The four travelers were seated in a row on the black sand beach, gazing out at the sea. “I have never seen a sky so gold before.” Ishi’s voice cracked. Hábrók glanced over at the tiny ant. Is that a tiny tear glistening from the setting sun on his face? The bear nodded in agreement. “Neither have I. I didn’t know something so beautiful was possible…” The crashing waves fizzled and spat their white foam into the sky as the bird’s cries pierced through the cacophony of roars which echoed and faded off the nearby stark white sea cliffs that jutted out of the ocean like an artist's random afterthought. “Look how the sun paints the clouds from orange to gold and pink…” Hábrók whispered, afraid to speak too loudly and spoil the beauty with his voice. Ribwort felt it too – that marring the serenity with chatter was sacrilegious. If they had felt compelled to speak, they would have realized they were all thinking the same thing. _The beauty is so… Stupendous… So ethereal… So supreme. Are we worthy to gaze upon it?_ As darkness overtook them, the green moon bathed the landscape in its eerie glow. Ribwort finally broke the silence, “This is my favorite spot. I come here at least once every four or five cycles. The sunsets during the green moon phase are absolutely exquisite. I have not seen one this good though in ages. We are very fortunate, I think it bodes well for your que…” “Wow!” Hábrók stood suddenly, cutting her off when, without warning, a gargantuan Hagufa whale burst from the ocean. It arched through the air, twisting onto its back before crashing back into the dark blue sea. The force of the splash shook the shoreline, leaving the group awestruck at the spectacle which had just unfolded before them. “My friends!” Ribwort squealed, “They’re back from their calving migration. They’ve been gone for ages!” “They’re your friends?” Hábrók’s eyebrow shot up skeptically. “They do look scary – but really they’re docile and peaceful. They only eat kelp.” Ribwort leaned in as if sharing a secret and whispered, “I’ve even heard they will spit out huge mouthfuls if they think they may have accidentally eaten a tiny sea snail.” Ribwort smiled. “There is nowhere safer in this entire realm than with the Hagufa clan.” “I see.” Ishi let out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad to hear that.” The group let out a collective gasp when a large whale appeared in the surf just off the shore. Its great piercing blue eye blinked at them, and even though its tusk-rimmed mouth was under the water, they could tell it was smiling at them. “Joel, friend! It warms my heart to see you again. How was your journey?” Ribwort stretched her wings. “It was long. These old bones can’t handle the cosmic turbulence in the solar wind corridors like they used to.” Joel groaned as a gust of wind and sea spray exhaled from his ether vents on either side of his massive head. As if to complement the deafening exhale, a pod of Hagufa whales erupted from the ocean, and in unison crashed into the sea. Joel's bellowing laughter roared louder than the crashing surf. “What's so funny?” the bear asked. “All of your eyes are bulging and mouths agape.” The group, in unison, turned beet red. Before they could think of a reply, Joel rolled over and disappeared beneath the waves. ![[annihilation-i-byTheSea.jpeg]] “You best be climbing aboard now. I think the clan is about to beach themselves.” “Yikes!” Ishi yelped as he, Hábrók, and the bear scrambled onto Ribwort's back. As she predicted, the sea surged forward as the pod of Hagufa whales slid out of the depths of the ocean and climbed up onto the white sand. Just in the nick of time, Ribwort beat her wings furiously, and the wall of water tore inland right beneath her spindly legs. “Phew… that was… close.” Ribwort chuckled. “It would’ve taken me forever to dry off my wings if I had to swim.” “Sorry about that!” Joel called from below them. The three passengers peered over the side of Ribwort’s back, where they could see a colossal dark gray whale glistening in the setting sun. He looked fearsome, covered in great white scars, and his jagged jaw held a mass of bleached white tusks protruding in all directions. “You know how I hate to get wet!” Ribwort scolded Joel. “I know.” Joel shook his head. “You’ve gotten slow in your old age, I guess.” He continued with a chuckle. “Old age!?” shrieked Ribwort. “I’ll have you know I am as young and spry as I was last time you saw me. I am just weighed down by three visitors.” Ribwort, who had been hovering just above the whale for the exchange, settled back to the sandy beach, which was now drying after the great wave had receded. “Who are your visitors?” the whale asked incredulously. “I am Hábrók son of Brahms, brother of Aiōn. This bear was kind enough to carry me down the mountain, and last but certainly not least, this is Ishi. He is from the Gungan Tribe.” Hábrók replied as he climbed off of Ribwort’s back. “A member of the Gungan Tribe?” Joel seemed surprised. “I have always wanted to meet a warrior from that tribe!” “And I a member of the Hagufa clan.” Ishi bowed in respect, but no one could see. It was too dark and he was too tiny. “What an illustrious day.” The great whale replied kindly. “It is nice to meet such distinguished guests. Any son of Brahms and brother of Aiōn is a friend in my book. To top it off with a visit from a member of the Gungan Tribe.” “Well thank you very much.” Ishi replied coolly, “but the pleasure is all mine.” “Wow! Would you look at that!” the bear said in surprise. Strewn up and down the beach, as far as they could see, more and more Hagufa whales were beaching themselves, stretching out their fins, and splashing their tails playfully in the surf. “How spectacular!” Hábrók exclaimed as he leaned back and rested against the soft thorax of Ribwort. “It was a long journey. I am worn out, but when I saw you on the beach I had to come say hello.” Joel's eyes twinkled. “What brings you to this lonely stretch of beach?” “Well, I am headed to the space port,” Hábrók mused. “I met my companions on the journey.” Hábrók stood awkwardly on the beach, pushing the soft sand around with his toe. “I don’t mean to be rude,” he finally began, “but I do need to get across this ocean. Do you have any idea how I could do that, Joel?” Joel rolled onto his side and peered at Hábrók for a second. “Well, I think you have two options. You could head to the fifth corner where there is rumored to be a low water crossing of the great sea. Then you could head across the great desert to the space port.” “How long will that take?” Hábrók asked politely. “Well, it depends, but I would say five or six cycles.” “Five or six!?” Hábrók wailed. “But I don’t have that much time. Aiōn said the ship leaves in a cycle. What is option two?” “I give you a ride.” Joel replied coolly. “How long will that take?” Hábrók looked up hopefully. “Half a cycle. We Hagufa can swim swiftly.” “I see. Well, if you would be so kind, I would very much appreciate a ride. When would you be able to leave?” “Right after our great feast.” “A Hagufa migration celebration feast!?” Ribwort shrieked. “Oh, please do let us attend.” The giant flying moth begged. “Of course you can join us. You and your friends.” Joel replied as he rolled back into the sea. “Yippee!” the bear roared. “This is the best cycle of my existence. Lunch with Aiōn and a feast with a Hagufa clan? I’m gonna sleep for the rest of the season after this!” Hábrók laughed. “Alright then, it’s settled. First we feast, and then I cross the great sea." ### Next Chapter: [[7 - Beauty 👩🏼‍❤️‍👩🏼]] ### Previous Chapter: [[5 - Violets 🌸]]