Going In

Spears through the heavens

Water entered into his nose, waking him up from his unconscious state. At first Mac didn’t realized where he was, because he was trying to cough out all the water, but as he had reclaimed his senses, came to the conclusion that now he was just another drop of water into the vast ocean.

After a second Mac saw the boat behind him, in his mind he was outside the boat at the open sea, instinctively he started to use his arms and legs trying to stay on the top of water, but likely there was no need for that.

Mac looked around and realized his boat and he himself were on a small patch of land that was just barely under the water, so that only his ankles were submerged. He thought that the earth underneath him was just a result of the formation of a volcanic island, which happened quite often in this part of the ocean.

The lost sailor stomped the earth for a while, laughing at his situation, misrecollected, how he had ended up here. Analyzing his surroundings once more, Mac realized that the earth beneath him was stretching for long beyond the visible horizon, also it went even further as he turned around. With no other options he looked into the sky and decided to follow the clouds, alone on the sea trail.

***

Some fishes passed by Mac, after them a small jubo shark that had horns on its head, did the same thing, also these kinds of sharks are not as tasty as they looked. After that another shark, this one was a medium size one called a japper that had white pink spots on its white skin and big wide mouth with small teeth. This bad boy tried to attack Mac, but it couldn’t stop at time and the only thing that got for lunch was just a big bum on its head. On both sides of the narrow path whales could be spotted alongside small sea monsters. The crabs made a way for Mac and its boat, which floated alongside him on the water .

After too many encounters with the locals of these waters something emerged from the horizon.

An Island “Finally an oasis” thought Mac as he continued to walk dragging the boat, but he knew that this land of salvation was far, but close enough.

With every small wave created from his steps, the island grew bigger, with every minute the colors on the trees and the land became more vibrant.

***

This was it, an hour later, he set a foot on this virgin island.

It was quite small, a few steps into the island’s heart and some after that the sea water once more washes your feet.

Mac’s first job was to fall in the shadow of a tree, trying to ease the pain in his legs. At that moment the sun burn reminded him that he was quite hungry, after the small walk.

There were some edible fruits on the tree above him, also some had fallen around, enough for a small lunch.

As he stretched like a small monkey to the branches above him, Mac noticed a scar on his left arm, yet he felt no pain, while touching it.

“Who from the service got me so drunk, is this some sort of a magic trick? I don’t have time for this. If they don’t find me, I am gonna kill them” Mac continued his inner monologue.

He wasn’t bothered by his situation, because things like this happen almost every day and somebody will find him in the next few hours, eventually.

After the small preparation it was time for lunch, which mainly consisted of bananas and other small fruits.

The first banana was bitter, then this small pink fruit was quite suitable, after that a coconut, which was balanced in flavors, then another fruit, this one was sweeter, a round banana like, it was salty, another coconut, quite delicious and for a dessert to top it off a banana.

Mac was full and felt it was time for a nap, he closed his eyes for a moment. Dreaming he heard someone “You got lighter?” He caught a glimpse of some skinny man holding something, but after a wink the figure disappeared.

As he felt deeper into the world of the dreams the memories pierced the surface of his mind.

Blood rushed through his veins. The girl. The muscles contracted almost at once. His brother and the forest

He felt as if he was drained. Everyone on the ship. His body was drowned in soreness. The cold water.

As he was trying to understand this waterfall of emotions, voices came from the other side of the island.

Mac, trying to make sense of everything, followed the voices, thinking that they were from the village and were with his brother, looking for him, but as he approached them, he didn’t recognize their faces.

After a moment he realized that the two men that had come from a small ship like boat with a place for storage, were pirates. Luckily he was at a safe distance, but then…

Behind Mac, another voice came “Give some nuts”. Mac muttered “Hey bird, stop, please” but the bird continued “BOIN NUTS” this time louder. “Stupid momo bird, stop please” shushed Mac once more, but he wasn’t the only one that had heard the bird.

“Look what we have here” said one of the pirates, who had become black from sun, sadly he was at the first stage of baldness.

Mac turned to them “Hey guys, I am lost, can you help me?” asked while trying to hide his fear with a small smile.

“Koko” said to the other pirate that below the thing he called a hair had a big nose and strange belly “do you think he saw where we hid the captain's treasure?

“No, actually I have a problem with my left eye,” said Mac, looking for a way to escape. “I think he knows Suva,” said Koko , while he pulled a sword while the other a gun. “ I think the treasure will be better if nobody bothers with it,” added the bald one.

Water spilling was heard in the distance.

