Talk your ear off

“Another wave off the port!” A voice cried shortly before a giant wave smashed into the left side of the ship. Many were thrown off balance, falling against the deck or struggling to stop themselves from falling off the side into the wicked waves below.

Trapped in the middle of a typhoon miles away from civilization, the men of the 'Anglers Angle' fought desperately to cling to their lives. The waters were unpredictable, one of the most vicious typhoons of the century smashed itself against our ship.

I could hear the barks and commands of my fellow sailors, doing our best to hold on to the cargo while at the same time trying not to be swept away in the pouring winds and rain. With my hand up front I forced myself forward, trying to find something unsecured to bind down on to the ship. I felt others slam into my shoulders as they struggled with their own duties, my face squishing against the large breasts of a Minotaur who's name I never got the chance to learn.

“Now's not the time!” she yelled over the rain. I wasn't sure if she was joking or not, can never tell with monsters.

I boot slipped, my leg slid against the deck before banging against the support of a hand rail. I thanked whatever force had saved me in this case, whether it was fate or some sort of god. Picking myself up as fast as I could, I finally found my last destination.

“Why the hell am I doing this?” I asked myself. I should be somewhere safer than all the way out here at the other end of the ship. Losing supplies during a long voyage would always be a problem, but it wasn't worth risking life and limb to secure a few crates filled with easily replaceable equipment. Though orders were orders and I would rather be dead than poor.

I grabbed a hold of the straps binding the crates to the ship, giving them each a hard, strong tug and a kick to make sure that they weren't going anywhere. It was hard to make out what was going on, struggling to keep my eyes open with the wind and rain smashing against my face.

It hurt like hell, but somehow I pulled through. I turned back, fighting my way across the decks and back towards the rest of the crew.

“Here comes another big one!” A voice from above yelled. I stumbled in my steps, feeling the motion of the wave before it even hit us. Like a blanket of blue it crashed into our ship, the water flowing over the dock pushed many sailors, including myself, off balance. The back of my head slammed against the deck, my vision blurred and my senses were suddenly stunted.

I rolled to my stomach, lifting my face from the water still on board to take in what little air I could before I was suddenly pulled to my feet.

“Y'alright, Marty!?” a familiar voice asked through the ceaseless sounds of the storm. I turned my head, barely making out the aged features of Norbert, the Irishmen that got me the job to begin with. Old as dirt but strong as an ox that man.

“Yeah!” I called back. “I'm alright now!”

“Aint nuthin we can do now, Marty! We gotta get'sta shelter!” Norbert cried out, pulling me along while everyone else retreated into the insides of the ship.

Norbert dragged me along by my wrist, he didn't even seem to buckle under the constant motion of the ship against the violent sea. I simply did as he did step for step, doing my best not to fall and slow us down. It looked as though we would find shelter when our ship was suddenly hit again off the starboard by another wave.

The ship buckled, the bow dipped and the deck titled, both Norbert and I lost our steps, sliding across the deck and passed any kind of entrance we could have gotten our hands on. It was like something from a movie, how the ship managed not to capsize was a miracle all on its own. We rolled as the ship managed to straighten, now on a completely separate part of the ship.

Norbert laughed, pushing himself back on to his feet.
“looks like luck's on er side, eh Marty?” He said cheerfully, patting me on the back and helping me to my feet.
I managed to find the humour in the situation, laughing with him and turning back towards the nearest entrance inside.
But then once again we were hit by a colossal wave, the bow tilting forward. This time we were prepared, balancing ourselves against a side railing and doing our best to hold on for dear life.

“Hold on, Marty!” Norbert cried out, clinging to whatever he could.

I looked at him before looking back towards the ship, my eyes widening as I saw a crate tumble down the deck. It smashed into me, knocking the wind out of me and pushing me off the side.

“Marty!!!” were the last words I heard, cried out from Norbert above. I smashed into the water below, the impact coursing through my body like a thousand knives. I flailed in the water, panicked, I didn't know how deep I was, but it was luck on itself that I wasn't pulled under the ship.

I felt something against my fingers, throwing my arms forward and wrapping my arms around the crate that had damned me to death. I grappled to it as hard as I could, its buoyancy aiding me up to the surface for a quick, desperate gasp before being pulled back under.

I didn't want to die, not like this. This wasn't how I thought it would end, I wanted to be at home with my loved ones or something at least descent. Not in the middle of the ocean, miles away from my home and drowning in salt. I held on for everything, fighting and fighting and fighting and fighting until finally everything went silent.

I awoke to the feel of the hot sun against my face, the sounds of waves gently brushing against the shores, and the sensation of sand against my skin. My eyes slowly opened, the sight of a bright blue sky up overhead. My head turned to the left, the crate that had both doomed and saved me rested against the sand not far from where I was lying.

I struggled, my muscles refused to listen to my commands at first but soon relinquished. I rolled to my side and pushed myself to my feet, coughing and gagging into the sand below before I could finally stand straight.

I turned around, looking back into the ocean that wished to claim me not long ago, its waves now gentle and tamed.

“You call that kicking my ass!?” I cried out into the waters triumphantly, laughing manically to myself before coughing up a storm.

I pounded my fist against my chest, taking in a deep breath and arching my back until I heard my muscles pop. My close stuck to my body, the fabric mucked with the sea salt of the ocean. I through my jacket off my body, letting the gentle breeze kiss my skin.

With my head finally out of the clouds, I managed to take in more of my surroundings. Behind the sandy beach was a jungle ripe with trees and plants, hopefully I didn't end up on some messed up monster island like in the movies.

I turned to my left, trying my best to walk straight down the beach without stumbling around like a zombie. I followed the sand, scanning over the depths of the jungle while circling it. The island seemed big enough, by the looks of it, it would take me about two or three hours to walk from one side to the other, or at least that is what I had predicted.

I continued down the trail, ignoring the thirst in my throat. I noticed it off in the distance, squinting at the white figure in the sand. Getting closer, I discovered the first half of a ship, a luxury yacht by the looks of it. It had been torn apart, ripped in two with the front washing up on this island.
It was too old to have been damaged by the storm that washed me up here, the water damage was deep and I didn't even want to know what kind of mold had grown in its innards. I was afraid to touch it, it looked like even the slightest touch would tear the thing apart.

But what happened to the owner? Were they still on this island? Were they alive? I took a step away from the yacht, if I was going to find any answers I had to first find a way to survive out here on my own. And to do that I had to travel inwards, I had to find food and water I can actually drink, if Tom Hanks can do it, why can't I?

The jungle was eerily quiet, with only the chirps of a few birds and insects to break the silence. It definitely didn't look like I was going to have to learn how to hunt for boars or some sort of exotic, and hopefully edible, wild life.

My stomach began to growl, the last time I had a chance to put food in my belly was last afternoon, now I was running on fumes.  My tongue began to stick to the roof of my mouth whenever they touched, I can't even remember the last time I was so thirsty. I continued to stumble through the woods, grumbling to myself until I saw it off in the distance, glimmering among the trees like a jewel.

A wide pond rested in the centre of the island. The water was clear as glass, even from where I was standing I could see the bottom and the little sea critters that prowled in its waters. I cupped the water in my hand and drank it greedily, quenching my thirst with its pure essence. I laughed to myself, even with all the shit I had gone through I at least didn't have to die of dehydration.

I sat back, holding myself up with my arm as I examined the water. Would I be able to bathe in it? Being clean would be great, but I didn't really want to pollute my only form of drinking water. But then again it was a pretty big pond, maybe if I only bathed on one side?

I continued to think it over, almost letting the ripples in the water moving towards me slip my mind.
My eye twitched, I sat forward and examined the movement. It was moving towards me at alarming speeds, the figure in the water was distorted by the moving currents, from this distance it looked like...A girl?

The water erupted as the creature leaped from it, flying through the air and burrowing down on top of me.
I yelped and rolled to the side, narrowly missing me by just a few centimetres. I scrambled to my feet, jumping to the side to get some distance between me and my attacker.

