Judith's Quest

Hey guys! So for my co-op I had to create a story in mythological times. Here is what I came up with; Enjoy!!

Judith’s Quest

            Nearly all inhabitants of Athens, Greece, are familiar with the story of Warfelk saving Judith on her quest to find her uncle, but most are oblivious that Warfelk did not act alone. Judith Ortez, with her long, dark hair, dark eyes, and tall body could be spotted very easily in a crowd. Judith had been orphaned fifteen years ago, at three years of age. Her mother and baby brother had died in childbirth, and her father never returned from fighting the Trojan War with Odysseus. Judith lived with her Uncle Caverlex. They were the only Ortezes left.

Caverlex had gone on a nine day fishing trip. He had to venture out far to try to find walloping fish that would sell. On the day Judith expected his promised return, she waited by the ocean. He didn’t come that day, or the next. Judith started sleeping near the bay, waiting for her beloved uncle. Although the townspeople were convinced that old man Caverlex must be dead, none had the heart to tell Judith.

Three weeks after Caverlex had set off, Judith received a visit from a stranger. Athena had been watching Judith, and felt pity for her since she knew what had happened to Caverlex. Athena came down in the form of an old fisherman to the bay where Judith was waiting. The goddess of wisdom grabbed Judith by the shoulder, startling her.

“Don’t be afraid little lady, for I know what has happened to your uncle,” Judith desperately wanted to believe this old man who added, “His ship was wrecked near Oceanus.”

 “But, that is so far away. Why would he have traveled that far?” Judith asked.

“I don’t think he meant to, Miss. He was stuck in a storm”.

Judith glanced away hoping to believe him, turned around, and the fisherman was gone. Judith didn’t know how, but somehow she just knew that this man was telling the truth. She wasted no time. Judith gathered bread, cheese, and plenty of water and canteens for the long journey ahead. Uncle Caverlex had given her a small row boat; although it was small, Judith knew it was her only option.

            After rowing for three days, Judith finally sighted shore. She had always been told that the way to Oceanus was to follow the North Star. That counsel proved to be true. As she came close to shore, she noticed a large object. She couldn’t tell if it was a seal or possibly a mermaid. Judith got close enough to realize it was neither. It was a legendary creature, one that no one was even sure existed. It was a mercat, trapped in a fishnet. Judith rowed as fast as her tired arms could, hoping to help it. Although no one was sure the mercat existed, everyone knew that if it did, the mercat’s tail must always be wet or it would die.

She ran over to the mercat, and cut it free. The mercat swam off, without even a glance back. “So much for gratitude,” Judith thought. She called out to the mercat, because she really wanted to meet it. To her surprise, the mercat’s head popped right up out of the water. “What do you want?” the mercat said impatiently.

“Uhh, you can talk?” said a shocked Judith.

“What do you think I’m doing right now?” the mercat snapped back sarcastically.

“I’m trying to find my uncle whose ship was wrecked near here; could you help me?”

“You mean the old man whom Calypso took to her island?” the mercat replied. “Hmm, what is in it for me?”

 “I just saved your life.” Judith replied. Reluctantly, the mercat agreed to help Judith. She explained that Calypso’s island was south of their current location.

Judith rowed day and night until reaching an island that the mercat thought to be Calypso’s. Judith tied her boat, and raced to the only building in sight. She was greeted by a beautiful woman, whom she believed to be Calypso.

“Come in, dear, please. What has brought you to my island?” the lady said. Judith was so excited about seeing her uncle Caverlex that she didn’t notice “Calypso” locking the door.

“I have come to see my uncle; I hear that you have him”. This lady was not Calypso, but was an empousa who pretended to many weary travelers that she was Calypso. When they went to sleep in her home, she could drink their blood.

            “Oh, yes, dear, your uncle is back here,” the empousa said. As the fake nymph was directing Judith into a room, “Calypso” came out of her disguise to kill Judith.

            Meanwhile, the mercat noticed that the fake Calypso had locked the door. Memories came flooding back to when she was a child and her mother warned her about the empousa that posed to be Calypso, the nymph. The mercat, by now attached to Judith, was frantic. She knew she had to save Judith, but she could not leave the water.

            Suddenly, the sea cat remembered Warfelk, the half-eagle, half- girl, who lived nearby. She knew Warfelk could save Judith, but she was quite hesitant to ask for Warfelk’s help. The mercat’s family had a longstanding feud with Warfelk’s. Both sides claimed possession of Oceanus. She wrestled inside. The mercat’s newfound love for Judith overcame the hardness in her heart for Warfelk. Swimming as fast as she could to Warfelk’s tree, the mercat was not sure if Warfelk would even help her. Before the mercat reached the tree, Warfelk swooped down dangerously close, and said disgustedly, “What do you want, fish?”

 “Do you know who Judith is?” replied the mercat.

“Ya, that girl who wants to find her aunt or something. I do not live under a rock, ya know.”

“Her uncle. And you live in a tree, not much better,” the cat of the sea sneered.

“If you came to tell me something, you might as well get on with it,” Warfelk replied snidely.

The mercat explained everything as quickly as she could. Surprisingly, Warfelk agreed to attempt to save Judith, only because she too, was tenderhearted. She soared over the ocean back to the fake Calypso’s island, while the mercat sped through the water. Spying Judith through the window, Warfelk flung herself through the glass. She grabbed the empousa, threw her on the bed, and immobilized her with her talons. Then, Warfelk threw the empousa into the ocean, to sink to the bottom. Judith threw her arms around Warfelk, who responded, “You should thank the mercat, for it was she who persuaded me to come.” 

Surprised, but grateful, Judith went with Warfelk down to the beach and found the mercat praying to Poseidon that all would go well. Judith told her what happened. “I could have saved you, if only I were a full cat,” said the mercat.

“You don’t like being a mercat?” said both Judith and Warfelk in disbelief.

“Not at all, because I can’t go on shore,” replied the mercat, discontented.

Judith did not respond, but resumed her quest for her uncle, accompanied by Warfelk and the mercat. After one day of smooth sailing, they came to the real Calypso’s island. There was Caverlex, on the shore, fishing. Judith ran to him with her arms outstretched and he picked her up. “Judith! How did you get here?”

“My friends helped me find you,” she replied.

Caverlex, awestruck, stared back, but only for a moment. He told them how he had gotten lost. He had swum all the way to Calypso’s island, where she had welcomed him, but would not let him leave. Realizing he now had a chance for freedom, Caverlex asked the gods for help. He gathered Judith and Warfelk into the boat and the mercat swam alongside. Poseidon responded to the prayers of Caverlex by sending waves to carry them on their way with speed.

            They arrived back to Athens, where Judith had to say goodbye to her newfound friends. Warfelk flew off right away, as she didn’t like to show too much emotion. The mercat once again complained that if she were a full cat, she would be able to stay with Judith.  Judith reminded her that she couldn’t talk if she were a cat, and would no longer be with her pod of mercats. The mercat hadn’t thought of the positivity of being part mermaid.

“I also wouldn’t be able to swim, at least not as well as I can now,” the mercat added. She gave Judith a goodbye hug and swam off to go meet the rest of her pod.

            As for Judith and her uncle, they went back to their town and told everyone about their amazing adventures. As for whether anyone believed them, what do you think?

Thanks for letting me ramble-

Betsy                                                                           p.s. new blog design will be coming up                                                                                            sometime soon, made by Brittney! She is                                                                       fantastic and great to work with, totally recommend her!

                                                                             p.p.s. I know the formatting will probably show                                                                                  up weird, I copy and pasted this from Word.