The battered ship sat on the shores of lake Aelin, the raucous noise of a drunken party emanating from within. The Seasplash had been on a pleasure cruise for a small aristocratic family from Lomedor and had been aiming to stop briefly at Lake Aelin before returning home. But they had been caught unawares in the night by an unforseen storm of incredible magnitude, and only the quick action on the part of the crew had saved them. Well, 'saved' was a relative term. Everybody onboard had gotten through, but the ship itself wouldn't be sailing again anytime soon. The masts, sails, rigging, and rudder were all heavily damaged, and the Seasplash had barely been able to stagger into the safety of the calmer waters of the salt lake.
The crew had chosen to stop just outside a small lakeside village. It was a rural community, but there were enough people there that the captain would be able to enlist the help he needed to start repairing the ship. The waters were even deep enough near shore for the ship to dock in the small harbour the village had, without having to row back and forth between the ship and the shore. There was also a small tavern in the village, and the crew had wasted no time in pooling their money to buy several cases of rum, bring them back in the ship, and proceeding to celebrate their survival.

Of all the crew members present, Eclipse was one of the few who was not yet totally drunk. She was, however, tipsy and not quite ready to quit drinking yet. But the space belowdecks was crowded, and becoming much too warm for her liking, so she stumbled up the steep staircase leading to the main deck, a glass bottle clenched in her hand.
Coming to the top of the stairs, she breathed in deeply of the fresh air.
"Ah," she sighed. "Tha's more like't."
"I beg your pardon," said a haughty voice to her right. "But I believe we were here first. Go back to your drunken revelry below. There is no room for common drunks here."
It was Cain, the father of the noble family who owned the Seasplash.
"No room?" responded Eclipse. She looked around. "S'a fair sized ship. Look. I'll go there," she pointed towards the prow of the ship, "and you stay 'ere, and I won' need to talk t'you."
Content with that solution, Eclipse turned and made to walk towards the prow of the ship.
"Excuse me," said Cain, grabbing her arm. "But I don't believe you quite understood. I said you're not welcome up here.
"Easy gov'ner!" cried Eclipse. "Leggo of me, I've done nothin'. We all got the right to be on th'ship, and I've got th'right to fresh air, so I'll go there and you stay 'ere and s'all well and good for everyone."
"Miss, said Cain impatiently, "if you cannot follow my orders and go back belowdecks, I will have to ask you to leave the ship. And I have the authority to do that, as it is my ship."
"Fine then, be that way," said Eclipse. She began to make her way towards the gangway that the crew had set up. "I never like the ship anyway. Seasplash is a stupid name t'give a vessel!"
And she stumbled onto the shore. Once there, she found she staggered a lot more. The soft, yielding sand was a lot harder to walk on than the solid decks of the ship. Eclipse began to sing an old sea chanty as she meandered along the beach, filling in the parts she couldn't remember with nonsense.
"As I was walkin' down Paradise Street,
With a way-ay-aye...na na na na na...
A pretty young damsel I chanced for t'meet...
Oh way-aye...na na na...only for me.

Eyes like th'sea, arms soft as th'tide,
To welcome me home every night.
Oh aye, lalala... Oh!"

Eclipse's song was broken off as she stumbled and fell. She giggled and sat back in the sand, taking another swig from her bottle.
"Ah, what a night t'be alive!" she said.

Umbra dashed through the brush that surrounded the lake. It was the dead of night, the moon shone through the trees as she made her way to the beach. Umbra lept up onto a branch and moved from tree to tree. It was not to long before she heard a voice.

"As I was walkin' down Paradise Street,
With a way-ay-aye...na na na na na...
A pretty young damsel I chanced for t'meet...
Oh way-aye...na na na...only for me.

Eyes like th'sea, arms soft as th'tide,
To welcome me home every night.
Oh aye, lalala... Oh!"

