Zodiac Trial

Meridia stood in the kitchen of her family’s hut, listening to the dull voices of the newscaster wafting through the speaker on her television. Nothing ever happened on her little island, or in her tribe, except maybe one diver brought back a golden coin from a shipwreck from distant lands.

“Breaking news from the big island capital, Firington,” the older newscaster drawls. “In over a century, the elders of the surrounding islands met for the first time for an emergency meeting. A growing rebellion on one of the other islands is the cause for the secret meeting.” Meridia rolled her sea -blue eyes at the words “This just in. The elders of Sea Breeze agreed with the other islands’ elders. Thirteen men and women-”

A knock at the door stopped Meridia in her tracks. “Be right there.” She called out, dropping the knife she was using to cut fish into fillets, blowing out an exasperated breath. Wiping her grimy hands on her apron, she moved across the kitchen. Pulling the door open, she finds Coral, the leader of her tribe, standing on the other side. Coral had peach hair, stopping at her butt, with silver threaded through it. Coral lips were pressed together, and tears glistened in her eyes.

“Elder Coral,” Meridia greeted, a mischievous smile spread across her face. “What do I owe you for this honor of you stopping by?” Then she busted out laughing at the look on Coral’s face.

“Must you call me Elder Coral all the damn time? You can call me grandma.” Coral snapped with a shake of her head. Her peach hair flowed behind her. She stomped into her granddaughter and son’s hut to deliver the news.

“I must, only to see the look on your face.” Her granddaughter giggled behind her as the front door let out a soft click.

Coral’s eldest son, Reef, came in through the back door, dressed in a pair of olive green waders, a light blue shirt tucked under the thick straps, and a tan bucket hat with little fish hooks attached. Over his shoulder, a fishing pole held today’s catch of tilapia. A tiny net bag hung from his fingers, holding various treasures he found with his crew of divers.

Reef held the netted bag out for Meridia to take. Meridia buzzed with excitement at the tiny netted bag. “Find anything interesting?”

“Open it and find out.” Reef teased his daughter. Handing the bag over to his daughter on one finger. Meridia plucked the netted bag from her dad, letting out a dramatic gasp, pretending the bag was heavy.

A chuckle escaped Reef at his daughter’s antics.

Meridia sat the bag on the dining room table. Droplets of salt water dripped on the table. She yanks the drawstring open. Her eyes grew wide at the treasure her father had found while diving.

Tilting the bag over, each treasure tumbles out, mixed with light pink and white coral and grains of sand. Each item lets out a tink as they appear on the table.

Meridia irises grew in size at the unidentified treasures lying on her dining room table.

Two circular items caked in dirt., a gemstone, pearl and other items. Meridia carefully picked up one of the circular items, the item feeling heavy between her fingers. She wiped away the dirt and grime with her thumb, excitement bubbling in the pit of her stomach at what might be hidden under the dirt.

A golden sheen peeked out from all the grime, gleaming under the room’s light. Brushing more away sand, tiny flames engraved into the coin.Twisting the coin, squinting, at the tiny print engraved around the edge “Firington, circa 1804”

Placing the coin back on the table, she pushes away from the table, rushing towards one of the bookcases lining the wall. Blue Trailing her fingers along the leather spines, searching for a specific book. “Shipwrecks & Sea Breeze’s Coast” Plucking it from the shelf, Meridia steadily scans page after page

The sound filling the air.

She was searching for a specific shipwreck. Her fingers trailed each word, as she mouths them. Reef watched his daughter mouth the words of whatever she was reading.

In 1804, a merchant ship carrying various spices, textiles and rumoured a crate of gold coins from Firington the capital of Fire, was traveling at sixteen knots, sailing north towards Coalington,.the capital on Coal Island.

Giddiness bubbled in the pit of Meridia’s stomach as she continued to read the paragraph, picturing Firington and Coalington.

A cabin boy, age twelve recounts the events. “We were sailing along the coast line of Sea Breeze, following the light of the lighthouse. When out at sea, the moon and stars guided us, but being so close to shore, the captain wanted us to follow the beam of the lighthouse, hoping to miss the coral reefs and rocks. Suddenly, a loud crack broke through the silent night air.

