Start your story with someone emerging from the sea, and end it with them looking up at the stars.

Posted in Fantasy on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 277 stories

“The Stars that Watch the Sea” by C. M. Fergason

Submitted to Contest #83

Her first breath above the water comes out part gasp and part sob. The air above the sea is cold, crisp, and unfamiliar in the ever darkening night. She pulls herself with tired arms and cramping fingers across the beach, sand slipping through her hands with each grasping tug. For a time she does nothing more than lie there, on her side so the sand doesn’t get in her lungs, though she thinks that may be preferable to this. Every breath is a rasp, until she’s strong enough to let out another strangled sob. She stays this way until morning ...

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“You belong here” by Veda Vivek💎

Submitted to Contest #83

The water was playing with my hair. Some clownfish were playing hide and seek in the anemone. Other fish were darting around, running through the water. The water glistened on the surface where the sunlight hit it. I could feel the sea tickling my cheek, whispering secrets in my ear. “ You belong here.”I did. I fondly remember the days my dad, brother, and I would play in the open sea. We would have mini splash wars. Every time there was a big wave, my dad would shield my brother and me, laughing as the wave slammed against him. I would...

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“THE GYPSY CHARIOT” by Sivaram Govindaraj

Submitted to Contest #83

Another lap and he was out of the Serelia sea and was resting on the sand on the shore. The Serelia sea is on the planet Gaia2 which is earth’s twin and is still evolving behind earth by about 800 years. Though it was only early morning the sun’s rays were still hurting and he closed his eyes. A batch of fishermen now came as usual to fish and they crowded around the man lying on the sand. The man in control said “Who’re you? Why are you lying here naked?” The man said “My name is Harpo. I was crew on a boat which was wreck...

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“The Developing” by Rachel Kenley Fry

Submitted to Contest #83

It’s quiet, beneath. The laughter and joyous shouting of the crowd above is muted by the water rushing in my ears. It’s dark, too, even though I’m only a few feet below the surface, my toes skimming the sand beneath me as a wave surges over my head. A few seconds of stillness and peace.When my head breaches the surface, there is once again sunlight and noise, but the peaceful feeling sticks to my soul like rubber cement. I float on my back, staring at the pale, cloudless sky. I am cradled and rocked gently by the sea. I’m so engrossed in my ...

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“BENEATH THE STARS OF EMRYSEL” by Bree Pearman

Submitted to Contest #83

A final burst of warm air breaks the icy surface, escaping as a cascade of misty droplets soon lost to the ocean breeze. One last breath in this all too familiar form. With the coast so near now it is time to return at last. Time to rid himself of this size, these fins, and to feel once again the earth beneath his feet.The sea sits still and silent, an unseen transformation taking place within. When the surface next breaks this night, it is not by air, or the wide arch of a whale’s hump, but a calm, ever so slightly unsteady human taking his...

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“"Mother wanted" ” by Ivana Carrington

Submitted to Contest #83

Once again I wake up, our boat barely mended together. It’s been 36 days since we’ve been lost out to sea. Out ship crashed, although most of the crew died due to hypothermia those of us remaining got on the safety boats and headed out for sea. From the food on the ship each boat has 116 biscuits, 40 gallons of fresh water, and two men to man each boat. Supplies are running low, we’re barely making it out on the sea. Mother sold our house,belongings, and nearly everything that we owned so I would be able to make it out on this boat. “A...

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“the sun, the stars, and us” by Nao Nishimura

Submitted to Contest #83

If I close my eyes tight enough for only the whispering shadows of the golden sun to seep through, I can almost remember exactly what she looked like the day we came here a year ago. I can almost remember exactly what that day smelled like as the ocean tides rippled out the deep aroma of saltwater mixing in with her intoxicating perfume. I can almost, almost remember exactly what her laugh sounded like as she shoved me under the water and I pulled her leg down with me. What I do remember clearly though, was the feeling of warm, rushi...

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“Chased By the Wind” by R. K.

Submitted to Contest #83

A Tribute: To those at the bottom of the oceanThe slightest shift in the water stirs up dirt, sending clouds and leaving the space around it murky.On the seafloor, a shadow can be made out, tucked away in an undisturbed corner. A movement, hardly detected. There is a second presence to be noted. Before with furtiveness, it waited; only choosing to be given away with a whisper“You have to get up.” The Shadow continues to lie still. “You ask something of me with such expectation.”“Not, however, unachievable.” The wate...

