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Chapter 3: Learning how to survive!
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Zane stared intently at a pile of kindling made from some small bits of driftwood. He stared and stared, all the while holding a broken rum bottle bottom overhead, trying to desperate catch the rays of the sun.
It had been three hours since he had started to try and build a fire. So far, no dice. There was no flint, and he had only the vaguest ideas on how to rub two sticks together to make fire. So, magnifying effect was the only way to bring forth the precious red flower of man.
It was hard though, and he had had to eat another coconut to sate his hunger for breakfast. Nothing substantial in the tidal pools either. Just more crabs and starfish. As soon as he could, he would find a way to make a harpoon and go fishing.
At last, though, his patience paid off, and a tiny ember sparked to life on the dry tinder. Some of which had been soaked in rum just in case it really was flammable.
He bowed his head rapidly as the rum soaked wood burst into flames and he was given a small yet functional campfire.
"Forgive my doubts, Captain Jack Sparrow!" Zane cried to the heavens.
The castaway hastily set up tiny skewers which held lumps of soft crab meat, and began licking his lips as the smell wafted up to him.
It had been five whole days since Zane had woken up on an abandoned island surrounded by naught but water and a wrecked ship. He had made do surprisingly well in his opinion with what little supplies he had.
His lean-to made of a pirate flag, some driftwood, and a palm tree was in much better shape. Sturdier too. Now a gentle breeze would not blow it over.
He had also fought the sun by wrapping palm and fern leaves around his neck and exposed arms and legs. It was much lighter and cooler than the trying to use the pirate flag as a means to protect against sunburns, and that was what mattered.
He had tried starting a fire using the glass the other day, and only got faint embers from it. Not nearly enough to cook anything. He had also accidentally kicked sand over it when he tried to feed it kindling the first time, and smothered it with too much woo the second.
Zane's exploration had also led him into the ocean for the first time. The waters around the little patch of land he called his temporary home were crystal clear and brimming with sea life.
Large coral reefs decorated the area, while seaweed lazily swayed in underwater currents. Fish of all sizes and colors darted around within, and though Zane had yet to catch anything with his makeshift wooden harpoon there was no doubt that there was plenty to eat in there.
He had avoided swimming too much in the ocean, however. He had never been able to open his eyes underwater without wearing goggles, and he doubted salt water would help the matter much. He had also spotted a shark at one point and 'noped' the fudge out and back onto the sand.
Now with a warm fire he could finally cook his food and not taste their cold, wet, clammy flesh going down his throat.
"OK. I have fire, and some food. Water situation looks good so far. Enough for another week, if I drink only two cups a day. I will need to start rationing the coconuts, though. I have no idea how fast new ones grow, but I don't have all that many to eat anyways. My harpooning skills need work but I can figure something out if that doesn't pan out. Maybe make a fishing pole using some rope thread as a line," Zane said to himself.
He felt better hearing spoken words, especially when there was hardly anything else besides the rustle of the wind in the plants and the splish-splash of waves. He had seen maybe two seagulls the entire time, and they had been far off. The mainland, wherever it was, was not close.
Zane plucked a lump of crab from his skewers and popped it in his mouth. It wasn't bad. Plump and juicy, with a touch of salt water giving it flavor. He could live with this for now.
After lunch it was time for repairs and upkeep. Nothing needed constant checking, and most of what he owned on the island was crap anyways. But he made it a point to careful go over everything he had gathered, sort new finds, and make a tally of what he still possessed.
Then, once that was done after an hour or so, he began exercising.
He had never been a man who could claim to be fit. He wasn't obese, but he was pudgy, but if he wanted to survive he had to get into shape. He ran laps around the island, swam a bit, and practiced throwing both his stick-harpoon and his rock-tied-to-a-rope. Accuracy was 'meh' at best, but he hoped to improve soon.
Other than that, there was not much else he could do until dinner.
"So boring," Zane griped as he repeatedly threw his harpoon at a palm tree, aiming at a crudely scratched target on its trunk. It missed the mark more often than not, to his frustration.
"I have new found respect for my distant ancestors. And completely understand why they took up farming! I'd be lucky to take down a pigeon with these skills," he muttered. "That's one good thing, though. No pests like rats or their feathered cousins. But that begs the question; where am I?"
He heaved his water-hunting-spear. It struck dead on. He struck a pose then reeled it back in. He had tied a length of rope around it so he could retrieve it when he missed. Or didn't and had to drag his prey back to him.
"I know next to nothing about astronomy, so I can't even tell which stars are which. I could be in the Atlantic or the Pacific for all I know! Probably the latter seeing as there are coconuts and palm trees, though," Zane mused to himself. He threw it again and hit the bullseye.
"That also begs the question of 'how did I get here?' I do not remember getting on any sort of wooden boat or pirate themed ride, so what would I be doing next to the wreckage of a pirate ship? I also haven't seen any corpses. If this was a recent event, I feel like I should be seeing bloated bodies bobbing on the waves."
Zane's expression twisted in disgust at the thought of water logged bodies and missed his next shot. He sighed and reclaimed his harpoon.
"I just have to be patient. I've managed to cram a few tiny gems into an empty rum bottle as well as a bit of bark with charcoal writing, pleading for help and vague info I've surmised about my location. God willing it will be found, and hopefully the treasure will convince someone to come find me, if nothing else."
