The waves crashed strongly. Yet they did not reach the three figures stepping along the uneven shoreline. A dog expertly followed the one jumping from rock to rock, manoeuvring playfully along the eastern coast. Her azure eyes did not look up or lose any focus when a voice called worriedly.

“Iara, please be careful.”

Those silver eyes looked sideways, at the brunet who dismissed his plea with a shake of head.

“Let it be. She won’t listen.”

Alon looked down again to the rocks below, seeing her jump closer to the waves, swaying happily as they brushed her feet. And so, he sighed, nodding slowly. He kept following Matthew, both walking and manoeuvring on higher rocks, advancing along the area where their existence began to be acknowledged. Iara kept on bouncing ahead below, perhaps trying to find the spot where she made water splash higher than she ever did before. Her steps were almost as graceful as her moves of tail, even if she was walking on uneven terrain. Not even Shamira was worried.

It certainly had been a long time since they glared at each other there. Matthew closed his eyes, walking with his hand in one pocket, a nostalgic look on his face. He focused on the gentle sound of the waves, which brushed the rocks. He remembered how he sat to gaze down on them long ago. The rocks provided a blockade he found comforting, against what he thought dangerous. He couldn’t have been more wrong.

He smiled, loving to see how Alon walked easily over the terrain, never lagging behind. His steps were surer, stronger, and faster. A walker helped, perhaps. They had been in the cay for some time. Enough to have seen most of it, their humanity understood. However, even though they really seemed human, they weren’t completely.

The three sat onto the edge of the high rocks, Iara a few meters below them, all gazing at the sea. Matthew and Alon could not deny what she whispered next.

“The sky gets cloudier every day.”

Hazel, silver and azure eyes contemplated the grey sky, the air flowing much colder than when they emerged onto land. Still, they stayed there for a long while, enjoying the landscape that had become so familiar. She could not avoid admitting something.

“I’ll miss this place.”

Matthew did not move while Iara climbed back to them, to sit at their side. Alon was the one to whisper next, meeting her nostalgic gaze.

“I will too. But we will come back.”

Shamira let out a sad whine, curling on their laps. Matthew only nodded, smiling a little. The two had seen what he had before meeting them. He wished he could show them more; they would love to see other places, more impressive sights. Perhaps huge cities, monuments, and museums full of human history. Still, they belonged to the waters, which called deep inside. They needed to be like the waves, and course back and forth. This time, however, they were able to flow together.

They would return to the sea. It was only a matter of time. The air was colder every day.

————-

 

His hands pushed carefully the pages, slowly. He had a pen in hand, with which to scribble notes over the ones already written. A thoughtful long glance was given to a certain page, as he leaned back slightly, contemplating. The office was calm; there was no dog napping nearby, no patients needing assistance.

Jason would have kept on reading and pondering, but he lowered the pen instead, hearing something.

“D-dammit, Shamira!”

“I have never seen her like this.”

“Alon, hand the walker to Iara and help me pull at her! I can’t handle-!”

Jason heard the determined angry barks, a strong pull, Matthew yelping. There was no thud other than a little rustling, angry growls both from a dog and a brunet. It took a minute and multiple nervous whispers, but once the youngsters seemed to handle the dog scrambling against their hold, there was a knock. It was a faint and doubtful knock.

He let the pen down onto the desk, knowing why they were here. He had given them the walker a few weeks ago, noting the gratefulness in their nervousness. They were anxious for any question that could come. He asked nothing. Now, there would be none as well; they came to return what he gave. And so, he spoke up, leaning back onto his chair.

“Come in.”

The door opened slowly, azure, silver and hazel eyes peeking in nervously, awkwardly. Jason watched with slight surprise as Matthew and Alon tried to drag Shamira in by a leash. She had her paws spread in front of her, to try to halt their pull, letting out annoyed growls and whines. It was like if she did not want to be here.

When the two managed to get closer to the desk, Iara stepped in, dragging rather carelessly a walker. Alon still hid slightly behind Matthew, who kept Shamira still. The next words were shy, a little tired.

“We don’t need the walker anymore, Jay.”

Alon blushed and looked away, mumbling something.

“T-thank you.”

Jason could see that it really had helped in one way or another. As well, the gratefulness in those silver eyes, below the apprehension.

“You’re welcome.” Again, there were no questions about it. The three looked down at Shamira when Jason did, looking over the desk with his hands clasped together. “What is the matter with her?”

Matthew frowned, still having to hold the leash tightly. He would have been the only one to come and return the walker, but that plan was thrown out the window. At the very moment they mentioned giving Shamira back, she went crazy. Even if Alon was nervous around the doctor, he had to come to help him bring her.

“We are leaving soon, in a week or so.” Shamira barked angrily, because Matthew handed the leash to Jason. “So, she should come back to you.”

