As if to punctuate this point the freshly freed yardarm dropped upon the deck crashing through timber and railing alike. The crewmembers ducked, the elder of the two cursing like a true sailor as the aft mainsail and jib flapped free, twisting, and tumbling about on the playful ocean breeze. Attached only at the stern and bowsprit the twin triangular sails fell across the sloop like a white shroud, trailing behind Edward’s steady current, resembling the bedraggled wings of an exhausted waterfowl. The aforementioned hippocampus paused in his efforts having felt the added drag he rose from the ocean, an expression of confusion upon his aquatic features. 

	“Why did your ship suddenly become so heavy? Oh my…” Caleb’s arm and aim were true, that at least could not be said against him. The intricate web of ropes, whose functions and usage were so painstakingly taught to him by Rainbow through his own limited knowledge of sailing were severed at their source. The collapsed rig made for such a depressing sight it was all Caleb could do to repress tears of shame and guilt that threatened to flood his eyes.

	“I-I thought there were snakes, dozens of them slithering down the mast towards you.” Caleb said in his own defense.

	“In the middle of the ocean?” Rainbow asked, incredulous. “I was clearly practicing illusions; did you not see all the other impossibilities going on? You did not think Caleb, you acted in truly rash fashion and now we have many hours of work ahead of us to try and repair our sails, or at least one. Hopefully, the dwarfs knew to store enough spare rope in the hold.”

	Bristling at the notion he was solely to blame for this disaster Caleb pointed an accusatory finger towards the self-titled captain. “I acted poorly! What about yourself Rainbow? You could have warned me you were turning all our vital ropes into venomous serpents. A little heads up might have been nice!”

	“While I appreciate the compliment to my illusion handiwork, I am still not the unobservant fool who threw a sword at our mast.” Rainbow ground out; his jaw clenched as he was convinced of his own innocence on the matter. “If I wanted a mess of everything, I’ll call. Otherwise ask before you ruin our ship next time why don’t you?”

	“Well maybe next time, when it’s for real.” Caleb choked back sobs, unable to control himself as his wittier opponent thrashed him in their duel of tongues. “I’ll just let the snakes bite you while I wait for permission to wipe my nose!” He turned and stomped towards their shared cabin, Rainbow’s scathing words following his retreat.

	“Where are you going? We have your mess to clean up.”

	I wouldn’t want to break it more!” Caleb cried before slamming the door behind him.

	Rainbow grumbled and paced, kicking at the collapsed yardarm. Edward, who had watched the entire event in a mixture of confused reservation bent down, nuzzling at the trailing sails, trying to push the fallen water-soaked cloth back onto the ship’s deck using his long elegant snout.

	“I don’t understand why humans can be so unreasonable, “Rainbow complained to the only creature left to listen to his tirade. “If you make a mistake, just own up to it. This is not the first time he’s gone into one of these moods either. He should know better.”

	“I thought it was a bit mean.” Edward supplied, finally succeeding in forcing the dripping jib aboard, and starting work on the mainsail. “He was just trying to save you, or at least he thought he was.”

	“Yeah, sure, it doesn’t change the fact that it was a stupid thing to do. What do you know anyway, you’re six years old.”

	“Uh, seven.” Edward huffed, before vanishing below the rolling waves leaving Rainbow alone amongst the tattered ropes and waterlogged sails. He sighed, prying Caleb’s sword from the mast, leaving a sizable gouge in the hardy pinewood. A few stray strands of rope clung to the honed edge and brushed them off with his thumb. It looked like it was going to be a long day of hard work, or a long conversation with Caleb. Neither sounded very appealing at the moment.