It was pure chaos. Everything was loud.

Jason stared poker-faced, watching while the whole town gathered at the docks. His eyes narrowed, frowning at how everyone was busy grabbing nets and getting into their boats. All were set on catching the huge swarms of fish that roamed by the cay’s shores.

It was nothing like they ever saw before. There were too many fish, too near to land. They did not even need to set sail to get a load.

Jason stood there, baffled, while Shamira whined at their side. Ethan was not even bothering to look at the fish while he unlatched a few ropes off the docks, his boat set free to sail. It still looked battered and slightly rusty, but it was now usable.

“Get in, you land roamer.”

It probably was his imagination, but Ethan had suddenly invoked the best pirate accent, as soon as he set foot on his small ship.

Shamira jumped fast onto deck, barking insistently; Jason embarked slowly, nervous. She was able to circle Ethan a few times, bark up at Kalani, and bounce back by the time her owner finally stood on deck.

Even if no evident fear was on Jason’s face, it was obvious that the ship was not somewhere he liked to be in. It was already rocking slightly, and not even sailing yet.

“How old did you say this thing was exactly? I feel slightly wary of-“

“I can’t even remember.” Ethan huffed, snarling with a faint grin, his hand slamming onto the helm. “Old enough; but safer than any other, I tell you.”

The ships of the cay’s inhabitants were not the most modern ones. Only one ship disposed of modern mechanical fishing nets. And it gave enough problems already. Ethan’s looked even scruffier. Most of its metal was covered by fine elegant wood, a small cabin at the end of the deck. The most advanced things were an old motor and the radio.

We’re in for a ride…

Ethan did not acknowledge Jason’s nervousness. He could not care less for all the idiots staying near the shores either. He turned on the engines and moved the wheel fiercely around. Soon, he led his ship away from the docks, ignoring the confused glances of some fishermen. Even the men not dedicated to fishing were getting their chance to get a load of fish. No one was leaving.

But he was. There was something much more important than any of the money that fish could bring; it was the very reason why he had abandoned his old ways in the first place. It was much more valuable, all he cared for. He needed to find him, and bring him home.

Jason sighed and leaned against the cabin’s wall, eyes closing, just trying to not get dizzy. Ethan just headed into the sea, eyes never leaving the horizon. Even if he knew that swarm of fish was strange, he did not pay mind to that.

Shamira was leaning onto the railing on deck, her eyes glaring at the distance, growling. Kalani was curling more onto Ethan’s shoulder, letting out small chirps, never letting go. The animals were nervous, yet they had not stopped giving problems until they saw they could come.

The former sailor sighed angrily, one hand moving away from the helm to pet the parrot gently.

“Don’t you worry, Kalani. The sea is vast, but not unending.”

If Matthew was somewhere… he would find him. No matter how long it took. And if Jason complained…

“E-Ethan?” He sighed again, hearing another dizzy call. “Where did you say you put that small fridge? I- I need some water.”

If Jason was more bothersome than helpful, he would drop him back; something that he considered as soon as another comment echoed from inside the cabin.

“Why are there so many beers in here?” Jason had found the refrigerator. And of course… “There’s more beer than food.”

He ignored it all, eyes fixed on the distant waves.