She perked at the sound, "So someone else is here tonight." she whispered to the crisp night air. She wore no cloak so her armor shined in the moon, reflecting at odd angles to make spooky lights if seen from a distance. She swiftly moved through the forest and finally found the sandy beach of the lake. She was surprised to see a boat there, it was not often that ships were in the lake. She walked towards the boat and soon heard the same voice. "Ah, what a night t'be alive!" it said. Umbra soon noticed the voice came from a woman on the sand. It did not take long for the smell of liquor to reach her nose. She shook her head, the smell of alchol never appealed to her but to each there own she thought."Yes, it is a pleasent night. The day was good and the night promises to be as great. she said then turned to the boat. Aye my friend. Tis a great night to be alive. "Strange though, I have never seen a ship on the lake before. Wonder what is on board?" she wondered then turned back to the woman. "Please forgive me, I seem to have forgotten my manners. I am Umbra, by what may I call you?" she asked

Although Eclipse was normally highly aware of her surroundings, and usually was aware of anyone in the area immediately surrounding her, the liquor she had drunk that night had dulled her senses more than just a slight bit. So it was not until Umbra was just behind her that Eclipse became aware she was not alone, and even then she didn't have the chance to fully react before she heard the voice.
"Yes, it is a pleasent night. The day was good and the night promises to be as great.
Turning her head to see the one that had spoken to her, the newcomer seemed more ethereal than human to Eclipse. The moon played in soft lights on the woman's armour, and to the sailor's befuddled mind, she seemed like something out of a dream.
"Strange though, I have never seen a ship on the lake before. Wonder what is on board?" said the dream. Eclipse was about to answer but the dream didn't give her a chance. "Please forgive me, I seem to have forgotten my manners. I am Umbra, by what may I call you?"

"Umbra?" repeated Eclipse. "Ain't never heard of a dream called Umbra."
She took another swig from her bottle, and then struggled to her feet. "M'name's Eclipse," she said, only slightly slurred. "I just came off'n that there ship. And since y'asked, there's a lot o'sailors on it. Although maybe y'don't want t'associate yourself with them just now. They're a bit drunk, they are."
Eclipse winked at the woman, then looked back at the ship. "They're celebratin'. We nearly died ou' there on th'sea t'night. Lucky t'make it through to th'lake like we did. But them nobles. They're crazy. Booted me off, they did. Just for tryin' to take some air! How 'bout that? I tell you, that deck was plenty big 'nough for all'f us. I just wanted some fresh air, is all."
Eclipse staggered a bit, then looked closer at Umbra, taking in the armour and the woman's well bred appearance. At this point, she began to think that maybe this was the wrong person to be complaining to about nobles.
"Uh oh," she said, looking at Umbra. "You're not a noble...are you?"

Umbra could easily smell the liquor on the woman even before she took a drink from the bottle. Oh yes, she is definately drunk. There are no doubts there. she thought as the woman staggered to her feet. "Umbra? Ain't never heard of a dream called Umbra." The woman said as she took another swig. Umbra looked at the woman the smell of liquor was enhanced by her demon sences but she could tell this woman was off in the la-la world of the drunks. Of course, having any type of liquor in your system and walking on sand were not the best tag team partners, unless of course it was your enemy who had both, but she was not sure how much of an enemy this woman was at the moment. But Umbra knew that she could easily out run this woman with a blur spell. Or even fly away as she had recently learned how.

The woman was still well aware so she either was a very bad drinker or had only been drinking for the past three hours at most. "M'name's Eclipse, I just came off'n that there ship. And since y'asked, there's a lot o'sailors on it. Although maybe y'don't want t'associate yourself with them just now. They're a bit drunk, they are." the womans speech slurred into a slight accent which Umbra could easily understand. The moon shone brightly on the deck of the ship as she looked up at it and then turned back to the woman, I knew this woman was not the only person drinking, the ammount of alchol I smell is too much for one person to have in their system, even the most heaviest of drunks would have collapsed well before the strenght I sence. But association with a drunk crew? Does she not realize she is slightly drunk herself? she thought.

The woman continued after a breif moment, "They're celebratin'. We nearly died ou' there on th'sea t'night. Lucky t'make it through to th'lake like we did. But them nobles. They're crazy. Booted me off, they did. Just for tryin' to take some air! How 'bout that? I tell you, that deck was plenty big 'nough for all'f us. I just wanted some fresh air, is all." Eclipse said and Umbra caught a wink as the woman turned back to the ship. Umbra followed her gaze and spotted a few people walking along the deck of the ship. "Uh-Oh" the woman said suddenly, Umbra turned and looked at her as the woman seemed startled by something. Umbra watched as the woman looked her over, paying spcific attention to her armor. "You're not a noble...are you?" Eclipse asked.

