For a moment, nobody moved.
Rowan stood at the railing of the Crimson Tide, staring into the dark water below.
His compass trembled in his hand.
The needle pointed straight down.
Bjorn stepped beside him.
“Rowan?”
Rowan swallowed.
“Yeah?”
“Please tell me that’s a really big fish.”
Beneath the ship, an enormous shadow drifted through the depths.
It was wider than the Crimson Tide.
Longer than the harbor docks.
And whatever it was, it seemed to be getting closer.
Rowan slowly shook his head.
“…That’s not a fish.”
Lyra gripped the railing.
Her face had gone pale.
“By the tides…”
Bjorn looked at her.
“What?”
Lyra stared into the water.
“Get away from the edge.”
Rowan blinked.
“Why?”
“NOW!”
The water exploded.
BOOOOOOM!
A colossal tentacle burst from the Never Ending Lark, sending a towering wall of water crashing over the deck.
“WHOOOOA!”
Rowan stumbled backward.
Bjorn grabbed a rope.
Lyra ducked beneath the railing as seawater swept across the planks.
Harvey squawked and launched himself into the air.
The tentacle rose higher.
And higher.
And higher.
Rowan stared.
It was enormous.
Its dark blue skin shimmered with strange markings, and rows of massive suckers lined its underside. Water poured from its surface as it twisted above the ship like a living tower.
Bjorn’s mouth fell open.
“…Okay.”
Rowan looked at him.
“Okay WHAT?!”
Bjorn slowly grinned.
“That’s a big one.”
Lyra grabbed his arm.
“Don’t even think about it!”
But Bjorn was already reaching for his axe.
A thunderous voice erupted from the upper deck.
“ALL HANDS TO STATIONS!”
Captain Vespern stood beside the ship’s wheel, his crimson coat whipping in the wind.
Garrick rushed toward him.
“CAPTAIN! SOMETHING’S BENEATH US!”
Vespern stared at the towering tentacle.
For the first time since Rowan had met him, the captain’s confident smile had disappeared.
“I can see that!”
The tentacle twisted.
Then slammed toward the ship.
“DOWN!” Lyra shouted.
CRAAAAASH!
The enormous limb struck the railing, shattering wood and sending splinters flying across the deck.
Rowan threw up his hands.
“WIND!”
FWOOOOOSH!
A powerful gust swept across the ship, pushing the falling debris away from his friends.
Bjorn ducked beneath a flying plank.
“Nice!”
Rowan grinned nervously.
“Thanks!”
Then the entire ship lurched.
A second tentacle rose from the opposite side.
Then a third.
Then a fourth.
Rowan’s smile vanished.
“…Uh.”
Bjorn stared.
“There’s more?”
Lyra slowly backed away.
“Aye.”
The water around the Crimson Tide began to churn.
Dark currents spiraled outward.
Bubbles rose from the depths.
And beneath the ship, something enormous opened its eyes.
Two vast golden lights shimmered beneath the waves.
Rowan felt his heart stop.
For one terrible moment, the creature stared directly at him.
Then the sea erupted.
“THE KRAKEN!”
A sailor screamed from the crow’s nest.
“IT’S THE KRAKEN!”
Panic swept across the Crimson Tide.
Sailors rushed between the masts.
Ropes snapped.
Barrels rolled across the deck.
A man dropped his sword and dove beneath a table.
Bjorn looked toward Lyra.
“Kraken?”
She nodded.
“Aye.”
Rowan swallowed.
“Like… the kraken?”
Lyra stared at him.
“How many krakens do ye think there are, lad?!”
Another tentacle rose from the water.
WHOooooSH!
It wrapped around the mainmast.
Wood groaned.
The ship tilted.
Rowan stumbled.
Bjorn grabbed him by the cloak.
“Gotcha!”
Rowan looked up.
“Thanks!”
Bjorn grinned.
“Starting to become a habit.”
The mast creaked again.
CRRRRACK!
Lyra’s eyes widened.
“MOVE!”
