Aquata Cove Ch. 67

"Be calm, Son..." She deftly whispers as she holds him. The negative energy inside of Merrick is so turbulent, it's almost too difficult to even hold him. He seemed almost fine and content when he was riding the Capricorn a few minutes ago, but ever sense he noticed her presence, there was a sudden rush of anxiety in his aura.

"I am sorry, Mother..." Merrick continued, "I do not know what happened, I did not know what to do when it happened, I just... I cannot..."

"Hush, Son," Umiato calmly repeated as she held him close, "It is not your fault." She hugs him tenderly as Merrick sniffled, "It was never your fault."

"But I lied to you... I betrayed you, I betrayed the pod... I turned my back to the sea..."

"You did no such thing..." She said, "I learned you were mated to a human man before you were banished..." Umiato said, feeling a clench from her son's hands "I was... Shocked when he informed you. I can see that he was a good human... One who went so far to protect you...His soul is a bright one." She looks down upon his head with a soft smile, "I was happy. You have found the one true love of your life."

Merrick takes deep breaths as he tries to cope with this very moment alone, "From then one, I knew it was only a matter of time before you were made a Coshiton... I had hoped to talk to you before that happened," Merrick whimpers as his tail twitches, ready to whip around and swim away, "So that I may discover this new side of you, Son." Merrick stops his tail immediately, "You... My Son... So unique and different from any merman I have ever seen, it seemed, with a different mind and perspective..."

Umiato frowns slightly, "But your Father..."

"Mnnnhh..." Merrick cringed.

"He knew... Before I had discovered, he knew it, and..." Umiato took a deep breath, and sighed, "I begged your Father to not invoke your trial - to call out your violation of the Sacred Laws. But you know him..." Merrick nodded against her chest, "Nothing would do but to have you answer for your crime. I sensed that he did not believe that you were mated a man. That invoking your trial would set you on a proper state of being..."

"Please, Mother..." Merrick whined, his feelings only growing darker, "Let me vanish, Mother..."

"Oh, Son..." Umiato's aura began to shift and waft around her, "You have been lost and gone mad within the darkness..." Umiato whispers with tenderness, "I should have taught you how to hold the light... A long time ago."

Merrick tenses as Umiato's arms held him closer.

Laughter, and welcoming sunshine. A human with warm brown hair, chocolate eyes, a smile that brings the heartening breeze of a caring, beloved heart. He's such a beautiful creature, constantly happy to give himself to anyone he knows and loves. He holds his arms out, and brings the light out of someone just from the mere touch. To give and sooth, and protect, to give momentary life in a whole different world, away from everything else.

A healer. Fair and calm, serene and caring, if not strictly prohibitive. Talks, so many talks, about life and matters that seem to trivial but feels fulfilling at the same time, while also in a place full of words and paper, with other such people with similar interests and energies. A healer who, despite what she may have thought after breaking the heart of her friend, stayed by one's side, and helped him as the blood of the earth poisoned his veins, and held his hand as it tore him apart. She never judged, never gave a harsh word.

Someone fun to be with, a virile, beastly companion who is so free with the body, to be one who understands casual bareness. A soul who has had so much burning turmoil, to feel more alone than anyone for so young, as well as being punished by the law for a crime he never committed. Given means for a new home, he recovered so long ago, and even has a different family that suits him for more than anyone he's ever had.

"Hold the light, Son..." Umiato mutters as her aura slowly but surely cleanses into Merrick's body. His heart beats harshly as a semi-foreign feeling starts to bathe into him, "The dark will always be there, but you left behind the light... I will see you find it again." The Noita puts her hand over the mark she left on Merrick's flesh, so long ago.

A lost boy, abandoned by his own pod, so young he can barely swim on his own. Though the Father scorns him with sheer, arrogant anger, one comes back to the fledgling, and gives him means of survival. Compassion that eludes most, but shines brightest in even the least good deed given.

One step at a time, planting one foot over the other upon a blazing hot rock. Looking up into the eyes of excitement and pride. A rush of butterflies and happiness surges in the belly as one's limbs are used for the first time, to walk on his own to the one he loves. Finally evolved to make the effort for him. To make him happy.

