Hi there! I know this took a while, and I am truly sorry, but I have exams and I hadn't study a thing during Christmas break and now I have to rush with it and I won't have so much time (sadly, as this is RS week :((
But still, here is something for you, hope you like it :D I'll try to write the next chapter as soon as possible.
- Keep your legs beating! Keep them beating, Em!
- N-no, no Jack, I can't!
- Yes you can! You've gotta trust me!
- Jaaaack…
..
The soaring wind saved him from the painful memories displaying before his eyes, still so recently marked in his soul, that his body was oblivious to the fact that they were just that: memories.
He could feel the dreadful coolness of the water soaking his being, freezing everything in its way with a cruelly gelid kiss.
It froze his arms and legs, still struggling to keep his head above water; it froze his torso, his shuddering lungs, desperately trying to keep themselves free from fluids; it froze his throat, who couldn´t scream her name any longer; it froze his brain, who was enable of thinking properly anymore; it started freezing his heart, who was certainly ready to give up.
And from his previously joyful and carefree spirit, the only thing left was a tiny ball of warm light, right in the center, which fought the ice to the peripheries of his core.
And this was what the sea had done to Jackson Overland, now more Frost that ever, whose will to live was immediately extinguish as the being right on his side, that other half of him, vanished in the unforgiving waves.
With a sudden shiver, Jack's mind and body seemed to wake up, and it was with a deep sigh that the boy found that there was no water surrounding him, and his feet safely touched the cold grass, the wind caressing his face.
- Baa…
The boy jumped three feet in the air, the sudden bleat coming just from behind him. He swiftly turned, gasping, and his blue eyes lowered to the pair of white clouds at his feet.
- Jeez… Eddy, Socks, what have I told you about sneaking up at me like that?
The two young lambs jumped and kicked, bleating with joy. Jack chuckled and gave Socks a little pat on the loin, and the pair went hoping away back to their mothers.
The young shepherd got back on his feet, stretching to his full height, carved staff firmly clenched in the pale fist.
And tied there, right on the big crook of it, the red scarf fluttered in the breeze. A bright sign of hope, like a flag that the boy would hoist proudly, reminding him who he really was.
He owned that tiny flame of optimism to a certain miracle that happened to him, weeks ago, which he simply couldn't take out of his mind. It was like that splash of salty water had woke him up from the nightmare of the past few days, showing him that there was still a lot to see in this world and he would be losing it if he stay like that, roaming around as if he was already dead.
Em would certainly not approve it, his brother wasting his life like that…
Surprisingly, he felt his lips stretch in a smile at the thought of her, instead of becoming all gloomy and depressed.
He started wandering around his small herd, palm gently stroking the tangled wool of the grazing animals. They lived such a peaceful live: no worries, just enjoying the early grass and the beautifulness of the hill.
Behind them, the mountains in the south extended their peaks, white covered summits glistening in the rare sun that was able to shine between the passing clouds.
Jack them turned them his back, finally facing the great blue covering everything at eye reach, right there before him. The wind blew directly from the sea, bringing the salty air with it.
His eyes couldn't help but wander, trying to spot some sign of a strange presence. He would be dammed if he admitted to himself he wanted to see her again. But a part of him also knew it was no use to lie, not about that.
The question was, would she return? Oh, he doubted that, not after what she had been through. Not after what he had almost done to her.
Sometimes he wondered if it had all been real, or if it was just his mad mind trying to find something colorful in this grey, dull life. Who knows...
Well, she does. Because, deep down he was sure: she was out there, somewhere, happily swimming through the refreshing water, safe in the ocean that was her home, away from the danger of men. Men like him…
...
..
.
She flapped her tail as fast as she could, fin thundering strongly against the withstanding liquid.
"Oh my! Rashmi is going to drag me to the surface and let me dry there, in the scorching sun!", the hurried mermaid kept whining in her head.
And there she went, lips apart in order to let the salty liquid flow into her gills, by entering her mouth. But she swam so fast that it looked like there wasn't enough time for the oxygen to be filtrated out of the water. So she truly was almost out of breath.
Toothiana was getting near her village, thus she dove towards the thick green forest of undulating algae, cautious, as if to check if the coast was clear.
She was in no mood to give detailed information about where she had been and doing what.
So, seeing the open waters ahead, she giggled mischievously. The thrill of doing what she wasn't supposed to was starting to get addictive.
The mermaid bit her lip at the thought, but chuckled even more, getting out of the forest with a gracious loop.
However, out of the blue, her body bumped against something in her path.
- Auch... – she groaned, rubbing her forehead.
But then her irises opened, and caught sight of the form before her, and a muffled – Ops! – left her lips.
Her head-fins immediately clung to her skull, and she bowed, showing her respects towards the personage.
- Escutah... – she whispered, courteously.
What were the odds to bump specifically against her...?, her increasingly rebellious mind simply grumbled. She quickly chided herself, shocked at the lack of manners a part of her seemed to possess.
Then a clear sound spread through the water, reaching her ears slightly from above.
- Young Toothiana, it's better for you to watch where you're going... – the taller mermaid stated calmly, but there was no concern in her melodious voice. In fact, it totally lacked emotion.
The other straightened up again, facing the being before her.
