Ok...





Chapter Two

I whipped around in dismay. There, looming over me, was the biggest shark I had seen. I heard a soft thump of a knife on sand, and the splash of fins on water. The massive fish didn’t budge, figuring I was an easier catch. Pictures flashed in my mind, of sharks devouring merpeople alive. Swiftly, my mind focused on one picture, and it made my throat tighten. The scream of pain that had haunted my dreams since I was seven years old replayed in my mind, and a vision of my beautiful mother was displayed crudely before me. Then my father’s limp body appeared, as the powerful shark crushed them between his razor-like jaws. I gasped for air, and a snort answered me. The shark had been through enough stalling, and charged. I screamed in terror and pumped my delicate but sturdy fins frantically. Growls informed me that I had a follower. It was no use. Sharks are known to be twice as fast as mermen and women. I prepared to be lunch, but then something caught my eye. The glittering blade that Mergorn had left I his wake still lay at rest in the sand! My mind formed a risky plan. I glanced back to see the shark snapping at my tail, and the wild eyes glaring. It was my only hope. I scoped out the area I was fleeing in, and selected a large rock near a purple coral patch. I banked and raced in the direction of the knife. The shark turned to and his monstrous barks were intimidating. I reached it and snatched it from the sand as I flew past. It was cold and hard in my hand, and I shuddered as I thought of the weapon plunging into my chest. But this was no time for reflections. I torpedoed to the rock I had picked and laid flat on the seaweed around it. Pushing the blade above my face, I squeezed my eyes shut as the shark came barreling over the rock with a vicious snarl. But the snarl was abruptly cut off and a garbling noise took its place. I looked on in amazement and watched the shark flopping feebly on the ocean floor with a large red wound in his throat. The knife had done its deadly work.


