Zorya

As the sun crested the horizon, its ray’s peeked through the window of a small cabin. Under its gaze, the sparsely furnished interior was illuminated. Like an old dance instructor, it surveyed the dreary articles within, tutting at the many flaws it found.

A pale-yellow fridge found its various nicks and spots of rust highlighted. Its closest companion, a small dining table, struggling to hold its own weight with only three good legs. While the proud stove, gas of course, tried to bluster its way to respectability.

Wilting under the disapproving light, a mass of blankets that marked the bed shifted. A sudden fit of coughing erupted from it, breaking the quiet.

Catching her breath, Sonya stared up at the ceiling, planning her day as she tried to gulp down enough air for her demanding lungs.

It had been a long year, but she could finally see Zorya again.

Sitting up, she dangled her thin legs over the edge of the bed. Not long ago, they could have carried her to the ends of the world.

Exhaling shakily, she tried to stand but the muscles in her legs refused the order. Collapsing back onto the bed she cursed.

She didn’t have time for this.

Finally managing to convince her body to follow instruction, she stood. Her vision went black and she teetered dangerously on unsteady feet.

Catching her breath and finding her balance, she shuffled slowly over to the fireplace. Throwing some wood on, she watched as the embers eagerly nibbled at their meal. Their delight punctuated by small pops and cracks.

Turning to the kitchen, another bout of coughing wracked her body.

Dangling from the mantle of the fireplace she dragged herself back onto her feet. Fixing her brown eyes on the stove, she forced her legs into compliance. Reaching her destination, she prepared a bland meal and scarfed it down with little regard for its lack of flavour.

Obligation finished, she made her way to the entrance and snatched up the empty satchel hanging next to it.

Opening the door, her leathery face split into a grimace. She could see the beach a hundred meters ahead, but an unbroken sheet of white snow lay between her and her goal. Starting forward, she pushed at the built-up powder.

Counting the sound of each crashing wave, Sonya’s existence became a series of stumbling steps. Each accompanied by a gasping breath.

There never seemed to be enough air.

Focusing on the shore, she watched it inch closer.

The crunch of snow as her legs forged a path melded with the rasping sound of her breath as the lapping waves came ever nearer.

Finally reaching the point where snow gave way to sand, she paused. Hanging the satchel from a post she had left there years ago, she stripped down. Her lungs cried out in desperation as the cold wind made her chest tighten.

Finally ready, Sonya waded into the water.

* * * * *

Floating, face up, Sonya let the rip current pull her further out to sea. Her face the only thing breaching the icy water. The sound of crashing waves came, muted, to her submerged ears. Somehow calming despite its violence.

A sigh escaped her lips as she looked up at the grey sky, this used to be the easy part. Swimming had always come naturally when she was a child. Now, though, in what should have been the prime of her life, she was forced to rely on currents. No point in worrying about that though, she had made it this far and was not going to give up.

Feeling the rip lessen around her, she knew the time had come. The Storm whispered to her from the recesses of her mind.

Her heartbeat quickened and she tried to take a few calming breaths. Her greedy lungs demanded more though, their eagerness causing a coughing fit. Recovering slowly, she spat water out of her mouth. The quicker she got on with it the better it would be.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated.

A thousand whispers scrambled over each other, vying for her attention. Their voices joining together to overwhelm her senses as her body was sapped of its heat. Bow headed and trembling, she was tossed by the whim of the tempest.

A young girl in the storm.

Lost.

A great watery maw swallowed her and she found her sanctuary within its belly. Sheltered, at last, from the terror and chaos. Taking a deep breath, her mouth filled with water and her lungs screamed.

Fading into unconsciousness, she clawed at the water around her. She needed to find Zorya, she would be safe with her.

A bright flash burned her vision as lightning struck her.

She woke to a strong humming in her ears and an endless blue opened up around her. A solidness of sensation told her she had survived. Lying, mouth agape, she tasted salt and once more found nothing but water in her airways. Eyes wide and limbs flailing she desperately searched for the surface.

She had been under too long.

Far too long.

Spotting a shimmering light that promised air she began to swim towards it. A webbed hand leading an arm covered in long hair-like structures came into view and Sonya froze. She finally remembered what she had done. With a force of will, she exhaled sharply and locked her mouth closed, she didn’t need it now.

