Shore ( A Modern Fantasy Beach Action Adventure)

Search (Part 1)

"A clear blue sky over a field of green glass. A cool breeze comforted us as we walk. Soft hints of the sea air in the breeze. It's not a bad place to be stranded in and left for dead if I say so. I would give anything to stay in this bliss," a man says as he walks down the grass field.

     "That doesn't make this better. The fact that this place is so nice is what makes it depressing," the woman walking next to him says.

     Journeying down this field are two people. The first is a fair-skinned man in his early twenties. His fingers run through his brown hair, which is in the style of a Mohawk—with the sides shaven to the skin. He's dressed casually in bright-orange shorts, lemon-yellow Chuck Taylors, and an equally yellow tank top with the name Van Gogh written on it, the G tastefully replaced with an ear. Over his shoulder, he has a muck-brown backpack with random color blotches scattered around, as if a painting had exploded on it.

     Walking beside him in a pearl-white T-shirt and a blue-as-the-ocean cover-up skirt is a woman with cocoa skin in her mid-twenties. Her long brown hair flows past her shoulders and stretches midway down her back. As they walk, she adjusts the blue straps of her sandals, which wrap around her calf. "Sorry to sound like a downer; I'm still adjusting to all this," she says, scratching her head. "So, you are a full-blown wizard?"

     "It's not like there is an official title. I didn't have to take an exam or go to a secret school," he says.

     "Well, if there was a checklist on how to be a wizard, you would hit every box," she says confidently.

     "How so?"

     "First is your name. Arena isn't exactly a name you find in everyday life."

      "Funny coming from someone whose name is Lahar. My name is Spanish. That's why it may seem odd to you."

     She gives a sarcastic laugh. "Touché, I can't argue that. Well, then, number two would be the beast walking next to you." She points across him. Walking by Arena's side is a sheepdog, whose hair is the color of wheat. His hair covers his eyes, while his tongue hangs out of his mouth, bouncing with every step. Though what's really strange is that the dog is the size of an adult horse.

     "I will admit that Pie's size is a bit...unnatural."

      She stares into his eyes, which are reminiscent of the sky above, as he stares back into her hazel eyes.

      "A bit? We could both ride on his back if we wanted to. Plus, what kind of name is Pie for a dog?"

     "Well, it's short for Pyros. I feel that Pie is less of a mouthful."

     "Okay, then. What about your home?"

     "There is nothing wrong with my house."

     "Other than the fact that you live on a beach that isn't on any map and whose only residents, for all we know, are a man and a dog."

     "All this does not constitute proof that I am some sort of wizard," he says in a confident manner.

     "Oh, it doesn't?" Lahar says as she crosses her arms.

     "Not at all."

     "What about this, then?" she says as she points to the floating arrow made of grains of white sand. They have been following the arrow for the past hour as they've trekked through the field.

     "Yeah, that would prove it," he says, stumped. "Then what about you? You magically appeared out of nowhere."

     "Against my own will, I might add," she says. "I was lucky I found you. Not everyone would be willing to help me who isn't a murderer. I am grateful you agreed to help me find the person who brought me here."

     They continue to walk for another hour until the arrow gradually lowers and then stops and changes direction. It is now pointing directly at the ground. There is nothing in sight. No sign of civilization, not even bent grass showing that something has walked past here. Just an empty field of green.

     Lahar stares at the arrow and the grass it is pointing at. Arena flicks the arrow, hoping it will change direction. All he does is cause bits of the arrow to fall on the ground. "I think you broke it," Lahar says.

     "There is no way I could have broken it." He starts to examine the arrow. "Well, maybe I did," he mumbles to himself. Arena looks down at the patch of land the arrow points to. He squats and plucks a blade of grass. Pie has his nose buried in the grass, sniffing away.

     "Did the grass bring me here?" Lahar asks jokingly. Arena remains silent. "Please don't tell me the grass brought me here."

     Arena's hand touches the grass on the ground as he speaks. "No, though that would be an interesting turn of events." He stands back up as he turns to her. "There is something special about this area. The arrow is still working; we are just not seeing the answer."

     Arena takes off his backpack and opens it up. He starts to fiddle in the bag, while Lahar stares at Pie, who is still sniffing the grass. Pie barks as he looks up at Arena.

     "I already know that, buddy. You're a little late on the update. A for effort, though," Arena says, still digging in his backpack. He groans for a second and then exclaims, "Finally!"