The older character tail and torso were dyed in hues of purple and deep-blue, the undulating fin marked with strange elegant patterns, unique to each mermaid. They told the story of one's life, in a language of bubbles and spume. Toothiana's was a blank page, to be filled when reaching her adulthood.
Escutah's angular features showed a serene expression, brow just with the slightest frown, condemnatory about the juvenile mermaid's behavior.
The mermaid was an especially respected figure in Toothiana's community. She was the Great-Mother's listener. It was her job to intervene in the communication between mother-of-all wishes and her daughters' needs.
So, yeah, she maybe just committed some kind of secret offense or something like that.
Her revolutionary self quickly ran to the backs of her conscience, leaving her flustered personality to deal with the current matter.
- I am truly sorry, I didn't mean to, I didn't saw where I was going- Oh, you already said that- her mouth only continued babbling and babbling, like a unstoppable current of words.
The other blinked at first, caught out of guard, but urgently signaled for her to bring to an end all this excuses.
- T-Toothiana! Enough! – she commanded, in a strong tone. The smaller one bit her lips and lowered her head, embarrassed.
- I'm sorry...
The Listener sighted, but recovered her serene stance, proceeding in her beautiful, although neutral, voice.
- Toothiana, has your core-sister entrusted you with any special task yet?
The younger one's violet irises, shot right up again, and she straightened herself.
- No, she hasn't. – she stated. She didn't know what if to feel exited or not. It was always her dream, to play an important part of their society, to by useful and needed. But now she had a more interesting... project.
- Ugh, I see... – the other stated, looking over Toothiana's shoulder, towards the green slick forest the mermaid had burst from some waves ago.
- Maybe I need to talk to Rashmi about it. – she continued, absently. But then her almond eyes set on the younger mermaid before her. – It seems you have too much... free time.
And Toothiana couldn't help but gulp slightly. Oh, she was in trouble...
- Now go home, and beware where you are swimming to. No more loops in the village, understood?
Escutah dismissed her, and graciously swam away, but not before she had a hesitant nod from the ashamed mermaid.
Toothiana let out a restrained breath, and softly bumped her tail against the sandy floor, as she let herself sink in those clear waters. With a nervous giggle, she let all the tension drain from her completely.
And she couldn't help her mind to be flooded once again with thoughts related to a certain encounter, that she had long quitted trying to ignore. She titled her head towards the surface, the shining waters luring her more than they ever did.
The muscles of her tail ached slightly, exposed to too much effort in these last days. But a last peek wouldn't hurt...
With another roughish giggle, she kicked hard, impelling her form in the water, higher and higher.
All the distance she had swam recently, all the scolding she had endured from Rashmi for getting home late... it was all worth it!
And up she went, forgetting about her childish behavior, her new responsibilities, and whatever others might think. She felt free, and that was all that mattered...
...
..
.
- Great, this was exactly what I needed now... – the boy muttered grumpily, using his hands to hold his weight as he lowered himself between the rocks.
Earlier, he had lost himself in thoughts – again... – when he heard the bells echoing up the slope, born down there in the village. It was time to return.
And it was when he was gathering up the herd that he finally noticed. There was one little lamb, grazing near his mother. Only one little lamb.
- Oh no... - he just hissed, kicking the grass, before his eyes started to scan the entire lea. – Socks!
And now here he was, playing hide and seek with one naughty lamb. He shook his head, smiling slightly, as he followed the track of softly stepped grass.
Well, herding was normally an occupation full of calm moments, so sometimes, something to shake things up a bit was welcomed. But not when it was time to get back home.
He continued going down the hill, eyes stick to the floor, ears alert to the slightest bleat. Jack realized he had certainly come a long way when he caught that familiar sound, of waves crashing against the cliffs.
But he quickly forgot all of it when his irises saw a white blur jump just ahead.
- Gotcha! – he whispered with a smirk on his face, making eye contact with the runaway cub. Its sudden bleat made Jack sprint like a predator, towards its direction, as the shepherd saw that the animal was going to escape again.
- I don't have time for this! – he whispered again, breathing hotly.
But his heart nearly stopped as he registered where the young lamb was fleeing to.
Nonononono!, his brain screamed, as his foot pushed harder against the ground.
Apart from the blood rushing in his ears, the only thing the boy could hear was the crashing waters, spume elevating in the air. The place where land ended and sea begun. And it was exactly towards there they were both running into.
So with one last step, the boy jumped, firmly enveloping the scared lamb in his arms. The feeling of emptiness was quickly replaced by one of coolness in his stomach, as he firmly closed his eyes.
But it only lasted a second. Before he could notice, his back where sliding down something made of sedimentary rock, that crumbled in his way down, scratching the pale skin from his back.
The high bleat of the screaming animal stopped as fast as the boys bum hit the sand, arms still firmly holding the flouncing lamb.
A gasp was suddenly heard, and a splash in the water.
The boy quickly opened his eyes.
It was that bay... And in the water, peeking, as if from one of his memories, two beautiful lilac eyes stared back at him.
So, yeah, probably you wanted more but I couldn't, I need to study :( And I started writting again for my other RS story so I'm really running out of time!
Please review :)) It makes my heart warm