Weird Happenings
Chapter 1
“Blade…ye are daydreamin’ again, ye old sea rascal. Help me row or I’ll be throwin’ ye overboard.” I turned to face Skipper. Then I looked to my two other companions. As I grabbed an oar and started rowing, I continued to think back to how we had received our names.
The tradition, for my people, was simple. When a child was born, a symbol would appear in the prophesy pool. Then the child would be given a name related to that symbol. I had a gift; the uncanny ability in using any weapon, but mainly the sword. I was also very strong and very handsome. My past was also known by all, which made them fear me at first, but once they got to know me, the fear passed.
Skipper had the gift to be able to sail anything built of wood that could float. He could also tell what was wrong and fix it just in the nick of time. Also, his eyes were the color of blue. Whatever shade of blue they were, would be the weather. In other words, his eyes could forecast the weather for the day. He was also extremely good looking.
Another of the group was Ray. He was slightly smaller than the rest, but had the gift of swimming. He could swim with extreme speed and agility. Though he was smaller on the outside, he had a huge heart and was exceedingly loyal. He too looked very handsome.
The last member of the group was Thane. He was very special. He was given the symbol of strength; hence his name, but right after the naming ceremony, which happens immediately after the symbol is shown, the symbol of extreme intelligence appeared. This symbol was only seen by a few, and those few made an agreement to keep it a secret. The only person to know would be Thane. Then he would be able to tell whomever he trusted about the gift, for genius was thought as a weakness.
“Skipper, yer eyes be turning gray. There also be what looks like a big ice dome up yonder. Ye will need to bank soon so we can prepare for the storm,” Thane warned. I looked up to see that he was right. The sky was clear, above us, for the moment, but I could already see clouds in the distance. Then, I glanced ahead to see that there was what looked to be a giant white dome up ahead. Down the river a bit, was what looked to be a tunnel, carved out by the river.
As we approached the dome, Skipper steered the dinghy into the shore about five feet from the entrance of the tunnel, and we all got out. “Looks like we’ll be campin’ here tonight, boys. We’ll continue after the storm passes,” he explained. Then, he pulled the little boat further onto shore and tied the rope, which was attached to the boat, to a nearby tree.
We all set up camp. I went into the woods to gather some fire wood. Ray went fishing for supper. Skipper and Thane made the shelter and dug a hole for the fire pit.
The storm came about five minutes after we had finished our meal. We ducked for cover just in time, because the tree next to our fire pit fell on top of it. I was grateful that we had grabbed everything with us. Thank Heaven that we were alright.
“I have an awful feeling that something terrible is going to happen,” replied Ray. “I think that we should continue down river. I bet that there are no storms in that dome.” He raced to the dinghy, untied the rope and tried to push it back into the river, but incapable because it was too heavy.
I decided that he was right and raced out after him. After successfully pushing it back into the river, I held it ‘till Ray got in. As I turned to look behind me, Skipper and Thane shot out from in the shelter. A split second later, a tree crashed onto it. As Skipper and Thane got into the boat, I jumped in.
“Glad to see you changed your minds,” I smirked.
“Just shut-up and row, Blade. Comments after we’re safe, thank you,” scowled Thane. Just as he finished, the boat turned toward the tunnel and shot forward. The force was so unexpected that the four companions fell back into the boat so that they laid flat. The boat then entered the tunnel and everything went almost completely black.
“Watch yer heads! The boat be risin',” warned Skipper. Right after he said that, the boat smacked into the left side of the tunnel, telling us that the tunnel curved. Then it collided into the right side of the tunnel and then leveled out. In the distance I could see a light.
“We’re close to the end of the tunnel, mates! Not much to go!” I yelled.
“I don’t think we’ll be having enough time, Blade! The water be rising too fast! We’ll be smashed to smithereens before we ever reach the end!” Thane said with exasperation.
“We’ll make it. Just hold on tight to ye seats and lay flat,” I encouraged.
We were really flying. Thank goodness we had brought the small dinghy instead of one of the much larger ones, I thought.
