"Calm yourself, young wolf. I can't harm you. I can just see the higher planes. It is a small mercy hidden in the depths of the curse I currently bear and one you may, if not careful, Nolaka."

  Nolaka found himself unsure of what to make of this situation, but then again, he knew this ritual would bring forward questions and answers. "Why are you on this vessel? Why does it keep us cut off from the rest of the realm?"

  The old man laughed a bitter laugh, "I have been here since the beginning, unable to die for my sins back when we first became more than the cannon fodder for the Trickster from the songstress's song, I thought to be a bridge for those who followed the Trickster and the spirits into exile and those of us who lived among the other races made by the Namiakes. The ox people attacked us, unfortunately killing the son of the dolphin spirit, who was my apprentice. In her anger fueled revenge; Cavnel turned my crew into the storm that follows this ship and chained me forever more to the ship I sailed. Since then, I have made sure that no one can reach our homeland till the day comes that another takes my curse from me by taking my title of captain in battle. I pray we never have to meet in person, lad. If we do, it can only go one of two ways."

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  With that last ominous warning, the old man let out another bone chilling laugh as lighting struck next to him and his true state revealed a scared and grizzled man with inky black pits where his eyes once sat. Then, something pulled Nolaka away from the ship and slammed back into his mortal body once more. Gasping for breath, Nolaka leaped from his sleeping mat, screaming in frustration. He'd been led to the serpent's den but found no viper, as his father would say. Hurling the ritual supplies across the glade he had laid in. He couldn't help but feel that he would never understand why he was destined to be the outsider of his tribe.