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Sand flew behind Hanuman as he ran along the thin beach. He had been running as fast as he could since he had noticed the tide slowly creeping higher on the sandbar. The next island in the chain was in sight but he still had a fair distance to cover. Just a little faster, he thought to himself. Putting in a little extra, his pace picked up and his breathing deepened. He had done this for the past few days; going from island to island between the tides on the natural sandbars that formed between them.
Sand flew behind Hanuman as he ran along the thin beach. He had been running as fast as he could since he had noticed the tide slowly creeping higher on the sandbar. The next island in the chain was in sight but he still had a fair distance to cover. Just a little faster, he thought to himself. Putting in a little extra, his pace picked up and his breathing deepened. He had done this for the past few days; going from island to island between the tides on the natural sandbars that formed between them.
The sun danced on the edge of the horizon, casting long shadows from the shells strewn about and playing tricks with his eyes. He put his foot down hard on a mostly buried conch and yowled in pain before stumbling forward and crashing into the ground. Spitting sand and picking himself up, Hanuman chanced a glimpse of a shadow moving in the deep. Fleeting and faint, but definite movement. He started his run once more, albeit slightly slower now. He would need to hurry to the island before the bar was entirely submerged. Whatever he had seen posed him no trouble if he stayed out of the water.
The sun danced on the edge of the horizon, casting long shadows from the shells strewn about and playing tricks with his eyes. He put his foot down hard on a mostly buried conch and yowled in pain before stumbling forward and crashing into the ground. Spitting sand and picking himself up, Hanuman chanced a glimpse of a shadow moving in the deep. Fleeting and faint, but definite movement. He started his run once more, albeit slightly slower now. He would need to hurry to the island before the bar was entirely submerged. Whatever he had seen posed him no trouble if he stayed out of the water.
Closer now. Much closer. Hanuman couldn't see it, but he could hear the creature stalking him. The sun had set and he was only a few hundred feet from the island, but the tide had caught him. He splashed through ankle-deep water, striving for land. The watery shadow kept pace, just out of sight. The slight whisper of scales breaking the surface and gliding through the salty water. The quiet splash of a tail propelling the beast alongside him as it waited patiently for the sandbar to submerge completely. He could feel its eyes on him. Could feel its hunger... deep and insatiable, mindless in its intensity.
Closer now. Much closer. Hanuman couldn't see it, but he could hear the creature stalking him. The sun had set and he was only a few hundred feet from the island, but the tide had caught him. He splashed through ankle-deep water, striving for land. The watery shadow kept pace, just out of sight. The slight whisper of scales breaking the surface and gliding through the salty water. The quiet splash of a tail propelling the beast alongside him as it waited patiently for the sandbar to submerge completely. He could feel its eyes on him. Could feel its hunger... deep and insatiable, mindless in its intensity.
A chill ran down Hanuman's spine; silence had fallen so suddenly that he felt its impact in the core of his being. The quiet lap of the waves on the shore in the distance cut off, almost as though the ocean itself knew what was to happen.
A chill ran down Hanuman's spine; silence had fallen so suddenly that he felt its impact in the core of his being. The quiet lap of the waves on the shore in the distance cut off, almost as though the ocean itself knew what was to happen.
Hanuman dove forward just as the creature lunged. The sea parted before it, spraying high into the air. Its speed was blinding and it turned mid charge to catch his leg before he even landed. A jagged tooth punched through the meat of his calf and an agonizing scream tore from his mouth. Fiery pain lanced through his body as the beast thrashed with his leg firmly held in its jaws. Pulling his sword, Hanuman swung blind behind him, screaming and yelling at the monstrosity that held him.
Hanuman dove forward just as the creature lunged. The sea parted before it, spraying high into the air. Its speed was blinding and it turned mid charge to catch his leg before he even landed. A jagged tooth punched through the meat of his calf and an agonizing scream tore from his mouth. Fiery pain lanced through his body as the beast thrashed with his leg firmly held in its jaws. Pulling his sword, Hanuman swung blind behind him, screaming and yelling at the monstrosity that held him.
His sword connected and the sea around him lit up with a warm yellow glow. The creature's blood emitted a warm orange light, much like a dying campfire's last licks of flame. Releasing his leg, the creature reared back and he got his first look of the horror from below. Long and wiry like an eel, the beast had teeth like iron spikes, now red with his own blood. Its skin was a pasty brown with grey mottling and a light sheen of mucus. Hanuman's wild swing had gashed its leathery hide from the fin to the gills, and fiery blood mixed into the water, swirling in the tumult caused by its violent movements.
His sword connected and the sea around him lit up with a warm yellow glow. The creature's blood emitted a warm orange light, much like a dying campfire's last licks of flame. Releasing his leg, the creature reared back and he got his first look of the horror from below. Long and wiry like an eel, the beast had teeth like iron spikes, now red with his own blood. Its skin was a pasty brown with grey mottling and a light sheen of mucus. Hanuman's wild swing had gashed its leathery hide from the fin to the gills, and fiery blood mixed into the water, swirling in the tumult caused by its violent movements.
