An Idol's love
This was the setting.
A bright sun shone down upon Sydney harbor that made the greenish bay water glisten.
Seven plastic bags floated near the edge of a boat dock. One contained a sullen Moorish Idol that was gazing longingly beneath him.
Below he saw a white sandy ocean floor and three small silverfish who were swimming to who knows where.
"Not a care in the world," whispered Gill to himself.
He looked at his reflection in the transparent plastic. He scowled when he saw his ruined fin.
I should have known something like this would happen,he thought.
Closing his eyes he took a shallow breath. The oxygen in the air tight bag was getting low. "My plans never work, and now I've doomed everyone along with myself!"
He sank down to the bottom of the bag and waited for the end.
The sun was beginning to set when Gill felt himself bump into a dock post.
Soon darkness would engulf the entire harbor. He stared up at the moon letting the hopelessness of night sink in.
Suddenly, a bright orange beak slashed open the wet plastic and Gill was flung into the bay.
A familiar cool rush came over Gill as he entered the dark water. It took him a moment to fully realize what had happen before he cautiously swam up to the surface again.
About two feet away he saw Nigel standing on the dock, vigorously tearing into Peaches bag. Just as he thought…he hadn't failed.
"Nigel you're a genius!" said Gill, now swimming towards him.
Nigel looked up from Peaches bag with the biggest surprised eyes Gill had ever seen.
"You're alive!" he said in a relieved tone. "After I saw you floating there I didn't know what to expect." He ruffled his brown feathers during the uncomfortable silence that followed. "You alright mate?"
Gill looked up at him. "Yeah, I'm never better." he said.
"In fact, I'm fantastic!" Gill did an exited twirl in the water. He couldn't believe he was actually free.
"You saved us all!!" said Gurgle who had just popped up to the surface beside Gill. His sudden appearance gave Gill a start. Nigel must have torn through the other bags.
"Well, now that everything is safe and sound, I'd best be off." Nigel unfolded his wings turned to wind.
"Hey, Nigel," said Gill.
The pelican turned.
"Thanks."