A Beast Beyond Fathom

Baloo's tale kept thumping against the floor. LaRee's hands were clenched atop the table. Aegri's resplendent smile was brimming with anticipation. And Ayse, despite his simple smile, had his uncovered eye locked onto the old captain, unblinking. 

"Ah, You guys are all hopeless," Mocke jested with a laugh. But he turned toward the old man all the same, grinning and sipping some Gujo di Vida. 

Banders spread his gaze across the table before he continued.

"Nothing seemed different that morning. Our chores were all the same. We were crossing a stretch with hardly any gateways, so our biggest concerns were storms, beasts, lands, and raids. 

"That entire morning was incredibly calm. No one spotted any drifting lands. Our old radar didn't have the power or range of today's. But it had been silent for hours… Me and the others had been roped into deck work after finishing morning chores early. In hindsight, things had been too calm to consider normal.