Treading a world that is completely unfamiliar. Humans, countless faces, everywhere, yet none show a single trace of malice or interest. Many places for them to be, for him to be, everywhere he looks and everywhere he goes, new discoveries, infinite wonders, passing fancies, endless possibilities, every single second is a brand new adventure all on its own, with the hand holding of one's mate to ensure safety that may not even be needed.

On every full moon, every mermaid comes to the surface, and pays due respect to the Sea Mother through beautiful song. Charm the moon, move the tides with harmony, give thanks and earn needed forgiveness for one and all. Sister leads them all into song; so young, so new, but so ready as she gives the first melody to the moon. Swelling pride and happiness comes to one's chest as she performs one of many duties of a Noita. She will one day surpass that of her mother, as the winds themselves grace her very voice.

Merrick's breathing calms down. The crackling shadows of his heart is weakening, waning in the sight of Umiato's heart.

Waking from grueling nightmare of black slime and crippling poison. The smell of trees and old soil come into be as the eyes open, spotting the Ancient as she pours a dark essence into a jar. Fatigued, she smiles as she helps him up. The bad blood is gone; the body feels so much lighter now. Breathing is harder at the time, even as he looks out to see sunlight beaming into a bright river, and sees the love of his life there. He's there, as always, right then. Waiting for him, always waiting. He's never left his side.

A new life. A solved puzzle once set is now scattered in a new array, like a piece of glass that can be pieced together. It's not an easy task, nor is it all that welcome. But bravery and determination drives forward. Always must keep moving forward. That is what the humans do, and thus begins a journey in its new form.

"Nnhh..." Merrick squirms a little as the good memories try to bring the other ones back into the surface.

"Let them flow, Son..." Umiato says quietly, "Let the light balance the dark..."

A whole moon brought nothing but anger and despair. In a lair of monsters, come emissaries of trust and goodness. Familiar faces appear in the darkness, loving and helping. They free him, they heal him, and they find his mate. Against all odds, he leaves the lair of endless torture, hand in hand, escape into the open air.

Merrick's arms soften quite a bit. His gills loosen as breathing becomes so much easier. Umiato smiles softly as his grip becomes firm, but smoothed. He's finally calming down. The tears have finally stopped. The shroud is finally mending properly.

The creature was never meant to end him. So much fear of the ocean, so much time trying to evade the vast envoy of the world, all for naught. A mighty rogue comes to gracefully bring so much perspective and knowledge. In only a single night, everything becomes so clear, it's almost too much to bare, too much to believe.

A voice of innocence, long believed to have disappeared into the depths of the sea. A boy, left behind from his pod, survived after all of this time. A way back home, to the other place where one belongs.

One will never be alone. Others are there to share his pain. They are there while he fights his sorrow. They understand him, they want him. They care for his life, they are his kind. They understand the ravages of his life, as greatly large as it is.

Merrick breaths a quivering breath, feeling more lighter than he has ever felt, in a long, long time.

"Are you still ashamed to see me?" Umiato asked, "Because I was never ashamed of you..." Merrick shakes his head 'No.'

"I also sense that you have been touched by the Land Father..." She says, "Are you..."

"One could say that..." Merrick smiled, "My Mother and my Father, as well as the Forbidden Ancient, protected me."

Though confused by the cryptic answer, Umiato holds him closer. Merrick's soul... It truly is as good as new. Once again, it's the worthy tapestry of life that it previously was.

"Mother... Why are you here?" Merrick asked, "How have you found me?"

"We were leaving, and I sensed your aura..." Umiato said as she moved back, "A Coshiton may never come back to their pod. But a member of the pod may always seek out a Coshiton," She brings up her hand, "I barrowed a treasure from Daughter so I may see you again." Merrick smiles and chuckles as he sees a very little scallop shell, scripted with the Chinese kanji for 'Light'. "I could scarcely believe that... After all of this time, you are here... Alive." Umiato says with utter happiness, "I had thought... I had hoped you had left the sea to escape the Capricorn-"

"We were wrong," Merrick said as he looked into her eyes, "The Capricorn - it was never meant to guide anyone to their death."

