A Red Sky Morning. Chance didn’t need to be a seafarer to know the omen born promise to the waking rays of dawn as she looked out upon the sea. Her boot hit the boards of the dock with a rhythmic tap as she folded her arms across her chest and stared out at the endless blue.
“Pretty ain’t it?”
The rough smoke of Cinna’s voice held its constant sardonic edge as she smirked around the cigarette dangling from the edge of her lip. A brow arched in question as she nudged the Fox who merely shook her head.
“Means nae bloody good is whut it means.”
“So you think…”
“Muh instincts have nevah been bloody wrong.”
“Mm…yet.”
The lack of a far from dainty snort escaped the Sea Fox as she turned away from her first mate and headed down the dock towards her ship. It didn’t take long for the red sky morning to live up the superstitious nature of the seafarer’s that believed the messages in the hue of the sky. The shouts exploding from a spot near her ship had her steps turning into a full run. It was easy to tell by the smooth resonation of boots behind her that Cinna was in quick pursuit.
“What in sam hell is going on?”
“Donnae bloody know but ah’m about tae find out.”
A crowd of the usual outlandish, roughed up sorts that dwelled on the docks had gathered around what seemed nothing more than a tangled heap of clothing. It took time but with a few glares and elbow shoves Chance managed to make her way through the mass to stand directly before what at first sight seemed nothing more than the tattered ruins of someone’s left over attire.
“Holy…”
“Not now, Cinna”
Surprisingly enough the woman held her tongue as she coughed around her words. The remaining ember of Cinna’s cigarette was dropped to the docks left to be stamped out by a firm boot. For a moment the Sea Fox questioned her choice of electing a shape-shifting demon in the place of first mate, but upon considering her past company… well it just seemed fitting.
The thought itself was pushed aside as she crouched down to the cause of such disturbance upon the docks. A few brushes of her hand against the fabric gave Chance enough evidence to match her assumptions. It was a woman. Not just any woman either judging by the moon pale of limbs and the radiant shade of red hair. A hue of red that ever would compete and succeed the brilliant fire gold of Lilia McGlory’s own goddess blessed mane. These were the strands of hair that had given a certain woman the nickname of the Red Maned Glory amongst the seafarers.
“It’s Rummington..”
“That’s the infamous Rummington? She doesn’t look like much.”
Already Cinna was breathing out a dismissive snort and beginning to walk away. Cinna had no reason to stay when it was obvious that the woman on the docks was surely not the legendary Red Mane. It couldn’t be. Not that stitched, broken creature that was well… mortal. Mortal. Cinna didn’t know much but even the demons below knew well that the legends above and born of the sea were rarely mortal creatures.
One thing Cinna knew for damn sure was that Rummington “Rummy” McFerran was no human. Far from it. A Goddess Incarnate of the Shining Court last time word had come to the demons below. Even an earth bound, light born Demon knew that. It wasn’t just arrogance that would leave Cinna to abandon the possible assumption that … that… girl… could be the one and the same.
“Cinna… ye need tae get Rona fer me. Someone ‘as done somethin’ tae Rummy”
“Gee ya think? Shocking notion. I never would have thought that when the presumed Chosen of the Goddess herself is a human girl.”
The low growl that came from Chance as she narrowed her eyes at her first mate proved that the Sea Fox was far from playing around. Cinna sighed and shook her head as she waved a dismissive hand.
“I’m on it. Listen for the jingly bells of my nonexistent cat collar as I head off to retrieve your dear friend…”
Anything else spoken by the light born demon was dismissed by Chance as she directed one of the bystanders to gather up the girl they once had known as Rummy. One thing Chance knew for sure… when Rummy awakened she would surely not wish to wake up on the docks.
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