Chipmunk and Gruff

Chapter 1 – A Fine Day

They had been at sea for only two weeks on their voyage of discovery and trade. The Ursala had left Port Nova with all the pomp and celebration expected of a growing city with growing wealth. They were ready to show the world that the city of Constellation was soon to be one of the most important capitals in the known world. The city was perfectly situated to become a prime trading hub with their overland routes leading to the north and the sea opening vast areas to the south and east. The Ursala’s job was to map out the fastest and safest trading routes as well as discovering any new markets. But the Ursala was not the only ship on the water and the Constellation was not the only city growing in both population and wealth. This is why the Ursala carried a battery of cannon, ten 12-pounders with a long nine stern chaser. This was no warship, but they were more than capable of defending themselves.

The morning was foggy, but the sun was doing its best to try and break through. The effect was slightly disorienting. The girl, who everyone called Chipmunk because she was the fastest climber and was surer footed than any other sailor on board, was on watch. She was usually a big talker, but this morning, Chipmunk was not talking at all. She was watching the fog and trying to make out a funny shape she had seen moments before. But the sun was making it difficult to discern what she had seen, if she had seen anything to begin with.

The sea bird that had been traveling with them for a few days now, which seemed to like to chatter more than chipmunk, was suddenly silent. Then it flew from the top of the mast where it had been perched and disappeared into the fog. Chipmunk watched the spot where the bird had disappeared, narrowing her eyes to see better. Then she saw it, a ship. Then, the flash of a cannon, one, two, five, she lost count as the sound reached her. Then a split second later, the world exploded. Smoke was everywhere, she could barely breathe and when she was able to see anything, it was only gore. Chipmunk tried standing but was immediately knocked off her feet by another volley of cannons. Wood splintered around her as she tried to stand again, this time a cannon ball missed her by less than a foot. The impact sent her reeling against the side of the ship. Then a hot sensation covered her like a blanket, her vision filled with orange light, she became weightless, and then cold darkness consumed her.

Chapter 2 – Marooned

The girl awoke choking on water. She coughed and wretched repeatedly until her airways were finally clear. She did not open her eyes as she lay there catching her breath. She was trying to remember what happened. She knew she was lying on a beach, even without opening her eyes. The sounds of the waves crashing ashore were unmistakable. This tracked since the last memory she had was of being on a ship, her ship. Yes, she was a navigator on the Ursala out of Port Nova. People called her Chipmunk. But how did she end up on this beach? Then, she remembered. The silhouette of a ship emerging from the fog, cannons firing, people screaming. The girl sat up quickly, with eyes wide open she scanned the area around her looking for an enemy or enemies. Nothing but the sounds of an island in the Bahamas. She did not recognize this island, no landmarks or anything that would be able to tell her if she knew this land. That was enough to tell her that this was most likely one of the many smaller islands that she had not mapped yet. And perhaps never will. With a sigh, Chipmunk walked away from the beach and towards the interior of the island. She hoped to find fresh water and/or other useful bounties, then the island would at least be worth mapping.

The island was only a few miles long and maybe two across. It was beautiful and serene, and untouched by human hands. The entire island seemed to be surrounded by a perimeter of jagged rocks. It was difficult to see because the waves came crashing in so violently that the rocks blended with the frothing and roiling ocean. After a short time considering the idea, Chipmunk decided against trying to build her own raft. Nothing she could build would be able to withstand the violence demonstrated out there. She walked along the beach with her head swiveling around, looking for anything of interest or value. After about an hour, Chipmunk arrived on the far end of the island from where she had started. There was a large cliff here, and a waterfall that seemingly came from nowhere. Chipmunk could not see where the cliffs ended as they disappeared into the clouds above. Punching out of the cliff face, the water fell for what seemed like hundreds of feet before hitting the jagged rocks below. The water fed into a small pool, which in turn, led to another short series of falls along more jagged rocks before finally disappearing into what looked like another cave. The cave was one of many that dotted the base of the cliff, Chipmunk wished she could see the view from the top. But she needed to explore the caves and collect some much-needed water.

