The assault seemed endless, wave after wave of mermen jumped at the group but finally, after what felt like hours compressed into minutes, the attackers retreated.
The mermen clicked and hissed before sinking back beneath the waves same as the tentacled monster.
The boat rocked violently then steadied. The water returned to calm though the smell of blood still lingered in air.
Xior looked at the deck, cuts marred the wood and splinters poked out from the railings and one of the support beams cracked where the tentacle had struck. The boat was still afloat, but barely.
Alice leaned heavily on the railing, sweat glistening on her brow and Becca lowered her sword as she wiped the blade clean.
For some time the only sound was the slow lapping of waves against each other. Alice broke the silence. "Well, that was fun."
