The four crew members left the<em>Blessing</em>and easily fell into a loose formation.  Marcus was in the front with Elena to his right and slightly behind him, and Sai the same only to his left.   Okibura was in the center behind Marcus as they walked the streets of the imperial port city.   Even though Valdalius was well maintained, the dock districts still had its fair share of narrow streets and dark shadows, and it was the ill luck of the crew that they had to pass through some of the rat maze to get to the docks where the<em>Emerald Wind</em>was berthed.<br/><br/>It was Okibura that spotted it first, the flash of crimson that was a stark contrast to the rest of the drab streets.    The color came from the form of large bird, a bird of a hunting raptor size, lying unmoving in the ally about sixty or so paces ahead.    The rest of the area surrounding the street was quiet, for too quiet for the always busy port.