#''(text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[Kópakonan]''
a short story
trigger warning for references to spousal abuse, murder, violence and kidnapping
[[begin]]{
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"
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.
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.
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.
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Now there shall be revenge,
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revenge on the men of Mikladalur,
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and some will die at sea
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}{
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and others fall from the mountain tops,
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}{
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until there be as many dead as can link hands
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all round the shores of the isle of Kalsoy!"
]
}
{
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- The Seal Woman
]
} {
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of [[the Faroe Islands]]
]
}{
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you are dreaming.
]
}
{
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what do you dream of?
]
}
{
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[[your home]]
]
}
{
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[[your husband]]
]
}
{
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you were born in springtime on the ridged shoreline of what the humans call scotland.
]
}
{
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when you weaned off of your seal-mother's milk, you swam out into the wide, expansive dark of the ocean to hunt and learn the ways of the water, following the steps of your seal-mother and the gods of the deep.
]
}
{
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you learned to glide through currents, to bite and tear at prey, to watch the male seals bend and cry in an effort to entice you, and when your majority came, you swam deeper and farther from the coastline than you ever had. there, you learned how to change your shape.
]
}
{
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you dream of it now, the vast and endless blackness where the sun did not dare reach, where you learned magics as old as seals have lived. the familiar, frigid water bends around you in an embrace as the dream [[fades away.]]
]
}in dreams, your mind does not need to make the effort to bend around human language. your husband's hushed conversation in the crowded tavern comes not as a jumble of clumsy words. here, you simply understand their meaning. {
(live: 8s)[
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his fishing friend is hunched over, whispering at him.
]
}
{
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(text-colour:(hsl:90,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[where did you even //find// that thing, the woods?]
]
}
{
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(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[she isn't a thing, Chattan. she's my //wife//.]
]
}
{
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(text-colour:(hsl:90,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[seemed like news to her. the bitch almost bit you last time I was at your cottage.]
]
}
{
(live: 24s)[
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(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[and she was punished for it. she'll grow out of it. trust me. my marriage isn't yours to poke around in.]
]
}
{
(live: 29s)[
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(text-colour:(hsl:90,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[...fine. but you are treading dangerous waters here.]
]
}
{
(live: 33s)[
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your husband, your //captor//, is handsome, by human standards. his heart is what is ugly, and he is covetous of what will never belong to him. he always has been.
his face scares you.
]
}
{
(live: 37s)[
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he throws a coin on the sticky table and sweeps out the door into the black night, and the dream [[dissolves.]]
]
}a soft voice stirs you from your uneasy slumber.
(text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.65))[ḿ̸̳̺̣͙̟͕̫͇̫̫͕̎̀̈͛͋̀̎͜ạ̵̡̛̪̻͚̭̜̤̜̖̲̋͐̏̔̅̂̈́͋͘̚͝i̴̡̡̞͓̺̰̪͔̦̞̦̫̇̆̈́̚g̵̛̛̙̍̌̊̓͛̽̚̕͠h̸̨̡̞̭̣̻̺̹̯̞͖͊͆̐ḓ̴̨̢͎̜͈̥̜̖̩̿͒̄͒̔͊͐̃̿̅̈́͐͘͜ͅͅȇ̷͕̫̕ā̶͔͕͒n̸͕̦̺̼͖̤̂̏͂̓̓̕ǹ̴̢̧̨̢͚͎̫̜̣͍̺̪̓͜-̷͓͊̍͒́̐̌̇̎͋͌̚̚͘m̷͈̈́̅̄̽͛̆̚̚͝͝ĥ̶̛̠̣̮͆̄͘͝a̷͍̰̪͚͂͊̈́͛̚̚͘͘r̷̡̡̞̗̳̲̱̾̈̂̾̾ͅa̶̺̘̺̐. you must wake now.]
[[...what?]](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.65))[you need to get up. we are running out of time. ]
the voice is familiar. one you have not heard since you were taught the ways of the deep sea.