At this question Umbra had to hold in a laugh yet remain calm as the double emotions of humor that she thought she was a noble and the darkness of the fact she was far from that title came over her. Umbra looked the woman and shook her head. "No. I am no noble nor anyone of a high class. The only way I come close to that is my father is a knight." she said then looked down as the small tide came in from the lake. "Trust me, I am far from that title..." she said then deep in the back of her mind she finished her trailed sentence. In more ways than one. she thought.

She turned to Eclipse once more and looked her over, "And let me guess, you are an adventurer of some sort. Probably a pirate at sea? Well, some sort of sea traveler; pirate, sailor, sea mercenary...No not a sea mercenary. Most likely pirate." She said.

"No. I am no noble nor anyone of a high class. The only way I come close to that is my father is a knight."
"Ohhh," said Eclipse. It made sense now. This woman wasn't a noble and wouldn't get angry at her just for being there, like the ones on the ship had done.
"Trust me, I am far from that title..." continued Umbra. In her right mind, Eclipse might have caught the underlying bitterness of that statement, and might have understood that Umbra had run into difficulty over her past before. But Eclipse wasn't in her right mind. She was very tipsy, heading quickly towards drunk. So she just nodded in what she hoped was a very sober manner.
"And let me guess, you are an adventurer of some sort. Probably a pirate at sea? said Umbra. At the word 'pirate', Eclipse froze.
Well, some sort of sea traveler; pirate, sailor, sea mercenary...No not a sea mercenary. Most likely pirate." Umbra continued.

Images flashed through Eclipse's mind of the last time she had seen her mother, leaving the ship on a raid. It was going to be bloody work, but it would be quick and silent and then they would leave. But something went terribly wrong. Eclipse heard again the screams, and saw once more what was left of the raiding crew running desperately for the beach. Saw them being overtaken and slaughtered, as the crew left on the ship hurried to try and move away.

"No," she moaned quietly. "Not a pirate. I'm not, I tell you." She staggered a bit as the sand gave way slighly beneath her feet. "I changed," she told Umbra. She motioned drunkenly to the ship. "They're all honest. Go ask. I work on th'ship there, n'I work hard for an honest livin'."
She staggered again and had to lean against Umbra for support. "Sorry 'bout that," she muttered, and straightened herself out as best she could. She looked at the glass bottle in her hand. She didn't feel like drinking anymore. "Bah," she said to it. "Look't me. Can't even stand proper. No wonder people keep callin' me pirate."
And she tossed the bottle away from her. It landed in the sand a few feet away with a soft thud, the clear liquid sinking quickly into the sand.

Umbra saw the girl stiffen at the word "pirate." "No," She moaned, Umbra raised an eyebrow not certian if she had insulted her or hit a sore spot. "Not a pirate. I'm not, I tell you." Eclipse said staggering in the sand. "I changed," she motioned to the ship. "They're all honest. Go ask. I work on th'ship there, n'I work hard for an honest livin'." Umbra stayed quiet. Eclipse tried to move but fell on her. Umbra gently caught her and helped her stand straight. "Sorry 'bout that," Umbra only nodded in acceptance of the appology.

Eclipse looked at the bottle in her hand, "Bah. Look't me. Can't even stand proper. No wonder people keep callin' me pirate." she said and threw the bottle into the sand. Umbra smirked, "So you were one. Old habits die hard, you dress like one still. But just because one was a pirate does not mean they cannot change. I was like that once as well. An assassin with a thurst for blood and hatred for all. But one day that part of me died when I learned about how people really are, and I changed. The person you see before you did not exist three years ago." she said with a smile. "And as for those people on the ship? They can get as drunk as they want. Nobels are not known to be kind to anyone without money, no matter what race you are. So don't worry about them kicking you off the ship. Its all for show that's what it is. Show." she said.

It was dark and Rye was sitting by the lakes edge, on a beach near a ship that had the words seasplash written on the hull. It seemed as though they were having a party on the deck of the ship, the sound of laughter and wine emanating through the still air. It looked like it was a formal party for the old man could see the expensive garments they wore. A half moon sat in the sky, white moon light shimmering on the surface of the water. The village that Rye was staying in was behind him, booking a room in the local tavern five hours ago. He had been sitting on the beach for three hours now, thinking about his life and what would happen next.

I know you're back father, I can feel you like I feel my life slowly fading away. I am becoming old, choosing the path of the human when I was twelve years old. Not many Half Elves do that for they are warmed to the fact of eternal life...

