Chihiro and the ocean.

A young girl discovers the mystical link between her people and the ocean.

Chihiro and the Ocean

The sand was ridged in the way a beach is after being mauled by the tide. It's surface solid, so much so that the little girls feet barely formed a print as she ran between piles of stranded seaweed. The sky was grey and endless, a backdrop against which the gulls wheeled, gathering together in a commotion, calling with torn throated tones. Chihiro broke her stride and pulling some of her long black hair from her face she squinted against the wind, wind which carried with it a cloying scent. Chihiro's stride picked up again, the ocean tide had served up some drama this morning.

As Chihiro neared the scene of the gull's performance, they broadened their wings and opened their yellow beaks wide in an attempt to intimidate her. She ignored them and continued to advance, they eyed her warily, unwilling to give up their prizes, thought glazed their black eyes after which they ignored her and continued to tear violet strips from their feasts. Chihiro faltered again, she stopped, her eyes flickering all around, she grasped at her scarlet robe as a gust tried to rip it from her. All around lay hundreds of corpses, grey and sodden, each a mecca for the crabs and gulls, the sea breeze here was corrupted by the odour of decay. She wandered among the forlorn heaps, they were all men, well shaven, armed with bows and swords, wearing lacquered armour and stout boots, equipment that had failed them against the foe that had finished them. Looking around at the carnage Chihiro grinned, then burst into a run. Her path broke from the line of the spent ocean and took her off the beach towards a small village huddled between land and sea.

As she neared the village she saw smoke from the mornings fires, she carried her news like a jewel and wondered who to share it with first. Mikken the forgemaster was awake, the smoke was thickest from his chimney as he prepared for his days labours. The ground beneath her feet was firmer now, a packed dirt track the fishermen used daily, she ran past their sun stained canoes and the empty drying racks. The ramshackle huts of the village welcomed her, blocking the constant wind from the ocean and issuing gentle sounds of morning preparations, quiet voices and shutters opening to admit fresh light. Villagers emerged into their yards stretching or smoking their first pipe of the day, some called greetings to her which she ignored. There were only three people she wished to share her discovery with.

Mikken was outside his workshop pulling a great iron dagger across the hide of a deer, his dour face a mask of grim concentration. When he saw little Chihiro pelting barefoot up the street his thunderous visage broke into a slight grin, more happiness than any other saw on his face,

"Mikken!" She blurted at him as she stomped breathless up the steps to his forge, "the ocean, she has killed many men!"

Mikken's face returned to its normal state of firm concentration, he looked back to his work

"Its the ocean's due to take life, as much as she likes."

Chihiro was unfazed by his lack of enthusiasm, she had enough of her own

"But these men were warriors! Fine and wealthy soldiers!" Her faced beamed with pleasure, Mikken was an opposite to her in every way, boundless in size and unmoved by the news.

"Did you collect any shellfish for the day? Morning tide is the best time to find them."

Chihiro furrowed her smooth, little brow at his change of subject, this reception was far from the excitement she had hoped to generate. Giving up on his apathetic response she asked him,

"Where is Sen?"

If possible Mikken's look became cloudier, and the hide started to take more of a scraping than was required. Without looking up he grunted a response,

"Gone, early this morning no doubt"

The morning was unfolding in a most unpleasant manner for Chihiro, of the three most important people she wish to lavish her discovery upon one was disinterested the other gone. Sen had returned to a place that from Chihiro's perspective may as well have been the gallery of twenty thousand peach trees in the greatest garden of heaven. She sagged, Sen was a shimmering woman of high birth with a distinct accent, she had taken an interest in Chihiro, braiding flowers in the meadow with her and taking walks together. Chihiro had secretly pretended that glamorous Sen was her mother, it added a another layer of private delight to the joy she felt at the envy of the other village girls. Her absence left only one person who Chihiro wished to impress.

Nana's house stood apart from the rest of the village, bordered by waterfall and forest. Pheasants wandered insolently over the well tended garden, at Chihiro's approach deer skipped back into the forest melting into the foliage like shadows into darkness. The lazy business of the garden began its day, sparrows chirped as they hopped among the rows of vegetables and insects were stirred into life by the sun which had now broken through the sheet of cloud. Nearby the ever present rumble of the waterfall lulled the senses. Chihiro was surprised to see her grandmother's chimney without smoke, as far as she knew the old woman never let her hearth die. Bursting through the door she found the low ceilinged hut empty, a frantic dash around the garden also revealed nothing. Frustrated Chihiro slumped down onto a large smooth stone, chin in her hands, a pout on her lips. A sulk took her. So engulfed was she by its black cloud she did not notice Nana's approach, in fact the grizzled faced matriarch leant there upon her gnarled stick for several seconds before Chihiro noticed her. When she did enthusiasm flew back to her face,

"Nana!" Chihiro jumped to her feet she was almost taller than the shrunken gnome of a woman who now regarded her stoically, "on the beach! An amazing sight!"