Getting hold of himself, Hanuman readied his blade as the creature turned back towards him, rage mingling with its hunger now. It tensed and darted forward once more. Hanuman thrust his sword forward, grim determination painted on his face. The sword pierced the creatures hide, but deflected against its skull; slicing to the side and causing another fit of thrashing.
Getting hold of himself, Hanuman readied his blade as the creature turned back towards him, rage mingling with its hunger now. It tensed and darted forward once more. Hanuman thrust his sword forward, grim determination painted on his face. The sword pierced the creatures hide, but deflected against its skull; slicing to the side and causing another fit of thrashing.
Hanuman sprang for the bloodied monstrosity, sword held before him. His sword bit deep into its neck, orange blood spraying his face. Yelling his triumph, he severed its head with a mighty stroke, and fell to his knees in the sea water.
Hanuman sprang for the bloodied monstrosity, sword held before him. His sword bit deep into its neck, orange blood spraying his face. Yelling his triumph, he severed its head with a mighty stroke, and fell to his knees in the sea water.
Pulling himself to the beach, he collapsed on the sandy shore. Soaked with blood and sea water, exhaustion began to flow over him. Hanuman roughly bandaged his throbbing leg and winced as it stung from the salt. With each throb, he felt the terror of his struggle once more. Lying back into the sand, he took in the sights of this new island: the glistening white beach, the gently swaying trees, and the twinkling lights of a far off city in the distance. He would rest, then he would find Sita.
Pulling himself to the beach, he collapsed on the sandy shore. Soaked with blood and sea water, exhaustion began to flow over him. Hanuman roughly bandaged his throbbing leg and winced as it stung from the salt. With each throb, he felt the terror of his struggle once more. Lying back into the sand, he took in the sights of this new island: the glistening white beach, the gently swaying trees, and the twinkling lights of a far off city in the distance. He would rest, then he would find Sita.
Author's note:
Author's note:
I wrote this story by drawing from the skimpy details put forward in one of the Ramayana versions. The story talked of Hanuman being assailed by a sea demon, Simhika, as he attempted to cross the sea to Lanka. He simply kills it and moves on, but that's not very satisfying, so I decided to spruce that up a bit. There wasn't much information given, so I had fun with it and added the time element of the tide to for a bit more tension in the story. I have looked at maps of India and Sri Lanka and the island chain that is strung between them. For this new take on Hanuman's journey, I decided that the spaces between the islands in the chain were only above the surface during low tide. If I hadn’t decided to do this, I would have had to use a different kind of creature, rather than a fish, since Hanuman could have stayed on dry land. The creature I have constructed in this is actually based off of a giant version of a football fish. They are a kind of angler fish with some really gnarly teeth. I left out the lure that comes out of their head, but I may look into adding that to the story in the next few weeks, just to build a more vivid picture of this monstrosity.
I wrote this story by drawing from the skimpy details put forward in one of the Ramayana versions. The story talked of Hanuman being assailed by a sea demon, Simhika, as he attempted to cross the sea to Lanka. He simply kills it and moves on, but that's not very satisfying, so I decided to spruce that up a bit. There wasn't much information given, so I had fun with it and added the time element of the tide to for a bit more tension in the story. I have looked at maps of India and Sri Lanka and the island chain that is strung between them. For this new take on Hanuman's journey, I decided that the spaces between the islands in the chain were only above the surface during low tide. If I hadn’t decided to do this, I would have had to use a different kind of creature, rather than a fish, since Hanuman could have stayed on dry land. The creature I have constructed in this is actually based off of a giant version of a football fish. They are a kind of angler fish with some really gnarly teeth. I left out the lure that comes out of their head, but I may look into adding that to the story in the next few weeks, just to build a more vivid picture of this monstrosity.
Revision 1: The biggest change I have made is removing the measurements of time. They weren't accurate to the time period and didn't add anything extra to the plot. Vague notions of the setting sun and creeping tide add the same effect. I have also done a lot of work with misplaced apostrophes.
Revision 1: The biggest change I have made is removing the measurements of time. They weren't accurate to the time period and didn't add anything extra to the plot. Vague notions of the setting sun and creeping tide add the same effect. I have also done a lot of work with misplaced apostrophes.
Revision 2: Not much to fix this time around. I revised commas to clear some things up.
Revision 2: Not much to fix this time around. I revised commas to clear some things up.
Bibliography:
Bibliography:
Title: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists: Ramayana
Title: Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists: Ramayana
Author: Sister Nivedita
Author: Sister Nivedita
Year: 1914
Year: 1914
Image Info: Link
Image Info: Link
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