The sea sure was vast. He would swear it was unending if he did not know better.

He had lost count of how many days he had been swimming. As well, how many times Alon had to tell Iara to slow down; only he seemed to remember he was not used to swimming miles a day like them. She always lost herself in her enthusiasm. Multiple times they had to search for her in the waters, due to her fast pace. But they wouldn’t really complain, not when they were having as much fun as her.

Matthew was human. And as human, he had a simple view of the sea in the past. He had imagined it all would be the same, an infinity of blue and green, depending on the moon and sun. He was wrong. The journey was long; Alon warned beforehand that they would have to venture far from land. It did not worry him. It made him wonder. Each day, they got deeper into the ocean, indeed. And each day, his eyes opened in amazement at each view. He had seen colourful coral near the cay, there was also a beach full of rare black rocks. But nothing compared with what laid sunken away from his home.

They led him through the vast waters, which sometimes were wide open, indeed an abyss in which to advance and get lost. But it sometimes glinted in warm hues, bright sunlight piercing it. It did not look empty either; sometimes it reflected the gleams of the huge swarms of sea life that roamed, nothing he had ever seen. Fish did not seem to flee as much from them in deeper waters, like they did with ships and humans. They only fled when Iara swam through it all, catching a few in the process with her usual cackle.

Those infinite waters were not the only thing he saw. He saw huge formations of reefs, complex and high, striking yet natural, all tangling with more colours than what he thought to be able to process in his mind. The bottom of the ocean was full of plants of many types, all kinds of fish he had never seen, not even when he surfed the internet. It all seemed to flow between the vibrant rocks, a thousand places where to hide, to lay, to find sustain. It was full of life and warmth, the vegetation and sunrays always brushed the soft surfaces.

He thought all would be the same. And he thought wrong, the world always proved him wrong. As they swam through, together, his eyes looked at how all was different. Sometimes there were reefs, sometimes the bottoms held white sand that looked pleasant to the touch. He saw abysses that were less dark and scary, tangling only with the depths’ dim light, openings that would look inviting to anyone used to the dark. They did not venture into those, however.

They kept swimming close to the surface, always seeing the bright sky. Iara took pride in her jumps, taunting him when he only managed small ones. As much as he tried to match her, she was born to leap over any obstacle in life. Alon never seemed to tire, his tail kept kicking strongly but with precision, always behind them. He could swim for longer than them, but he always commanded to find a place to rest when night fell.

The days went along without him truly realizing it. The first day he kept glancing back towards the cay, not really believing he was leaving. Now, he could only look forward, at them. He forgot easily how much time he had been with them, not much. It felt like a long time when they would hold him in the nights, tightly but gently, never letting him drift with the occasional strong currents.

Alon did say they were heading into an area that was roamed by more merfolk. Still, when the time came, it was still a shock. Matthew had been following Iara along sharp reefs that day, both waiting for Alon to find some food around, a small pause in their travel. It had been an uneventful morning, until his hazel eyes saw something in the distance. She had snickered slightly, seeing him float mouth agape, watching a small group of merfolk talk and swim in the distance.

“It’s rude to stare, Matt.”

Matthew had blinked for her words, said rather teasingly. He did shy and blush when he realized he had really been staring intently. Much like humans, the merfolk eventually felt they were being looked at, and soon sent him rises of eyebrows, whispering from a distance. He ended up hiding slightly behind her, because the dolphins frowned at him, eyeing his tail. Again, as Alon said, a merfolk like him was uncommon and strange.

Iara pouted, hearing the group comment on him, even if Matthew’s curiosity was not harmful. Their judging glances were ruder than his wonder. She would have bolted towards them to shoo them away, because they had stopped swimming to glare, but she did not need to. Both of them blinked when the group suddenly gasped, backing slightly away, eyes opening warily. When they looked behind themselves, Alon was there, holding a plate of seaweed with fish on top. His silver eyes blinked, because that group fled rather quickly and with faint whispers, as soon as he neared. Hazel and azure eyes narrowed, understanding that the dolphins had swum away because of him.

