"Voyage"

Prompt: Come Sail Away

Spearmint the rabbit settled comfortably on the ship’s deck, looking out over calm waves. His young earth elemental, Digger, shifted uneasily by his side. He patted the elephant-shaped spirit’s rocky head, saying gently, “Go back below deck. I’ll be alright.” Digger rumbled reluctance, but obeyed, relieved to return to his dirt-filled basket in their cabin.
The rabbit shifted his prosthetic hindleg into a better position, marveling at the fine clockwork and springs. The rat and mice smiths truly knew their craft.
He looked again over the sea, wondering if the apes, monkeys, or lemurs had such creations in their isolated island kingdom. His destination.
The primates left Dracora during the Slayer Wars, barely heard from since announcing their kingdom’s founding. Spearmint’s research trip was a curiosity, granting him an invitation that was rare for mainlanders.
His studies into the mythical “hairless apes” of Dracora’s ancient past had proven fruitful so far. “Elves”, “dwarves”, “merfolk” and other legends dotted his bestiary alongside modern wildlife. But their mysterious disappearances from history eluded him. He hoped the ape kingdom held more knowledgeable records.
Spearmint was distracted as the ship passed Turtleback Island, the namesake giant sea-monster surfaced for the time being. Seal children frolicked and hunted with dolphins in the surf while parents watched.
The rabbit smiled, though questioned how sane beasts could live there as seafolk did. They had dwellings on its shell, but what about when the turtle dove? He made a note to ask later.
The seagull lookout sighted whales, and minutes later, a humpback surfaced alongside the ship. The crew’s translator, a parrot, conversed in otherworldly whalesong, then reported to the otter captain.
“Everstorm squall rolling in. She’s offered to tow us through it.”
The captain barked orders, the crew readying the ship while Spearmint went below deck and secured his belongings.
Digger whimpered, burying into his basket. “We’re fine,” Spearmint comforted, scooping soil over the elemental. The rabbit curled into his hammock as the ship lurched, shuddering at being so close to that eternal hurricane shielding Dracora from Void beyond.
He slept, hoping to reach their destination soon.