The tentacle tightened.
The enormous wooden mast splintered.
Then snapped.
KRAAAAAASH!
It crashed across the deck, crushing barrels and sending sailors scrambling for safety.
Rowan thrust both hands forward.
“WIND!”
A powerful gust slowed the falling timber just enough for three trapped sailors to escape.
They dove aside.
THUD!
The mast struck the deck.
Wooden planks buckled beneath its weight.
Rowan gasped.
“Whew!”
One of the sailors looked back.
“You saved us!”
Rowan smiled.
“Glad you’re okay!”
Bjorn grabbed his shoulder.
“Celebrate later!”
A shadow passed overhead.
Rowan looked up.
Another tentacle.
“OH, COME ON!”
It slammed into the deck.
BOOOOOM!
The impact threw Rowan backward.
He rolled across the planks.
THUD!
His compass slipped from his hand.
It bounced once.
Twice.
Then slid toward a broken section of railing.
Rowan’s eyes widened.
“No!”
He scrambled after it.
The brass instrument teetered on the edge.
Then—
CLICK!
Rowan caught it.
He sighed.
“Gotcha.”
A deep rumble echoed beneath him.
He looked down.
The water beyond the broken railing began to rise.
Slowly.
A massive shape emerged from the depths.
First came a dark, rounded head covered in ridges and ancient scars.
Then two enormous golden eyes.
Then a mouth lined with curved, jagged teeth.
Rowan froze.
The creature was larger than anything he had ever seen.
Larger than the Burlok.
Larger than the towering trees of Elyndra.
Its enormous body stretched beneath the water, disappearing into the darkness.
And surrounding it—
Tentacles.
Dozens of them.
Each thicker than a tree trunk.
Each powerful enough to crush a ship.
Rowan swallowed.
“…Whoa.”
The kraken stared at him.
Its golden eyes shimmered.
For one brief moment, Rowan felt something strange.
Not anger.
Not hunger.
Something else.
Pain.
A deep, ancient pain that seemed to ripple through the water itself.
Then the creature roared.
RRRROOOOOAAAAARRRR!
The sound shook the ship.
Rowan clapped his hands over his ears.
“AAAAH!”
Bjorn rushed toward him.
“ROWAN!”
The kraken’s tentacle swept across the deck.
WHOOSH!
Bjorn leapt.
CLANG!
His axe struck the enormous limb.
The blade bounced harmlessly from its thick hide.
Bjorn’s eyes widened.
“…Huh.”
The tentacle twisted.
Then struck him.
THWACK!
Bjorn flew backward.
“WHOOOOA!”
He crashed into a stack of barrels.
CRASH!
Rowan spun.
“BJORN!”
The barrels toppled.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Then—
“I’m okay!”
Bjorn’s head popped out of the wreckage.
He rubbed his forehead.
“…Mostly.”
Harvey swooped down.
His wings flashed blue.
FROOOOOOSH!
A blast of freezing air struck the tentacle.
Ice spread across its surface.
The enormous limb stiffened.
Rowan grinned.
“Nice, Harvey!”
The Frost Phoenix chirped triumphantly.
Then the tentacle flexed.
CRACK!
The ice shattered.
Harvey squawked.
Bjorn stared.
“…Okay. That’s a problem.”
“FIRE THE CANNONS!”
Captain Vespern’s voice thundered across the deck.
Garrick raised his sword.
“PORT SIDE! READY!”
Sailors scrambled toward the remaining cannons.
Rowan turned.
“Wait!”
But nobody heard him.
The cannons roared.
BOOOOOM!
BOOOOOM!
BOOOOOM!
Iron cannonballs tore across the water.
They struck the kraken’s enormous body.
Explosions erupted along its dark skin.
For a moment, the creature disappeared beneath smoke and spray.
Rowan held his breath.
Then—
RRRROOOOOAAAAARRRR!
The kraken surged upward.
Its golden eyes blazed.
A massive tentacle wrapped around the Crimson Tide’s bow.
