# Aquata Cove - Chapter 31

Author: Mirron Tenshi
Tags: Human, Memories, Mermaid, Story Progression, merman

Aquata Cove
Chapter 31: Without Him
 
 
 
The pod swims through the sea. More than half of the pod is
in nervous anticipation; they are entering the very waters where they have lost
their Adra Triton.
 
Brishen looks gloomily down onto the sandy bottom. Sending a
signal, he can detect small prey hidden within the sand. He felt a tinge of
sadness as he watched a crab creep along the floor, between the shells and over
a few rocks.
 
 
===
 
 
The small green meryin spied upon a cuttlefish hovering over
the sand. He sneers down at the fluttering side fins of the strange, flashing
animal. 
 
Brishen's gills twitched as he heard a signal from across
from him. He peered over, and spotted a blue and silver meryin with a scallop
shell and kelp around his head. The blue meryin lightly traced his short,
three-pronged spear onto the sand, signaling he is in the right position.
 
The green one then shot up, and rang out a small battle cry!
 
"Brishen! No!" Adra Merrick signaled. Regardless, the green
meryin through his spear at the cuttlefish, rather poorly, however. The
cuttlefish suddenly jet itself away from the incoming spear, though it was easy
enough to dodge to begin with. 
 
The blue and silver meryin growled as he flourished out from
the rock, and signaled a fearsome snarl at the cuttlefish. The aquatic creature
quivered, and sped off in another direction. Brishen ignored his spear, and
when after the cuttlefish with his bare hands!
 
"Your weapon, Brishen! It's going to escape!" Adra Merrick
said as they pursued the cuttlefish quickly. Merrick threw his trident at the
cuttlefish, alas missed my mere inches - though as young as his companion, his
aim and tactics are stronger than any other meryin of their pod.
 
"Rrrrraaaa!" Brishen kicked forth, and sprang himself upon
the cuttlefish! He gasped excitedly as the animal writhed under his hands, "I-I
have done it! I caught my first catch!" He said while Merrick swam up to him
with his spear, "Hold my spear for me while I take it to the others!" He said.
 
"Ok..." Merrick said as he watched his friend's webbed hands
try to tuck under the cuttlefish, and lift it from the sand.
 
In that moment, the cuttlefish squirmed harshly, and latched
itself onto Brishen's wrist!

"AAHHHHH!" He screamed as it bit down ferociously into his flesh. Adra Merrick
unleashed a blood-curdling shriek, focused solely onto the cuttlefish. The
cuttlefish shook violently as it immediately released Brishen's wrist, and shot
away from them both.
 
"A-Adra Merrick..." Brishen whimpered as he held the wrist
that issued blood.
 
"Quick! We must go back to my Mother! She will heal you!"
Adra Merrick said as the two meryin quickly swam away.
 
 
===
 
 
Brishen frowned as he saw a few cuttlefish swim along the
sand, followed by a weak chuckle. Both of them got in trouble on that day -
both of them having been too young to hunt, and resulted in him getting hurt. 
 
He has no idea why he ignored Merrick's advice half the time
- the reason they became friends was so that he can get better at hunting.
Hunting was always so fun though. Whether Brishen succeeded or screwed up, he
loved every part of it. More often than not though, Merrick would always have
to bail him out of a very tight spot. 
 
And now that Merrick is gone, everyone in the pod has
noticed Brishen's skill has elevated considerably. Now that he doesn't have a
best friend anymore, the fun and the thrill of the hunt has disappeared. 
 
Merrick has always been there for his friend. He was there
to prevent a shark from devouring him. He was there to help find him a good
courtship gift for his mate, Penina. He always vouched for him when he did make
a successful kill. He always consoled him when he failed at a hunt, before he
got better.
 
Brishen closed his eyes and bowed his head. Merrick was
always there for him, yet he never thought to be as good a friend as he was,
never knowing Merrick was holding such a secret, or having to carry that kind
of a burden, and acting as if he was fine.
 
 
 
Soon, Triton Kaiken sensed another pod coming their way. A
pod of Holsien merfolk - beings of turtles, to be precise. When Adra Merrick
was still in existence, he would have to quiz him as to what could be up ahead.
Merrick would be correct for most of the time, but he always made it sound like
a guess. That was a habit Kaiken tried to break Merrick out of doing - a Triton
must not only always be vigilant, but also must see any and everything that is
ahead of the pod.
 
