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caliginovsCvre · 03-08-2018, 09:05 PM

Quote:>Elita Fleming

Noted for the future.

Quote:Ambot Kuan

I stand on the beach, admiring the way the morning sunlight glints reddish-gold off muddy water. For once, the clouds have parted, chased off by some unseen wind. But right now the air is quiet and still and heavy, as if waiting for something to happen. Unable to be still, I pick up two rocks from the ground nearby, absentmindedly juggling them back and forth.

I think to myself, I need a name. I'm sick of being called "Daughter" or "Sister" or "You." The next sounds I hear will be mine, what I call myself from now on. Maybe I’ll even get my brother to use it. I’ll tell Mother, the next time she visits. I hope she’ll be proud.

I’m alone, as usual. Brother is off somewhere, and I’m betting he’s up in the mountains. The biggest volcano is smoking faintly, and he’s probably hoping for an eruption. Meanwhile I wait, juggling my rocks. The spiral patterns they make around each other grow more and more intricate, suspended in the air, until finally in a moment of distraction I let them touch. “Am-bot!” I hear as they clack together, and a moment later the wind sighs “Kuaaaaan.” That’s the first time the air has moved all morning, and combined with the rocks I take it as a sign. Ambot Kuan. I’ve never heard a name before, so I have no idea if this is a respectable one, but it’ll do for now.

I let the rocks drop to the ground again, no longer needed. They join their fellows on the beach. The rocks get smaller and smaller as they get closer to the shore, I’ve noticed. The ones at the tide line are barely even pebbles anymore, more like grains worn to smoothness by the constant lapping of the water. I pick up a handful and let it slide down through my grasp, marveling at the way it’s almost a powder. Maybe someday the rocks will get ground down even further and the whole beach will be made of this stuff.

I wish it would happen now. I wish I could just go to sleep and drift dreamlessly like I did when I was really little, but I've been too restless lately. After analyzing the rocks, I'm bored again. I need something to do.

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