Darkened Horizons

Naina would put the book down to pull her blanket over herself, and then pick it back up, trying to read in the dim light, even though she knew this wasn't the best for her eyesight. After a few minutes she sighed, marking where she stayed in her book and set in her bag before curling up as comfortably as she could on the hammock that was a tad too small for her, leaving her large tail to limply hang from it. When she finally found a comfortable position, she snugged with her blankets and after a few minutes fell asleep, the waving of the ship making this easier.

Jam pulled his hat away from his face and looked Gale. His eyes widened slightly, blinking at her. "Uhh...One moment please." He said quickly, putting his hat down on his lap. He was about to do something he really didn't want to do...but it was slightly necessary for him. Plus it stalled for some time he didn't have to answer the mare. He lit his horn, careful not to make the light too bright as to might wake anyone, and sucked some love out of the ponies and diamond dogs near him. Enough to satisfy him, but not enough for any of them to notice of harm them even. He then cut off the spell and sighed, laying back in his hammock. "I hate doing that..." He muttered to himself before answering Gale. "And um...no. No I didn't see anything. Good night then." He grinned at Gale before closing his eyes and resuming his sleep.

Gale shrugged jam love sucking and answer. Changling need love like i need blood.
She laid in her hammock, and got in to a rather abnormal position.
Straight as a board with her arms making an X crossing her chest. Instead of sleeping however, she use the time to mediate. One of her methods to keep her inner darkness tame.

The group would sleep easy that night and wouldn't be bothered by the crew or otherwise. The following day followed about the same as the previous, except the visitors were given small chores to help around the ship. Be it helping to swab the deck, peeling vegetables or rolling up rope. Superficial jobs to help things run a bit more smoothly.

During the next week, Cynder would, of course, tell more stories about her adventures, enjoying entertaining anyone who would listen. She even got into a mock swordfish with one of the crew. That was exciting to see. Jamberry would find plenty of love in the form of comeradery between shipmates, and Gale would mostly go unnoticed with any secret feedings.

By the end of the week, the call came from the crow's nest that land was approaching. The crew got ready to dock, pulling out rope and hooks, things that weren't normally used for docking. And soon a piece of land began to be visible on the horizon.

As they called, Civviq ran up to the deck. Her seasickness had been gone since the second day already, and thanks to her sealegs she could bolt towards the railing in a straight line and lean over the railing to get a better view of the land. She saw a thin, dark streak appear on the horizon: land! Finally! She squealed. "Oh, this is so exciting!"

She turned around and watched the crew pull out rope and hooks and immediately started to wonder why. She blinked and looked again, closer this time, to the land. It was still too far away to make out the details, but she assumed it was because of the docking conditions.

As the call of land being sighted was heard, pyro rushed upp to the deck a moment after civvic came upp, standing besides her as he looked around as the crew began thier procedures to dock, and then he saw a piece off land come into wiew and he rubbed his hands in exitement

Gale ran up to the deck as the call came in joining pyro and civvic. Seeing land come in to view, an smile made it's way across her face. 
" Time to see what this land has to offer."
Over the last week, gale did open up a little relieving that she's an super nature expert. Werewolves, vampires, all that kind of stuff.

Naina would slowly make her way up to the deck as she heard the calls. She walked up to Civviq and leaned on the fence next to her, lightly squinting her eyes to try to see the land. "Oh, there is land... But why is the crew preparing to dock? We're still so far away..." She thought out loud as she continued looking at the island, occasionally looking at other adventure-hungry ponies and human, though staying silent.

Jam looked up from his book he had been writing in, hearing a call of land and the others walking/rushing up to the top deck. He smiled to himself as he saw them going up. He quickly finished up his writing and hopped off his hammock, putting his book down and grabbing his hat. He then proceeded to walk up the stairs to the deck of the ships. He looked at the others leaning against the rail and slightly laughed to himself. He spread his bug wings and flew over to them and up so he could see the land they were heading to more. He raised an eyebrow for a moment before landing. "We probably shouldn't question the professionals. They know what they are doing." He said, shrugging simply.

