Young Writers Society

A/N: This is for a school project, where we were assigned to write our own myths using original characters and not borrowing from any other cultures. Mine is an explanation of the tides. I would appreciate any feedback on this, and I will be editing this constantly as I edit it for my paper. Thanks for reading!

Calmotides: Heart of the Ocean

Long ago, when there was only one land mass and no seas, Calmotides cried out to the great god Pulastrings in misery. “Lord Pulastrings, I am drying up, and nothing provides relief. Only drinking water can help, and my skin is cracking, my hair is falling out, my mouth is dry. I beg you, think of a way to end my torment. I am ready to die!”

Pulastrings was greatly distressed, and he called his most trusted messenger, Spedipace, over to his throne. “Spedipace, most honored and fastest of foot, I have a mission for you. Go and find the healer god Fixmawon so that he can come and provide relief for the great goddess Calmotides.”

“Your wish is my command, O Great Pulastrings.” Spedipace bowed and then ran through the corridors of the palace, down the great mountain the palace was situated on, through the towns and villages and hills and valleys, along the rivers and beside the lakes, never slowing until he ran into the trickster Trexer.

"Spedipace, my old friend, you again attempt to trespass on my forest? You know the rules, to pass you must beat me in a duel," Trexer purred, drawing his long, elegant sword.

“I have no weapon, Trexer, I come unarmed. Let me pass in peace.”

“You must earn your passage, Spedipace.”

“You still want to fight with swords? Helmablo has a much more effective way."

Trexer paused. “What way does Helmablow use?"

“Oh, you haven’t heard? The Dark Knight Helmablo uses a game of riddles to befuddle and confuse all his visitors, and no one has escaped so far.”

This plan was appealing to Trexer. “Very well, then, that’s what we will do. How does this game work?”

“Simple. I, as the traveler, give you a riddle to prove my intelligence. If you say, ‘I surrender’, then I can pass through. If you think of the answer, you can slay me.”

“Give me your riddle, for there has never been a challenge I cannot rise to,” Trexer boasted.

“At the end of a battle, when the losing team realizes that they do not stand a chance against the might of the dominant army, what do they say?”

“I surrender!” Trexer exclaimed in glee.

Spedipace shrugged. “Since you cannot think of an answer, then I will be on my way.”

Trexer realized his stupidity, but too late. Enraged, he drew his sword, but the hand of Prova, god of justice, stopped him. “He has won, Trexer. Allow him through," Prova's deep voice boomed. Spedipace turned and continued on his way, leaving Trexer fuming behind.

The great healer god was outside in his garden collecting herbs, and when he saw Spedipace, he welcomed him. “Greetings, Spedipace. What brings you to my cottage today?”

“I come with a message from Pulastrings himself. He wishes you to come to his palace and think of a way to cease the ailments of Calmotides, who is drying up and cannot find a cure. However, I have no doubt that you will be able to find a cure.”

Fixmawon smiled. "We shall see, my friend. I do have an idea, but I will get the king's permission first."

The two of them traveled back to Lord Pulastring’s palace by a different route so they could avoid the trickster Trexer, and they arrived near sunset. They traveled through the palace hallways until they entered the great throne room.

Fixmawon stepped up to where Pulastrings was seated. “Sir, I have discovered the answer to what has caused Calmotides so much agony. You see, she has spent so much time in the water and loves it so much, it has become a part of her, and for her to be separated from it causes her unbearable agony. My solution is for you to put Calmotides in a sea of your creation so she can keep her skin hydrated.”

Lord Pulastrings nodded. “That is an excellent idea, Fixmawon. I accept that counsel.” Pulastrings stood and stepped outside onto the mountain overlooking the void that showed the end of the known world. He took a deep breath and summoned all the storm clouds, pulling them from the ends of the world and then causing them to pour out rain, filling up the void with water, reaching down into the deepest depths and filling it with more water than had been seen since the creation of the gods.

After the water was at a suitable height, Pulastrings dismissed the rain clouds and filled them with water once again so they could go deliver to the village, waiting eagerly for their weekly showers.

And Calmotides was brought, and the great Pulastrings lifted her into the newly formed sea. She swam out to the center, and with every inhale the sea seemed to breathe with her, flowing in, and with every exhale waves pounded against the shore. And she still lives on, in the heart of the sea, causing the tides to churn and pushing the waves upon the sand.