Travels with a Yellow Bird Part 11: Get Well Soon

>Last Time on Travels with a Yellow Bird

>You led a search party through the dark wet jungle for a new mast

>Along the way you had many close calls, Matango and Arachne and worse things roamed the forest.

>You finally found the right tree and get to work turning it into a part for your ship

>The noise attracted everything in the area, but only the boldest dared attack you by the light of the fire

>A vicious tropical Girta abducted you and took you to her lair

>You were poisoned and at the nonexistent mercy of the monster for days

>Your crew finally rescues you and makes it back to the ship WITH the mast in tow

Recuperate, repair, resupply and head out.

I lay in my bed as Flit feeds me some noxious concoction out of a bowl. The brown broth has a familiar warmth, cut with something that makes me want to puke if I had the energy. "What the fifth hell is this stuff, poison?" I manage to choke out.

"A little bit." Flit responds, ignoring my crack. The yellow harpy wipes the sweat from my brow with her downy feathers delicately. "We have to wean you off the venom slowly." She points at my tent under the blanket with a teasing grin. "Unless you want the blood to coagulate down there and watch it wither and fall off."

"Could you cut the playful act Flit? I'm really not in the mood." I mutter dourly.

Flit stuffs another miserable spoonful down my throat. "I'm not kidding. I just hope we have enough to get you through. There wasn't much left to harvest from the venom sacs when that thing was done with you." Her eyes cloud over. "I really don't mean to torment you. It's just the only way I know to deal with you being in this shape. You got torn up pretty bad out there."

Her feather's fluff out in concern. "I thought Limus would have taught you a little more caution. What are you going to do when your luck runs out? You're not expendable you know!"

I stare at the stump previously occupied by my ringfinger on my right hand. The wound is scabbed over well. It doesn't look infected. I can't say the bandages over the cuts and slashes covering the rest of me feel as well. "Hows the repairs going?" I bypass her question. I really don't feel like having that fight right now.

"The new mast is in place. It's not iron, but it will work just as well. Rigging is being installed. We'll be able to set sail tomorrow. Now open up." Flit commands in her best elder sister voice.

I glimpse something that looks like tiny feet in the bowl when she brings the medicine close, and I almost wretch in revulsion. The harpy covers my mouth with a golden wing.

"Don't be such a child. It's just mandragora root. It mixes with a little venom to keep your blood pumping. And it will help you heal. You're lucky that big pirate you brought along knew a little medicine and had the foresight to collect the stuff in the jungle. Force feeding you this on the way back is probably the only reason you're here right now."

She takes her wing away and I swallow hard, letting the bile settle. I notice red spots in her down on her arms. She's literally been pulling her feathers worrying over me.

Flit sets the bowl clumsily on the softly rocking floor with her wings. "You know, the shore party said you weren't half this much trouble taking medicine." She hangs her hair over my pillow, the blonde strands tickling my face. She twists her head sideways in her classic bird inspection pose. She used to give me that look when she though I wasn't trying hard enough in lessons back home. "If you keep acting like a petulant chick, I will have to feed you like one."

She brings her face closer, shining gold eyes contrasting sharply with her tanned face. "Just." She lowers her head and closes her eyes. "Like." Trembling lips struggle to meet mine. "This." Downy warmth tepidly presses down on me, supple, kind. This gentleness, this unsureness is different than what I've experienced before.

My mind flashes back to half-remembered moments in the dark, fierce arachnid lips kissing and sharp teeth biting, stinging numbing despair. I shudder.

The harpy looks disappointed and hurt by my reaction. "Right. So take your medicine." She grabs the bowl and shoves in my lap, liquid sloshing onto the sheets. "You wouldn't want me to have to do that again."

She opens her small mouth again before we're interrupted by a knock on the door. It's the crewman that was almost taken by the matango. Flit lets him in and then sulks out the door.

The man wrings his hands nervously as he looks at my bed-ridden body. I wave him over.

"Glad to see you on the mend Captain." He takes his hat in his hand. "We all feared the worst."

