Deep Blue

  • Meika ran along the beach, quickly but carefully placing her feet so that she would not step on any of the many shellfish that had washed up during yesterday's storm. By the time she reached the village, her chest was heaving with the effort of gulping in the salty air.

    Friends and acquaintances turned to greet her as she passed, but there was no time to return their pleasantries. I must apologize to them all later, she thought. Finally, she found her destination- a large hut near the center of the village, whale-hide and palm-fronds stretched over a skeleton of felled trees.

    She paused outside, taking the time to bow to the totem that hung on a pole before the entrance. After making sure that her hair was straight and her tail was not shaking, Meika closed her eyes, brushed aside the hanging flap of seal-skin and entered.

    "Terek-la, there's been an accident out by the north cove!"

    The three figures within the hut turned to look at her, straightening up from table they had been hunched around. The eldest, his hair a tangled mat that hadn't felt seawater in many years, squinted his milky eyes. "Be calm, Meikan. Be calm, and tell us what has happened."

    "It was Surek's idea, Terek-la. He said they could do it, that they'd be strong enough. Hani and Bani were just following him; they always follow him, no matter what he does," she said. The adults glanced at each other. She was babbling, she knew it, but she just had to make sure they knew it wasn't her siblings' fault.

    The tallest reached out a hand, resting gently on her bare shoulder. "What has Surek done this time, little fish?" His dark eyes were firm, but his kind tone took her by surprise.

    "F-father?!" Meika's face turned bright blue; in her rush, she'd failed to recognize her own parent. The moment passed quickly, though, as she remembered her urgency. "They went out in the boats, father, and took some spears and rope. They were trying to catch a sailfish, Surek said they'd be strong enough to bring it in!"

    The temperature in the room seemed to drop. A fully-grown sailfish could be twenty paces long, and strong enough to smash a boat to splinters. Surek was nearly grown, but the sisters were barely more than cubs.

    Her father's grip tightened. He spoke quickly, "Meika, where are they? Have they been hurt?"

    "Hani and Bani are fine, father, but Surek- they were in the cove, and the rope snapped, and fish was so fast, and, and-" She stopped, unable to continue. She could still see the blood on the sands, the sailfish still thrashing in the shallows...and Surek.

    He was always so confident, so sure of himself. When he wanted to do something, he did it, no matter how dangerous or risky. And it often seemed as if the world itself would bend over backwards to give him his way. But not this time.

    By the time they reached the north cove, the sailfish had finally exhausted itself and was floating, still. A trail of blue led up the beach, to the tree the twins had propped Surek against after getting him clear of the water. When they saw the group come over the hill, they rushed, sobbing, into their father's arms.

    The elders moved quickly, surrounding Surek's still form while directing the villagers to pull the sailfish onto land. There was a large gash running up his side, white bone showing through the bluish flesh. As the elders wiped away the flowing blood and began preparing for the ritual, Terek approached the waterline. He handed a long spear to Meika's father.

    "It will happen quickly, Maret. Do not miss." Maret nodded, then turned. "Meika, take your sisters, go stand on the hill."

    Hani and Bani clung to her as they walked away from the water to stand with the others. Bani's hand trembled in hers, and she tried to reassure them. The other villagers were quiet, staring down as the work to save Surek began.

    He was laid on the ground ten paces away from the sailfish, it's razor fins still slick. The elders gathered around in a circle, and, led by Terek, began to chant. It started slow, but picked up speed and depth as it went along. The sound reminded Meika of the waves, a rhythm that ebbed and flowed, crashed and retreated.

    She felt her hair stand on end, and looked around to see everyone else shifting uncomfortably. Her father stood close to the fallen sailfish, spear at the ready. The smell of burning ozone filled the air, and Meika's instincts screamed at her to run. This is just like during a lightning storm, she thought.

    Just as she thought the tension would never break, Terek gestured to her father, and Maret, without hesitation, plunged the spear into the sailfish's head. There was a crack as the energy in the air released, and the elders slumped, their work finished.

    Meika rushed down the hill, reaching the circle before they had a chance to get up. She gasped, "Did it work?!" Terek, tiredly motioned toward Surek's form, still lying on the ground. She stumbled over. Where the wound had been, there was a livid scar, fresh and dark.

    For a moment, she despaired, and then...with a gasp, Surek took in his first breath in what seemed like years. He coughed and sputtered as the air filled his lungs, then opened his eyes. "M-eika...? What...what are you crying for?"

    She laughed, and let herself fall backward. She opened her wet eyes and stared up into the sky, her breathing calm and measured. She didn't think she had ever seen such a beautiful sight, deep and cloudless, the color of blood.

Comments

2 Comments
  • Asks-Many-Questions
    Asks-Many-Questions   ·  April 8, 2015
    It's a result, yeah. Not the only one, of course.
  • Borommakot
    Borommakot   ·  April 8, 2015
    I take it this is the result of the world building project?