The Eagle Parrot

The Shamrock Tavern buzzed with life, but Darius and Elara had little time to enjoy it. As much as they wanted to relax, they had to find their crew and get to The Eagle Parrot before something else went wrong.

Darius downed the rest of his drink, wiping his mouth. “Alright, let’s find the others.”

Elara sighed, giving Rockford one last pat before standing. “They were supposed to set sail days ago. If they’re not still at the docks, I’m blaming you.”

Darius smirked. “You blame me for everything.”

“Because it’s usually your fault.”

The two stepped out into the salty night air, the dockside streets dimly lit by lanterns. The smell of fish and seawater mixed with the distant sound of waves lapping against the piers. As they walked, Darius’s sharp eyes scanned the ships.

And there she was. The Eagle Parrot.

A sleek vessel with dark sails, the ship was still anchored at the farthest end of the dock, but something felt off.

Elara’s hand drifted to her sword. “Where’s the crew?”

A sudden thud came from the deck, followed by a low groan.

Darius motioned for silence, creeping up the gangplank. He peered over the railing, only to find a figure slumped against the mast, one of their crew members, Rook, rubbing his head.

“Rook?” Elara whispered.

Rook looked up, dazed. “Oh, hey, Cap’n… Didn’t see you there.”

Darius frowned. “What happened?”

Rook blinked. “Uh… I didn’t see anything.”

Darius crossed his arms. “That’s the worst lie I’ve heard all week.”

Elara narrowed her eyes. “Rook.”

He sighed. “Okay, fine. There was a fight. Some of the crew got impatient waiting, started arguing, and...well...some of ‘em left.”

Darius cursed under his breath. “How many?”

Rook winced. “Half.”

Elara groaned. “Fantastic.”

Darius exhaled. “We need to find replacements...fast."

Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt Words: Write a story that includes the line: “I didn’t see anything.”
Word Count: 300