Before me stood a terrible, horrible, unimaginable! Girl...

Standing no taller than my chest was a girl with aqua blue hair that ran down to her knees. She was standing on to two blue, webbed feet and clutching a spear in her equally blue claws, with fins running up her wrists and forearms. The fins on the side of her head where her ears should be wiggled as she glared at me with her two golden eyes. A one piece swim suit reminiscent of something you would see in a Japanese school covered her petite form, and edged tribal tattoos were visible against her left cheek and the inside of her left thigh.

“A Sahuagin?” I asked out loud, standing straight from my original crouch. “I thought you guys lived in marshes and deeper inland? What the hell are you doing all the way out here in the ocean?”

The Sahuagin narrowed her eyes, leaping back into the pond. She kept the top of her head out of the water, glaring at me with piercing eyes.

“Hey, wait!” I yelled out, stepping closer towards the waters edge before she finally submerged. Maybe she didn't speak English? How did she find her way all the way out here? I always recalled driving past a lake or a marsh with Sahuagins lazing about, but this one was not only out of her element, but alone.
Did she arrive here on that yacht?

I trekked back to the remnants of that old ship, going into the thing wasn't really something I was keen on, but it may have some answers. Moving around the side, I entered through the tear in the back rather than through the top hatch, crawling through the rotten furniture and broken pieces of equipment.

I sighed, looking around only to see something you would see from any other ship. No family portraits, no heirlooms or trinkets, just broken plates and run down placings. I took another look around the wreckage, spotting a creaky old desk near the front. I went through the drawers one after another, going through paper after paper until I found something that resembled a name.

The ships name was the 'Dame de l'océan', Lady of the Ocean, how tragically generic. Owned by someone named Robert Sproggs, born June 14th, 1951. I flipped through more papers, ship wrights, equipment details,  nothing that could be important to me, until finally.

“Nana...” I whispered the name to myself, looking over another parchment. Was that a name? Was it 'her' name? One way or another it was worth a try.








I went back to the pond, using the path of stepped on shrubbery and branches as a trail of sorts. The pond once again stood silently, though I'm sure a Sahuagin isn't going to go far from her home.
I crouched over, picking a pebble from the ground and flicking it at the pond. Her head slowly emerged a second later, giving me a rather unamused glare.

“Hi, Nana!” I called out with a big stupid smile and a wave. I could see her eyes widen from this distance, taken aback by my sudden greeting, I guess that really was her name. Nana swam backwards, her eyes narrowed, she kept her distance and swam in a way as to scout my movements.

I walked around the pond until I found a small clearing near the waters edge, crouching down to move away any kind of rubbish and hazards before placing a few rocks into a circle.

“I'm Martin, by the way.” I called out into the pond. “But most people just call me Marty. I actually like that more.”

I took a step back from my handiwork, putting my hands to my sides before looking to my left and right.

“You wouldn't happen to know where to get a lighter around here, would you?” I joked. She wasn't too fond of my constant prattling, her glare never wavering in her fixation on me.

“Not much of a talker, are you?” I sighed. My stomach suddenly grumbled angrily and the pain of hunger once again hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Alright, you wait here.” I said without thinking, like I just made a new friend or something. “I'm going to go find something to eat.”

Nana's continued to observe me until I couldn't feel her cold gaze, leaving the pond behind me once more in search for sustenance for my poor stomach. I was sure that she was sitting on a stockpile of delicious snacks, but I wasn't going to get into the water to look, for all I know I'm just food to her. Do Sahuagins eat people? I've never actually heard of any of them eating humans in general, but she's been out here for awhile, I wasn't going to risk it.

I fancied myself a sharp stick, prowling the beach for some poor bastard fish that was going to be skewered. With hope that I would find something swimming between the rocks, I discovered a rather large crab creeping from shade to shade and promptly stabbed the bastard right in the shell.

With the crab at the end of my stick, I followed my trail back to the pond, staring down at the ground and humming until I found my way back to my little site.

