The Skyship

Prologue

you’ve probably been on guided tours of skyships. In winter you would have flown over snowcapped mountains and in summer flown over beaches covered in golden sand. When you flew you would have experienced the true feeling of freedom that is so rich and priceless. When you flew the crew members had probably let you steer the ship for a few minutes. When you flew you could probably see schools of whales singing their greetings to whilst flying through the ocean. You probably landed on one of the islands where the crew members  took you caving in massive caverns. Travelling by skyship on holidays are like that.

But travelling on an expedition to unknown islands is different. You should try a skyship journey when krakens attack the ship in the dead of night when you least expect it. You should try a skyship journey when dragons appear out of the clouds and ambush with the forked lighting they shoot out their mouth. You should try a skyship journey when dancing tornados crash their way across the ruined landscape. Few people would wish this horrible experience on anyone. Even the most seasoned skyship veteran will think twice about going on one of these journeys. Rumour has it that winged cobras that breath fire roam free on some islands and krakens come up onto the land for their midnight feast. Few would wish an encounter with a dragon whilst stuck in a tornado, especially if you have done anything to anger the dragon and most say that the rumours are for a good reason.

Chapter-1

The crowds cheered as the skyship Iona rose up into the air and hovered as the significant engines blazed into life. Captain Smith stood at the steering wheel, her face a mix of happiness and determination. They were of!

Bobby and Blake peered down as the ship rose higher and higher. Far below, they could see could see the cheering crowds until in the end they were just a mass of tiny specks. The Iona sailed beyond Lockwood city, Passing over a field teeming with all different types of crops intersected by roads snaked from village to village, down to sea.

 They could hear the cold wind whistling past their ears as the Iona sailed onwards. Waving farewell to the distant crowds, the children turned to each other. Bobby grinned, happy to once again be on an adventure. Inside, her stomach fluttered and her heart seemed to freeze mid beat. Would it be safe? Would they ever see their families again?

Within an hour, the Iona was sailing above the ocean. Far below Blake saw fishing boats, luxury cruises and even a patrol boat near the coast to keep people from swimming too far. Bobby sighed. “I wonder if we will find Ermitage Wrigglesworth” he muttered, running his hand along the smooth railing.

Blake gripped the decks edge and replied “I wonder if we will come across anything unpleasant. Last time we made a journey like this we came across a baby kraken and it almost wrecked the ship, imagine if it was fully grown!

That night the weather only got worse. Hail started battering the rigging at night and cold rain danced on the windows. The moon shone down on the Iona like a spotlight searching for a lost prisoner. From the deck, Blake could see a stone hut with smoke billowing out of the chimney and a small boat chained to the docks on the beach.