Tag Archives: coming of age

Prologue

Alaina sits down on the beach, a long journey now behind her. She has reached her destination. She swells with pride and simultaneously fears what has to come next.
Later, she thinks, for now she sits and ponders on how she got here.
“Happy birthday, honey”, Alaina’s mother said. They stood out on the coastline and watched as the sun went down.
” I always knew this day would come but not so soon”

Alaina looks to her mother, sadness drawn across her face. Alaina would miss her home but most of all she would miss her mother. The woman who has raised her all alone. The journey couldn’t wait though. Alaina’s mother held out a gift box to her.
The box was unnecessary, as Alaina already knew its content, but she relished it anyway. She removed the ribbon, feeling the silk twist and turn as the bow unraveled, and she opened the lid to see a necklace. The pendant was square with 6 holes in it.
Alaina took the pendant and held it up to her eyes and peered up at the sky. She centered a star in the first hole but the other stars didn’t align.
They would though, as Alaina says her goodbyes to her mother she set off to find where the stars align.

Chapter 1

The island where Alaina landed was not very far away from where she started. Which was good for her since her arms had gone limp from rowing. With an effort she lifts her pendant up to see the stars and they do not align. That’s ok though, thought Alaina, I need to rest. The sun peeked up above the horizon as Alaina searched for a place to rest, and after a little searching she found a cave to lay down and rest in.
The cave was dark and a little damp, but as Alaina ventured further in she found that it got more dry. Alaina set down her pack for a pillow and layed down to get some much needed rest.

Just then a skittering noise emanated through the cave. Alaina looked up to see a crab. The crab was very large. It was blue, with six long legs and two large claws. Most shocking of all, the Crab glowed.

” Hello, Little one. What brings you to my abode”. The Crab spoke in a soft voice but it was easily audible in the quiet cave.

Alaina spoke, in a voice much older than herself, “ I want to rest, I’ve had a long journey”

As she speaks the crab seems to recognize the pendant around her neck. He gets in closer to see it. “ Ah, the child of lights. So you’ve come for your trial then?” , he says, skittering back to look at her.

In much the same voice as before Alaina announces, “ I have come only to rest, and then I will be gone from here.”


“But you must participate in the trial before you may receive your reward”

“ What reward are you talking about”, Alaina said puzzled

“ In the place where the stars align, you will receive your reward but only if you participate in the trials.”

Alaina hadn’t known there would be trials but since her purpose of setting sail was to find the place where the stars aligned she said ” I accept this trial”

“Good”, the crab said,” That saves an awkward conversation, because the trial started as soon as you walked in”

The ground began to shake and rocks began to fall from the ceiling. Alaina ran to the entrance of the cave only to find her path blocked

Chapter 2

Alaina turned back to see that the crab had vanished and she was left alone in the cave with no way out. Clearly the trial was to find a way out but how? Alaina touched her hand to the stones, feeling for any weaknesses. Maybe she could find a place to push that would knock it all down, but no such luck. The blockade was sturdy.
Alaina stood for a moment, thinking. Maybe I can find a large stick and pry a few rocks loose. There’s got to be something in here. So Alaina went in search of a way out.

Further into the cave, Alaina found something unexpected. A canoe. It wasn’t usable, the humid cave air had done wonders in rotting away the wood over the years but more important to Alaina were the two oars sitting inside.
They had rotted a little as well but this was her best chance and she knew it. Alaina took the oars and hurried back to the mouth of the cave. Studying it one again, she found a crack, jammed one oar in, and pulled.
She pulled as hard as she could, not accounting for the rot setting into the wood. With a crack the oar snapped in half. Alaina stumbled backwards, sighing. Well I have one more, just have to be more careful. She went to pull the end of the oar from the wall so she could try again. It did not budge.
She pulled with all her strength and it would not move. Alaina was frustrated with this new turn of events. Her strategy had apparently reached a dead end. With a hint of anger she gave one last try, she kicked the rod. Then she felt it give. It was only a little but it gave her hope. She kicked again and again and again. The shorter rod, it seemed, was a lot stronger than the oar as a whole and when she finally kicked it free, a few rocks came free with it.
The wall began to shake as the structure blocking her path crumbled to the ground. Alaina stood and reveled in her success. Then, having exhausted all of her strength, she collapsed against the cave wall, with a proud smile.