Jason took the leash, seeing slight remorse in those hazel eyes. Shamira only managed to give a swat to Matthew’s leg before he stepped back. The trio looked sadly at the dog, ready to leave towards the door.

“I see.”

Only Iara had the strength to crouch near Shamira and Jason’s desk, petting her as she made puppy eyes. Matthew had already hugged her a lot before leaving his house.

“Don’t worry, Shamira. We will be back sooner than you think, alright?”

Her azure eyes narrowed sadly, because Shamira licked her cheek, not glad to hear that. Still, Iara stood up, turning slightly to leave. As soon as she took a step away, however, something bit onto the end of her dress. She yelped, stepping back clumsily and leaning onto the desk to not fall, blinking as a loud howl echoed.

All stared baffled as Shamira bit harmlessly but fiercely on her dress, pulling insistently, preventing her from moving away. She glared up at the four, not seeming to want to let go anytime soon. To further prove her thoughts, she sat down. Iara sighed, Alon fidgeted at the door, while Matthew stepped closer to the desk again.

“Shamira, chum, why don’t you want to stay with Jay? We can’t take you with us!”

Matthew yelped when he tried to open Shamira’s mouth, because she swatted at him, pushing his hand off. The brunet was not amused by that. Both soon struggled against the other, one wanting to release Iara’s dress, the other wanting to keep holding it.

Iara just stood there, hearing both human and dog snarl at each other. There was an angry mumble, something about a ban on treats. Her azure eyes began to look around, trying to not look at Shamira or Matthew. She just ended up glancing at the desk, looking at what laid onto it. Jason followed her suddenly intent gaze, seeming to have seen something that caught her curiosity.

“Is that…?”

Jason leaned his head, and then pushed the book for her to see the illustration better.

“A mermaid, yes.”

Matthew let out a gasp of triumph, while Shamira yelped. He managed to pull her away from the dress, both falling backwards, the dog struggling in his one-armed hold. However, Iara was not taking the chance to walk away out the door. She was instead leaning closer to the desk, staring at the book.

“Ia?! Can’t hold Shamira for long!”

She ignored his complaint. Her eyes narrowed as she took the book in her hands, inspecting it. Her fingers brushed the drawing, which showed a siren luring sailors, to drown them.

“Is this really how they are usually portrayed?”

Jason did not miss the wonder in her eyes, more curious than angry. She seemed to be debating the reason for such drawing, more than being outraged by it. And so, the doctor stood and approached the bookshelves nearby; Alon watched warily as a few books were taken, the next words thoughtful.

“They are usually depicted like that. It is very common in mythology to portray anything different from humans as not worthy of trust. It may be an outcome of our past aversion towards foreign things, which could be dangerous. I see it as foolish to keep those beliefs nowadays, considering that we have not seen them doing such things. They have not even appeared before us, after all.” He let a few books down, which fascinated Iara. He pointed at a portrayal of an angel, then to one of a sphinx, a phoenix, a dragon. Every book was different. “We try to make the most of our minds. We make stories, anything with what we imagine or see. Wonder flows in us.”

In that, they were not different. Jason was not surprised when Iara began to read the books, inspecting them seriously, every fact making a million thoughts flow in her mind. Matthew stood slowly, because Shamira had escaped his hold, now again at her side. This time she did not need to howl, because the mermaid was too focused on the books.

Jason looked at them, crossing his arms behind his back, pondering.

“You said a week, didn’t you?”

Matthew rubbed the back of his neck, not understanding his intense look.

“Yeah?”

Jason smiled a little, meeting those azure eyes, which glinted when an offer was let out.

“You seem interested in my collection; something that I admire, for only a few have paid mind to it, even if I would share its knowledge gladly.” Jason looked down at Shamira, whose tail began to sway with hope when the next words were let out. “She does not seem to want to part ways yet. So, if you wished, you could stay here reading and making her company.”

Alon tensed, not liking the idea of letting Iara stay here, because Jason would be able to make dangerous questions. He did not like how she agreed instantly either, she was too excited about seeing new things.

“I would love to read your collection! Do you have some books about hum- H-history?”

Her smile was as bright as the sun, all could see. Jason nodded and let her browse the bookshelves. Alon was going to protest, step closer and argue with her. But he blinked, an arm blocking his way. He glared in question at Matthew, who kept him away.

Matthew nodded at Jason, Shamira and Iara. His calm expression was telling enough. And so, Alon took a deep breath and controlled his wariness. They watched her sit on another chair to read, petting Shamira, firing questions all the while. Questions that Jason began to try to answer gladly, not making a single one himself.

Alon and Matthew exchanged words without speaking. Iara was not stupid; her apparent aloofness was a tool, she would stop any trail of words that could bring trouble.

