Chapter 13 - Landfall! To New Beginnings
Alien, I might be, but stupid, I am most certainly not. Feeling a tad insulted, the personage frowned after the others and sighed. No, I shouldn't indulge in useless emotions—not when peril is coming too close for comfort.
Instinct told him that he'd become one of the historical sidenotes as an extinct creature if he couldn't find a way to successfully become a true mortal male or female in this world. Either that, or he'd have to become a different species altogether. One that could breathe on land and in water. Now that he thought about it, there was another species. However, it was damn difficult to become integrated into that civilization. What the hell? He had to create an opportunity when he didn't have a choice. That was the motto of the Survival of the Purgatory Waystation. Survive or die, integrate or create a new civilization. Now that he remembered that much. The thinker believed it was time to create a new persona to break from the restrictions placed on his movements. Even as the thoughts came to the person, what was desired appeared as a blank document page before the eyes. Now we're talking!
Err, no, not talking, writing though it was difficult with a flipper, but who cared? This was progress at its best!
*
They looked over the slightly roughening waves. The raft wouldn't last much longer in rougher conditions, making them feel even more so as dusk began to fall over them. Colton and Kellen knew they were in trouble. The weather was roughening with time. "Do you think we'll make it to landfall at this rate without damage?" Colton wondered.
Kellen shook his head. "I don't know, but I'll do my best."
Colton sighed, nodding his head in agreement. "That is all we can do under the circumstances. I suppose, though, I feel there must be something else that I could do." He frowned uneasily. "I smell rain and ice coming from the north."
Kellen frowned. "Ah, that is where dark clouds are heading. " His keen sight detected lighting starting to strike the sea and land formations, obscured by the rain hammering down. That storm was approaching far too fast for his comfort.
Colton looked in the same direction and shivered. He hated storms, and even Kellen knew about them.
"We should concentrate on making landfall sooner rather than later." Kellen decided. "I'll do the rowing and look for that landmark you mentioned about the eagle's wing."
Colton nodded. "I'll let my senses warn me if we're no longer on the right path." He'd figured out how to get them to set off alarms for that circumstance. Handy for occasions such as this one.
Now that he thought about it, many things were left out of the game or needed to be patched. "It was still in the alpha and beta stages if I remember correctly." Kellen frowned because he did remember his author friend throwing fits.
"I think something has gone seriously wrong with the ratio of events per challenge and worlds in which the setting abounded." He told Colton that he remembered the author having hissy fits, mainly about how the app creators of the game had taken some severe liberties about where events and continents and other microclimates had been rearranged to their preferences and not how the story had gone to reaching the end of the survival challenges. "I'll think about it some more. Maybe it'll jog some memories." However, it was now worrisome that neither knew what would happen next.
*
Three ships sailed the ocean, searching for good prey to capture for that day's dinner. However, what they encountered was totally gruesome, and they fled from the ring of islands.
Instead, they spread horrible rumors about monsters turning into people and eating other people on those islands. Cannibals still thrive in this present. Newcomers weren't to be trusted at all, especially if they came from the sea and wore peculiar clothing that wasn't indicative of any known society or civilization.
It didn't stop some kind people who found the remnants of a raft that washed ashore in a small portside town fifteen miles south of Ravelin. Colton and Kellen were given temporary lodging and a rundown of what they needed to know to dwell within Kilton, should they choose not to go into Ravelin.
"So, what are your identities now?" The innkeeper, Trubin, inquired with a twinkle in his eye.
Colton sighed. "Malkin Conroy." He supplied very reluctantly.
"I'm Kenneth Loftin." Kellen looked less than pleased with the slight alteration of their names. It didn't make any sense to him.
Trubin shrugged. "When yer in private, ye ken use the names yer most familiar with." He counseled. "Tis hard coming from another place, I know." His eyes dulled. "I'm still not used to it myself." Then Trubin shook his head. "Anyway, just keep in mind what I told ya. That way, you won't stomp over sensitive toes and maybe survive the trials."
Conroy looked at Trubin. "If others like us come this way, will you be as helpful?"
Trubin shrugged. "Depends on their attitudes, laddies." He smiled when Conroy and Kenneth exchanged startled glances before shrugging in resignation.
They could think of a few individuals that would likely create a fuss. If that happened, they would take the opportunity to move elsewhere and avoid curious and nosy individuals.
Trubin further explained why he'd helped them, much to their astonishment. "You two are respectful indeed. No nonsense, you gave me and the missus the truth of your circumstances." A sigh escaped him when they blinked in shock at the solution to the dilemma facing everyone from another world.
"While we're clearly flouting certain unspoken rules of what not to do, it goes against the grain not to help out those in dire need of a small hint or two," Trubin grunted. "Therefore, we're giving you a boost in the direction of the way to work around all the small traps set for the aliens who come here from other worlds."