Chapter 3

Alaina noticed two things upon waking up, the first was the sun peeking over the horizon. She had slept in too long it seemed, and she would have to wait until nightfall in order to leave.
Alaina preferred traveling at night, to avoid the harsh sunlight and in order to follow her star guide. The second thing she noticed was the giant blue crab a few feet away
“You have successfully demonstrated your resourcefulness and adaptability, now you will receive your reward” the crab touched Alaina’s forehead with a massive claw.
Immediately there was a loud roar, Alaina covered her ears and looked around, wondering where the sound had come from.
The crab touched her forehead again “my apologies” he said. And almost instantly the roar faded. “I have enhanced your senses, I’ve adjusted to where it will gradually enhance to give you time to get used to it, I forget how fragile human minds are”
Alaina looked at him in wonder
“Thank you for the reward, and for your consideration” Alaina said, once again in a voice almost unrecognizable as her own. ” If I may ask, How many trials are there?”

“Three”
“Ok, and before we started you said I would get a reward at the place where stars align, but you gave me a reward now”

“Yes, maybe I should have explained a little bit more, you will receive your ultimate reward at the place where the stars align. What I have given you is a resource to help you on your way.”
“That’s very kind of-“
The screech of a seagull interrupts her sentence and pierced her ears. Alaina quickly covered her ears to shield from the noise

“Have you ever tried meditation”, the glowing crab asked. “It might help, here follow my lead” the crab lay down on the sand, and Alaina sat with him.

“Okay now breathe in ” the crab said

Alaina took in a deep breath and let it out.
She sat down on the sand, and felt the grains of sand slip between her fingers. She smelled the ocean, as she heard the waves crashing against the beach. A seagull sang a scratchy song, and joined into the music of the sea.
Alaina opened her eyes. She noticed two things. She felt more in tune with the world around her than she ever had before, and even though she had closed her eyes in the morning, the sun was now well below the horizon.

“I guess it’s time for me to go” , Alaina rose and walked over to where her boat was, and with one last wave to her crab companion, she parted ways and sailed away.

Chapter 4

Sailing alone can get lonely, and Alaina felt this loneliness heavily. Along with loneliness, boredom also followed. Alaina studied her map, she checked the sky, and she ate and drank, and yet the night drew on.
In an effort to relieve her boredom Alaina decided to test out her new abilities. First she saw, and even though her night vision was enhanced, there was not much to see. She saw the water gently rock, she saw schools of fish beneath the surface. None of which was surprising to her. Next she listened. She heard the water lapping the side of the boat, she heard the fish as they swam through the dark waters, and unexpectedly she heard a voice.
“Child of Lights, I see you have come for your second trial.”, The voice said.
The voice was deep and booming. It was also slightly muffled as if coming from far away. It had in fact come from far away. Alaina looked over the side of the boat and with her newly enhanced vision she saw below the water, a blue, glowing, sea horse. It clung tightly to the mast of a ship that looked to be in terrible shape. The ship looked to have been battered

“I suppose I have”, Again the voice was not hers but that didn’t surprise her. “What is my second trial?”

” The second trial is the most simple, all you must do is make it to the next island”

The seahorse swam away, just as Alaina began to hear raindrops falling onto her boat. She felt a few drops land lightly on her skin.
Then chaos. Lightning lit the sky, as the boat shook with the sound of thunder. The waves began to rise high and crash down on Alaina from all sides. Within seconds she was drenched from head to toe, and with her small boat and even smaller frame, the fight against the sea was all but fruitless.

Chapter 5

Alaina continued to row as best she could, but with the sea rocking and the storm raging overhead, she had no way to know if she was making any progress. With no other recourse she decided she had to wait out the storm. If that’s even possible, what if the storm just keeps going until I reach an island? ,Alaina thought, trying her best to shield herself from the onslaught of water. I have no other choice. I have to wait it out Alaina lay down flat on the boat and closed her eyes. She focused on the water that drenched her clothes.She focused on the scent of the storm as it raged. She focused on the thunder as it tore apart the sky with a mighty roar.
She refused to fear it. She reveled in it. She revered it. The storm beat on, but she held steadfast. The waves continued to batter the sides of the boat. If any passage had been made there was no way to tell. Alaina’s eyes shot wide open though when she heard the worst sound she had ever heard. A crack of wood, as the boat beneath her gave way to the murky water.

Chapter 6

The storm had subsided which was the good news. The bad news was that Alaina was now adrift on a few errant pieces of wood. She had enough sense to grab her pack before it went down with the boat, not that it was much help in her current situation. The sun peeked over the horizon as Alaina lay drifting aimlessly in the sea.
Alaina was at a loss for what to do. She could swim, but in what direction. With the sunlight that now enveloped the sky with a pale orange light, she had no way of telling where she was.
The only thing to do is to find my bearing somehow, Alaina thought. She looked around.
She almost gave up on looking when she saw something. Trees. They were trees, and with trees came land.
With new vigor Alaina began to paddle her arms towards the trees in the distance. Her arms grew tired but Alaina persevered, desperate for a stable surface beneath her. She reached the land and with great effort she lurched on to the beach. Weary and triumphant, Alaina fell dormant and rested, under the shade of the forest.