Another seized the stern.
The entire ship groaned.
CRRRRRRACK!
Lyra stumbled.
“CAPTAIN! STOP FIRIN’!”
Vespern turned.
“WHAT?!”
“YE’RE MAKIN’ IT ANGRIER!”
The captain stared at her.
“IT’S TRYING TO DESTROY MY SHIP!”
“Aye! AND YE’RE HELPIN’ IT!”
Vespern’s face twisted.
“GARRICK! FIRE AGAIN!”
Garrick hesitated.
He looked toward the kraken.
Then toward the shattered mast.
“Captain…”
“THAT’S AN ORDER!”
Garrick clenched his jaw.
Then raised his sword.
“READY THE—”
CRAAAAASH!
A tentacle slammed into the cannon deck.
The nearest cannon broke free from its restraints.
It rolled across the planks.
Straight toward Garrick.
“LOOK OUT!” Bjorn shouted.
Garrick turned.
Too late.
The cannon thundered toward him.
Bjorn charged.
He grabbed the first mate by the coat.
And threw him aside.
THUD!
The cannon rolled past.
CRASH!
It smashed through the railing and disappeared into the water.
SPLASH!
For a moment, Garrick lay stunned.
Then he looked up.
Bjorn stood over him.
Grinning.
“Guess we’re even.”
Garrick blinked.
Then slowly smiled.
“…For now.”
Bjorn laughed.
“Good enough!”
Another tremor shook the ship.
Lyra grabbed Rowan’s arm.
“We’ve got to get off this vessel!”
Rowan looked toward the surrounding water.
“Off?!”
“Aye!”
“Into THAT?!”
Lyra pointed toward the broken mast.
“There’s a lifeboat near the stern!”
Bjorn joined them.
“Then let’s go!”
They rushed across the deck.
Harvey fluttered overhead.
Sailors scrambled around them, shouting orders and trying desperately to keep the ship afloat.
The Crimson Tide tilted sharply.
Water poured through cracks in the hull.
Rowan stumbled.
Lyra caught him.
“Careful!”
Rowan nodded.
“Thanks!”
They reached the stern.
A small wooden lifeboat hung from ropes beside the railing.
Bjorn grinned.
“There!”
He grabbed the nearest rope.
Then froze.
“…Uh.”
Rowan looked at him.
“What?”
Bjorn pointed.
The lifeboat was already occupied.
Three familiar figures sat inside.
Snatch.
Thorncoat.
Crumble.
Rowan stared.
“…YOU GUYS?!”
Snatch looked up.
His eyes widened.
“THE WINDNARU!”
Bjorn blinked.
“How did you even get here?!”
Thorncoat squeaked.
“We snuck aboard!”
Crumble nodded.
“Lots of food.”
Snatch stood dramatically.
“FOOLS! We have successfully infiltrated this magnificent vessel and claimed our rightful escape craft!”
Rowan stared.
“Escape craft?”
Snatch grinned.
“Indeed!”
He raised one hand.
“Now behold our brilliant—”
A tentacle struck the ship.
BOOOOOM!
The lifeboat swung violently.
Snatch stumbled.
“WHOOOOA!”
Thorncoat screamed.
Crumble dropped his sandwich.
“Nooooo!”
The lifeboat snapped free.
WHOOSH!
It sailed through the air.
Rowan’s eyes widened.
“LOOK OUT!”
The boat spun.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
SPLAAAAASH!
It landed upside down in the water.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Then three heads popped above the surface.
Snatch gasped.
“THIS IS NOT OVER!”
Thorncoat spluttered.
“WE’RE GONNA DIE!”
Crumble stared at the floating remains of his sandwich.
“…My lunch.”
A wave swept them away.
Rowan watched in disbelief.
“…How do they keep doing that?”
Bjorn shook his head.
“No idea.”
Lyra grabbed Rowan’s sleeve.
“Forget them! MOVE!”
The Crimson Tide was breaking apart.
The mainmast lay shattered across the deck.
The bow had begun to sink.
