Hiya, this is an idea that follows on from a thread I made on the discussion forum, as I thought it might be fun to have some writing prompts!

The prompt is a one-word one, as I find those to be the most versatile and interesting.

The word I picked for this thread is 'vessel'.

I'm going to post my interpretation of the prompt below this as a 'chapter 2', so that my submission doesn't sway anyone's ideas on what to write, and hope you guys will get involved with your own takes on the prompt by adding new chapters/story paths below! Credit to SepiandDust for the general idea of how this is all set out :)

• Riot45

I woke with my cheek pressed against the hard floor, my head aching and my body stiff. For a moment, I just lay there, staring up at the pale blue sky. A few clouds drifted overhead, and birds moved across the distance, their calls mixing with the sound of the wind. It was almost peaceful until the surface beneath me shifted. I moved instinctively to catch myself, and my hair fell across my face as I slid slightly with the movement. I pushed it back, took a slow breath, and waited for the dizziness to settle. The air smelled strongly of saltwater, and I could hear the steady sound of the waves nearby.

I slowly sat up and looked around. There were ropes secured along the deck, metal railings, equipment fixed in place, and small pools of seawater where the waves had splashed over the side. I had no idea where I was or how I had gotten there. I tried to remember what happened before I woke up, but nothing came. I looked toward the horizon, then back across the deck. That was when I noticed a woman standing a short distance away. She looked to be in her forties, with weathered features and a serious expression. Her clothes were practical, suited to working around the water, and she watched me carefully without approaching.

"Good, you're up," she said. Her voice was low and slightly rough, with a noticeable country accent. She glanced briefly at the equipment around us before looking back at me. "Let's start this mission. We're on a vessel." I frowned, still trying to make sense of her words. "What mission?" I asked. She looked at me for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember?" I shook my head slowly. She gave a small shrug, seemingly unimpressed. "Well, I don't have time to babysit, so toughen up." With that, she turned away and started walking across the deck, leaving me sitting there, confused and struggling to understand what was happening.