#samplesunday

Rydia pouted at Chitlati and Neeraja's behavior; unhappy with the fact that they seemed to understand something that Rydia couldn't explain. Henry gave her a sorry smile and gathered his familiar in his arms before walking away and below deck to get some food for the both of them. She huffed and walked to the edge of the ship, leaning on the railings with all her weight, staring out to the sea.

As the sun set the sea of Urothus the waters and waves, which were clear in the end-day sun, seemed to be on fire. The oranges, reds, and yellows mixed and danced with no rhyme or reason causing the young half elf to become entranced with the waves. She swayed back and forth with them. She could hear hear a song that resonated in her soul as if this was exactly as Aito had made her to be. If any of her companions would look upon her they may have saw the cloud-like shapes that spotted her skin seemed to move and sway as well but at this moment she was alone.

Rydia leaned a tad bit farther, feeling a deep tugging within her to jump into the cold waters. But it was stopped when she felt to strong and rough hands grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back to a man's chest.

"Careful, little darling. Don't want the Waterfolk to gain another to their ranks." She shivered and blinked before looking up at the male who had grabbed her. She recognized him but not in a familiar sense.

"I-I..." He grinned down at her and she felt her cheeks flush dark most likely causing her light blue skin to have a purple tinge. He was handsome to her; the Low born elven status was seen with his dusty dark skin and his wavy hair braided on one side of his skull and the other shaved. His eyes were a light icy blue that in the setting sun twinkled and were set aflame.

"Worry not, old Damianus is here." He finally released her shoulders and took a step, not away from her but instead behind her he was now to the left of her. He leaned with his back to sea against the railing, all his attention to Rydia.

"I-I wasn't gonna jump! What's a waterfolk anyway?" Her face was even brighter with blush now as she crossed her arms over her chest in indignity. His grin only widened and he copied her stance in a humorous mocking before bothering to answer her.

"Never said you were. Don't worry Chosen of Aito, I understand the pull our Lady Sea has to all who are born of her. You, who are born of Aito, will feel this pull simply cause Famon came from Aito and as all Chosen of Aito you will feel the need for freedom. You are young and do not yet know how to control this pull in your soul." He stared at her for a moment; grin not fading and him not moving before he broke the eye contact between them. He turned his head towards the sea before he continued to speak. " Waterfolk are the souls who were lost before their time to our Lady Sea. They are a sad being who's souls cannot yet rejoin the reincarnation circle until they chose to."

"They... are lost souls?" Rydia was once again confused by new knowledge could not help but wish she paid more attention to her Elders. She let her arms fall to her side as she took a step forward and leaned against the railing again keeping her eyes on the setting sun.

"Aye. Lost and sad. Some claim to not be sad but how can you not be? To know you can not yet return to your people, your home, to even the natural cycle that all souls are apart of." His eyes lost the twinkle of mischief that were present when he looked at her and was replaced with a remorse that seemed to make this more personal then he let on. "You don't know of them?"

Rydia shook her head and lowered her eyes from the sky to the sea.

"I... As my team mates would tell you I am not was well learned as say Aleayear or Chitlati but I do know a bit. Most of the time I am the one fightin'." The somber look on Damianus' face was lost for a moment as he smiled a soft friendly smile.

"Like I said. Worry not young one. You're what? Fifteen, Sixteen? You have plenty of time to learn if I am correct that your a Half elf. So, am I correct? On both questions?" Rydia nodded, not looking back at the older elf, her eyes still looking to the water.

"So... What are they? The Waterfolk? How come the gods made them this way? What crime did they commit?"

"Oh, no! No, no, no! Famon did not make the Waterfolk as a curse persay but instead as a way to give them a second chance," He sighed and reached into his breast pocket before pulling out a cigarette and a old stack of matches. He struck one against the old wood before lighting the cigarette and placing it in his mouth for a drag. He breathed out a cloud of smoke before he began again. "The first was Rohna, Rohna McIntyre. She was his Chosen, witty and quick to speak but a damn good Captain to her ship;  the Humming Bird. The problem was, as a good Captain as she was, her First Mate Colvin convinced the crew to turn against her saying that a female Captain was an affront to all men on the ship. After all the men were up in a riot they took her, tied her to an anchor, and tossed her overboard the ship. Famon... He could not save her but Helmine did not let him despair. The God of Protection told Famon to protect the soul of Rhona, and protect her he did. He gifted her the ability to live under the waves in his domain. To bring justice and save those who she wished... To make more of her kind if she could not save them just as he could not save her." He took another drag and with a trick of the tongue he made an O out of the smoke that he blew out of his lungs.

Rydia and Damainus stood in silence as the last rays of the sun drifted under the waves. A shiver escaped her as the warmth left with them and her eyes rose from the water, where now she swore she could see lost faces just under the surface, to the face of the Sun Chaser's Navigator.

"What of the Humming Bird's Crew? Did they not pay for their part in this sad tale?" He looked at her, something cruel under the surface of his face as he smiled at her.