Rye continued to think. He thought about his mother who passed away when he was forty six and his life without someone to love, someone to hold and caress at night. For 258 years there was no lover in his life, no first kiss or no children. It was sad but also quite refreshing to know the Old man had abstained from things that many people thought they couldn't live without. It made Rye feel as though the gods would favour him for his purity, but of course that was not true. He had killed, cursed and thought ill of people. He was a sinner like everybody else so the gods had no reason to favour him.

I wish I was young again.

A tear slid down his cheek as he heard a girl singing a small ways down the beach. She had come from the ship and was quite intoxicated. After she completed the song she fell, flat on her face. Rye continued to watch from a distance as another girl approached, her armour shining in the moonlight. They continued to talk, there muffled voices hard to make out as Rye continued to stare out onto the lake, pretending not to listen. He caught enough to know what they were talking about, but it was nothing interesting.

"But just because one was a pirate does ... I learned about how people really are, and I changed ... anyone without money, no matter what race you are ... Its all for show."

They were exchanging thoughts, not really being polite towards each other. They missed out on the bit called shaking hands and smiling. It was difficult for a drunk to shake hands but instead she fell on top of her new acquaintance. The Old man heard something about the drunken girl being a pirate but she quickly refused that she was. They both seemed to dislike people of noble birth, although nobles didn't choose to be noble. You cannot hate a beggar for being a beggar or a Half Elf for being a Half Elf. Nofurye stood up and brushed the sand from his grey robe, picking his staff up from the sand and looking towards the two females.

I do not know what I will achieve by talking to them, but my bottom hurts from sitting down on the hard sand. It was also quite boring, even for an old man such as myself.

He approached the two strange ladies, smiling as he did so. He wasn't sure what there reactions would be, they may think he was a rapist or a sorcerer who turned woman into slaves that did his bidding. Still, his smile was quite warm although his teeth were slightly discoloured.

"Hello there, I am Nofurye Mando of the Village of Estolad. I heard you were talking about nobles, they are not too bad if you get to know them. Some of them might treat you like a pile of dirt but others are more subtle with there arrogant behaviour."

Another thought ran through Ryes head, scaring him as he waited for there reply.

What if they're Half Elven haters as well

Thankfully for Eclipse, Umbra did not seem to be one to hold her past against her.
"So you were one. Old habits die hard, you dress like one still. But just because one was a pirate does not mean they cannot change. I was like that once as well. An assassin with a thurst for blood and hatred for all. But one day that part of me died when I learned about how people really are, and I changed. The person you see before you did not exist three years ago." she said. At the word 'assassin', Eclipse did a bit of a double take. She vaguely remembered something her father had used to say before he died.
D'you know what the difference between a pirate and an assassin is? An assassin is hired and paid to kill by an outside party. A pirate is hired by nobody, and gets his pay from his victim's pockets.
"And as for those people on the ship? They can get as drunk as they want. Nobels are not known to be kind to anyone without money, no matter what race you are. So don't worry about them kicking you off the ship. Its all for show that's what it is. Show." continued Umbra.
"Y'know Umbra," said Eclipse. "Y'ain't half bad. I think we'll get along just fine."

Eclipse thought she saw movement behind Umbra. She took a step back and looked closer, one hand moving to her scimitar, to try and see if there really was something or if it was just her drunken imagination.
It wasn't just her imagination. The shadow she had seen began to speak to her and Umbra.
"Hello there, I am Nofurye Mando of the Village of Estolad. I heard you were talking about nobles, they are not too bad if you get to know them. Some of them might treat you like a pile of dirt but others are more subtle with there arrogant behaviour." it said.
"Eh?" said Eclipse. "I know not all nobles're bad. But y'obviously haven't talked to those guys. Booted me off the ship, jus' for comin' up for some fresh air."
She peered at the man, taking in his gray robes and staff.
"Well Nof'rye," she said. "Estolad's not s'actly close t'here. What has you here, anyhow?"

"Eh? I know not all nobles're bad. But y'obviously haven't talked to those guys. Booted me off the ship, jus' for comin' up for some fresh air."

I don't know how a woman of her size can be so drunk and not pass out.

She obviously needed to lie down, swaying from side to side like a pendulum. Any moment now she could pass out. The sand would soften the fall, but it wouldn't stop it from doing anything to the poor lady. She might suffocate on the yellow residue, or choke on her sick for that happens often with drunken people who pass out.

