When the sky split open for a fraction of a second, the loud thunder deafened the crew and its passengers.  The rain was pouring on the wooden deck like there was no tomorrow; even the experienced shipmaster had never witnessed such a strong tempest in times past.  
When the next wave hit the ship, it nearly turned it over entirely.  A few sailors fell overboard, unable to grab onto a mast or rope in time in the darkness of the night.  They were quickly forgotten.  After the ship rolled back straight, the captain yelled at her passengers:

‘Unless a miracle happens, the next one will do us in!  I swear to you, a storm of this magnitude is impossible, even by this sea’s standards!  Impossible!’
‘Well it’s happening now!’ yelled back Deuthreas.  ‘We have to do something!’
‘There is nothing to do but keep holding on to something and pray for the best!’ yelled Tristina.  

The gale made every droplets of rain feel like iron bullets crashing on their faces.  Helpless with his hooves on a slippery floor, K’van attached himself with a solid rope to a ramp, all the while cursing at his fate.  Another lightning bolt struck one of the main masts of the ship, sending it crashing into the water and instantly roasting the poor shipmates who were holding on to it.  At this sight, Aeriel broke down in tears, convinced that this was to be her last day alive on this earth.
In the far horizon, the next big wave began to grow in size at an exponential rate.  For everyone on the ship, it seemed they could almost make out the face of the grim reaper himself carved on the fast-approaching surge of water.

‘By the gods…’ Rhys whispered as he watched the gush inexorably draw near the ship.
‘No way,’ said Deuthreas, ‘it’s not over yet!  Hang on to something everyone!’

When the wave finally crashed onto the ship, it swept away the broken mast as well as half the crew.  The ship cracked under the pressure, but the hull stood strong, and kept the vessel afloat.  Thankfully, it did not veer on its side like the previous strike.  
A shriek was heard from starboard.  A catling’s shriek. 

‘Oh god, help!’ screamed Aeriel, half sobbing.  She was hanging by the guardrail, the unforgiving ocean right under her.
‘Aeriel!  Hang on!’ the centaur yelled out.  He untied himself from his ramp and leaped forward, letting the tilt of the ship slide him by the starboard rail. He grabbed onto it and carefully made his way toward the crying catling.
‘Hurry!!’ she cried out as she felt her hands slip a little more.  Knowing he was too short on time, K’van cursed and stopped his progress.  He took his rope and threw it toward the catling.
‘Grab it or die!’

As the rope passed by her, the catling let go of the ramp and grabbed onto it.  She screamed as she started falling, only to be swung to the side like a pendulum by the centaur who pulled on the rope as hard as he could.   
After letting her slow down her swinging, K’van began recalling the rope onto the ship, eventually retrieving the panicked catling, who held him fast, intent on never letting go for the rest of her life. The others who witnessed the event finally let out a relieved sigh.  

‘Th—thank you,’ the catling managed to mutter, trembling like a leaf.
‘Don’t chicken out on me again,’ he replied with a grin, echoing his own, now long past words.  

Deuthreas looked around to make sure the rest of his friends were still there.  Rhys and Tristina were accounted for.  As far as he knew, Fael was still in her cabin downstairs.  The shipmaster was also holding on so far.

‘Alright, we survived that!’ Deuthreas exclaimed, relieved.
‘Yeah, but will we survive this?’ snapped K’van, pointing at the next wave slowly emerging from the sea…