"An army of the dead?" Nana asked in a faint whispery voice.

Chihiro sagged, of course Nana knew, she had been carried long on the tides of time and read its rhythms with ease. Nana looked kindly at Chihiro and asked;

"You were first to see them?"

Chihiro, downcast, nodded imperceptibly,

"That is very portentous, the ocean favours you."

Chihiro's mood bounced back with the compliment, Nana was a wise woman, if she saw the favour of the ocean in Chihiro that meant she was special.

Chihiro relieved of an excess of mood paid attention to Nana properly now, her burnished copper hands gripped her stick tightly, she was actually leaning on it, her mouth tight lipped as if she held back the urge to cry out. Her weathered robe, red like Chihiro's was darkened with damp and she seemed cold, cold and weak.

"Nana, you're wet!" Chihiro exclaimed,

"I was caught in the rain child, but now I get to warm up." Nana forced a smile, "Now go on inside. Warm the hearth, start an infusion."

Chihiro nodded and ran to the hut to obey.

The large copper kettle popped into life as Chihiro stimulated the embers beneath it with fuel and air, Nana settled into the one wicker chair in the room and was sat with her eyes closed an air of exhaustion hanging over her. Chihiro readied some cups and herb all the while stealing glances at Nana,

"Sen has gone?" Asked Chihiro as she prepared to pour the water,

Nana replied without opening her eyes, "Yes, back to the capital, to claim her reward."

"Reward?" Chihiro had filled clay mugs full of steaming tea, a pungent odour filled the room, she placed them on a tray and brought it to Nana. Nana's withered, shaking hands reached out to the hot tea and took it from the tray. Chihiro sat opposite Nana on a log, her small hands clutching her own tea

"Yes child, the women of the capital are very special. Powerful." Nana paused here to sip her tea, Chihiro mirrored her but only took a slight sip, Nana's tea was very bitter, salty too, Chihiro only tolerated only because it was brewed at no other hearth in the village. Chihiro remembered her first few weeks here wracked with a sleeping sickness which Nana had cured with the tea, but it had taken many weeks and every small dose had caused her to pass out for hours.

"What is that reward?" Chihiro asked as she blew on her tea enthusiastically, "is it grand?"

"We on the boundary know little of such things, but I'm sure it's its an honour beyond comparison."

Chihiro frowned, dissatisfied with the answer, "but what did she do to deserve such an honour?"

Her grandmother's eyes opened for the first time since she sat down, she met Chihiro's gaze, "You know." she told her, "the ocean showed you this morning." Chihiro stared, mind racing. Nana shifted in her wicker chair, turning to look through the hut's only window. At this time of day the sun left a flickering incandescent strip across the sea which was visible through the window, Nana smiled and spoke, "Like a proud cat she likes to leave her handiwork where we can find it."

Many years passed and Chihiro grew into a spindly young woman but still wore the same scarlet robes they were tattier but they fit better. It had seemed for a long time that the day of the drowned army was the highlight of her life. Today she hoped its position could be usurped. It was early spring, the battle between morning chill and afternoon warmth was under way leaving the breeze a comfortable temperature. Chihiro was in the orchard, bare brown branches obscured the view, there was no blossom yet but the possibility was thrumming in the air.

Chihiro was loitering with the intention of meeting Bree as he returned from the charcoal burner in the forest, her opinions on him had changed a lot in the last few months. She had previously regarded him as a good natured lump, a boy who would not tease her as cruelly as the other children. But lately something about the thickness of his shoulders and his responsibilities as son of Mikken compelled her to meet him alone. And here he came trudging though the dew soaked grass of the orchard pushing a wheelbarrow laden with charcoal. So accustomed to solitude on his early morning journey that he did not see Chihiro casually leaning against a bowed apple tree. When he saw her he beamed a smile at her which she instantly returned, then as he slowed and brought his barrel to a halt his wondering eyes filled with doubt. Tension obviously increased all over his large frame, his smile faltered and his legs ambled in a neutral gear confused by the signals from his brain,

"Chihiro," he managed, "Why are you here?"

Realising she had no rational response to this question she frowned at him while stepping a little closer to him, he froze but seemed relieved when he managed to fend her off with a question,

"Would you like to walk with me to the forge?" Then as if his invitation needed reinforcements he added, "Father is waiting for the charcoal."

Chihiro feeling a fire in her belly fuel her determination, stepped closer and touched his hand, it was a gentle touch easily written off as an accident, his response was wrong however. He pulled his hand back as if bitten by a serpent. The awkward silence that followed crumpled Chihiro's face and her hopes, she filled with accusations. Was he entertaining other girls? She was so sure he liked her, what was wrong with her?

"Chihiro, let us go to the forge. Father always enjoys your visits."

She glared at him accusingly, "I thought you did as well."

He stepped back from her, downcast. Shoulders slumped he went back to his barrow and hefting it up trudged away through the irregular rows of the orchard. Chihiro watched him go, her gaze full of contempt.

