I was still stuck in this boat, the gigantic fin casting a seemingly endless shadow over the waves with the morning sun still far from its highest point. I knew what this meant, this penglider would make a jump for air soon. With its average length exceeding 350 yards, it was known to make even the sturdiest of ships capsize.

The fact that this creature was out meant that the sea was extremely deep here, the underwater currents had taken a hold of me and I was aimless. I knew that to the East of Holfens Port, there was a small island. The people on it using the shallow waters to connect to the mainland. However, right now all I saw was open sea, with the sun’s heat beating down on me. I was fairly sure I was being taken North, having missed the island completely.

If I was lucky, I would be taken along the stream leading to the bigger island further East, but luck and I never were great friends. Yet today I gambled, and it appeared I lost to myself and a filthy kobold. Even a prayer to Dekum wouldn’t save me at this point, I caused so much trouble, and I would pay the ultimate price for it.

The fin started to disappear again at this point, and I did the best I could to brace myself for what’s coming.

I held my baby close as the water parted not too far from me. The tiny boat was pushed aside by the enormous creature. A gigantic wave was the result and I was being tossed around.

The incredible speed it had built up was plenty to get it airborne. The cold, salty water flowing from it crushed down on me as I could only look up in awe. Even in this moment of despair, I was taken aback by its beauty.

Two big horns sticking forward from the sides of its head, gargantuan eyes poking out from its skull. A long body with two fins on the back, two on its side. It’s short stubby tail gave it its name, looking like a quill tip.

The beast must have been 300 feet up in the air, blocking out the sun for a few seconds, then came crashing back down…

If the wave from it leaving the water was a pint falling over, this must have been a hundred barrels being thrown into the briny sea. I held onto my child in one arm, made myself as small as I could then clenched my other arm around the seat.

The boat soon got tossed into the air. I barely held on as it hit the water on its side, and by sheer luck tumbled back to its upright position. I was so tired from the chase, my head still throbbing from the rock earlier. A trail of blood running from my left eye, the wound stinging with the salty water on it.

As I lost consciousness, finally giving in to the fatigue from the chase, only one thing was left on my mind: “I’m sorry Cebyr, mommy won’t be coming back after all…“