"Well Nof'rye, Estolad's not s'actly close t'here. What has you here, anyhow?"

Rye thought about the question for a moment, deciding what to say. He was here for many reasons that weren't known to the old man yet. He hadn't been to Estolad in six months, although he still considered the village his home. He wondered if his cottage was still there, on the outskirts where he wasn't bothered by too many things.

"I'm here because this lake looks beautiful at night."

He looked into the drunk ladies eyes and saw nothing. She was a wreck, her soul being eaten away by the alcohol that flowed through her body. Rye had heard of a potion that could make a person who couldn't talk because they were so intoxicated to someone who wasn't drunk at all. If the old man had any, he would give it to the strange lady who looked like a pirate but denied that she was. She might have been a sailor, but that was unlikely.

"May I ask you your names?"

He looked at the other girl, her beautiful black hair and grey eyes covering the fact that she was half-demon. Rye was 258 years old and he knew everything there was to know about a lot of things, including half-demons. They get quite annoyed when they find out that he founds out there’s a demon inside of them. Its easy to tell if you know what you're looking for. He waited for them to tell him there names, wanting to get the niceties over and get to the business.

Umbra smiled and leaned against a tree as the half waxing moon shone through the sky as the clouds moved out of the way. "Y'know Umbra. Y'ain't half bad. I think we'll get along just fine." said Eclipse. Umbra nodded and smiled as her grey eyes reflected the glow of the moon. Hmm...She seems familiar. Where have I seen that kind of attitude before? She wondered. Suddenly she perked as she heard the soft sound of grass being crumpled under someones foot, moments later Eclipse put her hand on her scimitar. She leaned up and stood in front of Eclipse her hand on the sword on her back. Soon an elderly man came out of the woods. He gave them a smile, and then introduced himself. "Hello there, I am Nofurye Mando of the Village of Estolad. I heard you were talking about nobles, they are not too bad if you get to know them. Some of them might treat you like a pile of dirt but others are more subtle with there arrogant behaviour." he said.

Umbra narrowed her eyes, the moon reflected in her eyes as she looked the man over. "Eh? I know not all nobles're bad. But y'obviously haven't talked to those guys. Booted me off the ship, jus' for comin' up for some fresh air." said Eclipse. Umbra shook her head and let go of the sword and retook her spot leaning against the tree. "Well Nof'rye, Estolad's not s'actly close t'here. What has you here, anyhow?" Eclipse asked him. "I'm here because this lake looks beautiful at night." he said looking over Eclipse. Umbra watched him as he continued. "May I ask you your names?" he said as she met eyes with him for a second. She smiled and shook her head. "Well...Nofurey Mando. It seems you are quick to learn names. Such aspect of manners is not seen often now adays. I am Umbra. And yes. I am a half-demon. Moon demon if you want spcifics." she said smiling at him, almost entertained at the fact he discovered her so quickly.

She analized the smell she recieved from him and looked at him. "And correct me if I am wrong but I do not think so. You are of Elvish decent, but seeing how you have a human smell as well, half-elvish. And the way you appear, I would say you took the human path. One of mortality, noble to say the least...The fact that you did not let the thought of mortality overtake you. Rare to see." she said with a hint of admeration in her vioce. It was true, you rarely see the aspect of half elves choosing the human path. "Wish I had the ability to choose the dominant race. The J'ai Nuna that I am probably would have made the choice when I first saw how humans looked at me. But I try not to dwell on what I do not have and what I cannot obtain." she said dryly looking at the moon.