Mikken, bronzed and ageless stood leaning on a forge hammer in the early morning sun. Gathered at the steps of his forge passing a pipe between themselves were several other men. A collection of boatwrights, ocean farmers and fishermen, they had come together as they often did on the third day of the week when all the women took to the district market. It was a chance to discuss village politics and appreciate last year's apple wine. Two jugs stood empty on one of the steps, their qualities already firmly appreciated. There were other jugs stashed in Mikken's forge, it was known, though getting at them was no easy feat. One fisherman, Raditz was his name, pulled himself off a warm step with a groan. He had remained quiet while the others had helped him drain the two jugs but now was the time for him to speak. He stood stoop shouldered looking at the glimmer of the ocean on the horizon, an atmosphere of resignation over him,

"I better be off," he drew off his cap in a slow manner and started to slowly trudge away from the group. The crowd watched him, a couple hollered fair tidings and parting spells repeated by so many over the generation's that they had lost all power. Mikken though glowered at Raditz's back then said quietly,

"What's the matter with the day's promise, Raditz? Has sleeping your boat while the crabs climb into your pots lost its shine?"

The court of men dutifully laughed, but Raditz only paused and turned to look at Mikken fresh blue eyes staring out of a ruddy, weathered face,

"Rest don't come as easy in the boat anymore."

Taken aback by the tone, Mikken called the man back to the group

"What's all this then? You have a gloom even the apple wine won't shift."

Raditz ambled back to the group cap in hand, eyes on the floor, "Don't want to cause an alarm but three days past I had a view of something terrible..."

Mikken leaned forward with interest, the men of the group paid attention too

"Go on then!" Urged Mikken

"I don't know if I have the courage to speak of it." Mumbled Raditz

Mikken puffed aloud and turning his great back on them went into the forge and came back out with another stoppered jug, he nodded at Raditz, "Steel your cowardly soul with this. I won't have news spared or hid."

Mikken unplugged the jug and quaffed two great mouthfuls of the fiery liquid, he wiped his moustache with his thick forearm and then passed the jug to Raditz who also drank deeply. When he had finished he spoke, his hands clutching the jug,

"Three days ago I had my boat nestled against the hawks cliff, about eight leagues south. I was pulling some pots up so had my back to the open sea, terrible shock to me when I turned around because no more than a league away was a black fleet, about fifteen ships in total. The nearest vessel had dead folk strung around the hull like midsummer garlands."

When Raditz's voice had faded away the silence of the men around him was noticeable, they knew him for a shirker and a drunk but a lie never passed his lips, and the truth was evident in the tremor of his voice and the fear in his eyes. To a man they feared those who treated the sea as a wasteland, one in which they chose to hide their sin and savagery.

"Why did you not warn us? We could have hidden in the caves." Mikken glowered at Raditz from under bushy eyebrows,

"They were headed south, away from us. What I feared was they had already been here!"

Mikken took the man's affront as a symbol of his right nature and cooled a little, "South you say? Then we may have nothing to fear," He thought for a second then added "I will tell Nana anyway."

The congregation had moved from merry to morbid, the men's thoughts full of fear for their wives and children. Raditz noted the change of mood and used it to drain the jug without anyone caring, the last few drops sizzled on his tongue but failed to burn away the mist in his heart.

The women returned from market just after dusk, through a light spring shower they walked, a hum of conversation hung over them. The amiable group was lit by the glow of paper lanterns which bobbed about attached to the carts pulled by lumbering oxen. Chihiro watched from a nearby tree, wrapped in a waxed cloak. They always came to a stop here, a spot marked by squat stone statues and ragged red flags. The girls worked fast un-harnessing the oxen while the mothers discussed the days trades. A nearby gate was opened and oxen ambled contentedly into it while the empty carts were pushed into a nearby barn ready for next month.

Chihiro was invisible in the gloom of her leafy perch, outside the glow of the lanterns she may as well have been invisible. She sat and listened to the women's chat like this every market day, this time she hoped to hear the younger girls talk of Bree. She saw the huddled form of Nana in a cart, bundled up in blankets despite the mild temperature, she appeared to be dozing. Some of the mothers walked into the village hauling bundles and sacks up on their backs, coming toward them was the burly shape of Mikken. Chihiro was surprised, men rarely came to meet the caravan so busy were they in dealing with the younger children or preparing a meal for their hungry, tired wives. Mikken picked his wife out of the crowd and embraced her, he whispered a few words in her ear and her embrace lost its passion. She immediately disengaged and came over to the gaggle of teenage girls who had sat on the wall beneath Chihiro's tree, with a few curt words and precise instructions she had them marching down to the village. Chihiro was offended that her quarry had been driven off but couldn't be too angry as now Mikken was alone with Nana, Chihiro could sense secrecy in the air.

"Nana," growled Mikken, "Grave news."

Without moving or even raising her head Nana spoke, "Market day brought news new too, I fear it is related."

