(Perception checks from anyone looking for dragons in the water)

Ethel is prepared to eyeroll at Jan's concern of being stalked by unseen, subsurface dragon wyrmlings.  Yet, as the seconds tick past and she is unable to line up a definitive reason why that is not possible, she excuses herself to go out for a look.

She looks for any shapes cruising along beside the ship, as well as any wakes suggesting something following but keeping a greater distance.

Perception:  20

I would think Avaria wouldn't keep her eyes off the water, especially once talk of over hearing their conversation is mentioned by the dragons.

Perception: 19

Ethel looks over the side and sees no sign of dragons, wyrmling or older but she immediately sees a large shape in the water. 

As she watches, the shape rises higher with a massive fin breaking the surface of the water. Roughly calculating based on the size of the ship and the size of the outline, Ethel would guess she's looking at a giant shark, at least 30' in length. This big fish is more than a third of the length of the Wish.

If brought to Marrin's attention, she'll ask Bigge.

"Those normal? Should we be concerned?"

[Indeed.]

Ethel, after recovering from another brief bout with thalassophobia, returns to the meeting point.  "Ahem.  The Wish is being pursued by a giant shark nearly half as long as her.  Is this merely a nautical curiosity, Captain?  Or have we cause for alarm?"

Bigge looks over the side from where he is on the quarterdeck.

He's quiet for a long moment.

"I can't say that I've ever seen a fish that big this far north in the Fallen Stars," Bigge says. "But if it doesn't get any closer we're okay. As long as it isn't hungry."

He looks on for a little longer.

"If it was a little smaller, I'd say we should push it away, but with one this big it might be better if we don't attract its attention."

"Maybe keep an eye on it? Is there anything we can do if it IS hungry? You know, preemptively."

"Throw some food out for it," Bigge says. "If the dragon left us anything large enough to attract its attention."

 "Any off fish down below? That worked for the squids..."

She looks over to the rest,

"Sooooo.... Do we trust that shark to keep mum?"

"I understand the need to be cautious.  Loose lips sink ships, they say."

"At the same time, if we are too afraid to speak lest a shark be secretly listening to our conversations, then I think we will never be free to speak anywhere.  There will always be a shark, or a horse, or a particularly nosey tree lurking nearby to eavesdrop."

"I think the ordeal with the Mayor, and then this business with the dragons has us jumping at shadows."

"Don't forget the shadows that tried to kill us earlier. They made me jump."

Marrin says with a wink.

"Point taken though, I comfortable speaking freely."

Avaria keeps an eye on the gigantic shark in the water as the Wish continues to move. 

She walks closer to the rail and leans over to look at it.  Feeling the breeze in the air, she takes in a deep breath of the smell of salt water and attempts to calm herself.  She has learned a lot since starting on this journey and there was new skill she feels she understands now and wants to give it a try.  Focusing on her spirit and the animal's spirit below she leans over the railing and tries to communicate with the shark, calling out what sounds like shark noises to the rest on board.

"Did she bump her head?", Jan asks the other three quietly.

Marrin gives Jan a concerned look after she watches Ava move to the side of ship and starts making... burbling noises. She responds as quietly,

"She did get hit in the head a couple times, and the blood loss..."

Marrin quickly move over to Ava, ready to pull her back if the shifter loses her balance. She says gently,

"Hey Ava? You doing okay? Maybe come back here with me and rest a bit?"

Ethel, recognizing a spell when she sees one, watches this play out with a sense of gallows humor.  She is at once impressed to see this new skill of Avaria's, but at the same time uneasy about what exactly she is trying to do to the massive shark, and what the repercussions may be.

(Ha, love the reactions)

Ava looks a bit startled as Marrin sidles up next to her, her attention solely on the shark.  She smiles at her friend, "I'm good, I'll join you in a moment."

"Right... How about I keep you company here? Lovely water and all."

She says calmly while being ready to spring to help.

The giant shark keeps swimming along side the ship but Avaria can hear a faint ripple of water that almost sounds rhythmic.

In Sharkish:

Avaria's eyes go wide and she looks at Marrin, "Um... it wants me to jump into the water so it can hear me better.  What do you think of tying my rope around my waist, I jump in and the three of you hold the other end?  If it's mouth gets anywhere near me, yank me up?  I'm trying to figure out what it wants."