The Quest for Skandia (Ranger's Apprentice Fanfiction)

4

Emily tumbled violently around in the waves. She was pelted by driftwood and trash as she was thrown around. When the crashing of the waves slowed down, she popped her head out of the water. She gasped for air and treaded in the water. "H-help!" She shouted, but it was helpless. The ship was now far off. Emily glanced around and spotted a barrel that had fallen out of the ship. She pulled herself up onto it, and started crying. "It's useless! I might as well be dead!" She shouted angrily. Emily glanced at the sky. The storm was off in the distance, but there were still some waves. She held her breath and grasped the barrel as she went under a wave. Turning her head around she saw another wave. She sighed quietly and turned around, holding her breath. Her long hair swirled around and into her face blocking her sight. She struggled to move it out of her face, but she couldn't use her hands. She winced as she felt something brush by her left shoulder. When the wave ended she took in another breath and held it as another wave came over her. She turned her head around in the wave and opened her eyes. The salt stung her eyes but she kept them open. Emily's heart skipped a beat as she noticed a shadow in the wave, and it was huge. Turning her head around, she closed her eyes. Suddenly there was a searing pain in the back of her head, and then she was out cold. "Gorlog's beard, where am I?" Emily moaned as she opened her eyes. She tried to sit up but she was too weak, so she laid her head back down. Moving her head around, she saw two walking figures coming towards her. Once they reached her, they looked down on her, but they couldn't ask her anything, because drowsiness took over, and Emily fell asleep. "W-where am I?" Emily whispered and looked around. She was in a room on a small cot. There was a small window to her right, and a door on her left. She sat up slowly and rubbed her head. Emily winced as her hand rubbed over the bruise where the item hit her head. She noticed a cup of water on the night table beside her cot. She picked it up and drank greedily at the water inside. When the water was gone, she set the cup back down and laid her head on her pillow. She was about to close her eyes when the door opened slowly. She quickly opened her eyes and stared at the newcomers, a girl and a boy. They both looked around her age, and they sat down beside the cot. Emily sat up and looked quizzically at the newcomers as they said and introduction. She replied to them with her own greeting. Her throat was dry and her voice kept cracking, but she continued talking. The young girl, Samantha, continued talking, but the last part caught her attention. "If you want, we will gladly take you back to Skandia. But, you have to tell us about the Brotherband and such." She said. Emily smiled and replied. "That would be great." She then explained about the Brotherband and even more about Skandia. She explained a little impatiently, but her hope to get back home helped her move on. "You'd better get to sleep, you've had a long day." The boy, Kane said. Emily nodded and laid back down, putting her head on her pillow. The two young Araluens smiled at her and left the room. Emily heard mumbling voices as they left the room, and then fell asleep.