“Hey, check out what I caught!” I called out to the pond, not seeing Nana skulk around in its waters. I turned my head to see a fire in between all of the rocks, the Sahuagin girl glaring at me with two stones in her claws.

She tossed them aside and dived back into the water, retreating to a comfortable distance before emerging again to continue her staring contest with me.

I examined the fire, made with a combination of sticks, twigs, shrubs, and  bark. She managed to prepare it while I was gone, I don't know how long I was gone, but it couldn't have been that long that she could dry off and prepare a fire.

“Thank you!” I called out anyway, ignoring the issues and simply enjoying the fact that I had a fire.

I held the crab above the fire, occasionally throwing on more fuel to keep it going.
“How long do you think these take to cook?” I asked Nana, who was still peering at me from the water.
“My old man used to barbeque crab legs, I'm guessing this is pretty much the same thing.”

I looked back over to her, she hadn't moved from that spot since I came back.

“Look!” I cried out. “Its either talk to you or find a volley ball and talk to it! And you're probably more interesting!”

Nana let out what I figured to be the under water version of the “hmph!” with bubbles rising from around her mouth and popping on the waters surface.

“Well, at least I got some sort of reaction out of you...” I pouted, finally pulling the crab away from the fire, its shell dark and crisp. “Hopefully its insides aren't all gooey anymore...”

I spent most of my evening prying the corpse apart and snacking on whatever looked edible, my hands prickly and worn from all of the pokes delivered from the shell. A fair trade for my sudden murder and consuming.

With my stomach finally full, I had finally found the peace of mind to get some actual rest. My clothing was still slick with salt water and my muscles reminded me that I was in a good amount of pain. I laid back into the sand, looking up at the pale moon above.

“You got my back, right?” I asked Nana, still in her usual spot. “Not going to let some boogeyman eat me, right?”

I sighed and closed my eyes, doing my best to fall asleep against the sand below. I was strangely content with my situation, stuck on an island miles away from civilization which I may or may not ever see again. Though at the same time, it was oddly comforting, almost liberating to not have to worry about a good number of bullshit at once. But I guess having company doesn't hurt either...Even if she isn't much of a talker.

I surprised myself with how much sleep I got, my eyes opening to the sight of Nana standing above me. Once she noticed I was awake she backed away, hopping back into the water.

“What the hell was that about?” I asked her, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Nana's gaze dropped towards the water, a flustered expression her face.

She threw her arm over, splashing water towards me before I was suddenly hit in the chest with a fish, long dead from suffocation.

“Oh.” I said aloud, examining the fish in my hand. “Did you grab this for me at the beach? Thanks for that!”

I stood up and looked up into the sky, the sun was already at high noon.

“Jeez, have I been just lying here like a stone this whole time?” I asked Nana, stretching out my back muscles and arms.

“You wouldn't have an axe or something on you, would you?” I asked her, sitting down by the pond. “Would make building a fire a lot easier.”

She continued to simply look at me, though it was less of an alarmed glare. It was more curious, like she was trying to learn something from me.

I took a sniff of myself and cloths, scrunching up my nose at the odour. “Eugh...” I complained, standing up and pulling off my shirt. “You don't mind if I take a quick bath, do you? I promise I won't pee in the water.”

Nana's eyes widened as I dropped my shirt and jeans on to the sand, leaving me in just my underwear. She looked away, her face suddenly flushed.

“Well, I'd ask you for privacy, but you kind of live here.” I defended my actions, not like I was going to try anything anyway.

I took a step back before leaping into the pond with a canonball, a decision I instantly regretted as the ice cold water washed over my body.

“Ho, Jesus!” I cried out as I emerged, shivering and rubbing my hands down my arms. Nana stiffled a giggle, bringing her claw up to her mouth to cover it and looking away.

“Wise guy, huh?” I jittered from between my teeth, doing my best to allow my body to adjust to the temperature.

I sat in the water, sighing and letting the gentle currents flow over me. Closing my eyes, I leaned back until my ears submerged in the water, losing myself in thought as I looked over my situation.

