The stolen fish had been absolutely worth it.
Kristen stood by that opinion with unwavering confidence.
After hauling the prize up to the crow's nest, the three of them had torn into it with the enthusiasm of creatures that hadn't eaten in days.
Salted fish scales had scattered across the wooden platform, and by the end of the feast all that remained was a stripped spine and a very satisfied trio of birds.
For about ten minutes.
After that, there was nothing. Literally nothing.
They had already formed a friendship with the captain, defeated a sea monster AND had a yummy breakfast.
What else was there to do?
Minutes turned into hours as Kristen watched the waves swish around, boredom filling her entire being.
'You know, you would think that after three days we would reach that godamn new continent, but nooo. Thats a good thing, and good things don't happen to me.'
Kristen lay on her side in the crow's nest, one wing draped lazily over the railing as the ship rocked gently beneath them. The ocean stretched endlessly in every direction, a shimmering sheet of blue under the afternoon sun.
It was beautiful.
It was peaceful.
It was incredibly boring.
She sighed dramatically.
"You know," she muttered, "I used to complain about bad Wi-FI back on Earth, but this is so much worse."
Kristen groaned and rolled back over, the wind ruffling her feathers gently as she stared down at the deck below.
Sailors moved back and forth in a steady rhythm. Some were repairing ropes, others hauling barrels, and a few were simply leaning against the railing talking about things she couldn't quite hear from up here.
At the helm, Maria stood exactly where she had been for the past several hours.
The captain looked completely at ease.
One hand rested casually on the wheel while the other held a small brass compass. The faint violet markings on her coat glowed softly whenever the ship's protective formation adjusted around them.
Kristen squinted at her.
'Seriously, does she ever get bored?'
She flopped onto her stomach in annoyance.
"I'm dyiiiing."
"You are not dying," Lucia said calmly.
"I am spiritually dying."
Olivia snorted.
"You ate half the fish."
"That's off topic."
Lucia closed her eyes again.
"Sleep, then."
"I already slept for two days!"
Kristen kicked one claw against the wooden railing in frustration and caused the crow's nest to creak softly under her weight.
More time passed.
The sun climbed higher in the sky.
Then slowly began its descent.
Shadows stretched across the deck below as the afternoon drifted toward evening.
Kristen had almost reached the deepest stage of boredom imaginable when something changed.
Squinting her eyes as hard as she could, she saw a faint dark line far in the distance.
'...Huh?'
She leaned forward slightly and made sure that the line remained and didn't drift away like a rogue cloud or wave.
She blinked.
Then blinked again.
"Hey," she said slowly.
Lucia opened one eye and Olivia paused her grooming.
Kristen pointed a wing toward the horizon.
"…Is that new?"
Both of them turned.
Far in the distance, barely visible through the golden haze of the setting sun, a shape had begun to rise above the waterline.
It was dark and solid yet had green sprouting on the top of it, small shapes started to appear as well, houses, factories, shops.
For a moment none of them spoke.
"No way."
Olivia leaned forward, studying it carefully.
"…That's a coastline."
Lucia stood up as the wind lifted her feathers, she stared across the ocean.
"We've arrived."
Kristen stared.
The distant continent slowly grew clearer as the ship sailed forward.
Jagged cliffs rose from the sea like ancient stone guardians. Above them stretched dense forests, buried secrets and treasures hidden in its deepest depths.
A few mountains loomed farther inland, their peaks dusted with pale clouds.
Even from this distance the land felt enormous.
Kristen's boredom evaporated instantly.
"OH THANK GOD," she shouted.
Several sailors on deck looked up in confusion. Of course, the birds couldn't really speak, only talk telepathically, so it just sounded like a very loud CAW!
Olivia laughed internally while Lucia remained quiet, just watching the approaching land. The wind carried the faint scent of earth and vegetation across the water.
After days of nothing but salt and sea air, the smell felt almost magical.
Below them, Maria glanced toward the horizon.
Her expression softened slightly.
"Landfall soon," she called to her crew.
Excited murmurs spread across the deck.
Ropes were adjusted and sails shifted.
The ship angled slightly toward a harbour nested between the cliffs.
High above it all, in the crow's nest, Kristen sat down heavily.
"…Okay," she said.
"What fresh nightmare are we walking into now?"