It was something that made them want to curse, their worried frowns obvious. But the killer whale only laughed slightly, shrugging, assuring it was normal. He handed them the food as if nothing. Matthew ate silently, and Iara growled while devouring her share. Alon tried to calm her outrage, brushing away the matter, or at least trying to.

Matthew did not like how some merfolk feared Alon. But he could only calm down slightly, seeing those silver eyes fill with joy as his family was brought up. They were one day away from his home. He could see the love in his eyes, true care for the ones that gave him trust. His family did not care about what he was, but who.

The brunet smiled, because the conversation quickly changed that afternoon. Iara’s anger turned to wonder. She fired many rapid questions at Alon, who tried to answer them as best as he could.

Each had a different perspective of their meeting with his family, and all were nervous about it. Matthew was anxious about seeing more merfolk. Iara was excited to meet them already. And Alon wondered how he would explain his delay and sudden companions. Not that they would not be received with open arms, though.

Today they finally reached their destination. Now, they advanced through an area layered with soft sand, white rocks and long seaweed flowing all around, dressing the bottom like a garden. After a while, Matthew’s and Iara’s curiosity grew, because Alon smiled and beckoned them from in between some plants ahead. He pushed them aside with an arm, like a curtain in reverse. They swam through behind him, not needing to be careful between the seaweed, all flowing and drifting gently.

“Almost there.”

Iara and Matthew leaned their heads, seeing Alon fasten his pace, getting a little ahead again. They saw him peek behind some more kelp, look down at what laid behind. His tail seemed to sway nervously behind him.

Alon’s smile faded slightly, seeing well the familiar clearing between the reefs. The light above made it look like a field, but sandy. He slumped slightly as the other two floated over his shoulders, looking at it too with a frown. There was no one there.

However, they could see that someone had been there. There was what Matthew assumed a table made of coral and rocks, structured by weight. There were also containers made of seaweed. Many objects and trinkets were scattered on the sand around, made of coral. They watched as Alon swayed into the clearing, his smile turning into a small worried scowl. He soon whispered, raising his hands to fumble with them, his eyes trailing everything.

“We live here.” His big nest was not too far away, between rocks at the edge of the clearing. “We always come back here after the season. B-but-“

Matthew and Iara opened their mouths to say something, knowing that Alon was thinking that they could have maybe moved away, maybe because of his delay. But they couldn’t. They blinked, because something dashed fast between the plants nearby, two shadows suddenly casting over them. However, those shadows dashed before they could catch a glimpse of what made them. Two figures bolted fast over their heads, lunging for the orca giving them his back.

“Alon!”

His silver eyes widened, yelping as he was tackled from behind, pushed forward and onto the sand. Iara’s eyes glinted, Matthew stared mouth agape poker-faced. Both seeing Alon beam, struggling to sit on the sand as two twins pinned him, their dark blue tails moving nonstop while they yelled at him.

“Where were you?!”

“We were beginning to think you wouldn’t come back!”

“We were bored! Mom does not know how to make us jump as high as you out the water!”

“We missed your food too!”

“K-kids, please-“

They pouted, interrupting him with small slams of tail, their little fangs showing as they complained, not making his cheerful smile falter.

“We missed you!”

They huffed and fell silent, because Alon managed to wrap them between his arms and sit up. He ruffled their bristly hair, first his brother’s, then his sister’s. He eyed them with his usual fondness, noting their curious leans of head.

“I missed you too; did you really think I would not come back? And let you cause havoc?” Alon blinked, looking up, seeing Matthew and Iara there. One was swaying awkwardly; the other was staring with a warm grin. And so, he coughed, smiling nervously. “I kind of couldn’t come back yet.”

The twins slowly followed his glance, their bright blue eyes fixing on the dolphin and angelfish. Only Iara waved happily, Matthew still apprehensive of other merfolk. He could only yelp when those two escaped Alon’s hold, dashing, flanking them and piercing them with intent stares. Matthew grew more nervous, while Iara laughed, the small dolphins bouncing as they questioned, each time louder.

“Who are they?”

“Are they the reason you are late?

“What kind of merfolk is he?”

“She looks like a bottlenose. But he…”

Matthew squirmed away, because the two inched closer to him, their eyes squinted in wonder and deep thought. One dared nudge one of his silver fins, much to Iara’s amusement. Alon had no time to answer, the twins suddenly gasping, glaring at him with faked shocked sways. They yelled at him with pouts, scolding.

