Flashback Jenkins and Kel

[Kel Tempest]

Day 29 of Fall in the Year 507AV

The suns warm rays shone down upon Laviku’s blessed as the Stormbrewer floated peacefully in the small cove. The beach stretched across the water in a crescent shape as the waves crashed onto its sandy shore. The reef peeked over the foaming waters, wildlife thriving under the calm sea.


The silence was broken as a herd of children rushed from the jungled area of the beach back towards the sand. Their squeals and shouts of laughter echoed across the seeming endless stretch of water. They wrestled and fought on the sand, enjoying their limited time on the shore, having sated their curiosity in their exploration of the lush forest.


Shortly after having run from the forest, a lone figure, no more than fifteen years of age, ran out after the children. The wind blew back his black hair as he approached the children. He came to a halt beside them, kicking up sand everywhere. His face was flushed and he looked at them excitedly.


“Hey guys!” he panted as he caught his breath, “I almost lost you back there, what happened to you guys?” Kel leaned down on his knees, breathing deeply. The other children quieted down and looked at one another uncomfortably. They looked everywhere but at Kel. The silence grew louder and louder as no one stepped forward to answer the question.


Finally one of the older boys seemed to take charge, strutted forward. He placed his hands on his hips, “We thought you’d take the hint.” Smothered giggles rose from behind him. A nasty smile crossed his face and he seemed to gain courage. “We were TRYING to get away from you. But you’re too stupid to take a hint.” There was a murmur of approval at the adolescence words. He took a step forward until he was nose to nose with Kel.


The outcast growled and his face flushed, but this time in anger. Kel balled his fists, “Why don’t you say that again, Malach.” A look of hesitation crossed the boy’s face and the children felt the tension in the air and immediately surrounded the two. Malach knew what was expected and if he wanted to keep his reputation he knew what he had to do.


“I said. You. Are. Stupid.” Kel’s fist blurred as it whipped through the air, into the other Svefra’s stomach. The sandy haired boy keeled over and Kel shoved him. He stumbled backwards but was instantly pushed forward again by the children. They shouted and yelled, egging the two on. He winced and straightened a look of rage coming over his face. He shouted and charged Kel.


Malach crashed into the black haired Svefra and the two tumbled into the soft sand. Malach pinned Kel down with his body weight and began punching him repeatedly in the face. Kel grunted as his face was hit over and over. Blood began running down his face as the fists came down hard.


Suddenly Kel grabbed a handful of sand and thrust it into Malach’s eyes. The boy shouted in pain and instantly tried rubbing the offending grains of rock from his eye. Kel shoved the boy off of himself and rolled to his feet. Malach was on his knees, blinded by the sand. Kel glared at him stonily and took a step towards him. He grabbed the boy’s head in his hands and smashed his knee into the boy’s face. He felt a crunch beneath the bone and the boy screamed.


The boy fell to the ground and grabbed his nose. Blood poured out from between his fingers and dyed the sand red. Kel ran up to him and kicked him in the ribs. Kel stared down at him angrily.


He kicked him. “Don’t.” He kicked him again, harder. “Call.” The sixteen year old boy began crying. “Me.” The boy curled up in a ball, body shaking from the savage beating he was receiving. “Stupid.” Kel smashed his foot into him one last time before looking up.


The children were silent. Not a sound was heard on the entire beach. Looks of fear and awe met his blue eyes. He turned and began walking. The Svefra children parted before him silently. Kel strode through the hot sand, along the beach. The children grew smaller and smaller and soon faded from sight.


“Sure now I’m the bad guy. He called me stupid. He knew I was going to hit him. But he called me stupid anyways. They’ll hate me, not him. I just wanted to hang out with them.” Thoughts swirled through his head. It just wasn’t fair. As much as he tried to be like them, they just ignored him. He’d show them. One day, one day…

[Kel Tempest]

Day 29 of Fall in the Year 507AV

Kel, tired of walking, plopped down in the sand. He stared out across the water, watching the waves grow bigger and bigger before curling and crashing down onto the sand. The sea glimmered in the sun, its cool waters enticing him, begging him to play with it. In spite of his bad mood, he couldn’t resist.


Kel found himself standing and then running across the dry sand. Just as quickly, the dry sand turned wet and his feet sunk in the soggy soil. Water splashed up towards his face as he ran through the salt water that raced up the beach. He relished the feeling as his feet touched Laviku’s home. A wave crashed and swept over his ankles and then up to his knees. He ran awkwardly as the water rose up towards his waist.


Kel waded out until the water reached his chest and then took a deep breath before diving. A whole new world opened up to the fifteen year old Svefra. The sandy floor quickly rose up to meet him as he lazily dragged his hands through the water. The refreshing water tantalized his skin, sending a chill down his spine. He kicked his feet in wide circles, propelling him forward.


