Creatures Caves

Day 39, Entry 41

I reached safety just moments ago. The past day was one of sheer terror and tumultuous weather. I sat at the base of my tree house in an utter daze that seemed to last forever. I was determined to share the remainder of my tale, though! The last I wrote about involved that fateful encounter with the shark...

As soon as I spotted the shark's movement, I twisted in the water and made a mad dash for the raft. My legs ached under the immense strain, and the splashing water nearly blinded me. My hand smashed into the side of the raft, and Layla hoisted me out of the water. I was panting, and my hand felt like it had been shattered into a thousand pieces.

Before I could catch my breath, we saw the black fin emerge from the water's surface. With the choppy water and disorienting wind, it wasn't clear if the shark was even moving. We soon found out, though, when the raft jolted beneath us. I was thrown into the water momentarily, and felt like a dying fish. I tensed up, waiting for the moment when the shark would make a meal of me.

The last thing I expected was a clap of thunder that made my teeth chatter like a horrible musical instrument! I risked a look in the direction of the shark, and saw the most ominous clouds brewing on the horizon. They were as black as the shark's fin, and tendrils of lightning lashed out from the center.

I scrambled aboard the raft, supported by my one hand that had any feeling left in it. The sinister thunder bellowed out again, and the rain began to fall. It was rather slow, as if it wasn't sure what to do yet. Layla and I rushed to get the raft pointed towards shore, but the wind threw the vessel around like a toy. Our eyes met for a moment, and no words were needed to convey our emotions.

The waves began to swell and fall around us in a dangerous rhythm. Though Layla's raft was expertly crafted, there was no way that it could withstand this beating much longer. At that point, I didn't know where the water ended and the sky began: The storm had raced towards the island, so that everything was a murky, grayish blue nightmare.

The rain intensified, and it was at that point that the raft could hold on no more. Layla and I plunged into the tumultuous sea. All I heard was the roar of the thunder and the crashing waves. It took all my strength to keep my head above the water. I frantically looked around for the island: There was no telling where it was through the sheets of pelting rain above the dancing ocean. This all seemed eerily familiar to the time when I had gone swimming. Only then I actually saw the island. Now... Nothing.

I called out for Layla between the waves, but nothing could be heard above the storm. Lightning lit up the ocean and made the whole world disorienting. Soon, I had little notion of what was left or right, let alone up or down. I stopped trying to swim away from the waves, and attempted to try to ride them. It seemed like a good idea when I began to catch my breath. I felt like I was going in a single direction, and hope that the island could be near buoyed my spirits.

Then, a huge wave lifted me high into the air... Much too high for a safe landing. I tumbled through the air and into surprisingly shallow water. The last I remembered was a final look at that awful sky and ocean. And then, as was becoming customary, the world faded into blackness.

Was I dead? My eyes were open, but the world was still dark as anything. I slowly became aware that my mouth was filled with the gritty taste of sand, and that my body was still soaked in sea water. I took a breath, and spluttered as that same rank sea water poured out of my lungs. As consciousness began to awake me, the pain hit me. My hand felt even more shattered, and that shoulder felt like something had tried to tear my arm off. My head was a giant pounding bruise. Despite the excruciating pain, I was alive!

I could gather that I was on the beach, and it was either just after sunset or just before dawn. My heart leaped into my throat: Layla! I stood up as quickly as my body would allow, and scanned the beach for any sign of life. The odd grayish blackness was eerie, and a chill ran through me. Layla was nowhere to be found, but this was a big island: Perhaps she had washed ashore a little further down.

It turned out to be just before dawn, and I spent the entire day making my way back to camp. I hadn't landed too far off course, yet I felt broken in every way. One step took all my energy. At one point, I heard the call of a bear not far off. I stayed frozen in place for at least an hour, fearful that I would look all too appetizing in my current state.

And so it was that I finally made it back to share my tale. I would have to sleep on the ground: One hand certainly wasn't enough to carry my weakened body into the trees! I managed to put together a smoky fire that offered some warmth, but would also ward off most of the night creatures. Part of me also hoped that the smell would guide Layla back... The morning would start my search for her, no matter my condition. She had saved me once before: I was convinced I would do the same for her. I just needed sleep to function... And it came with surprising speed, for once.