Matthew knew Jason for a long time; he knew Iara would be alright if she spent some time here before they left the cay. Knowing this too, Alon let out a long huff, letting it be. They both turned for the door, deciding to spend some time around the market while she stayed here.

That did not mean Alon did not glare back. His eyes pierced Jason, sending a clear warning. It was a stare that the human met calmly, unfazed. There was no need to worry about possible questions or wonder. He would only know what he would be allowed to.

—————

 

They both were sitting on a bench. Matthew was leaning back on it with a bored expression, his only arm behind his head. Meanwhile, Alon was sitting casually while eating, having bought a pastry from the bakery. They both were trying to kill some time, because Iara had gone to check Jason’s books, again. Every day she seemed more eager to do so, and they could not avoid noticing a small glint in her eyes, every single time.

She answered vaguely when they asked if Jason questioned her. She had this sly look to her as she affirmed they were only talking about the world, common useful information. Matthew knew she was surely letting something out. But he trusted her judgment and his silence.

In her absence, the two had been looking at the plaza, giving their backs to the street that led to Jason’s place. So when Iara decided to jump and throw her arms over their shoulders, it was no surprise that Matthew yelped and Alon almost dropped his pastry.

“Hey guys, look what I got!”

Matthew recovered slightly from the sudden greeting, and then yelled back at her.

“Ia, I swear you are going to give me a heart attack one of these days! Can’t you-?!”

He halted, noticing what Alon saw first. They both stared pokerfaced, not at what she had in one hand, but at what sat smugly at her side.

“Ia?”

“Yes?”

“Why the hell is Shamira here? Not with Jason, as she should be?”

Iara smiled sheepishly under Matthew’s accusing sarcastic glare, her azure eyes looking up with that proud expression they knew well.

“She is with me because she is mine now!” She purposely tried to change the subject, showing them the book in her hold. “Like this book is! Jason gave it to me! It’s about a mermaid who saves a prince in a storm, and she wants to see the world and there’s this bad octopus-witch that-!”

Matthew stood from the bench harshly, almost tripping as he motioned his only hand in bafflement.

“Wait, wait, wait! Yours?!”

She looked away with a sly grin, almost seeming to enjoy averting the matter.

“Yeah! The book is mine! I read it so many times that Jason just decided to give it to me! He told me there’s a movie, which we could watch before leaving. We still have time!”

Matthew let out a long exasperated huff and leaned closer to her, pointing down at Shamira, who seemed to be far too calm.

“No! I’m not talking about the book, you airhead!” She stuck her tongue out, pouting as he stomped a foot, rambling angrily. “Shamira, yours? Ia, are you aware of what we are going to do very soon?! She can’t stay with Ethan; he gave her back to Jason when I left with you! Do you expect her to stay alone in my house?! Someone has to take care of her, and we can’t!”

“We can take care of her.”

He blinked, seeing her pat her leg for Shamira to follow her. Both began to walk down the street towards his house, proudly and without a care. Matthew was the one to manage to say something, even if very little, because Alon was as baffled as him.

“What?”

She waved the book at them, calling them too.

“Don’t you stay there! We have a movie to watch! I’m not leaving without seeing it!”

She chuckled, because the two were not getting it. She would explain once they got home. The market was not a good place where to let it out, roamed by humans that could hear.

She had only talked about her life with two. Her trust was hard to gain. But words had been exchanged equally with a third, without judgment, understanding.

————-

 

Another can was opened. He took a long gulp, sighing loudly next. And yet, it did not muffle the loud arguing outside the cabin. A parrot was curling against his shoulder, bothered by the bickering.

“She is a dog.”

“She does not have to be one!”

“Ia, you don’t seem to get it, do you? She can’t just follow us! She has always been on land!”

“You learned how to live in water! Besides, she will change perfectly! We are three!”

“D-don’t summon your glow already!”

“I was not going to do anything yet! I’m just saying that it’s safe and reasonable! Isn’t it, Al?”

“Shamira only seems to care about staying with you two. She knows how to swim; we would only need to keep an eye. There is time to spare; we planned to stay a whole week around the cay’s coasts anyway.”

“Alon, you too? What, you want to bring everything into the sea?!”

“Oh come on, we grew legs for you!”

“But you are going to grow tails again! You have the brains to understand the concept of time and planning! She does not! You pretend to transform her into… What did you say you wanted to turn her into?”

“A seal! Seals are sea dogs!”

“How the hell are seals the equivalent of dogs?”

“There are only a few differences! Like a lack of ears!”

Ethan continued to ignore their ramblings. He kept on resting on the cabin’s seats, wondering when the three would make up their minds and change. He would stay around with his ship for some days to make sure they were alright, but he would not let them sleep in his cabin if they kept on delaying. If they wanted to argue, they could do it underwater.