“You said you were not interested in the season! And look at you! You come back with someone!”

They pointed at Iara and Matthew with their arms, tails kicking.

“Not only one, two!”

Matthew did not catch up at first. But by seeing the red look on Alon’s face and how he began to blurt out…

“W-what?! It’s not that! I-!”

Iara let out a small huff and raised an eyebrow, no one paying mind to the brunet slowly sinking deadpanned.

“Al?” Alon had now three very energetic dolphins looking down at him, making him cower nervously. His siblings were crossing their arms, backing her up as she questioned. “I thought we meant something?”

He began to move his hands around, their narrowed eyes looming over him, inquisitive. He tried to say something, and at the same time nothing.

“I- They- I mean-! Iara, you-! My siblings-“

Iara gasped dramatically, faking lament, raising her head with a pout and wave of tail. She was obviously enjoying messing with Alon, finding his nervousness cute.

“How foolish I’ve been! And I was considering leaving my travels behind to nest and settle!”

Matthew had been swaying awkwardly, as far as possible from their ramblings, backing backwards towards the plants at the edge of the clearing. But he halted and blinked, seeing a shadow slowly loom over him from behind. It was cast by something, or someone. He slowly raised his gaze to Alon and Iara, all looking towards his direction when a strong and calm voice echoed behind him.

“What’s going on here about nesting?”

Matthew slowly looked back, tail and fins tensing. His eyes opened more as he saw a very slender mermaid, who was managing to send shivers down his spine even if she was smiling brightly. Her arms were crossed, her very long blue tail swaying gracefully below her. He floated frozen, dumb-faced, again shocked by the sight of another merfolk. Iara blinked with wonder when Alon tried to stand tall, composing himself nervously.

“H-hello, mother.”

Iara and Matthew had a sudden realization as they stared at the mermaid, her smug smile similar to the ones Alon would sometimes manage, just all the more poised. Her voice echoed again, sure of itself and affectionate, but all ever probing.

“You are finally back, son.” She stared at Matthew and Iara intensely, not losing her sharp smile. Alon sighed, noticing how Matthew tried to not bolt away from her curious stare. “I see that you are not alone. Who are they?”

The mermaid raised an eyebrow with an amused grin, seeing the angelfish raise his trembling hand in a half-thought awkward greeting, while the gray tailed dolphin swayed closer eagerly. The twins opened their mouths to answer her question, seeming to want to yell something. Luckily, Alon dashed and covered their mouths, preventing any awkward introductions. Matthew was grateful when he swam to his side next, facing his mother, smiling as he explained.

“Sorry for delaying.” He motioned a hand at them, ignoring how she was waving happily behind him. “These are Matthew and Iara, they-“

Alon sighed, because Iara bolted to shake the hand of his mother, who was unfazed by her energy and shook hers back.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am! I was so excited to finally see you!”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Iara. Name’s Maia.” She hummed, seeing her son shy away. “I guess he really could not avoid meeting someone while trying to avoid the crowds.”

“M-mother, please-“

Iara snorted, her voice interrupting, as always.

“Oh, he really was trying to isolate himself! You see, I was near a cay, as well ignoring all this season’s boring thing, when I cross paths with him. Even if he was helpful and I was grateful for it, he was fast to try to part ways, even if we both wanted to just swim around there. And of course, I couldn’t let him be so meek, so I made him stay, and it’s a long story really. So here we are.”

“My, that really sounds like him!” Maia smiled, amused by how he was trying to hide his blush under his long streaks of black hair. “Why don’t you make yourselves comfortable? You could tell me more while sitting around the table, eating something, don’t you think?”

Matthew knew it was not an offer, but a demand. That smile was truly caring, but as well strong, years of matriarchal lead giving it a fierce authority. Maia had crossed her arms and swayed towards the table, only halting to comment while she rummaged through some baskets.

“Don’t you just float there; you two are more than welcome.”

Both Matthew and Iara nodded, one more nervous than the other. The twins suddenly nudged them forward with a laugh, which did not fail to make him squirm and her grin. There was no doubt from where Alon got his softness and firmness.

