“Oh, that’s so sad.” Maeve shook her head too. “But the others, are they okay?”
Dave nodded a firm yes; all of the others were healthy and strong. They would grow into fine hatchlings. Not that Dave wanted to stay and find out, it had become clearer to him lately that he felt out of place now that everyone at Kracken’s Hole were mated. Well, except the familiars, but they had their own issues.
Dave was also aware that he would be approaching his final growth period, a difficult time for a Kracken in the wild, more so for one that could now shift.
His emotions were in turmoil. On one tentacle, he wanted to be a free Kracken swimming the seas, and on the other he wanted what Brutas had.
But Dave didn't hold out much hope of another witch arriving in Kracken’s Hole and falling in love with him. Dave knew he was a very good looking Kracken. But as a human, all he had heard about his looks was that he was big and to cover himself up with clothing. That right there said they didn't want to look at him. That he was not nice to look at.
“Dave? Are you okay?”
Pulled from his own thoughts, Dave looked at Maeve and nodded with a weak smile. Maeve didn't need to know what was going on inside his head. She had too much to deal with already.
As she eyed him, he felt like she could practically see into his soul, and that didn’t bother him. Maeve was one of the few people Dave could really trust. He watched as she slit her eyes at him and tilted her head.
“You would tell me if something was up, wouldn't you, Dave?” she enquired, causing an answering chill up Dave’s back.
Witches were scary at times; it was like she could read his mind. So, Dave simply grinned and nodded.
2
Jessica couldn't sit stilland neither could Edith, her little purple dragon friend. They were both excited at the prospect of not only starting a new adventure, but also finally getting to look after a creature Jessica had always dreamt about. Ever since she was a little girl, Jessica had loved all creatures, but the mythological ones just held a special place in her heart. There was something so beautiful, so unique, and so endearing about them. From unicorns all the way to bigfoot. Each and every one had been labelled and judged. So, when she was only a baby witch of ten years old, she had made the decision then and there.
She was going to be a cryptozoologist.
Her parents had been both thankful and relieved when she had made this statement, knowing that when she set her mind to something, then she would do it. But mainly because she was a failure as a witch and part of the Mistwalker Coven. It had been expected that by the age of seven her powers would have come forth, and even at such a young age she would have dominated as a witch. But alas, Jessica had produced no magic, instead she had only managed to converse with a local school of mermaids.
Her parents had been disappointed but supportive as always, hiding from her the harsh remarks of the magical community. Jessica hadn't cared, yet her parents worried for her.
A witch with no powers, they were usually the laughing stock of the magical community, even though she was from such an affluent family. Though, Jessica hadn't missed the quiet remarks behind her back or the lack of invitations to all events.
Jessica had shrugged each indifference off and focused on her true calling, her magical powers would have only been a distraction from what was her true dream.
She had worked hard in the following years, learning from the very best and, in turn, had become top in her field. So, when she had been contacted by the legendary Witches of the Moonchild Coven, she had almost passed out.
Not only did they seek her help, but they needed help with a creature that even she had never seen in the flesh. A creature so historic and mysterious it was like the holy grail of mythological creatures.
Who could turn down the chance to work with Krackens? Not just any, though. The absolute legends that were the Krackens of Kracken’s Hole.
Jessica couldn't help the side steps of excitement as the wind swept her hair in every direction.
“You are doing that thing again,” Edith, her draconian familiar, stated in a fairly judgemental way. Edith was like that, but she was Jessica’s closest companion. One she had found herself with after a scary adventure in the Scandinavian hills trying to find a Wyvern. Edith had been captured by humans, so Jessica had relieved them of their charge and Edith had decided to follow her everywhere.
So even though she was a shit witch, she still got to have a companion. It was nice… when she wasn't being judgy. Which was hardly ever.
“I know, I’m just so excited, this is so exciting… isn’t it so exciting?” Jessica bounced again.
“Exciting, right?” Edith's voice kept the same tone. “I don't think you said that word enough.”
“Don't be a party pooper.” Jessica frowned at her companion before she looked back over the rail of the vessel.
That had been the first surprise for Jessica, a pirate ship had waited for her at the docks, and the crew as well. Ghosts, all of them were ghosts. She had never feared ghosts, having grown up in a coven. They usually had visitors of the ghostly persuasion, although none of them were as active as the ones steering the boat.
The wood creaked beneath her feet as she stood by the railing, watching the coast get smaller as they moved out to sea. From the little she had gleaned from the chatter of the crew, they had to move into deeper waters so they could get to the town at the right angle, otherwise they would miss the doorway. The town itself was hidden by a shield so no stray humans could venture in. If one was lucky enough, then the witches there would deal with it.
The boat rocked side to side as the not-so-gentle swell hit, and Jessica found herself almost lulled into a calming state by the sound of water hitting the hull. With the wind in her hair, she lifted her face up to the sun and revelled in the calm. A calm she knew wouldn't last as soon as she reached Kracken’s Hole. Jessica was excited for what was to come but also a little anxious.
This was her dream, after all, to work with not only one of the most elusive mythological creatures to ever exist, but also one of the largest. Her journal that documented every creature she had had the pleasure to work with was thick with information, hearsay, and gossip about Krackens, and she looked forward to finding out the truth.
