Some Strange Type of Peculiar Love

The Ocean

Fiona's POV

I've never been able to swim very well. I can dog paddle, but I never spent enough time in it to learn beyond that. I can't grow anything in there anyways, and I feel no connection to it. On the land, I feel at ease, I can protect myself at any time. But in the ocean, I was as powerless as a normal. I was at the mercy of the water.
I could tell Hugh was afraid, thankfully his mom made him learn to swim. He was awful at it, but he knew.  No one saw the wave but me, it wasn't too big, but for a rowboat this size I knew we'd capsize.  Jake and Emma were prepared, they leaned forward and stayed flat, the rocked a bit but were overall fine. But we weren't. The boat flipped over, for a minute I almost felt asleep. But the second the icy water hit my skin I was wide awake.
Hugh.
I opened my eyes, the salty water stung. I could see our belongings sink lower into the abyss, my worms were no where to be seen. I swam to the top, Hugh and Bronwyn were clinging to the flipped over boat.
"Fiona!" The invisible boy yelled. Horace emerged through the water, "I lost my monocle! And my bag!" He must be in shock.
Olive.
Her leaden shoes were sinking her. I took a deep breath and went back under the water. I opened my eyes, the saltwater barley phasing me anymore. I saw Olive sinking, she was 20 feet away from me. I swam as far as I could, I tried to yell at her to take off her shoes, somehow she heard me. She tossed them up as far as they would go, I swam farther and grabbed them. My ears were popping and I felt lightheaded. Olive floated up and grabbed my hand, I barley needed to kick up as she dragged us to the surface. When we reached the air the boat was already right side up.
"Wyn!" Cried Olive, she threw her arms around her, her feet floating up. I handed her her shoes and Horace pulled me in.
"Fee!" Hugh put his arm around me and I shook from the cold.
Maybe I was a better swimmer than I thought.

When the midday sun at it's worst, we finally saw land. My clothes were almost completely dry now but my hair was it's own story. We lost our paddles so we pushed with our hands to get to shore.

Eventually we got to the beach. I put pebbles in my mouth just to see if the were real, that I didn't drown.
"We need shelter." Emma said.
"First hide the boats." Millard seemed stronger, sometime during our boat ride Bronwyn tied a sling for him.
I nodded and Bronwyn carries both of the boats into a nearby cave, I could tell she was exhausted.
"We need shelter." Jake said.
"Let's go back to the cave Wyn found!" Claire kissed her hand further proving that Bronwyn was their surrogate mother.
Hugh grabbed my hand and we walked. He was still treading lightly on his bum ankle.
Emma lit a fire in the cave, it felt nice and warm. Hugh and I leaned on the cave wall. I snuggled into him and briefly fell asleep.

"Jake! Wait!" Cried Emma, she chased Jake out of the cave. I sat up and looked at Hugh.
"Don't worry about it, just a lovers quarrel. Go back to sleep." I nodded and leaned my head on his lap.

About an hour or so later, Hugh shook me awake.
"Wake up darling, we need to go more inland."
I nodded and stretched. My bones hurt, but no where near what Hugh must be feeling.
"Fiona, you and Horace need to go find food."
"Hugh and Millard, go find firewood."
We paired off as Emma gave further instructions. Besides Hugh, I've actually become quite close with Horace. He knows how to laugh, though he may be pompous at points.
"What about these?" Horace held up a bunch of blackberries. I nodded and took one, smashing it to use the seeds to grow more for later. I heard a humming sound, I got Horace's arms and pointed up.
"My bird, they must have known we made it." We linked arms and ran through the forest to back on the beach.
"Where's the food?" Asked Enoch.
"We saw—"
"Nobody gives a bloody hoot what you saw!"
"Yes but-"
"Let me guess, you found clothes." Taunted Millard.
"In a forest? Never mind—"
"We don't have times for this floundering!" Bronwyn threw her hands up.
My temper was starting to flare, I never got mad but when I did it was a problem.
"WE SAW A BLOODY ZEPLIN!" Yelled Horace.
"You should have led with that!" Yelled Enoch.
Horace lunged at him and tackled him into the sand.
"Have your pissing match later we need to get to the forest."
Emma was right, so we ran.

We ran for hours, my legs burned.
"I can't walk any longer!" Cried the little ones. The twins nodded.
"There's no where to rest! We'll be seen from the sky!"
"Well I can't keep going! We need to rest if we're going to help Miss P!" Bronwyn opened her jacket to show her stuffed in there. As evil as it is, I honestly forgot she was there. We've been so focused on not dying I've forgotten about our beloved ymbryne.
I whispered to Hugh.
"Fiona can grow us a shelter."
"What about some food?"
I nodded, though it wouldn't be much, I only had those blackberry seeds left in my hair as the ocean took the rest.
"Fine, we can stay." Everyone thanked Emma. While Bronwyn was the mother, Emma was the leader.
I went to my knees and talked to the Earth. The trees started to shroud and bent at my will. I made the leaves fan out for cover. I then told the bushes near by to grow taller and wider. In the end it looked almost like an awkwardly shaped cottage.
"Thanks Fiona!" Everyone cheered I blushed and hid behind Hugh's shoulder.
"And food?" Enoch was becoming more irritable by the second. I nodded and pulled the seeds from my hair. There was only enough for a few blackberries each. I didn't take any.
"You need to eat something."
I shook my head.
"I ate some earlier." I lied.
Hugh nodded knowing I was lying, but too hungry to argue.
"Any chance you have a goose in that mess of yours?"
I smiled and let out a quiet laugh shaking my head no.
"We need to get some rest." Jake said. I nodded and whispered to Hugh.
"I'll be back, I'm going to see if I can find water for everyone."
He nodded, "Do you want me to come with you?"
I shook my head no, I could tell he was too tired.
"Where is she going?" Asked Bronwyn.
"To find water for us."
"I'll go with her."
My heart sped up, I didn't want her with me. I know she blames me for Victor. 

We were deep in the woods when I heard running water. Bronwyn filled 5 jugs of water for the others.
"I found the basins in the boat."
I nodded.
"Can you carry a few? I'm awfully tired."
I nodded.
"You know I don't blame you."
My heart skipped, she wanted to talk about Victor.
"I mean I did, for a long time, but you couldn't have done anything."
I gulped.
"But I love you Fiona, you're like a sister to me, I'm not mad at you."
Before I could even realize what was happening, I was crying. I was crying like I did that day in my room. That day where I wished I could have done something. I hugged Bronwyn and cried against her, I felt tears hit my forehead. She might've been 3 years younger than me but she was the same hight, if not taller, than Hugh.
"I miss him so much." I whispered.
"I miss him too."
So we stood there for a bit, crying.

2/28/20
Hey I'm sorry if this is sad again I just thought we needed this.