Chipmunk walked slowly around the cave openings, peering into each and softly asking if anyone was there. After the first two caves, she decided there was no reason to be quiet. From that point, each cave was her own personal speaking trumpet. She announced herself with gusto, commanding that any inhabitants put down their arms and surrender. Chipmunk had just finished taking the surrender of the last cave and was enjoying the fresh cool water from the falls when she heard something that caused her to choke. It came from the closest cave to her. It was a sound of surprise and anger, of fear yet strength. She did not wait to see what it was; Chipmunk was no soldier; she was barely a sailor. Chipmunk ran, she ran faster than she had ever run before. She did not look back, even when she heard something stepping out of the cave. She only looked forward and continued to run. The undergrowth was trying to stop her. It was grabbing at her, ripping at her clothing and skin. Blood dripped from a cut on forehead, but Chipmunk did not stop, not until she was back where she had started earlier that day.

Chapter 3 - The Cave

The fire cracked loudly as it consumed the dry wood. Sparks jumped up and danced in the air with every crack. Chipmunk was quite happy with her fire, the world seemed safer when there was a fire. On a ship, fire meant death. But here on land, fire was life and the promise of more life to come. She was able to catch a few fish in the shallows, frying them up in the fire with some coconut water she had gathered. It was not very flavorful, but she was so hungry that she could not remember tasting anything better. Although, she would not have said no to a bit of pepper. After she ate, Chipmunk tried to think about what had happened on the ship. How and why? She supposed the reason why was obvious. They were enemies or maybe the Ursala had something the other ship wanted. She decided that it did not really matter anyway, she was on the island now. Her mind kept wandering away from the events on the sea and back to the events near the cave. Forget the ship, that was the past. The cave and sound within.... that was now. That was her future. Chipmunk curled up next to the fire and watched the flames flicker and dance. With the sounds of crackling wood and crashing waves, she was eventually lulled to sleep.

She was dreaming a dream that she would later not be able to recall. Those first few seconds of consciousness were filled with vivid pictures of her dream, but they were quickly displaced by panic. She had not just awoken on her own, no, something had happened to cause her to wake up. It was a sound, sounds, a repeating soft thud like when a coconut falls from a tree. Chipmunk looked around wildly at the trees swaying overhead but there was nothing. Then she turned to look towards the far end of the island, and she froze in terror and utter confusion. She had only seen it for a second, a shadowy figure that reminded her of a mix between an ape and a wolf. It walked on two feet, but it was hunched as it turned to run away. The thing’s feet were backward causing more confusion in chipmunk’s brain. What the hell was she seeing? Suddenly it jumped into the air with a great leap and disappeared, leaving behind only the wispy shadows that had surrounded the creature. The shadows rose from the point where the creature had disappeared like smoke from a dying fire. Chipmunk stood there, still paralyzed by what she had seen.

After a few minutes Chipmunk’s brain started to work again. Slowly she came to the realization that whatever that thing was, it had not intended to harm her. But why had it come? It was only then that she noticed the small pile of fruit, mangos and ripe soursop laying in the sand next to where she had been sleeping. A coconut with a stone stopper also lay in the sand, Chipmunk bent down and picked it up. The smell that emanated from the coconut when she uncorked it was wonderful. A sweet fruity smell wafted up and she breathed in deeply, she could smell the sour alcohol under the sweetness. It was wine; she took a sip, seagrape wine at that. Chipmunk ate the fruit and drank half the wine. Then, she decided to visit the caves once more. Whatever that creature was, it lived over there.

Chapter 4 – A Friend

It did not take Chipmunk long to make her way to the caves and waterfall, but the closer she got the more nervous she became. The seagrape wine gave her courage and by the time she reached the caves, the wine was gone, and her courage was resolute. She moved closer to the cave nearest the waterfall and peered into it with squinted eyes. She could not see into the black abyss of the cave and the only sound she could hear was the water crashing against the rocks. She looked back at the waterfall and wondered which would happen first, would the water run dry, or would the rock slowly erode into nothing? She was feeling reckless because of the wine, and she shouted into the cave.

“Hey, you, whatever you are, come out here right now so I can thank you for the wine personally. It was very good.” Chipmunks voice echoed in the gloom, but she received no reply. She yelled into the darkness once more, this time she was more direct. “I said come on out here, what are you afraid of? Don’t be an ass and come say hello... you ass!” She waited a few moments, but nothing happened. Chipmunk let out a long sigh and looked down at her feet. There was a hand sized stone laying between her feet, a perfect throwing rock. She picked up the rock and without even thinking about it, threw it into the darkness. She heard it hit something, and it was not the cave floor. A large roar burst from inside the cave, Chipmunk felt her hair flow back as hot air erupted from the cave. It smelled of wine and brimstone. She quickly took a step back and tripped on the rocks strewn on the ground. She felt herself falling backwards and tried swinging her arms to prevent the inevitable fall, but it did no good. She was going to fall and that was that. She saw the jagged rocks and closed her eyes as she felt herself going over. She prepared for the impact, hopefully she’d hit her head or break her neck. She did not want a slow death, like bleeding out or dying of thirst as she lay there unable to move. But she did not fall, something had stopped her from going over. Something had jumped out of the cave and landed with a giant thud in front of her, a wisp of shadow curled around her body and pulled her back onto solid ground.