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“No Rest for the Wicked” by Maya Ad Astra

Submitted to Contest #83

Beneath the sea’s surface, I am at peace and everything is quiet. I wish I could stay down here forever where the hardest problems I have is telling the difference between the fish that swim near me and pruny skin. But my lungs need oxygen and it isn’t long before I swim up to the surface and breathe in sweet, fresh air. Above water, I’m greeted by the sounds of seagulls shrieking and children playing at the beach with their families. As I step out of the water, every noise comforts me as it means I’m on my first vacation in a very long time...

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“Missing Mermaid” by Sofie B

Submitted to Contest #83

I went up to the top of the water. I swam around and took lots of pictures with my camera. I then put my camera back in my bag. I looked at the nearby island and wondered if I ever could go there. With the beautiful palm trees and grainy sand, it looked so beautiful! If only-"Irene! Irene, come here!" shouted my VERY overprotective brother."Ben, stop nagging me!" I shouted back."Dad's expecting us, come on!" he said then swam away.Ugh. Dad. Always nagging me to come to traditional mermaid traditions. Ben always nagging and nagging to look g...

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“Being” by Emerald Lace

Submitted to Contest #83

Born of primordial chaos, It stepped out of the ancient sea and onto the primitive land. The Being looked around, confused at the sights and sounds that assaulted its new senses. The ground beneath Its feet felt course and was a clean, crisp tan in color. The water was warm, crystal clear blue, and full of prehistoric single-celled organisms. The air smelled sweet of flowers and salty water. Being stumbled inland towards two tall omnipotent beings. One had dark skin with black hair that curled down to its feet, and the other had transpa...

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“Somewhere Only We Know” by Megan Stewart

Submitted to Contest #83

I had been here before, a long time ago. Back then I was just a stupid kid, not really understanding the magnitude of where I was or the opportunity presented before me. Not many people have the chance to travel to another country, to take in a new culture. Fewer people still would abuse that gift and taint it. And that’s just what I did. Stepping foot off the plane, I took my first step into this beautiful oasis. I didn’t know then that I’d meet the person that I thought would be the one. I didn’t know that he would break my heart, shat...

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“Helena” by Brad Morris

Submitted to Contest #83

Well, I've been in the water long enough, guess it's time to come out.How long has it been? Hours? Days? It seems like days.Being in the water started with Helena. Wow, she was beautiful; but not in a conventional way. Those dark features; angular face, hypnotic eyes and Giaconda smile. Yes, Da Vinci could have painted her; and she was so smart, could talk about anything. We did speak about everything. Movies, art, theater, you name it. She liked talking about her dad, who apparently had started an education model that revolutionized the way...

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“Naming the Stars” by Natalie Park

Submitted to Contest #83

Matthew could not see, could not hear, could not breathe. The sea was the entire pitch-black world, eternal in every direction. It cared little for the petty strugglings of mortal lives. It strangled him with a vengeance.He clawed at the crushing weight of the water helplessly—just a little further! When he gasped for want of air, liquid poured down his throat like lava, burning his lungs with its bitterness. He battled to push himself in the direction that he hoped was upwards, but his mind was too choked with seawater to tell. A surge thre...

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“Ora's Wish” by Robert Vucsko

Submitted to Contest #83

Ora’s Wish The Zemi began to take shape because of a prayer. This one had not taken any form or consciousness for more than two-millennia. The song which summoned it now was strong, and irresistible. The spirit took a direct path, up from 8000 meters of pressure and depth and cold, moving through the ocean like smoke blown on the wind. As the music got louder, the Zemi took a vague shape and scattered a school of mackerel. It began to see rich sea-life and sense the temperature of the water warming around it. The swell of...

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Start your story with someone emerging from the sea, and end it with them looking up at the stars.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 277 stories

“The Stars that Watch the Sea” by C. M. Fergason

“You belong here” by Veda Vivek💎

“THE GYPSY CHARIOT” by Sivaram Govindaraj

“The Developing” by Rachel Kenley Fry

“BENEATH THE STARS OF EMRYSEL” by Bree Pearman

“"Mother wanted" ” by Ivana Carrington

“the sun, the stars, and us” by Nao Nishimura

“Chased By the Wind” by R. K.

“No Rest for the Wicked” by Maya Ad Astra

“Missing Mermaid” by Sofie B

“Being” by Emerald Lace

“Somewhere Only We Know” by Megan Stewart

“Helena” by Brad Morris

“Naming the Stars” by Natalie Park

“Ora's Wish” by Robert Vucsko

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who goes to extreme lengths to get themselves to a tropical island.

Write about someone who’s lived on a tropical island their whole life and is leaving it for the very first time.

Write about someone who books a bargain vacation, only to be told when they arrive that they need to share a hotel suite with a stranger.

Write a fantasy story about water gods or spirits.

Contest #83

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

826

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: