Love Beyond Tides

A Daughter's Resolve

"Ouch."

She registered the sound of her voice, and then the girl’s eyes snapped open. An unwise move as the sun’s unforgiving rays blinded her. Diana hurried shut her eyes again, hissing. Her heavy head fell to meet her shoulder and Diana sucked in a breath. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Blinking against the sunlight, she took stock of her surroundings. The scenery was vastly different from the tempestuous sea that had engulfed her the night before. Sand spread out before her, the rhythmic lull of gentle waves replaced the cacophony of the storm. The air carried the scent of salt and the sweet fragrance of tropical flora. The ocean, now calm and serene, lapped at the shore with a soothing melody.

It was all very pretty.

Diana licked her lips, cracked and salty. Now she has an itch. She needed to find fresh water. The brunette let out a resigned sigh and shifted to the right. She slumped back to the sand, and a strangled gasp shuddered out of her. That single movement sent a ripple of inexpressible pain through her battered body. All her nerves lit on fire. Her raw palms against the coarse sand, and the sea lapping at the cuts and bruises on her leg, throbbed with an insistent pulse.

"Aye, take it easy now," Diana muttered to herself as she gingerly shifted her weight, "Gentle and slow, like the calm sea."

Her stiff joint protested, but eventually, she got on her feet. Walking, once an instinctual act, became a deliberate and measured effort. Her body, accustomed to the tumultuous dance of the ship, now navigated the stable ground with trepidation. Every footfall sent reverberations of pain through her frame, and the simple act of standing felt like a precarious balancing act. Despite the pain, she pressed on, determined to explore the island that had become her unexpected refuge.

She hobbled along the contours of the sandy shore, before stopping under a shady palm. Diana let herself slump down and look out at the ocean as she caught her breath. In the distance, she could see the reminder of her harrowing night. Remnants of the shipwreck, what was once her father’s ship and her only home, float along the horizon. Diana wasn’t sure whether to indulge in mirth or succumb to tears in light of her predicament. All that possessed her was a profound sense of emptiness.

She resumed her search quicker than she originally wished, it pained her to look at the driftwood and her thirst was becoming dire. The sun had already begun to move to the west when she found what she had been searching for, an estuary. Finding where a river meets the ocean is the surest way to be led to fresh water. Following the river, she ventured further inland. Bright lights became filtered streams as she moved between the trees. Birds soared overhead, their calls blending harmoniously with the rustling leaves and rippling stream. There was something so… magical about this place. Or maybe she’s just fantasising that since she’s never been on land before. In the same way, she had never been in the sea until the shipwreck.

"I be wonderin' why me old man always kept me aboard the vessel," she wondered aloud for the millionth time. Even now Diana felt wrong by his restrictions even if she feared him too much to go against them.

Along a meandering trail, she stumbled upon a path leading to a shallow inlet. Diana cautiously approached, her fingers brushing the water's surface. A sharp inhale accompanied the cold sting that met her touch. Undeterred, she crawled closer, cupping her hands to draw a refreshing sip to her lips. The cool liquid felt like a balm, a momentary respite for her parched throat that tasted of heaven. Diana drank until she was satisfied. Having quenched her thirst, Diana felt a subtle shift in her body. The pain, once an unrelenting force, became more manageable now that the torment of dehydration had eased.

Eager to continue her exploration, she resumed her journey. As she ventured forth, her eyes caught the graceful dance of birds flitting between trees. Intrigued, Diana followed their movements. She followed them to a grove of trees, adorned with unfamiliar fruit. The Avians moved from one branch to another, having their fill of the fruits. A low growl emanated from her stomach, a reminder of a hunger that had been temporarily forgotten. She stared at the tall trees, wondering how she would get the fruit. It’s not like she knew how to climb. Her eyes flitted around. She sought a shorter and hopefully less populated tree, her gaze scanning the horizon for a suitable perch.

Yet, the landscape seemed to conspire against her hunger.

