Into the Abyss

There is a scattering of bare feet on loose gravel and a yell. The bottom of my stomach drops out even though I wasn’t the one that leapt off the ledge. A few long seconds and there is a sickening slap as flesh hits far below. Oh, I can feel the sting. I wonder if he landed flat or pointed down like a spike.
I can’t bear myself to look. I can hear the laughter though. “Come on jump. Don’t be a coward. You might make it!” There is mocking laughter from beyond. Their mocking fuels my embarrassment. Blast them to the lower planes! “I’m not a coward,” I call out. “Then jump or we call you a liar!” I back from the edge, fear making it hard to breathe. Curses, why were we out here? We could have been safe at home or in the wood! “Coward!” Comes the call again.
I grit my teeth, the right side connecting hard and grinding in frustration. I press further again on my jaw and set my resolve. Just don’t think about it you fool. Do it. If you can make it over the edge then you wont have any choice but to deal with it. Just don’t stop at the edge and end up plastered against the rocks. I feel my body start forward without my agreement. Momentum picks up and there is no turning back it seems. If I slow now I will tumble over and likely meet my end on the rocks.
I feel legs push off, second guessing myself immediately, and my body lunges out in space. The wind pushes past my ears to remind me that I just left the safety of solid ground. Then there is nothing…No weight…Just a sick feeling of dread..and THERE is the weight! My stomach jumps into my chest as gravity takes effect and I feel myself pulled back toward the world. Oh I’m going to be sick.
As I feel myself drop my adrenaline is pumping and my brain snaps back into gear with a jerk overshadowing the fear. I remember to pull my flailing limbs in tight and panic for a moment as I find my own nose rather than reach for a purchase that doesn’t exist. I feel my body hit and there is just a breathtaking cold.
As my feet enter the water, body close behind, there is a cavity created. The water rushes in to fill the void and slams against my ear drums causing them to ring. Between the shock of the cold and the slam of the water my adrenaline filled mind sends off bells of alarm. Will I have enough air? Will I be able to get back? The momentum carries my body far further down and faster than expected and my thin form arches. My feet come up in front of me above my head and for a moment I don’t know what way to push or pull. What way is safety? How did I end up upside down?
It takes a moment for the kinetic energy to settle and there is relative stillness. Another moment to figure out what way is up. I push my legs out and reach with my left arm up and grasp for the bit of green light above that must be the surface. After a couple strokes I gain confidence that I will indeed reach the surface again. My head comes up out of the water and I hear the laughing of my brothers. I feel myself grin a little and the urge to release tension through a laugh but I hold it in. Wow it’s cold.
“There you go Ethyl.” “About time!” “You good there lad?” I search for and find grand da on the raft twenty feet out. He is closer than the shore. “Yep” is all I get out as I struggle to kick enough to stay up. I make my way through the water toward him. He smiles and keeps his eyes locked on mine to assure me I’m good and mutters a command word. I see out of my peripheral vision my brothers start to lift out of the water, hands on the rope and feet on the plank of the hoisting sling.
“Come again Ethyl. You shouldn’t be scared now.” my eldest brother calls out. “I’m ok. I might soon.” I call back, trying to keep water out of my mouth. It seems like my teeth already threaten to chatter. I climb up on the raft and lay back, enjoying the warmth of the sun immediately on my skin, a contrast from the water. “Good good. While you shouldn’t do it because your brothers pressure you, you should still push yourself to experience new things” grand da says. “Do you want to go again?”
I shrug. “Maybe”
He chuckles. “When you are ready. Don’t get too comfortable.”
I nod and finally take a few deep breaths and enjoy the calm for a moment.
-
The gnome shudders peering out over Thundertree. "Reminds me of the ocean Sef. You can't see them, but you know there are things out there watching you...feeling for you. That sense of anticipation before you see something is more to bear than facing down the monstrosity when it finally reveals its self."