Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Adrift
Mar 26, 2006 1:39:59 GMT 12
Post by Mina Crow on Mar 26, 2006 1:39:59 GMT 12
The container was stirring, bouncing on the soft waves of the sea. A small shape shifted on a corner, changing her position. It was a girl, features unreadable in the dark. She had been there for two days and nights now, or so she reckoned. There was no real way to make out the time on those pitch-black surroundings, except for the loud rumble of her belly and the progressive parching of her throat. Her tongue felt like a swollen mass of paper, pushed into her mouth. No water, no food, no help. What had happened, after all? She just couldn't remember, no matter how hard she tried. And now, her head was burning just for trying to think things through. It was easier to sleep, to wait for a new dawn - or twilight? - when someone would come for her. Hopefully. One day.
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Adrift
Mar 26, 2006 2:07:06 GMT 12
Post by Sturm on Mar 26, 2006 2:07:06 GMT 12
Another dawn, another lonely and introspective time for Matt. All that time he had been waiting for a sign, a ship, something from the sea. The wait felt good, no matter what. In those times he was able to think and rest with his mind only, far from the childish acts from some and plotting from others.
It was a foggy and cold morning when he saw it. Not far from the harbor floated a large iron reddish container. Something inside urged him to see what the sea had brought. A short time to get his shirt and shoes off, and he dived into the sea. The water wasn't the same as the old salty and refreshing sea; it almost burned when it touched his eyes. In less than five minutes, Matt was on the top of the container. Some oriental characters adorned its side, yet the only words he knew of Japanese were the ones he had been taught on the Dojo. And the things written on the container weren't names of Katas. He heard a stir from the inside.
"Hello, is someone in there?" he shouted. No answer came, but he knew that something was inside.
After a quick glance, he found a door, jammed with iron bars. Although strong, Matt had a difficult time getting those things free – but when he saw what was inside, they were refreshing news. A new life at New Pork, and a sign from the sea. He knew the city would change now.
The little Japanese child was either unconscious or fast asleep. But the container was sinking since he had opened the door, the water flooding in. He had to get the kid to the shore, quickly. He grabbed her and jumped to the water, without thinking twice.
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Adrift
Mar 26, 2006 2:24:52 GMT 12
Post by Mina Crow on Mar 26, 2006 2:24:52 GMT 12
The shock of the icy water woke her up. The girl gave a start, flaying wildly with her arms and legs, trying to make out where she was. Whether the container had fell apart – how improbable was that? – or someone had really came after all. The impact of that rush of adrenaline flooded her mind with incoherent thoughts, a clash of memories and dreams, partially blocking her senses. There was something – someone – holding her up, but it was too hard to make out the details of her situation, the jump from drowsiness to the waking world being all too sudden and scary.
"Help me!" she cried out on her native language, fighting not to gulp down water.
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Adrift
Mar 26, 2006 8:43:03 GMT 12
Post by Sturm on Mar 26, 2006 8:43:03 GMT 12
The girl had shouted something. It sounded like the Japanese words old Master Ikenwa rumbled when he was angry. But what did she said? Mayhap "Release me" or "Help me", but it didn't matter on that moment. It was good news for Matt, she was alive and with energy. He only hoped that she hadn't too much energy, because if she started to get too scared he might have to punch her to make her calm down. Drowning wasn't an option, life was too precious. Maybe she understood English. It was a long shot but he could say something.
"We're near shore, stay calm and I should get you in safety in less than ten minutes. You're with friends now, kiddo", said Matt in the calmest voice the physical effort to swim allowed him.
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Adrift
Mar 26, 2006 9:00:11 GMT 12
Post by Mina Crow on Mar 26, 2006 9:00:11 GMT 12
The girl calmed down a bit, but had already gulped down a good share of salt water, and started to cough it out. He had spoken in English - where was she? Where had the container drifted to during those days? She could see it sinking slowly beyond the closest waves, disappearing under the black waters. Gone, now. Her way led to the shore - there was no turning back now. Slowly, the training her parents had given her on the ways of the sea came to her mind, and she stopped struggling, raised her face above the surface and started beating her legs to help her savior.
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Adrift
Mar 26, 2006 9:24:48 GMT 12
Post by Sturm on Mar 26, 2006 9:24:48 GMT 12
It seemed the kid was calmer since he had spoken. Maybe he understood English; it would make things easier. After a while the kid had started beating his legs, and with that help, the harbor was soon reached. It seemed to be a girl, and quite frightened at that. Matt let her down softly, seating on the sand, and put his shirt back on. What could he say to this little kid? Well, at least he should present himself.
"Welcome to New Pork. I'm Matt Wilkinson, and some people call me Seafarer in here, though I prefer Matt. And you?"
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Adrift
Mar 26, 2006 9:49:29 GMT 12
Post by Mina Crow on Mar 26, 2006 9:49:29 GMT 12
The girl shivered, soaked to her bones. She rubbed her arms with her hands, teeth chattering.
"Ne-New Po-ork? No-noo... I-I-I'm Ku-Ku-Kuro. I'm thir-thirsty, ple-please..." She turned her light blue eyes to the stranger who had saved her. "Th-thank y-you..."