I thank him for his help and give him the best officer's smile I can manage. "I'll be up and about in no time, if this stuff doesn't kill me first." I point my spoon at the bowl.

The man grins and reaches for a small package wrapped in his shirt. "We all knew you wouldn't lose your fire sir, no matter what. That's what the Red Lady said. And by god we found ya and here you are."

"The Red Lady?" I question.

"The scale sir, the one with the terrifying red eyes." He begins to unwrap the cloth. "I figured it ain't right Captain, that a dirty bug bitch should get a piece of you." His eyes dart to my mutilated hand.

"So I figured you deserve a piece of her. It ain't good for cutting so much as stabbing, but well…consider it a memento." The canvas falls away to show a curved dagger with a crudely carved bone handle and a black stinger for a blade. He beams as I take it in my hands. It's so light, like a toy. He wishes me well and takes his leave. My heart lightens.

I want to see Elsa and thank her too, but I'm no fool. I'll be stuck in this bed for a couple of days yet, and she'll be in the brig. I'll send for her once I get my head back in order. Our supplies are running low. We have about a week's worth left, and we need to sail through Natans. Already, we've burned almost a month of summer on our quest and there's still so far to go. Even if we make it to Jiro, can we return in time at this rate?


>Take the route by the cliffs
>Take the route by the whirlpool
>Fight or bluff through a main trade route

>Bonus: Decide how to resupply enroute
>Piracy of ships or towns
>Trade in a town
>Forage in the wild

Flit never returned the whole night. We've had lots of fights over the last year, but that one was different. I can feel it in my bones. In the morning, we weigh anchor. She shows up with breakfast and medicine congenially enough. Her usual overprotective anger is gone, and I find it unsettling.

"How's the wind?" I start, trying to break the ice with business.

"Nor-Nor-East and steady." Her reply is clipped, no extra hint of advice or opinion I've come to rely on.

"We'll make the most of it. I do not wish to linger her. We're bound for Skate Pass." I look at eyes that refuse to meet mine. "Straight away." The bird nods. I hold up my hand as she turns to leave, my gaze on the map in front of me.

"You will plot a course north by northeast, so as to pick up the Merkin Stream." I gesture to a spot of shining light. "That will bring us here to Squamus, at full moon in July, where we’ll resupply for the two week journey down the Skate.” No sound acknowledges my order. “Flit?"

“I must give the helmsman our course to come about.” The golden harpy tries to excuse herself. Yellow feathers ruffle as I try to stand from my chair.

“For god’s sake Flit, talk to me. You’re the whole reason why we’re out here. Giving me the cold shoulder doesn’t help either of us.” I hear the harpy catch her breath.

Flit starts slow and low, her musical lilt almost cracking. She turns toward me, her big eyes glued solidly to the planks. “When I saw them carry you out of the jungle, I saw the looks on their faces. I knew you were dead. In my heart knew it, and I wanted to die. I failed you. I didn’t prepare you for what was out there. My best wasn’t enough. I wasn’t enough. And if I’m not good enough to even get you through wilderness, how can I get you all the way home?”

I start to see tears well up in her eyes. “Then I saw you breathe, and my heart leaped. The worst part is you don’t even lay the blame on me. We both know it’s my fault. I could have done more. If you had more fire, more crew, better weapons…”

I shush Flit and give her a shaky hug. I can still barely stand from the venom. “All’s right in the end. We have a good crew. They pulled us through. It’s not your fault.” The small harpy’s tears wet my chest through my shirt as she buries her face in the linen. Her wings folded tight at her sides remind me that she’s really not much bigger than a little girl.

The harpy hic-cheeps as she swallows her tears. “I know I wasn’t always kind but I cared. I’ve tried to help you, train you to be a prince worthy of your people. I’ve risked my feathers for you more than once.” She rubs her shining golden hair against my collar and fluffs up, disheveling everything. Her breasts heave in her tight top. “And I know I shouldn’t expect anything from you in return. I know.”

“But I was still selfishly expecting something when I gave you my f-first kiss, un-unforgivable.” Flit breaks into a new round of tears.