 
===
 
 
"Son, signal ahead. What do you sense?" Triton Kaiken
inquired. The young merman narrowed his eyes, and sent a wave of subtle sound
forward. The signal traced back to him as a multiple of other merfolk. They
sound firmer in form than that of the other merfolk in his pod. It's a familiar
feeling, as they have encountered other merfolk of that kind.
 
"... I think it is a pod of Holsien merfolk?" Adra Merrick
responded.
 
"Do you think? Or do you know?" Kaiken asked firmly, "You
must know what is ahead of us at first sight."
 
"... Yes, Father," Merrick replied, still uncertain about who
are what lay beyond them.
 
"You are correct, however," Kaiken said, "It is indeed a pod
of Holsien merfolk. Now, will you tell me what type of Holsiens they are?"
 
"... I-" Merrick caught himself, "They are turtle shell
merfolk."
 
"Correct. And we are now to approach them." Kaiken stated as
he led his pod towards the pod of sea turtle merfolk. They appeared to be that
of humanoid shape, with their torsos stout and formed with the shells on their
backs, their arms and legs are flat for paddling in the water. 
 
Kaiken signaled to the pod, prompting them to turn their
attention to his pod. They moved in formation to greet the pod of Pisciens,
before the two pods have met. 
 
The Holsien Triton swam forth. A large, black and white sea
turtle merman, with four old gashes on his shell, a shock of spiral shells
along both wrists and ankles. While he holds his own trident in one thick
flipper-like hand, he put his other hand onto the shaft of his trident, and
held it out. Kaiken took his trident, and held it in the same fashion and
touched the tridents in an X fashion.
 
"I, Triton Kaiken of the Piscien merfolk, greet you
peacefully, in the name of Guardian Leviathan." He said.
 
"And I, Triton Olaroc of the Holsien merfolk, greet you
peacefully, in the name of Guardian Kraken, so let it be," The Holsien Triton
lowered his trident, "But must we be so formal, Kaiken? We have known each
other since the days of youth." He asked.
 
"It is tradition, Olaroc, you know that." Kaiken retorted.
 
"And is this your Son? He has grown since I last saw him. I
hardly recognized him."
 
"This is my Son, Adra Trition Merrick, yes." Kaiken said.
 
"It is an honor to meet you, Triton Olaroc."
 
"I am in remorse for your Son, then," Olaroc jested, "Be
warned, young Adra," He said, turning to Merrick, "This Father of yours was stern
with me when we were of your age."
 
"Where you not so complacent when we were young," Kaiken
said with a smirk, "Come, do you have items of trade?"
 
"I do. In the meantime, perhaps my Komeko can be acquainted
with your Merrick?" He said as he motioned to his own son, a sunshine yellow
turtle merman, holding his own short trident.
 
"First, we trade. I have not taught my Son the act of
exchange," He replied. Merrick pouted as his shoulders drooped, to Olaroc's
amusement.
 
"As I said," He chuckled as Merrick reformed himself.
 
 
===
 
 
"And I, Triton Kaiken of the Piscien merfolk, greet you
peacefully, in the name of Guardian Leviathan, so let it be," He said as he and
Olaroc exchanged the greetings.
 
"It is good to see you, my friend." The sea turtle said, "My
Son has looked forward to playing your Merrick," He said with a smile, "Where
is your Adra Triton?" Kaiken sighed, and turned his head.
 
"Adra Merrick has ceased to be, Olaroc." He said. 
 
"He... Has perished?" Olaroc asked, looking concerned for his
friend, "I am sorry-"
 
"No. I mean, he has forsaken his existence," Kaiken said
bitterly. Umiato frowned as she took his arm.
 
"Kaiken," She said firmly, before turning to the sea turtle,
"Our Son is Coshiton. He has been banished."
 
"Ohhh..." Olaroc said, "That is a shame. He was a splendid
one..." He said, "What has he-"
 
"I wish not to discuss it!" Kaiken snapped, "There is no Son
to talk of now." Umiato shook her head as she swam away.
 