Lost somewhere at sea, it was a miracle I was still even alive. I know I should be panicking or trying to build a raft or some stupid shit, but all I could do is just go with the flow, as to say.

I was suddenly knocked out of my trance, the feeling of something poking against my chest. I opened my eyes and looked forward, Nana was crouched in the water in front of me, her claw pressed against the right side of my chest.

She looked up into my eyes, her red face turning even redder before leaping backwards and swimming away.

“What was that about?” I asked her, sitting up in the water again. “Was there something on me?”

Nana shook her head furiously before dipping deeper into the water. I shrugged it off, and continued to just enjoy the cleanness of the pond until I was ready to get out. I let my clothing soak in it for awhile before hanging them over a branch.

“You know what I already miss?” I asked Nana as I sat down and crossed my legs. “Blankets. There's just something about curling up in one before going to bed that beats just lying there like a rock.”

As expected, Nana didn't reply, though she nodded, like she was agreeing with me. Where did she even sleep anyway? Did she sleep in the water? Or on a rock like some sort of lizard?

“Anything to do on this island outside of sit around and talk to you?” I asked her, sitting back down in the sand.

Nana raised a brow, though it was hard to see under the water, I'm pretty sure she just shrugged at me.

“I should probably uh...Should probably go make a big-ass help sign out of rocks or something.” I announced to her, cutting my sit short and standing up. “You want to come with?”

Her eyes widened, staring at me before looking down towards the water, lost in thought. Soon she looked back at me, giving me a nod before leaping out of the water.

“Well great! Will go a lot faster with company.”

The two of us made our way back down to the beach, and as the afternoon began I started my work. I prowled the beach side for stones that would stand out from above. The chore was tiresome, not just collecting the heavy rocks, but also moving them so they make out the words “Help”. Though I felt that it was a lost cause, it at least kept me busy.

The tedium of it all began to get to me at around the L, and soon I found myself humming one of Norbert’s damn sea shanties he would also bellow while at work. I looked up once I finished the final letter, Nana looking back at me with her head titled. My song must have raised her curiosity.

“Heave a pawl, oh heave away!” I bellowed suddenly, Nana jumping at the sudden change of volume. I leaped forward over the stones, taking Nana's claws in my hands and pulling her from the sand. She gasped, a look of shock on her face as I danced and twirled her around.

“Way! Hey! Roll and go!” I continued to sing, my grip on her scaly palms tight as we span. “The anchors on board and the cables are stored, rollickin' Randy Dandy O!”

Nana's face made an expression I wasn't even aware it could do. She smiled, a big, open smile. She began to move with my movements, letting me push and lead her along as I sang the old shanty that's been stuck in my head for ages. I almost tripped over her tail once or twice, but didn't slow down. Just to see someone smile.

We danced for awhile, until both of us began to tire. It felt good, taking my mind off the things that may or may not come to this little island in the coming days. Took my mind away from the thought that I may never leave this little slab of sand out in the big empty ocean.

When we returned to the pond, Nana immediately jumped back in, swishing around under the water before popping up again. Her stare returned, though this time she was closer than usual, close enough that I didn't have to raise my voice whenever I wanted to say something.

My days continued with Nana. I spent most of them talking to her the first things that came to my mind. I told her stories about my sailing days, where I grew up, my ma and pa, all the stupid little details I could come up with.

With each passing day, Nana floated closer and closer to me until she was finally sitting by the fire next to me.

“So Norbert, comes barging into the room, piss drunk.” I explained a story. “And just picks up the entire damn pitcher of beer and gulps it down in -seconds-.”

Nana didn't laugh, but just smiled, and that was enough for me.  She never talked, never said a word, but I've heard her make some noises. I've was always under the impression that she couldn't talk, but I doubted that as time passed.

“So--” I began. “Where are you from?”

Nana's blue fins suddenly perked up, her eyes widening in surprise from the sudden question.

“C'mon, don't be shy.” I hassled her. “We've known one another for a good long while now, you may as well give me something...”

