Bō-Zak gestured toward Jannali with the stem of his pipe. "Looks like the wind is getting impatient."
Marya nodded, her ringed golden eyes fixed on the oracle. "It appears so. Let's not keep it waiting." She stepped forward, her leather jacket creaking with the movement. "I will go with Jannali and see where the wind takes us."
Charlie cleared his throat, his finger rising in the air. "Ahem! I would like to investigate the ruins." He gestured at the distant structures visible beyond the harbor. "The architectural patterns are consistent with pre-Void Century construction techniques, and I believe—"
Galit nodded, his emerald eyes gleaming with interest. "As would I."
Kaburo's voice was flat and direct. "I will accompany you."
Sanza stood as tall as his small frame would allow, his chest puffing out with self-importance. "I will be accompanying big sis!"
Jelly bounced and landed on his shoulder, his form rippling with excitement. "Adventure Time!"
Marya smirked, her golden eyes flickering with something that might have been amusement. "Make sure you keep up."
He pointed a thumb at his chest, his red hair bristling with fierce determination. "You don't have to worry about me, big sis!"
Aurélie turned to Barren, Roan, and Tori, her steel-gray eyes narrowing with professional assessment. "You have an acquaintance that may be of some assistance?"
Roan nodded vigorously, his striped tail lashing behind him. "Oh yes! I can take you to him. He's, like, the most knowledgeable person on the island about—"
Vesta bounced in place, her rainbow hair shimmering. "Oh goodie! We're going into town!" She clapped her hands together, her bright violet eyes sparkling with excitement. "I've never been to a Mink town before! Do they have music? I bet they have music! Every town has music, right?"
Atlas chinned in, his rust-red fur rippling with interest. "Think I'll tag along and see what this town is all about."
Bō-Zak smirked, his gold-flecked eyes glinting with mischief. "I will come too." He took a long drag from his pipe, blowing out a plume of fragrant smoke. "I wonder what the lady minks are like?"
Vesta tilted her head, her expression shifting to confused curiosity. "Wouldn't they be like any other lady?"
Bō-Zak chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I don't know. That's what I want to find out."
Aurélie raised a judgmental brow, her steel-gray eyes fixed on the former monk with clinical disinterest.
Bō-Zak met her gaze, his smirk widening. "Don't look at me like that."
Atlas chuckled, placing a hand on Bō-Zak's shoulder. "I have to warn you, Minks have claws."
Bō-Zak's grin widened, his gold-flecked eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Oh, this could get interesting."
Tori cleared her throat, her whiskers twitching as she turned to Galit. "If you like, I can show you the way to the ruins." She gestured toward the distant structures visible beyond the harbor. "I know the paths through the reef. It's tricky if you don't know where to step."
Galit nodded, his emerald eyes fixed on the ruins. "That would be very helpful."
Bianca leaned on the doorframe of the hatch, her grease-stained overalls catching the morning light. "Like, cool." She waved a hand vaguely at the group. "While you all are, like, doing stuff, I will, like, hang back and keep, like, working on repairs and stuff." She gestured at the submarine behind her. "There's, like, a lot of stuff that needs, like, attention."
Eliane added, her voice bright with agreement. "Yeah, me too." She glanced at the massive sea king corpse still draped over the hull, its scales gleaming in the morning sun. "I still have stuff to do. Sea king isn't going to process itself." She paused, her expression shifting to something more thoughtful. "But I might do some shopping later. I wonder what a Mink market is like."
Barren straightened, his massive bear form drawing itself up to its full height. "I can help." His voice carried the same earnest sincerity as always. "Just tell me what to do and I—"
Eliane's face lit up with delight. "Great! You can help me with the sea king! I need someone with actual upper body strength to—"
Ember spoke, her voice surprising everyone with its clarity. "I think I want to hang back also."
