They continued to walk up and down the shore, waiting for the seafoam to come in with the tide. The sky had turned to dusk, stars began to pierce the night sky and the moon was full. Torrent and Rayne followed Captain Aero like it was a game, trying to mimic his every move behind his back. This was fun for them for he never seemed in a hurry to get anywhere. His walk was steady and every step was intentional. Watching the stoic captain walk under the moonlight, tough and tattered made Torrent wonder who the captain really was. Was there really a great evil that he was attached to? Is he the best captain to ever sail like Rayne had said? These thoughts clouded Torrent’s mind as he walked. “Ahhh there it be, the seafoam!” Captain Aero yelled as he briskly walked to where the waves broke on the dark beach. The captain bent down and gazed at the glowing green foam that was resting on the sand. Torrent has never gotten too close to the foam, because he was unsure of unnatural things and glowing seafoam fell into that category. But Captain Aero didn’t seem to mind at all. He reached into a pocket on the inside of his worn, rugged coat and pulled out a little glass jar. He unscrewed the lid and scooped the foam into the jar, filling it to the brim. “Would you look at that Rayne!?” the captain said excitedly as he screwed the lid of the jar back on. “It’s beautiful,” said Rayne, peering at the jar. Torrent still didn’t care much for the oddly glowing seafoam and kept his distance as Rayne and Captain Aero handled the foam without a care in the world. “Well, that’s that. Time to go back to the ship. Time’s a wastin.” The captain said, putting the small jar back into the inner pocket of his torn-up coat. Torrent was getting nervous, the last time he was on a ship he lost everything. Rayne could see the doubt flood into Torrent’s freckled face. “‘I’ll be there the whole time and trust me, it’s impossible for our ship to sink!” she said in a mysterious tone. “How can a ship be impossible to sink?!”. Torrent asked in complete disbelief. “You’ll be seein' for ye self soon enough.” said the captain, who was obviously listening to Rayne and Torrent’s conversation. This didn’t make Torrent feel much better, but that didn’t stop him from climbing into the rowboat with his newfound friends.

  Captain Aero pulled up the anchor, pushed the boat into deeper water, and jumped in. His large stature shook the little boat when his boots hit the creaky old wood, causing it to rock back and forth in the shallows. He grabbed the oars and started to row towards the ship. Torrent looked back to the shore and said, “So long island, it’s time for me to live my life”. Torrent could feel the courage flooding his being, then he looked ahead at his new beginning. He was no longer trapped in a state of survival. Freedom was ahead of him and he had to seize the moment! Rayne smiled as she watched her new friend act on his courage and conquer his fear. The ship was coming closer and closer and the captain rowed faster and faster. Torrent felt excited! He was ready to take on this new adventure. Part of him still couldn’t believe this was real. “We made it!” Captain Aero said as the rowboat arrived right next to the ship. Torrent looked up and saw a massive ship, but something seemed out of the ordinary. The hull was an emerald green with dark green spots all over it. There were two giant oars emerging from each side of the ship, with the same color pattern as the hull. What kind of ship is this? Torrent thought to himself. Rayne and Captain Aero seemed unphased by the oddity that was before them. The ship was so large that Torrent could barely see the top of the sails and they appeared to have a brownish color. It was hard to tell with the sun almost fully set. Torrent couldn’t wait to get aboard and see what the rest of it looked like. He truly was moments away from a great adventure.

  “Pagos, lower the ladder!” Captain Aero yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth to make his thunderous voice travel to the top of the ship. Right as the words left the captain's mouth a rope ladder came descending the side of the ship and right into the rowboat. “You first Rayne,” said the captain. Rayne grabbed a hold of the ladder and started to climb up. Her blonde hair appeared to glow in the light of the sunset against the dark sky. She looked down at Torrent and gave a huge grin. “You’re next!” she said as she made it to the top and over the railing. Torrent grabbed the ladder and started to climb. Wonder began to fill his mind with every rung that moved from his hands to his feet. At last, he made it to the top. Rayne reached out her hand to pull him aboard. Torrent grabbed hold and leaped over the railing. *Thud* His feet hit the deck. He looked up and around, gazing at what was before him. His jaw dropped in amazement. “Pretty incredible isn’t it?” Rayne said. “I’ve never seen anything like it!”, replied Torrent. His eyes would not stop moving. The sails were a brownish color! He was right, but he had no idea what they were made of. The mast was the most incredible part of the ship. Torrent walked closer and closer. “This is impossible Rayne, the mast is made of…” Torrent said in awe right as Rayne interrupted him. “Water, I know,” Rayne said, as she smiled from ear to ear. “But…but how? Water can’t hold form like that. It’s not natural.” Torrent exclaimed, wondering if this was all a dream. Then he heard a loud *Thunk* and a familiar, thunderous voice saying, “Natural? HAHAHA, nothing be natural about this ship. This be a Hydronian ship!” There was that word again. Torrent wondered what Hydronia is, or where for that matter. At this point, he couldn’t believe his eyes or ears. He didn’t know what to think. “Go ahead, give it a touch,” Rayne said as she waved her hand in and out of the mast made of water. Torrent reached his hand into the flowing beam of water. The water was so clear that he could see his hand in the middle of the mast. He could even see Rayne on the other side! “This is amazing!” he shouted now waving his hand in and out of the mast. He now could not deny that this was real. Torrent was aboard some sort of magical ship with new friends from a place he never heard of. All fear has been replaced with excitement and wonder. Will this be his life now? Will all of this be a new normal? Torrent thought.

