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Wilbur’s whole family had been adventurers, exploring new worlds and making discoveries. Ever since he was little he loved seeing his family and getting to hear all about their latest
escapades. He could remember many nights where he would refuse to sleep without hearing just one more story from his father or uncle, and they had so many they were always willing to fulfill his request. So he would lay curled up under his blankets, hugging his stuffed animals close, unwavering attention on whichever adult would be telling him of their quests from long ago.
For these reasons, it came as no surprise to anyone that Wilbur wanted to become an adventurer himself. As soon as he was deemed old enough, he would spend all of his school holidays trekking through the woods, noting down every animal and plant he could find. For many years at birthdays and Christmas his family would gift him books containing legends and myths of the world or maps of worlds with biomes still left unexplored. Wilbur’s walls quickly became covered in these maps along with a list of all the places he was going to visit the second he was allowed. He would pour over his books, taking in every small detail and learning everything he could about how to be a good explorer. Then once he had read all his books at home so often the pages were crumpled and the words faded, he moved onto the library. By his 18th birthday he had checked out and completed every book that had even the slightest thing to do with the world around him or exploration at least four times.
At long last his 18th birthday had arrived. The day he had been waiting for his whole life. His entire family had come to the small cottage to see him off on his first adventure, everyone wishing him safe travels. So with a hearty breakfast in his stomach and bag heavy with anything he could ever possibly need, off he went. Down the path to the gate, and then out into the world.
His first stop was the docks. All of his family had spent their time on land so he wanted to be the first to see everything the ocean had to offer. In all the books he had read his favourites were about the ocean. The many mysteries hidden beneath the dark depths of the waves intrigued him so much he knew he had to explore them himself. Although he had never told anyone, he secretly wished that he could be the one to bring to light the truth of all the watery myths.
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Wilbur had been aboard the ship for weeks now and while he had seen an array of different sea animals and plants, there was still no sign of any unknown creatures. They had sailed so far at this point they had reached the north pole. There he had seen a polar bear up close for the first time and was genuinely scared, not realising until that point how big they actually were. It had been an awkward evening for the rest of the crew, not wanting to bring up the fact they had heard him crying all night. Captain Puffy had been extra nice to him for the days following.
It was nearing the end of their journey home when Wilbur saw it. A school of salmon swimming along the side of the boat. He couldn’t sleep that night so had decided to go for a walk around the deck, enjoying the sight of the waves and there they were. The thing was these salmon appeared to be so much bigger than normal. Wilbur leaned over the side of the boat to get a closer look at them. Then it dawned on him- salmon didn’t have hair, these weren’t salmon at all. This was a moment he had dreamed of for so long but now it had arrived he didn’t know what his next steps should be. He wanted to grab his camera, get proof that the legends are real but he found himself stuck to the spot. There was only one left now, the rest having disappeared under the waves without him noticing. She had the prettiest pink hair he had ever seen and something he couldn’t quite put his finger on was drawing him to her. He found himself standing on the edge of the boat looking into her eyes as she beckoned him to come closer.
Wilbur followed her direction. Suddenly, there was nothing under his feet as he fell face first into the water. For whatever reason he couldn’t let himself try to swim or even float, instead letting the current drag him under. A hand grabbed his own, pulling him down further. In his last moments he could only see the darkness surrounding him, a sweet song filling his ears. Had she been singing that whole time?