Elemental Existence

The sea is beautiful, it is majestic. The tides allow for it to be ever changing. Power within itself, and grants power to the Riptide people.

The tides answer their command as they are one with the sea. Respecting the source of their powers and finding themselves lost in the beauty within the waves. Though behind the beauty of the waves there are dangers lurking below.

One has never forgotten the dangers of the waves. Holding on to the fear, as the memories of her almost death under the waves followed her throughout her life.

Trapped on the island, she was haunted by the crashing of the waves, each night sounding as if they were moving closer. Reaching out and one day they would be able to claim the soul that escaped them all the years ago.

That was going to change today. The boat from the mainland was coming. Her way out of the nightmare was arriving. Once she made it to the Cinder Valley she would be safe.

Cari remembered when the Firework Dancers toured the island those years ago. The spark of freedom. Needing to follow the lights that would lead her to peace.

She waited on the dock. It was the first of the month and the traders were bringing supplies to the island. Finally she was ready to leave. With a bag in hand she stared at the horizon. Willing the boat to come faster. Needing the freedom.

The minutes grew long with the sound of the waves crashing in her ears. Each one sounded louder. She tightened her grip on her bag. She was safe on the dock, she told herself.

This was the closest that she had come to the shore in years. A mandatory sacrifice for her to leave the island. All those years dreaming of leaving the seas, but never risking the trip.

Part of her wanted to run. Run to the center of the island and hide deep underground. Hide away from it all. The island was small, there was no place for her to be far enough from the waves.

She took a couple breaths to steady herself. She knew why she was one the docks. Dealing with the water now would mean that she would never have to ever again.

“The boat will come soon,” she said to herself. Needing it to be true. Repeating it to herself, hoping to drown out the sound of the waves.

The sky was growing darker by the second. With a storm rolling in her fears only intensified. It would be just her luck that the day she found the courage to come from the docks, the universe decided to curse her with a storm that would further trap her here.

“Please don’t let it rain,” she said as the first drops started to fall. “No, no, this can’t be happening.”

Cari dropped her bag as she opened and closed her hand. Her breaths became shorter. She was going to get off this island, but the fear within her was rising. This was all too much.

Close the hand tight. Grip to take in all the tensions. Open to release. Repeating the motions help to steady her. Cari felt the tensions within her grow smaller every time she opened up her hands again. She was in control. Nothing was going to stop her from getting off this island.

The boat crossed the horizon. Cari grabbed her bag off the dock, and stood up straight ready for the next phase. One last breath to center herself and she believed that she could do this.

The crew tied the boat off to the dock. Jumping over the gap to start unloading. They didn’t even notice Cari, that was until one walked right into her.

Cari fell down onto the dock. This was not part of her plan. She might need to readjust to allow for continued success.

“Sorry about that,” he said, putting the box on the dock to help her up. “Didn’t see you there, normally no one else is out here.”

Cari grabbed on to his hand, accepting his help as she made it back to her feet. “Now that I have your attention, will you be willing to give me a ride to the valley?”

Cari internally congratulated herself. She managed to say that as if it was intentional, she never knew that she had that kind of confidence.

“We’re not supposed to pick up passengers.” He said.

Cari knew it was going to be a risk. Standards procedure dictated that everyone stayed within their own community. The people that shared their powers, who they were meant to work with for the betterment of the society as a whole. Leaving the island was unheard of.

“No one has to know.” Cari pleaded.

He looked at her. Knowing there was no law other than social tradition preventing the migration. It continued to feel wrong towards him.this was never done before.

“I can’t stay here.” Cari said, placing all of her desperation and fears into her sentiment. “I need to get away.”

It was all too much. Being near the sea. Hearing the waves. Being knocked over. Cari was almost in tears. Trying and failing to keep it together, the tears started to run down her face.

The man opposite her had no idea what to do about a crying girl. None of his shipment training had prepared him for this. Finding himself in a panic, with no protelcal of how to act. “If no one knows, I guess it will be okay.”