The creature set her down gently and stepped back, it stood there looking at Chipmunk curiously. Chipmunk, for her part, was conveying a calmness she did not feel. She quelled the shouts that wanted to escape her and forced herself to breathe deeply and calmly before she fainted. However, even as the fear drained away and her beating heart slowed to a normal rhythm, she could not bring herself to speak. The creature looked at her for a few more seconds and then turned to go back into the cave.

“Hmmmpff,” the creature said just before it turned away. It was a sound of annoyance, like Chipmunk’s reaction was typical.

“I’m sorry,” she called after the creature. “I was just surprised, but... well, thank you.”

“Hmmmpff,” the creature said before it disappeared into the cave. Then two more mangos and another coconut with a stone stopper rolled out of the cave. Chipmunk smiled as she picked up the victuals and made her way back to her camp.

Chapter 5 – Visits

Chipmunk went back to visit the creature every day in hopes that she could get it to talk to her. So far, the most she was able to get from the thing were a few grunts and grumbles, nothing that formed sentences. On the sixth day, however, something happened, and the creature spoke to Chipmunk. She did not know why, perhaps it was tired of her constant chatter when she visited. Like the previous five days, Chipmunk was sitting next to the mouth of the cave talking about how she became a navigator when it happened.

“I heard tales about famous sailors and navigators when I was growing up, it was all I ever wanted to do. Of course, I was told loudly and often that I would never and could never become that important on a ship. ‘Woman on ships, how ridiculous’ they would say. Well, they shut their damn mouths once they learned on whose ship, I was to be a part of. You wouldn’t know him, but everyone in Gulls Gap did. The Gulls, that is what the locals call it. I grew up there.”

Suddenly the creature was in front of her, shadows twirling around him. This was new, it was the first time the creature had come face to face with Chipmunk since she almost fell.

“What is your name?” The creature's voice sounded like gravel, and she cringed back in surprise. “Ha, I do not blame you. It is not a pleasant voice.”

“My name is Chipmunk,” said Chipmunk. “That is what people call me, anyways. Because of how I like to talk, you know?”

“When are you going to leave, Chipmunk? You have invaded my home and interrupted the peace I have created here.”

Chipmunk guffawed at his remark, like she had a choice in the matter. “Are you kidding me? Do you think I am here for my own personal enjoyment? What, like I needed an island getaway for a few weeks? I can’t leave, I am going to die here.”

The creature just looked at her. “Hmmmpff,” it said. Then disappeared back into the cave.

Chipmunk was crying as she stumbled back to her camp. She did not go back to see the creature for two days. On the third day, a thunderstorm rolled in, and the sky split open as lightning began to flash all around her. She had no choice but to take refuge in one of the caves on the other end of the island. When she arrived at the waterfall, she noticed a flickering light coming from the cave where the creature lived. As she got closer, she could see that it was waiting for her in the cave mouth.

“Come in and dry off by the fire.... please.”

Chapter 6 – Jumbee

The cave seemed to shake as thunder rolled across the island, the entire world outside the cave became visible in the darkness as lightning struck repeatedly. The creature sat near the mouth of the cave as Chipmunk turned her hands back and forth in front of the fire. She was warm and her clothing was almost dry.

“Why don’t you come and enjoy the fire?” Chipmunk asked.

The creature replied without looking at her. “I get no joy from a fire. I prefer the dark.”

“But you brought me food in the day. That first morning I was here. Why?”

“I get no joy from food. It is plentiful here, but it is not for me.”

“What do you enjoy, then?” Chipmunk was losing patience; these were barely answers and did not help her understand what was happening.

“The dark,” said the creature as he looked at the coconut in his hand. “The dark and the wine.”

“The dark?”

“And the wine,” the creature said again as it drained the rest of the wine from the coconut.

Chipmunk did not know what else to say, so they sat there in silence. She stared at the fire, and he stared out towards the ocean. It was getting late, but Chipmunk did not feel tired. She was not scared of the creature anymore, no, she was curious.

“I’ve read about plenty of creatures in the world, you know, myths and the like. But I’ve never read about anything like you.”