  So many questions started to arise deep inside Torrent. It was like lava from a volcano, building and building until suddenly it would erupt! That is exactly what happened. With a loud shout, Torrent exploded with questions for Rayne and Captain Aero. “ Is this a magic ship? Where is Hydronia? Are you both human? Where is the crew? Who is Pagos? Why does the seafoam glow? Why do you need it?”, Torrent asked as he bent over, and rested his hand on his knees breathing loudly. “HAHAHAHAHAHAH I’ll tell ye what Torrent, two of yer questions I’ll be answerin'. Yes, we are human and no the ship be not…magical. Ye can wait and figure the rest out as we go.” Captain Aero said as he laughed. Torrent sat down on the deck of the ship, which didn’t really feel like a ship should feel. It was dark brown in color and smooth to the touch, not like the roughness of a wooden deck. “This is a lot!” Torrent said, exasperated from thinking through every scenario. “It certainly be that my boy! Rayne, get Torrent some clothes” said the captain, as he walked off toward the upper deck of the ship. Rayne quickly ran to the captain and entered the door that was under the upper deck. That must be the captain's quarters, Torrent thought. The upper deck was huge! Made from the same smooth material as the deck, but something was strange. There was no captain's wheel! Just a deck, with railing all around. Captain Aero was standing in the middle of the upper deck staring past the bow, with his hands in the pockets of his tattered and torn coat. Torrent turned to the front of the ship hoping to see what the captain was staring at, but nothing was there. Just the darkness of night creeping over a deep blue ocean.

  “Torrent!” yelled Rayne, as she burst out from the mysterious captain’s quarters. She proceeded to run towards him with a handful of clothes. “Try these on! I’ll turn around,” she said, tossing the clothes at his feet while turning around and covering her eyes. “Thanks!” said Torrent. He took off the old clothes made from pieces of sail and got dressed as quickly as he could, trying to avoid any embarrassment. “Alright, they are on,” he said, looking at his real clothes for the first time in a long while. Rayne turned around and smiled. “You look great Torrent!” she said. Standing there she saw Torrent in black pants, black boots, and a blue buttoned shirt, that he only buttoned halfway. The blue was the same as the mast made out of water, and made Torrent’s eyes almost appear to glow! “Well what do you think?” asked Rayne. “They are great! Wearing real clothes feels great, but I’ll have to get used to wearing boots again. I was barefoot for so long haha” Torrent replied as he laughed. Rayne started to laugh with him to the point that tears were coming out of her eyes.” There is going to be a lot of change for you Torrent. I can’t wait for you to see Hydronia!” said Rayne, as she ran to the side rails of the ship and looked out over the dark ocean. The brightness of the moon made her blonde hair shine. For the first time since meeting her, she seemed relaxed and calm. Torrent walked over to the side of the ship and stood right next to her. He was shifting his clothes, trying to get used to them, while not looking awkward. “There is no place that I would rather be Torrent. Being out on the ocean and being one with the water. It just makes me feel like…well me. I think that's why I wanted to be chosen so badly. This is where I belong.” Rayne said as she closed her eyes and breathed in the salty ocean breeze. Torrent looked down and said,” I’m not sure where I belong. For the longest time, I thought that island was it. The place where I would always be. Surviving one day at a time. Then you both showed up and now I’m on your ship. I haven’t even had time to think, it happened so fast.” Torrent felt the weight of the unknown weigh on him. Does he have a purpose? Could it be in Hydronia, a place he never heard of? “Rayne, could you tell me a little about Hydronia?” Torrent asked, hoping to get some answers. Rayne nervously looked back to see where the captain was and if he was listening. He was still standing in the same spot on the upper deck, not paying attention to them at all. Captain Aero was so still he could be mistaken as sleeping standing up! But that would be too weird, no one can sleep standing up like that. Rayne looked back at Torrent and said, “Sure I could tell you about home.” Torrent’s face lit up with anticipation, and then Rayne started to tell him about Hydronia!

