Four seasons have passed since I said my last good bye to River. He seemed happy enough to start his new life learning the beauty of music and other things. That’s probably why I gave him my necklace, hoping he’d find love; love like I have with Roar. Life round here has been the same for quite a while since the Hunters have left us all alone. Maybe it was boredom that caused Roar and I to decide to take this voyage. For many years this cold place has been my home but I need to explore, explore other islands and seek what’s beyond the snowy horizon. There was no one else to say good bye to and that is why right now at this very moment Roar and I are waiting inside an inn closest to the port waiting for our ship to set sail. With us we have light weapons, much coin and of course my beloved Note Book.
This inn was like no other I have ever been to. It mainly served fishermen and men of trade, and I can imagine pirates now and again. Every face I look at seems worn and dysfunctional, maybe they couldn’t handle being on land. “Stop staring at people.” Roar whispers to me laughing. I immediately stop looking round and look down at my meal that I was given some time ago. “This fish is looking as healthy as the men in here.” I mutter. I do like fish but I prefer to have caught it myself. “Just eat it; otherwise people will see us as outsiders.” Roar warns me. He was right, anyone who didn’t eat the local catch round here would be seen as outsiders. We can’t risk being thrown out of the fishermen’s town not as we were so close to climbing aboard a ship. A fine ship at that. “How long do we have to wait?” I ask Roar while slowly poking my fish meal. “Someone is supposed to be coming to collect us.” He answers just as a thin scruffy looking character walks into the inn.
“Anyone waitin’ for The Seven Men ship come aboard now or be left behind.” The scruffy boy shouted. “That’s us.” Roar says while grabbing all our things. We follow the boy outside and walk along the creaky wooden port and towards the beautiful ship that will be our home for quite awhile. This wasn’t my first site of it as it’s been here for a number of days now but this will be my first time I step foot on it.
“Tis a fine ship, The Seven Men.” The boy says stopping and grabbing Roar and my belongings. “It’s beautiful.” I say looking up and admiring all the details. I didn’t realise how big this ship was until now. The boy smiles and climbs aboard and we follow.
So this is it, my last few moments here and then I will see no land for a long time. Already I’ve met all the crew members of this ship, “Captain Black Teeth” he does really go by his name. “Straw” is an unusual tall lad who got his name due to the fact he only sleeps on straw even when he doesn’t have to. “Lock pick” can pick any lock. “Post” is deaf as a post, probably doesn’t even know they all call him that. “Stew” is the ship’s cook and he got his name due to the fact that’s all he can cook. “Farmer’s Boy” got his name from his father being a farmer that’s as far as their imaginations went with this lad. Then there’s “Bones” the boy who come to get us from the inn. I can imagine they call him Bones because of him being so thin. The crew are just typical simple fishermen; they show no sign of ever being in any battle or wanting to. I couldn’t help but fear that if this ship was to come under attack by another ship it would be left to Roar and I to defend it.
Below deck was the sleeping quarters. Most of the men had hammocks except Straw but there was a room usually held for prisoners in which the men kindly changed and arranged it so it seemed more like a private room for Roar and I. Still we had no bed just a big pile of hay. We were given the keys to the prison/ room so I knew our belongings were safe.
Nightfall was upon us, it is a full moon and there is no sound apart from the sound of the waves folding against themselves. I feel so happy. Every crew member has something to do; if they weren’t cleaning they were fixing something. Roar had spent most of today talking with the Captain while I just walked around and explored. I don’t think there’s anything on this ship I haven’t seen now. I walk around some more and then settle near to the front of the ship. One of the members promised me that tomorrow they will teach the proper names of each part of the ship but for now I name it the front. I settle and write in my Note Book.
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