Matthew surrendered on deck, giving his back to the other two. Iara pouted and hugged Shamira, both looking at him with grumpy looks as he warned.

“Fine, do what you want. But if she becomes a little monstrosity and defies all laws of nature, don’t blame me.”

Iara let out a long whine, begging with her eyes.

“Maaaaaatt, you have to want her to change! It can’t go wrong if three wish it at once!”

Matthew leaned against a railing, looking grumpily at the sea.

“I do want her to come with us, I just worry. She’s an animal, she can panic.”

Shamira seemed to let out an offended huff, while Iara coughed something.

“She’s smart as a human, or more. And I doubt she will panic as much as you do when a fish brushes your fins.”

Matthew glared down at her, but she only whistled, like if she said nothing. Alon smiled and looked up at the sun, which was looming over them. Half of the day was gone already. He spoke up, reminding them of what they planned to do today.

“Matthew, Iara, we should go into the water. It will take us a while to invoke the spell.”

The other two seemed to let go of their quarrel, both agreeing with Alon.

“Right, we can argue this later.”

“Is it weird that I’ll miss my legs?”

Matthew had not thought her words could surprise him anymore, but again, he was wrong. He just shook his head, looking at the cabin nearby. He called awkwardly, warning.

“Ethan?!” He heard a questioning grumble, so he continued. “We’re going into the water!”

There was another mutter, and then he knew Ethan had shrugged like if he had no care in the world.

Ethan had argued that they should leave their things in the boat, for he would not like to retrieve them on the beach. The deck could provide a good place for them to rest after the change, below the warmth of the sun. Their skin would have to adapt again, susceptible to the cold waters for a while. They had already prepared towels and lowered that big net.

After a while, in which Ethan did not dare leave the cabin, there were whispers and a searing sound. It came from those blazing glows, which seemed to echo faintly. They were muffled by rustling noises, questioning barks. Soon, there were three splashes of water, one stronger than the other two. All would have been quiet for a while, if not for the curious whines of a dog, who kept looking at the waves from the deck. The three had dived underwater, and their outlines were not easy to distinguish, because their glows were tangling and intensifying.

Only the two animals heard the sound of breaths being exchanged, the faint whispers and sizzling of the lights. The glows faded after some minutes, and there was silence for a while.

Shamira barked, seeing the three emerge, at last, taking deep breaths. There were fins and tails, flowing tiredly below them. Matthew panted, reaching slowly for the big net hanging from the boat’s side. He slowly crawled in, thanking Alon when he helped him lay down. Iara pushed his tail so it would not hang out and brush the ship’s hull. Once settled, he called tiredly, unable to see the deck above.

“Ethan?! Could you pull us up?!”

There were some exasperated grumbles, the sound of steps coming closer. Alon was the only one tall enough to see Ethan move above. Matthew yelped when the net began to raise, his body leaning slightly with the sudden motion. He had to hang onto the net to not fall backwards, like a fish out of water.

He did look like one when Ethan pulled him onto the deck, his tail trapped below the net. He smiled sheepishly, soon untangled and freed, stared down with a familiar stern expression.

“I’ll never get used to seeing you with fins.”

Matthew moved the end of his tail jokingly, managing a smug smile in his tiredness.

“Well, then stop looking and fish them up! Then you can go back to your cabin!”

Ethan resisted the urge of shoving him offboard again. Matthew pushed the net with his tail, making it fall down again. Alon helped Iara get into it, not only because he cared for her, but because he was nervous to go back up.

Iara crawled flawlessly onto deck, fast to ruffle herself against Shamira, nudging her with her fins. Only Matthew looked down overboard, peeking as Ethan lowered the net once more. Those silver eyes showed apprehension, the next question nervous.

“W-will it handle my weight?”

Ethan snorted, leaning onto the nearby railing.

“It will. This old boat has fished heavier things than you. However, I don’t think you will exactly fit.”

Matthew bit his lip, seeing Alon nudge the net, trying to sit on it. Both frowned as they saw his tail hang out, unable to rest inside completely. It caused him to slump in an awkward position, almost like a real fish.

“Mmm…” Matthew grinned a little, moving closer to Ethan. “Should I give you a hand?”

Ethan nodded, crossing his arms.

“Yeah, help me pull him up. I’ve never fished a whale.”

There came the shy call.

“Dolphin!”

“Whatever. You’re all fishes.”

“Actually, we are still mammals, Ethan. We are not-“

Matthew shut up, because Ethan had already begun to raise the net. He sighed and helped him rotate the crank as much as he could while sitting on his tail. Both huffed, because Alon weighted much more than them. The merman yelped a few times when the net would sway, his tail trembling as it hanged.

He quickly scrambled into the boat, pulled by Matthew. He was fast to curl his tail and move away from the net. Ethan sighed, while a parrot leaned to stare at the two mermen, one trying to calm down the other. The sailor slowly walked back towards the cabin, letting them be.

