Three more storms followed over the next ten days. None as severe as that first one, but each testing the crew's endurance and the ship's resilience. Between the tempests, they sailed through calmer waters, using the respite to repair damage and restore morale.
Finn took advantage of these quieter periods to solidify his relationships with the crew. He shared watches with sailors, listening to their stories and contributing his own carefully crafted tales. He helped with maintenance work beyond his navigator duties. He proved himself useful, reliable, and genuinely likeable.
It was the usual performance, but somewhere within it, Finn found himself genuinely respecting these people. They were competent, brave, and committed to their roles in ways that reminded him of the better aspects of humanity. They faced impossible odds with grim determination and dark humor, supporting each other through challenges that would break lesser crews.