"Raditz saw a fleet, dogs of the sea."

"They razed the village of Hornsturn," Nana told him, "and more besides."

Mikken nodded, "Maybe it is time for little Chihiro to serve us as intended."

Chihiro fairly fell from her branch at the mention of her name. Serve? How? Her mind raced with questions, her heart hammered with fear but her ears still listened, more attentive than ever. Rubbing the back of his head and managing to look like a great, bashful bear Mikken continued "She tried to court my boy this morning, I love the girl but she can't put him through that."

Chihiro's heart was frozen, a feeling akin to rage held her paralysed, she couldn't even think.

"Not Chihiro, I've sent to the emperor for one of his maidens. She'll be here in a week or two."

"I hope that's soon enough."

Chihiro was asleep on her wooden pallet illuminated by the glowing embers of the hearth, Nana watched her from the wicker chair. She would be called tonight, the ache in her bones and a certainty that she would not sleep told her that. So she waited. Time passed, it slithered by slowly like an immense serpent gradually killing all the coals in the fire. Nana sat in complete darkness now, it was then that she felt it, a tugging in her mind and body, a terrible yearning for the ocean and freedom. She got stiffly to her feet and silently slid out of the cottage.

The climb was hard, Nana remembered the arrogance of her youth when she used to skip up the hill to the cliff top that overlooked the village and its bay. Never did she think the hill could thwart her, and it hadn't yet but it had become arduous indeed, her knees sang of discomfort the loudest although her hips had a part in the chorus. At least it was not raining. After an age of plodding feet and gritted teeth the view expelled her suffering. This crumbling chalk cliff leaned out over the sea which here was curved and endless. The moon hovered sickle sharp and yellow just above the horizon, idly dragging a few scraps of cloud beneath it. The ocean was featureless and still, expectant. Nana took it all in and started to wait.

She felt it in her bladder first, an urge to make water, she resisted. Then her mouth began watering excessively, beneath the cliff the sea started to become agitated, Nana swallowed the excess saliva. The moon had now drifted up and to the west, the sky cloudless and dappled with freezing stars. Next the creeping compulsion to step from the cliff and into the ocean, a need to be lost in it's depths and infinite churning but she resisted, as she had before. Slowly she took a few steps forward to the edge of oblivion, the waves gnawed at the base of the cliff as if to collapse it and bring her down into their hungry embrace. Leaning forward she waited for the moment, the wind calmed, the sea seemed to pause then Nana spat, the ball of foamy saliva fell spiralling buffeted by air currents, it hit the water far to the left. Now the wind began again and another wave began to swell. Nana scrutinised the ocean with beady eyes that scanned it hither and thither relentlessly, her jaw set in concentration.

It began seemingly from the spot were her offering had entered the ocean. A murky green spot began to glow just beneath the surface. Nana made no sign but satisfied she turned and hobbled back down the path to her hut, muttering under her breath all the way.

At her back the ocean growled against the cliff, undulating with the rhythms of the tide.

The maiden arrived thirteen days later, Chihiro was first to know, she had made it her business to know. She had shirked her duties all week, Nana had noticed but had not picked her up about it. Chihiro had increasingly taken to lurking about in the only lane in and out of the village under the pretext of collecting firewood.

She smelt the maidens procession before she heard it, the breeze brought her the scent of lilacs and jasmine several minutes before she heard the tinkling of bells. The bells and scent suggested a monastic entourage, Chihiro couldn't help but get a little excited. She waited at the side of the road and soon the entourage rounded the corner. Bald headed monks in rainbow robes carrying incense lanterns, copper bells attached to their wrists and ankles created a constant melodic tinkling. The palanquin came next, Chihiro forgot all her plots and recriminations temporarily wowed by its elaborate beauty. It was large, carried by six broad shouldered monks, the island of luxury was steepled and woven with pink silk and purple gauze. Within the silhouette of a figure carved by the low morning sun, Chihiro was suddenly aware of her bare feet and elderly robes.

As the palanquin approached one of the load bearing monks lost his footing in a rut, a systemic shudder ran the length of the palanquin as monks tried to compensate for the movement, there was a high girlish shriek when they eventually failed and the palanquin toppled sideways into the dust of the road. Chihiro hands on mouth issued a shocked gasp and leaping to her feet ran up to the glorious wreckage.

Cursing monks who had temporarily forgotten their vows were pulling themselves to their feet, one was even trapped under the palanquin, Chihiro however only had eyes for the pale, dainty figure sat in the dust of the road, a bemused look on her china doll face. The girl, although a few years younger than Chihiro, looked for all the heavens like an experienced courtesan and woman of the world. Silently Chihiro extended her dusty brown hand and the maiden slipped her almost childlike hand into it. Chihiro pulled her up, the maiden smiled, Chihiro smiled and they were friends.