———-

 

Maia lowered her hands onto the table, her head bowing with a frown, somehow still wearing a smile as she inquired.

“Son, didn’t you say you would never use the technique I taught you?”

Alon coughed and looked away shyly, because Iara was smiling smugly at his side. He answered his mother, glad that Matthew was keeping his gaze averted at his other side.

“It was necessary. It was no regular shark.”

Iara nodded firmly, patting the table with a firm hand.

“And he did it with great skill! I wouldn’t be here if not!”

They had been asked how they met, Iara quick to relate how they ended up swimming together around that cay. Matthew was still baffled by the fact that Maia knew how to turn sharks around, given that she was smaller than Iara. But deep inside he knew it was possible,  her loving tone always tangled with strong resolve.

“It does not matter, son. You did well, I’m proud.” She looked away from him, only to lay eyes on Matthew, who trembled again under her stare. “I still wonder how you met him, though. I can see he… is an angelfish? They never roam in the ocean.”

Her eyes were subtly narrowed with interest, finding his tail too similar to the one of a dolphin. She had not seen one like him before. Iara was fast to cough and say something hurriedly, because Matthew was growing even more anxious.

“He lived around the cay! We found him around, and he helped me get Alon free from some rocks.”

Iara knew well that it was easier to lie with some truth. Maia inquired, eyeing her son carefully.

“You got stuck?”

Alon sighed and fumbled with his hands, never keeping an answer from his mother.

“Yes. There was a storm.” Matthew smiled, because Alon looked down at him gratefully. “Thanks to him, I got out. I’m fine. So there’s no need to talk about it.”

Maia let it go, but she still laughed, speaking softly.

“Good that he was around then. I see he has stayed by you.” Her eyes closed, her voice growing nostalgic. “I remember when I found you, roaming remote waters, alone and lost. I couldn’t leave you since then either. You are that endearing.”

The three watched as she sighed, brushing away the matter with a sad shake of head. She smiled brightly again, looking at her other adopted children, the two propped over Alon’s shoulders.

“Kids, why don’t you swim around and fetch some soft seaweed? It’s getting late and they will need a nice place to sleep. Your brother can’t leave so soon, can he?”

The two small Irrawaddy dolphins beamed, fast to dash upright.

“Yes, mom!”

Alon chuckled, having missed their energy and enthusiasm. He watched as they bolted away, exchanging words all around, fast to disappear between plants and rocks. They for sure wanted him to stay as many days as possible. Because it was obvious that he would leave with Iara and Matthew.

The clearing fell silent, no more echoes from the kids reaching it. The three were now alone with the very thoughtful Tucuxi dolphin. Alon soon frowned, only he noticing that his mother was eerily silent, staring at a small bowl on the table, her eyes half narrowed. It took a minute until she spoke, sure that they were alone, unable to be heard by the children. Her tone was strangely serious, slow even if still affectionate.

“I sometimes have a tendency to roam seas where I don’t belong. My tail can carry me through any waters, no matter how cold or warm.” Hazel, azure and silver eyes widened, because Maia looked up at them with a knowing smile, almost sly. “I wonder why a human would leave land, and how could it manage to be like us.”

The three had no words, trying to process what was suddenly said. Maia could see well that Iara and Alon were not surprised to hear he was human, they knew already. Her son was the first one to blurt something.

“H-how do you-?”

“Please, Alon, I know a human when I see one. My eyes have spied many in my young days before I settled to be a mother. As well, I can read you like an open book. You couldn’t stop looking at him while we talked about how you met, very nervously.” Matthew’s fins were spiking, obviously dreadful, so she raised a hand and smiled kindly. “There’s no need to worry, I hold no hate for your kind. I am only curious about the implications of your presence. You are close, I can see that.”

The three calmed down slightly, seeing her smile without malice, her tail swaying calmly behind her. Alon decided to confront his mother directly, in order to prevent any more questions. Matthew averted his gaze when a small silver glow sparked, knowing it was invoked for his sake. Iara’s expression grew solemn, because Maia stared calmly at that light. He looked at his mother firmly, never wanting to hide anything from her… even if it could mean her admonition.

