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"No no no, Sendara, leave the ship alone and drop the silver gem to the warlock" scolded Calico patting the beast's neck

"We have a prettier one to collect you know..." enticed Calico

"See... over there... where the snow melts and it makes a very powerful waterfall, right at its bottom you'll find the gem. The green gem... We need to fly very very high then dive down straight into the lake where the waterfall ends. Think you can pull it off?" asked Calico wondering if the dragon heard and understood

Sendara turned her course reluctantly, following the pirates commands, her gaze going to the waterfall. She snorted in derision at the question of her rider. Could she? She would show him her prowess... the thought of yet another seed caused the treasure hungry glint to return to her gaze.

Before heading to the falls however she swooped low over the warlock, loathe to release the silver seed, yet at Calico's command she felt her coveted treasure release from her talons to allow it to fall toward Taff. Angry she snorted, shooting another volley of icicles into the air.

Then, gathering her wings she beat them furiously, sending both dragon and rider shooting upward, higher and higher until they were nearly level once more with rhe mountains peak, the waterfall seeming small beneath them. Sendara turned her mighty neck and looked at Calico Jack, a gleam in her eye. Her voice would slide into her mind, feminine yet as strong as steel, and icy cold. I will show you only a fraction what I can pull off, tiny one." her voice slightly mocking, though tinged with reluctant respect pulled from her by the rope. Hold on, lest you meet your doom in the fall.

Without giving Calico another moment to pondet her words or her intent she folded her wings, surprisingly agile for her size, and the two sped toward the gushing water below, picking up speed until the reached velocity, the water powering towards them all too quickly. Sendara reveled in the thrilling fall, a roar escaping her maw.

Thene they hit the water, Sendara's head and shoulders breaking the water a bit for Calico, though the force of the entrance still overwhelmingly powerful. She had gauged the dive perfectly, entering the lake just where the waterfalls spray cast far and wide, the thunderous falls meeting the cold lake.

Sendara felt the chilly water but it only served to invigorate her more. Opening her eyes under the water, their dive taking them well below the surface, very near the bottom, she saw the gleaming green seed just there, grabbimg hold with her talons in a quick swipe. Then, back up to the surface they shot, sending water cascading into the air as she propelled from the water, beating her wings to gain some distance, clutching the seed tightly.

It was only then that she turned her intense gaze back to see if her rider still clung to her back.

Calico shook his head to try to get some of the dripping water from his hair and face

"Don't loose the treasure uh? It´s yours after all" encouraged Calico to compensate for the reluctant drop earlier. "That was... breathtaking.... Sendara. I'm sorry I questioned you" coughed Calico soaked and shivering, his teeth chattering at the wind and water, amidst the icy wind, though the snow was slowly melting for lack of gem to summon the wintry spell.

"For a moment I almost lost my grip too but it was... very... exciting. You're majestic and perfect..." praised Calico patting her neck gently, giving it a hug and kissing the scales, clearly in love with his new pet of sorts.

"I could use some air to dry up a little... you know...there's so much icy water I can take..." admitted Calico resting his cheek against the back of his beast's neck simply cuddling it

"Wish we could stay like this forever you know, surfing the seas and the winds.... feeling freedom at its best, but we have to go back... Taff is waiting for us, so best we dive down and let you change form..." muttered Calico looking down at the insignificantly small dot that was the warlock who held the silver gem to attract the dragon back

At Calico's bidding, Sendara flew along the mountainside for a short distance, her wings creating a shifting of winds that quickly dried the pirate. Then, tilting to bank back towards the small speck of warlock below, Sendara growled a bit softly as she gazed down at the treasure she had collected, feeling the pirates hands caress her gleaming neck. It wasn't a bad feeling, and though proud, the connection Sendara felt now through the rider's link caused her to be more willing to accept the touch, her annoyance at bay for the time being.

