Willow is kept surprisingly busy. Off-duty crew like to ask her about Sylvania (and if they can rub her horn - sometimes followed by requests to rub their horns) and Captain Janik occupies her in other ways which test the structural integrity of his bunk (and often other furniture as well). But as the border mountains draw closer the crew seems less inclined to casual conversation, with the off-duty men still staying on deck if they aren't eating or sleeping. The Yodhrephath which shadows them joined when they left the main route, but hasn't tried communicating with them. Her Ptera is like a kite that bobs along behind the Cloud Treader, weaving from one side to the other or rising and diving to keep the airship from blocking her rider's view for any length of time.
Willow has been generally agreeable in talking about Sylvania, both myth, fact, and events that have happened there recently. The questions about her horn usually got a bit of an eye-roll, but she allowed it anyway. As for rubbing their horn, well, it all depends on how they asked, and what sort of mood she was in at the time. It's not like she gets much out of the smaller guys, after all, but hey, sometimes she feels like just making someone else feel good. She does tend to also stay close to Janik except when he has specific duties she might impair. Then there is the Yodhrepath, Willow keeps an eye on that one from a distance, mostly to try and learn her movement patterns in case it might be useful to know in the future. Otherwise, she doesn't try to signal or distract her.
The Yodh does keep to a rather specific pattern, but it isn't like anyone can just sneak up on the airship without her seeing them. And so far, the Yodh is the only clear aura that Willow is detecting at range. The attacks usually come after dusk though, when the light is muddy enough to mess with both day AND night vision. There's still some time before then.
Willow right now is on deck and just looking over the side, perhaps a bit lost in thought. Given she's normally a flier, she has no fear of heights at least. She also starts to whistle quietly to herself.
"That a Sylvanian tune?" Marbon the Rath'ani asks as his circuit of the deck brings him into Willow's orbit. He's off-duty, and like most of the men is a bit twitchy.
"Mmm? Oh, yes, just an old folk song. I forget the words, but I remember the tune," Willow says as she looks up. "Are you all right?"
"Oh, right as rain, which I'm wishing we had right now," the man notes, joining Willow at the rail. "Or a good old mountain storm. Those are.. exciting I suppose. Something to fight where you know the rules."
"You only think you know the rules," Willow points out. "Storms are capricious things, and can change on you in a moment. But I take from that you are feeling bored?"
"Nah, just anxious," the raccoon replies. "More like.. well, when you feel the low pressure of a storm, but it's never quite breaking. You want the storm to come to put an end to the anticipation of it."
"Ah, yes. The wait is often worse than the event," Willow agrees. "That's because we all create in our minds the worst possible outcome, but that rarely comes to be."
"Well.. even so you know something bad will happen," Marbon claims, and leans over the rail to get a better view of the Yodhrephath. "Sometimes you can see a light from whatever miracle-of-death she's got ready," he explains. "Which.. is also scary, since I heard one of 'em claim that once it's set, it has to be used."
"Oh, that's not entirely true, but it does make for a good intimidating story," Willow comments as she glances back towards the Yodhrephath. "Half the power of any of those groups is what people believe of them instead what they actually do. Not to say they aren't dangerous, of course. I wouldn't want to make one mad."
"I've seen the explosions," Marbon says, and furrows his brow. "Why would anyone risk it though? Especially if they've seen what the Yodhrephath can do before? It doesn't make sense.."
"Money, lots of money. Or other incentives like having knives to the throats of those they care about," Willow points out. "Plus, some people just like the thrill of doing something insanely dangerous. That probably explains most Yodhgorphat; they get a thrill from the risk of serving Gorphat."
"I assumed they were conscripted as children," Marbon says, frowning. "So, thrill-seeking weirdos or life-slaves. I can't imagine money being an incentive to the ones in front. They may just be more afraid of the ones behind them though."
"True of most armies, I suspect," Willow points out and shrugs a little. "Have you lost any friends in the previous attacks?"
The man nods. "Revel was closest. I don't know why he didn't hide or stay in bed. He ran up top like everyone else, holding a stick. It wasn't even a club. A Kavi with a stick. I lost track of him though, it wasn't until the head-count that I realized he was gone. Carried off or fallen over the side."
"I'm sorry. He might be still alive; if they took him that is. So, there's a chance you may see him again," Willow notes and looks over. "How close were you to him?"
"Well.. we met at a bar. Actually, our fists met. You know how.. well, maybe you don't, but bar brawls just sort of explode from a spark. One moment you're drinking, the next someone chucks a Kavi at you. Anyway, we hit it off in the holding cell afterwards. Had eachother's backs ever since.. except I guess I didn't have his back when it mattered."
