Zodiac Hunter: The Spirit Equine

AWAY from danger I ride. Or maybe take a swim. . .?

I had not realized how much ground I had actually covered once the horse had come to a stop close to a vast plain of rocks and boulders that stretched towards the sea. I gasped in delight, recalling just a little further away was where I had first set foot in these lands. This would be my way out. I would leave this wretched place for good.

My excitement seemed to cloud my judgement, however, as I was yet to establish exactly how I was going to make my departure. I dismounted and let the horse roam around a little and he was soon having his dinner by nibbling down on several scattered tufts of grass.

It had grown dark by then but the clouds had started to part, causing the bright silvery full moon to pop in and out every once in a while, providing much needed light for me to climb on top of a boulder and scan the shoreline.

Huge waves were rocking back at the shore, splashing and hitting against the rocks, revealing that the waters were still experiencing the effects of the storm.

I still had the shield with me. I hoisted it up and stared at the reflection. Seeing Despyon's face only made it worse recalling what had happened. But I had done all that I could. This place was not for me. I had to get out.

"Hey man," I spoke to the reflection which spoke back in exactly the same way, mimicking my features, "I'm really sorry about everything but I need to go."

The reflection remained stationary just as me and I started to feel foolish just standing there and waiting.

"Despyon, you there? Could really use your help?"

The shield was back to acting like any other normal reflective surface. I even tried lifting it up higher, trying to adjust it to get enough exposure to the moonlight and maybe then it would work. It did not. I sighed and was setting the shield down when I caught something in the reflection.

I gasped in delight and turned around to see a boat resting over some rocks a few yards away from the waters. I had found my way out. I was about to rush over before I turned to the other side and saw that the horse was still grazing, his magnificent white fur dazzling in surreal fashion underneath the moonlight.

I became saddened. This was yet another friend I would have to leave behind. I jumped off of the boulder and approached him.

"I guess this is it, buddy," I said to him, stroking the fur on his long neck. He stopped grazing and looked up at me, regarding me with his big black soulful eyes. "I have to go now."

The horse whinnied and I swear it was like he could understand every word that was coming out of my mouth.

"You'll be safer out here. Just don't go back into the village, okay?"

He grunted, shaking his head and his mane danced over his neck. I stared at him for a while, watching his features.

"You know what?" I said to him, "You remind me of somebody. Someone I used to know. He was just as strong as you but a little shorter."

The horse whinnied some more.

"I think I'm gonna call you Jon," I added, having no idea why I was doing this but it just felt right—heartwarming even. "Yeah, you surely do look like a Jon!"

"This is it then, Jon," I said, stroking his mane, "I gotta go now."

With that, I made my way to the shore and got to the boat. It looked to be in good condition. There were no holes that I could see plus there was an oar inside it and a couple of nets that I think had been used for fishing. I was pushing the boat towards the water when Jon the horse decided to join me.

"I can't take you," I said to him, "this is not my home."

I continued to push the boat but it got lodged into some rocks. I sighed, looking up at the horse. "How about you help me get this into the water and maybe I'll consider taking you with me?"

The horse grunted, digging its hooves into the dirt. Of course he was calling my bluff. Luckily for me, the waters were more than willing. The waves swept closer to the rocks and started to gradually drag the boat along with it. Jon was particularly displeased by this.

"Oh come on," I said, "I'll visit. . ." my words seemed to get lost. I did not even know where I was going. But I figured anywhere would be better than there. I mean, especially not after everything I had seen.

I then started getting a harrowing image of myself getting stranded on an island out there all alone, talking to inanimate things while eating fish raw and tiny chunks of meat landing on my overgrown scraggly beard. I was pretty sure I could not last a day by myself, let alone four years on an island like Chuck Noland did in Cast Away. The more I thought about that movie, the grimmer my current situation felt.

Still, I was not staying there anymore. Not for another second. The waves began to hit harder and I had to jump into the boat as it got drifted into the waters.

I must have imagined it but I think I had caught my arm glowing but it had happened so fast like a flash. I did not pay too much attention to it.

Jon the horse whinnied, as if trying to call me back to shore. I just looked back and smiled. He would be okay. Me, on the other hand. . .

The skies were not yet done. I looked up to catch the clouds regathering. The moon was out of view and I was getting further into the waters which began to stir even more. The waves were getting thicker and already towering at frightening heights. I swallowed. This was exactly going to be like Cast Away.

I had just looked over my shoulder for the umpteenth time and I knew there was no turning back, especially not after I had gotten myself in the middle of some nasty waves that kept knocking at the sides of my boat, threatening to tip me over. I could also tell Abinor was itself an island after I had strained my eyes in the dark to make out the endings of the land mass on either side, which was getting smaller and less visible the more I drifted further out to sea.

The storm must have really upset the waters that night as the waves continued to come at me, each one more powerful than the last. I was suddenly thrown back, hitting the floor of the boat and looked up in shock to find myself holding a jagged piece of wood or what was left of the oar. That was when things got a whole lot worse. The way that certain wave had come at me, towering over me at nearly twelve feet or something—I could not quite tell, what with my whole body shaking and my mind dreading the worst. I steadied myself, holding onto the boat with my fingers clutching tightly at either side of the edges.

I would never be able to fathom what had happened after, for all I remember after that tall wall of water was hearing the sound of static fill my ears as water hit my body from all angles. I remember I tried to scream but only muffled whimpers escaped my mouth, coming out in large bubbles. I watched the bubbles rapidly rush to the surface while I got pulled under, spinning and flipping underneath the wave.

I felt the water begin to fill my lungs and almost wished I was back at the burning hut for it was more agonizing than having to inhale smoke. Soon, I would drown and something was telling me I would not end up in another world or at a different point in time.

I tried to heave myself towards the surface but the wave's force was too overpowering. I could barely move my arms. I had run out of air. I could feel it. My eyes started to grow weary and my body limp. I looked up to the darkened surface once more and spotted the bubbles still popping out above the breathable environment. That was the last thing I saw, alongside what appeared to be a flash of bright light, bluish in color. The light was reflected off of the bubbles and all over the surface, illuminating the waters until it morphed into pure darkness and I could see no more. . .