“Give me a call if you need anything.”

Matthew gave Ethan a grateful smile, to then look back at Alon. He patted his back with a small chuckle, seeing him try to sit up. The three rested there to regain their breaths, moving their tails, which felt numb and slightly foreign. The three of them felt that way. Both Alon and Iara found it strange to lose their legs.

It was not as obvious on Iara though. She was fast to make herself comfortable on deck, fins swaying happily while she petted the dog plopped onto her gray tail. She did not care much about being exhausted.

The trio stayed there all morning. It took them a long while to finally stop feeling dazed; they rested below the sun for hours. Once they recovered, they began to discuss the matter at hand again.

A dog yawned as more arguing echoed, the three trying to agree on how to approach the situation. They could either do it in water or on deck. Considering they wanted to turn her into a seal, they did not think she needed to breathe water or blood. They shared blood because they were similar species. By the time they agreed Shamira should change in the water and below the moon, it was already nighttime.

They looked up at the moon, which loomed over them. Ethan did not argue against sailing closer to the beach, letting the boat sway near the shore. The three dived down into shallow water, and Iara called Shamira to jump down too. The dog seemed to debate for a moment, but after an annoyed huff, she jumped. The three carefully helped her swim onto sand, but made her stay where the waves crashed.

Ethan leaned onto the railing, watching as the three rambled again. Kalani let out curious chirps, seeing them grasp Shamira tightly. She was pawing at the water, swimming instinctively, even if they would not let her sink. She did not show any hints of fear when their hands began to glow a little. Matthew was the only one to take a moment to ask, looking between her and them.

“You sure?”

Iara and Alon looked down at Shamira, both seeing the dog give them a slow lean of head. She almost looked exasperated because of their arguing and doubt. And so, the mermaid shrugged, laughing a little.

“Well, I’m sure we won’t hurt her. And if she really hates it, she will surely not turn. It’s not like we can’t reverse it.

Matthew looked away, mouth opening to say something else, worried. But he halted, because Shamira ruffled herself against him, letting out a small bark. She was looking up at him as eagerly as when she would wake him from a nightmare. And so, he let out a huffed laugh, a fond smile growing on his lips.

“You just won’t stop looking out for me, huh?”

Shamira let out a firm bark, almost seeming to give him a smile. He ruffled her fur with his only hand, closing his eyes with resignation and understanding. She had truly been a blessing, keeping him sane before meeting them. She was always by his side, keeping watch.

Kalani grew nervous and slightly apprehensive when a bronze light suddenly tangled around Shamira. Two other glows soon followed, surrounding the animal with an eerie glow.

Shamira fidgeted in the water, letting out a small huff, her vision growing foggy. She would have sunk down into the water, her limbs wobbling. She would, if not for the hands holding her head over the surface. Their touch felt warm and at the same time piercing, yet without pain. Her eyes were lidding, a growled whine escaping her as she tried to stay awake. She looked up firmly at those hazel eyes, as well entirely focused on her. That vision soon faded; her body fell dormant, exhausted. She couldn’t feel anything.

Ethan could not see much, the glows too intense, the three surrounding her. But they eventually let go. He watched as Matthew, Iara and Alon let Shamira drift onto shore gently. If he had not seen her before, he would not say it was her, for she was no dog anymore. He leaned a little more to peek, his eyes narrowing with surprise, even if he had seen something like this already. He could not avoid being taken aback by the brown seal with slight white fur on its neck. It was letting out calm breaths while it rested on the sand, the three looking down at it silently. The only hint of it ever being a dog was the very familiar collar, a small trinket hanging from it.

Hazel, azure and silver eyes met, small tired laughs escaping them, proud of themselves. They doubted that there were others in the world able to manage this like them; their bond was uncommon and strong. They were too trusting of each other for their spells to falter.

Iara was not surprised to see Matthew pant, his laugh ending in a huff. She smiled while he slowly slumped down, to let himself lay on the shore, too tired to even open his eyes. She sighed too, taking deep breaths, having given her all. Not only did they change back to merfolk, but they turned Shamira into a seal, all in one day. Alon would have let himself down too, if he did not know they needed to do something first.

Matthew had fallen asleep on the sand already, barely touching the waves, much like Shamira. They did not usually sleep on the shores, but it did not mean they could not. In little time, Alon lighted a campfire, using some leaves and wood nearby, crawling his way along the shore.

By the time the fire rose, Iara had sleepy eyes too. She had curled herself around Shamira, covering her with her fins and arms. Alon joined them, letting himself rest near Matthew with a yawn. Ethan did not say a word while the three slept near the fire, enough for them to feel warm in the night. He just sighed, petting Kalani and returning to his cabin.

