Anyways, this is Akiyras. Aki for short. She dyes her hair teal, and has a small fisher's tattoo on her wrist. She fishes for a living.
- I slip outside, quietly closing the door behind me. There is nobody here to wake, but I can't bring myself to break the silence. Adjusting the light bag I have slung over my shoulder, I step out, glancing towards the warm lights of the village. I smile faintly, then turn away, setting off to follow the road in the opposite direction. I walk quickly, and soon, I pause, turning to find the familiar path. It is nearly hidden by overgrown grasses, but the stones that mark it still sit in their proper places. Brushing the grass out of the way, I set off again. Soft leaves crunch under my bare feet as I pass under a cluster of trees, their twisted branches filtering the moonlight into beams. I skip over an arching root without looking down--this path is so familiar I could walk it with my eyes closed. I round the corner, then stop, taking in the view. I see it every day, but I don't think I'll ever tire of it. I think it's even more beautiful at night.
The ocean lies before me, going on as far as I can see. It is calm tonight, and the dark water is barely disturbed by the gentle waves. The moon, nearly full, hangs over it in the sky, its reflection rippling just below it. Slowly, I approach the edge of the cliff, ignoring the twinge of fear I get even now as I see the distance to the bottom. I look towards the stairs, but make no move to go to them. Instead I quickly check my bag, tying the top tightly. I step back, one step, two, three, four. Not giving myself too long to think about it, I grin and race towards the edge. My feet pound against the stone, the beat matching the pounding of my heart. The edge is approaching fast. I clutch my bag and leap.
I feel weightless as I plummet towards the water. I used to scream when I did this--now I just laugh. The sound is snatched away by the wind. I close my eyes tightly, the salty smell of the ocean hitting me just before the water does. The sound of the water roars in my ears as it splashes up around me, the bubbles racing across my skin. I don't move, allowing the water to settle as I slowly sink lower. The sound fades, leaving only the low hum of the water. I open my eyes, and for a moment it feels like I haven't. I wait, and the blackness slowly fades as my eyes adjust. I blink, my second eyelids still tightly shut against the water. Everything, colours, sound, light, is muted here. It's peaceful, in a way it can never be above the surface.
I stretch my webbed toes, feeling the cool water flow between them. I begin kicking, slowly at first. Just enough to stop my decent. Then, with a quick burst of energy, I set off again, flowing through the water as if I was born there. Soon I can begin to make out the dock; a dark, rectangular shape jutting out from the shoreline. I angle myself towards it and towards the surface, the light growing stronger and the dock becoming clearer as I approach.
I break the surface, the sounds of the wind and waves returning with a rush. I tread water, blinking as I wait for my eyes to readjust. I reach out, my claws digging into the soft wood of the dock. I pull myself towards it, swinging my bag up first before pulling myself out of the water to sit on the edge. I let out my breath, beginning to breathe normally again.
Bobbing gently in the water on either side of me are two small boats. One belongs to my mentor; the other, to me. My mentor's is new and sleek; mine is rough, patched together with old and new wood. I'd gotten it cheap, its hull ruined by a collision with the reef. I repaired it myself. It may not be pretty, but it is solid and seaworthy. And it is mine.
I pull myself to my feet, reaching down to pick up my bag. After pulling off the cover, I step carefully into the boat--it barely wobbles now. I sit down, storing the bag and cover under the seat. I reach down for the oar by my feet. I run my fingers over the symbols carved into it, remembering the hot summer day spent carving them with my mentor. My name, Akiyras, is represented there, alongside the symbol for fisher. It is simple, compared to some. I'm no artist, and see no point in covering it in designs without meaning. I put it down beside me for a moment, reaching over to untie the thin rope that keeps the boat in its place. I carefully let the rope fall into the boat at my feet, grasping the oar again. I gently push myself away from the dock, dipping the oar into the dark water and pushing against it, propelling myself outwards. I turn myself towards the moon where it is reflected in the ocean. Near silently, I glide through the water towards it.
