01-07 - The return
(Published 18-Oct-2020 22:33:19)
St'phan soared above the islands.
He saw his first island - the busy throng still walking, jostling.
He saw his second - a tiny portion of the fantastic ornithopter visible amidst the trees.
And he saw his third - even from here the distinct coloring of each side was clearly visible.
And he saw a black, opaque hole far below, under the common sea.
Steeling himself, St'phan few down as fast as he could. Willing himself to fly against gravity, against pressure, against whatever had forced him to this wondrous place - St'phan flew.
Faster.
Faster.
Faster.
Until *POW* St'phan hit water - will alone allowed him to continue with a sustained velocity.
Falling now, into the deep, away from the islands, toward the fountain.
As he neared the hole, his velocity seemed to slow. Time seemed to stretch and St'phan clawed his way through the barely lit liquid.
Push.
Push.
Push.
And St'phan reached through the hole!
His hands grabbed what felt to be stone - and St'phan pulled himself out of the fountain.
Crawling out, St'phan lay two feet away from the strange water feature.
Breathing heavily, St'phan closed his eyes and listened to the breeze, to the light laughter of the barely seen, and to the sounds of his cherished forest.
He was home.
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