"I should have tied him up somewhere," Marbon grumbles.
"Were you lovers?" Willow asks, oddly curious. "But yes, I actually do know what you mean about a friend who becomes someone who always has your back. But, do consider that he still had your back then, possibly, and went out so you'd be safe."
"We shared a girl once," the raccoon admits. "That's as close as we got in that regard. If we do get him back, I'm going to chew him a new arsehole though for getting captured without me."
"Sounds like you did love him," Willow notes and pats Marbon''s shoulder. "I hope he does turn up okay."
"He'd better," Marbon says a bit angrily. "I'm just a Rath'ani! How am I supposed to go on a one-man murder spree to avenge his death?"
"You'd be surprised. Even the smallest creature can be very dangerous," Willow notes, amused. "But I don't recommend a murder-spree. I'd rather not see you get killed, either."
"It's why we don't quit the contract, I think," the sailor says. "Holding out hope, even if it costs us."
"Well, I hear people are trying to help bring this to an end and rescue all they can," Willow comments as she looks off into the horizon. "So, perhaps soon that hope will be answered."
"Maybe this Yodh has a prayer that will summon up Rephath herself then," Marbon says, seemingly cheered by the notion. "S'long as there's one of 'em left to lead us to our people."
Willow bobs her head. "Maybe so. I just hope I don't get struck down, then, seeing as how I'm a freaky foreigner," she jokes, "That half the crew wants to bed."
"Ah, don't worry," Marbon says, patting Willow's forearm. "It's way more than half," he claims, and gives her a wink. "Y'need anything? I'm gonna get something to drink. Dry air tonight. Nothing may happen though.. but that means it's probably happening to the Pineapple though."
"A drink wouldn't be bad. Do you need anything? Such as riding a mare?" Willow counter-teases, amused.
"Well.. I've heard interesting things about your milk.. but not sure I'd want any tonight," Marbon says. Then he wiggles his bushy eyebrows, and notes, "But we Rath'ani are good with our hands if you need anything.. tended to!"
Willow laughs. "Nah, that's okay, I'm feeling fairly relaxed at the moment. So, just that drink then, hmm?" she asks and then ruffles up his head.
"I'll be back!" the raccoon promises, and ambles towards the deck hatch. A few other men are loitering near the rigging hooks, which can probably be used as weapons, especially for snagging a flyer. But so far none of the pirates have been captured - not even the dead ones. So they probably aren't going below-deck anymore.
Willow winces at the thought of wing-catching; had enough experience of that from hitting trees when younger. She shakes her head a bit to clear those thoughts away. "They're worried," she murmurs to herself, "And rightfully so ... but this time I help keep them alive."
Marbon returns, along with Scroff and Louse the Skreeks, but the brothers seem more interested in the bottles the Rath'ani has, along with some leather mugs. "Y'like lemonade?" Marbon asks Willow. "Or are you more of a cider gal?"
"Cider," Willow answers and grins. It's nice to see people just having fun; she's often so buried in doom stuff that she rarely sees, well, normal people! "Lemonade is a bit too sharp for my palate."
Marbon hands the lemonade bottle off to the rats, who don't bother with cups. Which means they have to fight over each swig. The Rath'ani deftly pours two mugs of cider, holding the mugs in one hand and the bottle in the other - probably showing off, really. He then offers Willow her choice of mugs.. or the bottle.
Willow decides to let her mane down, so to speak, and picks the bottle! She salutes the Rath'ani with it, then takes a swig. "To friends, wherever they may be," she offers.
"Be they past, present or future ones!" the Rath'ani toasts back, now with two mugs to drink from. The cider is definitely apple, but not in the 'mostly apples' sense of Sylvanian varieties. You could safely serve this to children, insofar as it is safe to offer anything to a child.
Willow takes a long drink, then peers at the bottle. "Surprisingly smooth," she concedes soon after, "I like it." Behind her, her tail flicks and lashes lazily here and there.
"Saskanar Apple Cider," Marbon says proudly. "Never been to an apple orchard though. I have a fear of large fruit that grows in trees ever since I saw a coconut."
"Why? They can't kill you if they fall on you. Well, except for coconuts. And besides, you have two swinging between your legs," Willow notes as she gesticulates a bit with the bottle, then takes another deep swig.
"That pair ain't ever bonked anyone on the head.. that I recall," the raccoon notes. "They don't have to kill ya though, just hurt. I don't look good in hats or helmets, so I have to be careful."
