“Are you okay, Chen?” Dawn asked, peering down at the half-conscious Vulpari from her chair. He wavered in and out of focus, seeming to shift and warp even though she knew he was lying still. That - and the glowing warmth in her chest - told her she was in a bit over her head. The fox seemed to be all right, for the most part. He was probably more ‘all right’ than<i>she</i>was, at least. Maybe Ashy had affected him somehow…?<br/><br/>“Danger, there be danger! Pirates of thieves of the night!”<br/><br/>Dawn shot Verita a confused glance, turning from the Vulpari just in time to see the girl tumble off the table and onto the floor. “Um…”<br/><br/>“Little green fairies, come to me and save me from the big bad captain,” Verita called, seemingly to no one in particular. But, somehow, Verita’s words pierced through the haze in her mind. This ship - whatever it was called - didn’t have a captain anymore.<br/><br/>She peered at the window and suddenly froze. She could feel the unmistakable presence of magic not far from them, out over the water. Distantly, she swore she could hear someone humming a tune. It was dark and solemn, sending a chill down her spine.<br/><br/><i>Pirates.</i>Verita was right. But who was in any shape to fight them? Even if she and Verita<i>hadn’t</i>shared that bottle, they wouldn’t be much better off. She shrugged to herself and slid out of her chair to lie beside Verita on the floor. “I don’t think anyone’s going to be doing much saving, Ver,” she said softly. “If they mean to take us alive, there’s not much point fighting it.” The cabin’s ceiling swam like water above her. “And if they try to hurt you, I’ll...” One spell. One spell was all she had. One spell would have to be enough, even if she had to pay the price.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>