Multiple Maelstroms and A Singular Funeral

[Iolite Maelstrom]

Io watched the goings on between her family members with a dreamy smile on her face. She had taken to hugging her knees as she leaned against the rail of Sunseeker, wide blue eyes flicking from each face to the next as they spoke. It was nice to be surrounded by everyone so close to shore, even if the circumstances were less than happy. Taking Topaz's jab with her smile still intact, Io wrinkled her nose at Moon "Naw, give that to Gran. I'd like a dolphin or something." Penelope shot her head out of the water, nodding vigorously while her mouth opened and closed in a rapid snapping motion. "Oh you, shush. I have one of you already." Reaching over the side of the boat, Io sent a great wave splashing into her Tavan's mouth. The whale let her mouth fill before the great pink tongue slapped down within her mouth, spraying the same water back into the girls face. "Whales." Was all Io said, rolling her eyes skyward as a delicate hand sloughed the salty spray from her face. "Hiya, Citrine. I didn't see you down there." And she leaned over a little further to kiss her sister, since a hug was out of the question. They were all used to this, of course, Io's random desire to be physical. It was never in a sexual way, of course since they were family, but unless she was in one of her moods, Io would never turn down hugs and kisses, nor giving them. "Come up and sit next to me, please!" But Chavis chose that moment to sweep the girl off her feet. Her laughter chimed like little bells as the mans arms curled tightly around her lengthy frame, bending her over and depositing a kiss on her forehead. "Chavy, you are going to make it hard for any man to properly woo me after your sweet words." Io slung her arms around his neck in a return hug, grinning broadly and peppering his face with small kisses of her own. He wasn't her brother by blood, but never could the young woman think of him in any other way, even though he was as handsome as any of them. Kywan was a different story. He had joined the party on Topaz's boat, and had only given her a slight nod in greeting. But since she was on her feet and in the mood, Io scampered nimbly across the careening deck to throw herself into his arms. He received a peppering of kisses as well, but she didn't pull herself away. Io was an odd one. She meant well but there was something about the way she did things, and the stuff she said that was always just a little...off. She was busy hugging and cuddling the new arrival until Onyx arrived in his usual over the top way, with a snappy little comment to match. Io watched the banter between her siblings with an excited, anxious look. She loved her older brother. He always seemed to look out for her, and there was this special way he smiled just for her, like there was a joke only the two of them knew. She waited for this now, but the banter was getting in the way. "Me! Onyx, here!" Her voice was still dreamy, but had a slightly demanding edge. She didn't want to wait for him to just notice her. She was still pressed against Kywan but had her arms held out to her brother, like a little baby ready to be picked up. Whether Onyx had time to hug her or not, Io was soon distracted as Topaz brought out the booze. Both of the boys were quickly in the water, both clutching bottles. That was no surprise. "Oh, I'll go help set up." The joke about the alcohol being the fortification for the pyre had gone straight over her head, and though everyone else was laughing, Io quite seriously stripped off her light flowy clothing, leaving them in a pile on Topaz's deck. The girl would get herself in trouble one day. She was no less beautiful than the rest of her sisters. She was tall and perfectly toned, with a body that made men drool, yet she didn't seem to notice. It wasn't that she simply pretended she wasn't beautiful...the young woman simply just didn't think of herself that way, or in those situations. She was lucky that her siblings were so protective, because otherwise, who knows what would have happened by now. Io carelessly flaunted her body now, climbing onto the railing and diving gracefully overboard, her arms poised perfectly over her head. She sliced cleanly into the water, disappearing from view for longer than was completely necessary. The woman loved to swim, and had probably been distracted by something shiny on the ocean floor. Her head broke surface over near where Onyx floated, her long hair slicking back against her skull as the ends floated in a dark pool around her head as the rest of her was obscured by the rippling waters. A few strong stroked and Io was by her brothers side, trying to wrestle the alcohol from his grasp. She finally managed to get it away, though his superior strength meant he let her win. Before anyone could protest, and with a very out of character smirk, Io opened the bottle, took a deep swig and was swimming strongly towards the shore. "Catch up!" She called over her shoulder, "You all know Gran would be upset if we were late!"

[Onyx Maelstrom]

Onyx waited for his younger cousin to sit down and then quickly he wrangled Kywan’s head under his arm and form a fist. “Keep up! Why guppy! Great Auntie Malachite breast fed me herself! One tit was filled with salty Zeltivian Ale and the other Rum!” Onyx began rubbing back with his across Kywan’s head with his fist, giving his younger cousin a little bit of pain but mainly roughing up his hair. “Besides remember last time you tried to drink me under the keel?! That pretty barmaid was let down from your flimsy mast!” He gave Kywan’s head a few good more playful wraps. Quickly before his younger cousin could fight back he picked Iolite by the waist and spun her around the deck. Partially to keep Kywan from hitting him and partially because he needed to hear the girl giggle, Auntie Malachite had breast fed him while his mother had been sick with scurvy, and all of a sudden the comment had hurt more than he had intended. “Topaz! Where did you get this little piece of jetsam?! I swear if I didn’t know better, this piece of drift wood was my younger sister Iolite! But it must be a stick! After all she hasn’t demanded hugs and kisses from me!” Onyx let out a ripping roar of laughter as he swung Iolite faster. The chuckle sounded like the wind rippling across a sail. Briefly, he pushed her up and let her fall into a big bear hug. He spun her as he squeezed the air from her, and then while she was still breathless he kissed the crest of her head, immediately ruffling it up with a callused hand. He allowed Iolite to breathe and quickly assault him with everything that was in her sea gull mind. All he could do was laugh as the whirlpool of information was given to him. He simply shook his head at his second youngest sister, glad that just like the sun, she would always be on the same path from sun up to sun down. After Iolite was either bored or satisfied with his lack of answers, he moved over to Chevis, his adopted brother. For a moment he was transformed back to the days of youth, him and Chevis putting flopping fish into the girls bed. Onyx dreaming up of putting squid ink into the drinking water, and Chevis distracting Malachite from seeing him, the family had blue teeth for a fortnight afterwards. Aye, Chevis had even taught him about girls, and many a night they had gone out into port to drink, fight, and steal kisses from maidens… well maiden like lasses. He had remembered his brother showing him how to tie a Bowline on a Bight. Onyx simply laughed as he hugged his brother, the embrace was a bit tight as a moment of pain was shared for losing Malachite. For the older brothers she had been something more than just a great aunt. He remembered Malachite giving them lessons on the stars and how to sail by them. He remembered Chevis giving her chalk drawings of ship designs with Onyx string riggings. Not once had she laughed at any of their ideas, “What do you think,” Onyx whispered in Chevis ear, “are you willing to help me put a fish down Moons’ back and squid ink in Top’s drink?” A part of his voice was strained by pain, but Onyx knew his brother would help him get into mischief and then all Onyx had to do was push him a little more, together they would fight the grief by fighting Turquoise. Finally Onyx went over to the twins, and in his eyes was pain and hurt that had forced him to sail through the night and most of the day to get here. It was just a bit too much to think about what would happen if had lost one of them. Onyx had always assumed that he would be dead by lynching from riot of angry husbands and fathers, granted he would courageously kill three or four of the mean ones, but he figured he would die before having to ever face one of their funerals. His jaws clenched tightly and for a brief second the rebellious man wanted to start yelling orders to his family member to get underway and attack a fat merchant vessel. Malachite should go up in a vessel of class and filled to the gills with goods. But before he could say one word he looked into Moonstone and Topaz’s eyes, and he realized that if he said the words the three of them would be raiding for a year to deal with the grief. So instead he slapped Moonstone’s bare stern like a wanton bar wench. “Nice timbers there!” Then he stuck out his tongue at her. He knew trouble was waiting from the pair of them, so he might as well start so that at least he earn all their nasty tricks. Quickly he gave the both of them a long hug. “She… we should burn a fleet of ships in her honor. Let their broken keels create a reef that would forever be known as Malachite’s bones.” A salty tear hidden from the rest of the family fell between the three. He could show the crack between his masks to the twins. He felt it roll down his cheek onto the bare shoulder of Moonstone. He felt Topaz under him, and for a moment he let their embrace comfort him. Quietly, he pulled away and went back over to the rail like a man waiting for a spark to fuel his fire. As he walked away, he felt Moonstone slap his own ass in response to what he had done. That girl was just so wanton, and he had to make sure she stayed that way! As Onyx felt the clay rum bottle thrust into his hands, he licked his lips at the thought of the sweet alcohol that swashed in the jug. Then as Topaz’s hand was placed on his chest, his eye went big and for a moment he simply shook his head at wanton girl. But it was too late as the back of his thighs felt the wood rail slide over them. Quickly Onyx felt Chevis grab the bottle from him as he headed down into the salty sea. For a moment, he saw blonde hair of his youngest sister and he cried out a greeting to her. “Suuuunnnnfissssssshhhhh!” Then a whoosh of white bubbling water as Onyx fell into the water for a moment he saw the pale skin of Citrines legs and he quickly began swimming underwater to her. As he Cyrus quickly swim around her, he gave the sea lion a quick hush signal with his fingers as he playfully swam behind Citrine. For a moment he saw her pale thighs and then the whimsical devil got him. He began tickling her under the water. First her thighs and then her hips, before he got kicked by the little sunfish he grabbed her hips and turned her around. He placed his mouth on the sea lion tattoo and like a baby blew air bubbles upon it. Smiling like a wicked child, he quickly released himself from Citrine and broke the surface, doing his best to swim to the shore before his sister took her revenge. As his other sister Iolite began to taunt him, he began grabbing at her legs as she swam. Playful let her get ahead and then grabbing a foot to tickle her. Whether the girl caught up with him and they played in the surf for a few moments or he was successful in beating her to the shore, Onyx stood up on the beach. Sand had covered most of his limbs, but for a moment he had forgotten about Malachite until Chevis had spoken about gathering wood for her pyre. He stood up and in an angry voice began to sing; “Fifteen men on a dead man's chest Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum Drink and Rhysol had done for the rest Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. The mate was fixed by the bosun's pike The bosun brained with a marlinspike And cookey's throat was marked belike It had been gripped by fingers ten; And there they lay, all good dead men Like break o'day in a boozing ken Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Fifteen men of the whole ship's list Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Dead and be damned and the rest gone whist! Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! The skipper lay with his nob in gore Where the scullion's axe his cheek had shore And the scullion he was stabbed times four And there they lay, and the soggy skies Dripped down in up-staring eyes In murk sunset and foul sunrise Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Fifteen men of 'em stiff and stark Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Ten of the crew had the murder mark! Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Twas a cutlass swipe swung with dread Or a yawing hole in a battered head And the scuppers' glut with a rotting red And there they lay, aye, damn my eyes Looking up at paradise All souls bound just contrawise Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Fifteen men of 'em good and true Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Ev'ry man jack could ha' sailed with Old Pew, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! There was chest on chest of Sahova gold With a ton of plate in the middle hold And the cabins riot of stuff untold, And they lay there that took the plum With sightless glare and their lips struck dumb While we shared all by the rule of thumb, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! More was seen through a sternlight screen Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum Chartings undoubt where a woman had been Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. 'Twas a flimsy shift on a bunker cot With a dirk slit sheer through the bosom spot And the lace stiff dry in a purplish blot Oh was she wench or some shudderin' maid That dared the knife and took the blade By God! she had stuff for a plucky jade Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Fifteen men on a dead man's chest Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum Drink and Rhysol had done for the rest Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight And we heaved 'em over and out of sight, With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-you-well And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell Ten fathoms deep on a bed of shells, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!*” Onyx sung the sea chantey in memory of Malachite as he picked up drift wood. His voice carrying to the ship and up the beach, it was filled with grief and cheer. He just wished that his voice could carry to the afterlife and allow Malachite to her it one more time. *Lyrics from 15 Men on a Dead Man’s Chest