>Console the harpy with words and try to get her head put back on straight
>Kiss Flit
>Give her some tough love and get her back to her duties
>Other

Tremors wrack my half-numbed digits as I cup the harpy's chin in my hand. I tilt her head up pointing her face at mine. Her messy hair frames a wet red face and swollen eyes that still won't look at me.

I draw closer, and Flit shrinks back into my arms. My hand moves to caress the side of her cheek, moving wet blond strands out of the way and wiping away tears. Flit sniffles, eyes slowly searching out mine. I swear I can see her gold sclera tainted with the crippling fear she would see hate and disgust in mine.

I plant my lips on hers with as much vigor as I can muster. She has a soft delicate heat I can't quite place. Maybe it's because I'm the one giving the kiss? Every other woman initiated. Is this what it's like when I'm the one in control? Flit chirps in surprise, breaking our fleshy contact. I press again. This time, after a moment, I feel her strain upward. She stands on the tips of her talons to kiss me back. There's no violence in it like the kisses I've had from others. She's so very gentle, so careful, her response measured against mine. I'd never thought this overbearing henpecking girl could be this way. I regret I didn't realize sooner. I'm so engorged in the feeling I almost don't notice my own wobbling legs betray me.

I collapse on the poor harpy. She struggles to hold me up in her wings. Her tiny body is strong, she couldn't haul me in the air otherwise. She looks me in the eye now, and I manage a cockeyed smile when she frowns in concern. She waddles my limp body back to the bed and tucks me into the sheets soaked in sweat. I start to speak and she tries to silence me with a wing. I push the feathers away and she reluctantly relents. I'm so tired, my voice is only a whisper. "Flit, terrible things happened in that jungle. I couldn't help but remember when you kissed me. None of it was anything but my own fault if it was anyone's." Flit kneels beside the bed, closer to hear my voice as my volume drops lower. Her face lays on the pillow next to me. "I'm not certain if I'll ever be able to forget those days. But know I..."

I can't choke out the last part as I start to drift off.

The last thing I hear is Flit whisper to me. "Rest now, my scribe boy. I can wait."

The next three days are full of fitful sleep and feverish dreams as we run out of venom for the medicine. Flit stays by my side most of the time, switching with the cabin boy when she needs to fufill her duties around the ship.

I finally awaken, my withdrawal subsided enough to make my way around the ship again. We only have three days until we reach Squamus. I need to get back in the saddle.

>Get a report from Flit
>Inspect the ship and crew for myself
>Visit Elsa
>Other

For those who asked. The three rules of your father. Never directly stated but implied.

>Never be afraid to kill your enemy, no matter how sweet the face.
>Never fall asleep with a monster in the same room.
>Never choose love or honor over your mission.

I shoo the cabin boy off to get Flit while I get dressed. She bursts through the door in a gale of golden yellow as I'm tying my boots.

The yellow bird bobs closer as she gives me an appraising look for a long moment. Satisfied, she opens her great wings and wraps them around me, knocking maps and papers onto the floor in the rush of air. I hear a soft vibrating coo as she nestles against my chest.

I hug the harpy back and tell her that it's high time I got some fresh air and give thanks to the crew for all they've done. Flit finally unwraps me and tugs my collar down to her level. She gives me a shy peck with a red face. "Yes Captain."

She harries me out the door and my spirits raise when I drop boots on the foredeck. The new mast sticks straight and true even under full sail. Some men are hard at work training with Elsa. I see a greater respect in their faces for her now as she directs their practice. There's not much raw improvement but they are starting to gain familiarity and good habits with their gear.

All movement stops as Flit shrieks "Captain on deck!" There's a few nods and even more cheers in response.

I assemble the crew under the harsh tropical sun. "I stand here today in front of the best damned lot of seafarers I could hope for. You are loyal, dedicated, and true. When things are looking their worst, you have all worked together to pull us through time and again. I thank you, all of you for your bravery." I give them a gentleman's sweeping bow. A few older men thump their hands to their chests, the cabin boy sniggers at the dated gesture.

