A/N: A fairly random, and somewhat disappointingly rushed drabble I made for my English class. "Assignment: Essay or Short story that concentrates on imagery, metaphors, similes, and personification."

Finding Eden

Blaike Dhei

A dense silence descended upon the lands, the only sounds breaking the still night air were those of the crickets chirping, the cattle mooing in the near distance, and the frogs croaking, though such occurrences seemed to be few and far between.

I sat upon a boulder with my big toe dipping ever so shyly into the little pond, causing soft ripples to distort the reflection of the moon on the previously black, glass like surface. I alternated the piece of grass from one side of my mouth to the other, as I hummed an absentminded little tune, swaying from the left to the right gently, like the fields of hay being softly rustled by the wind, dancing within their stalks like a child at play.

Clyde, my St. Bernard, panted at my side, his hot breath rushing over my hand, causing my skin to feel damp. But I didn’t mind.

I stared out into the large pond, though at the moment it felt more like a lake than ever. My gaze locked with the small island in the far end of the water. It was two times the distance from the island to where I was sitting now, than from the island to the other side of the water.

I stood from my place on the rock, my denims soaking up the water, and Clyde raised his great head from where he lay, watching me, cocking his head to the right. I pulled off my overalls and threw them next to the shoes I had long since disposed of next to the rock, on the shore. I now stood ankle deep in the chilly black waters. An onslaught of gooseflesh overtook my fourteen year old body, my lips trembling as I clutched my arms and rubbed them furiously, attempting to regain some heat with the help of friction. Clyde barked at me.

I was just staring out ahead at the island. Clyde barked again and padded his way into the water. Feeling braver, now that my friend stood near me, I began to wade deeper into the water, shivering all the while.

My toes sunk into the mud and the muck on the pond floor, and I pushed a rather thick stick out of my way as I continued on. Now, halfway to my chest, I took a chance and dove directly into the water, gasping when I came back up for air. Clyde paddled his way over to me and I treaded there for but a moment looking into his deep brown eyes.

Turning, I began swimming gently, as if in no rush. The icy water lapped at my form with every move I made, the short hairs on my arms and back standing up at attention due to displeasure.

Clyde kept up to me easily, paddling away. His face hit the water every so often and he was making an odd panting sound as he swam, as he usually did. We swam together surely, as old friends should.

The water clutched me with frozen hands, making to still me and pull beneath her surface, but I would not relent. I refused for her to capture me and drag me to the bottom where the bones of sailors lay.

Odysseus himself could not have traveled such perilless waters, but I could, I knew I could! The hands of the damned, those that succumbed to the hands of her lady, grasped my ankles, and pulled at my muscles, I could feel them. I swam harder, the arms tugging, but they felt like nothing more than bits of grass around my strong legs, and I freed myself.

Now that I had been nearly captured once, I knew that I had to swim harder to fight the behemoth’s to come. The hands were my first challenge, and now to prove myself, being that I should be accepted onto my destination, I must fight longer and harder.

I heard Clyde bark to me, and I stopped for but a moment, seeing him turn back. The hands of the enemy had been too much for him, poor dear. But I hadn’t time to waste, I had to go on! I swam hard again, the water no longer feeling cold. I must have gotten out of the area wherein they were testing my endurance in temperatures, yes? My breath was heavy and harsh, and my muscles were screaming at me to stop, but I refused. I was so close! I couldn’t very well give up now, now could I?

I had to swim harder! The bullets began to hit the water, and began to ricochet off of my body of steel! They exploded in the water around me, and distorted my vision. I swam on furiously, attempting to make it out of the firing zone.

Just then: a canon in the distance exploded, its great crack exploding through the night sky, and the quick illumination of the fire that coruscated from the shot only drove me to move faster, and to push my body to its absolute limits.

I would be safe from the deleteriousness of these waters if I could only make it to the island! If I could make it there, avoiding great obstacles such as hands of the damned and attacks from pirates, what couldn’t I do? The captain ordered another shot and I pushed my aching muscles as the banging of the canon tore through the night air, and the effulgence of the weapons illuminated the sky once again.

It was drawing closer. I could see the island more clearly now, thought the bullets still distorted my vision. Just a little farther and I would have made it! I would have made it to the paradise in which I seek!

The pirates would not capitulate and continued their attacks. Could those fools not see that it was fruitless to attack me when I have a goal? I was going to be at my paradise before those silly sea-rats would even realize that I was undefeatable!

My toes sunk into muddy earth and I staggered over to my Shangri-la and stumbled into the grassy land awaiting me. The pirates raged on, having lost the battle and I leaned back against the single tree on my Eden.

I leaned against the great weeping willow and smiled in victorious arrogance. Bullets of water pelted my sore, aching body and I pushed off of the tree, sinking down into the mud and the muck, spread eagle and faced towards the sobbing sky. My smile did not fade, and I felt the mud seeping into my undershirt and cotton underpants. I didn’t care. I was too happy, and too proud of myself to care. It’s not everyday that someone swims past dead hands and a temperamental ship of pirates and lives to tell about it!

I sat up, my back quickly being washed of the watery earth by the relentless rain pellets, beating against my skin causing it to quickly redden. My muscles had stopped aching, and I stepped back into the water, sighing happily when my toes sunk into the floor of my ocean.

I dove in and began my adventure back to Clyde. He must be worried sick! He probably thinks I’m dead by now, seeing what I had to go through! I swam as quickly as I could, passing the pirates, though they only seemed to follow me, even when I got to the hands. Oh no, I had two of my enemies to face off now? Well, I could do it! I knew I could! How couldn’t I make it? If you can make it to Eden, you can make it back! I swam hard, ignoring the pains in my muscles. They came a lot quicker than they did last time, due to my previous exertions. Blasted pirates! They were the ones that stole away my last bits of strength... No! I must go on! I swam hard, pushing my body to its limits once again, extraordinarily pleased with myself when I broke free from the soft plant-like hands that grasped at my legs. I raced to Clyde, whom I took note of, sitting attentively on the rock in which we had been sitting. I pressed on farther, and grinned again when my feet sunk into the earth. I stood up now, only my lower half submerged still, and I walked over to my friend, who wagged his great tail upon my approach.

I scrambled out of the water and shivered when the cold night air whooshed past my dripping form.

I hurriedly donned my overalls and ignored that fact that they, too, were soaked, having been left out in the rain. I emptied my denim slip-on shoes of the water that had collected, but opted not to wear them, and just held them with my middle and index fingers.

Clyde and I began our trek back to the house and I suddenly turned around as the rain began to subside. The great willow seemed to wave at me as a gust of wind flew by and I raised my free hand and waved back, smiling.

“One of these days, Clyde,” I said to him. Clyde stopped and turned around, wandering back over to me, as if to make sure he could hear every word I said.

I turned around and caught sight of daddy’s silhouette in the kitchen window watching me. I waved to him in acknowledgement and he raised his hand as well, waving for me to get in the house.

“One of these days you’re going to stop being afraid of the hands in the water, and any other obstacles that lie in the way,” I turned back to the pond and stared at the willow, which waved at me once again, as if ushering me back to her. I waved again. I will be back tomorrow night, I promise. I thought. We took off for the house in a race, narrowly avoiding some cow pies, Clyde barking all the way, while I laughed and yelled to him. “And one of these days you’re going to be able to come with me to Eden!”

That was disgustingly sweet... Newest chapter of Beseech Nobility should be up soon. (I am so sorry it's taking so damn long! Uh, my aunt died today, though that's not a reasonable excuse, I know, because it should have been done BEFORE today. Again, I'm sorry. Hopefully, Moday!)