Stranded

Desert Island

Monty woke up with sand underneath him. He was stranded on an island. He was perplexed at his location because the night before he was certain he had fallen asleep in his own bed. He heard the waves lapping on the smooth rocks and damp sand, creating a gentle splash. Behind him were a few tall palm trees swaying in the light breeze, with small bunches of coconuts hanging up and down the tree trunks.

Dangling from some vines were exotic produce like passion fruit and mangoes. Nearby were orange trees with many colourful birds, such as humming birds and macaws, perched in their branches, nibbling the fruits. Fluorescent flowers growing in the shade created a carpet. There was a splash and Monty turned around where he was left staring at a flowing waterfall, the water crystal clear but also a bright cobalt blue.

Tiny tropical fish swam through the lake, softly rippling the water surface. The grass all around was a vibrant jade green and it carpeted Monty's feet on the firm soil. Parrots tweeted as they soared through the pure, cloudless sky. Monty's eyes often shifted over and stared at the huge, charcoal grey mountains, looking foggy in the distance. He sauntered over the powdery sand beneath him and the golden dust seeped between his toes.

The large mountains were not exactly towering but created shadows that contrasted the the deep green jungle. He wanted a better view and spotted a tall tree and intended to climb it. Monty sprinted across the yellow beach. He bent his hands around a thick, stable branch and proceeded to make an ascent up the tree like a ladder. He certainly had a better outlook on the island and then he realised it was bigger than expected.

At the pinnacle of the tree, it felt icy, even though there was still a warm wind wrapping around Monty. Shielding his eyes from the gust, out of the corner of his eye, Monty distinguished a shadowy cave. The hollow cavity was low in the cliffside just above the beach he was on earlier. He swiftly descended down the bulky tree trunk. He darted over the ochre shore and stopped when he reached the cavern entrance.

There were two rather small boulders either side of the cave opening, looking like important gate-keepers. This made Monty additionally inquisitive. Almost jumping with adrenaline, he was eager to explore. This strange, void-like grotto was in complete silence. Monty soon found that the cave was a tunnel that unfolded into a clearing in the centre of a dense forest where lofty trees formed a canopy overhead.

Monty heard a mellow tapping behind him and suddenly experienced a nervous feeling for this honest and sweet seeming place. That emotion quickly left. Infront of him, Monty faced a petite baby deer. Its back was scattered with pale dots and minute stumps of antlers were sprouting through its delicate head. The pocket-sized fawn appeared happy but innocently lost, drifting away from its mother.

Spellbound, Monty thought that the fawns mother would come soon and seconds later, a slightly larger doe walked through the blossomed hedge, clearly searching for its precious child. In shock, Monty returned the missing deer. After both deer had gone, he found a comfortable patch of compacted moss and settled down as he was exhausted and it was getting darker. Monty had no watch and no way of telling time but he lay down anyway.

Despite it being colder and the sky darkening, Monty could still see soft pink clouds adorning the gradient sky like silky lace on a dress. The sun was setting, casting a rosy radiance over everything. Hours passed by and Monty still felt toasty. He had preserved his heat with a blanket he had woken up with the morning before. Now the sky above him was deep denim splashed with glowing white paint.

Monty shut his eyes but for a long while could still hear owls tweeting in the high undergrowth. It was surprisingly soothing and eventually, Monty dozed off the the light noise of sea waves.

The whole world was black. Monty's eyes opened to his bedroom sights. Yesterday's laundry embellished the indigo carpet, his light grey curtains and blind were drawn but pale gold sunlight was oozing through the window. The wonderful smell of bacon, obviously brunch, glided throughout his ajar door from downstairs. "Hey Mont, breakfast!" His mum called. It was just a dream.