This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.
This is more of an opening to a longer story I think but the brief was to write a 1000 word short story around someone else's sentence. I chose this
OzFenric
"She rises through black waters, leaving the City
behind, and as the light above glimmers and grows, she knows she
will need to remember how to breathe."
Leanee was up early,
she'd hardly slept anyway. Today she was leaving her world and the
excitement made her tremble.
''Don't be afraid
child. I know you are small but you have great strength from your
breeding and loving support from your people.'' said Mother. Leanee
didn't say ''I'm not afraid, I just can't think because I'm so happy
to be going'', instead she whispered to her mother. ''I won't let you
down, you don't have to worry.''
Now she was on her
way, swimming strongly eyes wide open, she rises through black
waters, leaving the City behind, and as the light above glimmers and
grows, she knows she will need to remember how to breathe.
'I have been to the
surface before, I have to pull air in through my nose and mouth. My
lungs will expand and my gills will relax. It's easy.'
Leanee pops her head
up out of the water, sucking in air as she looks around. The air
tastes sweet, just as she remembered and the coast looks familiar.
'I must be close to the
meeting place.' ''Hello, hello.'' Her voice sounds odd, it lacks
all the resonance that water gave it and sounds faint almost timid.
Her mother had reminded her of this before she'd left. ''Yes Mother,
you were right.'' she says looking down, ''as usual''.
Taking her bearings
from the rising Sun and the headland to the North she turns and swims
along the coast.
At Gythio a boy stared
out to sea. He'd got up before Dawn too and had been pacing along the
beach to settle his nerves.
'Will she come? Will I
like her? I've learned a lot about Merpeople but I don't know if
we'll be friends. I must be gentle, Father said.'
He pulls the pipes
from his waistband and blows a note. Merpeople loved music he'd been
told and Memnos had composed a new tune in preparation for this day.
He sits down on a rock and plays, closing his eyes to let the music
flow better. He began to enjoy himself, Memnos was brought up in the
wooded areas of Greece. His family usually travelled around the
southern coast in Winter and moved up to northern forests in Summer,
this year Memnos had stayed behind close to this beach waiting,
although the Sun was hot on his fur.
Leanee knows when she's
arrived at the right place; like most of her people she has sensitive
nostrils that help her identify places by sampling the water she
moves through. Now with her head above the water her ears hear music
and she catches sight of Memnos.
She pulls herself up
onto a rock and unfastens her tail. She looks at the boy, noticing
the tiny horns on his head above ears that were twitching in her
direction. He was obviously pretending not to see her. She smiles at
her Mother's comment that Memnos' folk were not renowned for tact.
Merpeople thought self restraint was important and Leanee had been in
trouble for being too friendly with everyone she met.
She stands up, tucks
the tail under arm, breathes deeply and walks a little unsteadily towards him. Memnos
plays his new melody again .
'That's a pretty tune.
I like it.'
Memnos opens his eyes
to look at her. 'Thank you I'm happy it pleased you. I'm glad we have
the chance to talk together before they come.'
Leanee decides she
likes him because he makes her feel comfortable.
' My mother told me
your people were friendly and fun to be with. I expected you to have
your family with you. I'm told you're more sociable than us
sea-dwellers.'
'We thought it would be
easier if there was only me here. I've already said my Goodbyes.'
'I can see that was
hard for you. You miss them, don't you?'
'I do, yes, but I'm
excited about the future too. Do you know anything about the
Offworlders?'
'No.' Leanee frowned. '
I don't think any of us ever met one before.'
'Same here; that's a
pity. I hope we don't get too much of a shock.' Memnos laughs. 'They
can't have grown extra arms or heads can they?'
'I don't know. Mother
told me the Offworlders are highly advanced people, but would you
need to create extra limbs to live in Space?'
'We're about to find
out. Look.' Memnos points to the West where a craft is flying
towards them.
They watch as it
circles overhead and then comes vertically straight down a short distance away.
After a moment a door opens then a ramp is lowered.
Leanee swallows hard,
Memnos nods at her and they walk together toward the Offworlder
craft. A glow shows inside, it grows steadily brighter until it's
too strong for Leanee's eyes. Memnos sees her falter and takes her hand.
Then he gasps as the Offworlder comes down the ramp.
'It's an Angel. It has
wings. I never believed in Angels.'
The tall shining figure
has an old lined face. It opens it's arms and says.
' I never believed in
Fauns or Mermaids until today. My name is Michael, please come aboard
and I'll take you to my home.'
