Keeper Song Fic- Iloe: Lead Sails and a Paper Anchor

Marching alone, like a good soldier does
I'm setting sail, with anchors holding me down
Pack up my bags, stow them away
I'm bidding farewell to all that is safe
~~~~
A frozen bay loomed in front of the group of weary shifters. They had fled the Taiga Kingdom and were one step closer to achieving the goal of their journey...a new home. But they did not expect this. As far as the eye could see there was nothing but nice but yet it seemed solid. But even if it were not there was few options, supplies were limited, if they lingered then it would not be long before losses began. The Keepers began the long journey across the frozen bay, carefully testing the ice. At the back of the group marched a lone shifter. Iloe. After making sure the younger shifters were safe, she let herself drift back to the very back of the group. She felt like she belonged there. On the edge of them.
~~~~
Will I come up for air, come up for air
After awhile the current is calling me
Lulling me, waving goodbye
I'm out here alone, oh God can you save me now?
Sinking my heart turns to stone
~~~~
Iloe's gaze was on the ground. Through the ice she could detect the faint ripples of the current below the ice. The surface may had been frozen, but under the glistening white shield the ocean was doing its daily course. The thought made her think back to the stories from her home, the tales of the Goddess who wore a coat of deep blue and white, was the Goddess here even though it was cold? The shifter was comforted by the thought. She may spoke of Niti, but Iloe truly believed in only one deity, the Great Goddess of the Isles. Her steps were slow as she kept thinking, wondering, hoping. Iloe desperately wanted something that she knew would care for her, that could understand her.

Her mind was wiped blank as she felt the ice react beneath her feet. The sound of ice cracking sounded around her and then Iloe was plunged into the cold sea. Before she vanished, she heard the cries of the other Keepers who turned at once at the sound, but she was already gone.
~~~~
Withering away, a shrinking violet dies
So full of life, these lights have dried me out
Into the sea, I needed a drink
I never thought this would consume me whole
~~~~
For a moment Iloe sunk into the deep blue, her eyes wide and confused as she took in the strange watery world in which she found herself. But then instinct plus the sight of the hole where she had fallen shone above her like a beacon, a promise of safety. Iloe began to move her paws towards it and discovering that the ice trapped air bubbles, she inhaled a few precious gulps of air but then let herself float. Her eyes were watching the hole in the ice and beyond it the crisp stars in the night sky. A few air bubbles escaped her mouth and floated to the ceiling.
~~~~
Will I come up for air, come up for air
After awhile the current is calling me
Lulling me, waving goodbye
I'm out here alone, oh God can you save me now?
Sinking my heart turns to stone
(I turn to stone)
Sinking my heart turns to stone
Save me, take me home
Over and over again
Save me, take me home
Wishing that this all would end
Save me, take me home
Over and over again
Save me, take me home
Wishing that this all would end
~~~~~
Iloe felt the current that she had observed through the ice gently move her. It was not fast, nor was it too slow. It was gentle, like a mother...could it be? Iloe heard of people who drowned in the waters of the Isles, drowning was a terrifying darkness that lingered over those who chose the sea. The Goddess was the true power and she alone decided the fortune or misfortune. The tales of drowning varied depending on the person. But most agreed that the Goddess made the death easy, gently lulling the person into eternal slumber. A promise that their work was done and that they will be honored.

Iloe's head turned then her eyes widened. Could it be? A woman floated beside her, her hair was long and flowing in waves. She wore a gown that seemed made of the water that surrounded them and at times seemed to swirl around her. The woman had a smile that radiated warmth and her eyes were gentle. Iloe felt her heart pound in her chest as she gazed at the Goddess in awe and felt complete calm come over her.
~~~~
After awhile the current is calling me
Lulling me, waving goodbye
I'm out here alone, oh God can you save me now?
Sinking my heart turns to stone
After awhile the current is calling me
Lulling me, waving goodbye
I'm out here alone, oh God can you save me now?
