Meanwhile, another crewmember swung at Amal and managed to give a glancing blow to his shoulder. The cutthroat spun with it and kicked out, cracking the man's knee with a well aimed heel. Roughly, he grabbed the man's shirt, pulling his face into Amal's elbow, breaking his nose and sending him unconscious into the ground. Amal leaped over him, grabbing the fallen dagger from the ground. Thoughts of protecting Settra's jewels were overridden by fear over Emmaline. It figured, just as he had found the riches of a lifetime, he found a girl he cared for even more.  

"Guard the stash!" He yelled, and to the last crewmember that was running away from the crazed naked man it sounded even more insane. Truth be told he was talking to the magic carpet, which he heard beginning to rummage as he leaped up the stairs as quickly as his feet could carry him. He reversed the grip on his dagger as he ran, calling for Emmaline desperately as he ascended the stairway that ran with a small stream of water even now. He shoved a surprised crewman out of the way, sending him tumbling down the stairs with a cry. Soon Amal found his way on the foredeck, leaping out to slide along the rainslicked wood, in awe over the maelstrom of rain and wind that surrounded the ship in a deathly spiral. 

To his horror, he saw the mainsail toppling with an echoing crack, and it slowly fell towards the crewman that was trying to throw Emmaline overboard. "[b][i]No[/i][/b]!" He screamed with more despair than he ever had since his mother had sold him into slavery, and he leaped with all of his strength. The mast was falling, a dozen meters away and moving what seemed to be two seconds away from crushing her and the crewman. Amal tossed his dagger just as the man reared Emmaline back to toss her overboard, eight inches of steel entering his back and stealing the breath from his body. 

He couldn't make it with the jump. The length was just too far. So instead he landed on his knees and slid along the wood, catching Emmaline's falling form to slide just out of the mast's path. Skidding to a halt, Amal held her protectively, moving her hair to see if she was harmed at all. "You think you can get away from me that easily?" He asked, his words filled with true concern. The wood under them began to splinter, and the men who had not fallen overboard were now praying to their gods or being buffeted against the walls from the waves that leaped onto the deck as tentacles from a malevolent monster. The light of the clouded sky was suddenly blotted out as a wave more monstrous than any previous rose up before them. Holding her legs and back with as much care as he could, Amal knew what he had to do. 

He slid his hand into her hair and kissed her passionately as all turned to darkness. 
[@Penny]