Haunted Waters?

The nun gave a sigh of relief as the sailors all shook their heads as well. “S-sorry… I j-just remembered the n-notice saying something a-about bread is all…” she said, blushing a little embarrassed at her mistake. She did however shoot them all a stern look… well, as stern a look as a fourteen year old girl dressed as a nun can give to a group of fully grown men, for their attitudes towards Aayla. They had the good graces to mutter half-apologies and at least look scolded. Kiersa sighed as she returned to looking around the seas, partially to keep a track of Aayla and partially in case anything came over the water towards them. Spirits didn’t tend to care which direction they came from.

Soon enough they began to pierce the bank of fog and clouds, with the shore in distant view. “Land ho!” crowed one of the sailors almost out of instinct before being thwapped upside the head by their crewmates. “Ye wanna stow it till we’re farther from that cursed stretch of sea eh?” growled one of the sailors. “It’ll b-be alright…” said the nun. “If a-any Naga came c-close to us, Aayla or Zinnath could s-sort them out quickly.” She assured the sailors, offering a soft smile whilst stroking the great leviathan’s scales.

“No offense there Sister, cursed seas ain’t a thing to trifle with… We’re God-fearin’ men as much as any-“ began one of the sailors before Kiersa interrupted. “Why would you fear the Maker?” she asked in genuine confusion as she looked at them all. The sailors all looked at each other, scratching their heads a little as they threw glances at the blood stained robes she was wearing but not drawing attention to it and just letting the matter drop. Kiersa looked at them for a little longer before looking out to the closing shore and shaking her head. “Strange people…” she said softly.

When they finally reached shore line and Aayla waited until all of the  Sailors had climbed off of Zinnath's back and got to safe ground before she took a deep breath and rose out of the water, gripping the side of dock and lifting herself up over it. She took another breath as if to relax after the long trip and finally stood up straight, tilting her head sideways as she rung out her hair, letting the water drip free from her head. Th act seemed ridiculous to her and yet she always felt she had to do this after a long swim. She then walked over to Zinnath and lightly rubbed the Serpents face before resting her forehead against hers gently.

"Thank you for all you're help today Zinny... you were great."
She told the Serpent with a large smile. Zinnath lifted her head gently, pressing it into Aayla gently as if hugging her. Finally she turned to face Kiersa and the Sailors.

"I would avoid this part of the Sea for a while... I don't think the Naga will be too happy with anyone who tried to get on their waters now. We'll have someone look into these spirits of yours too and tr to rid the ocean of that... but in the mean time... please stay out of these waters... or at least post up a warning, and travel ready."
She explained to them, her stutter temporarily gone as she forced herself to keep a straight face. She wanted to just run away and dive under water again, out of sight and out of mind f the sailors... but she had to make an impact on them o hopefully keep the community safe.

The sailors all nodded at the little blue haired girls words and made their departures, the nun letting out a soft sigh of relief as they left before she went over to Aayla. “Um… s-sorry about y-your dress…” she apologised, gesturing to the robes she had borrowed from her team-mate which were splattered in naga blood, as well as her own. The swim-suit would have similar stains as well, but mostly from her own blood as a result of the Stigmata magic. “I-I’ll pay f-for a new o-one to r-replace it f-for you i-if we c-can’t get the… stains out…” she offered, an apologetic smile on her face although on the inside she was dreading the girls response. She had loaned her her own clothes, and here she was, standing in them and having ruined them…

A new worry struck the nun as she realised something. Aayla had been there the entire time during her fight… she had heard every single word she had said to the Naga… she had been there the day that she’d come to Sabertooth and heard about what the demon had done to her convent and the village nearby… The Slayer was, in Kiersa’s opinion, a smart girl… She’d be more than able to put the pieces together and figure out what had happened that dreadful day… The nuns eyes began to water and she quickly fell to her knees, bowed her head and clasped her hands in front of her in a sign of pleading. “P-please… I… I didn’t know… p-please d-don’t h-hate me… I... d-didn’t m-mean… I…” she stammered, unsure of what to say and unable to get her words out straight.

"Kiersa why are you crying..?"
She asked the nun as she knelt down in front of her, a great big smile plastered on her face as she placed her hand on the girls shoulder.

"It's just clothes, i'm really not worried or mad about that at all. I can always get more at any time. So don't worry."
She told her as if that would solve all of their current problems. She gave Kiersa a tight hug before standing up and extending her hand to thr young girl to get her back up to her feet.

"This job was a lot of fun but, I think im ready to go home if you are. Don't want to get everyone else worried. And besides... i'm kind of worried Hirai might think I lost a fight in the water..."
She said lightly with a shudder at the thought of what the other dragon slayer might do if she HAD lost an underwater job... frankly, it would just be embarrassing for her to admit at all...

"So come on, let's go"
Again, she had a great big grin on her face as she helped Kiersa back to her feet before she guided the young girl onto Zinnath's back before getting on herself.

The Serpent stuck her tongue out, tasting the air as she kept her eyes on the two young girls, getting ready to take them back to the guild hall.

The nun blinked as Aayla talked only about the clothes, as if that was what she was talking about… She hasn’t figured it out… she realised as the Water Dragon Slayer helped her to her feet. “O-of c-course… s-sorry… n-never h-had s-someone lend s-stuff before… w-wasn’t s-sure…” she lied, wiping her tears away with her hands. I’ll tell her later… maybe… Kiersa thought to herself as she tilted her head as she tried to think of who Hirai was again before recalling. “Oh, the r-rude man w-with the t-talking cat.” She said in realisation before frowning. “A-as i-if you could l-lose a f-fight in the water…” she chided.

Kiersa followed Aayla onto Zinnath’s back and the great serpent took off into the skies. As they travelled the nun was silent, reflecting on the job and its accomplishment, and also her words to the Slayer she called friend. She’d find out eventually… the nun thought to herself as the sands gave way for forests and grass below. But do I tell her now… when we arrive… or much later? She silently questioned, looking up in Aayla’s direction in contemplative thought. She looked away and turned her gaze to the world below them as it raced on by. Maker… is this how You feel? Every day, watching over us in silence, unable to warn us of our folly, or tell us Your plan for the world? Kiersa clutched at her chest for a moment, her eyes closed as she slowly breathed. This weight… this burden… it is mine yes… mine to atone for, mine to correct… But must I bear it alone?

She looked once more in Aayla’s direction as she tried to fathom her decision before looking away once more. Aayla doesn’t deserve to bear my pain… Until it becomes far too much… I must bear it alone… And so the nun rode in silence as the grass turned away for sand and the guild hall came into view, a castle sitting amongst the clouds.