Mournhay Port presented itself as the typical pirate harbor, which hadn't collapsed from pure spite.
The town's docks were warped, a place where people shouted at stolen merchandise crates. It smelled like fish, rum, and the kind of trouble she didn't want to deal with before breakfast. Still, it had charm, if your definition of charm included the risk of getting stabbed over a barrel of moldy oranges.
Anne entered the docks after a brief stretch of her body, yawning. "This place makes me feel like every person wants to end my life today."
They moved through the wide, bustling streets of Mournhay Port. At some point, Anne appeared beside Nyx with an apple in hand, casually munching on it.
"Did you just steal that?" Nyx examined Anne with a disapproving expression as she asked the question.
Anne shrugged. "Maybe."
They stopped in front of a small shop. An old wooden sign outside held the name "Fluffy Cloths."
Anne blinked. "Didn't you say this guy was tough?"
"Oh, he is." Nyx said, grinning. "Like a rock. But he's got a soft side."
The shop contained a dense arrangement of colorful fabrics and frilly dresses with delicate embroidery pieces. A two-and-a-half-meter-tall Durakar stood like a boulder among the flowers in the back section.
His massive shoulders and solid stone skin combined with thick limbs and an intimidating aura pressed down on the atmosphere. He was a walking fortress.
Anne's lips twitched. "You didn't lie when you said he was a rock."
"Welcome." The Durakar's deep voice shook the dresses of the room as he spoke. "Can I help you, young ladies? We have lovely dresses."
His voice did not help sales. The deep tone of his voice should have been used to break bones instead of measuring fabric.
Anne raised an eyebrow. "What's a guy like you doing in a place like this?"
Before he could answer, Nyx stepped forward. "Oy, already forgot me, rock man?"
The Durakar tilted his head. "Ah. It's you, Nyx. Still alive?"
"Of course. I'm tougher than you."
"What brings you here? I doubt it's for dresses or nostalgia."
"This is Captain Anne." Nyx said, pointing with her chin toward Anne with a smirk. "She's got a proposal for you."
He looked at Anne, expressionless. "Captain, huh? Sorry. Not interested. I don't sail anymore."
"Well, too bad for me." Anne said, looking around. "But I am curious. Why the fancy clothes?"
The rock man's shoulders shifted, just slightly. "My wife was the owner. I'm just keeping it."
"Was?" Anne asked, her voice clearly softer now.
"She passed away two months ago."
"Oh… I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Complicated since she died. Few customers come here anymore."
Anne nervously rubbed her neck, suddenly unsure of what to say.
"I see." She muttered after a while. "Sorry about your loss."
He gave a small nod. "She liked bright colors. She used to say it made this world more colorful."
Every step the rock man took made the old wooden floor groan beneath his weight. The man carefully pulled from the drawer a soft round object whose large eyes dominated its small face while its fur waves looked like floating clouds. The ball of cuteness fit snugly into the Durakar's palm, barely half the size of his palm.
The little creature blinked at them, the crying stopping.
The baby looked like a Felari, also known as Puffers. As adults, they resembled walking cloud-creatures. They had vaguely feline or fox-like features. They rarely grew taller than one meter forty.
Wait. Did the giant say this tiny, fluffy thing was his son? Was he adopted? Don't tell his wife was a Felari?
A Felari and a Durakar? Well, you see new things every day.
The baby turned his big eyes to Anne. His little arms stretched towards her, letting out a soft, happy sound.
Intrigued, the Durakar walked closer and gave Anne a wordless look, a suggestion to take the kid. She opened her mouth to object. She should have said no. But the cuteness was just too strong.
Nyx cackled from behind. "Looks like he likes you."
"He doesn't take to strangers." The rock man said, staring. "That's… unexpected."
She reached out slowly, like he might explode if startled, and the Durakar gently placed the baby in her arms. The moment he touched her, the little Felari snuggled into her chest and let out the softest purring hum she had ever heard. Anne froze. This cute ball was too dangerous.
"What's his name?" She asked softly.
"Kael." The Durakar answered. "His mother said he needed a strong name before she died."
"Is he your reason for staying on land?"
"Yes." He said simply. "The seas aren't a place for babies."
"And if I promise you a safe place for him with lovely grandparents? This shitty city also isn't a place for a furball like him. You are strong, but can you keep him away from the smugglers once he starts running? Will this shop be enough to raise him?"
The Durakar looked away. His stone face didn't shift much, but the silence said everything.
"Why do you want me?" He finally asked.
"Nyx told me you used to be a quartermaster. A great one." Anne said. "Until your captain betrayed the crew."
"That was sixty years ago." He rumbled. "I'm just old rocks now. A rock that doesn't even know how to care for a child. I'm scared I'll hurt him."
"I know you rocks have long lives. You are still young, even if you're an old man for me. Join me and I promise your kid will grow up safely. I can't promise the same for you, as the seas bring up too many dangers. But I will try to keep my crew safe and I have no motives to turn on any of you. Riches don't entice me. Just adventure will move me. Money is something needed, just that."
The Durakar stared at her for a long moment.
"Eight years." He said. "I'll work for you for eight years. I'll train a new quartermaster for you, someone worthy. Then I want to leave and raise my son."
"Deal." Eight years were more than enough, especially if he was going to train a new quartermaster for her. It also would be enough for him to gather a good amount of gold if they were lucky.
"Squeak?" Rat reminded her once again about the problem of breaking bonds, but that was something she would have to deal with eighty years from now. And besides, she wouldn't have to break it. Can't crew members retire? Surely, the system wasn't so cruel?
"Let's go to the ship. And I will ask my mother to come see us, so you can meet her." Anne wasn't worried that her parents wouldn't accept to take care of a child. She knew how much they loved kids, especially the little cute ones.
Her mother would surely rush to meet the child. Poor Durakar.
Wait. What was his name?
"Well, quartermaster.. What is your name?"
The Durakar paused, lifting one thick, stone-carved brow.
"Branar." He said, his deep voice echoing like distant thunder. "Branar of the Stoneveil Line."
Anne looked him over with the baby nestled quietly in her arms. The name suited him.
"Branar, huh?" She smirked. "All right, let's go, Branar. You and your adorable menace are part of my crew now."
He gave a grunt that might've been a laugh.
Behind them, Nyx sighed dramatically. "Well, this is going to be fun."
Anne adjusted Kael in her arms, glancing down at the warm little fluff ball. He was already dozing off again, purring against her chest.
"I can't believe I have a baby on board." She muttered.
"You stole an apple earlier." Nyx said, stretching as they exited the shop. "Now you've stolen a baby and a war veteran. Productive day, Captain."
Branar locked up the shop behind them with one last look over his shoulder.
And just like that, the crew began to grow.
In the next few minutes, her crew would get surprised quite a few times… parents, portals, hired workers. What the hell was going on?