A Wild Adventure
We are doing some creative writing based on the theme ‘A Wild Adventure’ and here is a story created by Niamh in 2nd year.
A Wild Adventure
Annabel screamed so loudly that the cave almost shook. Staring at her reflection in the clear pool, she couldn’t help but be horrified at the state her hair was in. She supposed that she had been through a lot in the past twenty-four hours. Who knew where her classmates and the boat were now? She drifted for what felt like days, but it was probably only one, until she came upon the island. She could see the storm clouds gathering in the distance, so she walked for miles on end on the sandy beaches, to get some shelter. She was prepared to walk the whole way around the island, so long as going into the deep, dark jungle was her last resort. Eventually she stumbled upon the cave; there were no lights inside so she assumed no one was occupying it. She went inside as the sun set and the thunder began to rumble. Lightning flashed outside as she stared at her reflection in the pool at the back of the cave. There was barely any light, but just enough for her to see that she looked a state. Eventually she gathered her thoughts and knew that she had to find something that would give her light and heat; she would look for food tomorrow in the daylight. She began to search around the cave, hoping to find any piece of driftwood or anything in there eventually she found what looked like the remains of a row boat. There was half left and it was rotting but she was still able to gather some of the wood from it. She searched for sharp pebbles in the pool until she found a few. She tried to dry them on her clothes and eventually there was no moisture on them, she had never been a scout but she knew that you had to strike the stones together to create a spark. After several tries she finally got one of the pieces of wood to catch a spark. She blew on it gently and it became a flame setting the other pieces of wood on fire.
Teelo is out doing a perimeter check for his father. He knows he has to do it right this time because the last time one of the wild cats came in and nearly killed someone from his village. He was walking along beside the edge of the jungle when he saw the cave. The cave had never been used for anything but inside it there was light flickering. There had been a head count before he left and all of the villagers were there, he knew no one would have made it to the cave before him so it was someone of something else. Readying his bow and arrow he crept silently along the sand until he reached the side of the cave. He took a few deep breaths before boldly jumping out and pointing his weapon to the inside of the cave. He didn’t know what he was expecting but a girl around his age with torn, soggy clothes was still a surprise. She scrambled away from the fire at the centre, to the back of the cave. She put her hands up and pushed her back against the wall but Teelo knew she wasn’t dangerous; she had even been silly enough to build a fire indoors without a space for the smoke to escape. “Who are you?” Teelo asked. The girl just stared at him for a while until she finally muttered “Annabel, my name is Annabel.” “What are you doing here?” he asked. He began to walk around the fire and towards her. “I…. I….was set adrift from the boat I was on,” she said, “I’m lost and I don’t know where I am.” “You are on the island of the Banuri people.” He began to look her over, she was different from the others on his island, her hair was longer and a brighter, yellow colour and her skin was paler, she was wearing trousers while the other Banuri women wore dresses that went past their knees and her t-shirt had funny writing on it and was a bright pink colour. There were things on her feet but he didn’t know what they were. “You need to come with me” he said and he swung his weapon in the direction of the mouth of the cave, again she just stared at him for a while until she shakily walked around the other side of him. He walked behind her still pointing his arrow at her. They walked out of the cave across the beach but Annabel stopped before the jungle. She turned back and looked at Teelo “Please don’t make me go in there, “she whispered, he just poked her shoulder with his bow and said “Keep moving”. They walked in between trees for a long while with Teelo telling her where to go. Soon she saw lights in the distance and smoke billowing upwards. Within ten minutes they had reached what looked to Annabel like a very small town or village. There were huts with walls of mud and roofs of straw and twigs; they were all roughly the same size except for one which was very large. The huts were gathered in a circle around an opening which had a huge fire in the middle. Around the fire were about thirty people sitting with their legs crossed. Teelo directed her through the crown as they all stared at her. Eventually he brought her before a tall man who was sitting in a chair made from tree trunks in the large hut. He narrowed his eyes at her before asking Teelo “What is this?” “I found her in the sea cave on the west end of the island” he said. The man stared at Annabel angrily before standing up. He walked around her “You have been sent to destroy us haven’t you?” he asked angrily. “The gods have given you to us as a test” he turned to the people “and it’s one that we will pass”. He spun back to Annabel and grabbed her by the hair and he said “there is only one way to get rid of things like you”. “Fire!”he shouted at the people. They jumped up cheering and clapping but Teelo felt unsure. He looked at the woman standing beside the chair his mother Myrnah and she knew she should step in. “Now Leeva” she said softly,” there is no need to jump to conclusions, how do you know we must burn her?”. Leeva turned towards Myrnah, “it was written by our ancestors that someone pale skinned would come to destroy us, it is our duty to destroy her”. Again the people cheered and two men came up behind Annabel dragging her backwards towards one of the huts. Teelo could only stare at her in pity as she screamed for help before disappearing into the darkness of the hut.
Later that night, Teelo snuck out of his hut and crept into the hut where Annabel was being held past the sleeping guard. She was huddled in the corner in a ball crying. “Why are you sad?” he asked her, she looked up with tears running down her face “Because I’m going to die you fool” she said. It might not be that bad he said. You have been to the outside world, you have seen so many things, you have had a good life. I am stuck here on this island next in line for chief.” Annabel suddenly got an idea in her head. “You sound like you want to travel and see the world I have got a preposition for you” she said. “if you help me off this island and get me back home I’ll take you out to see the real world. Teelo smiled with his eyes lighting up with happiness. “Do you honestly mean that?” he asked. “Of course I do!” she said. All you need to do is get me out of here safely. Teelo snuck over to the sleeping guard and grabbed the keys hanging off the hook on the wall. Creeping back over to the cell he unlocked the door. They immediately headed for the doorway and looked outside. There was no one in the opening, everyone was asleep. On the count of three they ran past all of the huts and through the pathway that Teelo had previously led Annabel on. The soon reached the shore, they ran along the beach looking for the lifeboat Annabel had come in. They found it and as they hopped inside they heard screams behind them. The villagers were running up the beach with torches and weapons in their hands. A few arrows were fired at them as they pushed the boat out to sea. The spears came next but they were soon out of reach. Teelo looked back on the island and heard his father scream his name, but he still was not sad to be leaving. They set off into the ocean with Teelo navigating the way but unknown to them the villagers were sailing silently after them trying to catch up. Leeva promised himself that he would get his son back no matter what the cost.
The End