It was a silent night. He was not surprised to hear sounds that would have been barking in the morning. When he came out to deck, he saw the three merfolk looking down at the former dog. Shamira was trying to stand on the sand with her new furry fins. She only managed to plop down, to then brush her head repeatedly, as if trying to find her ears. Her eyes were wide in bafflement, but not fear. Only Iara laughed while Matthew and Alon tried to calm the confused seal, who was trying to roll because standing failed.

It was a good thing the waters were not that cold yet. They would take some time to teach her to swim.

———-

 

Laughter echoed. Ethan sat on a chair on deck, holding with boredom a fishing rod. He was laying his face against his hand, ignoring the parrot chirping on his head. Kalani just kept on leaning, trying to see every single sharp turn and jump in the waters around them. Laughter came clear or muffled, depending on how the mermaid would leap, below or above the surface.

Iara chuckled, following the fast dashes of the brown seal, much like how she chased a stingray once. Shamira tried to bark back at her, her fins kicking behind her while she moved like a bullet in the water. She showed true skill in the sea, and that only made the other chase more fiercely, happy to see such a fast adjustment.

While she and the now smug seal swam without tiring, two laid lazily on the sand. Alon was resting face down on the beach, his black tail swaying on the air. He had a satisfied expression, feeling the sunlight on his back, today a rare sunny day. And he was not the only one enjoying it. Matthew was resting onto his back and fin, with his arm behind his head. He was wearing a pair of sunglasses, which did not conceal his smug calm smile. For once, he was not the focus of Iara’s energetic outbursts.

Iara and Shamira were too focused on their chase to notice an echo in the currents. Alon and Matthew were enjoying the tranquillity too much to look into the waters. Only Ethan seemed to notice that something was not quite as it should be. His eyes narrowed, seeing something, or someone, move slowly near the lure of his rod. He frowned, seeing a shadow swimming below, seeming to ponder if to near or not. By the time the shadow emerged, Iara finally blinked and recognized the echo of a voice.

He blinked down pokerfaced at the mermaid. She was smiling brightly, yet she showed the same sternness as him in her eyes. Her long blue tail swayed very slowly and calmly, something that reflected her thoughtfulness.

She had been roaming, watching, pondering if to near. And near she did. Alon blinked onshore, finally noticing her presence, which made him flinch in surprise. Meanwhile, Ethan answered her question with another one, seemingly wary.

“Who’s asking exactly?”

Maia chuckled, laying a hand on her chest. Ethan could only stare while she whispered, very slowly.

“I am Alon’s mother. He told me he would be roaming this cay’s shores during the season. Of course, I had to see for myself the place he has been speaking so fondly of.” She leaned her head knowingly, and Ethan seemed to show a trace of understanding with her next words. “I’ve met Matthew; he spoke very highly of you, Ethan. I’m glad to meet you in person, as I did not expect the chance to present itself.”

Ethan nodded slowly, as so did Maia, both acknowledging the other silently. He leaned slightly onto the railing, trying to not be taken aback. After a minute, both glanced to shore, because a call echoed at last.

“Mother?!”

Matthew blinked and jolted onto a sitting position, because Alon dashed towards the waves strongly, finally overcoming his surprised shock. However, he only managed to crawl into shallow water. He yelped when his siblings emerged sharply at his sides, blocking his way with sways of tail and loud exclamations.

“Alon, what does this boring cay have anyway?! You could have come to warmer coasts with us!”

“Weren’t you afraid of humans throwing harpoons at you?! Look at you, near a boat and a man!”

“Worse, you will surely set off with Matthew and Iara again, instead of roaming with us this year!”

“We don’t want to have to chase you around! Mom said it is safe here, but you could go anywhere!”

Alon raised his hands with a blush, trying to calm down the twins before they could yell more.

“L-look, I-“

He could not even try to voice his reasons. The two young dolphins blinked, a small splash of water echoing near them, a slight weird bark. They slowly turned, their eyes glinting when they saw Iara there, happily greeting them with a joyful wave of hand.

“Long time no see!”

They would have bolted to hug Iara, if not for someone else taking their attention. Shamira tried to bark again, nervously. Only a small failed squeak escaped her when she realized that the twins’ eyes were fixed on her, each second more interested. Her fur spiked when they squealed, their tails kicking for a dash.

“Seal!”

Iara blinked when they bolted past her. Shamira jumped away with a half managed bark, diving into deeper waters. She fled from the two, who wanted to grab and squish her, with clear intentions of petting her insistently.

Alon floated there, pokerfaced, watching as they got out of sight between the waves. Matthew sent Iara a raise of eyebrow below his sunglasses, which prompted her to laugh a little with a serious whisper.