Diana pouted. Her gaze fell, and there, amid the natural theatre, she spied a promising stick. A spark of determination alighted in her eyes as she seized the makeshift tool. Mindful not to disturb the avian assembly, she slowly and carefully reached up and tugged down fruit. Its stem got hooked between the branches on the stick and broke easily, she caught her prize in her shirt. The fruit, shaped like oversized teardrops, boasted hues that ranged from luscious shades of orange and pink to deep purples and reds. Their smooth skins glistened with a subtle sheen as if nature itself had painted each one with a delicate touch. Upon closer inspection, intricate patterns adorned the surface, resembling a tapestry of nature's design.

As Diana marvelled at the array of colours, she noticed the tantalizing aroma that wafted from the fruits. A sweet, tropical fragrance filled the air, inviting her senses into a symphony of scents that hinted at the succulent delights concealed within.

Curiosity overcoming her, Diana plucked one of the fruits. The skin yielded to her touch, offering a slight resistance before giving way to reveal a juicy interior. The flesh, a burst of vibrancy mirroring the exterior, was soft and succulent. She bit into it, and the flavours danced on her palate.

"Scrumptious," she marvelled softly.

Diana picked again and again. She ate from nature's generous bounty until she was satisfied. But now, the hues of the sky have begun to change. She needed shelter, she didn't know what the weather was like on the island.

Driven by the shifting sky Diana hastily gathered materials to fashion a makeshift shelter with an improvised combination of sturdy driftwood, broad leaves, and vines. By nightfall, she stepped back and nodded, admiring her handy work. The winds began to pick up, so Diana huddled within her refuge. It wasn't very cold but she would prefer it if the winds weren't so strong. Again, as if the world was against her, her prayers weren't heard. It wasn't long before a notable strong gust pushed against the fragile seams, and her shelter crumbled. Left exposed to the elements, Diana found herself grappling not only with the physical cold but also with bitter disappointment. In this vulnerable moment, she felt her eyes well up, tears stinging her nose.

"I can't do nuthin' right..." Diana sniffled. She squeezed the splintered wood as her vision became clouded. Her frame shook, as her form hunched over. In the solitude of the tropical night, her quiet sobs mingled with the distant sounds of the waves and rustling leaves. "Nay, don't shed a tear," she scolded herself and wiped her cheek, "bawlin' won't alter a thing."

She gritted her teeth and tried to shake off the frustration and helplessness that weighed heavily on her shoulders, a burden she hadn't anticipated to carry again. She didn’t let the still flowing tears stop her, Diana took another moment to look around, then she looked at the remains of her shattered shelter. The winds weren't biting, so maybe she should focus on a shield instead. Diana nodded determinedly. She stood and hobbled around to collect large leaves before returning to her spot. After salvaging her old structure, she started to arrange what she had in a way that provided a modest shield from the wind.

"Heave away, me true-hearted mate. To the melody of the ocean, our fate." Diana softly sang the sea scanty in her broken voice. "In the moonlit waves, we chart our course. Navigatin' the night, welcomin' the dawn's force."

"Never do you surrender," a voice mused behind her, "Such a spirited resolve captivates my interest." Diana yelped. She jumped to her feet and scrambled away, then looked behind her. Laying on the shore, there was a man. Rather, the creature had the likeness of a man. "Oh, fear not. Or perchance, fear thou shouldst."

His sculpted body and features were of an otherworldly elegance. His skin had a pearlescent sheen, reflecting the shimmering moonlight. Her eyes followed his torso into the water.

"You're a siren?" her voice trembled.

The creature tilted his head. Some stray strands covered his dark eyes. His hair, a cascade of iridescent strands that flowed down his back and disappeared into the water, seemed to mimic the play of light on the water's surface. It shifts from seafoam green to cerulean blue, creating an illusion of perpetual motion even though he is still.

"Ah," he suddenly chirped. "Verily, that is the name thou dost ascribe unto us," he chuckled.

Her jaw dropped.

Bloody hell, he's a siren.