#elsewhere

Though the crab pooka waves almost bashfully to Piper.

Piper in turn tries not to ogle too much at the unusual Pooka, and waves back.

The crab fellow approaches "me name is Clacky mcClackclak... and who might ye be?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Clacky. I'm Piper...." She offers a hand, and then belatedly wonders if that was a bad idea...

He's got a kind of sharp grip by he's careful with it, "Now you got crabs! Ha see? Can't thank ye enough for your sultry song, lass, tis a grand ole thing to be keeping me out of the pot"

He does seem grateful. He and the captain seem to be the most social of the lot.

She shakes, carefully. "Not a problem. There was no question of it, really. A friend in need is a friend indeed, and we're not ones to go sailing on after seeing someone in a tough spot."

"Those merrow were really stuck on getting your loot, weren't they?"

"Aye, you'd think land and sea snakes would get along but naught of that" He sighs

It takes her a moment, but all that time hanging with Rikki seems to have helped a bit in learning Pooka. She nods sympathetically. "Shame about your ship, though. I know that the Narwhal here, well, she's practically family to Cap'n Siv."

"Ah, and Captain Z will cry a river here, but us being at sea you'll naught SEA much of it . " He shakes his head "If only she put the mission first instead o going on about it"

"What was your mission? We're on more of a pleasure cruise ourselves, and hopefully reconnecting with roots..."

"Roots help fight off the scurvy" he says "Barbuda eh? I hear tourism is great there" Of course, it's not, the hurricane of 2017 really hurt it.. most folks moved off to the neibhroing island of Antigua

"I'm not too familiar with the geography, to be honest." She admits.

"It's time to learn Geography NOW... " He laughs singing in an odd tune, then nods "No worries lad. I'm sure geography has no use for travelers such as yourself"

The shores of the island come into view

"Lord," Siv says "This is where you fled from?" Siv gapes at the still battered ruins of the town

"You can see why I took the children on a path of egress post haste."

The town, the remnants, are blown over buildings left to rot. Uptorn bridges, signs hurled onto what's left of muddy streets

"I remember you showed up first in Rivervale with all of those kids in tow... it was... right around when I arrived as well, if I remember right." Piper says to Jonas. "I didn't realize that was from your hometown... I guess I thought they were rescued as an adventure along the way?"

"Technically this isn't my home town" he says "I traveled a lot. But it was home for over .... five years?"

She seeks his hand and gives it a squeeze. "I understand. I've only been at Rivervale a couple years... but it already feels like home."

Siv is at his other side, both ladies press against him, he smiles "There is some attempt to restore it and.. there is a hold. "

"Not in there, I hope." She comments, trying to temper it with a soft tone as she looks at the remnants of the town

"No.. but not far. Shall we get off and walk around?.. maybe on the beaches further from the town?"

"Sure! Are our new friends coming with, or is this where we part?" She asks.

"Well, we can't leave them on a near deserted island" Siv says "Off the ship, folks. Walk on the beach time"

Siv grins

"You heard the Narwhal's captain, let's stretch the legs" Zenevieva says

"Last one ashore is a rotten fishhead!" Without waiting for a boat to be lowered, Piper cannonballs off the side of the ship to strike out for land.

Siv actually goes last, and for good reason, for they disembark, then she does... and the Narwhel pours into its bottle

"Amazing," Zenevieva's one good eye widens

"Has it's uses" Siv says "magiced in a lot of ways. Only one of my blood may sail her fully" The town maybe a mess, but the beach itself is glorious, a shimmering blue

"I always did wonder what would happen if someone stayed aboard." Piper comments, shaking water from her short curls.

"You don't want to know," Siv says with a smile

"Aye aye, Cap'n." She grins. The grin fades a bit as she clips a little closer, leaving little hoof prints in the sand, to look over the wreckage of one of the buildings. "They weren't able to rebuild? Or maybe they rebuilt somewhere else?"

"Most of the money here is from tourism, with this gone, the tourists are gone, with the tourists gone, the money is gone..." Jonas says

"Could it be built back up? I mean... the infrastructure is busted, but the bones are still baseline beach beautiful..."

"Eventually someone will buy up everything fix it, and everyone will work for them but for the private small mom and pop spots? Probably not. " Jonas sighs " I sometimes wonder if I shouldn't have returned to.. make it better"

"Oh Jonas, this is why you don't talk much about this place" Siv says "You feel guilty? "

He grunts

"You can't be responsible for everything. You couldn't prevent the storm, and you're not the master of their destinies." Piper offers. "Who knows, maybe starting fresh with another venture will be what some of these families may have needed. We can't say for sure. But I do know one thing..." She gives his hand a squeeze. "I'm glad it brought you to us."

Siv smiles "it's almost like she's a singer all smooth and with the right words"

"Captain" The voice is not adressed to Siv, one of the Cutter's crew mates, a troll, says "Two jeeps driving up fast"

BOTH captains look over at that.

AND one Ships' bard...

It's changelings... changelings in Jeeps. They look like rough costumers... three redcaps, two trolls of their own, a stocky satyr guy with a slightly twisted horn, and a tigress pooka. They look armed

"Jonas?" Piper murmurs low to get his attention, then taking a step back. Not out of cowardice, it seems, but she knows that she'll get in the way if there's a fight, especially if her trolls have to worry about her being safe...

"I'ts muldoon" he frowns

"Wait, Local crime lord right?" Siv asks