A Short Story, Starring Bri

[xmrsmoothx 317]

(( I felt like writing up a little bit, to get to know my character better. Hopefully this'll be more than a long, rambling thought-process. ))

Brianna scowls visibly. "But why not? Chiron! I wanna do all the things big brother can do!"

Chiron pats her on the head, the long sleeve of his monk's robe falling down over his hand. "Don't get so excited, Bri. You're only nine. You're not ready to go out yet." He smiles a warm, wise smile, attempting to calm the angry girl.

"But I AM ready! I can do everything just as good as him, I'm just shorter!"

Chiron rubs his bearded chin, staring down at Brianna. He brushes the golden bangs out of her eyes, and sighs. "If you're sure. I suppose I can let you go on the next trip."

Brianna immediately grins, wide-eyed and happy, and jumps up and down. "Thanks so much, Chiron! I'll make sure to do everything perfect, for you!" She runs into her tent to collect her belongings beforehand. Chiron strokes the Aegisian crucifix at his collarbone, humming to himself.

"Bye bye, Chiron!" Brianna waves energetically as she crosses the wide gangplank to the Grey Dove. She climbs inside the cabin with a tall, lanky teenage boy wearing a monk's robe cut off at the knees for leather work boots. They sit down on a bench next to a table, on which is spread a half-finished jumble of ink and charcoal lines on a piece of parchment - Supposedly a map - as a third monk steps behind the ship's wheel and various workers hoist the sails. The Grey Dove pulls away from the worn dock, a thin wake following it, like an arrow flying for a deer.

Brianna places a finger on a point on the parchment. "We're here, right? This spot?" Gavin nods, and lays a long-fingered hand on hers. He guides her hand to a different place on the map.

"And here... is where we're going, Bri." She smiles, her finger resting on a darkened spot between two amorphous masses; the west side is unfinished.

"That's the White Sea, right? Where the mermaids swim?" Brianna smiles excitedly.

"Y... yeah, sure it is. We'll look for mermaids while we're not sleeping or observing." He pats Brianna on the shoulder as she hugs him tightly around the waist.

"Yay! I can't wait!" She exclaims, as the small vessel cruises along the surface of the sea, propelled by the wind and the water and the swear of the men beneath its deck. The water ripples all around it, and the sky is covered majestically with fluffy, almost unreal white clouds.

Brianna leans over the ship's railing, staring down at the crashing waves below. Gavin catches her around the waist and pulls her back onto the deck. "Don't do that, it's dangerous. You'll fall overboard."

She whimpers and sits cross-legged on the deck, toying with a sextant. She stares through the eyepiece at the horizon, in between the bars of the railing. "When do we get to do something fun, big brother?"

He ruffles her hair, and chuckles. "We're nearly there, Bri. See the island there?"

Brianna turns her head slightly, and notices a tiny land mass on the horizon. She grins.

[steelersfan1221 300]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.