CHAPTER 11: DAYS BY THE SHORE & THE BIRTH OF A SHIP ⛵🔥
The days by the shoreline passed in a slow rhythm, heavy with labor and salt air. Each morning, the sound of waves became their marker of time, replacing the bells of towns they no longer had. The sea breeze carried the scent of brine and damp moss, while sunlight shattered across the water like scattered silver shards. 🌊
Their routine formed naturally.
Arden woke first each day, rekindling the campfire and checking the magical map. Its pages pulsed softly, as if breathing in tune with the world itself. He gathered shells and seaweed to boil into simple meals, then inspected his grandfather's staff, making sure the runes etched into it remained stable. ✨
Erik followed in silence, circling the beach to secure their perimeter. He sharpened their stone axe and cleaned the Gewehr-43, an old habit from wars that still clung to him. At times, he stood motionless, staring out at the endless sea, his expression hardened while his thoughts drifted far away.
Rocky, with his four-meter-tall stone body, became the backbone of their survival. He hauled massive logs from the coconut forest, dragged them back to the basecamp, and stacked them with the precision of ancient masonry. 🪨
Then, the construction of the ship began.
They selected the best wood they could find, dry, straight, and strong. Erik designed a simple frame based on memories of riverboats and small vessels he had once seen. Arden assisted with subtle magic, reinforcing the wood's fibers so they remained flexible without losing strength. Rocky held the structure steady, ensuring every joint aligned perfectly as it was bound together. 🔧⚒️
A problem soon revealed itself.
"We don't have sailcloth," Erik muttered, exhaling sharply.
Arden paused, then turned his gaze toward the distant forest. "Animal hide. We can make one."
The hunt was carried out with care. Erik and Arden moved along the forest's edge while Rocky kept watch from afar. They brought down a coastal deer and several wild goats. The meat was smoked for rations, the bones saved, and the hides cleaned with patient hands. 🔥🥩
The following days were spent stretching and drying the hides beneath the sun, treating them with ash and simple mixtures to preserve them. Arden carved small wind runes into the leather, not to grant great power, but to make the sail more responsive to even the faintest breeze. 🍃✨
When the sail was finally raised, its pale brown surface looked rough yet resilient. The coastal wind filled it slightly, and for the first time, the wooden ship seemed alive. ⛵
Erik placed a hand against the hull. "She'll hold."
Arden smiled, exhaustion heavy in his eyes. "She'll carry us."
Rocky stood behind them, gazing at their creation with quiet pride. "I can reinforce the keel… if needed."
That night, they sat together around the campfire. A simple stew simmered, and the moonlight shimmered across the sea. 🌙
There were no grand speeches, no heroic vows. Only fatigue, hope, and a ship nearly complete, built from wood, animal hide, and the unyielding resolve of three wanderers.
Tomorrow, they would test her.