My very first fanfiction, written when I couldn't sleep. Please be gently with your review, since English isn't my native language, and it's the first time I publish something.
Diclaimer: I do not own The Scorpio Races, it's setting or the characters.
The stench of death, rotten fish and salt water hit him in the face before he saw the sea. It took him another minute or so before he could see the waves crashing onto the beach. Although it was barely light, Gabe had sought out this place to think. His gaze darted over the dark waves, noticing how eerie and uneasy they were. Like they could spit out a cappall uisce whenever they wanted to.
He just stood there, still in his work clothes, watching the dark water but not really watching. Lost in thought, he first didn't notice it at all. By the second time the unearthly noise made him jerk his head up. Of course he knew what it was. Or rather, what had made it. His eyes found the horse. It seemed to be black or brownish yet the lack of sunlight made it impossible to be sure. Although it looked like a horse, Gabe knew better. It was a cappall and it was still more seacreature than a magic horse, which meant that if he was wise he should get the hell out of there. Cappaill uisce were always hungry for blood, but even more so when they were just spitten out by the sea.
He didn't move though. Moving would attract attention and him being killed was something that should not happen. At least not in this way.
With his breath unsteady, yet being quiet and still he watched the cappall uisce go. With that threat gone, he turned a little to face the sea again.
"I'm sorry." His whispered words disappeared through the wind before anyone could hear them. Still, this was the closest he could get to his parents, both dragged to their death a year ago by one of those seacreatures. Now that he was here and had seen once again a cappall, Gabe knew he couldn't ride one. He couldn't compete in the race. That meant that there was no chance at winning the race, no chance on the money. No money, sadly, meant no house.
"I'm sorry," he said again. "For breaking my promise. I just.. I just can't do it anymore."
After they –Puck, Finn and himself- had become orphans, he had sworn to look after his siblings. But no more. He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't take another day with only some beans to eat, or more days where he had to clean fish and come home smelling like he was one, he also couldn't take another death. And with the Scorpio Races at hand, deaths were about to happen. That was just the way it was.
For him, the mainland was the only logical answer and he had thought about it before, but then mom and dad where still alive and they would have understood. If he would leave now, and he would, Puck only would be angry and frown, Finn.. he would just not understand. That just was the thing with Thisby; you loved it or you felt misplaced. All his life Gabe had felt like he didn't belong here, not like his parents or sister did. He wasn't sure about Finn, but his brother wouldn't leave, about thát he was sure.
It kind of felt like betrayal, standing here and finally coming at terms with his thoughts. He didn't have the heart to tell Puck and Finn about how much money they owed mr. Mavericks, yet here he was, telling his dead parents that he was sorry and that he had tried.
A solemn tear escaped as he glanced once more towards the deep dark waves. "I'm sorry," he muttered again, feeling heartbroken by his decision but not coming back on his plan. Gabe turned around and slowly began walking home, for it would not long be his.
The sea spat out another cappall, and another. As if it was saying 'that's alright, Gabe. Things will never change here.' Life would go on with or without him.