So this was sitting in my head for probably a year...so here we are. Well... I know. Already I've been told this Fanfic has a different vibe. Well I miss my island and family so much. Being stuck away from family and friends sucks. Since I can't be there on my rock to lay in the sun and swim in the water, I'll just write about it.


Chapter 1


Cloudy cool mist moved through the high luscious green mountains that looked like emerald gems breaking from the rolling earth. The clear blue sky reflected the morning suns glow and left behind a warming hug along the calming ocean shores. The gentle waves pulled and pushed along the sandy white coast of the bay that hugged the base of the high mountains. White foam occasionally rolled over a few sea glass, colorful seashells, and crustaceans. The blue sky's breath settled over the grassy cliffs and the leafy terrain. Colorful birds called out in the distance flying in a group away from the beast that rested in the hills.

A wooden shack belonging to the proud African people once, sat nestled comfortably in the deep valley. Its old beams creaked occasionally but stood strong and proud of its heritage among the old mountains. The banana leaves whipped gently on the sides as the wind blew, carrying a scent that would change the day. The foliage surrounding the hilltop was thick and bountiful; disguising the traps, sharp cliffs, and steep falls that one would succumb to if they didn't know the dirt pathway leading to sanctuary. Everything was quiet around the hills and no one went beyond the marker of freedom carved into the rugged stone near the base of the mountain.

An old man took his pipe out of his mouth. His wrinkled left knee sat bent on a bench while his left arm rested along its length. His right leg stretched in front of him while the other hand moved as if signing to someone despite the area being free from occupants. Greens and browns dressed him in modern garb and hung off his skinny tall frame. His eyes, pure white and knowledgeable as he pulled gently along the ancestral medicine he inhaled. His long silvery-grey hair intricately wrapped into historical locs of wisdom that fell around him in different lengths. His dark brown skinned shined in the joyous sunlight as he nodded his head to the music playing on the small black radio at his side. A lucky red cloth tied around the handle with a gold ring shined and reflected his smile. He continued to stare out into the hills and bounced his head. Seeing nothing and everything at the same time. A small puff of smoke barreled from the old hidden cabins crooked chimney in the distance remained the only warning to those that knew and those that knew not.

"Baba!" Cried out a young woman as she came upon him resting in the morning sun. The tall palms hanging above him shook and a sweet breeze lifted his spirits. He sat on a colorful bed of pillows and throws along the beach as he rocked and continued to give the blue crystal sea his back and the mountains his full attention. At the sound of her voice he smiled and began to sing again.

"Here I come with love and not hatred

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow

All the days of my life"

She walked over with her bare feet pushing through the soft sand and sat her basket down nearby to give him her attention. She put her hands on her hips and pushed them to the side. She narrowed her eyes at the elderly man and inhaled sharply clearly trying to reign in her temper. A suck of the tongue released a loud displeasing pop that chimed her frustration at seeing the old man there leisurely moving to his tune in the heat of the morning sun.

"Ba-!" She shouted as he sung loudly. He snatched the pipe out of his mouth and closed his eyes.

"Live up roots, Children!" He wailed with a rich voice of smooth cadence along with the steel drum and put his hands up rocking to the rhythm.

A slender woman walked around him and quickly reached for the dial of the radio. Her brown eyes were fiery as she watched him turn to finally face her. Her skin soft like a brown fawn. Her brownish red hair was platted into several long plats around her head and left to hang around her frame. Her hair held a decorative shell from the sea and blue bauble that danced along the side of her face enraptured in her hair. A slew of patois fell from her lips as she shook her head at him. "I've been searching for you! You're supposed to be resting inside the house, Baba!" She chastised. "Not out here in this heat! The doctor says-"

"The doctor! Dem say many tings! No sense!" He spoke breaking up his patois with a bit of pidgin English to show her his grief with the supposed experts of modern times. He put his pipe in his mouth and inhaled briefly before pulling away and releasing a puff of smoke from his nose. "Wha you whan mi fa do? Huh?" He challenged knowing he was aggravating his youngest by poking at her western education's patience.

She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes tightly to reign in herself. "I just want you to stay put and not go walking around solving the village problems, walking away from the village and not telling anyone, or..or…or-" She stuttered in her ranting hot temperament. "Laying in the heat, going into a heat stroke! Or going to that damn sugar shack!" She pointed back towards the village where the people were up and going about the day. "Please, you have got to take care of yourself. Mom would be so-"

"My sweet pepper." He coaxed her as he motioned for her to come closer with a wave of his hand. He switched his language hoping that his words will settle into her strong bones today unlike the many days prior. "How sweet you are to be looking after me." He reached for her hand and took his pipe out of his mouth with the other. "But I'm fine. I've lived for many years, sweet pepper. Your mom is pleased that I'm happy and woke up to give and receive plenty." He explained watching her tilt her head and huff in disapproval. He patted her hand affectionately and smiled endearingly looking up at her with wide ancient opaque eyes. "And these are my people. Our people. We must help each other if we want to get far and if we want to live a good life."

