The gentle ocean waves crashed soothingly against the side of the boat sending a light spray into to air that fell back on its self. A soft groan from the rigging answered it as the wind began to start up. The boat looked to be a very simple craft meant for no more than two people aboard it at one time. Its sails were down but it was clear that they weren’t made from ordinary materials. Seated cross-legged at the bow, listening to the ocean around her was a fierce looking warrior woman of twenty-five.
Her long russet hair was beaded in places with brightly colored stone beads which clicked gently in the wind. A long tassel earring strung with metal beads ending in a wolf paw went from her wolfish right ear to sit on her shoulder. The sun bronzed body was strong and fluid even in rest. At the moment she was wearing a breast band and a skirt due to the hard, but common, heat of the cloudless day.
Listen to the world around you, Aria, the voice of the old shaman who had saved her life echoed it seemed out of the deep ocean all around her. Years ago such advice would go in one ear and out the other. She had always been quick to act ever since childhood. Aria was of the proud race of Animala, known as the human hybrids by the few humans on the ocean and in the sky domes high above. Instinct was what kept her alive in this water covered world of Terramare.
Aria heard the creak of the rigging then let her senses extended away from her boat. Then her hearing caught several telltale noises of fighting not to far away. Her ears perked towards it and her heart raced, getting ready for the coming fight. Then she shook her head, no this went against her promise to the shaman. No killing that was the promise. Killing had brought pleasure before but now where pleasure had been there was a deep emptiness.
“No, not again, I won’t take life again.” She whispered trying to shut out the noise that was growing louder and was making her warrior instincts awaken again. Her hand touched the now old wound the shaman had healed not too long ago with the promise not to revert to her ruthless hunting for blood and fighting to the death.
Another sound caught her attention, a woman crying and screaming, “Not my baby!” Aria was at the wheel of her boat in a great leap and the sails unfurled on their own catching the wind then propelling the small craft forward. The warrior inside her let out a war cry but she felt it had changed. Giving in Aria let out a long howl of excitement as her hair was whipped back from her face. She spotted the trouble off the port side; it was a group of raiders attacking a small fleet of ships.

"It's the Sea Hawks again," Aria growled ears forward. "This will be interesting."

With a child in her arms, Miu weaved through the chaos with a woman at her hand. She searched for safety, but that was impossible with all the ruthless people attacking innocent others for no apparent reason. Just moments ago, she'd turned the enemy's weapon against himself to rescue the helpless baby & now she realized that it would be difficult to defend herself without any arm available. Still, she didn't care. She wanted to rest assured that the two she'd saved would be ok before she could help out the rest.

There was one second where Miu's thoughts wandered away from her, & one second was all it took for her to be abruptly pushed into a corner. All three of them slammed against some objected they didn't know & didn't care about, but nevertheless Miu stood up before the mother & son after giving her the child back. She couldn't tell who had pushed them, or if they had even noticed whom they'd bumped into… everything was a mess. Hearing innocent people cry out in despair was too much for her to bear, but she still couldn't leave her spot.

Annastrianna sighed, a little bored. She couldn't find anything to do...and trying to explore the ocean wasn't exactly exciting. At least, she had thought. She heard a commotion, and looked up, trying to discover the source. After a short wihle, she could vaguely see that people were being attacked. She looked closer, only to find that it was the Sea Hawks. They just liked causing trouble, didn't they? ...Not that she would know much; she had only had one run-in with them.

Still, she decided she'd try to help...though she wasn't entirely sure how. She saw a hybrid pulling a woman, and what looked like a baby...though she couldn't be sure; maybe all of this was just in her head. It had been a while since she had had food. Still...she looked for a way to help. But all she could think to do was to steal whatever weapons she could from them, so that they wouldn't be able to attack much anymore. But it was imposible to steal from so many...maybe...she would have to turn into an animal to be of any use at all. But she didn't quite want to do that. She glanced around, and sighed, then slipped her tiny boat around behind the enemy, and started to slip out behind them, taking what extra weapons she could find, decided to take the weapons in their hands later.

