It was shaping up to be a beautiful morning as the sun gleamed ever so slightly over the horizon. The new day had just begun, but the temperature was already creeping higher and higher so that Tailen hurried to get on the water. Tailen was rather scrawny for his age but at nearly fourteen years he was faring better than most from his clan. He stood only five feet with lanky arms with an odd birthmark shown on his right shoulder. A simple cloth bathing suit was all that protected him from the elements as he pushed his wooden boat into the calm lagoon.
Tailen shoved off from the shore as he leapt into the aft of the boat headed to sea from the sanctuary of the lagoon. The boat was passed down to him from his father who perished four years ago this past monsoon season. He quickly paddled his way to the slightest of opening in the coral reef that created the plush and safe lagoon that his clan called Muaika. The reef was already at a hustle and bustle pace with a mired array of marine species ranging in many different colors all about. The force of the inward tide was most evident at the opening as he battled the current for freedom.
Eventually after an hour of struggle he had finally reached the distant reef that he favored so much. It was a delight to be so far from all others on the island and to bask in the sun as he paused before the hunt that would unfold. Per usual he repeated the prayer that his father had taught him on his first trip out on the boat. “May the winds and currents guide me true, to fertile waters abound as I praise the wise spirits,” said Tailen for all nature to hear. His father had always stressed the importance of it so the tradition continued on. After a couple minutes of stillness the sign finally presented itself in the form of the slightest of gusts.
Tailen slowly rose to his feet with a long spear as tall as he clenched in his hand. The scrawny boy now looked rather fierce with all his muscled tensed in anticipation for the hunt. He cautiously balanced himself as the boat shimmied in the water poised to make his strike. There he stood waiting patiently without any movement with his arm raised holding the spear at the ready. Eventually out of the corner of his eye he noticed a large grey fish slowly meandering through the various brilliant corals. When the fish was merely in front of the boat he let loose the spear in a flash. The precisely carved point glided with ease through water till it struck the fish just past its head. In the fraction of a second the fish ceased to move anymore.
It was a glorious outing for Tailen had never killed a fish as large as this before. He was forced to swim into the water in order to retrieve his just reward. His recent actions and now presence was enough to scare away all other fish nearby but it didn’t matter. The fish would be plenty for his needs and then some. After a slight struggle to get the fish into the boat, Tailen sat for a couple minutes with head bowed in respect for his catch before making the return trip to Muaika.