He opened his eyes and gazed in wonderment at the world below him. Its sight never ceased to amaze him. The salt water used to sting his eyes but after growing accustom to it at a young age, he rarely noticed it. His chest began to crave air and he kicked for the surface. His head burst from the water and he inhaled deeply. The salty air invaded his lungs and a smile came to his lips. He tilted his head back and allowed his body to rise to the surface. He floated there, letting the waves roll over him, the gentle caress of his home lulling him.


After a few moments, he sighs and brought his head up, treading water. As much as he loved floating in the ocean, it made him incredibly antsy. He needed something to do. He looked around and saw a wave rise higher in a section than the rest of the water. He recognized that sign. “A reef. Finally, something to do…”


Kel began swimming, hands breaking free from the water and then back in again, over and over again. His cupped hands grabbing hold of the water and pulling it towards him. It propelled him and he quickened his pace by kicking. He enjoyed the feeling of his muscles burning, it pulled the pain away from his face where he had been repeatedly hit. He couldn’t see it but he could feel it swelling up and turning a nasty color. He pushed the thoughts away and kept swimming.


The Svefra finally reached the point where the water crested a little higher than the rest. He took a deep breath and dove. He pushed his face into the water and arched his body, sending his feet over his head in a whip like motion. His feet broke the surface and he kicked them together, like a dolphin. The motion propelled him forward as he kept his hands stretched out in front of him in a streamline.


The beautifully colored reef reached out to say hello, barely hidden by the tall waves. He stared at it, admiring the many colored array of sea creatures that decorated its surface. Little plants waved at him pleasantly, while little fish scurried around it, nibbling on its food. Kel closed his eyes and focused his mind. All of a sudden, it was as if his mind exploded with a seventh sense. He could see a mental image of the life around him, stretching out across the sea. He could “see” schools of multicolored fish, predators and eels all living in one massive ecosystem.


It never failed to amaze him how lucky he was to serve Laviku. He felt a familiar presence and a smile lit up his face. It was rare for anyone to see delight on the Svefra’s face. There were few things that could drag it out of the boy and one of them his sea friends. But before he could greet him, Kel felt his lungs bursting. He pointed his outstretched hands in front of him upwards and swam towards the surface. Kel broke free from the water, just as a swell rose up. He saw the curl and had time to yelp as it crashed down on him.


The wave picked him up and threw him. He tumbled head over heels as the massive weight of the water had its way with him. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he slowed down as the current let go of him and he could control his body. He made for the surface and came up gasping. The water and thrown him a good fifteen feet from where he was floating. He shook the water from his eyes and grinned. The water was always so unpredictable. The second he thought he understood it, it threw in a surprise just to keep him guessing.


Kel swam back to where the large piece of reef lay. He stopped, directly above where he had felt the familiar presence and took a deep breathe. He dived.

[Kel Tempest]

Day 29 of Fall in the Year 507AV

Kel began swimming, bringing his hands as if to clap them together but just before touching, he swept them out again. His feet made the same motion; his feet snapped together and it shot him forward. Kel glided for a few feet and then repeated the motion. Finally he reached the bottom, when he saw the shape.


It looked like a rock at first, its round surface sitting quietly on the bottom of the sand. But looking more closely, Kel saw that five little objects stuck out from under it. The shell slowly moved along the seabed, its appendages moving idly along as it nibbled at the foliage along the floor. Kel grinned as he watched the sea turtle minding its own business. He loved watching the majesty creatures. They looked slow as they ate but when they had to get away, they were like lightening in the water.


Kel descended on the unsuspecting creature. He snuck up behind it, trying to stay out of its line of sight and lessen the motion he was making in the water. He had seen how sharp their beaks were and he knew someone could lose a finger if not careful. He reached out his hands and slowly kicked, inching closer and closer. When he was close enough, Kel snagged onto the sides of the shell.


The sea turtle sprang forward. The Svefra was never prepared for the swiftness of the animal when the creature felt threatened. It zoomed through the water, jerking left and right, trying to rip the invader off. Kel could easily tell it to calm down with his gnosis but then that would take all the fun out of it. The turtle raced through the water, Kel holding on with all his strength, body tearing through the water. The water pushed against his eye lids and he felt the pressure begin to hurt his eyes. But a burst of exhilaration rushed through him.


Once again, his lungs ached for oxygen. Kel sighed inwardly, knowing he would have to let go. It always made him sad when he would have to return to the surface. He didn’t belong up there. No one liked him. He always ran off the other children. Even the adults were irritated by him. It just wasn’t fair.


