Chapter Text
Chapter One - Nearly Drowned, Splashing Around
Gorya paddled her feet frantically to keep her position just forty feet out from the shore. Half her upper body was propped up on a bright green boogie board as she and her younger brother, Glakao, waited for the next big wave.
"Not that one, little brother. Too small," Gorya instructed when she saw his body tense at the sight of an oncoming swell. It rolled through, raising them and their boards, but wasn't strong enough to carry them away.
"Who are you calling little?" Glakao asked, straightening his posture to look down at her. Then something caught the corner of his eye and he turned toward the shore, focusing his gaze beyond the beach and to the street above.
There was this tall guy, about his sister's age, in a long, fuzzy cheetah print coat, strutting alongside the road, his curled hair frizzy from the heat. Glakao wondered how anyone could stand such a thick layer of fabric; he was sweating just thinking about it.
There were three larger men in suits walking stiffly around the guy, like three planets orbiting the sun. This was what caught Glakao's eye. He couldn't help wondering if this guy in his ridiculous coat, large sunglasses, and entourage was a famous model, singer, or actor. Maybe an athlete. He could be any one of those; or all three.
Just as Glakao was about to look back to watch the waves, the cheetah coat guy stepped sharply to his left, cutting into a large crowd of tourists walking by.
Glakao laughed, catching Gorya's attention as Cheetah coat guy's body guards followed the crowd to find him, without noticing--as Glakao had--that he had quickly draped his large coat on the shoulders of a surprised tourist and walked backwards, departing from the group before sauntering casually toward the stairs down to the beach.
Cheetah coat guy pulled on a black ball cap and was wearing a white tank top and black shorts, a vast divergence from his animal print coat and curly hair that made him stand out in any crowd. He quickly blended into a group of spectators watching a beach volleyball game as his guards searched the sidewalk for him frantically and Glakao returned his attention to the oncoming swells.
"What's so funny?" Gorya asked, watching amusement cross her brother's face.
Glakao rolled his eyes at her; it would take too long to explain. "Nothing," he said, looking back towards the horizon. "I'll tell you later. Get ready," he said, pulling up on his board to start paddling once the wave he spotted grew near.
Gorya looked back and her eyes widened as the largest wave they'd seen all day rose up behind them. "Yes!" she said delightedly, pulling her body onto her board and paddling forward to catch the wave.
Once his guards were out of sight, Thyme smirked smugly and pulled away from the beach games to head toward the water. It was an especially hot day--the sand burned through the soles of his shoes and the sweat beaded up from every pore on his body--and he would at least put his feet in the sea, if he didn't fully submerge. He was tempted to remove his shirt, but had neglected his sunblock, worried the guards would smell it and suspect something as he plotted to escape his overbearing mother.
The beach was just blocks from their property and Thyme wondered if his mother had ever taken a day off to enjoy the location she so carefully selected for them to live.
Once he reached the point where the sand cooled, soaked from the tide now receding, he slipped off his shoes and wiggled his toes before cautiously approaching the shallow shore.
Thyme stood still as the low, warm waves washed up over his feet, then pulled away, burying his feet in the unstable sand beneath them. He looked out toward the sea, saw a large wave approaching, and pulled his feet from the sand and water that sucked in to fill the space now available. In seconds Thyme's perspective broadened, noticing the large ocean liner in the distance that caused this large wave, and just as he was about to step back to escape the salt water onslaught, he noticed two people on boogie boards paddling toward the shore.
Clearly, they weren't expecting waves of this size, and yet they paddled bravely forward, hoping to catch the wave and ride it in. The joy on their tanned faces was evident, even from this distance, and he could sense the exhilaration, wishing he had a board of his own.
But would they be safe?
Thyme shrugged. It wasn't any of his business if these people put themselves in a dangerous situation. And there must be plenty of other people on the beach willing to rescue them if this wave wiped them out.
Thyme turned away and began walking down the beach towards the pier. He always wanted to stand under the long boarded walk as people stomped overhead and waves crashed against the massive beams where he stood, hidden from the sun.
Then a voice shouted loudly behind him and Thyme froze.
He turned quickly and saw that the boy had reached the shore on his board, but the girl was nowhere to be seen. The boy was shouting a name Thyme couldn't make out in the kid's hoarse tone, his fearful voice breaking like cloth shredded from too much force.
Thyme scoffed and rolled his eyes. How reckless of them to engage in such an activity with no lifeguards nearby and without taking the proper precautions. He knew his own mother, who always meticulously planned for each minute of each day, would surely have made him wear a life jacket and set up near a lifeguard station, if not hiring a lifeguard of their own, to protect her children--if she ever had taken her children to the beach to play.
