Ah Friday and I am just starting to feel like I am back in the groove of things, if still running behind. But I am looking forward to a weekend. First though, there is Friday, and to kick the day off, we have the morning prompt. So timers at the ready and off we go.
Huh. So many things to think about before continuing with this.
Friday, March 28th: It was covered with sand.
It was covered with sand. I brushed away the top layer. The item was carved wood. It was disk shaped and about an inch thick. The sides were smooth but the design carved into the sides was still too encrusted with sand to make out. I brushed more off and found that at the bottom edge there was a grooved hole as though the side screwed into something else.
‘It could be the top of something,’ I thought. Without seeing the design I couldn’t really tell. The water lapped at my feet. The tide was coming in and I knew I needed to get off the beach. The water would rise fast here and the current was strong enough to pull the sand out from under my feet making walking treacherous. I slipped the disk into my basket to take back with me and hefted the basket to my shoulder.
The braided straps dug into my shoulder now that it was full and heavy with the weight of the shore’s bounty. On top of the sea creatures was a layer of edible seaweed I collected. It would not only keep the creatures from drying out before I reached home but it could be processed into a nutritious meal on it’s own.
I left the shore, wondering about the disk. It was wooden and light enough that the waves could have carried it to shore, but I didn’t know what it could have come from. It didn’t match any design I had ever seen.
My steps took me from the sand to the rocks and I had to set aside all thoughts of anything but my steps. The rocks were slick and while some were rounded from the water, others were sharp. It would be easy to lose my footing and slice myself on the sharp ones, or worse, twist my ankle. I could not afford to take the time to heal. I needed to be healthy and strong if I wanted to make it through this last trial.
I picked my way across the rubble strewn coast, thoughts only on my footing until I reached the long waving grasses. Here the rocks gave way to more easily traversed land. I would still need to watch for any creatures prowling but most that came this way tended to roam at night. Even though the tides were turning I still had several hours of daylight.
Still I kept an eye out for any signs of sneaking predators. There was no wind and except for the grasses that moved with my passing, there was no movement in the sea of vegetation. I cleared the grasses and found the path back to the small cottage that would be my home until my trial was over. I followed it back to the cottage, pleased by the sight of it.
Alone on this island for the duration it was a visual reminder of the world I left behind. The cottage was nearly identical to the one I grew up in, likely built by the same hands. ‘Or at least others from the village.’
For the most part I did not miss the others. My family and neighbors could be a trying lot sometimes. I did find that while I did not mind the solitude, I missed the sight of people more than I thought I would.
Ten til Midnight 