Tace's Lost Spirit

Tace stands knee deep in the waters of her youth. She can feel the familiar rhythm of the waves as they crest and fall, surrounding her with their symphony.

Share your story, water, Tace breathes shakily. She has waded out into the depths of the sea and her feet have begun to float. The ocean floor is now quite a distance below her, an alarming presence in the fading daylight.

Staring down into the watery depths, Tace feels a shiver creep its way down her back. She is not cold, as the sun has cloaked the water with a balmy, tropical warmth that is common for summer time.

Tace's gaze darts up towards the sky, refusing to stare at the water again. The remaining orange streaks of daylight greet her as they shift across the cloud gathering sky. Fool's light, Dijo once told her. A light that lures you and sends you out too far.

It is this moment between day and night that Tace is revisiting. She remembers such a time a year ago with the rapid movements around her as bodies dived deeply into the water.

Tace watched the thrashing of Dijo's arms and legs and heard the shrill cry of his voice as he sank ...

She watched his body leave her, smothered by the heavy blanket of water, disappearing to a dark place -

Lightening flashes across the sky, jolting Tace back to reality. A storm is on its way.

Turning sharply, Tace throws her body across the water, feeling the bruising smack of the waves against her stomach. It is a pain she ignores, her arms cutting across the current as she swims frantically to shore.

Eyes resting upon her destination, Tace feels a sense of dread form in the pit of her stomach. She is not looking forward to returning home.

She is already sad enough.

Dragging herself out of the water, Tace's feet hit the familiar, warm sand of Amiko Island's shore. Staring into the distance, she allows her gaze to rest upon the remnant clutch of a grass hammock, which is tattered and swinging precariously between two palm trees.

Approaching the hammock, Tace runs her fingers gently across the fractured strips of grass. This is where Dijo and I began our adventure, her mind reels. We stayed up all night, embracing each other lovingly, waiting for the turtle to emerge from the sea.

Yet, the green turtle did not emerge from the water that night, nor the next. Tace's heart falls as she remembers Dijo's sad expression.

Reaching for Dijo's face, Tace traced the lines of concern that had etched their way deeply into the skin of his forehead. "Try not to worry, my love," she soothed. "I'm sure she will return soon, to lay her eggs upon her home shore."

Dijo met her gaze with a troubled expression. "I don't know, Tace," he clenched his fists. "Those nasty fishermen, they've been out on the prowl lately, carelessly catching our precious sea life. I wouldn't put it passed them to have caught her too." Dijo's gaze drifted out to the waters and he stood, staring quietly at the lapping waves.

Tace could feel Dijo's yearning to go, to hunt for the green turtle that meant so much to her people. Its birth was considered a blessing, having occurred at the very moment that Ashra, the daughter of the island's Chief, nearly dived into a dangerous rip in the sea waters. Instead, she became distracted by the beauty of the birth of the turtle. Jumping backwards on the shore in delight, she avoided being swallowed by the hungry sea.

The night of the green turtle's birth was hot, as searing as the summer is now. It was a heat that came in peaks and troughs throughout the days, saturating the tropical island with the intensity of warmth or the severe storm of rain.

It had been intensely hot for a number of consecutive weeks, warming the eggs of the mother green turtle considerably. It was the right temperature to nurture the growth of a female turtle hatchling, who met the world with bright, happy eyes.

The Chief held a small ceremony, naming the baby green turtle: Vie, a symbol for its nurturing spirit of life.

One day the mother green turtle left to forage for food and did not return. The Chief encharged Dijo with the responsibility of ensuring that Vie was fed frequently. Dijo was an experienced fisherman and would return from the unpredictable sea with live fish for the baby turtle's carnivorous appetite.

I take no more from the sea than what is needed, Tace, Dijo's lesson still sits with her now. We are only a small island and need to conserve its wildlife. We owe it to its future.

Staring out at the sea once more, Tace sighs. The water of her youth and her upbringing, harbours nightmares that tear at her soul. It is now the place that tore Dijo away from her, dragging him deeply within its greedy depths.

Tace had left the island and its sea and tried to restart elsewhere. Yet, the rhythm of the ocean remained with her, shifting her body to and fro. It invaded her dreams with vivid moments of swimming deeply within its depths. Its waters called to her, while she was awake or asleep. They reached beyond place and time, grasping at her heart strings to reawaken again.

Opening her eyes widely now, Tace allows herself to listen acutely to the sounds around her. Suddenly, there is the sharp striking of water against rocks.

Tace's heart pounds ferociously. The sound she is hearing can only come from the rock pool that adorns the island's shore. It was a place of exploration and discovery for herself and Dijo as children, as they skipped across the rocks.

Tace stares down at the dimly lit sand. The rock pool is also the last place that she saw Dijo before he disappeared.

The rhythm of the water slapping against the rocks heightens, drawing Tace's attention. The rock pool calls to her now.

Inhaling a sharp breath, Tace steps forward gingerly, feeling her bare feet sink into the sand again. Sharp stones and shell fragments cut into her feet as she presses on ahead, approaching the rock pool.

In the dappled, remaining orange light, the water appears mystical and silvery as it slaps against the rocks. Its rhythm is rapid and constant, luring Tace closer to its realm.

