The Law of the Land
The ship was a dark blot on the horizon, appearing to be sailing into the golden coin of the sun far off into the west. He had been watching the ship for the past twenty minutes ever since he had been thrown on the sandbar about fifteen feet from shore. When he had managed to worm his way out from his bonds he slipped on the shore and had managed to pull himself up in time to watch the ship sail away. Knowing that trying to swim after it was no use the man, named Simon, simply sat himself down on a rugged stone and watched it sail away.
Sighing Simon watched as the dark blot turned and slipped past the horizon, passing out of his vision for good. Still sitting down on the boulder that stuck from the ground he considered everything that had brought him to this point. Bringing himself off his slight perch Simon leaned against the great stone and watched the sun set, rethinking his life. For instance throwing Isaac off the ship that had just ironically left him in the middle of the ocean was probably what led him here but the ship was already gone.
As about half of the sun slipped below the west Simon stood up and stretched knowing that he would have to do a lot of work before the sun would set. Looking up and down the beach he could see that not so far the sandy strip curved inwards to form what Simon could guess was a rather small island. Going to the backpack he had left by the great stone Simon pulled out a few of the drenched objects that were inside. Quickly laying out an interestingly hollow stone cone Simon also shook out a few lumps of wet coal that he left in the dying light of the sun.
Looking inland he could see that the island was home to what appeared to be a small jungle with a few large trees sticking from a mass of greenery. Spotting a crop of reeds standing from a small streamlet that poured into the ocean Simon quickly made his way over and plucked out a few slightly dead reeds that were all dried up. With a handful of dead reeds Simon quickly laid them out and flattened them as best he could and brought them back over to his backpack.
Constantly checking the sun that was even closer to slipping off the horizon Simon brought the mass of reeds to the wet coal. Laying out a small mat of dried reeds Simon dropped the wet chunks of coal on the mat and quickly dropped another small mess of reeds on top, trying to desperately dry them. Also taking a few dried reeds Simon stuffed them into the hollow stone cone and let the whole ordeal lay in the red sunlight.
Glimpsing at the sun again he could see that there was about a quarter of it left on the horizon and was sinking fast. Taking his backpack Simon also pulled out a small rustic axe and a flint and tinder. Laying the flint and tinder to dry on the mess of reeds he had collected he then took the small axe and went out to the beginnings of the jungle. Quickly gathering a few dead limbs that were resting on the ground he then took the axe and hacked away at a few larger branches.
Bringing the whole mess with him Simon quickly laid out the branches to make a fire, putting the larger branches in a tepee form and scattering the dead branches around and inside it. Rushing to the small crop of reeds by the sinuous stream he plucked a few new dead reeds and brought them to the fire pit, crunching them up he threw them inside. Rushing back to the flint and tinder he had left out to dry Simon quickly gathered them and brought them over to the "tepee."
Using the flint and tinder Simon was able to get a small spark to land on the jumble of dead reeds he quickly withdrew from the "tepee" as a fire started. Switching from looking at his rough campfire to the setting sun Simon watched as the fire quickly ate away the dead reeds and went to attack the dead wood. Luckily he could see that the fire that was blazing on the dead branches was already starting to lap at the larger wooden branches, spreading.
Seeing the success of his makeshift campfire Simon went over to his backpack and dropped it by the fire, he then went to gather the coal and strange stone. Removing the slightly damp reeds from the coal and stone he grabbed a handful of coal and dropped it by the fireplace. Taking the stone and the last few chunks of coal Simon brought everything by the fireplace and placed everything in a neat line. Just as he settled everything by the fire and sat down himself he looked up to see the sun was completely gone and a few dozen stars were already shining.
Feeling a bit more comfortable Simon let himself settle on the sand and started to think about what he would have to do tomorrow. First he would have to wait for the monsters that crept around in the night the die off in the light of the sun before doing anything. He could probably spend the rest of tomorrow tromping through the jungle to see if he could find and kind of pig or boar, he did have an axe. Squinting off down the beach for the small stream Simon figured that freshwater would be pretty easy even though he thought something seemed to be off about the small stream.
