Night Trouble

The night was calm, the Eagle Parrot slicing smoothly through the dark waters. Most of the crew had turned in, leaving only a few sailors on deck. Elara leaned against the railing, gazing out at the vast ocean. The moon cast silver streaks across the waves, and for the first time in days, she felt at ease.

Darius stood beside her, arms crossed. "Feels too quiet, doesn’t it?"

Elara smirked. "You paranoid, or just disappointed nothing’s tried to kill us today?"

He chuckled. "Bit of both."

Rockford, her loyal dog, let out a low growl from where he lay curled at her feet. His ears twitched, his gaze locked on the water.

Then, something moved.

It was quick; just a flicker beneath the surface, a shadow shifting against the moonlight.

Elara straightened. "Did you see that?"

Darius narrowed his eyes, scanning the water. “Yeah. And I don’t like it.”

Before Elara could respond, a massive shape broke through the waves; a serpentine figure with gleaming, iridescent scales. It moved with eerie grace, its golden eyes flashing as it disappeared beneath the ship.

The deckhand in the crow’s nest let out a panicked yell. “Sea serpent! It’s circling us!”

The crew scrambled from their bunks, rushing to arm themselves.

Darius unsheathed his sword. "So much for a quiet night."

Elara sighed, drawing her sword. "I knew today had gone too smoothly."

The water churned violently as the creature rose again, its massive form towering over the deck.

The battle for their lives had begun.

Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt Words: Write a story that includes the line: “Did you see that?”
Word Count: 253