Everyone turned their heads toward her in surprise. The manic energy that usually crackled around her like static had faded, replaced by something quieter, more subdued. Her mismatched eyes were clear, her expression almost peaceful.
Eliane rushed to her, her voice sharp with concern. "Oh no! Are you not feeling well?"
Ember shrugged, her neon-pink buns wobbling with the movement. "I don't know. I'm just—" She paused, her hand coming up to touch her temple. "I'm feeling a little tired."
Eliane's brow furrowed with worry. "Maybe you should go see Doctor Octavious. He can—"
Ember shook her head, her voice still carrying that surprising clarity. "I might. But I think I just need some rest." She glanced at the submarine behind her, her expression unreadable. "Some quiet."
Everyone turned again when Jannali stepped off the deck, her foot landing on the dock with a firm, deliberate motion. Her eyes were still glazed, her gaze fixed on something in the distance, but her movements were steady.
Marya looked to the group, her ringed golden eyes sweeping across their faces. "Okay, we know what we are here to do." Her voice carried the weight of command, flat and direct. "Try to be discrete."
Atlas cleared his throat, his rust-red fur rippling. "Um, boss? You know this is an island of Minks, right?" He gestured at the crowd on the dock. "We're kind of, like, the weird ones here."
Marya pinched the bridge of her nose, her expression one of profound weariness. "I know. But just do your best."
Aurélie placed a hand on her shoulder, her steel-gray eyes softening for just a moment. "We will try."
Galit interjected, his voice carrying the clipped efficiency of a seasoned officer. "You all have transponder snails, so keep in touch." He paused, his emerald eyes sweeping the group. "If anything happens, call."
Marya nodded, her hand coming to rest on Sanza's shoulder. She looked down at the young noble, her golden eyes meeting his fierce gaze. "See you later." She turned to Jelly, perched on Sanza's shoulder, and nodded once.
Then she turned them to mist.
The transformation was instant and seamless. Marya, Sanza, and Jelly form dissolved into a swirling cloud of silver-white vapor. The cloud hung in the air for a moment, shimmering in the morning light, and then it was gone, rushing away toward the West like a ghost on the wind. They met up with Jannali following her in her trance like state as they disappeared towards the mountains.
Charlie looked to Galit, clearing his throat with theatrical emphasis. "Ahem! Shall we be on our way then?"
Galit nodded, his emerald eyes fixed on the distant ruins. "Let's go."
Tori turned to Galit's group, her whiskers twitching with eagerness. "This way." She gestured toward a winding path that led away from the harbor, disappearing into the maze of coral-stone buildings. "The ruins are about an hour's walk. There's a causeway that leads to—"
Roan looked to Aurélie's eager group, his striped tail lashing with nervous energy. "Come on. I'll take you to Amos." He paused, his raccoon features shifting to something more thoughtful. "He's not always in a good mood, but he knows a lot. If anyone can help you, it's him."
Vesta bounced in place, her rainbow hair shimmering. "I can't wait! This is going to be so much fun!"
Bō-Zak's smirk widened, his gold-flecked eyes gleaming. "I'm sure it will."
Eliane waved from the deck of the Dreadnought Thalassa, her voice carrying across the water. "Have fun, you guys! Don't forget to bring back souvenirs!"
Vesta waved back, her rainbow hair swaying with enthusiastic energy. "I will."
Bianca waved too, her magnifying goggles glinting from her forehead. "Like, be careful!" Her voice carried a note of genuine concern. "And like, don't break anything I can't fix!"
The groups dispersed, each moving in a different direction. Roan led Aurélie, Atlas, Bō-Zak, and Vesta into the crowded streets of Symphoria Harbor, their forms swallowed by the press of fur and tails. Tori led Galit, Charlie, and Kaburo along the winding path toward the ruins, their silhouettes growing smaller against the distant structures.
Eliane, Bianca, and Ember watched from the deck, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and concern.
And somewhere to the West, the wind whispered secrets that only Jannali could hear.
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