“Oh shoot I actually caught one. Sorry about this, little guy,” Latori apologized to the rabbit stuck in his primitive trap.

Enough time had passed and Latori’s left arm could be once again used for daily activities. Using the fibers from trees, Latori was able to twist together natural cordage. This natural rope helped him create everything from baskets to traps. He created a snare using a stick and a piece of taut, bent wood from a sapling. The cordage was tied to the end of the bent wood like a fishing pole. Attached to the other side of the makeshift rope was a stick tied to a noose. The stick was placed near the hole with the circular rope around the entrance to the rabbit’s home. This snare would catch the rabbits by the body should they disturb the stick as they came out. He placed multiple traps over rabbit holes he happened across while exploring the forest. Berries were used as bait on top of the snare.

“Ex, I feel really bad about killing it. Look how cute it is!” Latori exclaimed with a wistful smile.

The four-eared hare pulled at the snare. Its tiny paws futilely pushed against the dirt. The rope began to chafe the skin of the rabbit’s body. Panicked squeals scraped the bunny’s vocal chords.

“Then let it go.”

“Doesn’t rabbit stew sound so good, though? Hm… Maybe I’ll keep this one and hunt another one to eat later.”

“That sounds even more cruel than just killing this one.”

“You think so? Dammit. Fine. I’ll keep this one as a pet then. Okay, let me just untie you, cutie… OW. IT BIT ME.”

The rabbit slithered out of Latori’s arms and scampered away as fast as its legs would carry it.

“HEY, come back here! Ugh, let’s go home. I’m going to just eat them from now on.”

***

“My legs are tired. Let me just bask in the sun for a second before we walk all the way back. There’s not a cloud in the sky today. Look how nice it is. I can’t remember the last time I’ve just taken a moment to enjoy the beach.”

The boy plopped down on the sand and gazed out into the distance. The atmospheric refraction bent and stretched the sun, as the waning moon rose for its turn to shine. Waves shimmered and sparkled. The moon toyed with the tides. The seabreeze brushed past the boy’s ears, tickling them. It was like a long-haired girl rushing past. Her strands of hair brushing against your face. The boy gathered a fistful of sand. He opened his palm and let gravity and wind steal the grains away. The taste of salt was ever-present in his mouth.

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Wait. Was that a trick of the light? Was it a tactless joke his eyes were playing on him? Out there, on the sea, Latori swears he could see a boat rocking back and forth like a cradle on the water.

Latori gulped. His hands dug into the sand and his toes curled. His heart rate climbed a logarithmic curve. In seconds, he could hear the manic beating of a drum all the way in his head.

The ship came closer. The sun hadn’t moved an inch, but it felt like millenia before the ship made any progress towards the island, but progress was being made.

Faint boisterous laughter was carried from the breeze to Latori’s ears. A symphony of men crudely yelling, arguing, and telling jokes brought tears to his eyes. Without even considering the consequences of what he was doing… Without even considering malintent on behalf of the other party, Latori called out to the sailors.

“Hey… HEY! OVER HERE. HEY COME OVER HERE!” Latori screamed ecstatically in the direction of the ship. Tears welled up in his eyes and splashed onto the purple sand.

“HEY OVER HERE. I HAVE TREASURE IF YOU WANT. Just come here!” the boy cried.

As if God himself heard his pleas and wanted to grant a miracle for his poor child’s soul, the ship turned towards Latori and continued his way.

“Do you see that Excaliburn? They’re coming! There’s people! We’re not going to be alone anymore!” Latori glanced at his sword. Snot and tears of joy dripped down his face.

“Yes, boy, I see them. I see them.” The sword struggled to hide its own excitement in its tone.

Suddenly, a leviathan sized serpent emerged from the ocean’s depths into the water directly to the bottom left of the ship. As if rudely awoken from a long slumber, it roared in displeasure underwater. The beast could be heard from a mile in all directions. The lively chattering from just a few seconds ago was completely gone. Latori stood still as if he had become paralyzed by the sound of the roar.

With great force, the serpent rammed into the hull of the ship, obliterating it. Screams filled the air as the pirates fell into the ocean and were crushed by the serpent's massive, cerulean body. The serpent went back for a second round. Its pitch black eyes followed by its gaping jaws were the last thing the sailors saw before closing their eyes and accepting their fate. Cries for help, for mother, and for God screeched in Latori’s ears like ghastly wails from the grave. The serpent, satisfied with its work, sank back to the depths once more. The rest of the sailors succumbed to their injuries and the relentless battering of the waves.

Latori fell to his knees and sat there in shock. He came back to his senses after about an hour. Without a word, he picked up Excaliburn and started making his way back to the grotto. When they were nearly home, he finally spoke.

“... Guess we have some work to do tomorrow. Maybe we can loot some supplies or treasure that washes up onto shore. Right, Ex?”

“...Mhm…”