Maysoka allowed Chihiro to ride in the palanquin with her, and she, unlike others, was free with her secrets,

"I'm here to complete the warding ceremony, see off that dreadful fleet that's been terrorizing the coast hereabouts. It's a great honour!"

Chihiro was overwhelmed by her proximity to the flawless Maysoka, it made her terribly aware of her own unpolished state. Maysoka didn't seem to notice however, that just made her even more special in Chihiro's eyes. Maysoka placed her hand on Chihiro's shoulder and leaned close to her,

"I'm sure you know all about it, I'm hoping you'll stay by my side and make sure I don't look too foolish." Maysoka's constant smile faltered, "I'm worried that my ignorance might be apparent."

Chihiro knew she couldn't help her and certainly knew less of her purpose but it would take all nine devils with white hot needles to pry that secret from her, if she could die without undermining Maysoka's beliefs about her she would die happy.

"Maysoka it is fate that we met this day, I shall not fail you."

They soon gathered a following of curious children who tailed the procession like lost puppies hoping for a master, they were swollen with pride at being part of this great event. Chihiro could see the boys swaggering and the girls preening.

"We should go see Mikken," Chihiro suggested, "he's our forgemaster."

The procession squeezed its way into the village and now the adults took a measured interest, Chihiro made sure to talk as loudly as possible so people would know she was riding along with Maysoka.

Shortly they arrived at the triangular dirt junction outside Mikken's forge that served as the hub of the village. Chihiro jumped from the palanquin full of verve and skidded into the warmth of the forge. Mikken was there pumping bellows sending spirals of embers twirling round his rafters. Chihiro was momentarily puzzled her enthusiasm forgotten, she hadn't seen him pump the big furnace in years. Mikken looked up from his work,

"Ah Chihiro, good to see you." He noticed the look of blank confusion on her face, "is there a problem?"

Chihiro remembered Maysoka, "the maiden is here from the capital."

A fog fell on Mikken's features, and a frost in his tone "Take her to Nana," he returned to his pumping, "it's women's business."

Chihiro frowned and started to back out of the forge, "Of course, I just thought you'd like to greet her."

"Some other time perhaps," he replied without looking up.

After an awkward about turn the procession headed back out of the village and headed towards Nana's and the thunder of the waterfall. The rains had been heavy a fortnight earlier and the rush of the river tumbling into the pool echoed around Nana's garden, Maysoka squealed with delight,

"How charming," she pushed aside the gauze to get a better look at the garden,"it's like the scenes they paint on giant pots in the capital!".

Chihiro nodded and grinned despite having never been to the capital or ever seen a giant pot. The procession lost its orbiting children, in ones and two's they gradually peeled off into the forest or back down the lane to the village. The monks lowered the palanquin in a smooth practised manner and Chihiro stepped down from it hoping for a warmer reception here than she got from Mikken. She was in luck, Nana emerged from the hut with a smile,

"Chihiro dear, what wonders have you brought to my humble home?"

Chihiro was pleased Nana was at least being polite but she frowned at Nana's flowery turn of phrase.

"This is Maysoka, Nana,"

The dainty Maysoka had descended from the palanquin and from nowhere had produced a waxed paper umbrella to protect against the light drizzle which had begun to drift from the sky. With horror Chihiro saw the hem of Maysoka's robe gathering dirt from the ground

"May we come in Nana?"

"Of course!" Nana walked up to Maysoka, "such a beauty, you bless us with your presence."

Maysoka bowed carefully, "Madam your peoples mysterious ways are the talk of the capital, we owe you our lives."

"Oh such fuss over a little warding," Nana demurred, "and please call me Nana."

"Of course, Nana."

"Chihiro make up another pallet for our guest, use the good blankets."

That evening Nana wandered down to the beach, the villagers paid her respectful greetings but wondered why she was there. She engaged the fishermen in polite conversation as they harvested the days catch from the drying racks, they knew what she sought.

"A good day?"

"Indeed Nana, two porpoise were caught in our net, a great bounty of flesh and oil."

"And the air?"

"Clear and warm," he looked out at the pink clouds that decorated the horizon, "I hope for more of the same tomorrow." He smiled.

"Of course," Nana noticed Raditz struggling to unload pots that bristled with russet red claws and damp, blank eyes. She bid the fishermen a good evening and struggled across the sand to Raditz. He was a cloud of cursing and wet wicker pots, he was trying to unload all of them at once and it was probably taking longer than just moving them two at a time. He stumbled backwards, catching his foot in the dry sand he tumbled backwards,

"Twelve tides on an ocean of salt!" He cried, then he saw Nana, rage fled from his features and was replaced with embarrassed contrition,

"Nana!" He bowed his head, "I apologise!" He touched his thumb and forefinger from each hand together, with a sigh she dutifully leaned forward and broke the link for him,

"Thank you," Raditz pushed the crab pots off himself and stood up shaking sand from his tunic, "I know why you're here."

Nana was silent, a grim look on her face.

