Free Immortal by Lacy Armendariz Page B

Sea monster’s roar echoing over the ocean. A boat had been left for him on the shore, he boarded it, and made his way towards Misho. He paddled his way to the island knowing the monster could peer out of the ocean and show its ugly head at any moment. He was ready for this occurrence, but he happened not to cross the face of the monster as he sailed to the island. All was still and all was quiet from the time he stepped onto the boat to the time he arrived at Misho. “Warrick!” the people screamed in relief at the sight of him. My father hushed them and instructed them back inside their homes. The safety of the people was most important to him. He would journey on his own to a cave near the ocean, where he would stake out the ocean and await the monster. Guess what he found when he hid himself inside a cave, Jasper?”
    “Tell me Staysia,” Jasper said anxiously.
    “What he found inside the dark cave were Sea trolls. There were a number of them, Jasper, and they weren’t exactly thrilled with the presence of my father. They told him to flee from their cave. Do you know what my father did, Jasper?” Staysia laughed briefly. “My father simply showed them his sword and they ran off screaming. He laughed to himself as the little trolls fled the cave.”
    “Humans,” Jasper snorted.
    “As he awaited the monster he could feel someone looking over his shoulder, someone breathing down his back. He turned to see who this someone might be. You know who it was?”
    Jasper shook his head fiercely.
    “It was a troll. This certain troll was called Greywacke. My father turned to face the troll. The two of them stared at one another, eye to eye. My father’s hand clutched around his sword, the troll’s hand clutched a trident. They were squinting their eyes at one another and walking around in a circle, staring one another down, when the Sea monster rose from the sea. The monster’s shadow cast over the cave and over the entire island. It was too dark for my father to see, too dark for Greywacke to see. My father turned to face the direction of the hideous monster and held his sword out high in the air. When he did this, the sword lit the cave. A bluish glow outlined the sword.
    Warrick and Greywacke could now see the creature. Greywacke was quite a brave little troll. He did not go deeper inside the cave to hide. He did not tremble or cover his face in fear. He stood and faced the monster along with my father. The Sea monster became afraid, for he knew it was my father who carried the Sword of Drake. The monster began to tremble in fear. He swung his tail around and held it in his grasp. His lip began to quiver and he began to cry.
    “Why is it that you are harassing the people of Misho Island, Sea monster?” my father asked the monstrous creature.
    The Sea monster sniffled and hung his head. “I do not mean the people any harm! For I have grown too large,” said the Sea monster as he frowned. “I cannot catch food for myself. I cannot go from one end of the sea to the other without waking the people and causing a great ruckus. If I wouldn’t have grown so large, the people could look upon me with great awe and wonder. They wouldn’t wish me gone or curse the sea below them. I used to have a great time underneath the sea. I’d frolic here and there, and everywhere. Now, I have grown much too large in size. Could you tell the people that I am sorry for what I have done?”
    My father felt bad for the Sea monster. Though he was very intimidating to look upon, the Sea monster had a heart of gold, and my father knew he had to help him out of the mess he was in. “Come closer,” he instructed. The Sea monster bent his long neck and held his head up, looking upon them inside the cave. His breath smelled of something awful. My father and Greywacke held their noses and turned their heads away from him. Finally, my father faced the monster. His eyes were a glowing red color. His teeth were as sharp as the sword my father