A resounding crack resonated across the sea. A great and raging wave of water rolled out of the sky, while the sun’s rays gently glistened off its spray. The waves enveloped all life, leaving only the sun shining from above. Then, slowly, the water appeared to be reversing, creating what looked to be a backwards waterfall. A large boat with golden wings rode the crashing waves, up towards the sky, disappearing into the sun. "You must come,” a voice commanded. "You must come!"

"Iscah, you must come!" Near tears, the boy looked at the frail woman, lying asleep, small and quiet amidst the chaos that was ensuing. Her meager tent had been ripped away from over her by the thrashing winds sweeping through the valley, a spray of mist already soaking all of her clothing. How could she sleep through this! He pushed back his tears; it was not appropriate for a near-man of twelve to show that kind of weakness. The boy knew she was still alive; he could see the gentle rise and fall of her breath, contrasting sharply with everything else around him. “PLEASE come!”

As she opened her eyes, Iscah gazed thoughtfully at the boy, before slowly rising to her feet. The boy tugged at her damp clothing, trying to quickly lead her away to follow the masses of people flying from the valley. She followed the boy with an air of calm that seemed to unnerve the child. The boy, on the other hand, was thrashing erratically through the forest, driven by that animalistic urge to survive, to run from what seemed certain death.

Suddenly, the boy tripped and collided with the ground. His exhaustion was too overwhelming. He refused to stand, and instead began to sob mournfully at her feet. “What have we done to anger them so? What are we to do? Where are we to go?” All energy seemed to have drained from him; the recklessness that had been on his face just moments before was gone, replaced with a hopelessness that seemed to weigh more than the mountains of water that were soon to be crashing upon them. Iscah gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, saying “We are to go up, to meet them in their own land. The water is our pathway. Come Maru, we must follow.” Although the expressions on Maru's face made it clear he did not fully understand her words, they seemed to give him enough hope to move on, and hopefully live for another day.

As he moved to rise, a younger boy came wandering through the trees with tears streaming down his face, weeping incoherently about his lost mother. Even at this tumultuous time, the thought of being in charge put a spark in Maru's eyes. Without saying a word, he smiled at the boy and grabbed for his hand to try and lead him from the oncoming waters.