[Kywan Maelstrom]

Kywan grinned broadly as Topaz welcomed him, relieved the silence was broken and accepting smiles and waves from the others. Too quickly he had forgotten Onyx and with a strangulated cry he found himself trapped in a headlock. Wriggling and yelling out in protest, the blonde tugged on the older man's arms. Finally he was released, but Onyx had grabbed Io before Kywan could get him back. Running his fingers through golden curls, the youth smirked.

"Yeh well...she wasn't half as pretty after the third bottle. Can't blame the rum for that!" Watching the scene before him unfold, Iolite's breathless verbal assault on Onyx, Kywan stared out at the ocean and watched the waves rolling lazily. He caught Onyx move to the twins out of his peripheral vision and let them have their private moment. It was all light hearted and family fun at the moment - but reality was they were attending a funeral for an elder, a respected Lia. As his thoughts turned to the sombre event really at hand, the young blonde didn't see Iolite till the last minute.

"Woah, woah!" He laughed, catching them both on the railing before they flipped into the drink. Smiling between kisses, the svefra youth spoke when he got the chance.

"Good...to see...you too...Iolite." Resting his hands casually on her hips, it was all Kywan could do. When she eased off, the boy planted a firm kiss on her cheek, before allowing Onyx to take her away. His smile slowly turned to a full fledged laugh as Topaz presented the older man with a clay bottle sloshing with drink - and promptly shoved him into the ocean. The bottle was torn from his hands at the last minute by the ever sneaky Chevis. Watching the brunette man climb the rigging and take a flying leap after Onyx and the tossed bottle, Kywan couldn't help but wince in empathy as Chevis slapped the water face first. Two chimes later Iolite was naked and streaking into the water. Glancing back at Topaz and Moonstone, the boy smirked and threw his hands up in defeat.