 
Kaiken insists on thinking of Merrick as a ghost now - no,
not even a ghost. The Triton speaks of him as if he never had existed, and that
is what hurts her the most. He DOES exist, and to imply otherwise is a very
cruel thing to do, especially to someone like Merrick. Though he was the Adra
Triton, it always seemed like he took after her.
 
Though he was the finest hunter of the pod, and so formal
around Kaiken, Umiato feels his aura far softer than that of Kaiken's. Kaiken's
energy is rough, callous, bold, while Merrick's energy is flexible, cooler,
more balanced in nature. And though Savarna is young, Umiato can still read
that her aura is more similar to that of her father's.
 
She loves her children both equally, but it has wounded her
the most to lose the son that is most compatible with her.
 
'... I should have seen this coming...' Umiato told herself,
'Somehow... I must have known he was hiding from me...' She held back a tear as she
swam further, 'Was he so good at masking his inner pain and deception? Or did I
blind myself...?'
 
 
===
 

"Mother..." Merrick said as they swam through a forest of kelp, "There has been
something that has been bothering me... It is about Arnaav... That Coshiton..." He
said, rather hesitantly.
 
"What is it?" Umiato said.
 
"... Why was Father so... Harsh with him? I have never seen him
display such wrath... And to a meryin like that..."
 
"Your Father is very strict when it comes to the guidance of
merfolk."
 
"Yes... I know..." Merrick said as he and Umiato tugged and
severed at bundles of kelp to bring to the pod, "Why, though? Arnaav said his
crime was playing with a human girl. He did not hurt anyone; he did not even
know he was breaking a Sacred Law. You saw how old he was, he is no older than
Sister. And yet Father bellowed at him as if he cursed the Sea Mother."
 
"I agree with you, Son." The Noita said. Merrick whirled
around, and beamed up at her.
 
"You do?"
 
"Yes..." She said, "To be Coshiton, means to not exist in the
eyes of merfolk. Whatever they have done, it was in violation of the Sacred
Laws. Your Father does not care to know their story. All he knows is that they
have been banished for an unforgivable crime, and they deserve no mercy."
 
"But..." Merrick said, "That is not fair!" He said, "All
Arnaav did was fetch toys for a human child! He did not deserve the rage Father
gave him!"
 
"Once again, I agree."
 
"Would he be so wrathful were I a Coshiton?" Merrick asked.
 
"I am afraid so..." Umiato said. She blinked as she sensed a
brief quiver in Merrick's aura, "Son..." She said, "Is there something else that
is troubling you?" 
 
"What?" Merrick said, his aura now reverting to a normal
pulse, "Why do you-" Then there came a strained scream. Both of them gasped
before the Merrick loomed out and wove between the kelp stalks.
 
"Son!" Umiato called out. She let down the kelp and drifted
in the same direction as Merrick. She glided along the kelp, and smelled a hint
of blood. The Noita quickly undulated herself until she located the Adra. She
gasped softly as he is down by a hippocampus. The horse-like fish neighs weakly
as a crimson cloud hovered from its side. Merrick turned to Umiato, his eyes
wisping with tears.
 
"A shark was biting into it," He said, his voice trembling,
"I made it go away, please, Mother. Can you heal it??"
 
Umiato smiled softly as she lowered down, "Yes, I can mend
him..." She then placed her hands onto the dying animal.
 
 
===
 
 
 
With not much else to do, Savarna swims along the reef. She
remembers this spot where she attacked that human. 
 
Savarna looks up at the surface when she feels a familiar
aura up above. 
 
"... Here he is..." The Adra Noita frowns as she sees the image
of her long-forsaken brother. Standing there, appearing that of a human. White
twinkles outline her eyes as she barely recognized his appearance; seeing him
in human form is disheartening enough, but he is also wearing sails and
draperies around his body, as if hiding himself from the ocean.
 
"No..." She muttered as seeing Merrick deepened her anguish,
"It... It is just as Father said..." Savarna said to herself, "He has forsaken
himself as a merman..." 
 
Up on the wavering surface, she can see the sight of the
human walking up behind Merrick, "He is..." Savarna's heart filled with dread as
she saw Merrick turn and kiss the human, feeling a purge of repulsion from
witnessing this, "He gave himself to the land... To the humans..." Savarna clenched
her pearly fist as her insides churned with sorrow and hatred.
 
