Outside the winds howled and screamed against the window. Candles were lit everywhere but the holding was dark. The atmosphere was just as dark and felt close to snapping. Teden, her father, was angry over the days of fishing lost. Her brothers hated being cooped up any ways. But what contributed most to the darkness was the battle going on between the lady of the hold and her oldest daughter.

"Why are you always trying to make me something I am not?" Jurana almost shrieked at her mother. "Because you are not a boy! You do not belong out on that freezing ship. You are not needed, your father has sons." Replied Katasa angrily, it was bad enough her husband had to go to sea but her daughter shouldnt go to. "That is not why I go. I leave this stupid hold because I want to! I like the wind and the sun and the spray. The roar of the surf and the thrill of the catch. No one could convince me that staying here and being aa a lady could ever be as satisfying or fulfilling!" Jurana managed to get out, each word dripping with disgust and pent up fury. "You are 20! One of your sisters is already married and with her first child. Your youngest sister is already choosing her husband." Katasa said, why wouldnt this child realize she was no boy. "I dont want to marry and be some breeding machine. I want to spend my life at sea. Maybe even captain a ship one day." Jurana gasped, she had blurted out her deepest secret. One she dreamed about at night. "Girls dont captain ships!" Her mother snorted and left to begin cooking. Jurana sighed, this wasnt over. Indeed it wasnt and the rest of the gale was spent avoiding her mother who was always it seemed, ready for a fight.

But despite her mothers best efforts and arguments, when the storm cleared, Jurana left with her father and brothers. The sea was still choppy, storm clouded. Fish were scattered from their usual patterns and the first hauls werent very rewarding. It was then that Teden made the decision to go south. The southern coasts were covered in sand banks but usually fish flocked there. Ships sank often in those waters and people looked there first for an overdo ship. Ships wrecked on the banks rarely lost anyone and on most banks people could swim to the shore. It would be more frequented for this reason but people wanted to keep ships whole and wait for the deep schoolings.

The wind sped the ship on her way, wake on either side drawing shipfish. They darted and dashed, then disappeared beneath the waves. They then reappeared dancing above the waves. Jurana watched their performance with awe, they were so graceful.

Once the ship reached more shallow waters, the graceful creatures left their escort. Fish were visible just below the surface in the shoals.

 Juranas father called out the nets, sending them streaming out. Fish scattered but it was too late. The first haul was a good one.

Jurana sat in the crow's nest. It was afternoon and everyone was tired and thirsty. A storm was brewing far out to sea once more.