Aria guided her boat closing in on the raiders then measuring up her opponents she set the boat keeping going for a few feet at them. They were all dressed in the familiar red and black of the Sea Hawks. The course set she dropped to all fours on the deck before they could see her manning the boat.
“Commander! It a Sea Wolf ship!” Cried one of the raiders pointing at Aria’s ship breaking off his attack as the boat sailed to them apparently empty. Aria let her self change until a large russet crouched where she had been ready to spring.

The guard hairs on her shoulders bristled as the boat came to a stop and she heard some of the raiders coming to investigate the boat. Her ears went back against her skull and a growl was building in her chest.
"It looks empty-" Aria launched her self at the raider who poked his head over the rail. She pushed him back snapping and growling , he screamed with fear but she cut off the sound quickly then straitened. Back stiff, tail up and ears forward Aria addressed the raiders,
"Leave now, this is my territory."
"It's a real Sea Wolf!" exclaimed one of the children but was hushed at once. The leader glared at Aria then called,
"Leave none alive! Bring me that whelp's pelt!"

"A Sea Wolf ship?" Miu echoed with a whisper. She'd heard of it & of the strong hybrid navigating it, but she'd never had the chance of seeing it face-to-face. & over time, she'd begun to think it was just a tall tale from the sea. But nevertheless, she couldn't stop herself form admiring someone so fierce & mysterious.

With relief on her expression, she took a breath & let it out with a sigh as she continued to stand before the two defenseless people with her arms spread out. There was no doubt that she was glad, for the appearance meant that things would definitely take a turn for the better. However, the Sea Hawks hid their fear well & followed their leader's orders to kill her.

Once they moved away from their victims, Miu went off to help the ones nearest to her first. She carried the lightest & carefully dragged the heavy, bringing them all to the corner where the mother & son were. If all the injured were in only once spot, it would be easier for her to protect & treat them. & she did just that—when all the Sea Hawks were busy, Miu helped the people as much as she could with what little supplies she had.

Anastrainna watched, turning her attention from stealing when someone said something about the Sea Wolf. She searched around, and found her easily enough. So...she was helping too...maybe it was a good thing she had stopped. She tilted her head to one side, watching another girl, a fox hybrid, moving everyone to one corner. Sliding out of her hiding place, she pulled some of the smaller ones into the corner to help; hse knew she wouldn't be nearly strong enough to pull any of the adults there. At least someone's helping, she thought; someone who may actually know what they were doing as far as fighting went, because she had no idea.

They charged her brandishing their weapons, normally just the sight of a Sea Wolf flag would scare the living daylights out of a band of raiders. Fully aware that her weapons were in her boat Aria leaped on to another of the small boats tipping it over and sending the two men in to the water while she jumped to another boat. Quick as a flash they converged on her before she could get her feet and she felt the sting of a weapon cutting her shoulder.
Yelping in pain Aria staggered, just managing to avoid the others as her shoulder wound bled freely. But she knew she had to fight on for the sake of the people watching. So she dove in to the water and transformed back into her human self. One of the raiders had over balanced trying to get her and dropped his knife in the water. Grabbing it Aria swam towards the surface. I could use some help she thought then her head broke the surface.

After kissing the forehead of a little child, a gesture full of sweet reassurance, Miu noticed another female helping her move the injured. She was a bit surprised at first, but a smile soon curved her lips. "Thanks you very much," she told her with a nod. Then, she let her eyes gaze at the people that rested on the floor. This was as much as she could do for the moment, which was a sad realization in her part.

"I don't know you, but I'm glad you're here," Miu told Anastrainna, her gentle facial features serious yet kind. "This is as much as we can do here. Let's go help her." Soon after saying that, she dashed off toward the group of men. She kicked her way through, spreading them around so they wouldn't focus so much on the Sea Wolf. Some, she pushed overboard whilst others, she fought with her fists & their neglected weapons. It was both a surprising & funny sight, for she would kickass & then squeal as she ran away from a few of them... only to find an opening & attack again.