[[wait...M̶̤͔͈̯͆̀̈̽͝a̸̡̝͕̘̰̓̓͗͛̎͊̌̈́͝n̸̜͉͔̯̣̈a̶̺͈̝͈̓̾̎̐̏͗͘͝͝ͅņ̵̢̝̼͓̯̮̒̈́̊̍̇̿̿͘͠n̸̮̬̠̬͛͗̎̚̕͝ͅá̷̢͈̳̘͈̳̻͖̣͕̔̏̄̈́͊̇̓͊̍͒̕͠n̸̨̢̳̗̆? is that you?]]a soft voice stirs you from your happy slumber.
(text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.65))[ḿ̸̳̺̣͙̟͕̫͇̫̫͕̎̀̈͛͋̀̎͜ạ̵̡̛̪̻͚̭̜̤̜̖̲̋͐̏̔̅̂̈́͋͘̚͝i̴̡̡̞͓̺̰̪͔̦̞̦̫̇̆̈́̚g̵̛̛̙̍̌̊̓͛̽̚̕͠h̸̨̡̞̭̣̻̺̹̯̞͖͊͆̐ḓ̴̨̢͎̜͈̥̜̖̩̿͒̄͒̔͊͐̃̿̅̈́͐͘͜ͅͅȇ̷͕̫̕ā̶͔͕͒n̸͕̦̺̼͖̤̂̏͂̓̓̕ǹ̴̢̧̨̢͚͎̫̜̣͍̺̪̓͜-̷͓͊̍͒́̐̌̇̎͋͌̚̚͘m̷͈̈́̅̄̽͛̆̚̚͝͝ĥ̶̛̠̣̮͆̄͘͝a̷͍̰̪͚͂͊̈́͛̚̚͘͘r̷̡̡̞̗̳̲̱̾̈̂̾̾ͅa̶̺̘̺̐. you must wake now.]
[[...what?]](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.65))[yes. the stupid cur forgot to reseal the chest where your seal-skin is hidden. only now am i able to speak with you. but we don't have much time for idle talk, and our connection is weak. he will return soon.]
[[what do i need to do?]]
[[he will never allow me to leave.]](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.65))[i know not where the pelt is kept. is there a chest somewhere in the house?]
[[it may be in the basement.]]
[[it may be in the attic.]](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.65))[he 'allows' nothing. he does not own you. you are of the sea and sky. rest assured it will claim him one day for what he has done to you. courage, my child. you will escape. but you must find your pelt first.]
[[where is the chest?]][[go]] (text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.65))[then. and quickly.](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.65))[then ][[run]](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.65))[. we must be swift.](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.65))[I know not. I only know that it is not hidden to me. it is somewhere in this house, but that is as much as I can see.]
[[it may be in the basement.]]
[[it may be in the attic.]]as you go, you tell them what has kept you from the water.
'you warned me not to go. it was only one night, and i thought it would be fine, like it had been the last years i had shed my skin to dance along the shoreline. i was not paying as much attention as i should have been. he hid along the rocks and waited for me to stash my pelt when i had shed my seal-skin, and he took it. by the time i noticed, it was already over. with my skin in his possession, there was no power in the world that could unwind me from his grasp. he demanded i marry him, and i had no choice. he has not managed to beget children from me, and for that i am grateful. half-children would have a hard time in this world indeed. he locks me away in this house, and i cannot leave without my skin. he strikes me when he sees fit, and starves me when i displease him. i displease him most of the time. he has kept me here, by the sea. i think it is an intentional cruelty, to remind me of what he has taken, and what he will never give back. i ignored your words, teacher. for that i am sorry.'
(text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[come home. that will be apology] [[enough.]]as you go, you tell them what has kept you from the water.
'you warned me not to go. it was only one night, and i thought it would be fine, like it had been the last years i had shed my skin to dance along the shoreline. i was not paying as much attention as i should have been. he hid along the rocks and waited for me to stash my pelt when i had shed my seal-skin, and he took it. by the time i noticed, it was already over. with my skin in his possession, there was no power in the world that could unwind me from his grasp. he demanded i marry him, and i had no choice. he has not managed to beget children from me, and for that i am grateful. half-children would have a hard time in this world indeed. he locks me away in this house, and i cannot leave without my skin. he strikes me when he sees fit, and starves me when i displease him. i displease him most of the time. he has kept me here, by the sea. i think it is an intentional cruelty, to remind me of what he has taken, and what he will never give back. i ignored your words, teacher. for that i am sorry.'