Gritting her teeth, Tace places a bare foot upon one of the small rocks. It is a rock she knows well, having jumped on it many times in her past. Now it appears glaring in the darkening light, like a beacon of danger.

Tace tries to block out her memory of Dijo, slipping on a taller rock further away, his arms flailing out wildly to rebalance himself. His cry was sharp as he fell and smashed his face harshly against that rock.

Tace could not reach Dijo, nor could she save him as he was suddenly dragged into a strong current of water. She thrashed like mad after him, screaming his name into the ascending night.

Yet her efforts failed, leaving her exhausted and staring after him as he could no longer fight anymore and disappeared below ...

Tears roll like a storm down Tace's cheeks. Her heart tearing apart, she tears her gaze away from the taller rock, repressing her dark memory.

As if aware of her despair, a single ray of orange light beams down from the sky, falling upon Tace. An unlikely welcome guest, it warms her skin and soothes her ache. Stretching out her arms, Tace allows the orange light to continue to warm her until it releases her from its grasp.

Tace watches as the orange light bounces across the rocks in their pool, finally shining its light against the very rock that sealed Dijo's tragic fate.

Tace's mind races as she stares at the light. Is this really a fool's light? She wonders. Should I trust it and follow its direction?

Eyes widening in surprise, Tace becomes aware of the reassuring presence of the orange light. It remains where it is, willing her to step closer to where it lingers.

Wrapping her arms around herself subconsciously, in an effort to protect herself from harm, Tace wills herself to approach the light once more.

Jumping carefully, she hears the squelch of water as her bare feet release their contact with each rock and ascend into the air.

Landing on the final, dreaded rock, Tace clutches onto it with dear life, her heart racing uncontrollably. The rock of life or death, her heart pounds. I wonder what my fate will be?

As if in greeting, the orange light begins to flash wildly, causing Tace to glance more closely in the direction in which it glows.

At first, she believes her eyes are playing tricks on her, as they present their vision. Peering more closely, she gasps in surprise as she confirms her discovery. It is a medium sized fossil that is attached to the rock.

Lying flat on her stomach on the rock, Tace stretches out her arms, allowing her hands to grasp hold of the fossil. Tugging away for a while, she finally releases the fossil's grasp of the rock.

Tace pulls herself upright into a seating position, her eyes scanning the fossil. It is imprinted with a turtle carapace, detailed with four pairs of costal scales on each side.

Biting her lip thoughtfully, Tace allows her brain to accept what she is seeing. It is a fossil of an ancient green turtle.

Why would I be called here by the water? Why would I be met here by an orange light, all to discover this fossil? It must be a sign.

As if in answer to her questions, the orange light bounces up and down, as though it is inviting her to follow it.

Curiously, Tace jumps down off the rock and across several others, following the orange light as it flashes across the darkened sand.

Running across the island, Tace finally catches up with the light, which shines brightly outside the entrance to a limestone cave.

"You want me to go inside the cave?" Tace voices her question aloud.

The orange light bobs up and down, as though it is willing her to enter the cave.

Pocketing the fossil, Tace inhales a large breath, mustering her confidence. I can do this. I can enter the cave. Stepping forward, she is surprised as the orange light accompanies her. Its vivid rays glisten against the gorgeous limestone, making it appear almost regal in presence.

The gentle rhythm of lapping water, striking against the limestone, draws Tace's attention to the cave floor. Accompanying her, the orange light shines its rays upon a pile of plastic rubbish. It is a rude intrusion to such natural beauty and a threat to life. There, amidst the plastic, lies Vie, the green turtle. She has a fishing line caught around her neck. Her breaths are short and sharp as she gasps for her life.

A gush of emotion fills Tace's heart and she falls to her knees. "I'm here, Vie," she says softly, patting the turtle's head.

Vie cocks her head slightly, meeting Tace's gaze with her own. Her eyes widen with fear.

"I promise I won't hurt you," Tace soothes. "I am here to help you return home." Reaching out slowly, Tace runs her fingers across the fishing line until she finds its loose end. Pulling it gently, she unravels it from Vie's neck.

As Tace unravels the remaining fishing line, the orange light becomes brighter and warmer, creating an intimate atmosphere.

Lifting her head, Vie rests herself upon Tace's leg. Her breathing begins to relax, returning to a more normal pace.

"I'm right here," Tace wraps her arm around Vie's carapace. "Let me get you out of here, okay?"

Obligingly, Vie allows Tace to cradle her pregnant body in her arms.

"Let's get you home," Tace says softly. "We have a whole island of people who would love to take care of you."

Following the orange light, Tace feels a tremendous weight lift off her shoulders. The night air is welcoming as she walks Vie back to her birth ground to lay her eggs.

The waves of the sea call gently to Tace, drawing her attention to them. She pauses mid-stride, patting Vie lightly on her carapace.

I feel so calm, Tace, it is Dijo's voice echoing gently, accompanied by the rhythmic lapping of the water. I am proud to carry our island's spirits of life in these waters.

Tears of relief roll down Tace's cheeks and she embraces Vie with gratitude. It warms her heart to know that her beloved Dijo has found peace at last.