Topic: The Man Over Board | Silencing the Whirllwind

Bridget Kidd

Date: 2009-08-14 16:35 EST


Only moments earlier was the sky a vicious blood red. It was black before the Kidd Captains could even note which direction the storm was coming from. In those sudden moments, silence lingered among the crew and in the air about them. There were no birds, no stars in the sky to guide them, and no clear definition of a way out. Padriq and Bridget Kidd would find themselves at the mercy of a storm, but it was not something they had never had the chance to experience.

Life lines for the crew were secured along the mast while the rigging and the sails were secured all the same. Bridget was left to man the helm while Padriq worked with the crew to make sure the Banshee was safe from harm.

The wind started to scream around the ship as the rain began to pelt down over those who remained above deck. The feral howl of the elements came as the swells began their boil in the sea. Waves would begin to thrash and crash against the ship's crimson wood, but still the ship remained secure.

For several moments the waves had yet to breach the rails of the ship, content to just smash against the sides. But as the last of the unneeded crew made their disheveled way down below, Bridget was shouting to her brother above the storm's howl," Ye be ruddy stupid ye foul git! Get yer safety line secured now Padriq Kidd!"

He couldn't hear her. He was too busy in the rigging above, securing those that had come loose. He had managed to ignore the violent rays of light crashing in the sky above them. It was their only source of light. He would try to use it well.

Bridget was more observant than that of her brother. As the swells grew the waves grew more threatening. The Kidd sister knew that her brother would not be able to keep his grip. She shot forwards from the helm, leaving her first mate to grip hold of it and set their course through the rampaging waters. Again she would scream to her elder brother," Padriq Kidd get yer life line on ye now! Do nae give me li-"

A thrashing wave crushed against them sending Bridget flying back onto the deck. Her footing was lost, her frame was jostled, and Padriq was lost from sight. Bridget looked up in time to see his hat come rolling upon the deck before her feet. She swallowed roughly as she rose to her feet and screamed," Padriq!!!"

"Man over board!" Came from the first mate as he pointed behind the ship.

Bridget rushed up the steps and towards the side while her eyes sought for the figure in the water. Nothing. In the minutes that she searched, she found nothing. Padriq was lost. There was nothing she could do for now, at that moment she had to make the choice of her crew and her ship. If she kept them safe and her ship secure, she could look for Padriq when the storm died down. She wouldn't give up hope on her brother. He knew what to do to stay alive in such an instant as this.

For now the Banshee would have to battle the storm. The wind, rain, and lightning would howl on through the wee hours of the night. There would be no rest in the storm and no rest for the unwilling on the ship.

No rest for the man over board.