(text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[come home. that will be apology] [[enough]](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[.](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[the sea shall one day claim him, even if you never return to us. his life is forfeit.]
you look around the basement. old crates and bottles litter the floor, but no chest. you have lost a lot of time already. what do you do?
[[keep searching down here]]
[[try to make it to the attic before he returns]](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[the sea shall one day claim him, even if you never return to us. his life is forfeit.]
the attic is dark. you are very seldom allowed up here, but it is small enough that it does not take too long to pick through the debris. there are boxes and clothes everywhere along the walls and ridged, creaking floor, and ''there,'' in a patch of shadow, is an old, sturdy woodstained chest. the lock is large, but blessedly unlatched.
it is difficult to lift the top, but once it gives way it falls backwards with a great clatter. and you see [[it.]]you pick around in the dirt and dust, ducking under boxes and beams and picking through trash and fishing supplies. you freeze when you hear footsteps on the basement stair.
(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[why are you down here? ]
his voice is cold.
[[i was looking for some extra lard. why?]]you race up the stairs into the main room. you are almost to the attic latch when there is the (text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[turning of a key in the] [[lock]].(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[well, let's get you back to bed, then. I just need to run to the attic to..check something. ]
there is a (text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[howl of rage] inside your mind, abruptly cut off. he has relatched it, it seems.
you are still imprisoned. that is the bad part. [[the good part?]]now you know where it is.
[[begin]] again?his face clears. he looks calm, but you won't be getting food tonight. (text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[come back upstairs.]
you have no choice. you hear a (text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[scream of rage] in your mind, but there is nothing you can do.
but if it is not in the basement, it must be in the attic. now you know where to go. you must [[wait.]] you have grown very good at waiting.
[[begin]] again?''there.'' your sealskin. a resplendent and shimmering patchwork of chestnut and dove gray, built to glide through sea currents like diving birds, to rip through lesser prey, to bask in sea-sun. a skin, a //life// left behind. stolen from you. it spills about your fingers like smooth, warm water, happy and home.
(text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[you must go now. return to our arms.]
you [[go.]]but as you creak down the attic stair, there is the sound of a (text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[key turning in the front door] [[lock.]](text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[be calm. he does not know you have your skin. you need only to get past him and to the shore and you will be free.]
(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[m̴̡͇̊͂̈́ͅa̵͉̩̩̗͂̒̉g̸̱̠̔d̸̞̹̅̎͗ă̵̝̰̍͊, what are you doing? why are you out of bed? are you alright? did you have trouble sleeping?]
he is kind, at times. it makes everything worse.
[[nothing.]]
[[i am leaving you. i will be free soon.]](text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[were...were you just in the attic?]
his voice is nervous. ha. he should be.
[[yes, i was looking for extra candle wax. would you like something to drink? i can make something.]](text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[what are you saying? come sit at the fire with me. the cold must be confusing you. ]
it is not. the cold is where i belong. the sea is where i belong. not here, with you, my captor. you have imprisoned me long enough. [[i am leaving.]]he sits by the fire while you make tea. he seems pleased that you are learning your place at his side.
(text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[valerian root will render him unconcious. if you use enough.]
[[slip it in his tea]]
[[leave it as it is]]
#(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[''n̸̗̓o̷̻͘ ̶̱̅y̷̹̋o̷͕̊u̶̲͝ ̷̲̍ã̸̢r̶̤͊e̶̤͋ ̴̳̀n̴̯̈́ő̶͚t̴̘͒.̴͉̋'']
his fishing knife is buried in your gut. he was always prone to these bouts of rage. you hear a cut off (text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[scream] in your mind. he has taken your life from you. he will not take your death as well.