Aria saw the girl’s attacks and nodded to her self before swimming to the boat and hoisting her self out of the water on to the deck. Her shoulder wound was still freely bleeding; cursing Aria ripped her skirt bottom and wrapped the wound securely.
“Good job, nice to see there’s some more fighting spirits around.” Aria grinned at Mlu and Anastrainna then tossed the knife she was holding to Anastrainna. “Hold them here, I’m going for the boss.”

Annastrianna watched for a few seconds, grinning at her antics; fighting then running away, only to jump back in. She glanced around, and decided they were distracted enough by both the girl who had thanked her, and the Sea Wolf. She caught the dagger the Sea Wolf tossed to her, examining it curiously. Hold them here? The boss? She sighed, and then examined the group they had to held here. She shook her head, then charged in, dodging everything that came her way instead of actually attacking. She would wait until she had managed to get herself behind someone before stabbing an arm, or leg. She wasn't trying to kill them; she had never been fond of killing. Though, if it becamse absolutely necessary, she would. She focused more on injuring them than killing them; making it harder for them to go anywhere.

Hearing Aria speak to them, Miu stopped her fighting for a moment. There was a small radius around her that had only fallen men, so she wasn't at all worried about it. Her eyes shinned a the compliment & her cheeks began to be tinted by a cheeky blush; she then, twirled happily. "Yay ~ We're helping her out!" She cheerfully giggled & stepped out of a man's way. There was no doubt that the Sea Wolf's words had taken an affect on her. After all, she was an admirable hybrid.

Soon after that, Miu returned to holding the men back. A few or them had heard Aria, so they headed towards the direction of their captain in order to help him. However, she stepped in front of them & pushed them back again, keeping them all in a frantic, bloodthirsty herd.

Aria leapt from boat to boat until she reached the lead boat. The leader’s eyes widened as she transformed again mid leap and stood snarling at him. They faced each other head on, Aria tensed then jumped at his throat. He moved to the right so her teeth missed his neck but found purchase at his shoulder. Her nails shredded the shirt he was wearing. He yelled in pain trying to shake her off.
She held on biting down harder with her strong jaws until his attempts to get loose stopped and he was limp. Aria raised her head and howled twice before turning to the others showing her red tinted teeth. The blood soaked into her fur made her look demonic and almost at once the raiders fled in their remaining boats.
There was stunned silence as Aria reverted into a human feeling a little worse for wear, I’m losing my edge, she thought as she brought the boat she was on along side her own boat. Noticing that the two other defenders were staring at her Aria pulled the boxes and creates on to her boat.
“What are you doing? Those are ours!” Aria’s head snapped around to the man who had spoken, he had gotten over his shock.
“This is payment for my help, I’m not into doing anything for free.”
“That was so cool Sea Wolf!” exclaimed a little boy coming forward on the deck. Aria gestured to Mlu and Annastrlanna,
“They helped.” Aria grimaced as her shoulder wound reopened staining the bandage. “I can’t believe they got me, narb it.”

Leaning against the end of the ship, Miu watched Aria look at her wound. It didn't look all that pretty & her expert eyes knew how easily it could get infected. A sweet smile spread across her lips as she slightly tilted her head to the side. Her eyes shone with worry & determination. "You're going to need stitches for that, but you know, Miss... I just happen to be an expert in that area ~ Please let me take care of that for you, it's the least I could do for what you've done."

Aria looked at Mlu then at her shoulder. Deciding she might as well Aria drived in to the water then resurfaced at Mlu's boat. the human gave her a wide berth. Shaking water out of her hair she muttered,
"By the Lady's eyes! I'm not going to eat you." Looking at Mlu she said, "Alright might as well, call me Aria by the way. I ain't no miss. That was some good fighting for a healer. You too snow leopard." Aria turned as the little boy who was cheering her came forward, he pointed at the wound.
"Does that hurt?"
"Like heck but at least we're all alive mostly." She tussled his hair with her hand grinning.