While the group would look on at the island, they would see it getting closer, revealing more of the lush treetops and colorful flora that appeared to cover the leaves and branches. As they drew closer still, they would see vast cliffs, veering straight down, with vines and roots growing deep and jutting out of the stone and earth. And closer still, they would see why this place was one of the Floating Isles, as the cliffs tapered off to the bottom, until there was nothing left but the airspace between the island and the ocean beneath it. The island stood tall and proud, with the clouds parting near the center of it and forming around the huge mass.

"Cynder came bounding straight to the edge of the ship, excitedly grabbing Gale in what was almost a headlock as she pointed towards the island. "THAT'S THE PLACE!" She shouted, releasing Gale and lunging off to the tallest part of the deck to get a better look.

Soon enough, the ship began to sail underneath the massive island, to a large pile of vines that conveniently worked as a dock in the ocean below. One look upwards and one would think the whole island would fall down on top of them if it weren't for whatever strange magic that cept it afloat. "Aaaaaaand here we are!" Cynder chirps as she jumps off the edge of the ship onto the unusual dock. The crew began to tie down the ship, teeing particular care when handling the vines.

Gale tried to struggle her way out of the excited headlock.
"Gahh, why must every excited pony try to choke me to death." She manage to choke out before being released. 
Gale looked up to see the under side of an island.
Well, not the first time I been underground.
" So i guessing we going to be climbing our way up their."

Pyro just stared in awe att the sight of the floating landmass above them, and he began to walk fowards while looking straight upp att the landmass by impulse untill he triped on the deck of the boat and fell fowards, causing him to groan a bit.

2 small gems appears from his side bag that has always Hung by his side trough out the trip, and the gems slid out in front of him and started to glow lightly, one having a inscription of a feather and the other having the inscription of a figure jumping high above things

pyro got upp to his feet and streched himself and dusted himself of before saying " im fine, i just triped, sorry about that, so, how do we get upp?"

Civviq looked up in awe. She had never thought that this was possible, much less that she would see it with her own eyes...! She looked up, little bits of earth crumbling down and landing on her face as she looked up. She blinked, spluttering slightly, wiping the dirt off, smiling.

She looked back to the ropes and the hooks, now understanding their purpose. "I suppose we use those," she said, as she pointed towards the gear.
"I'm guessing it's for climbing purposes..."

Naina did not think much about the island when only the tip of it was still showing, but as they got closer and realized that those were actual floating islands, she gasped in awe. She had never seen anything like this before. She wondered how would they get up there before noticing the vines hanging from it and seeing where the ship will be docked. The tall sharkgirl continued looking in awe at the islands. "You're completely sure they won't suddenly fall of the sky and crush us underneath, right?" She jokingly asked the rest of her adventure crew, hoping she could still climb up the vines like she used to years ago.

Jamberry gaped as the island got closer and the island was a literal floating island. He looked at Gale for a moment before being glad for his wings. "Literal floating islands...Sweet!" He quickly rushed below deck for a moment, grabbing his bag and book. He came back up, writing in his book, glancing at the vines for the moment. He closed his book and put it away, grinning happily as he looked up at the underside of the floating island. He jumped off after Cynder. "Amazing..." He breathed out, tipping his hat back so he could see more.

Cynder looks up and more of the crew start to disembark, standing on the dock of vines and securing the tendrils to the ship as best they could. Suddenly, everyone's questions about how they would be getting up to the island would be answered, the vines would suddenly come to life, beginning to wrap themselves around all sides of the ship slowly, making the wood creak under their grasp as they engulfed the entire bottom of the vessel. Soon, the vines came to a standstill, everything going quiet for a moment. And then the boat shifted... And then it started to lift! The vines were carrying the ship upwards, gaining a decent amount of speed as they elevated towards the top of the island.