"If you haven't bonked someone in the head with them yet, you haven't used them enough," Willow jokes, grinning. "And why do you think you don't look good in a hat or helmet?"
That question gives the raccoon pause. "Well.. whenever I wore one, girls would ignore me," he says slowly, as if a great revelation is at hand. "I.. suppose.. they were just ugly hats. I may not have good taste in hats."
"Well, there you go, buy better hats," Willow declares. "I can't wear hats; this horn causes problems with them."
"Hats gotta have wide brims," Scroff insists. Louse grabs the lemonade bottle from him and says, "That's daft! Gotta be tall and pointy!"
"You can tie bows and such on yer horn though, or have a special hood made," Marbon points out. "Or just poke a hole in one."
"Stack o' hats," Scroff suggests. "All impaled like."
"And get it stuck in ceilings, or on door frames," Willow points out, then takes another swig.
"Oh right, forgot you're tall like that," Marbon says apologetically. "Over a certain height, it all sort of blurs together in my head."
"Then you get the drunk folks trying to throw donuts on my horn, as if I was a walking game," Willow grouses a moment.
"Wow.. you get free donuts then?" Louse asks. "A Cervani could get a dozen donuts then," his brother points out. Marbon waves his tail at the two, noting, "Ain't noone so free with chuckin' perfectly good donuts."
The raccoon gets a sly look then, and winks at Willow as he asks, "So, it's true that kissing a unicorn's derriere is good luck, right?"
This makes Willow snort slightly, then rub the much larger nose than she's used to. But, at least there's no large ring in it! The question then makes her blink a few times. "Actually, yes, yes it is," she lies.
"Oi, I need luck!" Louse says, relinquishing the bottle to be first in line.. at the back, so to speak. "Does it have to be in the pucker or just a cheek?" he asks, in that fearless Skreek way.
Feeling evil, the unicorn claims, "The most luck comes from kissing the pucker, but a cheek is fine too." then she leans on the rail and sticks out her dress-covered butt.
"Hear that, Scroff?" Louse says. "I'm going to get all the best luck and you get the cheeky stuff!" He even sticks his tongue out at his brother before grabbing onto Willow's butt. "Err.. it's right under the tail ain't it?" he then has to ask.
Willow covers her eyes and strains to not laugh. "Yeah, it's under the tail," she agrees, not believing he'll actually do it.
The skirts, with their fancy tail-snood, seem to confuse Louse. So he hunkers down and lifts the outer skirt, only to see another one. "Oi.. it's a puzzle. Ye need luck just to get some!"
Okay, so now Willlow is giggling a bit herself. She does at least hike her tail, then proceed to try and tickle his ears with the tailtuft. "Nothing easy is worth having," she claims. Like kissing a unicorn butt is worth having?
"Is the tail worth anything?" Louse asks, looking up from his attempts at peeling the onion. Before there's an answer, he just crawls under Willow until he finds a leg to follow upwards.
"Nope, the tail isn't worth anything, too easy," Willow claims, then winks to Marbon.
That raccoon looks like he's having a coughing fit to cover up any urge to laugh. That's when Willow feels ratty hands find the top of her bloomers and give a yank, followed but something poking her. This is where it becomes clear that a long pointed nose makes it rather difficult to get your lips in position, no matter how hard one puckers them.
Willow wiggles her rump, then relaxes her rump-cheeks to try and make it easier. She's also now really straining to not laugh, and my, her ears feel hot.
Finally, the resourceful rat just sticks his tongue out and licks for luck. Any tartness from lingering lemonade isn't felt at least.
This makes Willow whinny, then break into fits and giggles! That sure felt weird, but nothing like she's felt as Nicora, at least!
The reaction only encourages Louse to lick at other parts. Maybe he can't tell the difference, being blinded by fabric. His nose gets involved as well.
Poor Willow ends up hanging onto the rail, making all sorts of snorts and giggling as her leonine tail lashes all about. She certainly smells like, well, mare down there, a strong, but not unpleasant scent.
"Hey, what's going on down there?" Scroff finally thinks to ask.. once the lemonade bottle is empty. Marbon can't hold it in anymore and barks a laugh before getting control of himself. "Don't fret, Scroff, I'll make sure he's alright!" the Rath'ani states heroically, before getting down and under Willow's skirts as well.
This makes Willow squeak a bit herself and grab onto the rail more! "Hey now!" she chides as she squirms all about.
At least Marbon is attacking from the front. "Hay? Are you hungry?" he asks, muffled by fabric. He seems to testing for ticklishness.. throwing caution to the wind in case of a kick (but then, she might tip over if she tried at this point).