* * * * *

Reaching forward with both arms, Sonya took a powerful stroke. Kicking smoothly with legs that now matched her youth. She felt the water course through the sleek hair that had sprouted all over her body. Each movement providing more strength for the one that followed.

The world underwater was hers and she felt like she could swim forever in its waters.

Indignant at being abandoned, her now impotent lungs burned for attention. Their commands, so strong on land, reduced to feeble pleading.

Remembering her purpose, she pushed the sensation aside. Facing away from the rising sun, she shot off. As she swam, Sonya watched her shadow slide over the rippled sand. Its sleek form gliding through the water effortlessly, coaxing the last of the air out of her lungs in a bubble that carried her elation to the surface.

* * * * * *

A dark mass of seaweed loomed in front of Sonya, long tendrils reaching for the sun. Smirking, she dove to the ocean floor, flipper like feet throwing up sand with each kick.

The thick forest clung to a maze of rocky outcrops and she darted playfully around them.

Finding a patch of red among the green her curiosity got the best of her and she swam over to inspect it. Slowing to feel its rubbery texture on her hands, she thought its colour would look excellent rising among all this green. She followed its vine and found that part of it had been trapped underneath an old outboard motor. Its stubborn weight would not budge as Sonya tried to liberate the seaweed.

Frustrated by the lack of progress Sonya glared at the engine and gave up on her endeavour.

wondering idly what Zorya would make of this little forest, she searched for her next direction marker. A long shelf of rock came into view, thick on one end while the other ponderously sunk below the sand. Her compass she’d termed it. The lower edge of its needle like shape pointed almost true west.

Shifting to the right she set off again. Northward.

Allowing herself to drift closer to the surface she flipped over so that she was swimming upside down. Sparkling, the sun shone directly overhead. A wrinkle formed between her brows.

It shouldn’t have taken so long to get this far.

Righting herself so that she could see below again, she toyed with that thought and wondered at its implications.

Shrugging, she swam off.

* * * * *

Pulling herself through the water, Sonya saw a huge shadowy shape slowly resolve itself into the form of a ship. The light of the sun barely reaching Its metal hull. A symbol of her people, who took great pride in their naval prowess. Moving closer she saw the wounds of some battle long past, perforating its side. Barnacles and coral now covered its exterior while small crustaceans scuttled everywhere, their loud clicking and snapping reaching her ears even at this distance.

Drawn in by the flicker of activity, Sonya dived further down. The closer she got to the wreck the warmer she felt, water shifting from icy to temperate.

As she approached, her belly growled, announcing her hunger. Giving the creatures below a new appeal.

She spotted a crab perched over a hole in the ships grey green hull, eagerly snapping at anything that came through, and manoeuvred herself closer.

Floating, she waitied for her opportunity.

Her chest began to ache and her lungs used the opportunity to wrest control. Feeling water in her mouth, she slammed it shut and shot away from the patient crab.

Heart beating rapidly, her limbs felt sluggish and she scrabbled towards the sun. It was so far away.

She wasn’t going to make it.

Moving with more determination she felt the ache subside and chastised herself for being so foolish. She shouldn’t have gotten distracted, there was still a long way to go before she could see Zorya again.

Turning back towards the sunken ship she directed herself to port and threw herself forward., shooting into the deep.

* * * * *

Surrounded by the deep hum of the ocean, Sonya strained to drag herself through the thick water. Far below her, out of sight, the ocean floor was no longer a tool she could use for navigation.

There were no more features to distract her.

Above her, the sun twinkled. Its rays reaching down weakly, dwindling as night approached. She kept her course pointed towards the angle of its setting.

If it were not for Zorya, she would never travel this far out. She could already hear her friends high-pitched song stretching from the depths. It always sounded like a sad melody to Sonya. Full of long notes that pleaded with the sea for some kind of company. Only to trail off into sobbing clicks when answered with silence.

It had been this song that woke Sonya the first time she transformed. Able to breath underwater, a new world lay before her. Somehow Zorya had known she was not of the ocean and showed her the way back to land. Jostling Sonya with an enormous head when she refused to leave.

Longing for their reunion, Sonya tried to swim faster, but her limbs had lost their earlier vigour. Arms drifting forward only to drift back again ineffectually. The screeching of her lungs, something far off as her body stopped moving.

Rolling onto her back she searched for the surface, but the sun had moved on and she couldn’t see anything but darkness.

Floating, lungs bursting, her eyes closed.

A long note wailed into the deep.