Here begins part eight! As usual the main story will take place here on the main deck, the other forums should be kept for use in sub-stories.
Additional sections may be added for use with part eight for our playing delight!
Enjoy!

I sat in my quarters looking through old log books and pictures. Memories of old times once again sweapt through my mind. My parents, my daughter, my ex-wife, my old ship and her crew... all things that were now no longer in my life.
I sighed to myself and sat back.

We had been out at sea for so long now, journeying through the unknown for so long... and still I had not completed my mission. In fact, through all these months I had only seen the Sea Monster I hunted the once. I did however come across another of its kind which I had fought with. Now I knew at least that the Sea Monster was NOT unstoppable. It could be killed.

Sleep began to take over my eyes, yet I did not want to drift off. The dreamworld was a terrifying place for me. The faces of the dead came to me in my sleep. There were so many of them these days...

My eyes snapped open. I had fallen alseep afterall. I sat upright and took a swig from the bottle next to my bed.
Erugh! It was whisky! I had expected it to be water! Still... whisky was better then nothing. A lot better. I picked up the bottle, stood from my bed and threw on some clothes. Then, taking swigs from the bottle, I left my quaters for a wander on the deck.

Along the way I passed the quarters corridor and could hear the soft sounds of snoaring from inside the rooms. The crew seemed at ease at the moment. We had picked up a number of new members recently who all seemed to be fitting in very well.

I climbed the steps and opened the hatch to the deck. It was a peaceful night, if a little chilly. I wrapped my jacket around me. Looking up I saw Sleepy I in his usual spot in the crows nest. I wondered if he ever slept... he used to.

"What are doing up here at this time of night you old pirate," I said as I stepepd over to the shadowy figure at the aft of the ship. Pete turned from staring into the water to me. "You coudn't sleep also?" I asked...

I turned to the Captain, the chilled wind blowing through my thick beard.

"Aye, and judging by this late hour you can't also." I gave my old friend a warm smile and he gave a small chuckle back. "It is a peaceful night, and there is no reason for not been able to sleep. But its just..." I paused and turned away from Adrian's honest eyes, "...just, there must be more to life then just sitting around in the middle of the ocean!! I feel like I should be doing more then just being stuck here, I feel there are places were I'm needed. I need inner peace."

I shook my head and slowly adjusted my eye patch strap. I then turned to Adrian who had joined my side.

"I know there is something we both must do. Our minds need to be settled...let me get to the point, that creature that sunk the Wild Wind...we need to destroy it before it destroys us."

I tried to smile and look on the bright side, but seeing none I embraced a heavy arm on Adrian's shoulder, "Ha! We'll get throught it! We always do!" I gave him a pat of reassurance.

With a distant voice I said, almost to myself, "I wonder what the future will bring?"

I knew exactly how he felt. I turned and looked into the ocean. I had spent most of my life at sea. Perhaps it was time for me to make a new home... a home on land.

But not before the sea monster was dead.

Then I thought about what had happened in Hesthia, the immortal realm. I was told that I would die to keep my crew from dying. Perhaps I would never leave the ocean. Perhaps I would never be with my daughter.

I was alone.

Suddenly a very cold breeze shot through my spine - colder then normal. My breath could be seen and I swore that my fingers were going blue.
"Where is this sudden cold coming from?" I said outloud. I looked up to Sleepy I and shouted.
"WHAT DO YOU SEE SLEEPY?"

I awoke from my sleep in a jolt.
some of my past haunted me in my sleep.
I walked up to the main deck to get some air.
I hardly sleep anyway.
I noticed the captian and the man who had spoke to me befor was there.
I sat on a barrle.
In my human forum.
And streched my heart going back to normal pace from wakeing up in a jolt.
"its cold" i said and shuddered.

I looked to Grace who has just stepped up onto the deck. She was a very quiet walker... it made me slightly nervous. We still did not know much about her and I had only just allowed her to walk certain areas of the ship without a guard. She was still not allowed in the control room or engine room. Still, she seemed friendly enough... just a little creepy. Unnatural things still made me feel uneasy.

"It is cold," I said to her, "I don't know why. It wasn't this cold a moment ago."

Sleepy I still had not responded to me. I could see him staring out at the sea, his lamp held out infront of him. It was very dark, so I could understand why even a man with his eyesight was finding it hard to see.

The sounds of the crew muttering could be heard below the decks. Obviously they were waking from their slumbers due to the cold.

It was a cold that chilled the very bones. It was an unnatrual cold and I felt troubled by it. As we sailed through the night, my mind began to play tricks with me as I beleived I saw large shapes in the dark.

"Perhaps we should head back inside," I said to Pete and Grace, "we don't want to be catching a cold now."

I was standing at the wheel, attempting to steer the ship through the dark. Even the lamp lights we had errected at the front of the ship made no difference to the dark. I had to rely on Sleepy I to tell me which way to go, but even he was now having trouble.

I watched as Peterson stepped up onto the deck and then, a few moments later, was joined by the captain. I wondered what the two of them spoke about.

Suddenly the cold drifted into the control room and I shivered. Goose bumps raised instantly on my skin and my fingers went numb, forcing me to try and cover up my hands with the cuffs of my jumper.

A figure stepped past the window. It was Grace the new woman. She sat up on a barrel and watched the captain and Pete. She was a strange one.

something rumbled under my feet. It was so smooth that only a trained navigator would be able to feel it. I did not like it. It felt like the bottom of the ship scraped against something. There could be rocks about.

The captain, Pete and Grace all turned to leave the deck, probably to go back to their quarters when I called to them.

"Sir," I said, "I think maybe we should anchorthe ship here for the night. It is too difficult to sail in the dark. I have no idea where I am going."

In my quarters I rolled over, wrapping my blanket around me. I was freezing! even my big thick blanket and my extra wolly jumper were not keeping me warm.

I sat up and reached for my jug of water but pulled my hand back. the water was so cold it was almost frozen! I looked around the room and saw Boulder, Nicholas and Edward Lones lying in there beds. They too seemed to be awake and restless.

I rolled over and tried once again to get to sleep.

I sudderd through the coldness.
'hmmm this seems unatural..... im useualy used to the cold by now....'
I thought.
I walked over to the edge of the ship and looked down into the dark water.
I sniffed the air to see if i could pick up a sent of any think.
But it was so cold i could only smell cold air which ended up giving me brain freez.