For now he let his eyes sink closed and waited for sleep to roll in. Before he had set sail across the ocean on that dreaded ship that left him on the lonely island he had gathered a large amount of information on the monsters of the night. There was a reason for it but Simon still knew more than most men on the subject; even though generations of people have lived with these monsters for two thousand years.
Basically the creatures who stalked the night hated light and usually shied away from any source of brightness, unless something they really wanted was there. Everyone knew that but Simon knew that the light actually burned the no matter how small, and darkness itself helped them thrive for long periods of time. Not only that but Simon also knew the weaknesses and all the abilities of each creature.
If he had grown up in a district that had a school and had enough tokens to go into one he would've made a great teacher on the subject. However he had grown up poor and had been forced into one of the cheapest jobs he would probably have all his life; and he kept it for three years. Simon supposed that sneaking away from the Wall had been a smart decision but it landed him on the "Discreet" a whole four hours later.
And now he was here.
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Simon didn't know why he woke up but when he did he looked up to see a familiar face. Looking straight up he could see the shinning face of the moon beaming down on him from its dark throne. Back when he was younger Simon could remember that he had heard stories from the more educated people around him stories about the moon. He could still remember the tale of how long ago people built castles on the white shining rock.
Smiling at the memory Simon then looked beside himself to see that the fire place was dead with only a soup of ashes left under a frame of burned wood. As the dead fireplace registered Simon very quickly looked up and down the beach expecting a hoard of monsters to already be descending on him. However, even though the fire had been spent for the last two hours he found that the beach was empty.
Cautiously looking around Simon stood up and peered into the jungle which remained still and silent as the night around it; not a single thing there. Confused, he furrowed his brow and started to take a small walk towards the beginning of the small island jungle still not seeing a sign of life. Had his former companions find an island so desolate that not even monsters would be missing from the nights?
Walking back to the remains of his campfire Simon sat down and was about to settle back into sleep when he spotted something. Snapping up into attention Simon peered deep into the jungle and thought that just for a second someone was there standing still in the jungle. Getting up he started to walk towards the jungle and could see that there was someone standing there in the distance. Locking his eyes on the strange sight he was about to call out when the figure walked forward and out of his view, keeping it's back to Simon.
About to head after it Simon took a few steps into the jungle when suddenly the darkness in the greenery light up and the silence was shattered. For a few seconds a slithering sound came from some unseen source and a few patches of tall grass started to shake and quiver, all the while a small clashing sound was sounding. Simon could also see a red light suddenly spring into existence and cast itself against several trees and bushes as it moved.
Jumping back in surprise he watched as suddenly the show of light and sound came to a sudden stop and the jungle became silent again. Staggering away Simon watched as he thought a large shadow whipped by in the distance, sliding through the greenery before vanishing. Still in shock by the thing that had suddenly erupted from the still of night Simon quickly placed himself as far away from the jungle as he could.
Stumbling to the ashes of his campfire Simon stole one last look into the jungle and could just barely make out something in the darkness. A dark outline shifted through the greenery until it vanished all together, keepings it back at Simon at all times as it sulked further into the jungle. Shaking his head he could see the spot where the figure was now stood empty as if nothing had been there at all, but Simon knew that he had seen something.
Meanwhile as Simon stared off into the dark jungle in a shocking horror he didn't notice the small object tumbling with the ocean waves. He didn't see how it gleamed in the moonlight when the waves tossed it above the fine layer of hissing froth. Also as the night went along Simon didn't see the object thud on the wet sand with the push of a final wave. Or how the washed up mass seemed to be glowing.
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A/N: Hey guys so unfortunately MineZ will be pushed into the background for a bit. It's a bit difficult to get the chapter done so I won't have it on a weekly basis anymore. It'll be updated when I have a chapter ready, I'm sorry to say.
HOWEVER, now you guys can meet Simon who's an even WORSE situation then Michael, Ben, or the guy in purse are in. Hopefully you will like this series because I think it'll be a bit more interesting than MineZ.
Oh and later on if you have any theories about anything that may be happening to Simon or any of the strange events going on around him go ahead and leave it in a comment. Or if you just want to say something go ahead and just post a comment, they always help!
See you in the next chapter! ~MBP
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