Buffy and Serena wanted to fly ahead and warn the others not to attack, but there were a couple of problems.
First was the weather, which was getting worse. Neither of them wanted to end up in the ocean.
Serena admitted a second problem, but only to herself. Her mother was the only one who might believe the story. She might not get to her fast enough to stop the others. Once they were at the dock, Serena could send Buffy while she stayed and hoped to hold back the others.
If they made it that far. Vane went up to check on the other ship. Serena picked up Buffy and followed. Vane started to turn back, and she felt he was going to order the two back -- but for whatever reason, he changed his mind.
The storm had died down somewhat, and the ocean wasn't quite as choppy. Half the crew was hard at work running the ship while the others were taking swords from the chest and hurrying to posts where they could see the enemy.
Vane took a sword, and Serena just held to Buffy and followed him to the rail and stared past into the gray, wet world -- and there it was for a moment -- something huge and fast closing in on them.
"Can you fly?" Vane asked.
"I don't know. The weather isn't good," Serena admitted, as much as she wanted to leap into the air and somehow get help.
"Don't go unless you have to. Both of you. But if things turn bad, go quickly. We aren't far from Bay Village. You can do it."
Serena found it odd that he worried so much about the two of them. He did turn his attention to other work now, though. Serena and Buffy kept watch on the ship.
"I have a little magic," Serena said softly. "Mom says I'll start getting more magic soon. Why can't I have the power to help now?"
"We'll do something," Buffy said. She twisted a little, looking up at the storm.
"Careful!" Serena warned. "You're all wet and slick -- Buffy!"
The cat slipped out of her hold and tried to spread her wings but hit one on the rail. With a yowl of pain, she tumbled into the water.
Serena leapt in after her.
She saw the little body surface once, paddling and sinking again. And then Serena hit the water. Cold water. She almost panicked, but she saw Buffy in the water not far away. It didn't take much to grab her and get back to the surface, although she didn't know what to do now --
Captain Vane landed in the water, making a big splash and wave but grabbing Serena by the arm. There was a bit of magic in his touch, reminding her that he did have magic of his own.
"Buffy -- save her --"
"I have you both," Vane said. Magic wrapped around them. They moved toward the ship where the others lowered a net. How could she hold Buffy and climb?
Buffy shivered in her hold and mewed softly. Her eyes remained closed. Serena held her closer and reached for the net as Vane brought them to the ship.
"Hold on tight," he said, gasping slightly. "They'll pull us up."
The magic still embraced Serena and kept her from falling, but she obeyed and held on anyway. The net began to move upward, and she could hear the grunts of the men pulling them upward. Captain Vane's magic began to fail as they neared the top, and Serena worried as much about him as she did about Buffy.
Tonis took Buffy gently from her hold, and someone else pulled her up and back onto the deck. Vane did the same and gave her a wane smile.
"We couldn't be wetter in this weather. How does Buffy look, Tonis?"
"Better," he said. "I have wrapped up her wing --"
"Serena, can you hold her and fly if you need to?"
"Yes," she said and took the cat into her arms. Tonis had wrapped a scarf around Buffy, pinning her wings into place. Buffy shivered still, but her eyes blinked open, and she shifted slightly. "Be still. Mom will help you when we get there."
"Be ready to fly," Vane told her.
And then he rushed into battle.
Two groups of pirates fighting proved to be far more scary than Serena had ever imagined. She was glad when Tonis pointed to where she should hide for now.
"They have bows," Tonis warned as he helped her behind some rolls of rope and tarps. "They have bows, so if you fly, stay low to the water. Be careful."
Serena wanted to ask why they were so worried about her, but Tonis rushed away, and she feared she heard the trouble coming closer.
"I want to go home now," Buffy whispered. She still shivered. "It's not fun anymore."
Serena agreed, but they both fell silent as the fighting moved within a yard of them. Serena crouched down and protected Buffy as best she could.
The clash of steel and shouts grew louder and then retreated again. The sounds changed, though. In a moment, Vane appeared. He had a cut on his side, but it didn't slow him.
"I can see the village dock," he said as he offered his hand. "Go quickly and let the good people know that we are not the enemy. The second ship is the last of the real marauders. The third ship --"
"Third?" Serena asked as they moved to the railing.
"I think it is my ally, but I can't tell in this storm. So go quickly." He helped her unhook the cape over her wings. "Be careful."
He lifted her up on the rail, and she held tighter to Buffy. The wind was rough, but as soon as she spread her wings, it lifted her from the ship, and she had no choice but to fly.
And fast with trouble following close behind them...
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