Chapter Five: New Dawn - Dark Day
In the small fishing town of Terrance Bay life was about getting up early, working hard and then taking it easy once the work was done. The sun set early over the mountains and unless you were racing the sun you were home enjoying a good meal before darkness fell. It was a safe town with very few visitors and the only preators were in the water and thus easy to avoid. The special benefit for living on the rough eastern sea and navigating the fishing boats arround the reefs, was to be the first to see the new morning sun. Most people took it for granted; it was a matter of pride, but still not worth stopping your chores for more than an moment. But for Melinda, it was still somthing special, as she was only 3. The daughter of the watchman, she had a great view, once she made it up all the steps to the top of the tower. She had tried to count them more than once, but always got destracted by wanting to make sure she saw the first light. Her father appreciated her dedication and though he was sure it was just a phase, he appreciated the time with his daughter every morning as he follower her up the steps to his post. He also appreciated the sunrise everymorning but more than that, it was the fresh air and the ocean spray that came up to his door that made this place home. This is why he came to this town, to raise a family in peace and harmony. Gerard had been land locked for much of his early and wild life, spending far too much time underground. Now his home and job was the northern point on a raised cliff, sticking out just enough to be beyond the start of the docks where he could see all up and down the coast and watch as every boat left and returned to the northern dock. He perused the panaramic view as he picking up his daughter but Melinda stared directly to the horrizon, waiting for the magic of the morning. She covered her daddy's eyes so he would not peek. "I see first" she giggled and let go a cute "oooh" and "wed". Geard corrected her "Red. A red sunrise means a storm is comming" as her hands fell away and they both had a chance to take in new dawn. In the moment it took Melinda to get bored with the morning sun, kiss her daddy and slide down his leg to the floor, Gerarld's eyes widdened and his blood raced and he realised it was not just a red sunrise but the sun itself was a deep and dark red. With his mind racing he focused on calmly taking his daughters hand and leading her downstairs. "What's wrong Daddy?", she said obvlious to the reason, but clear on her dad's intensity. "We...We.... need to show Mommy the new dawn" Gerard came up with as an easy answer. Soon the three of them were standing on the edge of the clif, Gerard strapping on a sword and grabing a bag. He wife, holding their daughter, begging him not to go as the commotion of boat returing and a crowd forming at the docks. "What can you hope to do about the sun" Miranda pleaded, "I have to tell them now, the sooner the beter," Gerard said sternly. "How can you be so sure this is not a just a natural occurence, maybe it's just for today." Miranda tried to hide her tears. "You don't understand, I have seen that Sun before and it does not belong in the sky. That is the sun of the under ground world and this can only mean that our world is at war. I have to go. You'll be safe here. I love you both." said the husband and father and he hugged them and gave each a parting kiss. Then with a look he told his wife he would be back if he could and ran to the cliff, dived into the water and disapeared.
