Short Story Inspired by the Digital Art of @xpilar

Avon & The Golden Shore
A Short Story Inspired by the Digital Art of @xpilar

Avon stumbled out from the cave gasping for air. His head pulling his body forward, lower and lower till his mouth smashed into the sand. He collapsed face down for a few seconds until he started to breathe sand. He swung his body around so that his heart had room to continue thumping through his chest, drawing in as much oxygen as possible. The rays from the setting sun were still warm enough to be felt through his eyelids. He was safer in this place. “No one can reach me here” he thought, “or could they?” Marcus the head of the King’s private guards was a master ranger and trapper. “No, the guards can’t find this place”, he reassured himself. Even if they found the entrance to the cave from the other side of the mountain, they would not know how to reach the exit. Only his father knew where this place was. It was their secret beach, where his father used to bring him as he was growing up and allow him to connect freely with nature. Avon wished his father was alive now. He would know what to do. “How could this have happened?” he questioned, “how did the court find out about Rhea and I?"

Avon’s breath subsided slightly. He opened his eyes and looked up at the golden sky. Avon knew he would reach the shore at this time of day. He always did but did not know why. A soft gust blew across the ferns around him, the reassuring sound of their leaves rubbing together further calmed him. He was safe. He was always safe here.

Avon lifted his torso up but kept his aching legs stretched out. Although his heart slowed down, he was still very much out of breath. This place was where he needed to be. It was the only place he could hide. No one could find him here, he convinced himself.

Looking out to the glittering sea Avon’s mind drifted back to the only time he came here with someone other than his father. He began to recall that day he brought Rhea here, to this enchanted golden shore.

As soon as Avon’s head reached the top of the underground lake, he hurled himself onto the edge and pulled Rhea upwards with all his strength. Rhea began to pant frantically and spit water as she did. This was not what she imagined it would be like when Avon invited her for a swim. She was a great swimmer but she never expected to keep her head under water for so long before. The water was dark, cold and invited unexplained feelings she never knew she possessed.

“Are you all right?”, Avon asked in panic.

Rhea just nodded in acknowledgement. Avon kissed her forehead apologetically in a desperate attempt ease her. Rhea began to look around with water dripping down her face. They were still in the cave but it wasn’t dark, at least not as dark as it was under water she thought. It was also not where they started diving either.

“I feel strange Avon. I feel a strange sense of… guilt”, Rhea admitted.

“It will be alright Rhea, the depth of the lake does things to a person” Avon said trying to console her.

Avon guided Rhea up onto her feet lightly, “come with me, let me show you why we are here”, he said gently with a tone of anxiousness. Rhea held his hand and followed Avon to a nearby light. As soon as she came through the cave exit, her green eyes turned amber reflecting the color of the sea. She eased the grip on Avon’s hand and her jaw dropped in awe. Her breath slowed down, almost to a complete stop.

“At sunset something happens at this place”, Avon began to delicately explain, “I can not describe it…”

“You can feel it”, Rhea interjected as she moved past him. Being a princess she had the opportunity to visit the land’s most beautiful places throughout her life, but this place was different. She was not looking at the scenery, she was part of it. Avon became mesmerized by her beauty like never before. Her hair was imbued with crimson and bronze within the sun’s beams. He could see her skin pulsating with life yet soft as the sea’s mist. He was falling deeply in love with her all over again. Rhea turned to Avon with her eyes fixated on his eyes and then lips. She began to pull him closer to her. They felt the shore was not a place anymore but a witness to their love for one another. Avon sensed he wanted to shed tears at Rhea’s beauty but held them back, slowly letting the magnetic pull between them take charge.

Avon shook his head, snapping his attention back to the present moment. As much as he wanted to take the time to just linger in a dreamy past, he knew he must remain focussed.

Avon continued to look at the ripples of the ocean water following one another towards the shore in perfect harmony. The frequency of the tide allowed him to fall into a meditative state. Each ocean ripple brought forth insight and observation. There have been too many unexplained and disturbing occurrences throughout the land during the past year. The crops were failing, children were disappearing and the citizens were constantly fighting amongst themselves. A mysterious sickness had also taken hold of the elderly including the king himself. The land was never free of conflict but at least there was some orderly balance. Something more sinister was happening now. Avon, a student in the craft of healing, had recently begun to investigate the disease but then suddenly, his relationship with the princess was exposed to the king’s court. In his meditation Avon was sure all these seemingly disparate issues were connected. He knew he needed to return immediately and continue his search for the truth. Unfortunately the king’s guards were after him now and freedom of movement was not possible.

Avon stood up to look to the golden sky and its marvelous reflection over the water. He heard his name whispered from a distance across the sea. His vision began to alter. The horizon had disappeared, the sky and ocean became one. Avon was not scared just astonished at this occurrence. He trusted this place. He always trusted this place.

Avon began to walk slowly towards the edge of the shoreline, the tall ferns of the bush caressed his legs and thighs ushering him forward. Once the water touched his bruised and scratched bare feet, he paused.

"Avon", the voiced whispered once more, "your journey will begin now".

"My journey?", Avon curiously responded, "my journey to where?"

"Within", this voice countered.

"I don't understand", Avon replied.

A single uniform wave began to race towards him from the distance. It accelerated quickly and began to grow in height as it approached. Avon tried to step back in caution but the sand beneath his feet became softer, sinking him into the ground and locked him in place from the ankles. He could not shelter himself, he knew he had no choice but to stay where he was. The wave began to rise higher and become more violent. Avon closed his eyes and lowered his head in anticipation of being engulfed by the wave which could surely break him. “I trust this place” he thought, “I always trusted this place”. The sound of the wave became thunderous as though it was the lightening approaching. Avon soon felt the wave’s shadow upon him as it eclipsed the setting sun. The sound had become deafening.

With a final roar, Avon felt a forceful energy pass through his chest and grab his heart. His spine erected and his head shot up with eyes wide open towards the sky. The response of his body was physical but there was nothing material about this feeling. He did not move an inch and no drop of water had touched his skin. His heart was pounding with so much charge as though it grew larger and stronger. He could feel every ounce of blood circulate throughout his body. He slowly lowered his head and glanced at the distance. The sea was once more calm, the sounds had returned to tranquility and the horizon separated the sea and sky as before. The sun had begun its final descent and it was becoming dark quickly. Avon could see something shimmering beneath the water in front of him. He bent down slowly to take a better look. It was a small, smooth, rod shaped object without edges and tipped from both ends. He grabbed it with one hand and lifted it up. It had no markings and made of solid gold. It was clear that one tip was meant for writing.

“She will be your flow” the voice called out faintly as it disappeared.

“Rhea” Avon quietly muttered to himself. This time he was surprised.

Avon stood silently staring at the golden pen in his hand. It was fully dark now. The sun had left behind clusters of stars peaking between the clouds. Avon understood what the task he was to undertake was and the role this mythical pen will play. He also accepted that he must face Marcus and the king’s guards as soon as possible. Most of all he needed to find Rhea.

Avon quickly became overwhelmed with exhaustion and dropped to the ground like a heavy sack of potatoes. He needed to rest, just for a little while. He fell into a deep sleep with those last words “She will be your flow” repeating in his mind.