Think about what we did, that’s all it takes
[Series Two: Episode Four] Zhael has an otherworldly experience in her attempt to escape from the underground cavern she finds herself in
In the previous episode, Zhael had taken her first steps away from the safety and protection of To’Boam and found that her “magic” was unreliable. This piece is delightfully packed with maps.
In this episode, Zhael has an otherworldly experience in her attempt to escape from the underground cavern she finds herself in
Location and map: The action takes place on the Cochleate Islands. Scroll down to the bottom of this letter for animated maps of Zhael’s journey and The Drifting Expanse ⬇️
Curious, the gathered eLyd (the beings that live in the waters of the Cochleate Islands) ask Zhael: “How did you get out of the cavern?”
Zhael shakes her head, it still feels like a dream.
“I’d nodded off and when I came to, my legs felt like rocks and my eyes were barely open. I had no idea what to do next. Just the echo of “just be yourself” ringing in my head. I saw a hint of movement in the beam of light, and wasn’t certain if it was real or imagined. It seemed something was dancing at the water’s edge, looking straight at me. In a trance, I dragged myself towards it, and it offered me a paw that I unhesitatingly took hold of! A beguiling symphony played in the water as I was led into the dance, with nothing less than a large otter!
Now I think of it, I’m not sure why, but it had to be an otter …”
The eLyd exchange glances and nod for her to continue.
“It seemed natural for us to dive into the water as one. I knew I’d come home, deep down in my bones, moving gracefully through that water. Looking at my body, it was long, slender and sleek with a powerful tail, four legs and four webbed paws. I was no longer in human form! My companion was at my side, grinning playfully. We swam under the rocks of the Cochleate Islands, rising every so often for breath. I was oblivious to all but the freedom of this swim, in this inky indigo water.
We surfaced from the rocky depths and splashed onto a beach spiked with sharp, magenta coral-like rocks, and warm rainbow coloured sand. We collapsed in the warmth of the pink Drifting Expanse sun - energised, yet completely relaxed. I wanted to do that again and again. Cracking my eyes open in the brightness, I saw my body transforming back into its human form.
No!
My companion’s soothing voice said, ‘It’s OK. You’re a shapeshifter, you can do this anytime you want. I just came to remind you that you could.’
I stuttered, ‘Oh! But how …?’
‘Think about what we did, that’s all it takes’, and she was gone. Then you found me a little while later. That’s all I can remember.”
She hadn’t needed her magic at all. She’d felt so free. Now she was safely on the BeLyd Reefs, soon to be celebrating with the eLyd.
An otter, of all things …
Play the animation to see Zhael’s route through the islands
Has Zhael found out what it means to “just be herself”?
What will it mean for her life going forward?
Join me next time!
The Drifting Expanse
This evolving map shows the locations of each of the episodes, from Series One and this new series. The locations are marked with their names and the series and episode number. e.g. S1:3 Hexton City is series one, episode three.
The Cochleate Islands are situated Highward-Left of The Drifting Expanse. You can also see where MiddleMost Transport Hub is located, just Highward of Frubble Frontier in the Berkberry Archipelago.
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The entire first series can be found below ⬇️
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