Deckhoof and Grimwing gave each other a look. 

“Umm,” Grimwing said, his tone almost remorseful,” I’m sorry ta say mate but yer sister probably dead mate.”

“Aye,” Deckhoof nodded,” Th’ captain flooded th’ harbor with a tidal wave last night and th’ only survivors was any who ‘ad ‘is mark. See?” He turned his foreleg to reveal the symbol of a shark. 

“Me mate’s right,” Grimwing said,” We’re sorry but yer sister’s gone.”

They waited for the unicorn’s reaction with an understanding look and slackened the ropes around him. They kept a wary eye should he strike. Suddenly they heard someone climbing onto the ship They looked over the railing and nearly fell off the side at what they saw. Captain Bovir pulled himself over the edge and landed on the deck with a dull thud.

"Captian we thought ye was dead!" Grimwing said with pure shock apparent in his voice.

"Not dead Grim,' the minotaur grunted," Is Swan-"

"She's alright Cap," Deckhoof said," She an th' rest of th' fleet went up river toward th' Moon Guild Fortress." They left just a few hours ago." 

Bovir nodded. He was relieved to hear his love was alive and well. He looked to the river," Good thank you." He looke dto the unicorn," And who is this sorry excuse of a deckswab?"
 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“This ‘ere be me crew,” Crashing stated proudly and gestured to the ponies that sat around his fire,” This ‘ere be Softstep, Swansong, an’ Crosswinds.”

“So ye was a ‘igh Priestess aye,” Crosswinds gave Swansong a smirk.

“And what of it?” she said through gritted teeth. Her past life had always been a sore subject with her. Crashing and Softstep both knew of her past in length bu8t they were the only ones.

“Nothin’ lass,” the pegusus chuckled,” Jes tryin’ ta imagine ye in them robes.”

“Robes?” Softstep raised an eyebrow.She never bothered to learn anything about the Moon Guild simply because she never cared.

“Aye th’ ‘igh Priestess of th’ Moon Guild wear some thick dark blue robes made of th’ finest silk,” Crosswind said,” They fetch quite th’ price.”

“Huh,” Softstep pulled her blade’s handle from the prying hooves of one of the foals. Two of them had taken up a spot on either side of the tan earth mare. She looked at the unicorn across form her who had just drained his grog,” So what is your name?”

“Paladin Moonbeam,” He said with a grimace,” Though I doubt that title means much anymore.” 

“I remember th’ Paladin’s of old lad,” Crashing said,” In th’ eyes of Mother ye still one trust me. So what yer plan lad?”

Moonbeam sighed,” I don’t know now that I can’t get them to the harbor,” He looked with sorrow filled eyes at the foals,” They don’t deserve the life Fate has dealt them.”

“Well your welcomed with us mate,” Crashing said,” Could always use some extra hooves round ‘ere.”

“I thank you,” Moonbeam set down his mug.

“You know you didn’t react as other ponies do when it comes to Crashing Wave here,” Swansong said,” Why is that?”

“Because I was once in the personal service of Princess Celestia in the days before the regime fell,” Moon beam got a faraway look in his eye,” Those were by far the best days of my life. I stayed loyal because Princess Cadence and Prince Armor held the throne but it’s clear now that their merely pawns.”
 
Crashing scowled briefly at the mention of his elder siblings name but just as quickly as the look corssd his brow it fell to his trademark smirk. Moonbeam noticed it right away.

“You have some quarrel with the Princess?” he inquired. His magic glow wrapped around his broadsword’s handle unintentionally, ready to defend the honor of the Princesses, an instant that was hardwired into his brain. 

“Last we parted mate,” Crashing said, his teeth bared,” It wasn’t on th’ best terms.”

Moonbeam felt the danger that radiated off the alicorn. He felt like he was in the presence of a bloodthirsty wolf not a god and decided to drop it there. He gave the alicorn a once over and realized how massive he truly was certainly as tall if not taller than the Sun Goddess he had once served. Softstep and Swansong took a step back from Crashing as he stood up and went to the waters edge. 

“I’ll be a huntin’ mates,” he said over his shoulder,” Th’ anklebiters can come with us. I’ll see ya in th’ mornin’.” With that he jumped into the river and made off for a hunting spot. 

Moonbeam looked to the mares across from him,” I do believe I insulted him.”

“’e’s justa might sore at Celestia lad,” Crosswinds said as he drained his mug of whiskey<” Ah that’s good. Anyhoof ‘e’s sensitive on th’ subject of th’ Royal Pair. Th’ way I see it th’ geezer needs ta get ‘imself a mare.” 

Swansong shot the Pegasus a glare before sighing,” He’s in love can’t help that.”

“Obsession I calls it lass,” Crosswinds grunted.

“You are rather informal when dealing with him,” Moonbeam said. He noticed how all through their conversation they viewed the alicorn not a as God but just another pony. 

Softstep laughed, loudly scaring the foals at her sides,” Trust me mate the first ponies I saw grovel at his hooves ended up shark bait.” 
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A deer walked out of the bush toward the stream. Moonlight shined through the leaves of the trees overhead giving the clearing a serene, almost sacred, feel. It perked it ears, listening for anything that posed a threat. Satisfied it wasn’t being hunted it bent down to drink from the crystal clear water. Suddenly a tendril of water wrapped around the deer’s neck. It gave a strangled cry before being wrenched into the water. A moment later the crystal clear waters of the stream turned crimson and the watery silhouette of an alicorn stepped out of the stream with the deer in its jaws. 

Crashing Wave solidified his form set his kill down on the ground and stared at it. His eyes were jet black with the feeding frenzy and he dove into his kill with open jaws. He swallowed chunks of jagged flesh down in gulps, not even bothering to chew. After mere minutes the carcass was picked clean of flesh. Crashing sat back his mind taking over from the primal urges that often ruled him. He always found solace in just letting go of all inhibitions. He looked at the bones before him with a satisfied smirk. 

“Always best when it’s fresh,” he sighed contently. He took wing and flew above the treetops. In the distance he saw a set of lakes and beside them a grouping of domes. They were close to the slave holds of the Moon Guild. 

He looked deep in himself and felt his ocean move in his very soul. He grinned, almost madly and let out a barking laugh,” I’m comin fer ye Moon Guild. Jes ye wait. You’ll see what a real God can do soon enough.”