Chapter 7

Night fell over the island as Alaina awoke. She held up her guide, but the stars did not align just yet. She was close though, she could feel it. The only problem was she no longer had a boat.

“Your second task is complete, you have demonstrated great patience and strength and now you will receive your reward”, she couldn’t see the creature but she knew it was the Seahorse that spoke.

A stream of water flew out from the beach, hitting Alaina square in the face.

“Ow!” Alaina exclaimed, more in surprise than in pain.
“Sorry, I can’t go on land, that’s the best I can do from here. You have been given great strength, enough to weather any storm. Your last trial awaits you. You will find what you need on this island. “

Alaina felt the power wash over her body, and though her physical appearance didn’t change she felt the new found strength within her. You will find what you need on this island, Alaina pondered, I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean. For now I need to focus on leaving this island.
With one last look towards the sea, catching a glimpse of driftwood floating in the distance, Alaina walked into the woods.
She had not gone far before she heard a whispering noise. Alaina spun quickly toward the sound but saw nothing. She walked forward only to find her path blocked by a log.
No, not a log. It moved slowly as it circled around her, its scales a glowing, vibrant, blue.
The head of the massive Snake rose in front of her.
She spoke, “Forgive me, Child of Lights, your third and final task awaits. Fight and you shall receive your reward.”
A woosh of air was expelled as the coil tightened around Alaina’s body, trapping her in a prison of blue scales.

Chapter 8

The Snake was strong, but so was Alaina. After a struggle Alaina wriggled free of the Snake’s grasp. The task was straightforward, but even still, Alaina was suspicious.
There wasn’t a lot of time to think about it though. Alaina jumped to the side, just as a massive tail slammed down into the ground where she had stood. Alaina hid behind a tree. She heard the whispering of scales sliding across leaves and other foliage.
You will find what you need on this island, The words came back to her. Alaina searched around and found nothing. Well nothing except the absolutely obvious thing. The trees. She had to use the trees somehow.
Palm to forehead, she searched the trees, and found what she was looking for. High up above her head she saw a heavy looking branch that looked ready to fall.
Alaina jumped into action. Jumping into the waiting arms of the tree, as a massive head barely missed ramming into her. She climbed quickly. She had always been a natural climber and this time was no exception.
The Snake’s tail shook the tree, as she climbed, but thanks to the Seahorse her hold had never been stronger. She reached the branch and pulled.
The branch shook but held fast. The Snake continued to pound the tree, as Alaina pulled, The combination of forces overcoming the branches resistance, and sending it tumbling to the forest floor. Pinned beneath it by the neck , was the Serpent.
She hissed and flung her tail out, but Alaina didn’t engage. Alaina’s suspicions had grown throughout the fight, and she knew what had to be done. “Forgive me,” She had said, and so she did.
“You have fought well, Serpent. Your aggression is forgiven, as it was I who trespassed into your home. We have fought, but I will not harm you.”
Alaina reached for the branch, and with effort lifted it off of the Serpent. The Snake shimmered and then glowed and when the glow abated the Snake was smaller and clung to a tree in front of Alaina.
“Indeed, we have fought, and you have shown mercy. You have demonstrated great reason and compassion, furthermore you have completed your final trial.” The Serpent reached out its head and grazed Alaina’s forehead.
“You have been given great knowledge, do with this knowledge what you will. Your prize awaits you, Child.”

“Thank you for your gift, Great Serpent. I know now what I must do” , Alaina’s voice was old, but she recognized it. It was her own. A voice she hadn’t used in a long time.

Chapter 9

Alaina built a raft. She hadn’t known how before, but now she was confident in her craftsmanship. By the sunset, Alaina left the island and by sunrise she arrived at her destination.
Alaina sits down on the beach, a long journey now behind her. She has reached her destination. She swells with pride and simultaneously fears what has to come next.
Later, she thinks, for now she sits and ponders on how she got here. Alaina closes her eyes and remembers, until falling into a fitful rest.

Chapter 10

Alaina opened her eyes, as the sun went down. The pendant rested heavy against her chest. She knew exactly what it was, It wasn’t the guide, as she assumed. It was the key. Alaina lifted the pendant to the sky and found where the stars aligned. The pendant began to glow, blue, and vibrant and beautiful.
Alaina began to float up into the night. Glowing the same beautiful blue. Alaina said goodbye to her mother. Her mother heard her, Alaina knew this. Alaina knew a great many things now, as she became one with the cosmos.
Alaina gave one last grin. A grin of resilience, a grin of strength, a grin of compassion. A grin of triumph.
“I have been tested, and have been found worthy” She spoke, in a voice she had missed, a voice she had loved.
A voice that sang, as the Child of Lights, rejoined the stars from which she came.


The End