Using her tail a bit as a balancer amidst the air and flight, Sendara performed a few loops, enjoying the sky as long as she could before Calico pointed her down to Taff. Reluctantly, though indeed desiring the return of her silver treasure, she circled downward, majestic wings spread wide, the scales glinting in the sunlight that now shone through, as the blizzard had ebbed to a stop. The air was still cold, being so near the snowy mountains, but it was by far more bearable to the humans than it had been not long ago.

Finally, Sendara's legs touched down on the bank beside Taff and she reached for the treasure, intending to hoard them both, eyes gleaming while giving the warlock a wary and annoyed glance for having held her precious silver seed.

"Here, I was simply keeping it safe, for you, you wouldn't want to loose it after all" muttered Taff meekly cautiously extending the gem to the dragoness for her to hoard the both of them, taking out the sack that had the other two as well to show her the four gems put together.

"Crystal, blue, silver, and green... aren't they magnificent uh?" smiled Taff giving her the pouch to relieve her treasure craving nature.

Taff took the shreds of the blue dress casting golden pixie dust upon it, from a pouch, to watch it return to its true wholesome form.

"Your dress... princess... you've done well, Sendara" complimented Taff knowing by calling the dragon's name she would cease to be a dragon to return to her human form.

Calico was about to protest at that but opted for seizing the cloak and extending the dress so she could change more calmly

"You should give us more time... you know... the dragon and I were just ... getting along very well" muttered Calico now sore that he had no dragon left

The world was momentarily blotted out with darkness as Sendara fell still, her form shimmering with a bright light, amd leaving Ryiah upon the ground Instead, chest heaving a bit as she struggled toward conciousness, orange amber eyes flying open in confusion. She ached everywhere, her body momentarily in confusion of what form it was in. "What...?" She murmered, looking down at herself and tried to stand, wobbling a bit.

Though confusion swirled, she took the dress Calico offered, blinking as she tried to remember what had happened, where she was, and turned her back to begin slipping clumsily into the soft warm material. As she did so, she realized that along with the aching muscles, she was cold... so very cold. Her body began to wrack with shivers even as a bit of her memory began to trickle back.

Chattering, she wrapped her arms around herself, eyeing the men, then sighed and turned. "I.. I need help to c..clasp it." She said, noting Calico's annoyed gaze. "Wha..whats w.wrong with him?" She stuttered to Taff, unaware the pirate missed his pet.

But she couldn't concentrate, her mind felt numb with cold, grogginess made her sink down to sit and wrap her arms around herself, dress still unclasped, shivering uncontrolably as her body began to reject the necklace still hanging around her neck, her essence out of control. Who was she? Fire or ice. She found herself blacking out a bit, still trying to move, to... to what? She couldn't think straight.

"C..cold." she whispered.

Taff removed the necklace and waved it away and clasped the dress for her, offering Calico's cloak though the man did indeed look in a foul mood

"Between you and me... I think he's missing Sendara already..." whispered Taff in a low voice

"I have never seen him so happy, as when he was riding his dragon..." muttered Taff letting her in on the secret

The snow was indeed melting and the weather warming up now that the ice storm seed had been indeed captured.

Taff made haste for the row boat and from there to ship again, watching as Calico simply stood quietly at the helm, not at all the cheeky and bubbly personality he had had all along

Ryiah frowned at Calico as she got into the rowboat after giving a grateful look to Taff for his help. She sat quietly for a long moment, watching the infernal man brood. Finally she carefully stood and went to stand behind him, folding her arms over her chest and regarding him darkly.

"Is that all I am to you now pirate? A dragoness, that you brood so when I am human. Am I that boring in this form?" Her eyes glinted with a bit of emotion she carefully tried to hold back. Then she tossed her head, "well no matter. You mean as little to me as well." Obstinately she turned back around to face the opposite direction, plunking herself back down on the seat to take up an oar and help Taff, as Calico was surely not.

She resolved to ignore the pirate from then on, the man could brood as he wished. Instead she tried to turn her attention back to the seeds which lay in the satchel at her feet. "They are indeed alluringly beautiful." She muttered, understanding why a dragon might be drawn to them.