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Adrift
Mar 26, 2006 10:57:57 GMT 12
Post by Sturm on Mar 26, 2006 10:57:57 GMT 12
When Matt realized that she was cold and thirsty, he went to the place on the shore where he had left his jacket, notebook, and bottle of water. Coming back to Kuro, he gave her the bottle, laying the coat around her back.
”Calm down little fellow, you are safe here now. The food and the water are not the best around here, but it's enough to live. And there are a lot of kids here; to be truth, there are only kids. But it’s a hopeful place, although some people in here think it to be a very dark hour. Remember always that life will always be better one day. Where are you from, Kuro?”
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Adrift
Mar 26, 2006 11:41:30 GMT 12
Post by Mina Crow on Mar 26, 2006 11:41:30 GMT 12
Kuro took the bottle gratefully and drank deep, looking at it with desmain when it got empty. She would easily drink five bottles like that one. Her belly rumbled again, calling for attention. At least his jacket was slowly warming her, and her teeth were no longer chattering.
"I'm from Japan. Tokyo." Her voice was harsh and raspy, given the parchness of her throat and the fact she had not used it for days, until now. "What happened... Matt? Where is my dad? I want to go home..." She turned her gaze to the sea, not crying, but instead looking at it with a determined gaze, as if looking for something away from the coast. "Matt?"
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Adrift
Mar 27, 2006 10:07:21 GMT 12
Post by Sturm on Mar 27, 2006 10:07:21 GMT 12
She should have drunk the water a bit slower, but it was better not to bother her with that. Her father was probably dead, or lost at a long distance - what to say? Probably better to give her food and a warm place, and try to evade the matter of her family for now. And her home for now should be this place. Well, at his home, that little apartment close by the shore he had occupied, he had some food; she’d need that for now. But what she needed more he could give.
"Well, no other ship has come on sight in the last months." It was not lying, but he could give her some hope. "But maybe your father's ship is still at sea, and he might be coming one day. For now, you should get a warm place and some food, the best I can give you, even though it's not gourmet. Come with me to my house, and for a while this city shall be your home."
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
|
Adrift
Mar 27, 2006 10:15:19 GMT 12
Post by Mina Crow on Mar 27, 2006 10:15:19 GMT 12
"He's coming?" she muttered softly. "I guess he is. Daddy wouldn't leave me here..." Kuro turned to face Matt, rising from where she sat. She wobbled for a second, then managed to stay still. The young Japanese girl seemed even smaller inside his jacket, and her thinness was quite visible. "I'd like a bit of food, Matt. Thank you." The unexpected stay on the container and the even more unexpected rescue had made her quite sensitive, a touch different from her calm and mature self. "And where is your dad, Matt? Who takes care of you? Do you live all by yourself? No family?"
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Adrift
Apr 23, 2006 8:08:03 GMT 12
Post by Sturm on Apr 23, 2006 8:08:03 GMT 12
Poor child, she must gain a new hope in her life now, like I did long time ago. I must help her, I must give her a family, I must prepare her to this new life. Managing to make a pleasant face, Matt looked in Kuro's eyes, and softly began to speak.
“My dad is here, watching for me, although he’s been dead for almost a year. Life here is somewhat hard, but pleasant at the same time. You're free to stay at any time here looking at the sea, you don’t have to go to bed early, or eat vegetables. In truth, vegetables are rare in New Pork. The family is our guild, our sect, our clan as you would like to name it. Mine is the Wharf Rats, and we just love the sea, and the people. There are others but not so trustworthy, and here we care for each other. Come, let’s go to my house and eat something, you must be hungry.”
It's done, let's see if she can make it. For now, a little meal and a nice rest should do some good.
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
|
Adrift
Apr 23, 2006 8:24:43 GMT 12
Post by Mina Crow on Apr 23, 2006 8:24:43 GMT 12
Huddling in his jacket, Kuro got up. It was quite a shock, all this turnabout on her life, and the girl wasn't sure how she was going to cope with it. But Matt seemed so certain, so calm... Like a big rock you could hold on to in the middle of a ravaging storm. She blinked those blue eyes of her, fighting away the tears, and reached for Matt's hand with one of her own small hands. With the other, she pulled back the sleeves of the oversized jacket and tucked her hair behind her ears. Those little rituals had always helped to calm her, and today was no exception. Only the hand she held on to was not her dad's, nor was her mum tucking her hair. From now on, she would have to survive without them, but she had Matt. And that... Clan, was it? Wharf Rats, weird name. Kuro was curious, but mostly hungry and sleepy. And thirsty, despite the whole bottle of water. Her stomach rumbled loudly as she looked at the older boy with an expectant, inquiring look.
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
|
Adrift
Apr 23, 2006 9:17:41 GMT 12
Post by Mina Crow on Apr 23, 2006 9:17:41 GMT 12
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
|
Adrift
Apr 23, 2006 9:40:46 GMT 12
Post by Mina Crow on Apr 23, 2006 9:40:46 GMT 12
[Kuro will have to meet her eventually... And she's the leader. Why not now?]
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