Ocean Child: Anak Laut

"Promise me, Sayang," Ima with her ragged breath and wrinkled face pleads. Her frail, shaking hands grabbing her sides tightly.
The young, soaked, and lighting-haired girl looks at the woman before her. Pale gold eyes aflame with fright. Her belly festers with knots and rabid bats.
"Promise me, child!" Ima cries desperately. Ghastly white irises trembling at the roaring waters beneath the cliff.
Gigantic waves crash against the rocky terrain. The ocean grumbles and roars in her sleep.
Gusty winds rattle Ima's ceremonial bell necklace. The sky answers the deafening crash of the waves with a thunderous clap.
Ima's trembling fingers squeeze her waist. Her blind eyes wild with horror.
"We have no time," she gasps in dread and then her croaky voice bellows, "Say it, child!".
Chaos
"I-I" Sayang stutters. Breath caught in her throat. Trees sway with the wind. Their roots grappling the soil in vain.
"I promise, Ima." she finishes.
Silence
"Good." Ima releases a deep breath. Arms enveloping the shaking frame before her.
"Never set your foot in the ocean. Never sail. Never anger the gods. Do you understand me, child?" Ima's raspy voice echoes in her head as her warm hands untangle her knotted hair.

*

On the night of her coming of age ceremony, an enemy tribe ransacked Sayang's village. Cursed by the moon and the ocean, Sayang has nowhere to run but north. North to where? She doesn't know. At least not yet. Read to follow her adventure to self-discovery and the truth behind her birth.