Her eyes wandered and her lips trembled. “West...” She whispered meekly. Her voice was soft, a young woman’s voice, very shy and very quiet.

“West...As in America?” I asked her.

“Mmhmm...” She responded, nodding.

I readjusted myself in the sand, crossing my legs.
“How long have you been here?”

Nana raised three of her claws. “Three years...”.

“By yourself?”

She shook her head. “It was me and...”

“And Robert?”

Nana bit her lips, her golden eyes suddenly becoming misty.

“Oh...Oh jeez...” I raised my hands, unsure if I should put them on her shoulders or something. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...He was your?”

“Dad...” She explained quickly. “Died in the crash...”

“Jesus Christ. You've been here alone for three years?”

“Mmmhmmm.” She mumbled again, wiping a tear from her eye.

“Here all by yourself...” I repeated those words, looking back into the fire.

I looked back at her, giving her a reassuring smile.
“Well hey, you got me now.” I said as I wiped another tear away from her eye. “I promise, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Nana looked back at me, the sadness in her eyes replaced with some kind of realization.
“I...Have you.” She said, finally wiping away the final trail from her eyes and giving me a smile of her own. “Thank you.”

I laughed, rubbing the scratching from my eyes and yawning. “I guess we should clock it in.”.

I pushed myself away from the fire, lying on my back and putting my hands behind my head.
“Good night, Nana. I'll see you in the morning.”

Nana looked down at me, whispering a soft “good night.” before hopping back into her pond.

I had a dream that night. I was lying in a hammock tied between two trees over looking a gorgeous beach with a beautiful sunset. I was reading a book, though it didn't have any words, and a blanket was dabbed over my waist.

I sighed contently, turning to another blank page like it had some sort of content. Soon the blanket began to press itself against my waist, it became heavier and heavier, like someone was sitting down on top of me. I scrunched my nose, trying to adjust myself in the hammock but to no avail. My last words were “What the hell?” Before my eyes opened and I was brought back to the real world.

I snorted myself awake, lifting myself from the sand with my elbows. I felt a familiar pressure on my waist, the very same from the dream. Looking up, I saw Nana sitting atop me, even with the lack of light I could make out the flushed expression on her face.

“Nana?” I asked with a yawn. Her body was trembling, held up by her claws against my chest. Without a word she moved her claws away, pushing one into the sand and pressing the other against my chest until I was lying down flat on my back.

She lowered herself until her body rested against mine, kissing me deeply without warning. For once, I was the one in shock, this came entirely out of left field, at least for me. Did I do something to trigger this or was this a long time coming?

Nana moaned into my mouth, slipping her tongue. She fell down against me, no longer holding herself up in the slightest. Her blue, scaly tail slapped vigorously against the sand.

She pulled away, gasping for air and bringing her claws back against my chest.

“What the hells gotten into you!?” I asked as I tried to sit up again, only to be pushed back down. Nana moved down to my neck, gently pressing her tongue against my skin.




“Love you...” She moaned in between her lips, her blue palms trailing against my chest. “I love you...”

“What, really?” I was surprised by her sudden romance. I knew monsters were more affectionate than humans, but to go from one step to the other so quickly caught me off guard.

Once again, Nana pulled herself away and sat up, grinding herself against my pelvis with a lustful look in her eyes. She grabbed on to the straps that held up her swim suit and peeled them off her shoulders, revealing her small, shapely breasts.

I gulped, what was left of my pants were already putting unbearable pressure on my loins. My hands reached forward almost sub consciously, cupping her breasts and caressing her sides and stomach. She bit her lip, but smiled a warm smile, pleased with my course of actions.

Nana pushed herself back against my laps, unzipping my pants and pulling them back to draw my dick from its little home. She didn't even hesitate, climbing back on top of me and guiding it inside her with her claw. I felt her warm, wet walls clamp down on me, it was almost painful how tight she was.

