Citizen 1318 Nasturtium

Nowadays Nasturtium thinks nothing of slipping into the water, braving the currents and dangers to swim between the isles, or to dive into the depths in search of sunken treasure. But that was not always the case… 

When ne was still young, ne tried to swim between two isles for the first time, and what happened nearly stopped her from ever stepping foot in the water again. 

Much like diving to the depths of the Posian Trench, swimming between the islands is a rite of passage for the younger people. However, adults caution them to only attempt it in clear weather, and after they have practiced… but that doesn’t stop the dares, of course. 

Nasturtium stared out over the water as it shimmered in the sun, deceptively peaceful from a distance. Rising out of the waves stood another isle, white cliffs reflecting the light of the midday sun with blinding brilliance. 

“To there?” she said, then cleared her throat, remembering the group around her. “Of course to there! There’s no other challenge I would accept!” 

Ne bowed dramatically as the others around ner laughed and nudged ne and the others that had accepted the dare. The first to cross got…. Something, they still hadn’t figured it out. But more importantly: bragging rights. There was a boat on the other side, waiting to take them back, and ne thought ne could see dark figures on the far shore, waiting. 

Well, someone else jumped in the water with a splash, and there was nothing for it. Nasturtium leapt into the water, leaving ner doubts and fears on the shore. 

Both those that accepted the dare and those that gave it were young, and inexperienced with life. That was the excuse given after as to why they missed the signs of a storm brewing… 

Nasturtium, unaware of any of this, swam confidently. She had been practicing breathing with her magic underwater, and was relatively sure that she could manage it for a while if needed. But for now… ne swam with ner head out of the water, looking around and enjoying the sights. Various isles rose out of the water in the distance, sometimes passing ships or settlements visible. 

But none of them were her goal, and she continued to set her sights on the isle in front. Occasionally the curious seagull would descend, but none got close to make a good snack, for which she was disappointed. She was starting to get hungry - was the other isle really still that far away? - but didn’t dare stop to fish for fear of losing the bet. 

So focused was she on the isle in front that she failed to notice the darkening of the horizon that spread slowly from behind, like a drop of ink in clear water. 

She did notice when the thunderclap sounded overhead. 

It thundered through the air, shaking ner bones and sending a few resting seabirds fleeing into the sky. Ne stared ahead at first, baffled - had that been a cannon? - but then the first fat drops began to patter on ner head, and ne looked up. 

Into the face of a truly vicious-looking tempest. 

Dark clouds filled the sky behind nem, the isle ne had come from obscured by curtains of rain, and dark arms of foul weather stretched along the horizon to either side. Nasturtium foundered for a moment, staring around wildly as the wind began to howl, kicking up whitecaps from the previously calm surf. Everywhere she looked, the sky was dark and foreboding, except for the direction of her target isle. 

So she had missed it for a reason… but that was no excuse. Everyone on the Isles was taught from an early age to keep half an eye on the sky, for the storms that could kick up and blow them off cliffs or into treacherous surf. She swore, then continued swimming, efforts redoubled despite her tiring muscles. 

Ne swam frantically as the waves began to build and the sky darkened. But ne did not make it before it full struck. It was far too late for that. As the island vanished into sheets of rain in front of nem, ne inhaled and dropped beneath the surface. The waves had started to rise and fall dramatically, threatening to crash from on high onto ner head. Ne knew that if one did so and left nem stunned, ne would loose all sense of direction, which would be a death sentence in these waters right now. 

Nasturtium focused on settling ner magic to allow her to breathe, and took a deep, thankful breath. Ner halo lit the waters around nem as ne swam forwards, fish darting into the light and then fleeing once they saw the predator in their midst. But for once ne paid nem no notice; ner only priority was to get to the isle ahead. 

Currents, kicked up by the violence above, tugged at her limbs and she fought and fought, surroundings fading to the spot directly in front, lit by her halo. 

And then…. Sand under her hands. Ne blinked out of ner stupor to stare at the seabed sharpy rising to a plateau, then sloping steadily up in front of her. 

Only one thing meant that: land. 

Ne resisted the urge to sob and flung herself up the slope, letting the pounding waves carry her to shore. 

“Ha,” ne rasped as ne dragged nemself ashore next to the abandoned boat, “made it.” 

Ne ignored the fact that most others had probably been smart enough to turn back , or would have noticed the approaching tempest far sooner. But that was a thought for another time, and instead ne curled up to sleep, ner aching muscles protesting moving even an inch more.