Dawn Comes Slowly: Part One

by gurgi440

It was a beautiful summer morning and Limoncello the yellow Flotsam was just waking up. Like every morning, he rushed out of his underwater cave to see the rising sun. There was no greater joy to him, than to be there as the sun rose. He burst out of the water just as the sun hit the horizon, creating a sudden flash of shimmering light across the water. He often thought about what he would do with his life, but it was coming time for him to chose. Unfortunately, that choice would soon be made for him.

As Limoncello splashed back into the water, he sensed that something was wrong. Then, it hit him, a pulse of sound from a fellow Flotsam, a Flotsam in obvious distress. Limoncello joined in the call for distress, as did any others in earshot. Soon, a throng of Flotsams including our young hero were at the scene. Portier, one of the village elders, cornered by a very foreboding blue Jetsam.

"Aaaaaarrrrgh! Stop yer squealin'!" the Jetsam moaned. "I ain't gonna hoitcha! I just gotta message for yas. You Flotsams are a menace. Playin' around makin' dis place yer own poisonal playground. We're gonna put an end to it, by we I mean da Jetsams. Don't try to stop us, just get outta here, or your gonna regret it!"

The Flotsams shuddered despite the fact that they outnumbered him about forty to one. Then as they watched in horror and astonishment, this nameless Jetsam flashed a hideous smile and broke his word, he devoured their friend before their very eyes.

They were in a rage. The Flotsams raced toward the villain at full speed. He laughed a grotesque, evil laugh, then sped away at a speed impossible for the fastest of them to follow. Limoncello began to cry, he had not known Portier, and his tears went unnoticed in the vast ocean, but he cried for the Flotsams. A war was on the way, and the Flotsams were too proud to back down. What was to become of them as a species, the Jetsam armies were mobilized, and as far as he was concerned, there was nothing they could do.

That night a war council was called. Around the table sat the village council, one elder was missing. Portier's seat was empty, just like the hopes of the Flotsams. What were they going to do? A committee of nine about to decide the fate of a society, one that had existed for centuries and was now threatened. The High Elder stood and welcomed the council.

"Welcome again to this room my friends. It is not often that we must use this table for a council of war, but today is one of those grave days. The Jetsams are on the move. We must decide what is to be done," the High Elder once again sat down.

"We must meet them on the war path!" cried one after another.

"Our future depends on our ability to defend ourselves! If we let these, these, barbarians run us out of our own land there will be no respect for our culture. The Flotsams will be lost." This came from Leopold, one of the older of the council members.

This is exactly what the High Elder did not want to hear.

"I see that you are all at an agreement, and I'm sure there is no way that your minds will be changed. We will need a general to lead our armies, for now I shall give that responsibility to Leopold, but that is only temporary. Portier's seat needs to be filled, that process requires a vote of the remaining nine members, five to four. All of these need to be attended to, but I shall adjourn until tomorrow. All of you keep a watchful eye for a possible elder. I expect all of you to bring someone as a nominee. Until then my friends, and make haste, we have little time."

General Leopold stormed out of the meeting room. "What is the meaning of this?" he thought to himself "...but that is just temporary? Who does he think I am? He swam right down to the village to cool off. Suddenly he saw Limoncello, a young boy, sitting melancholy on the steps of his home. An idea hit him, he was the choice for General. The only way he would be replaced was if the new elder was superior to himself. As this idea struck him, he approached young Limoncello.

"Hello," he said nonchalantly, "I was wondering if you'd like to attend a council meeting tomorrow."

Limoncello's jaw hung open. "Ma...ma..ma. Me? You want me to come to a council meeting? What for? I mean, yes! But just why? I mean, I don't..." Leopold cut him off.

"You don't need to understand right now, just be there if you want a part in the history of your species."

Leopold swam away quickly, Limoncello was left to ponder the situation, the High Elder sat quietly in his room, and the majority of the Flotsam population went about their daily life, not knowing that a great war lay ahead.

To be continued...