What Lies Beyond the Ocean

Chapter 1

The ocean waves crashed against the rocky shore. The sun, high and bright, made the water shine like diamonds. The ocean- there are so many things unknown about this unique and enthralling world we have yet to uncover. I wondered about all of the lands that call my name "Erline, Erline," they yearn. 

       I felt my heart break and shatter into glass that fell to the bottom of my ribcage. I was so desperate to find my father if he's even still alive. I sighed; as much as I was desperate to jump into that cold, sparkling ocean, I still had a family to care for. I sprung to my feet and walked slowly to my house. The green grass was damp from this morning's dew.

I opened the door; nobody was there. Mother was working at the shop while father was still gone in war. My father went out to war when I was only a shy three months old, and I had no memories of what he looked like or what he was like. I averted my hazel optics to notice something out of place on the wooden bookshelf. I rose one eyebrow and slowly and quietly walked over to the bookshelf. My heart thudded like the way a blacksmith pounds steel as I examined the big, black book. I was discombobulated.  There were intricate, inexplicable golden cursive letters inscribed on the cover. I gingerly picked up the book and blew the millions of dust particles off it, which made me sneeze. I examined the letters again, but before I could make out what they say, someone came into the house, making me jump. I quickly shut the unfathomable book and acted as if I didn't witness anything. 

"Erline?" a small woman, who had eyes as green as the summer leaves and hair as curly as ribbon, came into the same room as I. I gulped and quickly moved away from the bookshelf and scurried over to her. The petite woman smiled at me, revealing teeth whiter than the fallen snow in February. 

"Mother!" I exclaimed quickly with a nonplussed tone. "You're home early!"

Mother looks at me with a discombobulated expression portrayed on her face.
"Are you all right?"
Still nonplussed, I just nodded my head rapidly.
Mother's face softened, and she then smiled once again. "I came home early because of your birthday tomorrow. I wanted to plan out your special day tomorrow with you."
I pushed my long chocolate brown hair out of my face and looked into those wondrous eyes of hers.
"Uh- um, maybe during dinner, mother?" I stuttered out.
With a smile still plastered to her face, she nodded and began cooking dinner. I smiled and rushed to my room, my heart palpitating. I noticed something popping out of one of my journals. I walked over to it and took out the sheet of paper. I smiled at the drawing I drew of what I thought my father looked like. Mother never mentioned him, and when I ever mentioned him, she would get incensed. My heart crumbled as I realized I most likely won't ever know who my real father was. I sighed and opened the fat, thick journal written that had my twelve-year-old's handwriting. I flipped through it and landed on a page that made my eyes pop out of my sockets. My breath stopped as I analyzed the handwriting.
23rd of May, 1489
Eye of the beholder, isn't she? I really miss you and little Erline. Things are all right so far, but the troops from Nilopoia are building up in large amounts. I just want this war to end, but fighting for my country is a privilege that shouldn't be taken for granted.

My heart missed a beat, and my stomach twisted itself into a knot. What did I just read? I rubbed my eyes and slapped a pillow over my face. All along,  mother had this note that could give hints about father? I grunted in vexation. All of my life, ever since father was deployed, mother never told one thing about him. In all of my about eighteen years on this planet, she held a secret from me. I could tell by the way she would grimace every time I asked her about him. Father. Mother said she would tell me when I was older. That promise diminished into ashes. And I wanted the truth.

My head pounded, and I was incensed. I arose from my bed and stomped out of my room, unaware of what I was about to do next.  I coughed, attempting to get my mother's attention.
"Yes, my Erl?" she said sweetly and innocently, but I wasn't going to play that game now. Not anymore.
"I want the truth, mother." I elucidated
"About what?"
I felt my right eye twitch with annoyance. "The secret or even secrets you kept from me for nearly eighteen years."
With my words, she dropped the spoon she was stirring the potato stew with. She glared at me, petrified.
We sat in silence, nothing but the sound of the boiling potatoes in the pot.
"We'll talk later, Erline." mother poured the stew into a bowl and handed it to me. I narrowed my eyes and walked away, rejecting the steamy stew.
I felt her cold stare pierce through my soul, but I ignored it and walked to my room.

I peered from underneath my cotton quilt and looked out my window. The moon shone over the ocean, creating the perfect scene to inspire an artist to create a masterpiece. My eyes flickered up to the star. You may call me mad, but it was my chance to roll out that map and find my destination finally. To find out who really is Erline Esmeralda Wallensport, if that was my real name. I rolled out from bed and made my way to my dresser. I opened the chestnut drawers and picked out some dresses, a shirt and pants. I plopped them in a potato sack I found. I threw in a bag of coins, God knows how many, and then a dagger. A weak, iron dagger that won't do me much good from danger, but it's better than a worthless kitchen knife. I figured that would do me good for now, and I slipped on a pair of my father's old farmer boots before he was enrolled as a knight for the king's army. I felt a twinge of regret in my gut, but I knew this was for the best. I opened the window, letting in the gelid night air. I jumped out and felt the boots sink into the mud from the pouring rain. I then shut the window quietly and rapidly. I ran, feeling the freedom I never had. I was free. And now my chance to find my destiny.

The crickets inhabiting the lush green bushes made music throughout the night. I walked on and on for what seemed like hours until I decided to give my fatigue body a rest. My eyes darted around the land, trying to find the perfect place to set camp up. I spotted a large, lurking tree that looked like it would come alive and devour me in a whole set.  I made my way to the tree and kneeled into the soft, soggy Earth. I heard something snap in the distance.
'It better not be mother,' I thought as I opened my sack, searching for food.
How stupid was I? I forgot to pack food. I grunted as I got up and scrutinized the petrifying forest. I had no choice but to go hunting. I slipped off my worn-out, old shoes and replaced them with old boots. I was never taught how to hunt, so I was in great trouble if I didn't manage to get a rabbit or two.

The wind blew through the trees, creating eerie music. I attempted to hunt down a squirrel but failed to do so. My stomach rumbles as I spotted a colossal rabbit. The rabbit had the whitest fur I have ever seen on a rabbit, making it pop out like snow in the summer. I slowly pulled out my dagger and slowly snuck up on the rabbit, like a thief trying to steal a woman's purse. I decided to pick up my speed as he did. The path I stalked him on seemed to become narrower and narrower, which made me a bit anxious. Minutes later, I lost track of the rabbit and tried to find my breath. As I looked up, I noticed a bright orange glow in the distance. A fire? I go up ahead and pull the tree branches away, trying to see what the bright orange glow was. Voices of men filled the nerve-racking air of the air. No. This can't be. I can't go near them; I needed to take runoff, so they wouldn't notice a young girl who lacked the experience of travelling wandering in the forest by herself. I walked backward and ran but fell over a huge tree root and let out a stentorian squeal of pain and shock. I felt my face go hot and red, and I covered my mouth to keep the squeals from coming out. As I began to get up to dash off again, I felt a large arm grasp mine.