The Fifth Pearl

I saw them coming up over the hill.

Three figures, struggling to run; the biggest one limping with the two smaller ones on each side. I watched as they tumbled down to the base of the hill, got up and continued running. They were halfway to me when I saw horses reach the crest of the hill moments after.

I turned and sprinted to the edge of the sea cliff. I knew raising the sea was dangerous because of all the changing currents, not to mention the fish, but there wasn't any time for them to run to the beach. I chanced a look behind me and saw the three figures were much closer now. I could hear them shouting. The thunder of horse hooves were closing in as well, only confirming what I already assumed: time was up.

I gritted my teeth and heaved up the ocean, like one would heave up a heavy box, and brought it right to the edge of the sea cliff. A little dingy bobbed up and down as the sea sloshed back and forth like someone had kicked a bucket of water. I looked behind me to see the three people hobbling over the small incline: one boy, one man, and one girl.

"Remi!" The girl exclaimed, breathless. "The ocean! Pa said-"

"I know what Pa said! Now get in the boat!" I barked at them. My arms started to ache from the weight of the water. It was fighting against me this time.

"Torryn's injured." The boy wheezed. They hobbled past me and managed to settle Torryn into the small dingy. The cut went from his hip to the top of his knee, silver spilled out at a fast pace.

"You have to stop the bleeding Kas!" I looked behind me again and saw the horses were seventy gallops away, at least.

"Remi-" Torryn gasped.

Sixty gallops.

"I tried but the horses-!" Tears started to roll down Kas' face. I knew my young foster sister did what she could before she was cut short when the horses came after them.

Fifty gallops.

I could hardly keep my arms up. The water had already started draining down the side of the cliff, back into its original position.

"Remi, get in the boat!" The boy realized the water level was rapidly sinking.

Forty gallops.

"Listen to me!" I dropped to my left knee and, as a result, the water dropped to the same side. My foster siblings screamed and I quickly leveled the water. "Miles, you remember how to get to the Aquitis' home?"

Thirty gallops.

The boy, Miles, nodded. "Do you!?" I shouted, missing his quiet answer.

"Yes!" Miles shouted back. The water dropped another three feet.

Twenty gallops.

"Good. Kas, you remember your herbal lessons? Mina will help you once you're over there." Another three feet. "Follow the shoreline and don't stop rowing!" My arms and legs gave out and the water dropped several feet with a thundering crash.

Ten gallops.

On all fours, I crawled over to the edge. I saw a little brown boat being tossed around as the ocean settled and saw two bent heads. As I watched, Miles grabbed the oars and started to row while Kas was bent over to bind Torryn's leg to stop the bleeding.

They were right behind me.

In one last effort to save my foster siblings, I brought my shaking arms up in front of me, made a circular movement and gently blew a breath of air, efficiently creating a dense fog barrier between the ocean and cliff.

Energy completely gone, I collapsed onto the ground and closed my eyes.