"Now why in Laviku's wide waters would a man wander from such beauties of the deep? Ahh...there isn't a barmaid in all of Mizahar as perfect as a svefra woman. You two beautiful ladies included. And with that, if you'll excuse me." With a whoop, Kywan ran towards the rigging and performed a half cartwheel, half frontflip into the water. In moments he surfaced, shaking water out of his curls and pulling out after his kin. Beside him, Naiku spun and raced around, high squeals of excitement coming from the whale.

Putting extra effort into his long strokes, Kywan caught up to Iolite as she entered the shallows, grabbing her around the waist and tugging her back so he could grab the rum.

"Here now, it's not right to leave your poor cousin high and dry. Not when it comes to the rum." Taking a swig as he waded to shore, the blonde nodded and raised the bottle as he walked towards Onyx.

"With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-you-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on a bed of shells,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!"

The younger man picked up the last of the tune as he reached the man, feeling the lyrics both emotionally and physically. Clearing his throat, Kywan took another drink before picking up his share of driftwood, bottle discarded on the sand for any of his other kin. It was there's, it had been his, now it was free for use.

[Citrine Maelstrom]

Between leaving her sister’s pursed lips and reaching the cheek of the tousled blonde, it almost seemed that the blown kiss had taken tangible form, its contact brightening the smile on Citrine’s face. Even without the luxury of touch, the gesture made her feel the warmth and love of her family. She pressed the tips of two fingers against pouted lips and returned a kiss to Topaz just before settling her hand in the outstretched offering of Moonstone. On the verge of saying hello to the beautiful, near-reflection of Topaz, she was lovingly assaulted by Io’s soft lips on her cheek. “Yes… I would love to - “ Words trailed off when as quick as the offer to sit next to her airy sister had been extended, it was forgotten by the ever shifting attentions of Iolite; The tide of her attention shifting to yet another sibling. Her focus on Citrine dissolved into nothingness like tears into the sea, and along with giving her emotional whiplash, it started the blonde laughing just as the missile that was Onyx connected with the water. She had to wince when his face met the plane of blue; the harsh slap alone was enough to flip her stomach. Ow! Just as the exclamation rang in her subconscious she felt strong hands gripping her legs and then hips. “Onyx!!” She squealed with an even mixture of surprise and delight, a happy lilt of laughter in her voice as she flailed in the water under his touch. It was a commonly held belief among the Maelstrom pod that the only sure way to disable a Sunfish was by tickling. As the touch of hands evolved into the pressure of lips her hand slipped free of Moonstone's gentle grip and dove with no subtlety into the slippery hair of her brother, gripping with little success as laughter and Onyx got the best of her. The way she wiggled she thought surely her freedom would be self won, but coward he was, Onyx withdrew before she could make her escape and retaliate, leaving her breathlessly floating along side the Sunseeker alone. The laughter stuttered her words as she yelled after him."Is that all the better you can do.. you..you SLIPPERY DOGFISH!!!! She looked around for Cyrus, wondering how the Sea lion let her be manhandled by her own brother, laughter still keeping its hold on her. In her searching she missed Chevis entry into the water on a whole and decided to chase after her attacker. Poised to make her pursuit she was once again stalled in her movement, this time by warm lips on her neck, and the familiar voice of Chevis in her ear. Still winded from the laughter, her adopted brother's grip on her brought everything to a halt. For a brief moment she caught the gaze of Topaz, having revealed a secret to her one late summer night. The look on her sister's face was one of understanding and no small amount of humor, Citrine's eyes widened and the beautiful twin laughed a with a lyrical chime. Though is seemed impossible, Citrine believed that she could feel the palms of her hands sweating. Nonsense...idiot. Her gaze moved from Topaz to Moonstone and a voice in her head asked in tandem with the deep voice of Chevis, what would Moonstone do? Hey there Sunfish. Care to dance with me tonight? With a collection of forged traits she did not yet possess, she spun round within the circle of her adopted brother's hold, the thin barrier of water between them making her skin move across his like a length of silk. With a confident lift of her chin, she looked him in the eye and spoke in a low, rich tone that even she did not recognize. "Only if you think you can keep up with me all night." She could barely keep from breaking into laughter at the absurd sound of those words coming from her lips. But if he was going insist on making her squirm in his presence, she would have to step up and return the attitude. She was about to continue when he saw a bottle of rum that needed his attention and was gone. Only then, did her face flush red and her stomach twist into a girlish knot. With a inaudible groan she turned to hoist herself onto the Sunseeker, just as she began to lift her weight a driving pressure met the soles of her feet and thrust her into the air like a bird. When she landed with a flatfooted smack on the deck she turned to see Cyrus' tail disappear. Her first hug would be from Topaz as she ran to her big sister. She felt like a blanket of sun wrapped around Citrine's slick body and the sensation was wonderful. When the hug broke, she reached out and grabbed Moonstone's hand, pulling her over to their embrace. For a lingering moment she just looked at the two of them until a crooked smile curled her lips. "Was that -all- the rum?"

