The Lore Wain and Her Nephew Pt. 21

(Repost since I haven't been able to post for the past week)

"How did you... get on Captain Sealen's ship exactly?" Celeste asked. "I overheard you talking with Clef before you joined us. Where are your parents?" Cynthia became quiet and looked at the floor, as if considering whether or not to answer Celeste's questions. "Cynthia?" Zarabean asked, becoming worried by her response. Cy looked at Zarabean and back at Celeste with a very sorrowful expression, "I was kidnapped from Skree... I don't know where my parents are but I'm sure they're looking for me... If they're still alive..." Celeste gasped, "Kidnapped?! But why??" "The same reason he stole Echo... Royalty." Cy explained with an oddly solemn countenance for a girl her age. Her eyes fell to the ground once again. "You're a princess of Skree¹?" Celeste asked with shock. "So that's why-" Cynthia looked back at Celeste, "Why they cut off my hair and smeared filth on my face and clothes? Yes. They don't want anyone recognizing me..." Celeste thought for a moment, "Why would Captain Sealen be stealing royal children?" "I'm no expert on human monarchies but is it safe to assume he wants power?" Zarabean weighed in, seeming more compassionate towards Cynthia after learning who she really was. "But if he wanted power, why would he burn Anneria to the ground??" Celeste shook her head, "This doesn't make any sense..." Cynthia sighed, "I-I think he wants to take over all of Aerwiar... I'm not the first royal he's kidnapped..." Celeste and Zarabean looked over at her with concern. "He burned down my home, just like he did yours. I think he's trying to take down all the royal families in the world..." Cy's eyes fill with tears as her talons clenched into little fists. "We're all in danger..." Zarabean frowned and reached over to wipe her tears away. "We'll do our best to protect you, Cynthia. Please don't cry..." "I'm so sorry what happened to you, Cy... Zarabean is right, we will protect you." Celeste said before pausing. She wanted to ask Cynthia about how she got claws for hands but Celeste stopped herself, seeing Cy was already upset. "And if that's really his plan... We can't let that happen." Celeste stated with a sudden fierce expression. Zarabean looked at Celeste and asked, "What can we do?" Celeste sighed, "I don't know." She knew that what Captain Sealen was doing was wrong. However, she couldn't think of a plan in their current vulnerable state. Even if they had a plan, what could a half regiment of soldiers of a dying Kingdom accomplish? No, they would need help from all over Aerwiar to help if they were going to stop the crazy pirate. There was a long pause before Celeste spoke again. "But... no use in planning while we're all exhausted." She looked over at Zarabean. "Can you help me find a big enough basket on board that I can place Echo in? I never brought a crib on board." "I think I saw one below deck with the supplies." Zarabean replied and looked over at Cy, "Are you hungry?" Cynthia nodded, "Very..." "Come with me. I have some apples stashed away that Celeste gave me, you can have one." Zarabean hopped down from the desk and stood upright. Cynthia walked over to him and the two headed below deck together. Once below deck, Zarabean led Cy down a narrow hall with rooms on either side before arriving at a room at the end of the hall. He opened the door to reveal their supply unit, which was packed half full with food and clean water. Cynthia could already feel her stomach growling. It was unclear the last time she ate was. Zarabean walked over to a basket roughly a little bigger than size of Echo and took a big apple out of it and offered it to Cynthia. "You can have the big one, Zarabean already had an apple a few hours ago." Cy grabbed the fruit so quickly that her sharp claws broke the fruit's skin as if it were paper. She didn't care about eating etiquette as she started eating it on the spot. Zarabean took no offense, already knowing she was hungry. He reached into the basket again and pulled out the smaller fruit and took a bite out of it. The two stood their a moment, just appreciating the flavor of their fruits before heading back to Celeste with the basket. Once they entered the cabin again, they saw Celeste was staring at an open map of Aerwiar on the desk. "We found a basket." Zarabean said with eyes glancing at the map and a small bite of fruit in his mouth. He walked over to Celeste and set the basket down at her feet. Celeste smiled softly at Zarabean. "Thank you. I'll fill it with a blanket in a second." She looked back at the map. "I'll get one!" Cy volunteered and received thanks from Celeste. She went over to a chest and looked inside. Zarabean hopped up onto the desk to get a look at the map more clearly. What he saw made him uneasy. "... Green Hollows??" "That's where we're going. Clef thought it best to get resources and discuss our next move there." Celeste explained. "..." Zarabean had ceased chewing the piece of fruit that was in his mouth. He continued staring at the map where it was marked 'Green Hollows''. Cynthia found a blanket and was folding it to put into the basket. She noticed Zarabean acting strangely. "Zarabean, is there something wrong with the hollows??" Celeste looked at Zarabean, realizing Cy saw something in his face she didn't. "What's troubling you?" "... Zarabean's family lives near there, remember?" Zarabean replied, referring to the time Celeste first visited the Hollows. _________________________________ ¹After The Great War that caused Anniera's destruction in the Jewels Era, the kings of Skree fell to the hands of Gnag the Nameless. However, descendants of these kings were found shortly after the rebuilding of the Annerian palace, sparking revolution. The descendants were placed into power and given back their old palaces, or so, what remained of them. The castles across Skree were rebuilt and taken back from the Fangs.