Chapter 52

As vicious as the Al' Miraj could be, a childlike innocence also presented itself once it was on the boat. It sniffed everything and everyone, it decided at first meeting who it liked and who it didn't like. It seemed to like Gael an awful lot. As soon as it saw the veteran sailor it refused to leave his side.

"I have a ship to run. I don't have time to babysit a feral animal..gah" Gael started to speak until he turned and saw the Al' Miraj perched on his shoulder. "By the rolling waves of Lemuria, what is this creature's interest in me?"

Zinjo paced around Gael and studied the Al' Miraj, "I think it is an omen we cannot ignore. Despite its animal appearance the Al' Miraj is a divine creature. Why it chose you I cannot say. Keep an eye on it, and never forget such creatures don't choose their companions on a whim."

Gael glared at it, "The other sailors will make sure I never hear the end of it."

"Then get in front of it," Aurelia spat, "Choose a name for yourself now before you get stuck with something undesirable. Use it to instill fear or respect from your crew." She leaned against the cabin door. Tiny splinters scratched the skin and caused a terrible itch.

Gael sighed and stared at the horned bunny, "Well, Captain longhorn doesn't sound like a bad moniker. He smiled a little, "You know maybe this won't be such a bad thing. The Al' Miraj's reputation alone is enough to keep things smooth. Oh, Captain Gael Miraj. Captain Miraj for short."

"You don't have the last name already?" Aurelia tilted her head to the side.

"I do, but Captain Miraj sounds so much better than Wilbur. Wilbur is not a name for people. Do you know how many pigs were named Wilbur, too many?" Gael's righteous indignation had Aurelia and Zinjo in stitches.

Aurelia clutched her sides and allowed the joy of the moment to fill her up. After all, they experienced, a good laugh eased a tired spirit and weary mind. Aurelia stared at the jungle and worried her choice to bite the hybrids would cause more harm than good.

"You worry about the Chimera people?" Zinjo embraced her from behind.

"I worry I have doomed them with my bite."

"Why did you give the bite?"

Aurelia dropped to the soggy deck and sighed, "When I looked in their eyes, I could see the suffering. Some probably wished they were dead, trapped in a never-ending hell of a half-life, unable to enjoy the fruits of being complete." Zinjo lifted her and pulled her into his lap, and let his strong arms surround her, "I think Isaac forced them into experimentation, but why? Why use the Al' Miraj?"

"It is hard to say. You gave the bite in hopes it would bring them hope. You extended the hand of friendship despite your personal feelings. I find the act inspiring, and time can only tell what will happen to the Chimera tribe. We can ask to check on them on our way back."

Soft slender hands ran up and down Zinjo's powerful body, "I'd feel much better if I did."

Zinjorose with Aurelia in his arms, "I know just the thing to distract you,"

A seductive smile touched Aurelia's lips, "Is that so?" She giggled and slammed the cabin door behind them.

***

A few hours later Aurelia awoke and shivered, she draped her naked form over Zinjo and swore she saw eyes. In a flash, her hands held her in a sitting position. In the corner of the room, Al' Miraj stared at her with curiosity. She instinctively covered her breasts and glared at the beast.

"It's rude to watch, you know?" She scolded.

She examined the creature with a discerning eye, the tiny mouth almost seemed to be smiling. Something glistened in its eyes. Tears? Right, they needed tears of a divine being. She needed a bottle, and an empty one, devoid of alcohol. The ship's physician had some. Aurelia stared at her dress and then to the door. She knew what she had to do.

She emerged from the cabin in her lioness form and zipped across the deck to the physician's room. The bespectacled man opened the door a crack, "Do you have any idea what time it is? Is there someone in danger? Is someone on death's door?"

Aurelia shook her head rapidly, "No, I need an empty bottle and stopper right now."

"Why?" the bald man demanded.

"I need the tears of a divine being for a special item, and I can't make it without them."

The physician zipped from the door and brought two bottles, "Bring me some if you can, I heard they have impressive curative properties...hello?"

Aurelia tore the deck up on the way back. She burst into the cabin and placed a bottle on either side of the divine beast and waited. A watched pot never boils, and divine beings never cry with an audience. Aurelia turned her back and waited.

Droplets crashed against the bottom of the bottles, the droplets gave way to a steady stream of salty sadness. In mere minutes both bottles were filled to the brim with the flow stopped and the bottles were properly stoppered. She clutched the small animal against her body, "How you have suffered, to be so powerful and powerless at the same time must be a frustration."

Leaped from her arms and phased through the door, Aurelia donned a robe and brought the good doctor his share of the divine tears. "Thank you, these are fearfully expensive but worth every ounce of gold. These will save a lot of lives down the road. The people of Shadowfen are lucky to have such an honorable person working on their behalf."

Aurelia turned away, "I hope you are right, doctor."

Back in the cabin, Zinjo awoke, "Did I miss something, dark princess?"

The naked princess held up the bottle of the Divine tears and smiled, "We have the divine tears we need." She paused, "I couldn't tell if the creature was happy or sad."

Zinjo laid her down and spread her legs, "Perhaps we can figure all that out later hmmm?"

He teased her with his head and kissed her mouth. When the kiss ended he pushed her to the hilt and for the rest of the night, no one said a word.