I straighten up and project my voice. "The real danger begins now. We head into the teeth of the Dragoon. They think to tear us apart. Let them scream blood when we kick them in!" A rousing shout follows and I disperse the crew back to their work.

As they walk away, I stop each member of the shore party and personally thank them for saving me. All of them admit they probably would have scattered and ran if the scale hadn't insisted they look for me at the point of a blade.

When I get to Elsa, a happy fire burns in her eyes. “What kind of knight would I be if I didn’t protect my lord?” She accepts my praise graciously. Her eyes smolder under the black iron. “It still counts as a favor.“

I give her an easy smile and tell her “Of course.” She grabs my shoulder as I turn away to go inspect our ammunition and stores.

“Approaching a scale town at full moon. I hope you have a good plan.” Elsa sounds worried. “I would talk to you later about that, when we are alone.”

>Visit Elsa that night
>Invite her to council with yourself and Flit in the Captain’s Quarters
>Ignore her
>Other

I promise I'll hear her at my cabin when night falls.

That evening, I hear a knock at my door. Flit picks up her head as we pour over charts and ship logs at the table. The Lizarda steps in silently, decked out in her dress, hair neatly combed. I'm impressed when only a couple hours before she was in sweatsoaked armor.

She pauses when she sees the harpy sitting next to me. I welcome her in. The former Dragoon drops a business-like mask across her features and sidles up beside me in a chair, her tail sliding comfortably through the Dragoon-made furniture.

Her eyes are drawn to the map on the table. A look of confusion slips past her mask for a moment as she picks up the crystal and turns it in her black claws.

Flit nudges me with a taloned foot and points to a log. "As I was saying, the maps show the harbor is huge and full of coves. We should be able to find a place to hide the ship from most eyes if we can make it past the port gates before moonrise. There's too much water out there to try the rowboat trick again. This time we'll have to bring the ship in."

Elsa sets the map down. "I know you chose this time because the patrols and ships will be the least organized and alert. But have you considered how useful the canary or I will be if you need us?"

"Some of us can control our instincts, unlike animals." Flit dismisses her, not even sparing a glance from her papers.

Razor-sharp keratin gouges furrows in the table as Elsa flexes her claws. "That may have been a month ago, even a week ago. But look me in the eye and tell me it still holds true."

I can feel the chill from her icy glare even as she directs it at the harpy. "You think you can hide your moans at night forever, the noises you make when he's fallen asleep? I smell the desire in you."

Flit retaliates with a calculating look of her own. "Don't libel others with your own stories, scale." Her feathers begin to puff up unconsciously in an effort to make her look bigger.

Elsa obviously hit a nerve, and she pushes the attack. “We both know he needs council and soldiers most. Distraction out there could kill him. It almost did! Put aside your feelings.” Her tail rattles the chair back and forth. "To ignore the moon's effects on your plan is beyond foolhardy! Do you have any idea what the Blackfleet will do to any man they capture that night?"

>Intervene nicely and calm them down
>Order them both to drop it because you're goddamn Captain and you'll make the decision
>Pick a side and tell the other to shut up and get back to the matter at hand.
>Change the plan

"Enough!" I bellow the order and stab my scorpion stinger into the table. Shocked silence greets me. I sit down heavily after the sudden exertion. I'm still nowhere near fully recovered. "We cannot change our timing. We don't have the supplies. We'll need rationing as it is. It's full moon or nothing. We will however take any precautions we can for both of you during that time."

Flit pouts a little in a fluffy ball but acquiesces quietly. Elsa on the other hand seems hot and bothered. "Decisive. An excellent quality." She almost growls. I see her catch herself and calm her features with a visible force of will.

We go over the logs again. Elsa doesn't remember the town. She came through a different route when she was shipped to the war. She is able give us a good idea of how the patrols and marina will be set up for a city of that size. "I know my sisters like the blood pumping in my veins, from heart to hand." She declares proudly. There will be far more merchants here than even Limus as well. If we can bypass the lighthouse watchmen at the gates, then slipping into Squamus should be child's play.