“None of us has ever wielded magic.” She met his silver eyes, leaning her head curiously. “You learned while you were gone, didn’t you?”

There was another glow.

“I taught him.”

Matthew fidgeted, because Iara slammed her hand on the table. Her chest puffed out as she defended Alon, both of them facing her firmly. He worried for them, having heard magic was frowned upon by merfolk. But he did not need to. Those azure and silver eyes softened, because there was only honest wonder, a curious lean to inspect their glows.

“Impressive. I must say you did an admirable job, considering these spells often fail, horribly.” Maia had one more question. “What made you wish for this?”

They were not the ones to answer.

“They knew I wanted to be with them.” The glows faded, because Matthew finally spoke up. Alon and Iara frowned, seeing him grimace and whisper to avoid them scorn. “I still have no clue what I’m doing, sure, but I will learn to leave my humanity behind. It is obvious what I am, I know, but I’m changing. That, I owe them.”

The two gave him disapproving glances, their mouths opening to speak up. But Maia took that chance again, taking them aback.

“Leave behind what you are?” They stared as she gave him a stern shake of head, smiling with amusement. “Young man, I think that you seem to forget they neared you when you were human. No, what am I saying? You are still human, there’s no way to erase that. “

“I-“

“Not that you are not a merman now, you are both.” Alon grew prouder of his mother as she laid out facts. “There’s no need to hide it. We could use more open minds in this ocean. Alon knows well what I mean. Don’t try to change things you don’t need to.”

The three fell silent. Matthew pondered, staring at his tail. Alon closed his eyes, smiling. While Iara tensed, swearing to be there for them. Maia nudged her food again, suddenly changing the topic. They did not need to keep talking about upsetting things.

“Now, that reminds me, you need more food. Your plates are empty already.” She floated up with a hum, swaying towards a basket. “I have some snacks around here; very well hidden, so the twins don’t snatch them. There are some ingredients too, Alon. Would you like to give me a hand?”

Iara and Matthew snorted, because Alon suddenly kicked his tail to float up. His eyes glinted, his fangs showing as he answered proudly.

“But of course!”

Maia looked over her shoulder, amused by his sudden improved mood. Matthew and Iara exchanged knowing looks, seeing him bolt at the prospect of preparing something for them. In a matter of minutes, he had made more food with his mother, the cheerfulness obvious on his face. Many plates were served, prepared with a skill he had always tried to follow and attain.

Those hazel eyes looked at it all in wonder, seeing food he had not been able to taste before, resources limited near the cay. The sea was truly grand, yet familiar.

He had a lot to see yet.

—————-

——–

—

 

There were too many areas they had not explored. It had taken little time for them to share Iara’s wonder. They spent a long time travelling, following her lead.

Today, they had found a grand formation of reefs, which raised tall all around, and at the same time left a lot of space between them. It was a small labyrinth, something she was fast to want to explore.

“Wait up, Iara!”

“Ia, I swear, I will not help you make the nest tonight with how you are making me swim!”

She laughed, looking over her shoulder as she kicked her tail strongly. They were struggling to keep her pace, following around rocks and turns.

“You two are sea-snails! Come on, we have to find a good place to nest before night falls!”

Alon panted, while Matthew growled, both seeing her dash around yet another reef.

“We wouldn’t need to rest so much if she didn’t dash like this!”

“I am able to swim for miles a day… But her speed is exhausting.”

They chased for a while, unable to catch up. But eventually, they would. She had halted ahead, finding an unexpected view. The two reefs at her sides ended abruptly after a turn, leading to something that made her stare mouth agape. Two caught up after a minute, panting, seeing her floating there.

“T-there you are, g-grew tired already, Ia?!”

“Please, tell me you have spotted a good place to nest and-“

“Look at that, guys.”

They blinked, hearing her amazed tone. Her tail was pointing ahead, below. They slowly swam to her sides, a few seconds needed for them to realize what they were seeing.

“Is that…?“

“Woah.”

She nodded, staring at the sunken ship, huge between the two reefs, its mast almost reaching the surface above. It occupied most of the space on the bottom, only leaving a small clearing at one of its sides. There was a big gap on its hull, the ancient wood torn.