[[try to break free and run past him]]
[[throw your pelt in the fire]]you pull the knife free and slash at him with it. he goes down with a horrible scream, and claws at your legs as you run for the door. the voice is urging you on, (text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[get to the shore, come back to us, we will take care of the rest. ]
your gut burns. you run, into the black, and a human might trip and fall, but not you. seals' eyes are built to take in the dark of the ocean, and even in the pitch darkness of a night with no moon, you know your way home.
the sea welcomes you with [[open arms.]]the skin goes up like tinder. the moment of his horror hangs, and then the pain comes.
you die screaming, but you die [[unchained.]]a day later, the sea rears up in a storm worse than any seen in decades, and it washes away the foundations of the house that was your prison. his body is carried off by the current before anyone finds it.
you only return to the shoreline for pupping season, and never to the village where you were captured. you spend a year and a half deep under the water, healing and recovering. but you are free. you are free in the ice floes of the upper ocean, where your kin and home are. your wound heals in the water's arms. he is dead, and you are where you belong, with the sea's gods and the other seals. the cold currents carry you north yearly, and there you leave human cruelty behind. you live long and in great splendor.
[[the end.]]the smoke through the open window carries you away from your jail, and out into the wind-torn sea. he is blown from the cliffs three days later, and the ocean claims him. he is scared. (text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[we made sure of it.]
[[begin]] again?a pause.
(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[darling, what is that?]
your pelt is tucked under your shirt.
you hear(text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[ swearing. ]
you have had //enough.//
it is [[mine.]]it takes a few minutes to kick in.
(text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.8))[come home.]
he sags into the chair, unconcious. you leave him there for the wolves to find.
you pull your skin about your shoulders, and [[you run.]]the dark waves fold you into them like you were always supposed to be there. and you were.
he does not wake from his slumber. the door you left open and warm fire inside invite predators, and who is to say you intended it to happen? the townspeople find him the next day, and bury what is left.
you only return to the shoreline for pupping season, and never to the village where you were captured. you spend a year and a half deep under the water, healing and recovering. but you are free. you are free in the ice floes of the upper ocean, where your kin and home are. your wound heals in the water's arms. he is dead, and you are where you belong, with the sea's gods and the other seals. the cold currents carry you north yearly, and there you leave human cruelty behind. you live long and in great splendor.
[[the end.]]he stares at you incredulously. you make a desperate break for the door.
he tackles you before you can reach it, fumbling with his fishing knife.
[[try and get away from him]]
[[steal the knife and stab him with it]]he chases after you as you run toward the dark sea. it is a night with no moon, and he trips over roots and rocks in the dark, but you have no such problems. you know your way home. the slash along your side bleeds, but you do not stop, or slow down. [[you will soon be free.]]he screams in agony, and you take the opportunity. your feet carry you quickly toward the dark shore, and you dive into the waves, pulling your pelt over your shoulders, and are gone.
he weakens and dies on the floor of the living room. the door you left open and warm fire inside invite predators, and who is to say you intended for them to feed on him, like he fed on you? the townspeople find him the next day, and bury what is left.
you only return to the shoreline for pupping season, and never to the village where you were captured. you spend a year and a half deep under the water, healing and recovering. but you are free. you are free in the ice floes of the upper ocean, where your kin and home are. he is dead, and you are where you belong, with the sea's gods and the other seals. the cold currents carry you north yearly, and there you leave human cruelty behind. you live long and in great splendor.
[[the end.]]he is nearly upon you when you reach the sands. he reaches for your wind-whipped hair, but as he leans, the sea itself rears up and swallows the both of you. you have your sealskin. he does not.
(text-colour:(hsl:180,0.8039,0.5,0.7))[i told you his life was forfeit.]
you only return to the shoreline for pupping season, and never to the village where you were captured. you spend a year and a half deep under the water, healing and recovering. but you are free. you are free in the ice floes of the upper ocean, where your kin and home are. he is dead, and you are where you belong, with the sea's gods and the other seals. the cold currents carry you north yearly, and there you leave human cruelty behind. you live long and in great splendor.
[[the end.]]Resources:
https://www.mun.ca/osc/seal-lab/facts.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie
https://old.visitfaroeislands.com/en/be-inspired/in-depth-articles/legend-of-kopakonan-(seal-woman)/