"It was very bright," he told her "I've been out on nights with a full moon that were darker, I could see the fish swim through the water beneath my boat."

"And the colour?"

"Vivid, like fresh leaves in spring. Large too, beyond the hawks cliff as far as I could see. I've never seen it so bright, or so vast."

Nana nodded, "Thank you Raditz, I think you can expect your pots to be overflowing for the next few weeks, might want to get that daughter of yours to make up a few more."

He stared at her his eyes not expressing the same thanks his words did, Raditz then started to gather his pots with an energy that suggested the exchange was at an end. Nana let him go, she had what she needed.

Chihiro had spent the evening in the garden with Maysoka, she showed Maysoka the garden and explained how the screen of tall coarse bush kept the salt and drying wind off the more delicate, desirable crops. Chihiro pointed out the different types of beneficial insect they encouraged and which plants attracted them. Maysoka was fascinated by it all, as a maiden of the emperor's city her interactions with the natural world had been limited to orchid competitions and cat feeding. As evening drew in they had sat by the waterfall and discussed boys while the dragonflies patrolled the air about them.

"Girls," The voice was Nana's but tone was inflexible and commanding, "it is time."

They turned and Nana was there, grim and ancient, eyes grey and cold. Maysoka nodded sensibly and rose from the crumpled grass. She bowed and replied dutifully, "I am ready to receive instruction and help in any way I can."

Nana softened somewhat at her eagerness, she sighed almost imperceptibly, "Maysoka dear have you seen Chihiro prepare the infusion that we drink?"

"I have."

"It is your turn to do so, this time prepare three cups."

Chihiro who had risen to stand beside her friend felt a ridiculous rush of jealously which she immediately quoshed. To feel so about Maysoka and the tangy brew which separated her and Nana from the rest of the village was ridiculous,

"Chihiro you will help her."

They drank their tea in silence, it's bitter aromatics filling the hut and making Chihiro's head spin. She looked over at Maysoka who was fighting a battle between politeness and personal distaste, poor girl, thought Chihiro as she remembered her first sips of Nana's concoction. She felt her awareness sharpen suddenly though everything seemed muffled. She looked into her cup and found it empty,

"We must make haste now my girls, follow me." Nana went to the closet, "here we'll need raincloaks."

"But the clouds are light, Nana, no rain tonight." Chihiro protested, hoping somehow to reclaim some of the authority she had felt before Maysoka's initiation into the tea ceremony.

"Nevertheless" Nana told her, holding out the large waxed cloaks for them to take, "quickly now!"

Chihiro was surprised by the tone in Nana's voice, the urgency was like a whip crack on her soul and both she and Maysoka shot to their feet and retrieved their cloaks. Chihiro slipped hers on with a practised shrug but she had to help Maysoka. Nana Bustled past them, and Chihiro eager to discover the secrets hidden from her for all these years followed quickly pausing only to urge Maysoka along.

The garden was still but overhead the clouds slid silently and swiftly out to sea, occasional gaps revealed patches of inky blackness and the odd twinkle of a starlight. At the back of the garden the waterfall churned gracefully accompanied by the staccato croaking of toads. Nana lead them to the pond before the waterfall and without hesitation stepped onto its surface. Chihiro was flabbergasted, Maysoka hesitated less, she had seen Nana's first step onto a rock hidden just below the water so she followed her example. The old woman skipped forward across a series of rocks hidden just beneath the surface. Chihiro, incredulous, stepped onto the first rock with trepidation, she expected it to turn or wobble bit it held fast. Like the top of a column from a submerged temple it had almost perfect straight edges, six of them. The next was the same, and the next, the strange path took them across the pool to where torrent met bare rock. The water's thunder at this range was all consuming, a noise that demanded all attention, they were also being doused in a fine mist and larger splashes were splattering all over their legs but the cloaks were long and only their feet suffered dampness. Ahead Nana pushed through a massive buddleia bush, disturbing butterflies that had spent the night entranced by it's sweet breath, the refugee butterflies flapped lazily up into the night air. Chihiro watching them disappear did not see Nana do the same but luckily she caught Maysoka slipping into a small gap between bush and stone, so Chihiro stepped onto the last stone and shielding herself from the splatter of the water she slipped into the secret behind the waterfall

Chihiro immediately felt confined and panicked, she had the thundering of the waterfall behind deafening her and pitch darkness before her eyes. She tried to walk forward but cannoned into Maysoka in the darkness, she tried to get past her but found the passage was so narrow that she bumped her face into an outcropping of rock. The confinement and sensory deprivation built a sudden panic in her heart, she started to flail at Maysoka, who grabbed her hands and consoled her,

"Nana is fetching light, let's be still together."

They waited in silence, holding hands while Chihiro fought her panic at the coffin like closeness of the walls. After what seemed an age the dim glow of a whale blubber lantern filled their world, filled it with black dripping rock walls and each others pale frightened faces.