Water poured through the lower levels, and the ship’s enormous red sails hung torn and tangled from the remaining rigging.
Captain Vespern stood beside the wheel, shouting orders.
“CUT THE ROPES!”
“CAPTAIN, THE HULL’S SPLITTING!”
“THEN FIX IT!”
Garrick rushed toward him.
“WE HAVE TO ABANDON SHIP!”
Vespern whirled.
“NEVER!”
Garrick stared.
“CAPTAIN!”
Vespern gripped the wheel.
“I WILL NOT LOSE THE CRIMSON TIDE!”
The kraken roared.
Its tentacles tightened.
CRRRRRRACK!
The ship’s hull split.
A tremendous wave surged across the deck.
Rowan grabbed the railing.
Bjorn caught Lyra.
Harvey struggled against the wind.
“ROWAN!” Lyra shouted.
Rowan turned.
“WHAT?!”
“WE HAVE TO JUMP!”
Rowan stared at the water.
The enormous kraken loomed beneath the waves.
Its golden eyes burned like lanterns in the darkness.
Rowan swallowed.
“THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY!”
Lyra grabbed his shoulders.
“NOT THIS TIME!”
Bjorn stepped beside them.
He looked toward the water.
Then grinned.
“Well…”
Rowan stared at him.
“Don’t say it.”
Bjorn shrugged.
“Could be worse.”
Rowan threw his hands into the air.
“HOW?!”
Bjorn considered the question.
“…Could be raining.”
A drop of water struck his nose.
Then another.
Then another.
Within seconds, rain poured from the darkening sky.
Bjorn blinked.
“…Never mind.”
Lyra burst out laughing.
Even Rowan couldn’t help smiling.
Then—
BOOOOOOOM!
The kraken struck again.
The deck beneath them split.
Rowan stumbled.
His foot slipped through a broken plank.
“WHOA!”
He grabbed the railing.
But the wood was already breaking.
CRACK!
Rowan’s eyes widened.
“GUYS!”
Bjorn lunged.
“ROWAN!”
His fingers brushed Rowan’s cloak.
Missed.
Lyra reached for him.
“LAD!”
Too late.
The railing shattered.
Rowan fell backward.
For one terrible moment, he hung above the endless water.
His arms flailed.
His compass spun through the air.
And the kraken’s enormous golden eyes stared up at him.
“WHOOOOOOOOA!”
SPLAAAAASH!
Rowan struck the water.
The cold swallowed him whole.
Everything became blue.
Dark.
Silent.
Rowan tumbled beneath the waves.
Bubbles streamed from his mouth.
His cloak twisted around him.
For a moment, he couldn’t tell which way was up.
He kicked.
Reached.
Struggled.
But the water pulled him deeper.
His lungs burned.
He opened his eyes.
Far above, the shattered Crimson Tide drifted across the surface.
Its broken hull cast a dark shadow through the water.
Then something enormous moved beneath him.
Rowan froze.
The kraken.
Its vast body glided through the depths.
Its tentacles curled around ancient currents.
And its golden eyes—
They were watching him.
Rowan’s heart pounded.
He reached for his compass.
It was still clutched in his hand.
The needle trembled.
Then pointed straight down.
Toward the darkness.
Toward something beneath the kraken.
Rowan’s eyes widened.
A faint blue light shimmered far below.
For one brief moment, he saw shapes beneath the water.
Stone towers.
Broken arches.
Something enormous buried in the darkness.
Then the current twisted.
The vision vanished.
Rowan gasped.
Water rushed into his mouth.
He struggled.
His arms grew heavy.
His vision blurred.
And somewhere above him—
A flash of blue light streaked through the water.
Harvey.
The Frost Phoenix dove beneath the waves.
His icy feathers shimmered like stars.
Rowan tried to smile.
But the darkness was already closing in.
Above the surface, the Crimson Tide finally broke.
CRAAAAAAASH!
Its enormous hull split apart, sending shattered planks and barrels tumbling into the sea.