"I'm here because this lake looks beautiful at night." said Nofurye, in response to Eclipse's question. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. In her present state, she wasn't nearly as observant as she could be, but she could tell that there was something yet to be told about this man. She could also tell that there was something in his eyes that she didn't like. Something that resembled pity. Eclipse hated the idea that people might pity her. She herself was quite content with her lot in life.
"May I ask you your names?" he asked. Umbra was quicker to respond than Eclipse had the chance to be.
"Well...Nofurey Mando. It seems you are quick to learn names. Such aspect of manners is not seen often now adays. I am Umbra. And yes. I am a half-demon. Moon demon if you want spcifics, she said. Eclipse wasn't sure when Nofurye had ever said anything about Umbra being part demon, but it was definitely news to her.
"And correct me if I am wrong but I do not think so. You are of Elvish decent, but seeing how you have a human smell as well, half-elvish. And the way you appear, I would say you took the human path. One of mortality, noble to say the least...The fact that you did not let the thought of mortality overtake you. Rare to see." said Umbra. The fact that Nofurye was a halfling was something else that Eclipse had not noticed at all. But at least this time it made sense. She knew very little about demons, but judging by how Umbra had detected the elven in Nofurye's blood, they had a very good sense of smell.
"Wish I had the ability to choose the dominant race. The J'ai Nuna that I am probably would have made the choice when I first saw how humans looked at me. But I try not to dwell on what I do not have and what I cannot obtain."
Eclipse heard the sadness in Umbra's voice when she said that last. And Eclipse, being a very social, very happy drunk, hated it when people were sad. Especially when she liked aforementioned people.
"Ah Umbra," she said, "don't feel too bad. Half demon or no, I still like ya. An' I don't know how others look't you when they first meet you, but I thought y'were somethin' out of a dream." Eclipse paused, thinking about this. "A good dream," she corrected. "Not the nightmare type. Anybody who looks like a dream can't be so bad, no matter who their parents were."
It was possibly the most coherent thing Eclipse had said all night, and she was rather proud of it.
"Oh, an' m'name's Eclipse," she told Nofurye. "Sailor'n'sometimes a bodyguard, at your service. Or at least, I think at your service. Dunno if them noble folk will let me on the ship again."

"Well...Nofurey Mando. It seems you are quick to learn names. Such aspect of manners is not seen often now adays. I am Umbra. And yes. I am a half-demon. Moon demon if you want specifics."

She has a good nose.

This didn't surprise Rye for it had happened before. Half-Demons had a tendency to be somewhat telepathic, knowing what you're going to say before you say it and saying your exact thoughts. Of course there were some Half-Demons that had no idea, but Rye knew it was all about what type of demon you came from. Moon demons were rare and very intelligent. They weren't all evil beings who wanted to destroy Arda and you could have said that they had feelings. The Scholar read it in a book around ten years ago and it seemed believable. He had never come across a moon demon, but he was looking forward to it.

"And correct me if I am wrong but I do not think so. You are of Elvish decent, but seeing how you have a human smell as well, half-elvish. And the way you appear, I would say you took the human path. One of mortality, noble to say the least...The fact that you did not let the thought of mortality overtake you. Rare to see."

She did it again, knew what I was and what was on my mind a few minutes ago.

This was kind of disturbing but also nice to know that he didn't have to explain anything. She might have caught a glimpse of his slightly pointed ears under his hair but that was doubtful. His ears were well covered and not many people saw them. It might have been the silver hair that was the give away, but who knows. Rye was about to ask about her blood line when Umbra talked again.

"Wish I had the ability to choose the dominant race. The J'ai Nuna that I am probably would have made the choice when I first saw how humans looked at me. But I try not to dwell on what I do not have and what I cannot obtain."

How is she doing this? She answered my question without me saying anything. I hope she can't read minds, I'm not comfortable being around people who know what your thinking.

This was very strange. Rye knew that some Half-Demons had a tendency to point out what you have found out but this had gone too far. Rye was about to ask how she could do this when Eclipse cut him off. He was a patient man, but this drunk woman was speaking in a slur and he couldn't stand the slowness of her voice.

"Ah Umbra, don't feel too bad. Half demon or no, I still like ya. An' I don't know how others look't you when they first meet you, but I thought y'were somethin' out of a dream."

She was being compassionate towards Umbra, even in the state she was in. Rye didn't even know if the girls were strangers or had known each other before this, but he guessed that this was the first time they have met.

"A good dream, not the nightmare type. Anybody who looks like a dream can't be so bad, no matter who their parents were."

This was the first thing she said without slurring the words and getting them wrong. Rye knew that she was right, it did not matter who your parents were but who you are. The drunk woman seemed to like Umbra and Rye thought for a moment that she was a lesbian. The old man laughed to himself, stopping the thought once he remembered Umbra and her strange ability.

"Oh, an' m'name's Eclipse, Sailor'n'sometimes a bodyguard, at your service. Or at least, I think at your service. Dunno if them noble folk will let me on the ship again."

