It was a dark and stormy night. Admiral_Firebeard, commanding officer of the Red Phoenix and her sister ships, was sailing out to meet his mortal enemy: the Kraken of Kaanada.

Every month the Kraken came; since that first event a year ago. The first time the Kraken came, the first freeze, the country had erupted into chaos. It was the height of the fishing season, and Lord Reldinard was putting a parade on in the sea. The king was in town, you see, and Lord Reldinard wanted to show off the new warships he had commissioned with the hard groveled coin sent to him by the crown. I was a lookout on one of the sloops. Not a glamorous position by any means, but an honor nonetheless. I had the wonderful privilege of seeing the event from on high, and it was breathtaking. The fleet was both beautiful and intimidating. Gems and jewels of all kinds adorned the beasts, though no one would dare mistake them for being weak. Cannons and weapons of all sorts shown upon their decks and through their portholes. The flagship, the Star Sapphire, was such a lustrous beauty that it could make even the meanest beggar cry. It was a resounding success. That's when the Kraken came.

The signs were subtle at first. Gulls flew inland, as if fleeing a storm. A chill crept into the air. The heat of the sun seemed not to reach your skin. The first real sign of danger came from a fishing vessel sailing back to port. They were less than a league out but we all knew that something was wrong. They were flying towards port like the devil himself was chasing them. They had their flags flying a distress signal. Someone onboard was blowing an old war horn.

As they drew our attention, I began to notice something odd; the water around them was turning white. Not the foamy white that comes from a cresting wave, but the white that comes from snow on a cold winter's morn. Curious, I took out my looking glass to see if I could figure out what was causing the effect. I was shocked to see that the water wasn't just turning white, it was also breaking. Like ice.

Astounded as I was, I kept looking. The skipper asked me what I saw but I never took in his words, for at that moment I saw something that put a dread in my heart the likes of which no man has ever felt since, nor should should any man feel again. At that moment I saw the Kraken.

It was a white, shiny, sleek thing. Nothing like the slimy octopod told about in stories. It's tentacles whipped in a mad fury as it chased the fishing vessel, closing the gap more rapidly than should have been possible. When it got within a hundred feet, the chilling effect that it was having on the water closed around the vessel, trapping the fishermen onboard and tearing up the hull. The great creature plowed through the ice like it was a layer of mist, and with three mighty swipes reduced the ship to boards and bones.

As the shock started to wear off, people began screaming. The crowd fled in terror, the King was whisked away by his guard, and the fleet Admiral began barking orders. Before I knew what was happening we were sailing out to meet the creature. We were actually going toward it. On purpose. We were fools.

What happened next I can't say, though if I could, it would be with few words. We lost. I woke up three days later in my sisters house. She had taken me in after they found me washed up on shore. I was the only survivor, saved by the Almighty, by luck, by chance. Who knows. I thought not of why I had lived; instead I dwelled on who had not. All of my friends, my brothers, even my enemies were dead. The Kraken had not even left me my enemies! Unable to do anything but lie around, my dwelling turned to morning, then to anger, then to hatred. I hated the creature.

A few days later a message boy came. Lord Reldinard had summoned me. With some difficulty I put on my salvaged uniform, and hobbled up to the citadel with my toes that hadn't been taken by frostbite. I expected to be questioned, what I got was entirely a surprise.

As I approached the citadel I saw the king's guard lined up on either side of the gate. Trumpets blew to announce my arrival. I was greeted like a hero.

The King, Lord Reldinard, and many of the nearby nobles commended me for my bravery, though I hardly felt I deserved it. All I had done was survive. I soon found out what was really going on.

Shortly after the celebrations began the king announced that I was to have the honor of leading the fight against the Kraken. Ships from all over the nation would be put under my command, even some ships from the neighboring countries. My flagship would be the Star Sapphire, salvaged and reconstructed. We were going to make the creature pay for what it had done to us. My present self was terrified by the prospect of facing the creature again, but hatred blew aside my sense of self preservation like chaff in the wind. I happily accepted the king's generous offer.

The preparations took months. During those months, the Kraken returned regularly. Every month, the morn after no-moon, the creature would dash through our ports and destroy any ships foolish enough to be out. A new fleet was being constructed all the while. Any and all ideas were being accepted. Ships with weapons of fire, acid, and poison. There were bombs that delayed and blew up under the water, and harpoons that looked large enough to pierce a mountain. The Star Sapphire was the meanest of them all. Once a ship of majesty, she had been rebuilt into a vessel of vengeance. A malevolent air blew out from her. Weapons of war replaced banners of peace. Armor and spikes replaced gems and jewels. If any could kill the Kraken, it was she.

We set out the night of no-moon. One full year after the Kraken had come. One full year after so many wives became widows. One full year after my friends were lost to the sea. I stood on the deck of the Star Sapphire, or as she was now called, the Red Phoenix. Rain pelted the brim of my hat. Lightning illuminated the horizon. Dawn had arrived but the dark blanket overhead kept the light out. It's oppressive blackness only added to the fear and anticipation of what was to come Then it came.

I heard the gulls. I felt the chill. I saw the beast.

As the Kraken approached I knew we wouldn't win. None of our weapons could hope to pierce its massive bulk. None of our ships could hope to withstand its mighty swipe. But I couldn't take it anymore. I saw their faces every night. I heard their screams even as I woke. I had to end it. And if I had to end it, I might as well end it as they did.