Elements

12

“The war was still raging when your father decided he was done with malice. He deserted his unit, an act that would have counted as mutiny, and came home when you were about eighteen months old. He said that we were leaving Entropy once and for all.”
If it was possible for a being made entirely of water to cry, Ray did not know, but her mother looked sad enough to do so.
“So we fled, under cover of night.” Her mother paused and shivered. “We barely made it out alive. There were guards everywhere, making sure no one left the island. When we had found a boat and rowed away, we hit a piece of driftwood, rocking the boat so much that one of the oars and most of our food fell overboard.”
Raye’s eyes widened. “But your water heritage would have been able to get that back… right?”
Her mother shook her head. “I had no idea who i was.” She paused.  “At least, not yet.” The faraway look returned to her eyes as she resumed the story.
“After a few minutes of drifting and trying to manage with one paddle, you started crying. I tried rocking you and feeding you, but nothing happened.
You looked so angry, i was afraid I had done something terribly wrong, though i couldn't even fathom what. Your father had sat down in the boat with his head in his hands. Neither of us knew what to do, and he was sure he could see a gaurdship’s sail approaching us.
Right when your cries seemed loudest, the boat jerked and began moving forward. I couldn't tell what was happening, but you stopped crying.” Her mother smiled, meeting Raye’s eyes. “Raye, I was so relieved!” she shook her head, frown returning. “However, your father looked into the water and his face paled. He told me that there was some sort of evil water spirit under us.
Then I realized an old, old story my grandmother had told me about. ‘Never sail at night on a full moon,’ she told me. ‘That’s when the dragon spirit your grandfather killed comes out.’
I had thought the instructions simple enough, as I had no intention to step foot on a boat any time soon.” Again, Raye’s mother glanced out at the sinking sun. “But that night was a full moon. I panicked, and that’s when the storm started. Lightning was all around us. We hunched down in the boat, praying to the good spirits that we wouldn't get struck by lightning.
Thankfully, we didn’t, but just as the lightning stopped, a huge wave crashed over our tiny boat.