The further they swam the colder it felt, at least to Gerld, who despite the exercise was starting to feel numb.  He was in far better shape than most people thirty years younger, but he was also sick, and old, and the years were piling on.  Honestly, if not for the stranger ahead of him, he could very well have died back there.  

"Hey!"  He called towards the strange woman, stopping to tread water.  

"Hmm?"  The woman paused to look back at him.  There was an annoyed look on his face.  He didn't blame her.  They were running away from dangerous people, out into the middle of the ocean.  

"There's that marine ship."  He pointed over to the boat, the one that brought us here.  "Why is it waiting around?  Shouldn't they have left once they dropped us off?"

The woman looked over at the marine ship, looming in the distance like a big cat who couldn't decide if it wanted to pounce or take a nap.  "I'm not sure." She sighed.  "It won't do any good to stay and guess."

"Do you think we should do something about them?  They could be a problem."

Meishu eyed the ship for a moment before looking up.  The sky was cloudy, but the full moon could be made out behind it.  They were moving fast.  She didn't want to be away from the boat with a moon that fat.  "No.  We don't have time.  Come on."  She didn't wait for a response before she starts swimming.

Gerld thought about saying something.  He didn't like being dismissed so quickly, a habit held over from his years in the marines.  He decided to hold his tongue, at least till they got somewhere safe.    

****
[@The Irish Tree]
"Damn it."  The lighthouse pirate growled, as he watched the logia user fly away.  "What the hell kind of fruit even is that!"  The group around him didn't respond.   They watched their captain like children who knew the wrong answer was going to get their father to bring out the belt, the old one that he had glued spikes to.
"Well we won't be able to get him from this damn dingy."  He kicked the ship's railing and thumbed back towards the lighouse.  "Let's go back and get it started.  I'm not going to give up on account of fear over blowing through all our coal reserves."

The fish smelling person ran.  Fenrir ran too.  She couldn't get away.  She wasn't wanted.  The captain would've told Fenrir if she was wanted.  Fenrir was good at listening to orders.  Growling, Fenrir slithered up to the stranger.

Off in the distance, he could hear something cutting through the air.  It was a bird, a big bird.  It would make for good eating, but this wasn't the time.  Fenrir wouldn't be distracted from protecting the boat.  Drool running down his maw.  His mouth opened and he lunged towards the fish person.  

[@Crimson Lion]
Things went according to plan until they didn't.  Fenrir started moving, on his way to the strange fist.  Then he stopped moving.  Things like hard snakes came out of nowhere.  He heard the birds land beside him.  He sniffed and realized it wasn't a bird.  It was a person.  Damn his ears.  They were only so good with odd things, but they were nothing like his nose.  If only the person had been closer he woudld've known.

With a burst of strength, the candid tried turning to the new arrival and strained to move.  It wasn't easy. He managed a few inches before he limbs gave out and he felt himself tied tight. 

RAge flooded through Fenrir and he threw his head back and howled towards the sky.  
 
Shit.  Meishu thought as the howl echoed out.  He flew over her like a warning.  "Damn it."  She said before picking up speed.  She cut through the water fast enough to cause spray to shoot up around her.

Gerld heard the sound.  He noted the change in the woman's calm.  He didn't say anything.  It would've been a waste.  By the time he realized she out of range.

Igor wasn't a fool.  He'd been around the world and seen/ heard his fair share of monsters.  They came in all shapes and sizes.  MOst could be killed with a cannon or a seastone.  So he didn't waste time or energy memorizing how different creatures worked.  There were however things he did make a point to remember, or that he couldn't forget.  

He heard the howl and it scared him.

"Uh captain?"  Igor's face was white.  He turned up to see the captain with a similar look.  "That's coming from the ship."

"Yeah."  The captain nodded."Fire the cannons."

Igor nodded.  He gave the order.  

The first cannon fired in a matter of seconds.  The rest of the barrage followed.