Willow is apparently very ticklish and she's really having to hold onto that rail as she giggles and squirms around like mad! Still, she has no one to blame but herself for this; she kept up with the joke!
"Now.. this is really inappropriate to be doing on the deck," Marbon points out. "We should go to the aft hold!"
"I agree!" the mare squeaks as she desperately tries to recover her decorum.
"It's true, I feel luckier!" Louse says as he emerges for air. Marbon tugs Willow's bloomers back up into place before crawling out from under the mare. "Just follow us, Willow!" he says.
The mare rolls her eyes a little, then grins. she takes another long drink from her bottle, then follows after Marbon and the rat pair.
While the Skreek twins build a nest from empty sacks, Marbon shows off his dexterity by helping Willow with her corset while standing on a barrel.
Willow, for the most part, lets the Rath'ani untie her, though she deos ease herself out of the corset and other clothing as they loosen. "You all seem to be having fun," she comments, amused.
The twins.. well, Scroff gets up on Louse's shoulders. They even manage to bow, and offer a hand to the naked mare. "This is their party trick, you'll love it," Marbon says, as he pulls out a flute.
Willow accepts the offered hand, ears perked, curious. "All right, this should be interesting," she says, then curtsies to the pair.
While the raccoon plays a jig on his flute, the Skreeks swing Willow into a dance. Louse is nimble on his feet, and stacked as they are they're tall enough for the Aeonian. Scroff makes his eyebrows dance as well as he leads.
This of course makes the mare giggle even more, but she still manages to dance with the odd pair as they seem to synchronize pretty well. "You have to do this often?" she asks.
"Dancing is Louse's talent," Scroff claims. "Can you guess what mine is?" the Skreek asks, and tries to dip the unicorn (slightly).
"Getting in trouble?" Willow hazards a guess.
"We're both good at that!" Scroff claims, then pulls Willow in close and.. kisses her! And he's actually pretty good with his tongue. Lower down, Louse licks Willow's navel.
Okay, this surprises Willow a bit! She idly wonders who he practiced with, then realizes she probably shouldn't know. The kiss goes fine up until the navel lick, which makes her break into giggles again.
Marbon switches the tune to that of an Abu-Dhabian Naga Charmer, which makes the Skreek-stack sway and wiggle like a serpent while flicking their tongues out. They seem more intent on amusing Willow than fondling her so far. And nobody is even drunk!
If amusing is the plan, it's working really well! She's not dancing very well because she keeps giggling, sometimes to the point of having to stop dancing for a bit. "This crew is goofy," she thinks.
Marbon doesn't help, as he keeps trying to hip bump Willow. This requires jumping up a bit, but eventually he has to stop playing in order to laugh as well. The Skreeks do a pratfall that sends them rolling onto the sack-nest, where they amazingly come to rest on their sides, each mirroring the other's pose of propping their heads up with elbow-cocked arms, their other hands on raised knees and blowing kisses to Willow.
"Charmin' sober women is a rare talent for sailors, you know," Marbon says. "Should be rewarded, eh?" He waggles his eyebrows now.
That does it. Willow covers her face and starts to giggle like mad, to full on laugh. She's laughing so hard she has to sit down for a bit. It's a good few minutes before she can actually respond. "Okay, okay, well, maybe there should be a reward," she finally says. "What sort of reward?"
"Be our mommy!" Scroff says. "Nooo.. let us rub all over you!" Louse argues. "Or we could fool around and have sexy fun," Marbon offers.
There's more giggling, then the mare finally gets up and goes to flop between the two rats, mindful of her horn as always to not impale one of them. "Well, either two or three, I think..." she muses.
Three moderately size men is just enough for Willow. It allowed for all of her fun areas to be handled at once, even if some of them require entire hands. But that does mean having fingers up inside doing interesting things. The boys do manage to enjoy themselves as well, especially with the rather intoxicating effects of her milk. Having three tongues at work is nice as well.
And to make sure the boys are satisfied, her earlier licked area is used for them to satisfy themselves in, since the regular way wouldn't be, well, tight enough. She enjoys it too, because it's all sort of whimsical kinds of fun when it comes down to it. Nothing serious, no expectations; just a way to unwind on a night where the stress can be almost tasted in the air. Plus, she's having fun too, hands make nice substitutes for other parts, especially since they move in unique ways!