"So my Brother HAS died..." The Adra Noita told herself,
"Fine... I hope the Radiant Land Father Mithras makes him very happy." She said
bitterly as she turned herself around, and kicked her tail, crying wisps of tears
as her heart cracked a little more, once again.
 
 
===
 
 
"Brother!! Brother, where are you?!" Savarna called. The
sirens have all been slain by the pod - a very dicey battle, but the pod was
able to pull through with moderate damage. Her trace-shell in her headband kelp
is glowing and vibrating against her forehead, but she ignores it.
 
Last she has seen, Merrick was fighting a siren, but it was
leading him astray from all the others. She heard a melodic shriek a few
minutes ago, which has led her towards one direction: a massive, black, ominous
cloud.
 
The Razirah has told stories about such a dark fog: the
Shroud of Death. When the world is wounded, it bleeds its black blood into the
sea, and poisons all that enter into it.
 
"Adam..." Savarna gasped as she heard a weak, feeble voice
amidst the blackness. She darted up, but found no opening in the black cloud.
She looped to and fro, looking for any sign of Merrick.
 
"Brother!" She called out, centering the source from inside
the Shroud.
 
"Aaa... Dahh..." Came the voice again.
 
"I'm coming, Brother!!" Holding out her webbed hands, the
palms began to radiate a gravitational force into the fog. With her arms held
out in front of her, the mermaid swam forth. 
 
The black fog shifted and moved out of her way as she braved
the darkness of the earth's blood. "Brotherrrr!" She called out in a hushed
tone - somehow, she feels that she might perish if she's too loud in the Shroud
of Death, "Brother, where-" She gasped before she ducked down.
 
There, an alien creature swims in the blackness. It appears
to be a human, but it has strange fins on the ends of its bottom limbs, and
seems to be wearing strange bubbles on its eyes - it looks more like a mutant
siren, but it's not singing at all. She watched as the human moved through the
oil, its lower appendages paddling one at a time, and stopped at a floating
merman. Tears welled in her eyes as she recognized the blue and silver Piscien.
 
"(Brother!)" She whimpered, shaking with emotion as she also
spotted a small cloud of blood coming from Merrick's mouth and gills, "(Leave
him alone!)" She uttered as the human put its hands on the Adra Triton. Fear
and anxiety kept her anchored to the spot, from taking action in charging in
while the human wrapped his arms around Merrick, and took him away from the
spot.
 
"No... No!" She strafed in the water, turning, and swimming as
fast as she can while still shielding herself from the fog. It's like an
invisible maze - there are no visible obstacles, yet it is hard for her to find
her way out of it. Could this be the Shroud of Death trying to keep her? 
 
No! Her brother needs her! She can't let the blood of the
earth get to her now!
 
Wincing, she channeled more energy into her hands, forcing
the water all around her to spiral away and filter from her, until she could
see deep blue instead of black. 
 
She whirled around as she desperately swam away from the
massive darkness, "Brother! BROTHERRR!" She called out, spinning in all
directions until she spotted the far away human. "Brother!" She kicked her tail
as hard as she could, and sped off toward that human.
 
Her tail waved up and down, letting out a small yelp as she
saw the human and Merrick ascend up to the surface.
 
"NOO!" She exclaimed as she accelerated, until she neared
what appears to be a floating rock. It's not at all jagged like one - it is
curved from both sides with an arc down the middle. 
 
Just before she could do anything, the mermaid gasped and
backed away as a rumble came from the large, bobbing object, "By the depths,
what is it doing?!" The large object then moved. It moved in a half circle, and
started to speed off in a direction.
 
"NOOO!" She screamed as she swam forward to follow the
thing. 
 
While vigorously swimming, Savarna noticed the trail of foam
and waves the rumbling object left in its wake. She also took note that this
thing, whatever it is, is too fast for her. She groaned and wept as she kicked
her tail as hard as she could, panting as all she could see as he kept her chin
up is the trail of the object as it got further and further away from her.
 