She shook her head and took a deep breath. "But Baba…" She dragged. "I can do this for us. If you would come to the States…"

With that he waved her off and shook his head. His smile still sat on his face as he leaned back on the little platform he made from mismatched patterned pillows and blankets. His long grey locs falling behind him as he looked upon her with a fatherly love. "I was made and built for this little island rock right here, my dearest Oshun." With that he patted the sand and put his pipe back to his thin lips. "It was a blessing for your mother, and it remains a blessing from Most High onto me. Besides, I have my people to counsel and my grands to chase and teach them the way."

The woman shook her head wanting to complain but stopped as she saw puffs of smoke rising from the distant chimney high in the mountains. The tinkle sound of the ornaments in her hair chimed as she tilted her head in wonder at the sign. "Who sleeps there?" She spoke in astonishment understanding the history and the significance of the cabin that had been vacant for God knows how long. But the sign of smoke bellowing from the chimney revealed to her that it was now occupied. Her eyes looked back at her father who still maintained his smile and took a breath from his pipe. Her eyes widened and fury shook her. "Who else is here, Daddy!? You cannot keep counsel like this and save the world! You are sick!" She began to rant as he held his hands up to silence her.

"My daughter, I cannot turn away anyone looking for true refuge and my hand. Dis is not our way or that of our religion." He responded gently as if reminding her of something important and being delicate about it. "Besides…I've fasted and have received the message. All is good and right now. The almighty has spoken, and pride goes before a fall." He explained before dragging from his pipe again and looked back to the mountains.

"Who is he running from? Huh?" Oshun asked as she paced the sands. "What trouble has come upon us now, Baba!?" She asked desperately with her hands now settled on her hips.

Her father shook his head and leaned back. "That one up there-" He emphasized by pointing his pipe up at the hills where the cabin lay. "Is facing an adversary unlike he has ever seen. But many of us face this foe at one time or another. I believe you currently share in his current predicament." He jabbed lightly before turning his radio back up. His daughter opened her mouth to sort out his confusing omen before he spoke with finality. "I will return shortly and nap today in doors. But only to meet you in the middle so to not cause worry in your heart today." He amended. "But in return you must do my job today and take the oil and a few goods up to the cabin by sunset. And you will need to start the healing process. He will need great strength for his pain. You remember the way?" He asked with a knowing smile.

Oshun sighed heavily and nodded her head. He was willing to listen and do as she asked. It would be the least she could do to take some of the load off his shoulders. Her mind held hope that maybe this would give him the rest he needed and clarity to see that it was time to move away from the Rock. That Jah held better things away from this place. A place where the internet moved at lightening speeds and she didn't have to travel hours away to use the wifi at the resort. "I remember." She spoke softly reaching out to hold his old hand into hers. The warm and wrinkled hand felt just as strong as it did when she was two. "What ails him?"

Her father stilled and his smile turned a bit saddened. "If I tell you, it ruins your training. Why don't you brush up on those skills your beautiful mother and I taught you and see to him. Maybe while you heal and connect with your roots, some sense will come and heal you too." He chided playfully while rubbing soothing circles into the back of her hand.

"Him?" She asked as she cocked her head to the side. The subtle weariness creeped into her voice while searching her father for relief of her unspoken fears.

"Him." He smiled and motioned to the mountains. "Don't worry, young one. That dog up there lost his bite some time ago." He said before turning the dial up on his radio. The song blared through the speaker of the small worn radio. The sound turned up louder as he rocked before drowning out the rest of what his daughter had to say.

"Your mother loves this song!" He praised. True genuine happiness and elation crossed his features. "Julia… for once I can say…this is mine you can't take it! Long as I know I have love I can make it!" He sang loudly off key but with conviction. "For once in my life…I have someone who needs me!"

Her mouth was fixed open to say something, but he had already begun to turn around, thus ending the conversation.


"Baba!" Oshun gritted through clenched teeth as she swiped a few large leaves and branches from out her way. The grassy pathway was sort of clear except for a few mangy bugs, wide spiderwebs, and aggravation from Nature's cauldron littering the thick forest pathway. The fact that it was somewhat cleared of heavy debris spoke of her father's recent trek up the mountainous trail. A displeasing thought as she mulled over his health concerns. "I can't believe he walked up here like this. Probably by himself too with just a stick." She mumbled as she made a list of siblings to call about their shared father's neglect for his own personal well being. "And who would attempt to live up here anyway." She spoke aloud as she balanced the wicker basket of goods on her head with one arm while the other held a worn machete with the other.