"Then, where did it deliver you, Son?"

"Other rogues. Like me." He answered, "Coshitons who have been lost, and then found." He smiles as his mother looks at him with surprise, "We are called the Kenovani. We have alliances with a few other pods, those who still see us, even as outcasts of the Laws." He smiles to her, "We live, we fight, and we traverse like any other pod. The Capricorn protects us."

"Oh Son..." Sparkling white wisps begin to waft from Umiato's eyes again as her heart swells with joy and relief.

"I someday hope that..." Merrick smirks as he shakes his head, "That you and Father may someday align with us."

Umiato chuckles weakly, "I doubt he will agree. But if he does not," She puts her hand onto his shoulder, "I will align in his place." Merrick blinks from that.

"You... Will align? You can do that?"

"Tritons and Noitas are balance within a pod - equal in ruling. Not every alliance is made by a Triton - I have made pacts with other pods when Kaiken has refused."

"Hah," Merrick smirks, "I pray I will see that sun come to pass."

"Hmhmhm," They hug again, before the shell upon Umiato's headband begins to glow and vibrate, "Oh, Denizyr, he calls."

"I see." Merrick nods, "I wish to know how the pod fairs, but we will meet another sun, Mother." He moves back to move away.

"Wait, Son" She stops him, "Before you leave, I wish to give you one more ease of mind."

"Huh?" Merrick quirks his head as Umiato adjusts a lovely tether made of silk from a human-made gown.

"I sense that you worry for the pod," Merrick's eyes beamed as he looks into the frilly pouch as her hands tuck into them, "The Sea Mother has blessed us, my Son."

Merrick takes a huff of disbelief as Umiato holds up what looks like a very large opal in her arms. Light from the sea's surface dance the light of the opal beautifully in an array of colors along smooth lines on its surface.

Merrick stares in wonder as he puts a hand onto the large, smooth jewel. He feels a distinct warmth and inner voice within the stone itself.

"Your Father refuses to tell me." Umiato said, "May you-"

"Yes." Merrick smiles as closes his eyes, and puts his forehead to the opal, and gives a single signal.

Moments seem to pass by as Merrick swims alone through the warm waters around him, his heart fluttering like it never has in a long, long time.

'Tell Father that I am sorry for what had happened, but what is done is done. What I did is indeed my responsibility, but I do exist no matter what he wishes to think. I am his Son, and I will have him always remember that.'

Merrick smiles as he sees the Capricorn.

'Tell Sister that I have missed her more than she could ever possibly imagine. If she ever wishes to play with me again, like the old suns, I will, anytime, and anywhere. I'll spare any moment she would have of me.'

Arnaav perks up as he looks at him, smiling eagerly as he swims closer. Syrinx is already gone.

'Tell Brishen that the game and the wager is still on. He swore before the sea that he will become the greatest hunter in the sea, but he cannot do that when the score has been left unattended. If he would have me, I want to hunt with him again.'

Merrick rubs Arnaav's fuzzy head as he takes back his harpoon, and dismisses the Capricorn. They both swim forth into the shallow waters.

'I miss you all; you are the place I was born, and are responsible with how I came to be, and I could not be more happier with how the Waves of Fate have washed over my existence. I often worried how the pod would go on once I was banished. So I thank you, Mother, for absolving me of my darkness, and showing me the light that I had forgotten.'

Merrick takes a moment to take his scale necklace from his pouch, and ties it around his neck, immediately transforming himself into human form.

