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Survival instincts
#WritcoStoryPrompt27
A flock of geese flying high up against the blue sky, squawking away in familiar harmony, roused me into that state of consciousness that lingers just before awakening from a restless slumber. The harsh slap of salty, surf laden water struck me with a ferocity that had me gasping into complete consciousness. My shoulders and arms felt sore, almost as if they didn’t belong to me anymore. How could they when I had spent more than forty-eight hours clinging on a piece of driftwood in the middle of the bloody ocean!
Slowly I climb up on the wood balancing it well by sleeping onto it holding with hands firm and with the feet clinging back to the wood. Making it as a boat I've moved forward taken by the waves floating towards the edge of the waterfall keeping faith that I would survive and find a way to reach people to help me from the other side of the steep. So I was pushed by the water flow and as soon as I reached the edge I hugged the log so tight and closed my eyes to pray God. I fell into the waters like a flying squirrel in a few mins and I closed my eyes when I reached the river...The water splashed when I landed and went drown inside the water but the log couldn't go much further deep and so started to bounce back up. Then I saw the valley of the river flowing to somewhere. So I continued to carried away by the waves and moved forward. Then I saw trees and land beside the valley of the river. It was like the river valley floating between the paradise of birds singing and animals lying under the shadow of a tree and resting for the day.
It was a tour of wildlife in the forest. I forgot my pain under the sunlight watching the beauty of the forest. I slowly went to sleep because of no food eaten for hours except the vitamin D taken by the sun.
I slowly carried away by the river flow which is like cradle movements with slow waves of water, the sounds of the wind as a lullaby and with the smell of freshness of the forest that put me to deep sleep for a while. But suddenly I heard a strange sound like beating drums. I thought it is in my dream but that sound kept on repeating, then it came to my senses. So I opened my eyes slowly, then I saw there is land ahead with smoke among the trees...I gathered my strength and rowed with hands to change the direction towards the land. As soon as I came near to the land I started shouting loud continuously for help. So that someone who is nearby can hear me and help me. As I was shouting, a small boy who was playing with his sister saw me and was shocked to look at me clinging to wood and travelled to this far. He quickly ran to bring elders to help me. A man came running and swimming towards to hold me. He was half-dressed in local clothes of the island. He was calling for a few more people to hold me and to take me to the shore. A few people gathered holding a blanket at the shore. They warm me with the blanket and they took me to their home. I fell unconscious on the way home because of no food eaten for days. when I opened my eyes it was dark with a campfire burning beside me. They kept food plated on a leaf, covered with banana leaf and a coconut beside. When I got up to eat, I found myself wearing local island clothes. They cleaned my bloody body, cleaned my wounds and dressed them with some local plant medicine. Then I took off the leaf to eat food as I was hungry. They offered me tropical fruits, cooked fried fish and coconut beside. Everything tasted like heaven after starving for many days. It was such a tranquillity with peace finally after a struggle. I took a glance towards the shore. It was a big moon between the long coconut trees and the moonlight kissing the wavy waters. I covered myself with covers and slowly walked towards the shore and remembered how I spent the day floating on water clinging to the log. I felt happy for making an attempt to jump from the steep in hope. I might not get help if I stood up there day and night without food..I felt its good to keep hope, to keep faith in God and take risks in life..The night was cold but I enjoyed because I survived the worst than this cold..Now I just need some rest to heal my wounds..Once I'm well and fit I shall make next plan for new adventure 😉😁😁
...........to be continued
© Hana