Within a couple of minutes, the vines began to slow, and the ship crested the edge of the island, revealing the top to all. The ground was covered in rich, thick, green grass for the first few hundred feet. The edge of the forest started abruptly, beginning with thick pushes, tall trees and a plethora of flowers and colorful plants. Most many of which didn't even exist in Equestria. Off in the distance was the mountainous mass of trees

Cynder stepped off of the vines and approached the edge of the treeline. She then turned around and looked at he guests on the boat. "Come on, guys! What are you waiting for? Never seen a floating island before?"

pyro was awed by the sight as the vines lifted the ship upp to the island, and seeing the flora on the island was breathtaking, and started to run and jump of the ship with a floaty jump, thanks to the same runes that fell out of his side bag he used before jumping.

after his floaty jump he landed gracefully on the island, runing to the group leader cynder to the treeline with a adventours look in his eyes

Civviq yelped and grabbed the railing of the boat as the vines started to pull it up, absolutely not expecting that. She watched in awe as the strong vines lifted the boat and could only gawk at the island in front of her. It cost her a moment to regain her speech.

"...Well..." She gulped. "So much for climbing, I guess..." She gave an awkward chuckle and started for one of the vines off which she could safely climb and reach the forestfloor. She hesitated before she actually set foot on the island - an irrational fear of the island crumbling below her made her shiver - but she ignored it and jumped on the ground with a soft 'thump'.

The tall sharkgirl almost lost her balance as the whole ship was suddenly being lifted by the vines she was preparing to climb beforehand. She quickly grabbed the rail during the ascend, looking around in awe. "Well... I most certainly did not expect that..." She said mostly to herself, waiting for the ship to stop moving and then looking at the flora on the island. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts and follow the others by jumping off the ship onto an island, making sure she had everything with her. "This is.... I am speechless." she silently said, looking around.

Vines that pull ships inwards. OH that is so cool.
Gale didn't spend any time on the ship and jumped off to the island floor after cynder.
"Somepony remind me to take an sample of those vines before we leave."

Jam blinked and watched as the vines did their thing and started to lift the boat up. This island has not ceased to amuse him at all since they arrived. A island that actually floats and vines that work all on their own...Splendid! He observed the vines, wondering how they worked. When they came to the top and grinned to himself. He quickly hopped off the vines and sprinted after Cynder. "Well Miss. Cynder, I actually don't think any of us have seen a floating island yet considering our reactions." He said to her, smiling.

Cynder looks at her guests with a smile, glad to see their impressed and awestruck faces. She turned back to the treeline and took a deep breath of fresh air. "Our hosts should be here any minute." She says, whipping back around to point at the group. "Alright everyone! Welcome to Edonna! The 'Garden Isle'." She says, putting her hands on her hips. Before we let you go out and adventure, there are a few rules to go over. Firstly, you've got to ask for permission before you take anything from this island. That means, if you see a piece of flora you like, make sure it's ok to pick it first."

She crosses her arms and thinks. "Second, if you're going to go far into the forests, try to go with one of our hosts so you don't get lost. And last, have fun! We'll be here for a few days, so you've got plenty of time to explore as much as you want!" She smiles at the group and uncrosses her arms. "Any questions?"

Civviq listened carefully to Cynder and looked to the flora around her. She blinked, wondering why; they were just plants... right? Although it was never smart to pick flowers you didn't know. They could be poisonous, however pretty they might look. She hesitated, but raised her hand as if she were still in a classroom. "Uuhm..." She shuffled slightly. "Who are our hosts?"

"Wait wait wait wait wait." Naina said as soon as Cynder was done talking. "So this land is basically already well-known to you... And that there's even guides here already, or whoever you refer to as 'hosts'. Where's the adventure in exploring the already-known land?" the tall sharkgil asked, still slightly amazed at the isles but now more intrigued what exactly Cynder had in mind.

Pyro looked att naina and heard what she said and nodded in agreement "she has a point there miss cynder, i mean, have you been here before or have you only heard tales of this Place and the hosts? "