The shark finally gave in to the fate and it went down. But as it fell it reached out for my shoulder, and the terrible teeth ripped at my soft skin. I gritted my teeth and let out a short cry of distress. The massive shark lay at rest among the sand at the bottom of the ocean, it’s eyes fixed and distant. I backed away, and swiveled my head to look back at the shining city in the distance that I had once called home. My eyes filled with unshed tears, and I caressed my dolphin. She nuzzled me and clucked reassuringly, but I could not be consoled. I reluctantly turned away from everything I had ever known, and left behind my life forever. It was anguishing to leave. For weeks I cried as I slept, not knowing where I was headed or what I would find there. I traveled for many months, and gradually I became numb to the pain. My face had taken on a blank and distant expression, and I did not laugh at anything. My hair slowly grew tousled and snarly, for I did not care to brush it anymore. My voice had not been used for all this time, and my throat was hoarse and dry. After long months, I was a sorry sight. Then one day, my life finally took a turn for the better. I met Raria. Raria was twelve years old, and a beauty. She had flowing brown hair that swirled around her shoulders in a whirlwind, and bright green eyes. Her vest was creamy white with pink and blue flowers climbing up the sides. Her tail was white also, and reflected the particles of light, changing from blue to green and purple to pink in seconds. The minute I first saw her I felt better. She had an optimistic air, something that seemed to light up my view of life. I was resting on a large rock, having no idea where I was, and I heard singing in the distance. No particular song, just singing. It grew nearer, and a young girl appeared around a cluster of seaweed. She was singing loudly, and her voice carried across the wide expanse. My eyes widened, and for the first time in weeks I spoke. “Who are you?”The pretty girl stopped and stared at me. “Raria.”, came the simple answer. “And who might you be?” I scuffed my finger in the sand, catching it under my fingernails. “I-I am Kesara.” I croaked, and my voice rasped hoarsely. I felt ashamed, Raria’s voice was so beautiful, and here I was talking like a toad. Raria examined me critically and finally said, “Well, you look pretty bad, but I expect you have a good reason. “Anyhow, goodbye!” She began to swim away, her tail glowing blue. “Wait!” I yelled, and my voice came back. “What are you doing out here without anyone? Er—I mean, why are you alone?” Raria stopped and tilted her head to one side. “Maybe I should ask you that question. Oh well, I’ll tell you if you tell me!” Not waiting for agreement, Raria continued, “I’m trying to find my kingdom, so I can take over as the rightful queen, and make my cousin Brittany step down, because she dumped me in the middle of nowhere so she could have the crown, even though I’m the rightful heir.” I sat back with a thump, trying to digest all this information. Raria floated in the water, waiting for an answer. Her face was carefree and she seemed to take the whole problem lightly. “Well…Kesara…what’s the matter, catfish got your tongue?” I smiled shakily and replied, “It’s just—er I’m running away from a merman who’s trying to kill me.” Raria’s eyes stretched wide, and I resumed, encouraged by her dismay. “Yes, he murdered someone and I saw! He almost killed me, and I got chased by a shark! But I was too smart, I killed the shark and ran away from Mergorn!” Raria’s eyes grew wider and wider the more I said. Then as I mentioned Mergorn she gaped in horror. “Mergorn?! Why he…he…” Raria cut off and whipped around. “It’s nothing. I should go.” I was so far away I couldn’t be sure, but I thought I saw a tear forming on Raria’s cheek. My mouth hung ajar. Here was a chance to make a friend and come out of my grieving, and she was swimming away! I called out desperately, but Raria had disappeared from view, and the cavern of rocks was deathly quiet. I sighed for want of her sweet voice, but she was gone now, and I had to move on. If Mergorn found me there was no telling what he would do. I sighed and picked at the stringy seaweed I was attempting to chew. It came apart in my hands, trailing down my fingers and leaving a slimy trail in its wake. I winced in disgust and shook the vile plant off my hands. Journeying was even harder now, because I was pouting, and looked at everything the pessimistic way. As I moseyed along, still missing Raria, something else happened. I was swimming along grudgingly when I heard a swishing in the plants behind me. Terror coursed through my limbs as my mind was flooded again with memories of Mergorn’s sneering face. I turned in an agonizingly slow move, and dared to look. Two eyes watched me closely from the shelter of the algae, but they held no malice, only curiosity and friendliness. Finally, a young girl emerged. I eyed her warily, not knowing what she would do. She had a light green tail, and a dark and light green vest with vines weaving their way up the sides. Her hair was light blonde, and her eyes were intelligent and bright. “Er—Hi!” I ventured, and she promptly replied, “Hello. What are you doing out here by yourself?” Maybe I should ask you the same question!” I countered, then paused. This was somehow beginning to sound familiar. “You see, I’m running away from someone…” I answered, then my voice slowly trailed off. The young girl smiled and voiced, “Well, my name is Sarvarna.” I waited patiently, but Sarvarna did not offer further information. “So?” I drew the word out, but Sarvarna only folded her arms and kept staring at me in her intelligent way. Finally, she broke down and spoke. “Let’s travel together. If I keep you away from whoever you’re running from, will you come with me?” I jumped at the chance, eager for a friend. “Sure! I mean, I guess I could try it!” Sarvarna nodded and suggested calmly, “So tell me about this person you don’t want to catch you. If we’re gong to be friends we can’t have any secrets.” I rolled my eyes and wondered if she was aware that she had offered me not one bit of knowledge about herself yet. “Um, I suppose. His name is Mergorn.” I glanced at Sarvarna out of the corner of my eye, wondering if I would get another reaction like Raria’s, but she only watched me curiously. The name meant nothing, I decided, and went on. “He killed another man in my colony, and I am the only one who saw it, so he wants to catch me and…” I trailed off yet again and gulped nervously. What would Mergorn do to me? Sarvarna seemed to sense the change, and she saved me from continuing. “I’m going to get some sleep, how about you?” I swiftly agreed, thankful for a change of subject. We both curled up in a small cave, and in a moment the spell of sleep had fallen upon us.


Hmm..the more I read this story the more rough it seems...


Joke-of-the-Week


A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead were stranded on an island in the Pacific, with the nearest land 50 miles away. They decided to swim across the ocean. The brunette began swimming, but after 10 miles she got tired and drowned. The redhead made it 20 miles, then got tired and drowned. The blonde swam really hard and got to 25 miles...then got tired and swam back.


Story-of-the-Week


In a state unnamed, a group of bikers got together every day and rode the countryside, past many houses and farms. On one particular farm, there was a vicious black Labrador Retriever. Every day they rode by the farm, and it became a challenge to see if they could make it by without waking him or getting caught by him. One day the black lab anticipated their passing and ran out onto the road, chasing them. The man who was last in line was only two feet ahead of the dog, and was deathly afraid of being bitten by him, for this canine was a fair size. There was no hope, however, of outrunning him. The man, on an impulse, turned around and said to the dog, "Where's your ball?" The Lab stopped. His tongue lolled out and he turned and raced back to his house, dove under the deck, and emerged with a tennis ball. As the bikers rode away they breathed a sigh of relief. One biker turned to the man who had given the command and asked, "How did you know he had a ball?"
"He's a LAB, isn't he?"


:oP I'll try and find a cat story sometime...