“I’ll go get them…”

Matthew and Alon did not object as she dived deep, trailing the direction they took. The three knew how energetic the twins could be, more than her. And that was something dreadful. Ethan’s boat swayed close enough to shore for him to have seen the whole thing.

“And I thought you two were feisty.”

Maia laughed, looking sideways at her oldest son.

“My twins can be very enthusiastic, sure. Alon, whoever, has always been wilier while chasing his interests.”

Alon stuttered, going red, seeing Ethan listening intently.

“M-mother?!”

“Oh, son… I’m complimenting you. Any plate or vase you would break while trying to mimic me, you would try to replace secretly with your own crafts.”

Ethan huffed, eyeing subtly a brunet who was trying to roll into the water, clumsily.

“Hmm, trying to keep quiet about roguish antics? Reminds me of something, but less commendable.”

Matthew grumbled something underwater, both him and Alon seeing their relatives exchange nods as if suddenly sharing common thoughts. The next whisper that echoed was exasperated, nervous.

“Mother, w-why are you here? I thought I told you I would come back soon?!”

While Matthew emerged with an unamused look, Maia turned with a smile, pointing a hand at them as if nothing.

“I had to see Matthew’s home. He is family now, so a change of plans was mandatory. It has been for the better, as I’ve managed to meet a second human. Quite uncommon, you must agree.”

Before the two young mermen could say anything, Ethan fired a question, interested in her presence and chance of conversation. Matthew and Alon did not get how the situation was so relaxed all of the sudden.

“You saw Matthew in the sea, did you? How clumsy was he?”

“I did see him swim for a while.” Alon slowly covered his face, as embarrassed as Matthew, who was slowly submerging his head. Maia displayed her usual firm honesty. “He was still trying to learn, and he would only commit a few mistakes. It took him a while to stop mistaking noxious and edible fish. He fled from the first whale he ever saw, believing it would try to lunge at him to defend its turf.

“M-mother-“

“Oh, wouldn’t you know it?” Matthew’s eyebrows twitched underwater, hearing Ethan mocking him from above. “A whale expert, were you? Did you think it would try to eat you?”

“Ghrnnmfph.”

Alon did not bother to translate what Matthew cursed. They both were unable to stop their relatives from exchanging facts of their doings. Alon could only shy away while Ethan answered his mother’s curiosity; she was not angry to find he was human not so long ago. He was extremely embarrassed to hear his days as a human be narrated in detail, not missing a single clumsy move. Matthew was not any better, because Maia voiced facts that his uncle would not doubt to use as blackmail, his attempts to understand merfolk culture awkward at best.

They wished they could just swim away as Iara did. But they stayed instead, to prevent that their first unplanned family gathering became any more humiliating.

While they talked, a mermaid swam with a frown in the distance. She had chased the twins for a while, using the echoes to try to pinpoint where they went. They were as fast as her, and Shamira surely was too nervous to swim slowly.

She would have been glad to give chase to the seal too, if not for the fact that they seemed to be roaming in an area she did not like. It was past the reefs where Alon and she used to nest. They had gone down, into the dimly lighted waters.

Iara tensed, remembering how she tried to reach for everything that could bleed once. Her parasite crawled between rocks, tangling on anything it could consume. She almost reached the sun above. The walls were dark, with seaweed drifting between small openings and holes. She did not like it here, because it reminded her how obscure her mind had become.

But she pushed forward, following the faint echoes of barking and laughter. There was no danger anymore, there were only gloomy memories; memories that she could leave behind and overcome, because she was not alone.

Iara’s eyes glinted in the dark as she tried to see where to go. This place was perfect for the twins to play in, dodging openings and rocks. She swam for a while, as there was no hurry to find them. In the end, she halted slightly, hearing a faint sound. An echo only another merfolk could cause, too strong to be a fish. Her azure eyes narrowed slowly, seeing a figure sitting in the dark. The waters would be pitch black, if a white light did not gleam.

An angler had been brushing her fins calmly, minding her own business in her solitude. But then she heard the unmistakable sound of something moving in the currents, disturbing them.

Their eyes met. Diya detected Iara’s presence soon enough, both their gazes gaining a trace of recognition. The dolphin was not surprised to see the angler tense and float up, a hint of shock on her expression. She puffed out her big fins at her sides, baring her teeth in a snarl, remembering well the one who attacked her once.

“You…?!”

Iara saw her backing away, ready to flee. Her bright eyes were fixed on what surrounded her neck, even if it was different from what once stabbed it. It was made of seaweed, and a merfolk’s eyes would always sharpen in the dark. She was looming over her now, much like she did once, menacing.

Diya had been ready to dash away, seeing seaweed latched around her neck, even if small. But her fins relaxed subtly when Iara slowly moved her hands, a neckerchief taken off easily from her neck. It was held down for her to see. It was insentient, non-voracious and unable to feed on blood.