I begin to wear out as we go longer into the night, my body still not used to such prolonged activity yet. Snippet's of debate begin to blur.

"That's why we should avail ourselves of some of the elven weapons in the port. Our Dragoon ones are too heavy and unwieldy for most of our men. Elves are closer to their build and strength." Elsa hammers her scale-gauntlet arm on the table. Green reflections scatter and shimmer off her in the candlelight.

"Where do you think we'll find the money? Even if we did, do you think nobody will notice a Lizarda buying up loads of rare imports? You can't even believe stealing is an option for a second either. There's enough risk as there is! You think our luck will hold forever?" The harpy counters, gesturing with her wings.

By midnight, we have a solid plan hammered out to get supplies.We'll have three days to do our business in Squamus and leave. After that, the summer traffic in Skate pass will be too heavy.

The final decision only needs to be made on who to send. I know we'll need Elsa and Jenna. As to the others, the only thing the girls can agree on is I should stay on the ship. That burns in my craw. I tell them I'll sleep on it as we break for the night. I notice Elsa eying Flit pensively on the nest of sheets and feathers next to my bed. The harpy is so exhausted from worry the last few days she's already sound asleep.

The Lizarda's toes scratch at the deck and her tail stands stiff and straight behind her skirt as she turns to leave.

"Would you have time to walk with me above deck before bed?" Elsa mumbles softly.


>Humor Elsa
>Go to bed
>Other

My boots thud and her claws clack on the iron plates as we listen to the soft waves below and the sails ripple above. The cool night breeze breathes energy back into me.

The crow sits up top with a lantern and the nightwatch greets me kindly as I pass by. He gives an extra nod to Elsa as well. She feels like she's really become part of the crew.

Elsa leads me to a secluded spot on the aft deck. The moon shines brightly above, the ghostly hue tinting her shining emerald scales a dark teal. She stares out at the water, the ocean and the night blending together in the distance. She smiles, her sharp fangs bright in the moonlight.

"The sea is good isn't it? It reminds me of the stories my grandmother used to tell about her father. She showed me how the old Lizarda would travel the world to fight a man and win his heart, how they would love one another forever."

Excitement and fire creeps into her voice. "It seemed so romantic compared to my family. My own father was a slave. He still loved us in his own way. We were his daughters, how could he not? But it wasn't the same." She stretches and I hear bones pop all over. The lizardgirl whips her tail and I hear a crack as something slides back into place."I joined the army as a young skink, as soon as I molted into my first set of adult scales. I thought I'd never seen a free man, and that was why I was unhappy.” Her eyes burn into mine. "You get older, you begin to forget your old dreams."

She looks back at the sea. "As the years pass, that romantic part of you starts to wither. Men are so rare now, Dragoon are ready to accept anything thrown their way." Elsa slips her arm through mine, scales drawing warmth from my arm. "When I was born, two of three could be expected to get a husband. Now it is only one out of four. They persecute wars with no end, where nothing will be left."

I notice she used 'they' this time.

Elsa squeezes me tighter. "The time of Auk is done. The tide has turned." Her modest chest struggles against my arm, the dress soft on my skin. “I don’t know what the bird promised you, but I know nothing you find where you’re going will change that.”

I’m too tired to even work up proper outrage at her. Elsa feels me stiffen and lets go.

She stands close beside me, not touching, invading my space. “Since you were unable to grant my second favor, I wish for you to grant a different one.” Her warm breath tickles my ear. “I want you to make me a promise.”

As before, I tell hear I’ll hear it. Things are never simple with her.

Elsa leans her hips and tail against my side. “I know you have to complete your quest. I know you have to try.”

She runs a claw over my cheek. “I only beg for you to swear that when you discover the truth, you won’t return home. Promise me you’ll find someplace else, someplace you can find real happiness with a woman you love. Don’t wind up dead or the slave of a stranger.”

The Lizarda gives voice to the doubts we’ve all had since this journey was proposed. But I feel to admit it, even to myself, might break my resolve for what’s to come.

>Grant her favor
>Refuse her favor
>Other