"Elmayra!" her mother's voice interrupted her thoughts, "You had best get up now, we have a lot of work to do before the storm season comes! We must take full advantage of the sun."
"I know mother," Elmayra replied in a tired voice, "I'm already up." She dressed in her drab brown dress, tied up her auburn hair, and stepped out of her room, closing the door softly behind her. She walked into the kitchen where her mother was waiting.
"Now eat your breakfast Mai," her mother said, pointing the bowl of slimy, gray porridge.
"Yuck," Elmayra stared down at the porridge, "Thanks, but I'm not hungry. I'm going outside, okay?"
"Oh no you aren't! What about all those chores!" her mother replied
"I'll be back soon!" yelled Elmayra as she rushed out the door.
She felt the sun on her face, and lifted her head to absorb its warm rays. She ran towards the ocean and stopped, out of breath, at its shores. She walked along the beach and stopped at The Tree. Elmayra stretched a hand out to feel the cool, rough bark, and sat herself down between The Tree's giant roots.
The Tree had been on Elmayra's island, Aine, for generations. Even the elders did not know when It had come into being. It was one of the Great Mysteries, and it was the only one of its kind. In the old books, Elmayra knew, it was written that trees had once covered the whole of the world. But that was not true now, and to the people of Aine The Tree was treasured above all things.
As Elmayra sat beneath The Tree, she wondered what had gone wrong with the world. Every year, when the tide was at its lowest point, the islanders would gather around The Tree and listen to the elders talk of the past. Ever since Elmayra was a child she was fascinated by the stories of the old world. There was not much known however, only the stories passed on from generations before. They only knew for certain that their ancestors had done something terrible, something to make the oceans swallow up the land. . .
Elmayra felt spray on her face and was awakened, sputtering, from her thoughts. She smiled disdainfully at the memory of the elders' stories. They had also said that the waters had stopped rising. Elmayra scorned their stubbornness. They knew, just as well as she did that the oceans were still rising, and soon, even their island haven would drown. But they paid no heed, saying this was their home and the floods would stop eventually. There were, of course, others on the island who thought as Elmayra did, but they were only a few. Most rejected the idea of sailing out into the unknown, with nothing but the ocean to guide them.
More ocean spray hit Elmayra's face and she shivered, realizing that the sun was gone and storm clouds were coming. She jumped from the tree and started running home, feeling the wind pick up and heavy drops of rain fall on her face. She reached her house, running in and slamming the door behind her.
"Elmayra!" said her mother, "You're home! Where have you been! You shouldn't have run off like that! You know I needed your help with the chores!"
"I'm sorry." Replied Elmayra, "I was just by the tree anyway. It is but a few steps from home."
"Hmm . . ." said her mother thoughtfully, "I can't believe the storms have started already! They should not have come for at least a month or two. It seems they are coming sooner every year. But come, help me with dinner."
That night, Elmayra sat awake by her window, thoughtfully watching the howling storm outside.
The storms continued for weeks and Elmayra had no contact with the world outdoors. She grew fearful because the rain did not stop once in all those weeks. She could not imagine what was going on outside, but she felt in her heart that the destruction must be devastating.
Finally the storms stopped, and the sun shone once more on the island. Elmayra was exhilarated at the thought of going outdoors, and she ran out to feel the warmth of the sun. She ran down the hill that led to her house and stopped, with horror, at the bottom.
Everything was gone. Her neighbors' houses, the crop fields, and most importantly The Tree, had vanished beneath the waves. It was as if they had never been there. She felt pain and shock stab her heart. "I-It's impossible." She stammered, "I-it couldn't be." She turned and ran, gulping back tears, to the Hall of Elders. She pounded on the door and fell to her knees as it opened.
"E-everything is gone!" she stammered, picking herself up of the ground.
"We know child" The strong voice of Taliesin, the high elder spoke, "We too have seen the destruction the storms have brought us."
"The- the Tree! And the people! I don't believe- Y-you must do something! We cannot stay here anymore! We shall all drown!" Elmayra yelled, hysterical.
"Yes," Taliesin said mournfully, stroking his long, gray beard. "We have been stubborn, and now we are too late. Go and call the survivors to the Hall, Elmayra, we shall hold a meeting to see what must be done."
Elmayra, still shocked from what happened, ran out to tell the rest of the island of the meeting. Finally, she came, breathless, back to the Hall. As she walked in, she heard the soft crying of the islanders, and Taliesin's booming voice.
"The fishing boats will be prepared, they are not fast, but they are sturdy and it is all we have. You will set sail in a week's time and set a course do North. We do not know, but we believe, that there is land there. And it is there you must establish your new homes and carry on the traditions of Aine."
"Bu-but," Elmayra's voice broke the silence, "Are you not coming with us?"
"I fear not Elmayra," replied Taliesin sadly, "For the elders and I are old, and we have no need of new home. We have always been on Aine, and so we shall remain, while the younger generations will start a new life."
He turned to the people, "Now go and ready yourselves, you have a long journey ahead, and you must hurry."