His instinct was to keep walking, but he could not ignore the screams, especially not once he noticed there was no response. Did no one else on this beach know how to swim? Were they lazy, heartless, or just incapable? He watched the water, a spectator among dozens, waiting for the girl's head to pop up, but she never did. How long had it been?
He scanned the beach, expecting to see someone running toward the ocean to save her, but no one answered the call.
The boy pulled the Velcro strap from his ankle and returned to the water to search. Thyme watched him swim out, dive under, and resurface to catch his breath before diving down again. He failed to locate the girl with each dip and Thyme's heart sped anxiously. He remembered the bright smile on the girl's face just minutes ago as she anticipated the large wave that would take her under. He saw the sun reflecting off her dark hair, the moon shape of her eyes, full beautiful lips and cheeks red as roses. So full of life. Then his imagination proffered a flash of her face absent the breath and beauty of life--pale, soaked and sagging-- and Thyme's adrenaline spiked.
Gorya paddled fiercely toward the shore. This wave was the best thing that happened to her all day and she wouldn't miss it. Glakao had a head start and she could see he had it. Good speed and movement forward, ready for the crest of the wave to pick him up and carry him to shore. She focused on the beach, her destination, and momentarily locked eyes with a tall stranger.
Well, she couldn't be sure they locked eyes exactly, because a substantial portion of his face was shielded beneath a large pair of sunglasses, but it looked as though he was looking in her direction. There was a calm confidence to him, exuding from a tall frame, clearly fit though he was fully clothed. But what she noticed most was the deep sigh: the exhale as he looked out over the sea and was able to release whatever worries plagued him. She always felt the same way when she visited the sea.
But just as she noticed him, she saw him smirk, then almost immediately step back from the shore in a panic and she remembered the large wave approaching. It was nearly too late for her to catch it, but she paddled as hard as she could and could feel her pace speed as the wave scooped her up and carried her forward.
YES! she thought, exultantly, but then a slight tilt too far forward in her haste and eagerness to catch the wave and Gorya's board dunked, flipping her over and into the sea.
Gorya gasped before plunging headfirst beneath the wave which curled, pulling her head over heels. She tried to stay calm as she searched for the surface, but tumbled like a weed in the wind. Finally she felt the rocky floor and was able to plant one foot firmly against a rough stone to push up toward the beam of sunlight, like a beacon guiding her way through the haze.
Then, just as Gorya's head was about to breach the surface, a dark form cast a shadow overhead and she bumped into something solid-- her board. It wasn't heavy, but firm enough to keep her from rising above the water as the strength of the sea pulled her back down. She had been so close to reaching the surface, she opened her mouth to take in the oxygen and ended up with a mouthful of saltwater, burning her throat as she continued to fight the forces of nature. Gorya wasn't used to losing, but she feared this was the end. This was her last fight and as she struggled to hold her breath, she realized this was a fight she couldn't win.
Then there was a different sound. The gurgling of a strong force pushing through the water. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and yanked her backwards. Long legs kicked beneath hers, sometimes making contact with her own, but she didn't mind because that body pulled her up and lifted her above the surface where she was finally able to breath.
"You're okay," he said softly.
It didn't sound like her brother, but who else could it be? Her mind wasn't clear enough even to consider it.
Gorya coughed up salt water that tore her throat as she was lifted easily into the arms of her rescuer. His feet splashed through the shallow edges of the waves before he knelt to the ground and lay her down. He helped her turn sideways and she continued to cough up the last bits of salty water as he brushed thick locks of hair stuck to her face and forehead.
"Gorya!" Glakao shouted from somewhere far away.
Gorya lifted her head quickly and spotted Glakao running up from the water. He must have been looking for me, she thought as her brother sprinted over and knelt down beside her.
The stranger moved from her side to make space for her brother.
Where's he going? she wondered, feeling suddenly unsafe.
She felt a hand on her ankle as he pulled the boogie board strap off and Gorya sighed with relief.
"Are you okay? I'm so sorry I couldn't find you," Glakao said, tapping her back.
"I'm fine, little brother," she said with a smirk, reaching up to pat his head. Then a realization struck and her eyes widened. Now that she was done coughing, and felt more secure with each breath she took, it fully occurred to her that a complete stranger had plunged into the sea to save her.
"But, if you…couldn't…didn't…then who?!" she asked incoherently. Gorya grabbed Glakao's shoulder and pulled herself into a seated position to find the man responsible for saving her life.
Their eyes met and she nearly lost her breath again. This was the person who saved her? But hadn't she seen him walking away? How was he even aware of her?
Gorya pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a smile, but deep dimples betrayed her feelings and the stranger smiled back in a way that made her blush.
Glakao watched them, his eyebrows raised in amusement as they just stared--not speaking-- just smiling.
"It's you," Gorya finally said, her voice low and calm.
"It's me," Thyme replied.