TALLFIN:

PART 2

Uncertain Burning

"I do not seem dead." It was the first thought that came to Blue Lobster Commando Tallfin. He could not remember what exactly had happened; just that he should most definitely be dead. But he wasn’t, at least as far as he could tell. Rather, he found himself staring up at a big white blob, which was most likely a ceiling of some sort, but his eyes had not refocused yet. As he strained to remember what exactly what had happened, a new blob, a blue one came into his vision. "Finn, are you awake?" He recognized the voice. It was Salvare Deamigo, one of the two Blue Commandos who had taken a stand with him against the seven humans. "You’ve been out for awhile my friend. Rest a bit more, I shall get you some fish." Tallfin continued to stare at the white ceiling in front of him which was beginning to become more clear. "Where am I?" he asked. He knew he wasn’t in any human structure, for he could feel a thin layer of water running under him. All lobster buildings, even above ground ones, usually managed to have at least a small bit of water running through them. "We’re in one of the most outward of the lobster Post. To be honest I’m not exactly sure which one."

That answered that question well enough. "Why...how?" Tallfin continued. Salvare sighed and sat down next to Tallfin. "What do you remember?" "Those humans...the knights." Tallfin replied. "Yes, the Knights." Salvare mumbled. "The knights. That was a dark day for us, a very dark day. We are the only two left. A human hit you with his shield and you fell unconscious. I wounded one though, and they backed away long enough for me to back into the shadows; dragging you with me. It was very hard getting out of that town. I finally reached the river Beber and there I found a small island on which to rest. The next day Sir Rouge found us, and brought us here." "Sir Rouge?" Tallfin exclaimed. Sir Rouge was possibly the most famed human of all to the Lobsters, and just meeting him was considered an honor. "Sir Rouge brought us here?" Salvare looked up as if thinking for a moment. "Yeah." He said. "You were out for about 30 hours I’d say."

Just then a loud bell sounded outside the small hut. It was a ship bell, the type all the lobster ships carried aboard. Lobsters didn’t usually use boats for moving between the islands, it was easy enough to swim it, or in some cases walk it underwater. But if cargo needed to be moved, or for extremely long distances, ships were needed. Salvare looked out the window then walked out of the small structure. Tallfin, the interest overcoming the pain in his head, also slowly got up, and stumbled out, realizing for the first time, that a bandage was tied around his head. As he walked out, he looked behind him and saw how far out the border island must have been. It was not even a third chain island, all that rested on it was a few small farms, and fisherlobster houses, and one small fortress. He looked back ahead and saw the ship which had rung the bell. It was a troop transport, very rare, as the only time they were used was when Armies were being brought all the way to the large lands. It was bulky, wooden, and rather round, the large bell hanging at the bow. A Lobster stood next to it with a large hammer to ring it. Several other lobster crew members stood looking over the side, down at Tallfin and Salvare. Another lobster, wearing a captain’s hat came up to the side as well. "Are you two, Salvare and Tallfin?" he shouted down. "Yeah that’s us." Salvare yelled back, stepping forward. "Well then,” the captain continued, "This ship here is for you and your friend. Commander Waterleed himself ordered it incase one of you is too wounded to make the swim back yourself. "

"Finally home." That was all that Sir Rouge could think as he landed his dragon at a field in the city of Aquath. Generally dragons were not allowed anywhere near cities, and were only allowed to land at air-bases; however over time Rouge’s dragon, like himself, had become a bit of a hero. It had never caused any major harm to anybody (except for in war of course) and the people respected it. The current field Rouge had chosen to land in was actually a park. It was still dawn but already people were gathering round, wanting to touch the famous dragon. Soon a charioteer wheeled up through the crowd. The chariot pulled up beside Rouge, who was struggling to make his way through the mob. "Hailith forith isith Sir Rouge!" he cried. "Howith areith yeith?" The charioteer was obviously from the heart of the human empire, Maineith. His type of talk identified him. The people of the shared lands only sparsely used "ith" the people of the mainlands generally added it to verbs, but only the people living in Maineith itself, and a few of the small towns around it added it to everything.. "Yes it is me, and I am tired." Sir Rouge replied. "Is your message urgent? (Charioteers were the message-men of the Empire.) "Yesith, indeedith it isith!" Cried Back the Royal messenger. "Ourith nobleith King wantith toith speakith with youith!" Rouge didn’t abhor the Maineith speaking style, but it did have a tendency to annoy him, and indeed, it was starting to. "The King?" he replied, the herd of people still swarming around him. "When?" "Butith Ofcourseith".” The charioteer started. "Nowith!" It was going to be another long day for Sir Rouge.