Calico straightened up and got to work on the oars right away not about to slack, if anything, snapping out of his thoughts when she touched him.

"Well... the dragoness was all mine to have and to hold, I could feel its might and its roar, it's freedom and its force.

The pirate within it makes for good company to sail the seas, to laugh with and challenge and tease.

But the princess...her royal highness is far beyond my grasp your majesty for me to dare approach your presence never mind gaze upon you.

As a commoner of your realm, I must dutifully keep respectable distance and apologize if I have offended you in any way, it was without intention" excused Calico formal and politely.

"Now then, we must return to the ship and make way for hotter and more treacherous lands indeed" coughed Calico happy to leave the conversation with a simple, honest confession.

Unhappiness fell upon Sirina at Calico's words yet she could not explain why. Why did it bother her? The answer wasn't one she felt sure in any way about, the topic of love being well beyond her scope. She didn't respond to the pirate for some time as he took up oars and began rowing, her gaze falling to the water, as if mesmerized. In fact her mind was confused, and she tried to sort out what the emotions meant, and to find the Ryiah that had first embarked upon this mission. That Ryiah had changed much already, she found.

Finally she scooted closer to Calico, sitting next to him on the bench, the flames of her orange amber eyes serious, without sarcasm. "It doesn't have to be that way." She said quietly, not looking at the man. "You don't have to be a commoner when we return. Nor would such a thing need to cause a rift between us. My father is emperor, and after him so shall I be. I can make such decisions as I see fit."

Silent for another long moment she thought of that... being empress. She wasn't sure she wanted the power, yet she would not shirk her duty to the empire. But perhaps she did not have to sacrifice ever happiness.

"As for the dragonness..." she added, voice still quiet and soft. "She and I are one and the same, though our memories do not last." Ryiah wished she could remember, tried to, yet the flight of the dragonness was still beyond her grasp. She sighed, shrugging, glancing sidelong at the pirate captain beside her as if trying to guess hos thoughts.

Finally she leaned over, as if abandoning the turn of the conversation and ran a hand through the sea, lifting her gaze to behold the Nonesuch rising up before them. She felt muddled, and thought perhaps she had only made a mess of what she had wanted to say. Frustration fell over her face, and she seemed to avoid looking at the two nearby.

Taff smiled at Ryiah

"Your thoughts are muddled because the emperor isn't here. When he returns the memories from your dragon mind will merge with your human one and you're going to be yourself regardless of appearance, it also means that you will be able to choose and change form without needing my services" explained Taff softly

"As for marriage and love you will have to discuss with your father..." muttered Taff

"Perhaps his time in captivity as a human has taught him the value of love and life..." mused Taff

Ryiah did not answer, though she inclined her head slightly as Taff spoke, her gaze going sideling to Calico ince again, before she hoisted herself onto the ladder to climb aboard the Nonesuch. Once atop the deck she took a deep breath, trying to turn her focus back to the quest, the mission, her life. How had she become so... no. Just don't think about it

Ryiah excused herself after only a few moments aboard, leaving to her rooms to change into something lighter, things warming up some. Grateful for the quietness of her rooms, she paced the circumference for a while, her mind busy.

Then, moving to the closet, she gazed up at her mothers gowns. For being at sea there was a surprising assortment. Ryiah found herself surprised at how prepared her mother's room was for voyage to nearly any land. As her gaze swept the beatiful fabrics, she thought of her time aboard as a child, running wild and free as both of her parents had indulged her taste for adventure, allowing her the luxury of trousers rather than dresses. As she had blossomed into womanhood, she had continued to dress as such whenever she was alowed, which had grown less frequent as her parents desired her to learn proper decorum.

Now, she tried to decide which wouls best suit the upcoming adventure, her gaze switching from her seaworthy leggings and tunic, to the dresses, biting a corner of her lip. Finally, with a sigh she reached up and made her selection, turning to don the attire, going for something lighter, and less traditional, leaving her feet bare for the time being.