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  “Hydronia is the most amazing place! Just imagine the ocean as far as the eye can see where water is as clear as crystals. The cities and towns are built on sandbars and coral reefs. There are no islands or giant land masses, just water..perfect, clear, calming water. My people are called the people of the water and for good reason. We are one with the water. Connected to it and everything in it.” She said as she closed her eyes, exhaling most peacefully. Rayne continued to tell Torrent of Hydronia. “You’ll begin to understand that when we get there. Captain Aero and I are from the largest city in Hydronia, HammerFin. It is a magnificent city, built on the largest reef in Hydronia. Its high coral walls shelter thousands of people. They are so tall you can't even see inside the city when you arrive at the docks! Oh, and there is a dock at each gate. There are four gates to the city, one on each side. They are made of water just like this mast! Once you are inside the gates there are four different marketplaces. The shops are different depending on which gate you are at, north, south, east, or west. My family lives near the southern gate and has the best clothing shop in town. Can’t you tell?” She asked, spinning around and finally taking a breather from talking. Torrent was amazed at what she was telling him. Ocean country, Hammerfin, a city made with coral? This does not seem real. I have never heard of anything like it, he thought to himself. “Rayne I have so many questions, I don’t think I know where to start.” Torrent said while scratching his reddish brown hair. “They be answered in time Torrent,” said Captain Aero, who has once again snuck up on the two new friends. “How do you do that?! How did we not hear you and your largeness walking behind us?” asked Rayne, obviously frustrated that the captain was so sneaky. Captain Aero let out a huge thunderous laugh and then spit over the railing. “My sneakiness be nun of yer concern,” he said, continuing to laugh. Rayne let out a frustrated yell, “You are impossible, captain!” Captain Aero walked to the mast made of water and waved his hand in and out. “I think it's bout time we head home Rayne. Torrent, ye ready to see the great Hydronia!?”, the captain asked.

  Torrent got up and ran over to the captain, stuck his hand in the water, and said, “I sure am!” Torrent eyes were fixed on the wonder of the mast, his mind anticipated seeing Hydronia for the first time. Captain Aero stared at the boy, wondering if he was the one from the prophecy. Could this shipwrecked boy be the light? Aero thought to himself. The captain’s green eyes were piercing as he focused intently on Torrent. He put his hand on Torrent’s shoulder and said, “Then let’s be off shall we?” Captain Aero walked to the upper deck and motioned for Rayne and Torrent to follow. Once they were on the upper deck the captain got a mischievous look in his eye and grinned. It made Torrent uneasy and seemed like the captain did it on purpose. “Lift the anchor Pagos!” Captain Aero yelled in a booming voice. No sooner than the captain finished his words the anchor started to rise from the ocean. Metal chains rattled as they returned to the hull. “Who is Pagos? Actually, where is Pagos?” Torrent asked as he started to get more and more confused. “Pagos is the captain's closest ally and friend, you’ll meet him soon,” said Rayne, jumping up and down with excitement! “Aye, ye will Torrent! But first I need to give ye a bit of a warning. Ye see we are about to go to Hydronia and the way we be gettin' there isn’t a normal way to get there.” said the captain as he reached in his coat and pulled out four bottles of seafoam. They were each a different color. The green one was from the island that Torrent was on, and three more, orange, pink, and purple. “Here in my hand are the four colors of seafoam from each of the Seafoam Isles. The one from yer island was the last bit of foam we needed for our journey home Torrent.” said the captain. Torrent started to open his mouth to speak, but as soon as he did Rayne shushed him. “Shhhh just watch, this is the best part!” Rayne said.

  Torrent shut his mouth and watched carefully as the captain opened the bottles of foam. One by one Captain Aero poured them on the upper deck. The colors began to mix and then the captain took his hand, swirled the foam, and shouted, “Take us home Pagos! Oh, and ye might want to hold onto somethin with it being yer first time.” the captain said to Torrent. “Over here!” yelled Rayne who was clinching the railing of the upper deck. Torrent ran over and did the same thing as Rayne. All of a sudden a loud sound came from the ship. It was low and breathy like it came from something alive. Torrent then realized that the ship had started to spin. He looked overboard and underneath them, a giant whirlpool was forming! “Captain Aero, there is a whirlpool under us!” said Torrent, suddenly becoming very afraid. All he could picture was the shipwreck. He remembered watching the ship be consumed by the ocean, wind, and fire. Torrent closed his eyes, trying to be brave. Then he felt a hand cover his own hand. He opened his eyes and Rayne was right next to him. She said, “Don’t be scared, Torrent, this won’t be like last time. You are safe.” Her words seemed to wash over Torrent’s body, calming every nerve that was on end. “Just look at my eyes, it will be over soon.” She said as she stared right at him. Her eyes were green just like the captain’s. The water began to spin faster and faster forcing the ship to spin and sink. Torrent looked down and closed his eyes again, just knowing that this was the end. Then he heard something. It was Captain Aero! Torrent looked back and saw the captain standing in the middle of the deck with his arms in the air laughing. “That’s it Pagos!” he shouted. Torrent couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The captain wasn’t holding onto anything and he was laughing! Torrent heard the same sound again. The low breathy tone, then with a giant “Whoosh” the ship plunged into the ocean as Torrent closed his eyes again.