That had been his brilliant plan. Name, date of birth, address, simple facts about climate, star positions, and a jewel. With that, he prayed silently that this idea for message-in-a-bottle would reach someone.
He threw his harpoon again. This time, it struck dead on, and actually stuck into the wood. Zane smirked. Those stupid fish wouldn't know what hit them!
~/~/~
"Why do you continue to lollygag?! Are we not meant to be defenders? What is taking us so long to come to a decision!" King Triton bellowed at a mirror. It was elegant and beautiful, held in a case of gold and rimmed with pearls.
On the other side he could see several other people, sitting in different rooms. No two individuals were the same species.
There was a fairy with blue wings and dress buzzing nervously in a hut in a forest.
Another was a squat, stony creature with a flower growing atop its head.
Beside them a white dragon lounged upon a pile of gold.
A red and gold peacock fluffed its feathers and preened slightly as it sat on a silk cushion.
The last of the figures in the mirror was a gnarled old man with a beard even whiter and longer than the King of the Seven Seas' facial hair. He also floated several inches above the floor and was see-through.
The Mirrored Council, a group of powerful magical beings so-called that because they communicated with each other via these enchanted mirrors.
And now they were arguing over what to do with the Anomaly.
"I am of the same opinion as the fish. Find the source of the disruption and destroy it. Several of my magical treasures were broken by it!" the dragon, Albion, declared, fire simmering in his maw.
"You two are being hasty! The Anomaly saved the life of Princess Astoria by breaking her curse! She will be able to see her seventeenth birthday awake!" the blue fairy argued.
"That was an accident. A happy one, but still," the ghostly man said, stroking his beard. "I saw we monitor the Anomaly, whatever it may be, and only decide once we know what we are dealing with. Haste makes waste, after all."
"I am an ally of anyone who preserves beauty. As such, I am glad he bested that nasty Malificent's spell. Until I know more about this Anomaly, I too say we wait. I agree with Lord Phantasm and Lady Azure," the elegant bird stated.
"Fools, the lot of you! Will you just let this Fate Breaker run amok?!" King Triton snapped.
"My king, perhaps you should step back and look at it from a calmer perspective," the troll said. "All we know so far is that this Anomaly appeared and made several old prophecies and problems go away. This has caused issues of its own, but I believe, and everyone should agree with me, that anything powerful enough to do this should be approached cautiously."
"Lord Rollingstone, you are too kind for your own good!" Triton retorted. "The Southern Trenches were nearly destroyed when the Kraken woke up, and I had to personally subdue the Leviathan when the Anomaly disturbed its seals. Not to mention the Vortex Stone was cracked and will take years to fix, so until then I have to ensure Charybdis remains trapped in the Sea of Monsters and does not cause more whirlpools than he already does! And don't even get me started on the Nuckelavee!"
The Mirror Council winced.
"Ah, yes, that would be a lot of problems if even one of them got loose. I see why you are so 'proactive' in finding this Anomaly," Azure the fairy godmother said.
"And I admit, I too have had some troubles. The Enchanted Forest expanded slightly beyond its borders and my dear sister Carnelian had to corral some ornery unicorns and other magical beasts. Verdi has been trying to get ahold of the Seelie Court, but they too felt the Anomaly's appearance and have hidden themselves in their personal realms."
"A few old ghasts and grimly beasts sought to take advantage of the panic as well, and the Spirits of Death are in a tizzy due to the new changes in the timeline. Though oddly enough some of the Embodiments of Disaster were utterly terrified of this change," Lord Phantasm, the master of all ghosts and spirits, said slowly.
"The Oni tried to come down from the mountains, but a few displays of power put them in their place," Quo Dai the Phoenix King said as he shifted on his cushion. "Oh, and Albion, King Ryuu wanted me to tell you he wants a rematch."
The White Dragon of Providence snorted, golden sparks dancing in his breath.
"Tell him that a real dragon does not live in the sea, and if he wants to take my place as representative of all magical beasts he will come to me for that fight!"
"Enough, we have gone off track!" King Triton shouted, banging his trident into the floor. He went ignored, and more and more arguments broke out. His voice went unheard and his face turned red like a lobster.
Rollingstone, the chief of the trolls and guardian of the Old Magic, sighed at the bickering. He then clapped his hands and silence fell forcefully upon them.
"I agree with King Triton, we have drifted off topic. However, we shall do nothing but try to find the Anomaly and observe them. We do not know what has happened other than a new wind has begun to blow, and Fate has shifted. Only if they actively and maliciously pose a threat to others should they be confronted. But do not harm them unless it is a last resort! If we hurt an innocent we will all feel the sting of Fate! And for whatever reason, this Anomaly, this Fate Breaker, is now tied to the world for good or ill."
Seeing no immediate arguments, the troll undid the magic binding the rest of their mouths.
King Triton looked sullen, but he nodded in agreement, as did the others.
"We will convene once a month to share notes and any information we have. I know that this is unusual, but we have to stay connected in the face of this unusual circumstance. If that is all, I bid you goodnight," the troll chief said. None said anything, and one by one the images on the mirror flicked and faded, leaving only the merfolk king's reflection.
Triton grumbled but would obey the decisions for now. His men would scour the waters of the world for news, and act in his name. No one and nothing would hurt his family.