His lungs protested, louder than before. Kel obeyed the demands and put his feet against the large shell. He shoved off the turtle and kicked towards the surface. Once again, his head broke from the water and air flooded his lungs. His eyes stung from the water pushing at them so harshly. He ignored the feeling and looked around. He had no idea where he was. The children couldn’t be seen, not even the Stormbrewer.


“Oh uh…this can’t be good.” But something caught his attention. Something he hadn’t seen before. His curiosity pulling at him incisively he began swimming towards the new and strange sound.

[Kel Tempest]

Day 29 of Fall in the Year 507 AV

The chattering noise grew louder as he approached, which is what first caught his attention. It was a sound he had never heard before. Its high pitch cackling sound irritated him but at the same time brought laughter bubbling to the surface. He slowly swam towards the large rock where the sound was coming from. The rock was high enough out of the water that he couldn’t see what was over the small divot. Curiosity gnawed at his stomach.


He reached the rock that jutted out from the cove and circled it, trying to find a way up. On the back end he found a flat incline that zip zagged to the top. He ran a finger along the groove, noting how smooth it was. He figured that was how, whatever was making that noise, climbed to the top. Kel lifted his hand out of the water and gripped the side of the rock. He pulled his body out of the water, clothes soaking. They tried to drag him back down but he held on tightly, slowly raising himself up.


Kel poked his head over the edge of the rock and his eyes widen as he gazed in wonderment at the creatures in front of him. Little furry animals lay basking in the sun. Two of the bigger ones wrestled with one another, a bundle of wet fur and limbs; a smaller critter lay a few feet away. It perked up as it saw the other two playfully tousling with one another and scurried over to join in. He jumped on top, chittering excitedly.


The other two struggled to untangle themselves. They knocked the smaller animal off and chattered at him angrily. The little guy seemed to shrink and it slowly scooted back. Kel could see the defeat in its slumped form and his heart went out for the small animal.


Kel must have made a sound because all of a sudden, all three heads turned swiftly and stared at him.


Everyone froze.


Kel blinked and the two bigger sea otters squealed and leaped off the rock into the water below. The smaller otter continued looking back at Kel and blinked. “Hey there little guy…” Kel slowly lifted his head, keeping eye contact with the sea creature. It chittered softly as the Svefra’s nose and mouth came into view. Kel very gently pulled himself up onto the rock, only a few feet away from the mammal. It shifted in its spot on its back but otherwise didn’t move.


“Easy…easy…I’m not going to hurt you…” Kel gradually held out his hand, not wanting to scare the animal away like he had the other two. The sea otter blinked again and looked at him. It slowly shifted until it was on its stomach and crawled forward, warily. Kel felt the warm nose of the animal as it nudged his fingers.


He tickled its chin and it jumped back. It chittered at him loudly. Kel laughed at the sound and it seemed to hurmp at him irritably. It slunk back to the Svefra and allowed him to gently pet his sleek coat. The animal was fearless, unlike its other two companions who escaped the moment Kel made himself known. He liked how brash this little creature seemed.


"Hmm, what should I call you? I don't even know what you are..." Kel rubbed the small animals chin and it made a rumbling noise in its chest. It had been as long as he could remember since anyone had chosen to be in his presence. Everyone avoided him when they could. But not this little guy. Kel felt a warmth in his chest, something he had never experienced before.


"How would you like to stay with me? You don't seem to have anyone and neither do I Want to be friends?" Kel looked around quickly, a little embarrassed. "Really man? You're talking to an animal? People are going to think you're weird...Not that it'd change a lot..."

"What do I call you though?" The Svefra thought for a moment, shifting through different names. "Jordan? No that's not it...James? No...wait!" Suddenly it came to him. "Jenkins." The sea otter looked up at him and tilted its head. "That's your name, I'm going to call you Jenkins."


After a few moments, Kel settled onto the rock and looked up at the sky. The sea otter curled up next to him brashly. Kel looked at him a little surprised but glad for the company. He wasn’t used to someone wanting to spend time with him. The two lay, in the sun. Maybe, just maybe they had found companionship in a place where neither family wanted them.

[Catastrophe]

Kel Tempest :

Skills

• Brawling: 1 XP
• Socialization: 2 XP
• Observation: 3 XP
• Swimming: 3 XP

Lores

• Jenkins: A Furry Little Pal
• Laviku's Presence: A Wondrous Sensation
• Water: An Unpredictable Element
• Sea Turtle Riding

Loot

• N/A

Notes :

I really admire Kel's child self. This was a wonderfully written thread and I enjoyed every sentence of it!

Questions? Concerns? PM me!