She was obviously a sailor on the seasplash and got kicked off because she was so drunk and disturbed one of the nobles, maybe the owner of the ship. Rye thought that she felt uncomfortable on land and wanted to get back on the ship as soon as possible, but he didn't understand the rush. The ship looked battered and would probably be here for awhile for repairs.

"I'm sure they'll let you on. You're probably better than the rest of the sailors on that ship and they would lose control if you weren't there."

Rye didn't know why he complimented Eclipse, a strange drunk who got kicked of a ship for reasons unknown to him. He wanted to help her get back on for she wouldn't go far in the state she was in, but what could he do about it? He wouldn't be able to get on the boat let alone ask the owner of the vessel to let the poor girl back on. He wanted to know what Umbra would say about the whole situation. If she could read minds then she'd probably know that the old man wanted to help this girl. He was a Keeper and they had to be holy citizens of Arda, which means helping those in need.

Umbra's eyes still looked at the waxing moon. It would not be long untill the full moon night, the one time she was actually able to sence her demon side. The Eclipse of Danuai Istillipe is soon. I know my human side can last the normal Eclipse but what if my demon side does not know my friends? I know it knows Shadow. But what about Blade, Zenith and the others? I worry for them. Oh if Shadow is there please listen to him when he tells you who is a friend. she thought. The slur of Eclipse's drunken voice broke her thoughts. "Ah Umbra, don't feel too bad. Half demon or no, I still like ya. An' I don't know how others look't you when they first meet you, but I thought y'were somethin' out of a dream." Umbra looked at her slightly agitated as Eclipse paused thinking. "A good dream, Not the nightmare type. Anybody who looks like a dream can't be so bad, no matter who their parents were." Eclipse said.

Umbra looked at the ground and closed her eyes, A dream... she thought. A dream. Heh. Thats a new one. Sometimes I see you in my dreams you know that? I see a bright light on top of the mountian and I know it is you. But I am too far to jump and too weak to climb on my own. She thought. "Oh, an' m'name's Eclipse, Sailor'n'sometimes a bodyguard, at your service. Or at least, I think at your service. Dunno if them noble folk will let me on the ship again." Eclipse said. Umbra gave a chuckle at something in her own mind and looked up at the moon once again. "I'm sure they'll let you on. You're probably better than the rest of the sailors on that ship and they would lose control if you weren't there."
Nofurye said. Umbra glanced at the half elf then at the human, she wondered what fate had in store for the strange trio tonight. No doubt it might have something to do with that boat or it might not. Umbra continued her thoughts on the upcomming eclipse without a word to the others.

"I'm sure they'll let you on. You're probably better than the rest of the sailors on that ship and they would lose control if you weren't there." Nofurye said. Eclipse smirked at that, but nodded just the same. She was a recognized and well-respected sailor. It stood to reason, considering she'd been raised on a ship.
"Well, I wouldn't go quite s'far s'that," she said. "I'm young yet. Some o'the old salts in th'crew would beg t'differ from you. But many thanks for th'thought."
She considered the problem a bit more. "They'll let me back on," she decided. "They need one who knows t'fix ships'n'such. Not likely t'find many other such people on the shore of a lake," she said disdainfully. Most seafarers - Eclipse included - were scornful of any lake-dweller who called themselves 'sailor'.

Eclipse looked in the direction of the village. "I wonder if they have proper buildin' supplies," she said. "We'll need fresh materials...but nothin' I cn'do without Sir Stuffy payin' for't." She glared at the ship. "Stupid cruise vessel," she muttered. "Th'thing's not made t'go a mile away from shore, and he wants to tour half the continent! I warned him too. Told him it'd likely be damaged in th'first squall th'came our way. But he didn't listen. Seaworthy, bah! He wouldn't know a good ship from a barrel."
Eclipse didn't realize she was rambling. But in the last few weeks, living on the Seasplash - which really was a half-rate vessel - and trying to work around the nobles, who honestly didn't seem to realize the effort that went into manoeuvering a ship and constantly got in the way of all the crew, Eclipse had grown frustrated. She sorely missed her adventuring days, when she didn't have to answer to ignorant land-dwellers when on the ocean. She longed for her own ship, which was safely at harbour in Lomedor, under her best friend's watchful and caring eye.
The price I pay for turning honest, she remarked to herself. She sighed.
"I miss m'darlin'," she said to no one in particular. "She fairly skips over any wave. Could go 'round all Ea three times while th'stupid Seasplah foundered quarter way into the first circuit."