She had been trekking up the mountain for some time using the strength and power her lineage lent her to climb through the grassy incline and beyond the sanctuary that protected her people for hundreds of years. They already lived far into the bush where she was born. A small village that hugged the far side of the island that connected from the base and all the way up into the deep valley of the mountains. Close enough to be near the cities and amenities provided but far enough to protect their lineage, history, culture, and ancient secrets passed from one ancestor to the next. The ancient villages that protected them still sat solid and communed with the giants of the world. Besides a few modern amenities, not much had changed about them. The youth however soaked up the modern technologic advancement and incorporated it into everything with the guidance and welcoming arms of their elders who saw this all as a good thing.

"Now if we could just get a ski lift." She mumbled as she walked through the pathway barely breaking a sweat until the little cabin came into view. Her sandaled feet pushed against the earth. She leaned the basket away from her to rest along her right hip as she walked forward. The house came into view a few minutes later. Its worn frame held the house together. A few repairs had been made and she could see where more would be needed. Someone had been working on at least giving the old house some support and it was very well done at that.

Oshun walked forward getting closer to see minor details. Her mind tried to wrestle with the few memories she had of the old shack. A legendary place that held warriors hidden from view and provided refuge until they were healed to continue the fight. The porch steps still sat broken but the porch itself was fixed. The roof looked like it was repaired as well. Some of the repairments contrasted greatly by design, looking strangely out of place yet aesthetically pleasing next the African and Spanish architecture of the house. She came closer seeing the two doors on the side wide open, allowing fresh air to carry inside.

She stopped in the middle of the pathway leading to the rickety wooden steps with a sudden swell of apprehension. Energy coated the area making her look for the culprits. Her brown gaze soaked in the entry way of the house to see a sharp long sword resting against a wooden banister next to a series of whetstones and a bucket of water. Its hilt was decoratively designed with red cloth that connected with some charm at the end. Another sword lay against the door with a black cloth that crossed in a pattern up the hilt. Both held an energy that confused her in nature. Their presence demanding respect but in different ways.

A comment of patois flew from her lips at the swords before she said a prayer. "Have you found no rest yet?" She asked them before walking forward towards them. She paused in her step suddenly feeling the air still. "Or is there something else that can't?" She asked, slowly trying to peek further into the cabin.

A weary sensation shook her bones a bit and a sense of danger rested thick on her tongue. The urge to get the oil fell heavy upon her. She surveyed the house and the sides from her position. Her ears and senses not hearing a bird nor any tiny creature nearby. Even the wind seemed to barely breeze through the trees despite the high altitude.

She took a step forward and stopped again, hearing the sound of an irritable growl. Her tresses chimed again as she looked about the old building trying to peek through the worn windows with the storm shutters up. Oshun moved the machete in her hand back and forth warningly in front of her. She rushed to the basket and pulled out two bells and laced them around her fingers. Wide analytical eyes roamed the space before her lips moved. "Sir!" She called out into the small house. She looked about through the shadows but didn't see anything or hear movement. The shocking warning sitting heavy in the air as if her next step would lead to sure disaster. "My father sent me to give you the oil and some stuff you need if you're going to rest here." She explained as she took another step, this time onto the porch of the house. Its wood creaked underneath her foot.

"Onna."

She whipped around and her eyes stretched wide before her as she held the machete out daringly. Her expression changed to one of disbelief as she took in his features. Golden eyes rimmed with pink shined through the dark shade of the trees. He took a step forward allowing the silvery wisps of his hair to be seen. The ragged markings on his face spoke of the feral state he was in. His tall frame swept over her a little bit as she sized him up while taking a cautionary step backwards to root herself. His bare torso was long and hidden in the shadows. His white pants looked quite expensive and draped about his legs elegantly and rested upon bared feet. Her eyes trailed over the foreign being that towered her figure and looked as displaced as anyone could be. The moon on his forehead telling her how truly lost the soul was in front of her. "A name for the one that needs healing?" She asked in awe.

A low growl was heard from his jaws through clenched sharp teeth. Anger was etched in his features and directed at her. His facial muscles scrunched, and his sharp canines bared at her warningly. The warning sound ripped from his throat and grew in sound. Oshun placed her machete into the ground but kept the bells in her hands. Her eyes assessed him before taking a voluntary step forward with her chin up like a warrior. As she stepped, his body twisted forward with feral claws outstretched in her direction. Confusion danced in her eyes a bit as she looked him over; seeing him with eyes her father blessed her with and feeling what only her mother could.

"You are hurt…Demon." She muttered softly with empathy. The baubles and shells in her head chiming with the movement of her hair. Oshun's features softened and her brown eyes lost their confusion and anger at being brought up high on the mountain.

At that, the being sprang quickly from the bush and was upon her. She took a deep breath and waited the millisecond it took for his extended long talons to reach her.


Well? I like this a lot! I'm not talking about any particular island here but mixing histories. I love the vibe in this one. This is going to be a short fic but now that its out its helping my writers block!

Songs: (1) Dennis Brown - Here I Come (2) Stevie Wonder - For Once in my Life