The bright midday sun glared upon Chelsie’s flesh as she lay face down in the moist sand, the salty water licking at her feet. Slowly, she opened her eyes, squinting against the brightness of the sun reflecting off the white sand. Her throat was parched and she could taste the water in get dry mouth. She struggled to move, every limb screaming with a dull ache and her head pounding with something fierce. Sand clung to her sun-dried clothing as well as her flesh, which was beginning to turn pink from the sun.

Chelsie managed to get to feet with a lot of effort. She raised a small hand to her forehead to shield the sun from her eyes as she gazed about her new surroundings. The sand ended not far from where she stood, turning into a line of tall green leaf trees and vines, so thick she couldn’t look through them. Birds called above her head as well as the sounds of leaves rustling, but she paid them no mind. Turning toward the ocean, a deep frown settled upon her lips as she stared out and over the endless body of water. All she remembered was the storm, the dark clouds blanketing the sky and bright flashes of light. Did the ship sink? Were there any survivors? She felt relieved that perhaps they had all drowned, but she felt worse even thinking such a horrible thing. They may have been ruthless, foul, disgusting, but they were still human beings. Perhaps it wasn’t their fault that they act the way they do. Either way, there was no use pondering such things now.

She turned back to the wilderness with dread. How was she to survive out here alone? She didn’t know the first thing about how to build a fire or how to get food. At the thought of food, her stomach growled loudly. Lifting the tattered skirt, she began to make her way across the sand, feeling the rough grain seep between her toes. She frowned thinking she must have lost her shoes in the water, but knew it was no time to cry over split milk.

For hours she searched through the areas near the shore, not venturing off to far in case she weren’t able to find her way back. Her tender feet stung after stepping on pointed rocks and so many broken branches that had fall from the trees, laying there to rot in the moist weather. She was tired, hungry, and on the verge of tears. Finally, she gave up searching for anything to eat, that she had just collapsed to the ground with a couple of leaves she had plucked from low branches she had passed on her hunt for something edible.

After choking down the tasteless leaves, Chelsie began to examine her feet. Many scratches covered the sole and heel, tiny cuts covered with droplets of dried blood. She lifted the hem of her long skirt and tore off a couple strands of material, tying them around her feet to provide a little protection.

She missed her home.

The food which would have been laid before her at meals, the clean clothes, the hot baths, and her bed. She could almost imagine her body lying comfortably upon the feather mattress. Only then did she allow herself to breakdown and cry herself to sleep with large tree providing shade to protect her from the sun.

*****

She awoke to the sounds of the waters striking against the rocks near the shore and the soft sounds of the music the foreign insects made in the gentle wind. Her eyes remained closed; unable to will herself to open for fear that everything that had happened was all not just a bad dream. She felt miserable enough as it was, but she knew everything was real without having to see it with her own eyes.

Another wave struck the nearby rocks, the water that had been thrown up, sprinkling back down upon the stone like rain. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. Everything around her was covered in shadows from the night sky, the moon the only light emitting around her, giving her enough light to see. Her limbs felt more relaxed than earlier in the day, no longer aching but instead, a little sore. She pulled herself up into a sitting position, her legs curled beneath her, and her hair slightly mussed. Then she frowned as she looked in front of her. On the ground was a large flat seashell, fresh fruit piled on top. Her brows drew together in confusion before she slowly took a look around her. Was there someone else on this island? Was she not alone?

Her gaze returned to the fruit and felt the pangs of hunger gnaw at her stomach. All thoughts that she had been thinking vanished as she reached forward, lifting a selected fruit from the shell plate, bringing it to her lips. She held it there for but a moment before sinking her teeth into the soft flesh of the fruit, tasting its sweet nectar as the juice filled her mouth. She chewed slowly at first, savoring the taste then began to devour each and every last piece. When she finished, her fingers felt stocky as well as her mouth and chin where the juice as dripped. A smile touched her lips at having a full stomach, still wondering where the food had come from and why she couldn’t have found it. Thinking she better clean herself up, she rose to her feet, wincing as the pressure from her weight against her sore feet. Slowly, she followed the small trail through the trees until she entered the clearing, gazing out and over the ocean. The tide had risen, the waters much higher than they were earlier, now halfway covering the tall rocks on the beach, but what dazzled Chelsie the most was the reflection of the moon upon the dark waters. It was simply enchanting.

After long moments of enjoying the scenery, she pulled herself back to reality. She was stuck on an island with no skills or knowledge of survival and with someone who would not show his or herself. With a long, tired sigh, she made her way across the cool sand toward the water a few feet away from where she had stood. She could feel the salt spray against her warm flesh, soothing the minor burns on her limbs and face. The water gently spread over her feet as she drew near, running quickly past then back again. Leaning forward, she placed her hands near the ground as the water flowed through her finger, ridding them of the sticky juices. Cupping her hands, she lifted them up and splashed her face, not caring whether her clothing or hair got wet.

He watched her, mesmerized as the shadows concealed his dark skinned body within the trees and vines. He has seen many humans in his life, most stocky with facial hair, but none of the female race. She was simply a sight to see. A wonder of wonders. After rescuing her from the deep waters, he had left her to her own devices during the way while he watched from afar, unable to bring forth the courage to show himself. When night fell across the sky, he had been able to come to shore and gather some fruits nearby so she could eat, knowing that, that was what she had been looking for earlier that day, but didn’t succeed. And so he stood, unable to tear his dark eyes from her as she splashed the water, which he called home, upon her face and arms. The moons brilliance shone upon her hair, radiating like a crown of white. His eyes followed the clear beads of water as they rolled down her long, slender neck and arms.

That’s when he felt the first stirrings of arousal. There was no secret as to why his body would react to such a creature as she. Of course he had felt the same for his kind, but that had been years ago. He frowned deeply. Lily, the woman he had known since their were young. He knew she was spoiled, she could have anything her heart desired, and he could hardly believe that she had desired him. He had always fawned over her in their younger years, but when he became a man, he knew what the attraction between a male and female was. He had believed Lily had loved him, she had even spoken the words and spoke of a future together, but little did he know that those pretty words meant nothing other than to lure him into her trap of seduction, using him for his body. He had found out that, like him, their were many others she had used. But he could no longer stay. Everywhere he turned he felt as if they were laughing at him. His hatred for Lily grew the further he traveled from his home. No matter how hard he tried; he could not erase her from his memory, always a burden, a reminder that there was no such thing of love. It was but a word with little meaning that could be spoken with so many lies. He vowed to never again to fall in love.

He knew as he watched the woman, that what he felt was far from love. It was simply a sexual attraction, a natural thing, but he could not expose himself just yet. He would wait. Watching her movements, he knew that she had finished cleansing herself. He shrank further into the shadows as she began to make her way out of the water. One day, when he felt that the time was right, he would come to her. What would happen then? He did not know. He only hoped that she would not cringe at the sight of him.