( It is a game, for a few heartbeats: to jump on the lattice of debris and narrowly avoid holes, to simply mind their steps and keep their ears bound and navigate, somehow, the land of deadly opportunities. As children might.

Only the sires resume screeching, and the vibration of their call rattle the decks to reveal the infrastructure was always prone to crumbling, and there are more and more holes as the wood gives way. Red has the right of it — it's a trap, as more of the decks tremble undone, and Lan Wangji's foot initially falls through the rags of wood, where siren arms wait — he pulls out, then away, and Red.

Red screams.

And all is silent, for one blissful moment of sheer, unbridled horror across the decks.

He does not waste it, searching the grounds for any sign of a structure the sirens cannot afford to decimate without bringing the rest of the ship down upon themselves — and finds it, a little farther, then west. )

The next mast —

( He should, in theory, attempt to either steer or carry Red there, to escort her. He settles for shoulder checking Red toward it, his own footing again confused, as he tries to head to their destination.

This... is not playing out as he'd intended. Not at all. )