This chapter is a short one, just so you don't think I'm gone or something. Please, leave reviews people. I like to hear what you all think, and what I need to work on! Writing is like art, I need to know where I need improvement, so I can make these more enjoyable. Thank you, and Enjoy!
Side Chapter 1
A Refreshing Day at the Beach
It had been several weeks since the incident with the Valkyries. I still had yet to keep my promise, but I had every intention to. First, however, I had to get Maddi somewhere safe. I couldn't risk her getting hurt again, nor did I want her to get involved with that place again. While we dove, we came upon a beach. The air was cool, and the water looked crystal clear. It truly was a beautiful sight. So I stopped. "Maddi, wake up." I whispered to the semi-sleeping girl on my arm "C'mon, get up, we're gonna take a short rest." I smiled as I got out. Her eyes flitted open, and she slowly got out of the truck. The air smelled of sea salt, and the waves crashed against the shore.
I remembered something my dad told me before he died. He said he remembered from before all this, back to when he was my age. He said he loved the beach, it was where he met my mother, and said that it was a magical place. In particular, he mentioned one thing he was very fond of: Surfing. When I asked what that was, he said that it was when you stood on a wooden board in the ocean, and rode the waves. That's just the gist, though. His explanation was so...so vivid. I felt like I could actually smell the sea salt, and feel the waves crashing behind me.
I had spaced out. I was just staring out at those waves, mesmerized by them. Then I came to my senses when Maddi gave me a light nudge on the shoulder "Hey, you okay?" She asked with pleading eyes. I looked to her with a smile and nodded. It was then that I looked down, and realise her belly was starting to show. She was definitely pregnant, and I was 100% certain it was mine. Seeing that made me smile. So I just spontaneously kissed her. It took her by surprise, but she only kissed me back.
As the sun began to set, we both sat there, stripped down to our underwear, with the sand between our toes. It was nice, almost felt...well, normal. So we just stayed there until the sun had completely set, and we grew tired. We got dressed and headed for the truck when a rustling came from the brush. I pulled my knife out and waited for what lay in the foliage, only to have a dog, yes, a dog, leap out in front of me. I pulled a bit of spare venison from my pack, and kneeled down "Here, you're probably starving."
Hesitantly, the dog walked over. It sniffed the meat and then quickly ate it from my hand. It gave a small yip before jumping up and licking my face. The dog looked to be more like wolf. A husky, perhaps? I don't know. It was a dog, and it was friendly. So we welcomed it with open arms. Oh, and this dog was clearly a female. Of course, I couldn't tell until she got in closer, since it was dark. At any rate, we all packed up, and we drove off into the night.
