The Grey Chronicles (Eragon fanfic) Book 1: Emergence

Chapter 1: Unexpected Complications

A small crowd gathered on the docks of Elle's Coast, Nova Scotia.

Pacing the decks of the boardwalk beside her small skiff, 14-year-old Jesse O'Connor carefully inspected every single inch of the Uriel. The townspeople waited to see her off, often making way for the sailors that belonged to the fishing fleet so they could say their goodbyes.

"Remember kiddo, that the waves close to land are the worst. Once you get past that, everything is easy as gliding," Richard, or Richie to his friends, told the ebony-haired girl. Like the other sailors, he was burly at the arms and chest; no matter how young, everyone on the water had to do whatever they could to help.

Carmela Evans, with baby Tulio bouncing on her hip, gave Jesse a carved sea charm held up by string. Even though the 21st century was the time when someone wasn't supposed to believe in hocus-pocus, any help was welcome in unknown territory. "Wear this around your neck at all times," the woman cautioned, and the girl immediately slung it on her. With a thankful smile, she moved on.

Despite the seeming happiness everyone was feeling on her behalf, Jesse couldn't help but feel a little bereft, lonely. The faces she really looked for would not come; they never will.

As the sun finally made its clambering way up the sky from its curved rim, the gray-eyed young sailor went on deck as the boys loosened the mooring ropes. She waved heartily at the chorus of goodbyes, until even the rocky shores of the eastern coastline of her childhood drifted over the horizon.

For the next few days or so, the girl made good time in her solo trip down south. She knew or remembered all the things about sailing in certain waters and how to tell where she was. About two weeks in, Jesse encountered a storm.

The clouds were dark and noisy, not a good sign for a lone sailor on a tiny skiff. Carefully tying away all the loose ropes and dropping anchor, the girl prepared for the worst.

And the worst did come: lightning. It struck the mainmast with such force that snapped like kindling just as it burst into fire. Jesse knew better than to try saving her ship; she took a small backpack that was filled with the most essential supplies and climbed onto the deck railing. The small Irish child muttered a prayer in her native language, fingering her sea charm as she did so, then jumped into the frigid waters as the rest of the masts began to tumble.