“It’s a sunken battleship.”

It looked old, very much so. Its surface was preserved in time, not looking rotten. Sand covered its keel. It surely sunk when it hit those reefs, centuries ago. The big cabins near the helm had big ornamented windows, all huge. The three sunk slowly to it, side by side. Matthew hid slightly behind Alon. Iara led without fear into the huge gap that flooded the vessel. They stared at the huge holds inside; this place could be a palace in size.

Iara was fast to dash for anything that looked human-made, Alon gaped at the huge windows, while Matthew pouted at the damaged maps on the floor. There were a sword and helmet nearby, resting on a chair, of conquering times. There surely had been a skeleton sitting there, but time had taken it away.

Matthew was not exactly scared, only amazed by finding this. It was something that no human had discovered, not yet. There were objects scattered all around, untouched since the sinking, all strangely fascinating. It was all meant for a king or noble, boasting elegance and size. The two blinked when Iara clapped her hands, turning to face them with a twirl, beaming.

“I like this place! Let’s nest here!”

“Here?”

“In a ship?”

“Yeah!” She bolted for a big bed near a wall, of which only a wooden frame remained. “Look at this! Matt, you told me how you humans sleep, with blankets made of wool and stuff! It doesn’t have any, but we can make some with seaweed! You two are good at tying it up!”

“Ia, it would take us days to make a good fabric, not only bundle seaweed to sleep.”

She nodded, shrugging.

“I know! But you know? If we are going to keep exploring the ocean, we need a base!” They stared as she raised her arms, cackling. “This place is perfect! I mean, it’s secluded, hard to find. But we know it’s here! It has a room, it is human-made, and it’s BIG! I like the decoration too! You are human, you should like it too!”

Matthew made a face at it, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s old. Like, very old. I’m not even sure of which century. And by looking at that sword and maps, I don’t think they were the friendliest of people. That cup is made of silver, there is a freaking canon, and the storage is huge, full of cells and chains. This ship was-“

“We have a lot of material to work with, then!” Matthew rolled his eyes, because merfolk did not know much of human history. She bounced in front of Alon, who pondered her ideas. “We could fix everything that’s broken and tidy up!”

Alon smiled, laying his chin on his hand in thought.

“I think we wouldn’t need that mast. I could use it to make a better entrance in that gap, so we don’t get any cuts while swimming through.” He turned to face Matthew, raising an eyebrow. “Would you help me measure it? I don’t want to mess up and cut too much or too little. You are handier than I.”

Matthew floated poker-faced for a minute. Alon sighed, while Iara snorted, because the brunet suddenly leaned his head and gave him a sarcastic look.

“Handier, huh?” He waved his only hand, mockingly. “Or you are calling me a genius, or this place is going to suck.”

Alon decided to just begin to swim out, while Iara swayed closer to Matthew, snickering.

“Oh don’t worry, Matt! This ship sunk already, you can’t ruin it more!”

Alon pushed the door out to deck, ignoring the sound of bickering and swats coming from inside. He looked around, already imagining how this place could be if cleaned up. It surely would be a nice place to stay in.

“At least I know what I’m looking at! Like those maps!”

“Who needs a map when one can just swim ahead?!”

“And slam face-first onto a rock! You compulsive lunatic!”

“One to speak, you clumsy noodle!”

“Voracious glutton!”

“Fish out of water, in water!”

“That’s a low blow! At least I learn fast! You have been in the sea all your life!”

“If the opportunity arose, I would prove I am able to face anything! Everywhere! I will know everything!”

“Whale aren’t you smart? What are those things near the maps, huh?!”

“Forks! Of course!”

“Sextants, Ia. Do I bother to show you how a helmet works? Or is it too strange and weird for your fish brain to process?! Are clothes too complex for you to finally understand how to wear them?”

“You seem to forget I’m a dolphin, you are fishier than I. And besides…” A dash echoed, followed by a loud yelp and a metallic sound. “Clothes are more your thing, you human dork!”

“I-ia?! I- I can’t see! G-get this helmet off my-!”

There was the sound of something colliding with a wall. This place would be nice indeed, if the two did not wreck it.