"Harbor"
Prelio awoke slowly, confused for a moment to see his own image staring back at him from the pool of water in front of him. The hush and roll of the waves behind him whispered a gentle hymnal, calling him back home. Sickening, rolling pain closed is eyes for a moment, and he lowered his cheek down to rest on the barnacle-covered rocks. He lay there for a long time, listening to the waves that sang to him, urging him to slip away from this world forever.
His soul, however, instinctively know that this was not a good place to die. It grew restless inside his chest and struggled within his heart, breaking the hushing spell of the sea.
Groaning, Prelio opened his eyes and looked around. Lying several feet in front of him, he was surprised a most unusual object. Wedged between two crags of rock, it was round, a creature perhaps, and of brilliant coloration. It was rounder than anything he'd ever seen before in nature, and its stripes of yellow, red, and blue were the purest colors he'd ever known.
He stared at it cautiously, willing awake. The pain in his head swam about, threatening to bring him to darkness once more. He gritted his teeth and steeled himself, focusing all his attention on the thing before him. The darkness receded once more, and slowly, painfully, he brought himself to his knees.
Memories of the day before began to fill his mind: a greenish, foreboding sky. A violent storm that tossed their boat and caused them to lose all bearings in the sea. The wave that tossed Ama, his betrothed, into the churning waters. His brave (and stupid) leap into the water after her. Their hands meeting one last time as the boat lurched away....
Prelio shook his head free of these thoughts, taking a moment to assess his condition. His leather tunic and pants had been torn and ruined by the ocean water. Cuts, scrapes, and sores covered his body, but miraculously, he was ungrievously wounded. He touched his head gently, feeling the deep gashes on the top and at the base of his neck. It had been a long night.
A breeze passed by, and the object in front of him began to shift back and forth. Prelio considered it a moment: it was, perhaps, a jellyfish, urchin, or other sea creature washed up on shore. It may also be some species of hermit crab, adorning a bright shell. Most likely, it was harmless.
However, he was in no position to take any chances. Bright colors on animals were often warnings of venom, aggression, or some other danger. He seemed to have the upper hand right now, and if he were to lose it, he would have no strength to struggle out from the jaws or claws of some exotic beast. Whatever it was, it must die.
Prelio closed his eyes and lowered himself into a crouch, knowing what this would cost for his weakened body. He felt deep within himself, seeking the tiny flame that burned inside. Finding it, he caressed it, encouraging it to grow and swell in strength. He poured his own will and energy into it, and it flared and grew hot. Then, Prelio plunged himself in, pulling from it and guiding it outwards from his core and into his hands. His eyes shot open, and he threw one arm forward, pointing at the object. A thin bolt of white-hot lightning arched from his fingertips, shooting outward and beyond.
The object instantly detonated into shreds, the sound echoing across the beach. Parchment-thin pieces flew in every direction, fluttered, and settled on the rocks and pools of water below. Even as darkness encroached on his peripheral vision once more, his eyes widened.
"It... was hollow," he thought with amazement. Then the night overtook him once more, his will broke, and he collapsed to the shore.
His soul, however, instinctively know that this was not a good place to die. It grew restless inside his chest and struggled within his heart, breaking the hushing spell of the sea.
Groaning, Prelio opened his eyes and looked around. Lying several feet in front of him, he was surprised a most unusual object. Wedged between two crags of rock, it was round, a creature perhaps, and of brilliant coloration. It was rounder than anything he'd ever seen before in nature, and its stripes of yellow, red, and blue were the purest colors he'd ever known.
He stared at it cautiously, willing awake. The pain in his head swam about, threatening to bring him to darkness once more. He gritted his teeth and steeled himself, focusing all his attention on the thing before him. The darkness receded once more, and slowly, painfully, he brought himself to his knees.
Memories of the day before began to fill his mind: a greenish, foreboding sky. A violent storm that tossed their boat and caused them to lose all bearings in the sea. The wave that tossed Ama, his betrothed, into the churning waters. His brave (and stupid) leap into the water after her. Their hands meeting one last time as the boat lurched away....
Prelio shook his head free of these thoughts, taking a moment to assess his condition. His leather tunic and pants had been torn and ruined by the ocean water. Cuts, scrapes, and sores covered his body, but miraculously, he was ungrievously wounded. He touched his head gently, feeling the deep gashes on the top and at the base of his neck. It had been a long night.
A breeze passed by, and the object in front of him began to shift back and forth. Prelio considered it a moment: it was, perhaps, a jellyfish, urchin, or other sea creature washed up on shore. It may also be some species of hermit crab, adorning a bright shell. Most likely, it was harmless.
However, he was in no position to take any chances. Bright colors on animals were often warnings of venom, aggression, or some other danger. He seemed to have the upper hand right now, and if he were to lose it, he would have no strength to struggle out from the jaws or claws of some exotic beast. Whatever it was, it must die.
Prelio closed his eyes and lowered himself into a crouch, knowing what this would cost for his weakened body. He felt deep within himself, seeking the tiny flame that burned inside. Finding it, he caressed it, encouraging it to grow and swell in strength. He poured his own will and energy into it, and it flared and grew hot. Then, Prelio plunged himself in, pulling from it and guiding it outwards from his core and into his hands. His eyes shot open, and he threw one arm forward, pointing at the object. A thin bolt of white-hot lightning arched from his fingertips, shooting outward and beyond.
The object instantly detonated into shreds, the sound echoing across the beach. Parchment-thin pieces flew in every direction, fluttered, and settled on the rocks and pools of water below. Even as darkness encroached on his peripheral vision once more, his eyes widened.
"It... was hollow," he thought with amazement. Then the night overtook him once more, his will broke, and he collapsed to the shore.