GENOc

Urchins are at play rolling down a hill. They scatter in every direction. The riverbed rippled underneath footsteps. Tiny feet bumped into mayhem. Jellyfish alerted by commotion started chasing them.

Belly: “ They're following us! Hurry! Can’t you run faster?”

Fern: “ I am rolling fast as I can, Belly.

Corset: “ I paused...It didn’t work. They swam over me and one poked me.”

Rock head: “ Are you okay?! Keep moving! Remember, to keep breathing. If someone picks us up, we will survive til they throw us back n the water.”

Jellyfishes are stinging now. They roll in opposite directions to no avail. The tide is coming in. That can push them up and over onto the shore. They will stop following them. The fish are ruthless. They swoosh swimming overtop their head bumping into them. Rock head punched one of them with his tail. Fern tried to trick them but none would graze. Onslaught seemed more important as approached home. How do they know? Plants similar to them are floating uprooted by man. Large water lilies seen above water camouflages urchins. They’ve been motionless until now. No one was there! Their senses are not mocked! They would have moved if that is the case.

Belly: “ Roll! Roll! I can’t take it no more...(Breathing).”

Corset: “ Come on, girl...Keep on. It will help if you cut in front of me sometimes.”

Belly: “ Okay”.

Fern: “ Lookout! (Ugh) Ow! A stinger hit me in the eye!...I want to go home.”

Rockhead: “ We’re almost there?!! Fern, fight back. That will help right now.”

Fern dodged through the forest of leaves below. He zigzagged his way to victory. Others are alert behind him. He continued to roll over a sea turtle. That should do it. The turtle started snapping at jellyfishes swarmed by him! Corset decided to use her strengths too. She hid behind flowers until their attack escaping past a friendly crab. He’s their seafaring neighbor in the riverbed. He aimed at the jellyfish saying slowdown. The stingers dismay him. He does not want to be hurt by one. He opened his mouth taking one by the head. A jellyfish fell toward an earthen floor. They’re almost home bound. The tide is not strong enough. Urchins waited too long for a wave or current. Jellyfish are getting angrier! You can see the light in their eyes. Sometimes, a pupil is blue turns to red. Fern yelled behind him,” Sorry.”

A jellyfish begins punching at him. He’s infuriated by a kind gesture. Here comes a blow! Another stinger in the eye, Fern cannot see. He is rolling everywhere crossing friendly paths by mishappenstance. Corset shouted,” I know a shortcut. Follow me, okay...This way!!!”

Soon they followed behind her. She escaped via an old spider hole. They won’t notice. They seem like only plants to them. Finally, all of them burst through the crescent door. All of them, called,” Mom!?!!!” Older siblings with their mother closed the door. They bumped into it just in time.

Sibling1, Tiny: “ What’s the matter? Hey! Be careful! “

Sibling2, Salty:

“ You are out of breath. Slow down. You’re going hyperventilate. “

Fern is crying. He scurried all over the seashelllike rockcave. He is very injured. Others came to the rescue circling around him. Abruptly, a bottom side of rockcave opened up exposing their Father whom heard noise. He covered him with yellow, blue seaweed body calming him down. He tried to give him breath. He attempted to feed him water. The only action helped is when he pat his back with his stubble feet. Fern looked up. The Father Graymoor said, “ Oh, no!? I have to get that eye...” He sucked at it. Squirting water into it removes blood. He started growling while Mother, Celiae started muttering by rippling sounds. He assured her he can fix it. “ I know what to do, dear...See? He can see. A few days and you will regain your eyesight.”

Salty: “ They were playing again....They shouldn’t be out there by themselves. (He heads out the door) I have to fertilize, Oate. Oate will stopby later.”

Tiny: “ That reminds me!? Oh, ....(He hurried out) I left Simon by himself by the shooo-re....”

Graymoor decided to have a talk with the kids. Urchins must be able to escape harm. Humans can poach them. Enemies will destroy them. He will have to teach them how to behave when danger comes.

Graymoor. “ Children? ...” He said kindly. “Listen to me. Fern are you hearing okay? ...Good. Cheer up. You will not be winking for long. That eye will heal itself. It’s only swollen...No, do not speak! I want all of you to listen to me. .. you will learn to fight come daybreak. All of us will practice feats to get away from evil. You could have spit in the eye but you did not know how to do that with water. I will teach you don’t worry....First, eat. There’s fresh ants, termites and seaweed to eat . Maybe, I can grab a quick hunt of tiny worms.”

Urchins crowded around the table. Celiae placed from her mouth pieces of meat onto each plate. The pebbles surfaced as a plate. She offered a little seaweed. Quickly, she fetched a worm she saved earlier divided it between them. They ate their full.

In the morning, each urchin followed Graymoor ordered. He gestured and nudged them to go around rocks. He motioned to leap scrubs. He ran toward a hill dipping into the forest leaves...There is so much to learn. He taught them well. They will play like this for rest of their lives. He dug into the earth seeking worms. He saw them. He rolled , dug with his scubble feet and bites into a hole headfirst. Flood of worms came out a hole. He sat hidden in the shore of rocks watching them eat. Fern stopped. He was smiling. He looked like a guppy at the pout.

“Why didn’t I die?”

“What?!...We will not die. We will be a new creature. When this body fades, we will be a crab. Big as King Crab you’ve seen here!”

“That’s later...Aren’t you afraid?”

“No...Nooo. I can die in the marsh or within grounds where turtles graze. I will be kept alive until I’m reborn.”

“No, you’re not. Sharks can eat you.”

“Not me! I learned to hide my body in the cliffs. The under bed pushes me deep beneath it. A plant sprouts up. Those will hide me. They will start to grow...There no death too harsh...If knowledge is key, your wisdom leads you there...”

“Then, the Gods will replace you.”

“No.Gods let me grow. I am too small. And delicate. And unique. He prefers to keep us.”

“What makes you SO sure?”

“Son, you do not understand. The pain you have is not there to stay.”

“I feel better...Much better.”

“And therefore, you WILL learn to eat, heal, and heal and eat...THEN, you will learn to die.”

“ I’ll never die.”

“Yes...But, Fern...Dyin is not the end. “