[Topaz Maelstrom]

Topaz watched nearly silent as the family gathered, expressed their overwhelming love for each other, and played out their antics. They were close, for all that not everyone absolutely understood each other. There were disputes, long standing feuds, and even heartache between them ... but there was so much love.

Onyx and Chevis' antics were almost enough to draw her out of her pensive mood. Hanging onto Moon, as wantomly barechested as she was, helped all the more. Hip bumping Io and then settling down beside her brought a smile to her face. Her awkward younger sister was growing into her own, and heaven help the family when Io finally found her feet. They were in for a whole mess of trouble when that happened, for as scattered as she was, Io had something none of the rest of them possessed in great measures - incredibly good luck. Luck followed Io around like a stray sea lion that Io had accidentally made the mistake of feeding one time. So no matter how unplugged from common sense Io could be, everything always panned out brilliantly for her.

Topaz's eyes moved from Io and roamed over her retreating brother's backs. Chevis and Onyx would work themselves to near frenzied states of both drunkenness and architectural perfection building Malachites pyre. And Kywen would watch over them carefully, in his quiet way. Already she could see his golden hair, an almost perfect and suspicious match to Citrines, hard at work on the beach after his own greetings were done. Her cousin had a heart of gold and a tongue of honey that always left a trail of sweet whispers in his wake. Kywan made them all feel loved, especially Io, who needed it more than most. And so what if Amethyst had a little fun with Kywan's father? Marriage was something unheard of in Svefra society. A woman could pick whichever partner they wanted. Who sired who was not important, but who produced who which could be proven.

Topaz's eyes strayed to Chevis' bobbing head then his wet form as he climbed from the surf. She glanced down at Citrine and chuckled a bit for she knew where her sister's eyes would be. On him. Their adoptive brother was a fool if he couldn't see what was under his very nose. As far as Topaz was concerned, Laviku gifted Chevis to the Maelstroms not only because he was such a strong fit good natured boy, but for the sole purpose of making Citrine happy. Too bad he couldn't see it. Great Aunt Malachite used to say when the fish was ready to be harvested and eaten, it'd swim right into the net. It was a good solid saying. Chevis would be ready one of these days or her little sister would grow bored and pick another svefra. By rights half of them should have babies by now, but the Maelstrom clan just never seemed interested. There was too much to do, too much to see, and always something new over the horizons.

Svefra tradition dictated that the clan grow, but Amethyst had just laughed when someone suggested she urge her daughters to start giving her granddaughters. Her words 'Laviku will provide' were always quick to slip from her lovely lips. Not now. Not yet. Let her children live and love and experience the freedom of the sea like no others on Mizahar could first and foremost. Besides, Onyx seemed to be creating enough Maelstrom's as it was, for their look was distinct and kept showing up on the faces of children in both ports they visited and other pods they came together with briefly. Maelstrom blood flowed freely enough.

Besides... today wasn't about life. Today was about death.

At Citrine's question, which pulled Topaz out of her dark thoughts, the twin laughed outrageously. She reached back down into the little cache she'd stowed for the funeral and pulled forth a second bottle of rum, this one of a much finer quality. "You know me too well. I saved, of course, the best for us. And we're going to beat them to sails waving unchecked in the wind. They might be able to piss on Malachite's pyre and then light it on fire because they have so much rum in their blood, but ours will go down a lot smoother." She laughed, removed the cork with her teeth, and dropped the offending stopper into her free hand. Raising the bottle she said loudly 'To Malachite!'. Taking a long swig, she handed the bottle to Moon and winked.

[Jade Maelstrom]