With a smile, Miu took her compliment with grace. She couldn't believe that the Sea Wolf, a mysterious hybrid that many gossiped about, was right there before her eyes. Before, she would of thought it unlikely to happen. "Alright, A-Aria," she replied with a nod, her smile brightening at the kind gesture Aria had given the little boy. Then, glancing back, she looked at Annastrianna before returning her gaze to the fierce hybrid. "Can she come too? She certainly was a great help... Might possibly have wound, as well."

Truthfully, Miu had no idea. However, she got an atmosphere from Annastrianna that she liked. Something friendly & adorable.

Aria raised her eyebrows at her, "Come? Aren't you going to do it here?"

Annastrianna gave the back of Miu's head a curious look as she asked whether or not she could come, too. She nodded slightly along with Aria's reasponse; where were they going that she was possibly going to be dragged along? She shook her head; she was only confusing herself with so many thoughts; thoughts about the Sea Wolf suddenly showing up, fighting with a group, rather than on her own, being able to help the people who were being attacked, and now wondering where the foz-hybrid was talking about going. She closed her eyes for a second before opening them and approaching Aria...at least, that was what she had introduced herself as. Annastrianna held out the blade Aria had given her before, quietly saying, "Your dagger...it was useful enough..."

"Keep it, i already have all the weapons I need." Aria looked at the pair of them seeing a sort of hero worship in them. "Look, i know how this all looks but i'm not a warrior anymore." Mlu and Annastriana looked startled. "I just want to have a nice retirement even if the world doesn't want me to. I can give you a ride to the next town if you want."

At Aria's last phrase, Miu nodded quickly. She understood how odd it had sounded for her to say the word 'come' when they were already on a boat. "You see, I ran out of supplies," she began with a sheepish look on her face. "While I was on this boat, I healed many & because of that, I ran out. I thought that we would be able to make it to the next town with what little I had just hours ago, but the Sea Hawks attacked... So, I have no more... & I need certain things so I can heal you."

A woman abord the ship walked to Miu & kissed her head gently. "Thank you so much for your help, my dear. We're better because of you, your medicine & of course, your food."

Miu smiled brightly. "You're welcome."

"Alright, come on then." Aria swam to her boat and pulled her self up onto it. The winds good." She remarked then looked at the pair of them. "Coming?"

Annastrianna hesitated, glancing between the fox-hybrid and Aria on her boat. She tucked the dagger next to one of her knives. It seemed like they were both allowing her to come...though she didn't quite know them...but it was company...right? She sucked in a deep breath, and jumped into the water, swimming over to Aria's boat. It didn't seem right, though, that she would have to swim back and forth between the boats...though she didn't seem to have a problem with it. She pulled herself onto Aria's boat, then glanced over at the fox-hybrid before standing up. She unconsciously did a quick check, to make sure none of her weapons had become loose and fallen out during her short swim. Everything seemed to be there, she was relieved to find.

Watching Annastrianna get into the water & swim from one boat to the other, Miu giggled. The pair of ears that sprouted from her head twitched, the action followed by her entire transformation into a Fennec Fox. It was a tiny little thing, not the size of the common sort of fox, but it fit her personality to a T. She blinked her big eyes & glanced at the water—she didn't want to get wet despite loving the liquid, for some reason.

"Mew!" she cried out as she jumped to Aria's boat with ease. Then, once all her paws touched the solidness, she shook her fur & took a seat, a hint of a smile hidden behind her animal lips.

A few days later...
Aria sat at the bow of the boat listening to the waves again while her two passengers talked and joked behind her. It was odd to have the quiet serene state of her boat change so much. it seemed that neither of them were interested in mediation. Giving up she transformed into a wolf and stretched out to sun her self for a bit.
“I will tell you of a place long ago…” she muttered tail moving side to side. “It was called Land by all and rose above the water…The Lady loved this Land and the pack ran with her each night...” With that Aria was in a dose.