A funny thing happened on my way to the shoreline {Open}
Sept 22, 2016 3:04:35 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2016 3:04:35 GMT -5
Will continued examining the small black box in his hand, idly flipping the lid open to watch the compass needle spin wildly before settling to point at the small island cove before the Dutchman. It was a beautiful discovery. Turquoise blue waters sheltered from the worst of the sea's waves by a small reef that jutted from further up the coast. From the lack of smoke, there didn't even appear to be a settlement here yet. So why did he feel so uneasy? Ever since he'd heard the ship's lookout call that land had been sighted, he'd had a wrenching feeling in his gut. It was the same feeling he got just before large shipwrecks, when he would be called to do his duty and once more ferry the souls of those lost at sea.
Now here he sat, in the bow of the little jolly boat headed toward shore. His father sat behind him, a pile of buckets at his feet to be filled with seawater if the crew couldn't find what had drawn Will here on their own. Behind Bill sat two more men rowing with a strong, even pace ever closer to the beach. Will shifted on his seat and rested one hand on the hilt of his fine sword. That at least was some comfort.
As they drew closer, the bow scraped along the sandy bottom of the cove and Will lept quickly to his feet, eager to be moving again, even if it was only to wade back and forth impatiently through the shallow surf until his men returned. The boat pitched precariously, but he didn't notice. He planted one foot on the side of the boat and quickly raised his leg. Something about the compass caught his attention even as his foot rose. The needle had begun spinning wildly. His stomach jolted but he'd passed the point of no return. His weight was already carrying him into the ocean below, deeper than he'd originally thought. He frantically gripped at the compass as his entire body sunk below the cool, salty water sending his ears roaring with pressure and temporarily blinding him.
Water flooded his mouth and nose as he swiped his hands trying to ease the stinging in his eyes. Instead of the salty ocean brine, this water tasted stagnant and warm. It even seemed to have a greenish tint to it. Finally his feet sunk into the lichen covered sand and he pushed off from the bottom, bursting free of the water with a gasp, hair sticking wetly across his face.
His father was gone, as was the rest of his crew. Instead he was staring at a rocky shoreline with a boat dock extending out toward a strange, two tiered boat loaded with people. On land there were even more people wandering past. A strange conglomeration of brightly dressed people were wandering past a large white brick house with a white columns and large sets of double doors. He staggered forward until he was only waist deep in the water and scanned around him, checking in vain for any sign of his ship, ignorant of the tourists gawking. "Where am I?"
Now here he sat, in the bow of the little jolly boat headed toward shore. His father sat behind him, a pile of buckets at his feet to be filled with seawater if the crew couldn't find what had drawn Will here on their own. Behind Bill sat two more men rowing with a strong, even pace ever closer to the beach. Will shifted on his seat and rested one hand on the hilt of his fine sword. That at least was some comfort.
As they drew closer, the bow scraped along the sandy bottom of the cove and Will lept quickly to his feet, eager to be moving again, even if it was only to wade back and forth impatiently through the shallow surf until his men returned. The boat pitched precariously, but he didn't notice. He planted one foot on the side of the boat and quickly raised his leg. Something about the compass caught his attention even as his foot rose. The needle had begun spinning wildly. His stomach jolted but he'd passed the point of no return. His weight was already carrying him into the ocean below, deeper than he'd originally thought. He frantically gripped at the compass as his entire body sunk below the cool, salty water sending his ears roaring with pressure and temporarily blinding him.
Water flooded his mouth and nose as he swiped his hands trying to ease the stinging in his eyes. Instead of the salty ocean brine, this water tasted stagnant and warm. It even seemed to have a greenish tint to it. Finally his feet sunk into the lichen covered sand and he pushed off from the bottom, bursting free of the water with a gasp, hair sticking wetly across his face.
His father was gone, as was the rest of his crew. Instead he was staring at a rocky shoreline with a boat dock extending out toward a strange, two tiered boat loaded with people. On land there were even more people wandering past. A strange conglomeration of brightly dressed people were wandering past a large white brick house with a white columns and large sets of double doors. He staggered forward until he was only waist deep in the water and scanned around him, checking in vain for any sign of his ship, ignorant of the tourists gawking. "Where am I?"