Week 6 storytelling: The Storm

I’m suddenly yanked back into consciousness…

The morning sun blinding, even behind closed eyes, brings the pounding in my head to my attention.

I try to sit up. Every muscle in my body screamed in the attempt, worn and sore as if I was thrown around inside washing machine.

I rub out the stiffness in my neck as my eyes adjust to the bright sunlight, revealing the scene around me. As I lay in the warm sand around me, my eyes scan the small shoreline, seeing nothing but beach and the wild vegetation crawling its way out of the thick jungle. 

I pull myself up to my feet, giving the world a few seconds to stop spinning before making my way to the jungle line. I take a minuet to scan the jungle for any signs of life, only to be met with the dark shadows on shades of green and the smell of damp earth.

I made my way through the dense vegetation, heading north, the only way home that I can think of. As I walk among the damp underbrush, my memories slowly return to me, answering the many questions that have been swimming through my head all morning.

I remember a great storm…

The rain pouring down, lightning crackling through the darkness…

 The Waves crash down, destroying the ship… destroying everything.

I remember drowning… being slammed against the sea floor, only to be swept up again by a wall of water.

The jungle began to clear, opening to shoreline. I looked out to the vast ocean before me, realizing there was little hope of anyone ever finding me.

How have I already walked across the entire island?

Suddenly the waves began to split a few yards from shore. From beneath the waves, what looked like a giant rock rose from the depths. As it rose higher into the air and water rushed form the feature, I realized that it was the head of some creature, rising from the ocean. The head of what looked to be a giant turtle. And then it spoke…

“My name is Tortuga, protector of the oceans. I found the ruins of your ship in the wake of a terrible storm.” He spoke.  His voice was deep and hollow, vibrating the very earth on which I stood.

“I was afraid there were no survivors. That is until I found you floating among the drift wood”

I was in shock. I didn’t know what to say, even if I did know my mouth would not have let me speak it.

“I am taking you home”

“Th-Th-Thank you” I stammered, finally spitting something out.

We traveled throughout the day, well into the night. The long series of silence, floating through the calm waters, would occasionally be broken as we drifted and talked. He told me his story, and in turn the story of how everything came to be. Tortuga is very old and has been around for a very long time, rescuing lost and abandoned sailors find their way home.

I don’t remember when sleep took me that night, but the next morning I was awoken to the sound of shouting off in the distance.

A ship! I was saved!

I shouted and waved my arms in hopes of getting the crew attention. In turn I shouted at the great turtle in excitement but he never replied, nothing but still water all around the island. Was it all a dream? How long had I been out?

I boarded the ship and arranged for my passage back home. As it set sail and floated of into the horizon I watched the island for any signs of life. The island grew smaller and smaller until it was nothing but a speck on the horizon, only to vanish from the world once again.        

Authors note: Most of my inspiration came from reading the voyage of Sinbad. I thought the sea tales were really interesting and found that at least the first 2 both had giant animals in them. I've also always been fascinated by the ocean and how powerful it really is, as well as what its depths may hide.