Chapter 1
“Blade…ye are daydreamin’ again, ye old sea rascal. Help me row or I’ll be throwin’ ye overboard.” I turned to face Skipper. Then I looked to my two other companions. As I grabbed an oar and started rowing, I continued to think back to how we had received our names.
The tradition, for my people, was simple. When a child was born, a symbol would appear in the prophesy pool. Then the child would be given a name related to that symbol. I had a gift; the uncanny ability in using any weapon, but mainly the sword. I was also very strong and very handsome. My past was also known by all, which made them fear me at first, but once they got to know me, the fear passed.
Skipper had the gift to be able to sail anything built of wood that could float. He could also tell what was wrong and fix it just in the nick of time. Also, his eyes were the color of blue. Whatever shade of blue they were, would be the weather. In other words, his eyes could forecast the weather for the day. He was also extremely good looking.
Another of the group was Ray. He was slightly smaller than the rest, but had the gift of swimming. He could swim with extreme speed and agility. Though he was smaller on the outside, he had a huge heart and was exceedingly loyal. He too looked very handsome.
The last member of the group was Thane. He was very special. He was given the symbol of strength; hence his name, but right after the naming ceremony, which happens immediately after the symbol is shown, the symbol of extreme intelligence appeared. This symbol was only seen by a few, and those few made an agreement to keep it a secret. The only person to know would be Thane. Then he would be able to tell whomever he trusted about the gift, for genius was thought as a weakness.
“Skipper, yer eyes be turning gray. There also be what looks like a big ice dome up yonder. Ye will need to bank soon so we can prepare for the storm,” Thane warned. I looked up to see that he was right. The sky was clear, above us, for the moment, but I could already see clouds in the distance. Then, I glanced ahead to see that there was what looked to be a giant white dome up ahead. Down the river a bit, was what looked to be a tunnel, carved out by the river.
As we approached the dome, Skipper steered the dinghy into the shore about five feet from the entrance of the tunnel, and we all got out. “Looks like we’ll be campin’ here tonight, boys. We’ll continue after the storm passes,” he explained. Then, he pulled the little boat further onto shore and tied the rope, which was attached to the boat, to a nearby tree.
We all set up camp. I went into the woods to gather some fire wood. Ray went fishing for supper. Skipper and Thane made the shelter and dug a hole for the fire pit.
The storm came about five minutes after we had finished our meal. We ducked for cover just in time, because the tree next to our fire pit fell on top of it. I was grateful that we had grabbed everything with us. Thank Heaven that we were alright.
“I have an awful feeling that something terrible is going to happen,” replied Ray. “I think that we should continue down river. I bet that there are no storms in that dome.” He raced to the dinghy, untied the rope and tried to push it back into the river, but incapable because it was too heavy.
I decided that he was right and raced out after him. After successfully pushing it back into the river, I held it ‘till Ray got in. As I turned to look behind me, Skipper and Thane shot out from in the shelter. A split second later, a tree crashed onto it. As Skipper and Thane got into the boat, I jumped in.
“Glad to see you changed your minds,” I smirked.
“Just shut-up and row, Blade. Comments after we’re safe, thank you,” scowled Thane. Just as he finished, the boat turned toward the tunnel and shot forward. The force was so unexpected that the four companions fell back into the boat so that they laid flat. The boat then entered the tunnel and everything went almost completely black.
“Watch yer heads! The boat be risin',” warned Skipper. Right after he said that, the boat smacked into the left side of the tunnel, telling us that the tunnel curved. Then it collided into the right side of the tunnel and then leveled out. In the distance I could see a light.
“We’re close to the end of the tunnel, mates! Not much to go!” I yelled.
“I don’t think we’ll be having enough time, Blade! The water be rising too fast! We’ll be smashed to smithereens before we ever reach the end!” Thane said with exasperation.
“We’ll make it. Just hold on tight to ye seats and lay flat,” I encouraged.
We were really flying. Thank goodness we had brought the small dinghy instead of one of the much larger ones, I thought.