Calico shouted at the crew to head exactly in the opposite direction, sailing the open seas further south than they had ever usually navigated to. It would be a course that would take them a few days sailing the quiet and open seas.

The air was growing dryer and the sun was growing warmer than the crew was accustomed to. Furthermore, the tropical scenery of the passed isles and skull rocks made it all the more obvious that they were venturing towards unknown dominions.

Would there be pirates with a local advantage awaiting them? would there be any ports to restock provisions from? It was soon clear that the answer was negative to both questions, forcing the men to reach sandy shores seeking coconuts and other fruits they could only guess were edible by looking them up in the volumes and books the captain kept in his quarters.

"Honestly... I never had to come this far before, these gems we are gathering, I traded for them back at our kingdom's run down ports, some foreign merchant offered them in return for a ship and a vast sum of gold... at first I thought he was mad to demand so much for little but now... seeing the dangers and efforts, I feel as though I didn't pay him well enough after all..." mused Calico lost among maps and books.

"Even the fish is different around here, makes it difficult to keep the men well fed, and hungry men... are mutinous men" sighed Calico hearing Morgan's men arguing with his crew yet again

Ryiah stayed in her room for the rest of the day, and the next morning finally re-emerged, feeling a bit more herself. Her chin up and eyes glinting with excitement she moved to the railing where she leaned over, feeling a small breeze created by the moving ship rustle her dress and caress her bare legs and feet, teasing her hair which she had left down for the time being.

She wasn't sure where the captain was, figuring he had also retired to his quarters. After a while she stretched and turned to begin making herself useful. Going up to a group of men working on rooe repair, she took a few and settled down to help, her fingers knowing the task from her days as a child aboard this very ship. The gazes of the men were wary and somewhat broody, yet they allowed her help and she ignored them otherwise.

The day was growing hot as they had progressed, and she could feel the sweat begin to trickle down her back, causing her skin to glisten slightly. After a while she had to pull her hair up into a messy bun atop her head, too hot to allow it to stay down.

For the time being she remained unaware of Calico's food concernes, even though her own belly was beginning to growl. She figured it would be another day, perhaps more, before they reached their next destination. Glancing up, the sky was clear with no hint of rain or storm.

Calico came over to Ryiah, entering the room after three sharp knocks, looking somewhat concerned, bringing Taff in tail.

"Your highness, if I have to speak in all honesty... I never had to come this far before. These gems we are gathering now, in the past I traded for them at our kingdom's rundown ports. Some foreign merchant offered them in return for a ship and a vast sum of gold... at first I thought he was mad to demand so much for little but I indulged in his request because I found the storm seeds beautiful enough and rare enough. Now... seeing the dangers and efforts, I feel as though I didn't pay him well enough after all..." admitted Calico. "We are venturing into truly unknown waters." accepted Calico

"I have questioned Morgan and he has little to add except that we should take passionfruit, bananas and coconuts. Whatever those words might mean" explained Calico

"Even the fish is different around here, makes it difficult to keep the men well fed, and hungry men... are mutinous men" warned Calico considering his options "Looking at these books, the wrong type of fish can be deadly to eat... so we must be very cautious and selective. If we indeed go for fruit, we must approach the first island we find, for our stock is currently much too low to last a day, never mind two" muttered Calico

"Before I risk endangering your highness, I would like to know your say on the matter as to our course of action" noted Calico

Ryiah, once again in her rooms after helping with rope repairs, looked up quickly as Calico and Taff entered, rising to stand as she regarded them both. Listening to the pirate as he spoke she gave a slow nod.

"I have sailed this way before, though not as far as we intend to. The fruits you speak of, I have heard of one or two of them, and even seen some as they move through my empire from trade. I would be able to point out those ones should we find an island that has them." She gave a somewhat confident smile. "As for fishing... I will offer what help I can, but perhaps my dragon form would be of more assistance there. She can dive 'neath the waves and catch them I am sure ."

