Amias was certainly enjoying himself. Although a Polaris replied with sentences not more than five words long to his detailed paragraphs of speech, there was something about this new friendship that felt more satisfying than two jigsaw pieces fitting into place. It was Polaris’s laugh that entertained him the most. He made a sound almost like the noise of a sword being sharpened against a rough whetstone, like he was just learning how to laugh after years of its absence. 

“Are you from…” Amias wondered, “Alaska, maybe?”

“Alaska? Are you serious?” Polaris chuckled, a wheezing sort of chuckle.

“Well, you told me it was ‘up’” Amias defended, “ I can’t think of any ups besides the North Pole!!”

“Up. It’s up” Polaris repeated. Somewhere along the conversation, the two of them had left the room and headed upstairs towards the helm. Amias clicked his tongue in disappointment and watched Polaris take interest of the sea and stroll away, his need for conversation seemingly fulfilled. He took the opportunity to go wake the rest of the crew.

“August” , the Captain called softly, “I know you’re awake”

The boy was back in bed, under the covers, only the slow rising and falling of his chest notifying his presence. He didn’t stir. He could have fallen back to sleep after his rousing boost of energy. 

“He’s awake” a small voice clarified the Captain’s doubt. It was June. In her sleep, her blonde curls had disheveled upwards unnaturally, leaving it swirling above her head like a tornado of straw. 

“Is that so?” Amias questioned, casting a suspicious smirk at the boy before hugging the girl a ‘good morning’. She got our of bed, still swaying in the depths of sleep and fixed her dress. 

“ I was just asking him about the White-Man” 

“Me too” another head popped out of bed. The Captain assumed all the children were already awake, just hiding after relishing in August’s gossip. And now, he too was itching to know what it was that had caught them so much. His new friend was a mystery regardless of how much they had connected over the course of a few minutes. He was all silvery white, he came from ‘up’ but up where? Why did he act like he’s never seen another person in a long time? August wasn’t the type of child to be interested in anything besides causing trouble : there must have been something there that had caught his attention.

Suddenly, the ship shook.

“Amias!” Polaris yelled as he hurdled downstairs. The children who were asleep in the top bunks rolled onto the floor, blankets and all in the aftershock of the impact. The silence among them signaled danger. 

“Did we hit something?” The Captain asked softly, out of ear of the children who might get frightened. BOOM!! Another thunder, this time, much harder. Even August got up, his wooden dagger in hand. Amias’s heart was at his throat, he knew from the look in Polaris’s dilated pupils that his worst fears had come true. Somehow, someone had tracked them down. They were under attack. 

The Captain and the White-man hurried onto the upper deck. Fumbling with the telescope, Amias caught sight of a fast approaching ship, one much larger than there own. He recognized the Polperro flag far too well. Worse of all, he recognized one significant person aboard the boat. Malachi Davies. Being a small merchant caravel, the ship did not have more than one small cannon. Amias realized he had never taken having to fight into account. He had always expected to slide away in disguise. Quickly he loaded it and fired. The ball skimmed over the surface of the water, before forming a meek harmless hole at the very bottom of the enemy’s hull. 

“ Need any help, Capn?” August entered. The only thing Amias had left to worry about was August’s enthusiasm. The boy dashed forward and pulled on the note that held the smaller sails tied up, letting them catch the wind before the Captain had even thought of scolding him. The entire ship thrust forward in high speeds. For a moment in the middle of disaster, Amias smiled at how well his son had assessed the situation. He hurriedly loaded the cannon and fired once more.   This time, the ball crashed into one of the smaller masts.

“That would be all from you for now, August” The Captain thanked, “Polaris and I can do the rest. Go take care of the others!”

“Aye” he agreed and headed back downstairs. As Amias headed towards the helm to try and lead the other ship off course, he realized Polaris wasn’t anywhere around. Before panicking, Amias consoled himself, deciding that he must be residing in the cabins out of sea-sickness again. He let the wheel spin furiously, yanking the ship Eastward. He just missed getting hit my another missile.  Soon enough, the other ship would catch up: It was larger, faster than their simple boat and that was the truth. He just wished that some force of nature would put the opposers down.  It was then that, out of the corner of his eye, Amias saw a flash of bright light flicker on Malachi’s ship for just a second. He thought maybe his worry had gotten the better of him but he saw people being thrown over board. It was like a source of lightning was aboard the ship- sparking and setting bits of it in hot white flame. Fate seems to be on his side, his wish granted.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….........................................................

Polaris was burning up. August had been the perfect distraction for Amias to look away while he flew aboard the enemy ship. Time and again, he recharged his essence, sending a blast of hot bright light out of his body.  His hands flickered as small silvery orbs of glittering dust grew out of them which he projectiles at the attackers like little grenades. At the state he was in, using this much of his strength was nearly fatal. Delivering a final blow and a slicing swoosh of his cape, he fled, leaving the ship behind him.

Amias later found him dangling unconsciously from the crows nest.