oocAck, hope my entering is okay, I'm sorry this is so late, and equally as sorry if I messed anything up! Please correct me if I did! Petch petch petch. Triple petch. Fish petching petch. She was late. As late as a latecomer can be. Or more importantly, as late as she normally was to any occasion. No matter that she very well knew her Great Aunt had rejoined the spirit of the sea and had departed this mortal realm for good. Her family were no doubt enjoying each other’s company; filled with much chaos and laughter and devoid of silly trepidations. Jade had assumed several hours of scavenging for pearls wouldn’t be out of the question; good thing she assumed bringing back a net full of delicious oysters would hope to appease her brothers and sisters… and aunts, and uncles and not to mention the ‘rents. Oh petch it. She could take a hit, or two or three. Let her see what they say. Maybe assuming she was off with a Wildshore boy (which she might have been at some point but definitely not today!). The Windwaker was docked to the Maelstrom’s larger ships and activity on the small isle caught her attention. The more distant relatives were given as much attention as she could generate (or lack thereof) after dropping off the oysters she’d collected. In a matter of minutes thereafter, Jade had dove into the sea. Sijui greeted her with a bump of her nose, swimming steady. But Jade was on a mission. The mission was the shore. And she swam, fast and hard, because one thing was certainly on her mind when the voices of her siblings reached her ears and the sight of them greeted her eyes. “WHERE IS THE RUM?!” Maybe Jade was insensitive. The death of Malachite hardly hit home for her, yet she knew she still cared for her Great Aunt. Turquoise was now alone; without her other half. Jade knew she wouldn’t be able to understand that kind of pain, not in her lifetime. So she enjoyed what she had, her brothers up on the shore, hoping to ease the tension of her absence. She kicked up sand as she ran, her flimsy white shirt clinging to her back, and her hair matted to her face. Bracelets clinked as she moved. “After all this hogwash I’m going to have to drink myself into a damned stupor.” She commented.

[Chevis Maelstrom]

Chevis fought through the water as he had been for decades. His body felt natural in the water, like a fish would, like a whale would, like a Svefra would. His body was straight out behind him. His arms, hands slightly cupped, windmilled through the water, pulling him along. His biceps would brush by his ears, his fingertips diving through the surface. As the water resisted his pull, his body powered through. His torso rocked side to side as his arms tumbled in sync with one another. His abdominal and back muscles stayed tight as they worked to keep his body rigid, yet fluid. His legs kicked powerfully, but with little splashing, due to his constant experience with the salty seas. He kept it going until he finally reached the shallows, where he slipped his feet into the sandy waters. Sand squelched up between his bare toes, blooming in a murky cloud. He continued to the edge of the water, letting the last flow of the tide wash his feet. The beach was of a strange pinkish hue, caused by coral he was told. Other pod members had gathered the pyre wood, sun bleached drift wood mostly. The whole pod knew the honor of the building would go to Onyx and Chevis, despite others being more qualified in the art of working with wood. The white wood often made him think of the many people he knew who's lives had ended the cycle, and began anew. Despite being only a bit older than his family, he had seen much more loss than they had. While Maelstrom's were known for their nonchalance toward death of a loved one, Chevis always took it a bit harder. Onyx knew this but Chevis always feigned the jovial nature his siblings always had occur naturally. He began sorting the bleached wood into matching lengths. He noticed no one left any rope for this, so as Onyx neared shore he shouted "Onyx! Get some rope you bum! These slackers left me with nuthin!" He watched as his sisters offshore laughed and continued greeting each other. Young Kywan was there as well. While they were close as all in the pod were, they still had a slight distance between them as well. Chevis never knew why, the two never meshed real well. Maybe it was an age thing or the fact that Chevis always, in the back of his mind, thought the blonde may one day steal his spot in Sunfish's eyes. But he would never admit such a thing. She was family after all, and so young. And yet, she kept him youthful and always made him smile. He had seen when she was born and had literally known her for all of her life. And she adored him, but he never knew if it was a favorite brother thing, or a young girl crush, or anything at all. He finished his sorting, hoping his sisters would bring his bongo and his fan that he left on Topaz's ship. Swimming out there again would be an annoyance. He had never personally built a pyre before but how hard could it be? He always loved the idea of burning at sea, rejoining the waters that sustained them all. He hoped he would be lucky enough to have his ashes sustain future generations of his pod. He looked back out past the tide "Hurry up, you were already late. Get your ass movin O!"

[Moonstone Maelstrom]

“A dolphin,” Moon agreed. “I could do that. Maybe I’ll give Penelope a shot at immortality in wood, mn?” she nudged Iolite, smiling at their little sister. She would find something that would appeal to the younger Svefra, and grinned down at the whale. Perhaps when Penelope was older, she and Hunapo would produce calves and their own pod to travel with the Maelstroms. But like Io did, Moonstone reflected, Penelope had to grow up some yet. But she would, and like Topaz, she had to agree that their little sister, with her head in the clouds, would be formidable when she came into her own. She watched with a grin as Iolite took to the waves, joining their brothers and cousin, and deftly scooped up the clothing that Iolite had happily abandoned. She’d take it ashore eventually when they went, and set it out on the sun to dry for her. It was a funeral, after all, and as far as Topaz’s twin was concerned, if Moon had to wear something, even temporarily, so did Iolite.

