Storming

The boat rocked as the waters began to turn and break around them. The crew had felt the oncoming storm some hours earlier, as unkind winds began to blow and the air grew heavy, and had prepared well in advance for it. They had tied down crates full of supplies both above and below deck, and only a skeleton crew remained above in order to man the ship. Each was strapped with a rope and hook to be attached to the main mast should the storm break too heavily, ensuring that they would not be tossed into the unforgiving waters - though, should worse come to worst, they also had a knife on their person to slash through that very rope.

They were slow building things, sea storms, but you were so far away from any sort of land that there was nothing you could do but prepare and hope for the best once you saw them coming. It took a skilled crew to survive a storm, but even the most skilled could only do so much if the waves became too tall and powerful. They rarely counted on it happening, but they were always ready for the possibility - better safe than sorry when there were no second chances.

But as this particular storm came in, and the skies grew dark, it quickly became apparent that this would be a bad one. The boat went from rocking to nearly tipping from side to side, and the ropes that had been used to tie down all of the supplies strained with the effort. The clouds were swirling directly over head, and the wind blew hard in every direction around them. The skeleton crew was quick to respond, hooking themselves to the mast and tightening every knot they could get their hands on. Frigid rain slammed against them like stones being carried in the wind, but they pushed onward to do everything they could to keep the ship afloat.

When they realized what they were up against, it was too late to do anything about it. Too late to pray to their gods for forgiveness.

The clouds continued to swirl and were pulled down by the turning wind. And as they descended upon the ship, a face appeared amongst them, with gnashing teeth and burning eyes. The crew could do nothing but stare back as the beast at the eye of the storm descended upon them, ready to consume.