The ship rocked softly as the waves of the Palenen Ocean crashed gently against it. The sensually searing sun shined silkily down upon the seething sea and the wildly whipping winds lifted the water maiden’s hair high into the air. She wore an azure bodice atop a tan chemise, a dark brown skirt, and soft boots. No weapons adorned her body, for she was on the ocean, her greatest weapon, and she did not expect to get into a fight. The water guardian had not been on a boat for nearly a year, in fact, the last time she had been on one it had been attacked by a Kraken. She could walk on water, she could become one of the creatures of the water, and so she had not chosen to take a boat ride, but now she just wanted to unwind and feel the ocean moving beneath her. The best way she could think of to do that was to buy a ticket, and join in a trip on the ocean in an amazing, and powerful vessel.
Merenwen strolled across the deck and her eyes gazed out at the beauty of the ocean, at the temperate waves of aquamarine and the fins of dolphins darting about the surface. She was surrounded by many people chatting about their lives, their wants, their aspirations. The divine maiden was at peace, her pain was locked away for the time, and her surroundings made her heart soar to the heavens. This trip, this vacation from everything, was just what she was in need of, though her enjoyment would have been even greater had Vaudeux been there too. She wasn’t going to let her missing him ruin her time though, she would see him when she returned, but during her time on the ship she intended to enjoy herself.
Though Merenwen would have loved to stand on the decks for the entirety of the trip, she found that she was hungry. Moving through the crowds of excited voyagers, she stepped into the dining area and spoke with the proprietor. She was hoping that to get a meal and eat it standing on the deck, but did not know the rules of the ship; she had been given a brochure with the rules, but had been too excited to read it. The proprietor beamed at her, his eyes shining with happiness as he responded with a hearty laugh and a, “Of course you may eat on the deck my dear. If you wish to place an order, we can prepare it for you and bring it out to you when it is ready.” It was obvious that she was not the first voyager he had spoken with who had forgone the reading, but he didn’t seem to mind.
Merenwen grinned back at him and said, “That would be amazing!” She perused the menu for something that sounded appetizing and when she knew what she wanted she placed her order with the man. That done, she stepped back out on the deck and moved to the side where she could gaze over and into the water below. She watched as fish darted about the boat, swimming together is a vast array of colors as the ship drifted by. About twenty minutes passed before Merenwen felt a soft tap on her shoulder. She turned bit by bit and her eyes met a young man of about twenty years. In his hands there was a dish with the food she had ordered upon it. “Here is your food, beautiful maiden. I hope it is to your taste.”
Merenwen smiled at him and said, “Thank you, I am sure that I will enjoy it.” She took the plate from the man, and he moved off back towards the galley. She turned back to the ocean, one of the places that felt most holy to her, and took a bite of the cabbage and carrot salad that she had ordered. A light meal, but one that appealed to her appetite for she had always most enjoyed vegetables. She was in a state of exquisite joy for peace surrounded her. She grinned and bit into her salad, but something did not taste right. She had just taken a bite of raw squid and swallowed it before she realized what it was. Gazing down at the dish, she saw more raw squid and upon recognizing the fact that she had just consumed a bite of the meat her stomach began to turn. Nausea crept to the front of her body, her face took on a green hue, and the guardian threw up in the water that was one of her greatest loves.