Cari rubbed away the tears. With eyes still puffy, she offered her thanks, and made her way past the man onto the boat.

She told herself not to think about the water. She may be closer to it but she was also closer to her freedom. Just one trip across the waves and she would be free for life.

Hiding in a corner. Her bag blocking her way. The boat provided the needed barrier from the noise of the waves.

She found comfort in the sounds of the workers. The repetition of their footsteps as they made their way on and off the boat. The shuffling of packages being picked up and moved depending on what needed to be brought to the island.

There was the patter of rain. Increasing in speed as more began to fall. Rain really was not needed right now, didn’t the universe know that this was an important moment for her, and did not need any interference.

Watching as the workers made the final adjustments before setting sail. Her dream finally began to feel real. When they removed the anchor and the ropes from the dock, she released a thankful breath. With the boat starting to move, she only hoped the weather would get better. It was supposed to be a happy day of sun, yet the storm worked to remind her of her long held fear.

When they set sail her attention turned to the sky. The clouds only grow darker, with heavier rain falling up ahead. It was looking bad, but she had to trust the crew. If there was really going to be a concern then they would not sail in the weather. As long as the boat kept moving she would be safe.

Lighting lit up the sky. Flashing brightly, causing a ripple of panic to spread across the crew. The clap of thunder confirmed their suspicions.

The boat rocked as waves crashed over the side. Water filling up the floor of the boat. Wave after wave crashed into the boat. Too much water was coming aboard, making the boat unbalanced. The vessel started to tip.

Cari tried to hold on to the wall. But everything was too wet. She quickly lost her grip and fell beneath the waves.

Submerged under the water. Too dark to see the way water. Cari began to panic. Instinctually she opened her mouth to call out for help, only for the water to rush into her.

The curse of her fate had struck once again. Claiming as a victim of the waves. She tried to escape and this time she feared she wouldn’t be so lucky to make it out again.

She knew how her fate was going to play. Her existence upon an island surrounded by her fear was a curse.

She saw a body in the water near her. A crew member. This was not fair for them. She had accepted her fate. Knowing the curse. All they did was try to help her. It was too late for her, but maybe she could do something to save them. She was a Riptide after all.

“The sea has haunted you for long enough,” she said within herself. “You have the powers of the sea, you must use them.”

She pushed outward, willing the water away from her. The waves resisted at first, the powers forign to her, never before used, never embraced. Knowing she needed them, she continued to push.

Step one: get the water away. If she could get to the surface she would be able to breathe. And then maybe she could quell the storm.

The water responded to her will. Ripples being pushed away from her, moving the water outward, pulling her up to breach the surface.

Gasping for air. Shallowing water in the rush. Even with the rain pouring down on her face she was no longer drowning, and that was a start.

A flash of lighting, flowed by the clap of thunder. The storm was too close for her. This was her curse and she was going to face it.

Seeing the bodies around her. There was no way that they were going to perish as part of her fate, not when she held the power to help.

Storms were a mix of air and water. As much as she hated it, water was her domain. She was going to end this. Stop the storm and save the crew. Save the crew, and stop the storm. She found a state of calm in repeating the goals to herself. Save the crew and stop the storm.

She was angry, she was afraid. But her fear was going to end now. Raising her arms above her head. Calling out to claim her power. This was going to end.

“Away,” she shouted at the skies. Pushing her hands away from herself and slashing them into the water.

Her anger held the power needed to dispel the storm. Pushing the water outward in a sphere of protection created by Cari.

She moved to the first crew member, pulling them above the waves. Together they saved the others.

When everyone was above the surface once more, they moved towards their ship. For if they would want to go anywhere else they would have to have a ship that is facing the right way.

None of the other crew questioned Cari. She was the one to save them. As thanks she would be gifted with a ride to her freedom.

Cari stood on the deck of the boat. Taking the first steps to the rest of her life. Cinder Valley would allow for new beginnings. With unlimited possibilities. Safe from the sea, and free from her curse. The storm was gone, they all were safe, and a new future awaited her. She was relieved to place the island behind her, knowing she was ready for whatever came next.