The creature snorted but said nothing. Chipmunk sighed but took the hint. After a few more minutes of silence, the creature finally broke the silence.

“Jumbee,” it said without looking over.

“A jumbee? No way, you don’t look like one.”

“We are all different, depending on who we were when we were alive.”

“Hmm, well I guess that explains it. So how did you get here? Were you sent here?”

“Stop asking questions, you are ruining the peace and quiet.”

“I’m sorry, I was just curious. I mean, it seems like you have been here alone for a while and then I show up. I thought maybe you’d take advantage of the opportunity to converse, seems like you could have just hidden and waited for me to leave or die, but you didn’t. All I’m asking for is the answer to a question, just a conversation.”

“Shut up you stupid girl! You, being here, is a mistake, a joke. Because fate thought it would be funny to place a stupid girl in my midst.”

“I am not a stupid girl. My name is Grace Alejandra Delmonta! The first female and youngest navigator of the Ursala and I demand respect, even from a jumbee.”

Chipmunk turned on her heel and started to walk out of the cave, but before she reached the entrance, the jumbee spoke.

“I came here by choice. To be alone, away from the world. Here I can do no harm and live in peace. Out there in the world, I am a nightmare. But here, there is only the wind, waves, and me.”

7 – Blood on the Beach

As Chipmunk laid down to sleep that night, she tried to think about how to describe a jumbee. She decided that it was impossible. She thought about what the creature had said about jumbees looking different from each other and wondered if it was true. Was this one evil? She never answered the question, as she was soon fast asleep.

Chipmunk did not hear the oars in the water, nor did she hear the boat scraping against the sand as it came onto the beach. She did not hear the splash of half a dozen pairs of boots landing in the water and wading ashore. Chipmunk was dreaming of a ship, one that brought death and destruction. A ship with sails filled with hate, not wind. A ship that brought the end. She did not hear as the group of sailors stood above her and laughed. They did not think anyone had survived on the Ursala, but luckily for them someone did. And a female, yes, lucky indeed. Chipmunk did not hear them argue about who would be first, but she did hear them die.

A scream pierced through the dream and Chipmunk sat up, bewildered at the sudden and horrible sounds around her. The first thing she saw was man sprawled next to her, his head was no longer on his body. Blood covered the sand, screams and yells drowned out the crashing waves that Chipmunk had grown so accustomed to. She turned to see a sailor running towards her with a sword raised above his head, suddenly the man was lifted off his feet and hurled into the air. Chipmunk watched as the man disappeared into the clouds, his scream fading well before she lost sight of him. Two other men lay dead nearby and beyond them was the jumbee. It was holding one man by the head and beating the other man with a large tree trunk, both were dead. When the creature saw the look of horror on Chipmunk’s face, it walked away and sat down near the water. After a few moments, Chipmunk followed and also sat down.

“The legends say that jumbees were evil in their previous life. Perhaps it is true for the rest, but not me. I had a wife, a daughter, and a flourishing farm. Then, it was all taken away. My family was killed, and I was cursed. I tried to find the witch who brought this evil upon me, but I could not. I tried to kill myself, but death would not have me. Finally, I decided to come here to find any semblance of peace I could and to hold onto it. A small piece of the past that I could remember,” said the jumbee without looking up.

“I need to get off this island, I need to get home and tell them what has happened,” said Chipmunk. Outwardly, she was calm. Inside, a maelstrom of fear and impatience was raging. “I don’t know who you were before this, but I believe you were good. You weren’t evil then and you aren’t now.”

8 – Going Home

When the jumbee asked Chipmunk to hop on, she thought he must be kidding. But no, she was going to ride on his back. She had finally started to think of the creature as more a person rather than a thing. She supposed that he was once a man, so it only seemed right. His fur was quite soft, and she held it tight in her hands as she climbed up.

“Hey, so do you have a name?” Chipmunk asked.

“No name anymore,” he said.

Chipmunk thought about it for a second and then smiled. “Gruff, I’ll call you Gruff.”

“Gruff, I like it,” said Gruff.

Without warning, Gruff launched into the air with a giant leap. Chipmunk held on for dear life as they came speeding back towards earth. She felt a jolt as Gruff landed and jumped again. They were covering vast distances with each leap and Chipmunk wondered how this was possible. All she could see was a blue blur between each jump. This was amazing, incredible, unbelievable. Chipmunk held on as Gruff bounded forward. She did not know what the future held, but she did know that this was only the beginning for Chipmunk and Gruff.