She felt Onyx’s pain in the embrace. They understood – all of them did – at just how much the older boys were hurting. She only laughed when Onyx smacked her ass – the Maelstroms were physical like that with each other, but Moon knew that while her older brother would smack her ass and laugh about it, if any other man did or even attempted to do so, and Onyx was there to witness it or even heard about it off-hand, there would be a hand nailed to his mast or strung from the rigging when he cut that hand off. And when Onyx moved, Moonstone leaned and took her opportunity… and smacked Onyx’s rear with a loud crack – he’d been in the water, and while she had, too, her own rump hadn’t yet gotten wet from her brief ride with Hunapo. She grinned at Kywan as he, too, joined the others in the water, and winked at him. Well, he certainly knew what he was talking about, after all. “Which you know, of course, since you’ve been working to keep up with Onyx and seeing them all, eh? How many Maelstroms have you helped produce now?” She called the last bit after him once he was in the water, and she just laughed as she shielded her eyes against the sun’s glare and watched the activity on land. When Citrine looked back at her, Moonstone winked encouragingly. Go get ‘em, the expression seemed to say.

“The best of that wood goes into my hold!” she shouted after the Maelstroms that hit land and were already gathering it up. “Io, if you see anything good for your dolphin, you’d better save it, girl! I’m not climbing onto a burning pyre for it!” She’d done that once as a child with Moana’s help, and her father had just about tanned her hide for her over it. Malachite and Turquoise hadn’t been thrilled either, but thanks to Mama Amethyst and Topaz, she had gotten away with it, and some rather fragrant wood that was only just barely charred. It had made a lovely little turtle carving, that was for sure.

Far as they were from the shore, the women on the boat could still hear Onyx’s song. Even as she squeezed Topaz, she supported her a bit, hanging, clinging, and her hips were rocking and shaking in a steady, rhythmic circle as she stepped to it, knowing the words by heart, having heard her brother sing this song so many times that she had it memorized, right along with how his voice would drop and swell on the different lines. So just to hear him sing a bit of it was enough to spur the memory, enough to hear it loud and clear, as if he was still on the boat. “Ten fathoms deep on a bed of shells… Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum,” she squeezed Citrine with Topaz, laughing as she embraced her little sister. Moon accepted the bottle from Topaz, and raised it to the sky, grinning at the other girls. “To Malachite. Wise in our ways. Wise in the water… and gone to give Laviku a piece of her mind.” She had a long drink of the fiery brew, and offered it to Citrine as she swallowed it. By the Gods, that went down good.

In the water, Hunapo stuck his head out and let out a rumble of complaint, water sloshing in and out of his open mouth as his tongue flicked She was pretty sure his return might have facilitated the departure of Penelope and Naiku as he eyed the girls on the casinor. “We’ll get there,” she told the bull. “We’ll get there yet. A bit of liquid courage to get the fire going, keep a straight face and a solid spine until the pyre gets lit…” she squeezed her sisters. “And then we’ll swim tonight once we’re dropping down from exhaustion from celebrating Malachite’s life.”

[Onyx Maelstrom]