Some of the sacks will need to be used for cleanup, since a lot of parts of everyone are rather wet before too long. "So.. have we spoiled you for other men yet?" Marbon asks, looking up from where he's got his head wedged between Willow's breasts (thanks to his arms hugging around them to cause the wedging).
"For other skreeks, I suppose," Willow concedes from where she's laying and recovering now. "And you certainly know how to make things simply 'fun' without any odd overtones, or expectations. That is ... refreshing."
"Rath'ani like to play with their food, and.. well, we're just playful," Marbon claims. "The twins just don't know how to not have fun.. which is whatever makes others laugh usually."
"Everyone like a funny rat," Scroff claims.
"He used to fish olives out of bottles," Marbon whispers. That must explain his versatile tongue.
"That's important. Makes hard times more bearable," Willow notes. "And I thought it was everyone likes a pervy rat? I've heard stories about one that pops up in the Babel clubs from time to time that does anyone and anything."
"Oooo, what her name?" Louse asks, popping up from between Willow's legs.
"Nikky, I think? I didn't pay that much attention," she admits.
"Need to remember that," Scroff says from where he's braiding Willow's mane.
"So, you gonna put in a good word for us with.. Lili?" Marbon asks, rubbing his cheeks against Willow's breasts.
"I'm not sure any input I gave her would matter, but I can. She's a goofy one," Willow remarks, thinking of the bat. "And she dalliances with deities sometimes."
"We're.. not deities, so.. we should be at the top of the list then!" Marbon claims. "I mean.. all three of us together are sort of a deity, right?"
"I'm not so sure of that, unless it was some sort of comedy one," Willow has to admit. "Sorry."
"There must be a deity with three heads and three tongues and.. three of everything that isn't a pair of things," Marbon claims.
"Not any I know of," Willow apologizes.
"Then we will lay claim to the Three.. no. the Two Skeeks And A Rath'ani God of Fun!" Marbon says, raising a fist. "Marboscroffulous!"
Willow just covers her face again and laughs. "The world is doomed," she laments.
"Have a Scroffulific Day!" Scroff intones. "No, have a Marbolous Day!" Marbon counters. "Have a Lousy.. crap!" Louse says.
"Were you three drinking earlier?" Willow asks as she extracts herself from the pile so that she can dress again. If there is to be an attack tonight, she'd rather not be naked during it.
"Yes, lemonade and cider," Marbon reminds. "Aaand some unicorn milk, but I can totally handle it." He and the Skreeks are getting their clothes back on. The twins of course of argue over which pants to belong to whom.
Willow dresses surprisingly quickly, and is soon cinching up her corset again. Given none of them passed out or fell asleep, she must concede they handled the milk better than most, which is surprising.
The sun is starting to touch the mountains ahead when they return to the deck. Lilitu is nearby with a spyglass, checking on the Yodhrephath.
"Ahoy there, flying napkin," Willow addresses Lilitu, "What doth break through yon spyglass?" Maybe she's a little tipsy from the cider.
"I think the Yodhrephath has made a prayer," Lilitu says. "Her crossbow is glowing. Well, I say crossbow but it's a lot bigger and scarier than any I've seen. I.. think it's made from actual bones."
"Why? Did she spot something?" Willow asks, possibly sobering up a little from that news. "And it may well be bone, they're scary."
"They usually prepare to fight when we get this close to the border," Lilitu explains. "Even though it's an even chance nothing will happen. They won't cross the border, which.. I don't see why the pirates attack on this side, frankly."
"Cover-up. Makes it look like it comes from Babel territory and not Saskanar," Willow points out.
"Pissing off the Yodhrephath seems risky.. or, you know.. suicidal," Lilitu notes. "I mean.. it is going to bring down divine retribution."
"One Yodhrephath. Calculated risks and acceptable losses. Such are considered by people detached from the actual fighting, where people become numbers," Willow remarks a bit grimly. "And if they're not in Babel territory, they don't have to worry about Yodhrephath pursuing them."
"The Yodhsunala assassins don't recognize borders though, do they?" Lili asks. "But that might be why they never leave anyone behind, even if they're dead. We tried catching some below-deck, but then the pirates would threaten to burn the envelope."
"I don't have much experience with the Yodhsunala assassins. None, really, save for what the Barsunala told me, and his experience with them was one of them trying to kill him," Willow remarks, "But yes, by leaving no bodies behind, it removes traces that might lead back to the masterminds."
"I really really really don't like this," Lilitu claims, just as Willow begins to sense things at the limit of her range. Indistinct, but definitely auras of sapients.
"What don't you like?" Willow inquires, then her ears splay out. "I know what I don't; something is coming. A lot of something."