“I’m not that anymore.”

There was remorse in her tone, a clear apology in her low glance. She was barely daring to meet her eyes, having noticed the scars on her lower fin. Diya frowned at her, not letting go of her wariness, even if she was not fleeing.

“They really managed to free you.”

She knew something happened when the seaweed did not reach for the entire sea. A year was a long time, in which everything should have been taken. She had moved closer to the cay, avoiding the west. Nothing came, and the fish returned. Iara tied the neckerchief around her neck again, for Diya had already seen her scars.

“They did free me. Not without struggle.” Her azure eyes closed as she bowed her head, whispering. “I’m sorry for what I did to you.”

She owed an apology to them all. She was sorry for what she could have done.

Diya did not seem to understand fully why she was here, or why this strange meeting was happening. But one thing she knew.

“I guess I kind of had it coming.” Iara opened her eyes, seeing Diya glare down at the darkness below, her arms crossed in an apprehensive and tense stance. “We’re even now. I was the one to lead you there.”

There was silence, both knowing well what happened. Alon and Matthew had voiced their thoughts, and Diya could know what happened without having been there. There was no parasite anymore.

Iara stared at her while she swayed shyly, her big fins tangling around her frame, perhaps in shame. She had kept herself in the dark, as always. She was too angry and wary to leave it.

Diya just wanted her to leave. Iara knew. But before she did, she said something that made her blink.

“You were the one that led them through the dark.”

Diya stared at her with a blank look, not getting it.

“What?”

Iara smiled, caressing her neckerchief, letting out truth.

“If you had not decided to leave your isolation, I wouldn’t be here. They wouldn’t have found their way, and they would have perished, by my hands or under sharp voracious fangs. It was too dark. Thanks to your trust in them, I was able to be found. They reached for me, even when I tried to push them away. They pulled me away from what kept me in the dark. I have to thank you for that, Diya.” Iara turned around, whispering while the younger mermaid listened with a sad baffled look. “I’m not a heartless monster anymore. Nothing should tie you here. I wish you would leave this lonely gloom as well.”

With that, Iara left. She followed the faint echo she had been seeking.

Diya floated there in the dark, with her hands grasped together, gaze kept low. A million thoughts swam in her head. Her fear and doubt had been lifted away, seeing her alive, knowing the other two were too. But there was still one last weight on her, one that she had always felt.

The mermaid sat there, a haunted look on her eyes, her lure losing some of its light. She stayed there in the darkness for hours, words echoing over and over again in her mind. Night fell. The moon loomed over the sea. But when morning came again, her thoughts seemed to clear in her grief.

Diya slowly looked up to the far surface, faint traces of sunlight glinting. She seemed to try to discern the light, for a dreadful thought crossed her mind. She had always been alone, her kind roamed the dark. She did not like it that much, but it was what she knew. Her fear for other merfolk was intensified when that shark dashed, forced her to lie. She became a devious being herself, what she was wary of. And in the end, she was proved wrong. Those two displayed their hearts openly, loving and trusting.

She clenched her hands around her fins, her eyes fixing on the sun above. Dread had forced her to do many things, which she loathed. And so, she kicked her fins to swim up, her lure flickering bright, lighting her way towards the clearer waters. She vowed to not live in the dark anymore.

—————————

 

The four sat on a reef below the sunset. Their eyes hinted a little bit of sadness, for they were finally left alone. A boat slowly sailed away back to the docks, a man waving with faked indifference from the helm, not looking back. Three dolphins sunk in the distance, waving them goodbye as they went back into the ocean, two small tails splashing playfully while they followed the one leading.

They had stayed for a day, both sides meeting. But now, they parted, to let them be together.

Shamira sat between the three, looking up with curious eyes while they gazed at the sea ahead, not moving yet from the rocks. Not a single whisper echoed. Enough was said already. Everything was silent while they contemplated the sunset, their tails barely moving, matching their calm thoughts.

Alon had been smiling warmly, pondering everything that they could do now. However, Iara seemed to decide the first course of action, faster than anyone. And as always, she did so energetically and suddenly.

A loud yelp echoed, followed by a splash and a laugh.  Shamira barked in surprise when Iara decided to push Matthew into the water, by nudging his tail off the reef. His weight and gravity did all the work, dragging him down. She cackled loudly, diving fast with him as he emerged and cursed at her.

Alon smiled with a sigh, because Iara dashed away and Matthew bolted to chase her, fins as puffed as they could be. Her laughter echoed beautifully between the waves, at least for him.

A seal followed a killer whale into the water, calmly. Both watched as an angelfish tried to tackle a dolphin, who kept on taunting and jumping out of water.

Their figures faded on the horizon, painted by the sunset. They headed nowhere and everywhere at the same time, only knowing that they would not part.