Using her magic, Savarna sent an invisible current to make
the water trail remain as it is, "I will not lose my Brother!" She declared as
she powered through the water, following the paralyzed trail of wash.
 
~~~
 
Panting, exasperated, the young mermaid drifted to the soft,
sandy bottom of a tidal beach. Every inch of her is aching from both the
exertion of swimming nonstop, and the weakening sensation of overusing her
magic in order to follow the trail. She has been following the trail for so
long, she knows the sun is about to sleep, and the moon is about to awaken.
 
She can still sense Merrick's aura nearby. She's close. She
can't give up now, she's come too far.
 
"I'm coming... Brother..." Savarna moaned as she grabbed the reef
with her hand, and pulled herself up from the sand, "I'm coming..." Her tail is
too weak to swim anymore, so she must rely on her upper body strength, though
her body and spirit are almost burned out from all of the effort.
 
The Adra Noita's gills closed as she broke the surface.
Grunting and moaning, the mermaid maneuvered herself on the rocks, and soon
found herself on top of a large rock, where she laid herself down for a short
reprieve. 
 
It was not until a few minutes before she realized she's not
alone.
 
"... God..." She gasped as she heard a voice, "Or, Sea Mother..."
The mermaid shook as she peered over, and spotted a human on the dry sand,
"Whatever's up there... Please..." Savarna pushed her webbed hands onto the stone,
ready to dive right back into the sea, "Give me something... Anything... Don't do
this to him..."
 
Minutes pass by, and the sun is setting. As Savarna watched
this human, she can see the massive anguish inside this human's aura. He is
feeling great sadness, like that of a breaking heart. 
 
Do such monsters as these have hearts?
 
The human wept as he pushed himself to his feet, and then
saw her. Savarna moved backward quickly when he suddenly advanced toward her,
"Wa-Wa-Wa-Wait!" The human stammered as he held up his hands. Savarna stopped,
but her fin is hanging over the rock, ready for her to drop into the water at a
moment's notice.
 
"Please, don't go... I need your help..." The human said.
Savarna blinked and tilted her head. Help? This human wants her to help him?
"It's ok, I'm not gonna hurt you, just please listen..." Savarna hesitated - if
she says one word to him, she's as good as gone. So long as he stays his ground
she should be safe.
 
"Do you understand me?" He asked. There was a short pause
before Savarna slowly nodded, "D-Do you know Merrick??" The mermaid nodded
again. This human DOES have her brother! What does he want with him?? 
 
"H-He's the Adra, right? Adra Merrick?" She nodded again,
confirming that. He knows of their world. Who IS this man?!
 
"He's sick, he's VERY sick! He was swimming in the uh..." The
human said, snapping his fingers, "Uh... The oil, he was swimming in oil... Oh!" If
Merrick is sick, than Umiato can just heal him- 
 
"The blood of the earth? Cloud of - No, the Shroud of
Death?" Savarna gasped again as her eyes began to water with glittering white
tears. "He tells me that there isn't a cure, but please..." That is true... Even
with all her power... The Noita is not able...
 
"Please... Talk to me..." The human persisted. Savarna's eyes
stayed locked on the human as he spoke to her, "Is there way to save him? Do
you know anything that might help? ANYTHING at all???" She stayed silent,
slowly sliding away from the rock, "Please say something-" He took one step,
Savarna whirled around, and dove into the water, "NO WAIT!" 
 
SPLASH!
 
The mermaid waved her burning tail up and down with forced
effort. Moaning as she also used her hands and arms to pull herself forward.
 
"Moh... Mother..." She groaned, "I have to find Mother!" She
said as she swam, "She will know what to do!"
 
If only she could signal sea creatures like mermen, she
wouldn't be so sore.
 
 
===
 
 
'After all I have risked for him...' Savarna thought, 'After
everything we have been to each other,' White tears continued to wisp and cloud
from her eyes, 'He has turned his back to the sea... He has abandoned the Sea
Mother... He has forgotten us!'
 
As Savarna swam swiftly from the reef, she senses the
presence of her mother nearby. He glanced to see the larger mermaid swimming to
her, but she tries to ignore her.
 
"Daughter..." Umiato said after she was close enough to be
heard, "Where were you just now?"
 
"Nowhere." Savarna answered, rather shortly, "I was only
observing the sleeping sun."
 
"... You are lying, Daughter." Umiato replied.
 
"NOW you know the truth...!" Savarna muttered.
 
"What was that, Daughter?" The Noita asked sternly.
 
"NOW," Savarna said in anger as she turned to Umiato, "You
know the truth," The young mermaid glared at Umiato with wrath and almost
disgust, "Brother has done the forbidden for so long, and NOW you know truth
from lies?" The mermaid asked bitterly. 
 
"Ease your tongue from me, Daughter," Noita Umiato said
firmly, "Your Brother masked his pain well-"
 
"You are the Noita, Mother!!" Savarna exclaimed as she
turned around to face her, "You could have seen his lies! You could have stopped
him! And now he is gone forever!!" The angry Adra snarled at her mother as
white wisps came from her eyes.
 
"Daughter..." Umiato said, wincing from her daughter's
outburst.
 
"He has disappeared from us, Mother! How could you have not
see the truth he was hiding?! You could have forbid him from leaving the pod's
sight! And now he does not exist anymore-"
 
"SILENCE!" Umiato snapped. The younger mermaid flinched as a
sudden fury overcame Umiato, one she has never seen before on her. The Noita
angrily swam up to the Adra, "Your Brother has NOT disappeared! Your Father may
refuse his existence, but do not you EVER forsake your Brother!" Savarna gasped
as she looked at her mother, "You, who would sacrifice EVERYTHING just to see
him again!" Umiato said, "I don't EVER want you to forget that! I NEVER want
you to forget when you would trade your life for him!"
 
"Mother... He does not-"
 
"Daughter," She put her hand onto the mermaid's cheek, "He
did not willingly choose to leave us. The Sacred Laws are absolute. Given the
choice, he would have stayed."
 
"Father... Father said..."
 
"Your Father does not understand," Umiato said, "He does not
realize the importance of circumstance... But you know in your own heart that
your Brother will never forget you..."
 
Savarna whimpered as she drifted to her mother, and held
onto her. Umiato put her arms around the young mermaid as well, holding her
gently as they floated in the water.
 
"I want him back, Mother..." Savarna wept, "I want him back..."
 
"I know... I miss him too..."
 
 
~~~
 