From behind the glare and smoke of the lamp they heard Nana's voice,

"Come on out of that crack girls," she motioned with the lamp, "up ahead it's drier with somewhere to place your cloaks."

Further in the cave widened and became more spacious than Nana's hut, the floor was smooth and formed from more six sided black stones, the same stones formed the edges and roof of the cave too. The shapes reminded Chihiro of the game the men played during the winter evenings, a strategy game with small counters and a wooden board.

"So strange," Maysoka exclaimed as she removed her cloak and placed it with Nana's on a dry shelf, "the stones here are like tiles from the capital."

"The rocks we crossed the pool on have never been there before!" Chihiro couldn't help but exclaim, "where did they come from Nana?"

"They are there when they are required," Nana motioned them to follow and they edged further into the cave.

After the cave had dropped and twisted for what seemed an age Chihiro could hear a deep regular roaring, as they shuffled onwards in the gloom it got louder. It sloshed round their minds, rhythmic and powerful like the breath from an ancient beast. Chihiro was wrapped in fear, all she could do was take step after step and grip Maysoka's hand. The noise began to resolve itself, less defined now and more liquid it was a sound Chihiro had heard nearly every day of her life. They were in a larger chamber now, Nana took to lighting some ancient, rust stained lamps hanging high on the walls. The cave ended here, dropping into the swelling tide, green foam flecked waters churned beneath them, deep and pensive. The raw odour of the ocean filled this place, death and life, decay and birth. Chihiro felt light headed, the tea they had drank just before coming here gurgled in her stomach and her intestines writhed, and filled with water. She placed a hand to her forehead, it was moist, with sweat or sea spray she could not tell, the cave walls flickered in the wan light and spun. She called out to Nana and fell onto her behind on the slick cave floor,

"Easy child," she felt a hand on her head

"I feel terrible," Chihiro explained as black motes slid across her vision, "where's Maysoka?"

Nana indicated a prone form on the floor ahead of Chihiro,

"What's happened to her?!" Chihiro crawled blearily forward

"It's the tea child," Nana looked around the raucous cave with hooded eyes, "the tea and this place."

Chihiro was knelt over her friend, clawing at her robe and stroking her face, through tears and nausea she shouted, "You have killed her!"

"I have not and will do no such thing!" Nana's voice temporarily overrode the rushing the ocean in that confined space, it was sharp and full of anger, Chihiro had never heard Nana speak in such a tone and it froze her to the spot,

Nana took some steps backward, "Leave her Chihiro, move away or she'll claim you too."

Something in Nana's voice cut through Chihiro's shock, Nana had never used her name before, somehow it spoke of the awful implications of the situation they were in,

"You want her to live, I understand but we have to choose.....there must be balance."

Chihiro noticed warmth creeping around her legs as she knelt cradling Maysoka's head, foamy rivulets of sea water were creeping across the cave floor. Chihiro felt them questing around her, felt the rhythmic tugging of the tide in their movement. She jerked upwards and backpedalled to the cave wall. A great swell of sea water rose up from the pool and flooded the floor of the cave, it brought with it long loops of seaweed which it left draped around Maysoka's unconscious form. Chihiro felt again in her own mind, the swell of black absence, the tea that she had drank for years gnawing on her conciousness, teasing her to close her eyes and surrender to the deeper, slower rhythms. The swell of sea water retreated but almost instantly rose again, stronger this time, it exploded against the cave walls and nearly knocked Chihiro over, she screamed and retreated further into the cave. The wave this time had almost covered Maysoka with rubbery, brown seaweed, her peaceful face was just visible through its tendrils. The next wave was hungry, it pulled with great force, crashing and filling the small cave with noise and movement, each wave was now a grasping hand with foam tipped fingers. Maysoka started to slide towards the pool.

"No!" Chihiro moved forwards with no plan,

"It will take you too!" Nana called over the hissing of a retreating wave, "think of the village, if you save her you will doom them!"

Chihiro stopped, how could she choose?

Her pause was her choice, the ocean with a mighty expulsion ripped into the room dragging Maysoka into the pool and away into its depths. The silence stretched, one of the lamps spluttered and died, soaked by spray. They stood still, Chihiro's breathing loud and ragged, then it began to build again, the rushing of a building wave. Chihiro began to back off, but she saw Nana relax and an absence cloud her eyes, then she felt it too. A pulling, she felt wet on her thighs and she saw Nana was drooling her mouth opened wide, Chihiro had to swallow her own spit as it pooled again and again, filling her mouth. The sound of the approaching deluge was like the howl of an insane ghost. The water in Chihiro's body was rebelling, her lungs itched dry and empty, she longed for them to be filled with the aching pressure of the currents beneath the waves. Chihiro shook her head to clear away the primal thoughts of her own body's water, a rumbling began, Nana stepped forward unable to resist any longer. The rumbling grew into a shaking and with a hollow boom the room filled with water so suddenly that Chihiro was knocked off her feet. She spun and swallowed sea water, eddy's and whirlpools plucked at her. She felt a dispassionate ancient mind survey her own, and then she felt its acknowledgment of her. The water retreated, Chihiro found herself heaving sea water into the cave floor in complete darkness,

"Nana!' She called out, "Nana!"