Mac tried to run, but the fat one shot at him, throwing him off balance. The young sailor raised his left hand, pleading for his life, while with his right was trying to find something on the ground to defend himself.

He felt a warmth through his body once more, for him it was the warmth of the inevitable death.

The pirates laughed, footsteps could be heard approaching, Mac raised both his hands, ready to fight, as they came closer they jumped backwards.

From Mac’s hands a black ink like substance shoot.

“What is that?" shouted the one with the saber, without realizing the even number of people

“It's sticky and so thick” looking with discussion, the rounded one who raised his right hand said “I am done with you.”

The hand with the pistol was grabbed, followed by his shoulder, the fat one was thrown at his buddy. The bald one didn’t fall, so the mystery man grabbed his shoulder, moved his own leg behind the pirate and twisted the body of the sea bandit so that he fell back unconscious.

“You good?” asked the man, as he grabbed Mac, pulling him up.

“Yeah, thank you” said Mac, trying to find the places for the new events that occurred while looking this man with short blonde hair, dressed all in black

“We don’t have time” added the blonde one, as he started to take the pirate’s clothes. “By the way, interesting magic “ said the unknown guy that had a black costume that had everything under the chin wrapped.

“Magic, I don’t have” answered Mac looking confused “I thought you did it?”.

The guy turned around saying “ If it was me I would have this black ink on my hands “. Mac looked at his hands. It was actually him. He had done it, he couldn't believe it.

This mysterious person continued talking “Also, I am Kitsu”, while taking everything while looking for something useful that the unconscious one could possess.

“I am Mac”. said the young sailor, shaking his hand.

“It’s not here” said Kitsu, leaving the bodies alone “Let’s head for their boat”

“Okay,” added Mac.

As they reached the boat, both of them pushed it into the open sea, jumped into it and set sail.

Once inside the big boat Mac had all the time to remember how Kitsu looked. He had short blonde hair, alabast like skin and body similar to that of Mac’s, maybe more lean.

“So how did you just pop up?” asked Mac.

“ I had hide in the storage” answered his boat neighbor, pointing at the lower deck of the boat.

“ Didn’t you think that they were gonna find you?“

“Don’t worry, I know my way in these situations” answered Kitsu while searching for food in the storage room.

“So…you are like a bandit?” asked Mac trying not to be thrown of the boat

“If I was” said Kitsu while munching on some citruses “you will be flying overboard”

“Don’t forget what I did to those guys” said Mac trying to conjure more of the magic substance.

“ As far I remember you were crying” replied Kutsi with his back turned at Mac, while he was ducked still looking for food.

“ I wasn’t crying, just trying to deceive them “ shouted Mac, while crossing his arms.

“ Yeah, yeah, what you say. As I was saying” Kitsu finally turned to Mac, passing some fruit to him.” I am not a bandit, I am a soldier, more accurately, former special forces.”

“So you are a war criminal, hunted by the country" shouted Mac, looking for an escape route. ”Are we hunted?”

“Relax, No, I am not, nobody knows that I had left, I left because…” Kitau tried to explain to Mac but he saw that Mac dragged his body, falling asleep.

Kitsu abandoned his intentions to recite his backstory and added “You know, you must have gone through a lot to end up here, get some sleep. I hope that we don’t come across each other when we set foot on Baru. Now where is this stupid magic compass?” Mac was left unbothered while Kitsu finally found the compass.

Naviel base at cost Soma. The sliding doors of the captain’s room were opened with a bang.

“Ensign Roma, here to report”

“What's’ it?” the voice was herded, that only could be described as a three headed polar bear.

“ The base at Nuve had reported the ,,Devils Death" pirates had destroyed our ship 18 hours ago, they are had been spotted heading north”

“North? I don’t have time for this” What about our units in Baru?”

“We have no information sir!"

“Those damn bandits.” This creature, this man, created with his voice a small earthquake in the room “ WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS, SEND THE NORTHERN CAPTAINS EVERYTHING WE HAVE ON THOSE DAMN PIRATES”

“Understood captain”

***

“Hey Mac” pushed him a little Kitsu.

“What?” asked Mac, still not fully awake.

“ I am not a seaman, but should we be worried?” asked Kitsu with a little fear in his voice.

“Worried? For what?” replied Mac while patting his face.

As Mac opened his eyes he saw that the sky had turned dark. The wind blew in every direction and then…In the distance.

Four colossal humanoid figures were trying to drag the heavens into the water. Then something shook the air and one of those giants fell. Mountains of water were born and collapsed before their eyes.

…