Kingdom Of The Weak

Splash! They landed in the water. Alani, Lunar and Flare surfaced in rapid succession, gasping for air and paddling in the open sea. Alani looked around for land, but couldn"t see any islands nearby.

"Oh, sc.r.a.p…" Alani gasped, suddenly seeing an immense flaw in her weekend plan.

"Yip!" Lunar called her. [Over here!]

Alani turned around. "What?"

"Yi!" [This way!]

Alani swam over easily, almost at home in the water as she was on land, feeling the ebb and flow of the waves deeply familiar. "What is it?"

Suddenly, her foot felt something. Something solid. Alani stood up, and then stumbled as the waters somehow seemed to recede, leaving her standing on…

"A rock? A reef?" Alani stood there in a daze, feeling heavy after leaving the water so suddenly. "Wait, what just happened? Why is the water receding…? Is it… a tidal wave?!"

It was one of the biggest fears of islanders. Just before a tidal wave would hit, water would recede from the beach for a great distance with great suddenness. Was there a tidal wave forming up in the nearby waters? In the dark shadow of the stormclouds, Alani couldn"t see, couldn"t say for sure.

Yet the waters seemed to recede more and more, leaving her now on a hill-like reef. Alani slowly sat down on the smooth black rocks, wondering at how the sea was behaving so oddly. "Lunar? Flare? Are you two all right?"

[We"re… fine.] Lunar said, looking around the reef in awe. Flare, too, seem to be dumbfounded at their good luck.

Alani took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She still had that floating feeling from a long drop with Feather Fall, almost as if she was weightless or even now, like she was actually rising up instead of sitting still.

Worse, she even felt like she was moving forward, like she was on a manpowered ship. But that was impossible, right? She was on a reef, and it was so steady, she didn"t even feel the surging of the waves. For all intents and purposes, she might as well have been on an island.

Except this island had no food or water to be scavenged, no trees or leaves to set up a shelter, no coconut trees or vines. It was just bare hill of black rock.

"Maybe we could swim for sh.o.r.e." Alani said doubtfully. "Can we make it to La Vive?"

The convoy lookouts had declared land-ho. That meant they were near enough to spot the mainland through their telescopes. How far could it be? Once the storm abated and the seas calmed down a little, maybe they could reach it with a few hours of swimming. Then again… there were the wolfcats to consider. Alani was a good swimmer, but not that good. Getting to an unseen mainland by herself would be difficult enough. Carrying two wolfcat cubs along with her would be unreasonably difficult…

And then all the world and sky seemed to thunder with Psionic power. [Very well.]

"Uwaah!" Alani fell over backward on the smooth rocks as suddenly the feeling of forward motion increased and seemed to turn. "W-wha…?"

There was no mistaking it any more. That rising feeling wasn"t an after-effect of using Feather Fall too much. She really had been rising. That forward motion feeling… that too, was not her mind playing tricks on her. They really were moving forward!

"B-but how…?" Alani gaped.

Only then did she see Lunar and Flare crouching down as if bowing forward. What were they doing? Were they really bowing? Bowing to what? To whom?

Then, the Psionic thunder filled the skies again. [There. La Vive.]

Alani saw it. The high cliffs, the wide beaches. The beachside towns. They were already visible to the naked eye.

Suddenly, her eyes widened. "No way…! Are you… a turtle?! A giant turtle?"

Then, there was a Psionic emanation of offense.

"Sorry, I didn"t mean any offense. I love turtles. I just can"t see very well in this dim light." Alani said apologetically.

[Too dark?] the thundering Psionic voice paused, and then suddenly the overhanging clouds were torn open, like someone had pulled two curtains apart and let the sun through. Alani blinked at the sudden brightness as a long strip of blue skies abruptly appeared overhead. [Better?]

Then a looming shape covered her entire view. A wizened, reptilian face peered at her, the head somewhat draconic in feature looking back at her over its shoulder from a very long neck. [Can you see me now, little one?]

[Y-yes, sir.] Alani"s throat clenched tight, her voice failed her and she could only respond Psionically.

The colossal head loomed closer, closer, closer… until there was nothing else in her sight, and it was near enough to touch, near enough to snap her up in a single bite, her and all the rest of the Encles settlement if they were here with her…

But Alani looked at the old draconic face and suddenly put her hand on his nose. Then, she hugged it, or as much of it as her two little arms could reach.

[Thank you, Grandpa. You saved my life.]

[Grandpa, huh?] the huge fellow found that amusing. [And what is your name, little one?]

[I am Alani.] she answered simply. [What is yours?]

[Me?] the figure let out a grin bigger than an airship. [What was it you called me earlier? Reef? Yes. That will do.]

[Then, it"s nice to meet you, Grandpa Reef.]

There was a laugh like the crashing of waves upon a cliff. [Nice to meet you too, little Alani. Now sit tight. I"ll bring you to safety.]

[O-okay…] Alani gulped settling down obediently.

She wasn"t sure if it was something this wizened old Wild did, but the skies were clearing and the storm was dissipating. With the darkness gone, Alani was treated to the sight of beautiful blue seas and the entire sh.o.r.eline of golden beaches and majestic cliffs.

Also, there were other Wilds in the water. There was a stream of smaller turtles, though "small" was only in comparison to Grandpa Reef. There were dolphins, and flying rays that leapt out of the water and glided through the air from time to time. There was even a Tier 5 sea serpent following behind them like an attendant.

In the midst of the storm and darkness, Alani couldn"t see any of them. But now in the sunlight, she could see them all clearly, and marvel.

In the meantime, a sparkle of light emerged from Grandpa Reef"s forehead, and then a little terrapin floated up towards Alani like gravity was an inconvenience to be ignored.

[So, what brings you here, little one?] the terrapin asked.

That psionic voice… Alani stared. [G-grandpa Reef? Is that you?]

[This is just a bit of my consciouness. Like a dream. But yes, it is me.] Little Grandpa Reef answered. [Come, it has been a long time since I had anyone new to chat with. Tell me, why are you here, so far from home?]

So Alani told him, and they chatted as they traversed the Midlands Seas. They spoke of the waters, and the fish, of the Wildlands, and the skies.

And then they landed upon the sh.o.r.es of a big, empty beach, and Little Reef guided her down from Grandpa Reef"s back. They stepped onto dry ground still chatting, and the little floating avatar of Grandpa Reef led her towards the nearest town while his main bulk returned to the waters.

At that point, the smell of good baking drifted to their noses and the conversation immediately turned toward cookies.

"I could buy you some and let you try." Alani dug into her pack. "Only, my friends and I made a promise to buy them and eat them together."

[Then call them.] Grandpa Reef suggested.

"But I don"t have a comms crystal." Alani paused. "Maybe someone in town…"

[Don"t bother.] Grandpa Reef said.

Then the great Psionic thunder filled the skies. [Friends of Alani! Come hither! You are summoned by the Emperor of the Deep!]

***

Meanwhile at Fal"Herim, Remian was in a panic. "We have to find her!"

But Mindy just chuckled. "Don"t worry. Chirpy"s friend has her. He"s already brought her to sh.o.r.e."