The Eagle Parrot V The Sea Serpent

From the crow’s nest, the lookout, a wiry young man named Finn, clutched the mast with one hand and waved a lantern wildly with the other. “It’s coming around again!” He tossed an orange hued flare into the sky, the fireball casting an eerie glow over the serpent’s massive form.

Darla; stood at the bow, gripping a harpoon in both hands. “Let’s see how thick that hide really is,” she muttered, then hurled the weapon with all her strength. The harpoon sailed through the air and struck the serpent’s flank. It let out a piercing screech, its golden eyes narrowing in rage.

Near the midship, Lyle; their so called navigator; was doing his best not to die. He had abandoned the wheel and scrambled to secure the cannons.

The ship’s cook, Henry, had a different approach. He stood near the galley door, gripping a woven basket filled with of all things; fruit. “I don’t have a weapon, but maybe it’s allergic to citrus!” he yelled, hurling apples and oranges at the serpent’s head.

Darius, standing near the stern, sliced through a thick tendril the beast had flung onto the deck, severing it before it could wrap around Elara’s leg.

Elara, reached for the ship’s supply of oil, tossing a barrel overboard. “Finn! Light it up!”

Finn flung another flare down, igniting the oil just as the serpent surged forward. The explosion sent fire licking across the waves, making the creature recoil in pain.

It let out a furious screech and began to retreat, vanishing beneath the waves as quickly as it had appeared.

Rook panted, “I never...ever want to do that again.”

Corin scoffed, “What? Thought you wanted adventure.”

Elara exhaled, scratching Rockford’s ears as he whined at her feet. “Next time, though...let’s just fly over the ocean instead.”


Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt Words: Write a story that includes the words: orange, fly, basket
Word Count: 299