 
"Hey you~" Adam said as he put his arms around Merrick. The
blonde smiled as he turned his head and kissed Adam.
 
"Hi, love," He responded as he put his hands onto Adam's
arms as the human leaned on him.
 
"What're you up to out here all on your own?" He asked. Merrick
sighed and moaned quietly as he looked over the sunset.
 
"It's been almost a year... Since..." Merrick mumbled, feeling a
little emotional and shaky. 
 
"Yeah... I know..." Adam said as he glanced at the heart-design
mark on the base of Merrick's neck.
 
"I miss them, Adam..." Merrick said as he gazed longingly onto
the yellow-blue sparkling ocean, "I miss the sea, Adam... I long for the times of
swimming with my pod through the ocean. We have been through so much
adventures, so many memories..." Merrick sniffled as he felt Adam nuzzle him, "I
miss hunting with my friend..."
 
"You mean the one who wanted to be the greatest hunter in
the sea?"
 
"Yes... His name is Brishen... He became my friend so that he
can become better at hunting... He was always so rash and reckless... Half the
time, I'd have to save him from choosing too strong a beast to hunt..." Merrick's
eyes watered as he looked over the ocean, "I wanted to see him bring down
mighty foes... Now that I'm gone, I truly hope he has not been hunted by his
prey..." 
 
Adam chuckled as he slipped his hands into Merrick's shirt
so he could cuddle closer behind him and feel his smooth skin.
 
"I miss my Mother..." 
 
"I don't doubt that. Even to a human like me, she was very
nice," Adam said, "She trusted me with you when you fell ill. Still kinda
wondering how she was able to walk, being a mermaid and all."
 
"She's a Noita. Noitas are very capable of learning many
things, even that of outside of their own world..." Merrick said, "My Mother... She
is the wisest mermaid I will ever know... She is always so gentle and soft in
spirit... Even when I was banished, she wasn't angry with me like Father was..."
Merrick wiped his eyes, "I feel that... I let her down most of all..."
 
"If she loves you as much as you say, then there is no way
you could ever let her down, Merrick," Adam said softly, "Parents always want
what's best for their children," Merrick whimpered as he lowered his head,
"Your mom loves you, Merrick..."
 
"..." Merrick sighed as he looked back to the ocean, "I even
miss my Father..."
 
"Really." Adam said, "Even him?" Merrick chuckled weakly at
that.
 
