> Wraithvine {& companion (?) maybe} finds hirself marooned on a deserted island, though the little patch of sand, coconut palms, and corals might hold more secrets than ze had first thought. -- Anon Guest
The good news, such as it was, was that the ship and crew had survived the storm. The bad news that Wraithvine was the one soul lost. Fifty people lived to see another day, return to their lives, and otherwise be a part of the world.
Wraithvine would evidently be taking longer to do that. Ze was on an island, and could only pick out the distant sails of the ship as a dot near the horizon.
There _could_ be other people on this island. There could be preventable terrors lurking near the depths. There _could_ be a rare chance to avoid any kind of urgency... but that usually meant that there would be _backlog_ to deal with when ze finally returned to the rest of the world.
Ze didn't need to fret about shelter, not when ze had hir portable tower. Food was less than concerning when one could create any sustenance with the right components. The problem... the right components. So Wraithvine's first mission was scouting the available resources. And the area ze had to work with.
Wraithvine was on an atoll. A vaguely circular island chain and ze was on the largest of the islands. Well. The one with the most mass above water. There were tiny birds, coconut palms, and fish in the lagoon. Ze didn't need to deforest that habitat to make fire to cook with. And hir tower had a decent kitchen.
On the second night of figuring things out, Wraithvine heard the singing.
Not sirens. Not birds nor bats. Certainly not the turtles that Wraithvine had glimpsed at the waves. It wasn't luring, it was merely voices raised in song.
Ze followed the sound to see what was singing. Because curiosity was at least rewarded with knowledge.
Merfolk had gathered in the lagoon for high tide and were cavorting at or near the surface of the water. Their shared song joined with a dance of concentric merfolk circles.
It was too beautiful to disturb. Wraithvine made hirself comfortable and enjoyed the artistry. One of the younger ones came to the shallows and noticed hir there.
"You're not a monkey," they said. "You're not a sailor... what are you?"
"A Wizard misplaced from my mission," said Wraithvine. "I didn't mean to disturb you or your friends. As soon as I find a way to get to a city, I'll leave you all in peace."
"I know a city! Our city. It's... not for the above-folk, Mama said. You can't breathe underwater, so you're not allowed."
Interesting. "I've never seen a city underwater," said Wraithvine. "I may be able to come up with something to help me visit." It might be _very_ interesting to travel undersea.
And then the young one said,"That's great. We need a better sacrifice for Whijioght."
Ah. _There_ was the catch.
[Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@seefromthesky?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Ishan @seefromthesky</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/calm-blue-sea-viewing-green-island-under-blue-and-white-skies-Wmb4ZF1mHpI?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a>]
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