli wouldn't be able to sleep through it.

It was then Deneli took a moment to resurface, and a large bolt of lightening cut through the sky. She made a face of awe then remembered something. Prince Eric! His Ship crashed. During a storm! Deneli felt like singing, just like the little mermaid. Immediately she directed herself to go towards the general area where the lighting had come from, even though she'd always been told not to do that. She couldn't resist though! What if there really was a prince who'd fallen of his ship??

It became difficult to swim the closer she got. The water seemed to be going wild. For a moment she wondered if Emphadon was angry, but the thought only brought her a laugh. She swam around the unsettled waters, not actually expecting to find anyone but, for the moment, allowing herself to be completely immersed in the fantasy.

She saw something that she thought may have just been a piece of garbage floating through the water. It was so small. She always took it as her responsibility to keep the ocean clean. As she swam closer, though she still wasn't able to identify what it was. Was it some kind of fish.

Once Deneli closed the distance between herself and the object she realized it had a face! Still she wondered if it was some kind of sea creature. What else would he be doing in the water? "Helloooooo~?" She fully expected the creature to either turn tail and run or otherwise turn towards her and answer her. Maybe he was a student at the academy! Or.. Or maybe he was the prince!

Luppa didn't want to give up hope of his masters returning, but as the time passed, he was really starting to believe that they'd never come back. He splashed around, his strength ebbing away. He was all alone... in the middle of the ocean. He looked around, the moon barely reflecting off an island in the distance. Could he reach it...?

He sensed another presence in the water, and he immediately froze, his first instincts flying to SHARK. His little legs kicked lamely, hardly propelling himself in any direction. He had to get away - true, his very purpose in life was to serve others... but he loved the world too much to go yet!

The greeting startled him. The shark said hello? Usually, he had every greeting ready at the tip of his tongue, but right now, he only had salt water. "Blaaahhh...!" he spluttered, reaching out pathetically to hold this creature, disorientated. Right near, it appeared to be his only source of safety.

Aha! He wasn't sea creature. She knew it! Deneli noticed the odd appendage hanging limply from his back. A flier? But he was a missing a wing! She felt a pang of pity, imagining it to be like trying to swim with only one fin.

Deneli tilted her head to one side, as though trying to look at him from a different angle. Then she giggled. "You're a funny prince!" She turned over on her back and took Luppa in her arms, swimming specifically so that most of his body would remain above the surface of the water. Essentially, she was swimming backwards in the direction of the island.

Funny? He was being funny? The servant instinct inside him was glad to be of use to someone, even if it was merely being an entertainment. But his mind was still whirling from his recent events, he couldn't be quite sure what was even going on, or if he was even awake. He was feeling a little drowsy...

As he was taken into the arms of something loving, a dozy smile crept on his face. Rescue... was this rescue? Had a master returned? He returned the cling, albeit with confusion.

An old habit returned to him, a tongue that slithered out of his open mouth, just wanting a taste, a small taste of his rescuer, just to see if he recognised them... But before he had the chance, the sea water gushed into his mouth, causing him to uncomfortably hack and squirm - hardly the elegance one might expect from supposed royalty.

A delirious whine slipped from his throat. "I...nnnah... is... is... m-master?" Was he even forming a sentence? He couldn't even tell.

((Ambrose and Disaster continue to: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and Deneli and Luppa continue to: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

.......♪