Commended -- Senior Section
Rosny College
It's a lovely evening.
The ocean elegantly pushes and pulls at the sandy shore, lapping at the sand like an affectionate animal to its beloved's fragile body. The sun tucks itself neatly behind the horizon, the sky shifting from a shallow water blue to the vibrant warm pink and purple variety of a blossoming reef.
"It's a lovely evening."
"Perfect for a dance." Kali blinks around wildly, alerted to the responding voice, her eyes and body relaxing easily upon locking her green eyes with Alya's heterochromic purple and green eyes. Kali arose from where she sat on the pale sand, easing her hand into Alya's slightly scaly hand being held out in offering for the shorter to take.
No other words were spoken, nothing but the natural sounds of Wineglass Bay and its surrounding forest was heard. Sounds created by the gentle breeze that blew by, shaking branches softly like the shifting of maracas, hushed hissing and rumbling from the small waves rolling in from the ocean, the cackling of the kookaburras in the trees, faint crunching of sand under dancing bare feet, the heart-like drumming of the stone pulsing in Kali's hoodie pocket.
The collective melody fills Kali's aching soul with comfort and warmth, yet the body against hers is distant and cold. Alya’s throat begins rumbling as she hums a tender melody to follow the natural music surrounding them. Kali never wanted this feeling to end. Kali lets her mind wander, her whole world swirling gently into a far more distant memory she cherishes like treasure.
Kali’s legs and chest ached with effort, her eyes focusing intensely on the horizon of the beach as she listened to the song coming from the bay. She had been walking nonstop for miles, though being a dragon hunter made her more tolerant to such long journeys on her own.
Kali was the one to volunteer for this hunt, as from what she had heard from the descriptions provided to her, there was a “Siren” in the area. However, she knew exactly what she would be facing, or at least she thought so… A Leviathan in the form of a woman… or she was walking into the jaws of a much more dangerous foe... A Serpentine… Either way, Kali had a job to do, if she was dying today then she’d make this beast remember her.
The singing grew louder, yet remained soothing, upon Kali arriving to the beach. She stood awestruck as she watched over the individual standing above the ocean water as dolphins circled them. It’s the individual she was searching for, and it was clearly no Leviathan. No. From what Kali knew from the signature stone this strange singing woman was holding. This was a Serpentine.
Before Kali could react, whether that be fleeing or attempting to hide in the bushy landscape she stood on, her eyes met those of the Serpentine. Despite the danger of the situation or how Kali was very clearly a threat to the dragon-in-human-form, her eyes were soft and welcoming, so gentle that Kali found herself somehow relaxing and approaching the beast without fear.
"I must leave soon, my family have been wondering where I've been for the past few months, but... I do not want them to discover us," Kali forces, her eyes drifting to the ocean like a lost boat at the mercy of a storm ready to crush the lonely vessel until nothing remains.
"I will always be by your side, my sweetest little scaleless," Alya assures, the words leaving her lips like a serpent, the colourful scales along the back of her exposed arms shimmering in the setting sunlight. Both their eyes meet again, but Kali hesitates, taking her time to find a response while Alya watches and waits patiently.
"But how? You're a terrifying beast, a dragon that people alike will want slain the moment it steps into their sights!" Kali tried to argue, Alya silences her with a light kiss on her forehead. Alya's hand felt along Kali's own hand, guiding it gradually into her hoodie pocket, allowing her lover to pull what was within out in her own time.
Kali held out an almost circular atlantisite gemstone, purple spots rippling through it each time it pulses, like a steady heart, the colour reminds her so much of Alya's eyes. Another memory flashed through her mind, like a swift strike of a jagged dagger.
Kali clung to Alya, lifting her as she choked and hissed in pain, she embraced her lover closer, frantic words slipping from her lips, “You’re going to be okay, they aren’t following us, hold on tight my song.” Kali soon tripped on the sand, falling forward onto the injured woman in her arms. Kali lifted herself off Alya, frantic and horrified that she may have worsened the wounds.
Alya reached a hand over to cup Kali’s cheek as a faulty attempt to soothe her lover’s stress. Her hand soon gracefully slithered its way to snag Kali’s, she brought her lover’s hand out before carefully placing a large atlantisite into her palm. Kali immediately attempted to return the stone, “No. Keep your Soulstone in your hand, heal yourself!” she pleaded, her throat beginning to feel raw with emotion. “Your life depends—”Alya silences Kali with a soft finger to her lips.
“The damage has already been done… there is no healing a poison-tipped dagger jab through the heart…” Alya stated peacefully, successfully getting Kali to take the atlantisite into her hand. “Keep my Soulstone, my body may die but with this stone my soul lives on with the person I care about most… I know you wish to keep me forever… so keep me forever… with you holding my Soulstone…”
"I will always be with you, no matter where you go, no matter who you are with, I will always be with you," Alya assures, pointing deliberately to the atlantisite each time she refers to herself, her voice continuing to sound like a snake as it has always been, but also distant. Kali held the gemstone in both her hands, soon droplets began falling as she crumbled to the floor. Sobbing, she swiftly embraced the gemstone again.
Kali croaks through her tears. She forced herself to look out along the bay, searching for Ayla but her beloved is gone, eyeing the sand that had only been disturbed by one set of feet the whole evening. The resolution of this discovery only crushes her heart even more.
"I miss you so much... my beautiful song," Kali breathes, her tears flowing like rivers as she slowly turns her head to look to the sunset, the sun is almost completely snuggling behind the relaxed ocean.
It's a lovely evening.