The sea goddess

Part 1 manukas dream

Manuka walked down the beach, waves caressed her feet and swirled at her ankles. The sun was setting in the distance sending streaks of red and orange into he sky. Manuka knew her parents would be mad if she came home late but she couldn't drag herself away from a calming, beautiful sea. As darkness engulthed the sky Manuka heard a familiar voice, it was her sister calling to her. She came running up "Manuka!" She cried "our parents are worried come home". She took one last look at the sea then followed her sister back home. "You've been at the beach again!" Her father said as she walked into their hut. Manuka looked away "your grounded" he said "what!" Manuka cried "Its not fair!". "You have been late home four times" her father lectured "I'm sick of telling you" "what's the harm?" Manuka protested. "You could be killed by the shadow tigers!" Her father said "we just want you safe". The shadow tigers were deadly powerful creatures that roamed the island at night and killed any villager. Luckily the took no notice of the village. Manuka gave up and sat by the fire, warming her knee's, her brother passed her half a fish and she ate hungrily. After she curled up on her sleeping mat "how long am I grounded for?" She asked "until after the festival" her mother and father both said. She dropped her head sadly, that was her favourite part of the week and she would miss it!. The festival was held every ten days, no one did any work apart from the food preparers and they all ate, danced and sang. The festival started at noon and ended at sunset. After rising and turning Manuka fell asleep. When she opened her eyes she found herself on the beach. Mist swirled around her and becconed her forward, she walked into the gently crashing waves until her head was swallowed up by the sea. "Come, come" something whispered, she swam through the water some how able to breathe until she came to a giant cave. Inside were massive stone Collins and coral and right in the middle was a massive throne. A old man stepped forward, he has fish sales up his side's and on his back. His long gray hair swirled in the water and his old tired blue eyes shine like those of an old warrior remembering their days of youth. "Meet me here on the day on the festival" he said "there is much to explain and time is quick". "What" Manuka cried "tell me more" but she was being pushed up by waves, water filled her lungs. Just as she reached the serface her eyes fluttered open and she realised she had been dreaming. She sat up and smelled fish and other seafood. Her mother handed her handful and Manuka scoffed it down. "I want all the clothes and bedding washed as well as some Berry's collected before I come back from fishing" her father said. Her brother gave her a sympathetic look before joining their father outside the hut. Manuka set to work gathering up all the bedding and old clothing. She thought about washing them in the sea for a moment then decided against it. She walked to the well and dunked in the clothes one by one then hung them to dry on two low tree branches. Then she walked into the forest with a small weaved basket and picked two handfuls of berries. When she returned the clothes and bedding were dry so she gathered all her things and walked home. After putting down the bedding and folding the clothes she grabbed some sea shells and string and started to make some jewelry. She thought about selling them at the festival but then painfully reminded herself that she was grounded. Then her thoughts were drawn to the dream she had had. who was that man? Was she really going to go to that cave?. Could he be a god, if so she would be breaking her religion by meeting him. But she found it so hard to believe In the eel god. Supposedly an eel man had come to their ansestors and shown them this island. He apparently helped them survive, but why did no one ever see him now?. This god had come to her in her dream, if he was a god. God or not she decided she would meet him on the night of the festival. Just then her father and brother came home, he checked to see if she had done her jobs. "Good" he said then went to start the fire. Her mother and sister came home soon after carrying some mussels and a fat crab. They all had dinner then went to bed. 

Ok end of part one I hope you like it. 🙂