#corroded treasure

And when they find the ship, it’s contorted inside of a near flooded cave. Its former glory gone and splintered. The shape is warped into a mere mockery of its original glam. But that was something Loligo expected. He’d seen and caused his fair share of ship wrecks so he doesn’t hesitate to climb into the wreckage with Avis in tow. 

But when he and Avis find the remains of his old crew. He finds that hunger for revenge is ruined. Completely gone upon truly seeing the state of their bodies. 

They’re nothing but bones as expected but seeing their bodies frozen in their final moments. Their skulls gaping open as they took their final breaths. Their clothes are tattered, their swords are rusty, and their bones are dirty from exposure to the stuffy salty air and whatever critters happened to find them. 

Avis is wandering about, absorbing all she can of her captain’s original ship that, even as a wreck, overshadows their mere winged sloop. 

Loligo’s cocky stride has slowed to a snail’s pace as he is hit with the cruel law of mortality. That no matter how grand one thing seemed, time will humble it into a memory. 

The dried corpses of his crew mates, men that he used to share rum with and sing off key and slurry shanties with, were nothing but piles of the past now. Squeezing into the captain’s quarters, he saw whatever treasure remained was corroded. It was more accurate to refer to them as artifacts instead of riches. 

Loligo hated having to confront the voice in the back of his head that told him his reign of terror was over. That he was no longer the legendary Kraken Captain that could sink fleets in under a minute. He hated having to accept that he was back at square 1 and would probably be stuck there for awhile.

Potentially forever. 

Sure, mortality had a very loose grip on him, but it was still a determined hold. He might not age but the world around him did. And it was outgrowing him. 

As he pulled himself out of the ruins of the quarters, he was met with the sight of Avis hovering down, her colorful wings out and open bringing some life to the decaying ship. 

As she spun around on her heel to take in the full sight of all the ruins around her, Loligo was hit with the hard fact that Avis was the only thing left for him in this endless life he lived. The last remaining crewmate and the only person who saw him as the legend he is and not was.

The avian had grown on him much more than he would like to admit. And he recently found this growth to be expanding at a far more aggressive pace than he would have expected. 

Loligo had his fair share of fine companions on the sea back during his reign of terror but none truly came close to how Avis made him felt. It was corny of course, but the lively nature and overall optimism was a welcome element in his life. And the times she’d intimately help him relax and calm down certainly made her a mortal worth keeping around in his book. 

He found himself thinking about just how much his impression of the avian had changed since he first met her. How he expected to just use her impressive map and direction skills to find his eye and then rid himself of her the first chance he got. Originally, the thought would have made him chuckle but now, he felt a pit in his stomach at the concept. 

The pit only grew as he realized not only did the idea bring him guilt now, but also loneliness. It was a mutual punishment for them both to be separated now. Something he wouldn’t openly admit to the macaw of course. 

Avis had seemed to finish her scouting and turned to face Loligo, who was deep in thought. She tilted her head and stepped a bit closer, the glint of the moonlight peaking through the cave hitting her at just the right angle so her features were luminated, further emphasizing her colors. 

Loligo’s eyes widen at the sight and he realized not every treasure on the ship was corroded. 

Avis went to call for her captain, only for him to make a slow approach to her by himself, causing her to squawk in surprised as she straightened up, bracing for orders. 

Instead of hearing a firm voice, she felt Loligo’s cold and weathered hands on her cheeks. She fought to keep any tweets inside but the contact made the feathers on her wings poof out. She stood strong however, knowing Loligo was merely checking to make sure she was fine before they departed to their next destination. 

That's what she was expecting, at least.

That changed when he slumped down, now nearly at eye level as he pressed their foreheads together. A drained expression came to his face, his crimson eye a dull red as he finally let himself rest the stern captain act. The thoughts were too heavy and the memories of his high were making him lightheaded. The only thing keeping him grounded was the macaw who was quick to catch him, expecting him to fall. 

“Cap’n! Are you okay!?” 

Loligo’s voice came out, low and drained. 

“I’m so tired...tired of losing things.” 

Avis squinted in confusion, her nose scrunching up. The expression was too much for Loligo’s chest to take as his thumb caressed her cheek. She froze, her already blushing skin now turning a deep red. 

“All my treasure is gone, My old crew is just dust and memories. My old ship is wreckage and splinters. And my reputation is a mere fading legend.” 

Avis’s expression softened as she listened. One of her hands found their way to the back of one of Loligo’s which remained on her cheek. She squeezed and for a second, she could have sworn his cheeks got more color to them. 

With a deep inhale and a heavy exhale, Loligo relaxed and collected himself before forcing his own pride aside for his next sentence. This time a request. 

“All I have to ask of you...” The kraken looked Avis deep in her eyes, his expression now gentle. “My last remaining jewel...”

Avis let a squawk slip out at the statement and she ushered out a quick “I am so sorry”

The slip up only brought a rare genuine smile to her captain’s face as he held her face gently in his hands. The warmth radiating from her skin was a well needed boost to his cold aching heart. 

“Please stay by my side...'least 'til the end of this voyage.”

Avis’s eyes widened and for a second, Loligo wondered if he had just killed her by making her already rapidly pounding heart beat too fast. 

The macaw opened her mouth to give a quick “Aye aye” before giving him the brightest smile he had ever seen. 

Giving in to the urge that had been plaguing him since he saw her standing in the moonlight, Loligo leaned in with full expectations of sealing the deal...only for his lips to meet nothing but empty space as Avis had fainted into his chest. 

He sighed, figuring he was correct about having made her heart beat too fast for her little birdie body. However, instead of annoyance as he usually would have felt, he let out a chuckle as he scooped his only crew mate up into his arms and made his way out of the wreckage.