She crawled back and forth searching for her carer and teacher till her arms and legs were numb, she found nothing except the edge of the pool. From within its depth there was the sound of distant trickling, like a contented chuckle. She crawled away then, freezing and sobbing in the dark.

The next morning Chihiro awoke late, cold and still damp. She got the hearth going, warmed the room and started to dry her clothes. Without a thought she brewed tea, the action burned into her subconscious through repeated ritual, as she sipped it it brought a flood of feelings half remembered from the night before. The salty tang flowed over her tongue and the ocean was inside her once again, it's essence and its knowledge.

Later she walked down to the beach, the fishermen there did not speak to her. She saw Bree, he was pulling a net full of swords and shields up the beach, beyond him the gulls called, and fought over piles of offal washed up by the tide. She nodded at him, he smiled but nothing stirred within her.

After she had witnessed the carnage Maysoka's sacrifice had bought she turned to head home. Mikken's forge buzzed with activity, smoke bellowed out of it's chimney as he and Bree turned the weapons and armour scavenged from the beach into ingots to sell at market. Mikken was taking a break outside, stained with soot sipping a jar of apple brandy.

"Chihiro," he called, "how is Nana? And that maiden?"

Without stopping or looking at him she responded,

"They've gone to their reward."

Bree trudged up the hill to Chihiro's house, he was sweating and cursing the mosquitoes that followed him in a cloud. As soon as he could hear the waterfall though the swarm seemed to lessen, and when he reached the hedge of ocean heather around Chihiro's house the insects had given up the quest for his blood.

Chihiro was sat outside in a wide brimmed hat, seemingly dozing in an old wicker chair. The air was full of the scent of the ocean heather and so many insects yet none of them were biting. It was a pleasant place to be on a sweltering afternoon like this, he could swear he could feel a little spray form the waterfall.

"Chihiro,"

She looked up at him slowly, still as beautiful woman as she had been a girl, her skin so unlike the other women in the village, pale white like the moon.

"Hello Bree," she smiled at him and for a moment he imagined a different life, one in which his wife was a different woman, he swallowed, "is something the matter?"

"No, erm," he stumbled, "the young maiden arrived, with a messenger."

Chihiro's smile disappeared and her face become unreadable,

"Take me to them."

There was a polite crowd outside Bree's forge, all of them pretending to be about some urgent business but in fact just gossiping and hoping to see the visitors. There was a large black stallion tied up outside the forge, its flanks steaming, mouth flecked with foam. Chihiro went straight to it, and carefully ran her hand along him,

"Nearly broken," she whispered, "Bree, bring the poor beast a bucket of water."

He bumbled into the forge and emerged with a bucket, as he walked to the well Chihiro stalked into the forge to see who had left the horse in such a state.

Inside it was warmer still, the forge had a good head of heat going. A tall, pale man stood by a bench holding a jar of apple wine, his expensive black robe was travel stained and his long moustache was oiled. He looked irritated. On the bench next to him was a girl, so tired she hadn't even noticed Chihiro enter, she was so young. Chihiro momentarily forget herself,

"You are the wise woman?" His voice was strained with barely concealed hostility, Chihiro pulled her eyes away from the child whose head was drooping with exhaustion, "I have ridden a long way with urgent message from the emperor."

Chihiro nodded unable to focus on his words due to her distaste,

"It seems that Oringai have launched a fleet against us," he placed the jar down upon the bench, empty, "their target is the capital, they will arrive within a day." He cast his disdainful glance at the girl who had now curled up on the bench, "not as good as the normal stock but this was an emergency, I hope she will suffice."

He placed a small cap on his head and pushed past Chihiro, "I must make haste back to the emperor, see to it that the fleet is dealt with."

"But your horse, he is winded, he might not make the journey."

"It is of no matter, any farm along the way will replace him."

With that he swung himself up onto his saddle and dug his heels into the station's sides. The horse who had barely begun to drink, pulled itself slowly away from the bucket. Chihiro and Bree watched him go galloping up the lane, leaving dust plumes in the air.

"Bree," he snapped to attention his mind had followed the messenger up the road and away, Chihiro had spoken his name with a curt, commanding tone and it snapped Bree's wandering mind to attention,

"Spread the word, we must spend the next few weeks in the caves."

"What? Why?"

The small girl wandered out of the forge blearily rubbing her eyes. Chihiro held her hand out to her and she took it without a thought,

"Still tired, little girl?"

"My name is Ruan." She insisted.

Chihiro smiled down at her, "Of course it is."

Bree looked bewildered and scratched his head, "What about the capital and the emperor?"

Chihiro looked out over the ocean and the growing storm clouds, she squeezed Ruan's hand

"There has to be balance."