"Stinky-Head."

The others returned, just as a certain spirit made it's way from the archives; perfect timing truly does exist, just not when I needed it to... A quick_ _catchup and distribution of goods later, my coin-purse had been restocked up to a whole twenty gold coins; the full cut from Gabbie, Ashes, and Zana as given as reimbursement for our last shopping trip; it felt fantastic, the jingle of coin in my once empty pocket. Besides that, we had supplies for the short travel back to Bludbag; as well as a small check-list from Eve of details she wanted for a personal "training-room" within my Domain. Half of the list was marked in bold lettering as "Do not read publicly", which led me to conclude that it's contents were likely of a lewd nature.

Mako trots out past us, turning on a pivot, and bowing it's head. "It has been a pleasure meeting all of you; especially you, Little Sparrow, but I must go."

Carrie, with little tears in her eyes, wobbles her way to the Spirit's leg; hugging it tightly. "But I'll see you again, right, Uncle Mako?"

It leans down, patting her head gently. "Of course Little Sparrow; I'd pinky promise, but I don't have one of those."

The Core holds out both hands, locking her two pinkies together; making Mako laugh. "Haha! What a clever little angel you are. I, Un-Mako, hereby pinky promise that we shall meet again, dearest Carrie."

With that, Carrie is satisfied; allowing her feather friend to approach Cilla; whispering a gentle request. "Please, do be a good mother to her."

"I will." Replies Prissy.

Mako bows, heading down toward the docks; _an odd bird for sure, but a gentle, and clever one. _Our group moves to walk up the horrid, evil, calf murdering devil roads of Bounty; truly Carnachias herself couldn't create something so torturous. Thank the Gods, however, we have a reason to delay.

"Good morning, lovelies!" Calls the familiar voice of Captain Thrusk, who we had seen the night prior, as she walks out of the Runacathy. "Wonderful that we get to meet again before our departure later today."

There was something odd about the Gorgon Captain; an odd aura of sorts, one I had a hard time putting my finger on. After she introduces herself to Sammy, Trix, and does so with delight when seeing little Carrie, she returns her attentions to those of us who had once been on her ship; particularly Zana, Ashes, Gabriella, Cilla, and myself.

Thrusk clear her throat, trying to save face in what was an embarrassing display for a ship's captain. "Well, dearies, before I go; I must apologize for something awful I did a few weeks prior... I forgot your payment for helping save my crew."

...

All five of us admonish ourselves in different ways. Zana gasps after a short delay of thought. Ashes groans, gritting her teeth with several curses slipping through. Gabriella slowly hits herself with her own staff over the head. Cilla pulls her hood over her face, and finally, I slap myself.

"I truly wish I could pay you now, but things have gotten a bit more... difficult, with money... what with not being able to captain my own ships for some time." Says Thrusk, putting a hand over her stomach. "If you know what I mean."

I stare in confusion; not understanding her double meaning in the slightest. The others, however, each exclaim in unison some variant of either "Congratulations!" or "That's wonderful!" This leaves me even more confused, until a green-skinned man with pointed, floppy ears makes his way out of the Runacathy.

"Luv, you can't be rush'n off so much right now. It ain't good for the baby." Says Osil, dressed in a new, much nicer set of clothes. "Oh, you'z weren't kidding. They did show back up. Hello mates! Oi, Monster. You'z lookin' different."

The puzzle pieces slid together; pieces for a puzzle that should have been simple enough for a toddler to solve. Sometimes, I despise having inter-dimensional brain damage...

"Congrats, you two." I finally say, shaking Osil's hand. "When did, uh... this happen?"

The Half-Goblin winks. "We can thank the sirens, from what Ehur said, and curse 'em for that spear... the misses prefers to just thank Lady Maiyo though."

"Honey, please. You know I can't handle it when you call me your 'Misses', it's so sweet..." Thrusk wraps her arms around Osil's own; I wouldn't have imagined the hard-ass captain of a group of hardy sailors to be swooning over an ex-smuggler, but here we are.

Its then I see the matching rings on their fingers, golden with sapphire gems; I ask them. "When's the wedding?"

"Oh, a month from now." Says Osil, smiling warmly with his razor sharp teeth. "We're planning for it to be in Tomo, under that big ol' heart, on the Maiyo's Kiss's deck. I'd invite yah, but I imagine you lot will be off to the Hoctin by then."

"That's the plan..." Says Cilla; wincing at the mention of our trip, now we know the Pale Pass has been collapsed. "Either way, I'm very happy for you two. How's Ehur?"

"Over the moon." Osil replies. "He even asked to deliver the baby; which, I mean. Of course I said yes. He delivered me, after all."

The serpentine hair of his bride-to-be nipped at his ear gently as their owner spoke up. "We really must be going, now. We have so much planning to do. We need a proper house with a nursery, we have to plan the wedding; I've had to take up most of the paperwork for my ships... ah, it's a mess. Cheers to you all, my lovelies."

The happy couple walk down the road, arm in arm, leaving an odd icy hole in my chest; the sight felt familiar, but somehow... alien. I'm snapped back to attention by a yank at my ear; Cilla pulling me toward the long trek up the road of Bounty.

Oh Gods no...