"Tallfin listened to the ship creaking beneath him. He was again laying down, as he had grown weary after standing for a time. As he listened he found it interesting the way the big boat sounded it was about to crack apart at every wave. Lobsters in general didn’t ride many boats, and the sounds were rather unique. As interested as Tallfin was at the sounds, he was quite uncomfortable. It was rather hard to have water run through every level of a ship without sinking it, and thus ruining the entire purpose of the thing. The only water was a little tank which Tallfin had some of his legs resting in. It was a nice room, for a ship though. He had been given the second Captain’s Room, as it was currently unoccupied, and Tallfin’s status as a blue Lobster made him higher ranking than a normal troop.

The door to the room creaked open and in came Salvare. He took a seat and plopped down next to Tallfin. There he just sat, slouched over. "What are you thinking?" Tallfin asked. "The others" responded Salvare. "Look," said Tallfin, "I know how you feel, I do too, but I’m sure those Humans will get justice. We and the humans always work these things out. They are a good Kingdom, they’ll punish those men, give them what they deserve, I am sure. We and the Humans are friends, Large Landers are the enemy. It’ll all work out in the end." Salvare just sat thinking. "Yeah, it’ll work out in the end."

"Drooooooonnngg!" The bell on the mast of the ship rung suddenly, and the ship creaked and wobbled about. Again the bell rang, nearly tearing Tallfin out of his bed. Anxious lobster feet could be heard shuffling up to the deck, with many Lobster voices shouting back and forth to see what was happening. The bell continued to ring, and the boat tremored till it seemed it was about to snap open. Eventually, the combination of curiosity, and the idea that the discomfort couldn’t possibly be higher on deck overcame Tallfin, and he walked shakily out of the room, and up the stairs to the deck. The scanty crew had manned their battle-stations, and were staring up at the sky at a lone flying dragon. Tallfin heard the captain speaking to Salvare. "Is it a human scout?" "No, I don’t think so, I can’t see any human riding it. Yet, I’ve never seen a wild dragon stray this far before. Perhaps it is lost...Very strange. If it is wild, I don’t see any reason it would have to attack. I think it shall turn back if we stay quiet." The entire crew watched in silence as the dragon hovered overhead. On several of it’s loops around it came low enough that it was quite obvious that there was no human rider. Eventually it started to turn away. The crew breathed a sigh of relief and slowly resumed talking among themselves. But as Tallfin watched the dragon move away towards the horizon, at the last moment it began a long, slow, turn, back in the direction of the ship. Nobody seemed to notice. The dragon grew closer, it seemed it was actually heading for the ship specifically. Tallfin looked up and noticed the Lobster in the crow’s nest had fallen asleep. Still the dragon grew closer. The crew continued to relax, apparently oblivious to the return of the beast. Tallfin, sure that he was imagining the direct course the dragon seemed to be taking for the ship, said nothing. However, as the slow flapping whoosh of the dragons wings came back into hearing, the crew suddenly hushed, as they all realized what was about to happen. There was a universal cry of "Duck!" as suddenly the dragon roared and let out a stream of flame upon the transport. The sails caught fire, and much of the stern was instantly burnt, as the dragon buzzed the ship, it’s tail actually hitting the highest sail-post, causing it to start to tilt downward. As the dragon started another slow turn, the braver members of the crew took back to their posts. The main armament of the ship were two large crossbows which were lit on fire, then shot at the target. Frantically lobsters searched for their bows, or even their spears. The dragon swarmed by again, with the same trail of flames. However this time it was returned as a barrage of flaming arrows, spears, and the two large arrows leapt into the air. One of the large arrows struck the dragons side, and it screamed in pain, shooting back another flame wave before starting yet another turn. The ships masts were starting to burn horribly. By the time the dragon had turned for another run at the ships stern one of the main crossbows had been wheeled back to that spot, right next to Tallfin, who in between ducking the fire had been watching the spectacle in mixed horror and awe. "Hey Blue!" One of the crossbow operators yelled. "We need another operator of this thing. Help us steady it!" Tallfin quickly grasped one of the sides of the crossbow and held it down. The dragon was approaching rapidly heading straight for the crossbow’s position. If the arrow missed the entire crew on the bow was likely finished.

The dragon started another roar, but the bow swept into the air, finding it’s aim on the dragons belly. The dragon’s flames sputtered, and it screamed one last time, smashing through the tilted mast, causing a storm of splinters to fall upon the crew, but also putting the remains of the burning sail in the water. The now flaming dragon hit the water, rocking the boat, and suddenly, all was still. The only sounds were the creaking of the boat, and the last burning of the flames, as Tallfin watched the slain dragon sink into the ocean.