The Lore Wain and Her Nephew Pt. 19

Celeste could barely get the words out between her panicked breathing and Echo's crying, "C-Come... in!" The door creaked open and in entered Zarabean and Cynthia. They saw that Celeste retreat into her cabin and Clef asked them to go check on her, knowing she would need help. Zarabean looked very concerned for his friend and hopped up onto her desk. "Celeste..." He gently reached out and touched her shoulder as he sat there crouched. Celeste held the crying Echo close and continued to panic while trying to calm him. She didn't greet the two of them or acknowledge them because she felt so horrible. "Celeste, you might be holding Echo too tight..." Zarabean spoke gently. "Would you like me to hold him for you?" He asked, not seeming nearly as anxious as he did earlier that day when Celeste handed him Echo. Celeste breathed a very shuddered breath and looked at Zarabean with red puffy eyes. Zarabean held his hands out to her and nodded, confirming it was okay to hand over the screaming baby. Celeste gently and shakingly handed Echo over to Zarabean before covering her face with her hands. Cynthia stood by the door awkwardly, not knowing how she could help calm down this grown-up she just met. She decided to just let Zarabean handle the situation and watch. Echo continued to cry even in Zarabean's arms. Zarabean took a deep breath and softly hummed to Echo the song from earlier, knowing it worked the first two times. Celeste sat shaking in her seat, now focusing on trying to calm herself down. She listened to Zarabean's humming and found herself feeling a little more calm than before. Thankfully, the humming managed to lull Echo from crying to contentment once again. Zarabean saw that Echo had calmed down and he smiled at him, "See now, little Echo, everything will be okay." Echo reached up and grabbed Zarabean's hooked nose and tugged on it. "Ow." Zarabean said with a little laugh in his voice this time. He looked over at Celeste to check on her once again. Celeste was watching Zarabean with a faint smile on her face. "How are you feeling now, Celeste?" Zarabean asked with a plugged nosey voice, as Echo still had his nose in his tiny hand. Echo belly laughed at Zarabean's voice change and squealed. "I'll... I'll be fine..." Celeste took a shuddered deep breath and looked back at her nephew in the ridgerunner's arms. "I just hope he will be too..." "If we have anything to say about it, he will be. The Maker will help us." Zarabean said, reassuring Celeste. "Do you want Echo back?" Celeste looked at Echo and then back at Zarabean. "Would you mind holding him for a few more minutes, Bean? I need to talk with Clef..." Zarabean nodded, "I'll take care of him. Cy will help." He looked over at Cynthia, who was awkwardly standing by the door. "Won't you?" Cynthia nodded anxiously, "I'll try my best... I probably can't hold him with my hands but let me know how I can help." She said as she walked over to Zarabean. Celeste faintly smiled, "Thank you both." She said as she stood up and wiped her face with her hands. With another shuddered deep breath, she exited the Captain's cabin. The ship had already begun sailing; to where, Celeste wasn't certain. All she knew is that Clef was the one acting like the captain and she needed to contribute somehow. Her crew were already at their usual stations. Nibble was in the crow's nest keeping watch due to his keen eye. Alagatha was standing in between the canons and the main sail. Usually Alagatha mainly manned the sails but with the possibility of strander-pirates following them, she stood in-between. Usually Zarabean helped with the sails but he asked her to cover for him while he checked on Celeste. Clef was at the wheel, navigating the ship surprisingly uninterrupted. Since Celeste noticed that Ramger wasn't pestering Clef at the wheel, she scanned the top deck for him. She finally spotted Ramger leaning over the top deck railing. "He must be sea sick..." She thought upon seeing Captain Kinabrick patting him on the back. After surveying everyone on the top deck to make sure everything was in order, she made her way up to Clef. When she stepped up the steps, she noticed Clef glaring into the night with his hands tightly holding onto the wheel. To avoid startling him, Celeste gently greeted. "Clef, I'm really sorry about running off like that... I should be helping you." Clef looked over at Celeste, his glare softening. "Celeste, I understand. No need to apologize." He looked forward once more, "I sent Zarabean to help... Though I can't say it was only my idea. He already wanted to check on you." Celeste drew near and stood beside Clef, staring out at the dark sea. After a short pause, she looked over at him again. "You seem angry..." "I am but it's not directed at you." Clef said as he put an arm around Celeste's shoulders, keeping on hand on the wheel. Celeste looked down at the floor, "Clef, do you know these stranders somehow? You've been acting strange since we went to the jail cells and I haven't gotten a straight answer." Clef was quiet a moment before sighing, "Do you know why I never talk about my past?" "I always assumed it's because you aren't proud of it..." Celeste replied. "Yes... That's a good hunk of it..." Clef looked at Celeste. "But there's something else that I'm worried might really stamp our efforts..." Celeste looked back at Clef in confusion, "What do you mean?" Clef averted his eyes once Celeste's met his. He leaned close to her ear and whispered something that would send shivers down her spine. "Captain Sealen... He's my father."