Crew members and captain thought a storm was brewing on the horizon, until Vulcan yelled from the cargo hold, sea water was pouring in, our ship quickly sinking into the ocean. Our tradeable lost, while we swam to the sea, waves crashing against us, trying to take us back to the ship.

That shipwreck created the zodiac trials. It was the first time a different zodiac had set foot on an island not belonging to their element.

A smile spread across Meridia’s face as she re-read the page.

Reef glanced at his mother’s flushed face and glazed over the iris.

“She called you, Elder Coral, again when she answered the door?” He laughed, shaking his head at his daughter’s antics.”

Cora ignored her son, keeping her gaze on her granddaughter. The air in the room grew tense.

” Mum, are you okay? You never stop by unexpectedly,” Reef asked, his brows knitted together at the sight of his mum. His mind was circling with thoughts of his mother being sick.

“I agree with dad.” Meridia chimed in. “Are you okay?” Placing the book back on the shelf with the others.

“Quit worrying.” Coral snapped at her granddaughter and son. She moved across the living room, plopping onto the light blue .”Shut that damn thing off?” She snapped again, zeroing in on her granddaughter’s name about to be read off the list. Reef and his daughter look at each other for a moment before rushing to Coral’s side. “But you bring news?”

A soft click of the television turning off was heard. Coral purses her lips, not ready to deliver a blow to her son and granddaughter. But it was the only way to keep the peace between the islands, without a full-out war. During the war, the Sea Breeze tribe wasn’t prepared to fight. Sea Breeze was nothing compared to some of the other island communities.

Meridia watched her grandmother close her eyes, and suck in a deep breath, ready to deliver the devastating blow.

“Meridia ,” Coral’s voice cracked at her name. “ A rebellion is forming on one of the other islands. A problem much bigger than the merchant ship that was shipwrecked that created the Zodiac trials. A baby girl was born under a different sign, and the parents weren’t...like you were. ” She continued, tears pricking the corner of her eyes.”To keep the peace between Sea Breeze and the bigger islands. They picked children or grandchildren to contribute to the Zodiac trials. Coral rushed out. “With you being my eldest grandchild. The council decided you would go.”

Meridia ’s body went rigid at Coral’s words. Bile rose to the back of her throat at the words spilling from her grandmother’s lips. Anger bubbled in the pit of Meridia’s stomach. Reef stood rigid at what his mother was saying.

She was being forced to contribute because she was Sea Breeze tribal leader’s only grandchild, eldest enough to contribute.

The zodiac trials happened once a century ago. It was a series of games, or trials, as the Elders like to call it, to keep peace between the big islands and little islands.

“Mother!” Reef shouted. His teeth were grinding together at his mother. Meridia straddled the line of being born

“Reef! I didn’t have a choice!” Coral cried out, tears streaming down her face. She stood from her spot beside her grandmother, avoiding Coral’s eyes. “Meridia.” Coral begged, taking Meridia’s limp hand into hers.

Shaking her hand free of her grandmother’s, Meridia stood to her full height, brushing bits of fallen light blue hair from her face. She stared blankly at her grandmother, trying to find the woman who helped raise her.

She thought of her little cousins, Mira and Myra, having to go. Bile rose to the back of her throat at the two little girls fighting someone from the First Tribes, hell, even the Air Tribe. Pushing the acidic taste down her throat, she wiped her hands on her pants, ready to agree with the nonsense.

“I’ll go for Sea Breeze, and all the little ones who don’t deserve this,” Meridia announced, walking away from her father and grandmother. Her footsteps heavy and her head reeling with the betrayal of her grandmother. Some parts of her could understand, but her heart broke.

Deep down, she forgave her grandmother for the difficult position, but right now, her heart and head were each telling her something different.

Climbing the staircase to her bedroom, she slides the door open. A king -size bed sat in the middle of the room, a light blue comforter spread across it, two white pillows propped against the headboard. Hanging from the beamed ceiling, a sea glass wind chime hung from the exposed rafters. The glasses clinging together give off a soft lullaby.

The rows of seashells on the windowsill display their differences. Stripping out of her clothes, she yanks her blanket back,plopping onto the bed. She bounces, sinking into the plush material. Her eyes flutter shut, trying to escape to the sweet dreams that await her, when a soft knock comes from the door.