Island Resort: Round 1

[Persea]

All of the voices inside of my mind will never be silenced

She’s not entirely certain at first why she heeds the summons. Something deep within the furthest reaches of her soul trills a resonance when that call rings across the land. Something that makes her place one foot in front of the other until she finds herself climbing the rocky, precarious slope of the mountain. She stumbles to a halt before the fairies, staring with wide-eyed reservation as one (almost more lovely than the others, at least to her eyes) steps forward to give them instruction. She can hear the roar of thought around her, but she does her best to shield her mind from it. To block out the intrusion of strangers.

Still, when they are released to their quest, she turns gratefully from the gathering, moving quickly to put space between herself and the clamoring of so many minds. It isn’t until she has begun her descent once more that her head finally clears enough to allow her own thoughts to unfurl. To press concern and worry into the forefront over what she had just promised herself to. Until the sinking realizing settles that she had just agreed to go to Island resort for them, to collect seashells. To swim across the ocean.

She is nearly lost in a haze as her feet carry her almost automatically home, her subconscious bringing her to the lapping shores. To the stretch of water that yawns between her and Island Resort. She shudders out a breath as she stills, fear and uncertainty tethering her feet to the sands. She had made them a promise, had told them she would collect shells from across the water. But at what cost?

She remembers the burn of water in her lungs, the fear of death as she sea had swallowed her whole. She had been drawn, time and time again, to these very waters. Tempted to dip her feet into the cool, enticing liquid even as fear stayed her movements.

Now it seems she would not have the luxury of fear.

Before she can consider the consequences further, she plunges into the water, a gasp leaving her lungs as water splashes up her legs and chest, engulfing the lithe weight of her body before crawling up her neck towards her head. For a moment, fear paralyzes her. Memories of water gripping and pulling, dragging her under, sending terror through her body and causing her heart to pound. But the water feels incredible against her skin, somehow silken and lightweight even as it drapes her with a heavy, comforting weight. As though her body knows it belongs even if her mind does not. Her skin disappears so perfectly into the rippling blues and greens, almost becoming one with the waves.

After a time, the sensation overwhelms the terror in her heart, easing her until she can push forward, her body parting the water as though she had done this a thousand times. And as she goes farther from the shore, she finds her fear is dissipating, as though she had left it behind on that sandy shore and each stroke of her legs distances its grip.

For one bright, shining moment, she knows pure joy. She knows only the beautiful song of the sea and the delicate, seductive touch of saltwater on her skin. So lost is she in that moment that she doesn’t notice the water bubbling eerily beside her, nor the faint disturbance in the coil of each wave. Not until something grips her foot and yanks hard.

That easily, the moment is lost. A startled scream rips from her throat, rapidly muffled by the water as it closes around her head, as seawater fills her mouth. The fear snaps back into place, as though it had never left, memories of drowning resurfacing with a vengeance even as she relives her nightmare all over again.

This time though, the monster is real. This time it is not merely an overzealous riptide catching a too young girl in its relentless grip, but a beast of flesh and bone. She can feel it’s sharp claws digging to her flesh, the weighted pull as it drags her down. She flails wildly in it’s grip, panic sapping thought from her mind and strength from her muscles.

She holds her breath, but too soon a familiar ache begins to burn in her lungs as tears leak from her eyes, disappearing without a trace into the relentless pull of the ocean. Farther it drags her down, until her body screams for breath and her vision begins to spiderweb with black. Until, unbidden, she gulps in the that first, terrible breath of salt-laden water.

Last time she had remembered nothing beyond the stinging burn of saltwater in her lungs. This time though, the water does not sting with surprising fire. Instead she feels only cool relief, as though the water were life-giving air rather than certain death. Another breath, and the tightness in her chest eases, the spasms that squeeze her muscles fading. She goes limp in the beast’s grip, beset by shock even as she gulps greedy breaths of water.

She’s not entirely certain how far down it had dragged her. Far enough that the surface is nigh indistinguishable. Far enough it must assume she had drowned, going limp in it’s grip because death had finally taken her. And when the claws digging in to her skin loosen, it’s as though a tether snaps in her mind, releasing her from shock as understanding dawns. Whatever had happened that fateful day had changed more than just her outward appearance.

One thing she knows for certain though (one thing made so perfectly clear) is that she would not die today.

Suddenly, she kicks out violently, freeing herself from the monster’s loosened grip. Her feet connect with flesh, thudding solidly, allowing her to use that weight to push away. To flee, into the depths. She goes down instead of up. She hopes the beast wouldn’t expect that, would expect her to flee for the surface. Instead she swims for a nearby rockshelf, hooves scrabbling against sand and slate until she finds a crevice just large enough for her to squeeze into.

And there she hides. Watching. Waiting. She can see the indistinct shape of the creature, long and lithe, designed for speed in the water. She could never hope to outrun it, but she could perhaps outsmart it. Her new body blends so perfectly with the sea, her lungs (much to her surprise) filtering the water as easily as they did air. If she were patient enough, the beast might leave. Might seek out an easier meal.

Sure enough, her patience pays off. She watches warily, eyes fixed on it even as it disappears into the distance. She waits longer then, until she is certain it must be far enough that it would not be back. Only then does she squirm from her hiding place and swim cautiously towards the surface.

The sea monster had dragged her some distance, but soon enough her hooves find purchase on the sand. She pulls herself from the water, sea-skin glittering in the sunlight, dark mane plastered against her neck. She coughs, spilling water from her lungs until air can take its place. She stumbles forward then, legs trembling beneath the sudden burden of her weight. Still, determination drives her forward, onto the stretching sands of the beach. She had made a promise, and she would see that promise through.

until I can find a way to let go of what we left behind

persea