Sinking my heart turns to stone
Sinking my heart turns to stone
~~~~
She could feel the life slowly ebbing away from her. Her heart slowly was lulling towards eternal stillness. There were so many that she would miss. Dear little Winnie, the children, her grandmother (and maybe a little of her mother). She hated that she would tell them good-bye before her soul went with the Goddess, but yet she knew this was common when you entered the water sleep. Good-byes were too painful and would only keep her soul back to the world, she would not be able to go to Paradise or, what she wanted the most, become one of the Star Dancers. But most of all...she would miss Kweekum. Kweekum...if she was not surrounded by water then she would mourn for the fact that he would be alone, their bond would be severed...she hated to think of the pain that would cause. Stories told of how dolphins who lost their human could not live onward. Their purpose in life had been taken and now there was nothing left. Some refused to eat and slowly wasted away, others purposely beached themselves, letting the sun take them as the ocean took their friend, others simply refused to surface and drowned themselves.
~~~~
Save me take me home
When I come up for air
Save me take me home
When I come up for air
Save me take me home
Over and over again
Save me take me home
~~~~
Iloe was ready. She was at peace, calm and in the stillness of a quiet place. The Goddess was there beside, ready to take her into her gentle embrace and take her to the next part of her life journey. There was people she would miss, but she was ready to go. She no longer wanted to fight for pain. Just let it all go.

Her eyes slipped closed.
~~~~
Wishing that all this would end
~~~~
Teeth sunk into her scruff and she was roughly hauled upward. There was a splash as her head came above water, her lungs ached as massive gulps of fresh, cold air forced its way in. Iloe coughed harshly, water spewing from her lips and then she was on the ice. Voices swirled around her but Iloe could not hear them. Her peaceful world was shattered and she almost felt the Goddess shriek beneath the ice, deprived of one of her children coming back home.

Iloe heard the voices of the Keepers she knew, but her mind was numb and her eyes stared unseeing at the ice. The Keepers had done a great act of blasphemy. She could not speak to them.

One Chance

Iloe was fuming silently but hide it by tending to the young shifters who had now taken to resting close to her. That dolphin was grating her nerves more than ever and she was sick of it. She hated being drawn to the biggest asshole of the Keepers, but something always seemed to make her go to him. But this time he went too far! Iloe hated people who placed wrongful blame and also she hated people who shirked her talents. As if any of these shifters could do what she could do from her experiences as a meerkat. She wanted to help out, to rebuild the reputation that had been left in tatters...thanks to Muka. Iloe left the young shifters sleeping in a pile and went over to where the dolphin captain was sitting. Her gray-blue eyes were cool and when she spoke her voice was firm. "You say I'm disrespectful to you, but perhaps you should know the reason why." Iloe glared at him. "Being a captain does not mean automatic respect when your actions do not deserve it. You may be a Captain and you pod may respect you, but a civilian will only respect those that earn it." "Kuba is my best example. You blamed him for the death of your pod mate, you blamed him for something he had no control over!" She glared at Muka. "Do you think he knows how to defend off shark shifters? Do you think he knew what to do as he was being attacked? He never experienced this. He only panicked because the ambush was unexpected, I don't think anyone would think it would happen...I want to know that I can trust a captain who can understand that some tragedies could not be helped. But yet we only lost three shifters that day...less than what we lost during the Falls collapse." Iloe was quiet for a moment, except to let a sigh release from her lips. "As for my own problems I am not unstable. You don't understand how hard it is. I kept these emotions suppressed for too long, this is probably the one thing I hate about being off the Isles. But prove to me that you are worthy of my respect and I will try harder to reign in my negative emotions." Gray-blue eyes locked on two-toned blue. "Right now I respect Cory. He is a jerk most of the time, but yet he also has stood by my side many times and for that I am thankful and gladly give him my respect. But I will not let anyone hurt others. I don't care if you are Captain or King. I won't tolerate it, citizen or not." The shifter gave a sigh. "Please Muka...I know I messed up and...I don't won't to join your Corps. Military stuff is not my cup of tea. I just want you to like me...at first it was that I wanted to make it up to Rayou because I should had shifted vulture. Perhaps if I had not stuck to a pathetic little sea slug then I could had warned everyone ahead of time...and Rayou would still had two working fins." Her eyes dropped. "I just want a chance Muka. I don't want to join your Corps or any military area. To me it is really boring and I would rather watch the little terrors who need somebody since most of their parents were lost. But I just want another chance, to prove myself to you. If you give me that chance...then I will try to do the things you mentioned."

"Just one more chance is all."