Behind Your Mask

Chapter One

Dorothy POV:

I felt the breeze as it caressed my skin, the sun basking the room. I knew I had to get up but I just didn't want to let go of the sweet dream I was having.

Just then I heard my mom yell, "Dorothy! Time to get up!!!" Allowing me to get all the motivation I needed to awaken. I knew that if I didn't, *shudder* I would be in for extra training.

Shouting could be heard from outside the house as I slowly walked up to the campfire outside, smelling something grilling. I thought 'Wow, that smells disgu-' but was cut off by the loud laughter of my Uncle Cuco.

"I can see what you're thinking, Dory!" he exclaimed with a stupid smirk on his fur covered face.
I felt my cheeks reddening, "But it's true!" I whined at him. All the while something, or someone, was creeping up behind me.
They were clearly thinking that I didn't notice them.

With a couple of swift movements I evaded, tripped, and immobilized them easily, while only being five years old. Much too skilled than I'm actually supposed to be.

It comes in handy when you remember everything since you were born. Or maybe it's the influence of living on a deserted island your entire life, having nothing to do but train in combat.

"Aww man!" yelled my attacker laying on the ground. They should have thought better than to try fighting me.
Looking at the little boy, just two years older, pouting at me with his rainbow head and little freckles dotting his pale cheeks.

"You know you can't beat me Santo... it's not worth the effort." I told him.

Looking up at me, he suddenly tried to swipe my feet out from under me. Not expecting me to twist him into a headlock, causing him to struggle under me.

"No! Noo!! I give up! I GIVE UP!!!" he screamed in my ear, causing me to push his head down. "C'mon, let me go!"

"Then stop trying to trick me." I stated calmly.

"Dorothy, let Santo go!" Yelled the scariest person ever.

Immediately, I let go. Not willing to challenge my mom into giving me a taste of my own medicine. I know I'll lose, I might be better than the average person but I'm far from winning against her.
She's next level...

"Thanks Mrs. K," said Santo, "she would have killed me!"
"It's okay son, but you really need to focus more on your training, otherwise you'll never beat her," she explained to him, "now, breakfast is almost ready. So let's go sit and eat." She gestured for us to come.

Looking at the fire, I saw the thing I dreaded the most. Sole, a goey, disgusting fish that looked like a squashed turd. Some might like it, but to me it was a nightmare. I then heard laughter behind me.

Turning around, I glared at the laughing leucistic, she was bending over, unable to breathe because of her stomach aches.
"Wow, just wow. It's not like you don't have things you hate, Aunty Nola." I told her off sarcastically.

Finally she replied while still in her giggle fit, "But it's so funny Dory, you like all fish except one!"
Yeah, I knew that. But still, it was slimy and fatty, adding to that it had an ugly face.
"It's not like you don't have anything you don't like, such as mushrooms," I told her with a raised brow.
Her giggling face turned into one of disgust, making me smirk internally.

From the sand that scattered against my calves, I knew that Val was behind me. Most likely pawing for attention, as I turned around I was met with the beautiful platinum gold of her coat shining under the sun.

She nuzzled my hand for me to scratch behind her ears, like she always did in the morning. When she had enough, she walked away to sit under the shade of a nearby tree.

Someone calling out my name brought me out of my trance, "Do.. Dory, it's time to eat." Uncle Cuso told me. He was now in his human form, taller than everyone else on the island. His hair was pitch black, with a touch of gray at the tips.

Unlike everyone else, except Val and Santo, I only ate the cut up fruit laid before us. I wasn't going to eat the fish, no way in hell!

My mom didn't understand why I didn't like the one particular fish, but neither did I.
"Dory, at least try to eat a piece." she suggested.
I think she could see my face turning green and pale at the same time, cause as soon as she suggested it she took it back. "Nevermind." she sighed.

Mom looked a bit down these days, never really looking full of life. I think she gave up, but waiting and patience was never really her motto to begin with.

"Are you okay Mom?" I asked.
She looked up at me from her food, as if she was shocked I noticed.
"I'm alright dear, just wondering if a ship will ever find us."
Okay that was something I've never heard, a "ship".

"What's a ship?" I wondered.
She was even more surprised at that, "Have I never told you? I'm sure I mentioned it before," she looked at me, searching for an answer. With a shake of my head, she understood... She's never explained it to me before.

"Well dear, it's a vessel that... that, um... it floats on water, and it's made of wood." she tried to explain it to me, but I knew her explanation wouldn't get through to me, not until I could see it for myself.
"Oh, ok."

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Author's note:

Hi Everyone!👋🏻
I'm Salomé and this is my first book/novel. I started writing this when I was 12. Never finished it and I only checked out Wattpad because of a recommendation from a friend. So glad I listened!!! I hope you all enjoy it and please do give me advice on how I can improve my writing! I'm turning 17 in December!🥳🥳🥳
The recommended audience are teens and young adult.