Biggest Fear

Underground Mutant Community - Bighorn Basin, Wyoming

Finlay adjusted himself in the small boat to accommodate Khunara’s movement. He knew she was right, but he was experiencing paralysis from analyzing the uncertainty of his future. He let out a sigh of defeat.

“I don’t know what to do? Everything is different now. Everything has changed.” He frowned, a sign that he was only seeing the negatives. Khunara could see silhouettes in the storm clouds off in the distance, when the lightning flashed, of things which he was worried about. His family, friends, his purpose and well being, were all mixed up in the storm.

Finlay finally stopped looking into the dunes of desolation and storms of despair when she asked him to try something. It sparked a hint of curiosity in him. He turned and caught the kindness in her eyes. Immediately off the starboard side water bubbled up painting the dry sand darker with wetness. He had been fishing for hope, but there were no fish in the desert. Yet there was something in her eyes that made it seem like he could keep going despite how tough things may have become.

“Yes.” He whispered.

Finlay took the superior fishing rod. This was a better, more developed, tool than he had been previously using. With this perhaps he could catch something? But alas, the chances of catching anything in the desert were slim at best. When he looked out over the edge though he noticed that the sand was mixing more and more with water from below. It didn’t take long for it to change in consistency, so that it began transforming into an ocean.

Finlay cast his line out into the deep waters. The lure and hook gleaming in the sun until it plunged into the ocean. His attention fixated on the task and not the horizon. As if the storm had a mind of its own, not to be ignored, it began to grow. It was drawing nearer. Yet he was not paying attention to the storm, just the chance of catching something.

He waited. The boat rocked. Tears began to run down his cheeks. He turned to look at Khunara. As he did so, he transformed into Khunara. His biggest fear revealed itself to her. “I am scared I will forget who I am.”

The storm was almost upon them and the boat was getting rocked harder by the ocean waves mirroring now the darkness of the sky.