Oceansong's Story
Swiftflow
was sitting on the beach gazing dreamily at the stars. She was so lost in the
stars she didn't see Oceansong sneak up on her. He grabbed her and tickled. Her
startled scream turned to helpless laughter. "S-s-stop t-t-that
Song."
She had a hard time getting the words out between her fits of laughter, and trying to catch her breath as well. Finally he stops and flops down on the sand next to her. Looking up at the stars himself. "What is it you see up there, Swift? It's just a bunch of pretty lights up in the sky."
Swiftflow glances at him before looking to the stars herself. "I see so much up there." She points to a spot in the sky. "There the Smiling Ones swim the ocean of the night sky. Over there..." She points to another section of sky. "...is a Sharp Teeth prowling for prey."
She looks over at Oceansong and sees he just has a blank look. He turns to her and smiles. "If you say so Swift."
Both lapse back into silence, happy to sit in each other's company. Being born around the same time, they were agemates and grew up close, since there were none close to them in age. Oceansong never understood Swiftflow's joy of some twinkling lights up in a dark sky, but he tried.
As they sat there, suddenly winds started kicking up. Both were startled at the suddenness of it. Looking around they noticed that it seemed a storm was coming. Both high-tail it back to the cliffs to warn the tribe and wait out the storm. The other elves of the Seaside Holt were busy scrambling around securing what needed to be, and making sure the tadpoles were all inside.
Oceansong helped secure things down that could be blown away. As he finished he looked up in time to see Swiftflow hit by a small tree and knocked unconcious. He gave a cry and struggled against the gale-force winds that had come about by then, trying to reach Swiftflow as she tumbled end over end, tangled in the tree that hit her.
Somehow he had nearly reached her when she was lifted into the air. Crying out in frustration and fear, he suddenly gets a spurt of energy and makes a mighty leap for her, only to fall short and flat on his face in the sand to boot. He screams his rage into the hurricain.
For days afterwards Oceansong is inconsolable. His best friend is gone. Deep down he knows she isn't dead. He thinks he'd feel it if she was. He can tell the tribe is starting to get upset with him. He can't seem to sleep well. He barely gets enough food down to sustain himself. And he's moping worse then a Recognized fool fighting it.
Finally he comes to a decision. He starts gathering up supplies and making a raft/boat thingy. His parent realize what he is planning and try to talk him out of it, he makes like he listens and agrees. After three days of smuggling supplies to the boat, he is ready to leave. He waits for nightfall, when everyone will be asleep.
He sneaks out, once he reaches the beach he pauses to take one last look back at the only home he has ever known. Then he gets into his boat and sets off. He strikes out in the direction he had last seen Swiftflow blown.
After several hands of days, Oceansong still hadn't seen land. His supplies had ran out a few days ago. He was growing weaker and weaker from lack of food and water. After a hand of days, he couldn't even be bothered to paddle.
A few more days pass and an unconcious Oceansong finally floats up onto land.
She had a hard time getting the words out between her fits of laughter, and trying to catch her breath as well. Finally he stops and flops down on the sand next to her. Looking up at the stars himself. "What is it you see up there, Swift? It's just a bunch of pretty lights up in the sky."
Swiftflow glances at him before looking to the stars herself. "I see so much up there." She points to a spot in the sky. "There the Smiling Ones swim the ocean of the night sky. Over there..." She points to another section of sky. "...is a Sharp Teeth prowling for prey."
She looks over at Oceansong and sees he just has a blank look. He turns to her and smiles. "If you say so Swift."
Both lapse back into silence, happy to sit in each other's company. Being born around the same time, they were agemates and grew up close, since there were none close to them in age. Oceansong never understood Swiftflow's joy of some twinkling lights up in a dark sky, but he tried.
As they sat there, suddenly winds started kicking up. Both were startled at the suddenness of it. Looking around they noticed that it seemed a storm was coming. Both high-tail it back to the cliffs to warn the tribe and wait out the storm. The other elves of the Seaside Holt were busy scrambling around securing what needed to be, and making sure the tadpoles were all inside.
Oceansong helped secure things down that could be blown away. As he finished he looked up in time to see Swiftflow hit by a small tree and knocked unconcious. He gave a cry and struggled against the gale-force winds that had come about by then, trying to reach Swiftflow as she tumbled end over end, tangled in the tree that hit her.
Somehow he had nearly reached her when she was lifted into the air. Crying out in frustration and fear, he suddenly gets a spurt of energy and makes a mighty leap for her, only to fall short and flat on his face in the sand to boot. He screams his rage into the hurricain.
For days afterwards Oceansong is inconsolable. His best friend is gone. Deep down he knows she isn't dead. He thinks he'd feel it if she was. He can tell the tribe is starting to get upset with him. He can't seem to sleep well. He barely gets enough food down to sustain himself. And he's moping worse then a Recognized fool fighting it.
Finally he comes to a decision. He starts gathering up supplies and making a raft/boat thingy. His parent realize what he is planning and try to talk him out of it, he makes like he listens and agrees. After three days of smuggling supplies to the boat, he is ready to leave. He waits for nightfall, when everyone will be asleep.
He sneaks out, once he reaches the beach he pauses to take one last look back at the only home he has ever known. Then he gets into his boat and sets off. He strikes out in the direction he had last seen Swiftflow blown.
After several hands of days, Oceansong still hadn't seen land. His supplies had ran out a few days ago. He was growing weaker and weaker from lack of food and water. After a hand of days, he couldn't even be bothered to paddle.
A few more days pass and an unconcious Oceansong finally floats up onto land.