spreadingthesewings

[spreadingthesewings]

"Where do you think you are?"

"I... think I'm lost."

"You're in a fishing town. Ways off the grid." She sized me up from head to toe. "You look like a tourist. We don't get a lot of tourists this far out." I feel her interest starting to pique. "How did you get here? "

I glance at the little one, she was happily picking up the green slime from the shallow pools of water, inching closer and closer to where the waves were getting bigger. Meanwhile, her mother's attention was completely fixed on me: her peering eyes, her curiosity becoming more and more palpable.

I deflect her question with another question.

"Could you point me to the direction of the town, please?"

[spreadingthesewings]

As I make my way down the rock formations, I see a pair - an older woman and a little girl. A mother and her daughter, perhaps? The younger was squatting on the rocky seashore, seemingly inspecting something while the older quietly watched her.

I approached them, curious.

Sensing my presence, they turn to me at the same time. The older looks at me with a tinge of suspicion. The little girl, more agreeable than the older woman, offered me a pleasant smile.

“Do you want to see?” 

“See what?”

The little girl points to the small puddle at her foot. There was something green, slimy and moving in the pool of seawater.

“We’ve been gathering these for weeks now. Amah needs them to become a mermaid again.”

Her mother lets out a small sign of exasperation.

“What do you mean turn into a mermaid?”

“Amah used to live out there,” The little girl said, pointing at the unseen edges of the sea, “And now that she’s old, she needs to eat a lot of these so she can swim back to her sisters.”

I turn to her mother whose eyes rolled heavenwards for a quick second. She pats her daughters head. “Seagreens are rich in vitamins, sweetheart. That’s why Amah needs them to be strong again.”

The little girl shakes her head. “Amah says they used to eat a lot of these when she was a little girl, and that’s why they could swim soooo far away that she managed to get to the seashore.”

"Not everything your grandmother says is real, darling.”

The little looks up, confused, “But Amah says--”

Sensing tension building up fast, I decide to finally interrupt. “I’m so sorry to bother you, but could I just ask you something very quickly?”

The older woman turns to me, visibly annoyed. “What is it?”

“Where am I?”

[spreadingthesewings]

A bit more walking and I find signs of life -- promises of everlasting love carved into stone.

A part of me felt glad that I was getting close to possible answers, another part of me wondered why people choose to compete with the natural course of things and sully nature with these pronouncements. Is it really necessary to prove how much you love someone by hurting that which exists to protect you?

[spreadingthesewings]

I decide to explore the surrounding area -- rock cliffs facing the raging sea. 

Water so inviting, it was tempting to just take a dive and forget everything.

Water so clear, I could see the jagged rocks beneath. 

[spreadingthesewings]

I decided it was time to leave these premises, and find out where else I can find answers.

There was an island that I could see from afar. I went down the main road to explore a bit more, trying to figure out which was the better decision - follow the road, or get myself to that island.

[spreadingthesewings]

I woke up to a chorus of roosters’ crows.

[spreadingthesewings]

Perhaps, this is the best place to stay.

[spreadingthesewings]

I hasten to get past the shrine for the dead. 

Further along, I see another building, and no signs of other people.

[spreadingthesewings]

From the distance, I see what seems like possible shelter. 

Upon closer inspection, I realize that I was both right and wrong. It was shelter, but not for the living. It was for the dead.

[spreadingthesewings]

I pass by statues unknown -- gods, perhaps? Are these deities I can trust my life with?  Will they protect me?

[spreadingthesewings]

I look up -- the sun is about to set. I must hurry and figure out where I am. 

At the very least, I must find a place to stay the night.

[spreadingthesewings]

I find myself in a place unlike any place I've ever seen. I look down at my feet and find an emblem - a flower? 

What is this place? Where do I go from here?