After a moment Ryiah added, "don't worry over my safety. We must continue with the mission, and finish collecting the seeds. Let us find the nearest island to restock from."

"Yes of course... right away." nodded Calico climbing up the crow's nest personally to be on the lookout for any island or land. The hours passed, the sun set and the following morning rose again and another sun set followed another rise and despite three days sailing, so far they reached not a single beach or port. His own hunger making him a little more stroppy than usual but restraining himself.

He could no longer take the scorching heat, the weakness of it all, descending from the watch post and returning to his cabin to rest a little. The map ... was wrong... none of what was mentioned appeared to be at the appointed location.

Taff was happily humming away, scrubbing decks, doing laundry, smiling at Ryiah

"Morning my fair damsel" greeted Taff cheerfully

"See all these islands that keep moving goal post, yesterday here, tomorrow the opposite direction is true? Their relocation is caused by the black gem... you find those in landslides, sinkholes and any land displacement" grinned Taff accounting for why Calico's map changed each morning giving him the feeling they had been sailing opposite direction as they never quite reached the islands.

Ryiah gave a halfhearted to smile to Taff in return, her own stomach hungry from lack of food. She scrunched her eyes a bit in confusion, glancing out to sea. "Is that why we haven't found a place to make port? The islands are moving?" She bit her bottom lip, feeling a pang of unease. "How will we ever find a place to restock supplies then?" She asked softly.

Ry had seen Calico head back to his quarters a tired scowl on his face, and her own heart became more troubled. Turning back to Taff she sighed. "I am sorry, Taff, to have put everyone in such a position. To have urged these men to help me in my quest...perhaps it was wrong of me."

Glancing down at her bare feet, she blinked a few times, trying to think, the heat making her mind jumbled. "What if I took dragon form and flew about, would that help us spot an island and perhaps keep it in sight long enough to dock there?"

Ryiah ran her tongue over her dry lips which were beginning to crack some in the heat, wishing for the more temperate climate of her homeland. She hadn't known just how much her father was asking of her, when he sent her on this quest. She hadn't known how selfish he was. But perhaps it was still for the betterment of the empire. If not... a fools quest.

Glancing up at the sky, Ryiah longed for a breeze, to help move the ship. "I could also be of use in moving the ship more quickly in dragon form, and sending a breeze from my wings to cool the men." Whatever she could do to help.

Taff smiled at the princess

"I thought you would never ask" grinned Taff "You know, to capture the black gem, the opposite is true. Black gem is causing all things to move, it causes all lands and ships to be in constant motion. To capture it, you have to be still as stone, despite the currents, despite the underwater landslides, despite the changing times and hours of the day. When stillness is reached, the stone will reveal itself... yet captain insists on constantly changing course and direction" winced Taff having given up trying to talk to the man again

He winced as Calico barked out new coordinates and a different direction towards a newly spotted island. Rufus barking details about the surrounding rocks and islands found whenever they came on sight at the crow's nest.

"The danger you face though is starvation that is plaguing almost everyone. By becoming a dragon, you can land on the crow's nest and be still as stone, but you still would be a mighty beast, well fleshed, and within easy reach. I cannot guarantee this starving crew will not simply see you a giant stake flying still waiting to be hunted down" muttered Taff swallowing hard at the thought of it

"Hungry men are mutinous as they struggle for survival, they neither listen nor follow orders" pointed out Taff, hearing Rufus identify a closer island instead, followed by Calico changing course yet again as they had been doing for a few days now without ever reaching anywhere

Ryiah listened, gaze serious and concerned as she too turned her eyes to the crew that ever changed course and the Captain that ordered it.

"I am willing, yet how will you keep me coiled upon the crows nest as a dragonness? You have told me that in that form I am greedy and Impetuous, difficult to control, and that I do not remember you...I could just as easily destroy everyone." she paused, her gaze going to the lookout post high above. "And how will I not just break the ship as I land, being such a heavy dragon?"

The odds seemed impossible, and Ryiah, hungry, tired, and hot, tried not to let herself lose hope.