Onyx went about collecting large bleach white dry branches. The sun felt good on his wet body, his muscles began to open in the stretching down. He watched his sister seeming dance to each piece of drift wood and he laughed at her naked form. “Iolite, you rainbow fish, pick up the small twigs we will need the kindling.” Onyx began hauling pieces of drift wood the size of his forearms onto his shoulder. He left some of the large more intact pieces for his sister Moonstone. Knowing that those pieces would take too much to catch on fire and that Moon could use them in several pieces. He heard that scallywag of a brother call out to him. “Listen you salty dog, if you fetch a dingy to row to my ship, we can unload my catch and grab rope as well. Besides you know Top always gives us the cheap swill! I have a couple of vanilla pods still on board, we can scrape them out and let it mix with the rum!” Onyx felt the hot sand under his feet and saw that the mix of sea weed, shells, and other flotsam that came from the sea. Spying Kywan, “Yo ho mate! Stop watching Iolite’s butt! See if the main ship has Malachite canoe ready, that way we have a place to store the wood, if not grab the axes and awls!” Onyx threw his pile of driftwood on to the beach and began picking up more… swapping Kywan and Chevis on their backs as he passed them and even tickling the young Iolite as she dropped her pile of wood. It was then that he saw Jade drinking the rum, Figures… the lazy wench can’t wait to get drink while work still needs to be done! “Jade, get the deadwood out of your arse and help Kywan!” Onyx shouted across the beach. Why he bothered Onyx never knew, but Jade always seemed to be an anchor ready to sink Onyx’s good spirits. However, he had song to pick him up, he went to the edge of the beach and began pulling the dry beach grass to add to the start of the fire. While the others did their jobs Onyx and Iolite could very well gather enough wood for the canoe. It seemed silly to have so many of the Maelstrom family doing the same thing, but then again he wasn’t the Lia of the pod either. In fact over the course of the years Onyx had many ideas how to improve the pod, but Turquoise wouldn’t hear it because it came from a Onyx mouth. So once again Onyx turned to song, knowing that after he was done, there still was transferring the catch to the beach and preparing for the funeral. "In Ravok there lived a maid, Mark well what I do say! In Ravok there lived a maid, Who was always pinchin' the sailor's trade. I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid! A rovin', a rovin', Since rovin's been my ru-i-in, I'll go no more a roving, With you fair maid! Her eyes were blue, her cheeks were red, Mark well what I do say, Her eyes were blue, her cheeks were red, A wealth of hair was on her head. I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid! A rovin', a rovin', Since rovin's been my ru-i-in, I'll go no more a roving, With you fair maid! Her dainty arms wuz white as milk, Mark well what I do say, Her dainty arms wuz white as milk, Her lovely hair wuz soft as silk. I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid! A rovin', a rovin', Since rovin's been my ru-i-in, I'll go no more a roving, With you fair maid! One night I crept from my abode, Mark well what I do say! One night I crept from my abode, To meet this fair maid down the road. We'll go no more a-ro-o-vin' with you fair maid. A rovin', a rovin', Since rovin's been my ru-i-in, I'll go no more a roving, With you fair maid! I took this maiden for a walk, Mark well what I do say! I took this maiden for a walk, She wanted some rum and didn't she talk. I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid! A rovin', a rovin', Since rovin's been my ru-i-in, I'll go no more a roving, With you fair maid! She said, "You sailors I love you so," Mark well what I do say! "All you sailors, I love you so," And the reason why I soon did know. I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid! A rovin', a rovin', Since rovin's been my ru-i-in, I'll go no more a roving, With you fair maid! She placed her hand upon my knee, Mark well what I do say! She placed her hand upon my knee, I said "Young miss, you're rather free." I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid! A rovin', a rovin', Since rovin's been my ru-i-in, I'll go no more a roving, With you fair maid! She put her hand upon my thigh, Mark well what I do say! She put her hand upon my thigh, Sez I, "Young maid, yer rather high!" I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid! A rovin', a rovin', Since rovin's been my ru-i-in, I'll go no more a roving, With you fair maid! I gave this miss a parting kiss, Mark well what I do say! I gave this miss a parting kiss, When I got aboard my money I missed. I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid! A rovin', a rovin', Since rovin's been my ru-i-in, I'll go no more a roving, With you fair maid!"

[Topaz Maelstrom]

While the guys were on the beach gathering firewood, Renal Maelstrom was busy sailing a small funeral-appropriate raft onto the beach where the men could start piling up the gathered wood onto an appropriate pyre. He had the rope Onyx needed and everything else to put together the pyre and began doing so as Onyx organized the siblings and got the cousins busy. Soon enough, the beach was alive with men (and women) who were either building the pyre or digging pits and lining them with the excess wood to throw the boar that Kywan's father had killed earlier that day onto a spit to roast.

It wasn't a true Maelstrom gathering if something didn't get roasted while the members of the pod got toasted.

Topaz looked around and sighed. She didn't know where she fit in really and what she should be doing. So she carefully untacked her Casinor from the rest of the Casinor's tied up to hers - they'd all be on the big Maelstrom ship for the ceremony anyhow, and beached it beside the others nestled on the low tide line, dragging the anchor line up the beach and tying it off to a palm. The tide would float the ship again, so she wasn't worried. Others were similarly parked, and this allowed her to take her mandolin and march down the beach to where the Pyre was being assembled. There she parked her rump on a piece of driftwood, took out the instrument, and began to play for her father and uncles hard at work on the pyre. She ran through the guantlet of Malachite favorite songs - mostly of the southern suvan - and raised her voice in song only when Onyx stopped his singing.

The sea, the sea: calling out to you and me
Waves rush in to caress the sand
Only to roll out again

The sea, the sea: calmness in its water
But in one fowl swoop
The calm has turned sour

The sea, the sea: breezes clear as day
Salty air meets our lips
Longer, will we stay?

The sea, the sea: soft sand beneath our feet
Breeze cooling our hot hands
One look at your eyes and I Know

The sea, the sea: our ally and friend
The seascape drawing us in
In triumph, two sweethearts together
Creating Minstrels in the sand.

Topaz continued onward, playing sometimes for Onyx's singing, and sometimes for her own. She honored her great aunt though, playing only those her aunt loved.