"I know... As stern a merman as he was, he has always been
able to protect us. I wouldn't be half the merman I am now if he was not my
Father. He was ignorant though. He thought he always knew better than anyone
else, and would not hear otherwise. The only one he would really listen to is
Mother... The way he reacted when he found out about you..." Merrick frowned as he
looked over the ocean, "And when I was banished... He looked at me as if I
betrayed the sea itself... As if I tried to kill our own kind..."
 
"That's a little unfair. All you did was fall in love," Adam
said as he held Merrick close, "It's not your fault, you know."
 
"To him, that is as bad as any betrayal. He is very strict
and conservative about the idealism of us merfolk," Merrick explained, "But you
know what hurts me the most?"
 
"Hm."
 
"... My Sister..." Merrick said as he felt a tear roll down his
face.
 
"Ahh... She's the one that attacked me, right?"
 
"Yes... She... She thought that if she could kill you, I could
come back to the pod. She even said that I would find a mermaid to mate with on
the next red moon..."
 
"I take it that wouldn't have worked in any case, would it?"
Adam asked. Merrick shook his head.
 
"No, on both accounts. Once a Coshiton is cast from the pod,
there is no going back. And mates of merfolk are for life. If I were to lose
you..." Merrick paused and held Adam tighter, "There would be no one else for
me..."
 
"She must really love you, sweetie..." Adam said. Merrick
nodded.
 
"We were so close... There wasn't anything I wouldn't be
willing to do for her..."
 
A pause came by as the two men stood on the small cliff, "I
can feel her..."  Merrick said,
"She's nearby..."
 
"Your sister?" Adam asked, raising his eyebrows, "She's
here???" Merrick nodded.
 
"I can sense her presence... She's moving away though..."

"Well what you waiting for??" Adam said, "Why don't you go say hi to her??"
 
Merrick took one step away from Adam. He walked a few steps
out, but stopped. He feels so tempted to leap into that ocean, and see his pod
again. The very thought of it brings him to tears, to see the family of Piscien
merfolk see him once again. To apologize to his Father, to embrace his Mother,
to hunt with Brishen once more, to play with Savarna after so long...
 
Merrick put his foot down, and bowed his head.
 
"... Merrick? What's wrong? Don't you want to see them again?"
Adam asked. He winced as Merrick brought his hands to his face as he started to
gasp and cry, "Merrick??" Adam strode up to Merrick, "Heeey, heey, what's
wrong??"
 
"I can't..." Merrick wept as he put his held onto Adam, "I
can't go back... I can't see her... I can't see my Sister..."
 
"Why not??" Adam asked as Merrick became more upset.
 
"Sister... She's too young... She doesn't understand..." Merrick
whimpered, "When I was banished... She begged me not to leave... She tried to keep
me there... Hearing her cry and scream is more than I can bear..." He said, "If I
go and meet her now, she'll beg me to come back..." Merrick tried to hold back
sobbing, "I can't... I can't do it... I can't take it..."
 
"Alright, Merrick..." Adam said as he rubbed his lover's back,
"It's ok... I'm here for you..." Adam said. Merrick composed himself as he felt his
man touch and caress him tenderly. He took several deep breaths as he held
close to him. He wiped the tears on his face, and sighed.
 
"... I'm fine now..." Merrick said.
 
"You sure?" Adam asked with concern, "There's nothing wrong
with-"
 
"It's ok, Adam..." Merrick interjected, "I just need to
distract myself..."
 
"Alright, sweetie," Adam kissed Merrick before back up,
"Come on, lets go play some games."
 
"Right..." Merrick replied. They took a few steps, before
Merrick stopped.
 
 
The merman felt a wave of heat come over him. He groaned as
his surroundings started spinning in his head. His sense of balance toiled away
for a moment as a dizzy spell swarmed in his brain. 
 
"Ahhh," He hissed and moaned as he knelt down, feeling a
spell of cold AND heat wash over him. He coughed as Merrick experienced a hint
of dryness throughout his form. He clenched his eyes shut to stop the spinning
and the disorientation, and trying to keep himself steady.
 
Taking a few deep breaths, Merrick forced this sudden
unpleasant sensation out of his state of being. Shaking his head, Merrick
looked up, and saw that Adam is way ahead of him. Merrick groaned as he forced
himself up, still quivering from the weird sensation, and ran up to catch up
with his human.

Source: https://sofurry.com/view/747856

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