Sailors leapt overboard.
Ropes snapped.
The remaining mast toppled into the waves.
Bjorn clung to a floating beam.
“ROWAN!”
Lyra surfaced beside him.
“ROWAN!”
They searched the water.
Nothing.
Bjorn’s face went pale.
“Where is he?!”
Lyra looked toward the sinking ship.
Then toward the dark waves.
“ROWAN!”
A massive tentacle rose nearby.
Bjorn grabbed his axe.
“GET AWAY!”
But before he could strike—
The tentacle paused.
For a moment, it hovered above the water.
Then slowly lowered.
The kraken’s enormous golden eye surfaced beside them.
Bjorn froze.
Lyra held her breath.
The creature stared.
Not at them.
But toward the depths.
Its eye shimmered with something neither could understand.
Then it sank beneath the waves.
The water grew strangely calm.
Bjorn swallowed.
“…What was that?”
Lyra shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
A sudden flash of blue erupted beneath the surface.
Harvey burst from the water.
His wings spread wide.
And clutched in his talons—
Rowan.
“ROWAN!” Bjorn shouted.
The Frost Phoenix struggled against the wind, dragging Rowan toward a floating piece of wreckage.
Lyra rushed forward.
“HELP ME!”
Bjorn grabbed Rowan’s cloak.
Together, they pulled him onto the wooden debris.
Rowan lay motionless.
His face was pale.
His eyes were closed.
Lyra pressed her ear near his mouth.
For one terrible moment, she heard nothing.
“Come on, lad…”
Bjorn knelt beside him.
“Rowan?”
Lyra began pressing against Rowan’s chest.
“Come on…”
Water spilled from his mouth.
She pressed again.
“Don’t ye dare…”
Bjorn’s hands trembled.
“Rowan…”
Then—
COUGH!
Rowan jerked.
Water burst from his mouth.
He gasped.
“AAAAH!”
Lyra grabbed his shoulders.
“ROWAN!”
Bjorn laughed with relief.
“YOU IDIOT!”
Rowan blinked weakly.
“…What?”
Bjorn shook his head.
“Don’t do that again!”
Rowan coughed.
Then managed a faint smile.
“…I’ll try.”
Lyra pulled him into a fierce hug.
“Ye scared the life out o’ me!”
Rowan closed his eyes.
“Sorry…”
Harvey landed beside them.
His feathers dripped with seawater.
He chirped softly.
Rowan reached toward him.
“Thanks, buddy…”
The Frost Phoenix nuzzled his hand.
For a moment, the four remained together on the floating wreckage.
The storm raged around them.
The Crimson Tide disappeared beneath the waves.
And far below, the kraken sank into the darkness.
Hours passed.
The storm scattered the wreckage across the Never Ending Lark.
The wind howled.
Rain poured from the sky.
And the waves carried the travelers farther from Larkshore.
Rowan drifted in and out of consciousness.
Bjorn held him steady.
Lyra watched the horizon.
Harvey huddled beneath Bjorn’s cloak, his icy feathers glowing faintly.
At last, the storm began to weaken.
The rain softened.
The wind settled.
And somewhere ahead, through the mist—
A dark shape appeared.
Lyra lifted her head.
Her eyes widened.
“Bjorn…”
He looked up.
“What?”
She pointed.
“Land.”
Bjorn stared.
Far ahead, a small island rose from the water.
Tall trees covered its hills.
Dark cliffs surrounded its shores.
And above the mist, strange stone pillars stretched toward the sky.
Bjorn smiled weakly.
“Finally.”
Lyra glanced toward Rowan.
He lay exhausted against the wooden beam.
His compass rested in his hand.
Its needle pointed toward the island.
Lyra swallowed.
“Looks like the Lark ain’t finished with us yet.”
The waves carried them closer.
And high upon the island’s cliffs, something ancient watched their approach.
A distant horn echoed through the mist.
Low.
Lonely.
And impossibly old.
The Isle of Forgotten Waves was waiting.