I Am The Sea || Choi San

coven

There it is.
The island.
Theo can't really believe it.
Her heart is beating so fast, it almost jumps out of her chest. Her hands are clammy. Her cheeks are hot.
And there's something else in her. A drive. A need.
A pull, growing stronger with every centimeter the small wooden boat she's in right now crosses on the waves.

She keeps her eyes on the beach, staring almost unblinking, to keep herself from ripping the paddles right out of Yeosang's hands. The boat is moving so slowly, it itches in Theo's fingers to jump over the edge and swim to shore.
She has to get to the island. She has to feel it's sand, has to know it's curves and edges. She has to be on the island, and the intense need to touch down on its shores is almost too much for her to take.

And then she can't wait anymore.
She stands from the wobbly back bench of the small six-person boat, holding onto San and Seonghwa's shoulders, and gathers the length of her skirt on one hand.
Then she steps over the edge.
The water isn't deep, it reaches just up to her waist, but Theo doesn't care. Not even when San and Seonghwa turn frantically in their seats grabbing for her.
Theo strives forward, nearing the shallow shore with every step.

The water is blue and clear. There are tiny, iridescent fish around her.
She should have taken off her boots before jumping in the water, but it's too late now.
And then the sand is crunching beneath her soles, her shoes sinking into it.
She's gasping then, and something inside her loosens like a knot.
Theo falls to her knees, a feeling rising in her chest, driving tears to her eyes.

She feels the sand between her fingers. It's warm from the sun, at first, cold and wet beneath the surface.
The shore smells like seawater, but sweeter. Like melted sugar had been poured into the waves.
Theo closes her eyes and coils herself into this feeling she can't name. It's warm and sweet, but also new and old, and big and small, and cosmic and more - so much more.
She's shivering, her wet clothes clinging to her skin.
Theo is crying tears of exhaustion and joy, but she can hear footsteps and the voices of her crew.

And then there is a hand on her shoulder and arms around her waist.
"Theo," San murmurs in her ears, "Theo."
Theo leans into San, her eyes still closed, his arms are strong as ever.
She hides her face in his embrace, but San pulls her face up. He wipes her face with his thumbs and presses his lips to her temple.
"Theo, I need you to open your eyes," he says gently then. "You need to see this."

Theo blinks, blinded by the sun for a moment.
The crew is behind her, standing in line side by side.
But they're not looking at Theo and San.
Their eyes are caught on something beyond the two of them.
Theo turns.

And then she falls back onto her knees, her eyes widening.
In front of her, a few steps ahead on the beach, stand a group of women. Seven, in total.

In their middle, a girl with white hair that reaches all the way down to her ankles. She's wearing a pink dress that flutters in the wind.
She's smiling down at Theo, her hands clasped together in front of her.
To her right side stands a woman with red, curly hair and freckles, she's plump and round, and her smile is warm like the sun.
Another woman stands beside her. She's a slender figure, with bronze skin and a curtain of sleek black hair. She raises a hand to wave at Theo.
To the other side of the girl with the white hair stands a woman older than the rest, with white tufty hair and a rounded back.

There are three more women beside them, though Theo does not recognize them.

Theo does not know where they came from. These women, that look at her with bright faces, their hair and dresses flying in the wind. They're unmoving, and slowly but surely their smiles turn unnerving. They don't speak. They merely look.
Theo glances at San, but he does not react either.
Theo can't tell if he recognizes the four women in the middle, or if the others do.
She does, though.