#its been like a month since i wrote godless properly omg

[els-writes]

A New Name - Godless Snippet

How ‘Fifth’ came to be Fifth.

The ocean provided a strange kind of sanctuary. Spinel stood at the prow, clutching the gunwale as she gazed off across the flat grey water. She didn’t miss the glittering blue of the reflected sky in the waves, not when the angry grey clouds that still hung above them had brought them a few too many miracles today. A fog that hid them, and the first rainfall in the Tyfan desert in centuries: that little monster that was still pressed in Cal’s arms – its eyes bright and open as it gazed out over the water – was something Spinel thought she’d never see in her lifetime.

There had been no arguments as hurried back along the old desert road to further along the coast where the Leaving had been left by the shore. No one had questioned why Mae had given her horse to a passing girl in the coastal village and continued onto the ship with them. Barely a word at all had passed between them as Laszlo took the ship further out, far enough into the ocean until the land was nothing but a speck on the horizon, and at last, they felt free and safe.

Unconfident on the deck, the little monster had clambered back into Cal’s arms the moment they were off dry land, but it didn’t stop it from crying out in joy at every new sight it took in. It whistled at a school of passing dolphins, crooned back at the cawing gulls flying overhead, roared at the wind the beat at the sails. In the light of day, the horror of the monster’s body was unveiled. The gaping tears in its wingsails, the shining liquid that leaked from the place’s scales had freshly broken away, or the lumpy scabs of old wounds. Its head, small and delicate, was ugly with gruesome scars like veins – what could have caused such injuries, Spinel didn’t even want to know.

Cal’s face was soft as he watched the monster taking it all in, his eyebrows twitching as if listening to a voice. Spinel had heard the creature call out to them when the monster had called out for them to move – a voice so young and innocent, it felt twisted to give it such a vile body – but she’d not heard it since.

The hatch lifted behind them, and Spinel glanced back as Mae and Laszlo emerged from below. Laszlo marched straight back to his place at the helm. His face hadn’t been smoothed of a single crease yet.

Mae edged over to them, kneeling down to place two wide bowls on the ground. “I… I wasn’t sure what would be good for him…”

Water, and some strange mashed up red stuff. Spinel’s nose twitched. It stank of blood. Uncooked meat. How appealing.

Kneeling down, Cal set the monster on the deck – earning a squeak of protest from it – but Cal’s hands remained on its sides, keeping it steady. It sniffed suspiciously at the bowls, only to pull back in fear, ears pressed flat against its head.

Mae jumped, rubbing at her head. “I-I’m not trying to test you…” she said.

So, the monster could pick who heard it at once, perhaps?

“I just wanted you to eat… you look hungry…”

Stepping forwards, Spinel dropped to the deck beside the monster with a heavy sigh. She flattened her skirts, and picked up the water bowl. “The things I do for this motley crew...” She took a long sip out of the bowl. It was at least fresh and cool, and she put the bowl directly before the monster. “Now drink, little one. It is rude not to share a drink with a lady of my status when she invites you.”

Monster not rude…

There it was. That pitiful voice, brushing at her mind in the oddest manner.

“Is that so?” Spinel asked. “Then you best drink and eat. And you best make sure when you speak, we can all hear. I don’t much like people keeping secrets from me.”

This news seemed to shock the creature, and it nodded slowly, before lowering its head to sniff at the water. It took one tiny drink, looking back up at Mae, who gave it a reassuring nod, before it went back to drinking.

They all watched as the monster discovered its own needs, draining the small amount of water, and then venturing to the mashed meat. Within moments, it was gone, and Mae promised more later.

“That portion isn’t going to be enough,” Spinel pointed out as Mae collected the bowls.

“If he’s been hungry for a long time, it’s better to give him a little to start with. His stomach might reject it…” she said.

Spinel hummed, leaning back on her hands as she observed the monster licking its lips. “So. A him, is it?”

Mae paused. “He sounds like one…”

“Well, what does out resident monster-keeper say?” Spinel reached out, prodding Cal’s arm until he gave them attention. She watched the uncertainty pass over Cal’s face, the hesitance. She rolled her eyes; he’d been so talkative in the Temple. Now he had lost his words again?

Monster he. Monster know. Sister said.

“Sister? There’s another like you? Tell me its not an older one.”

The monster scratched its neck with a hind leg, like a dog. Sister older. Sister big. Sister very smart. Help and Monster go get Sister.

“Help…?” Mae asked slowly, but the creature crooned over at Cal.

Spinel quirked an eyebrow at her strange quiet friend, but when Cal met her gaze, she saw something darker being held back there. He gave the slightest shake of his head, and Spinel knew to pull away from that topic.

“Anyway, can we decide on something other than ‘monster’ to call this little one?” she said instead. “Feels a little… blunt.”

Turning to her, the monster cocked his head to the side. Monster is Monster.

“Yes, but ‘monster’ is a somewhat cruel word.”

Monster is Monster. Told so.

“And whoever told you that is a monster themselves.” Spinel pushed herself to her feet, stretching her arms up above her head. “You are no longer the monster in the pit, little one. You helped us escape, and I intend to return that debt. You are the fifth member of our little messed up family here.”

Me. Fifth?

“That’s right, so–”

Fifth! Like Fifth! Love Fifth!

Spinel blinked. The little monster jumped where it stood, crooning loudly as he buried himself back in Cal’s arms.

Help! Me Fifth now. Fifth happy. New name.

Glancing at Mae, Spinel frowned. “You all know that’s not what I meant, right?”

Mae just shrugged. “Fifth seems happy with it.”

Across the deck, Laszlo stood at the wheel. His hands gripped the wood tightly, knuckles turning pale with the force. His head was turned, like refusing to acknowledge the fact he was clearly listening to them, but there was a panic in his features that Spinel couldn’t quite understand.

But it wasn’t just her who was looking. Cal’s eyes always seemed to find Laszlo eventually, even when little Fifth was crying into his face as he was now. Pushing lightly at the little creature, Cal coaxed Fifth off his lap and towards Mae – the poor girl hadn’t expected the strange thing to jump straight into her lap, toppling her over. Cal crossed over the deck to where Laszlo stood. He didn’t crowd him – just leant against the gunwale nearby, watching him. Making a show of picking up the bowls, Spinel made her way over to the hatch, pausing to listen in on the quiet words barely audible over Fifth’s squeaking.

“Cal… say my name.”

“Laszlo.”

“That’s all I want to be. Laszlo. Just Laszlo.”

“Okay. Just Laszlo.”

Spinel moved down into the ship. She dropped the bowls into the tub of water that had been filled to wash up. Rolling up her sleeves, she started to clean, her mind racing too far ahead of her to go back up and make conversation. Between Cal being… well, himself, Laszlo looking more broken by the second, and Fifth’s entire existence, Spinel wondered what sort of mess these boys had led her and poor Miss Maesha Day into. What she did know, was that these boys would never survive without her.

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