Nana whimpered, but it didn't stop her. She began to move her hips, lifting herself with her knees and dropping down against my rod. I winced with every motion of her hips, grabbing on to her sides as the Sahuagin had her way with me.

I endured it until she finally loosened and welcomed me inside, a tingling pleasure coursing through my dick as it was kissed all over. My hands trailed to her behind, grabbing on to each cheeks and motioning with my arms for her to move faster.

She gasped at my grip, writhing and moaning loudly on top of me. I began to move my hips as well upwards into her, each thrust alleviating another loud moan from her. Then I pulled myself up, her breasts now pressed firmly against my chest. My lips made contact with hers in another deep kiss, her moans not stopping even for a second.

Nana's arms wrapped around me, I could feel her claws scratch lightly against my back as she lost herself in it all. We were so close, the smell of sex and sweat overwhelmed me until all I wanted to do was be with her.

Nana pulled her lips away, arching her head upwards as she wailed out. I kissed her neck, suckling her skin softly and tasting her until it all became too much for me.

All at once I released, her clawed toes curling and her back arching against me as she felt my warmth flow inside her. Her teeth gritted and her voice became panicked and weak until I forced out my last drop.

She went limp in my arms, leaning against me and panting heavily.
“You okay?” I asked her, rubbing her back with my left hand. She looked up at me, moving her hands from my shoulders and placing them against my cheeks. She pulled me in closer for a tender, pure kiss, holding me there until she felt ready to pull away.

“Mine...” She whispered, nuzzling against my chest until I leaned back into the sand. “All mine...”

I smiled, gently stroking her hair. Out of all the islands I could have washed up on, I got the best one of the lot...

My eyes fluttered open in the morning, lying on my side with my right arm wrapped around Nana. A familiar sound flowed into my ears, far off and distant.

“Is that?” I muttered as I pushed myself from the sand. Nana awoke a moment later, turning over to look at me with confused eyes.

There it was again, a horn off in the distance, this time closer. It was a familiar horn, worn out from years of use.

“Its...” I blurted, standing up and pulling my pants back on properly. I helped Nana up and pulled her Swimsuit back over her shoulders before she could react. With her claw in my hand, I ran through the jungle towards the sound.

As we pierced the woods, I saw it off in the distance, its horn blaring triumphantly once again.

“Its the fucking Anglers angle!” I laughed, running my hand through my hair. I cried out to it, letting go of Nana's claw and jumping up and down in the air. Once again it blew its horn, this time twice.

I saw the boat closing in on the island, a four man boat we used for scouting purposes. In the passenger seat waved a familiar man, a stupid smile on his old face.

“Marty!!!” he cried out, hopping off the boat and on to the island. I almost wanted to jump into his arms like it was the end of a Disney movie, but didn't have time before I was lifted from the ground in a bear hug.

“'Oi Marty! Yer smell like shit ye wonderful bastard!” he laughed, dropping me back to the sand.

“Jesus, its great to see you guys!” I gasped, recovering from Norbert's vice grip.

“Had rescue teams all over the damn place lookin' fer yeh.” Norbert explained. “No one wanted to say you were dead. And here ye are!”

Norbert looked behind me, seeing Nana standing in the back, unsure what to do.

“Who'da pretty lady?” He asked me.
“Oh, this is Nana.” I said, taking a few steps back and putting my hand on her shoulder.

“Alive and ye find yerself a women, eh?” Norbert joked. “Some blokes 'ave all the luck.”

Norbert hopped back on to the boat, waving me over. “Grab yer shit, Marty. We're heading back!”

I nodded and turned back to Nana. “You coming?”

Nana's fins raised, looking at me before looking back at the jungle behind us. She went silent, more than usual, taking in a deep breath before nodding.
“Yes!” She exclaimed. “Lets go home!”

We left that fated island behind us, this would be my last voyage. I hung up my sea legs and found my place in land. I took Nana with me, I fell in love with that girl as much as she did with me. We found ourselves a place with enough water for her to feel comfortable moving around. I found a job in construction, and although times were sometimes tough, it was reassuring that I would almost come home to a smile and a kiss.