'And I wish you all the best of luck with my new Brother. May the Sea Mother shine upon you, may the Guardian Leviathan protect you, and may the Waves of Fate guide you.'

~~~

Upon the shore, Merrick walks partially naked as normal as can be, while Arnaav barrows his harpoon as a walking stick to tread the sand, still in his true form as an otter merman - Triton Samudra regularly has the pod go on land to practice how to walk in their human forms.

Arnaav looks, and spots a strange-looking ship surrounded by logs of white-ish reef, "Is that where we're going? Where the humans live?"

"Yes, that's it." Merrick answered, "It's called a 'House'. That's where humans usually live."

They move up to the back porch of the house, where Merrick went to a wove-basket, and picked out a couple of towels. He turned around and bent over to start running the towel on and round Arnaav's body.

He dried off his hair, face, torso around his sea gear and belt, and legs morphing his body into a humanoid shape.

"What's that for?" Arnaav asked.

"It's better to be dry when you go inside a house." He said, before drying himself off, and locating a hidden key to unlock the glass sliding door to open it.

"RAAAH RAAH RAAH! ARROOROOOROO!" Comes a loud, golden flash of abrupt noise and force.

"AAEEEHHH!" Arnaav screams as he clings behind Merrick as the loud barking continued.

"HEY! Hey-ey-ey, get back! Get back!!" Merrick yelled. He shouted a few strange hollers at the creature, doing little to calm it down.

"What is that thing?!" Arnaav yelped, terrified, "Make it stop!"

"Easy! Down girl! Down!" Merrick commanded, "It's ok, Arnaav, it's just the dog, she won't hurt you."

"RAAHH! RAAHH!" The golden retriever jumped about, her tail flopping left and right as she barked. Merrick growled before he grabbed a nearby chew toy, and threw it across the house. The dog then raced after it, barking still until she sank her fangs into the squeaky plush.

"That is Sally," Merrick said as he brought the shaking boy around, and held securely to him as he quivers with fear, "She's Jamal's dog. Humans have a common habit of keeping animals in their houses." The poor boy sniffled and moaned with bewilderment, as Sally viciously shook her toy around in her maw, "Don't worry, she won't hurt you. She's just loud and obnoxious."

"Thhrraawwr~?" Comes a more welcome, mellow noise. Merrick looks down and smiles as the semi-fluffy, orange cat trots up to him.

"Hi there, Roxas~!" Merrick got down and pet the cat as it came purring to him, pushing his face into Merrick's palm as he gently picks him up, "Aww hello, little buddy~. How's da cutie little kitty~ Yesh he is, he's so soft and fluffy~" He coos to the feline.

Merrick turns and holds the cat up for the boy to see, "Here, this is a cat. His name is Roxas." Arnaav whimpers as he took a step back, "It's ok, go ahead and touch his head, like this," Merrick pets Roxas, "He's a good boy, don't worry."

Arnaav gulps, before reaching a shaking hand over and softly touching the soft fur. Roxas purrs as he watches Arnaav carefully, even as he cautiously strokes him.

"Yeah, that's it, don't be afraid." Merrick encourages. Arnaav smiles weakly as he brushes into Roxas's warm neck fur.

Merrick lets the cat go, and stands back up, "Ok, follow me." Merrick says as he turns and walks into Adam's room. Arnaav looks all around the house - it looks so different, so unlike the sea. So many foreign objects for who knows how many different unknown purposes, what do humans possibly do with so many different things? And this is only where they live.

They enter Adam's bedroom, and Merrick picks up his iPhone from his shelf. He immediately dials Adam's number, and holds it to his ear. Seconds later, Arnaav jumps as a sudden playful ringtone jingled out of nowhere. Merrick jerks around and scoffed with displeasure, "Ah dammit, he forgot his damn phone."

Merrick ended the call, and started to strip down from his equipment - removing his shark-tooth headband and cross-belts. Not exactly sure what to do, Arnaav does the same.

Once completely naked, Merrick goes to the drawers, and fished out a pair of nice satin boxers. Arnaav watches with estrangement as Merrick bent over, and pulled up the small piece of shiny cloth up between his legs, and then putting on a long piece of dark blue up to his waist, that covers his legs completely. Merrick pulls on a shirt as well, before he looks to the kid, who is just standing there, wearing absolutely nothing.

"Oh damn, that's right..." Merrick winced, "We don't have any kid clothes here."

"Kid... Clothes?" Arnaav said with an estranged look, "What does that mean?"

"Well... See what I'm wearing right now?" Merrick asked while pulling on his shirt and pants, "Humans are notorious about covering up their bodies with sails and nets - they're called 'Clothes'. If you walk around like... How you are now," Arnaav looks down upon his exposed body, "They would start to freak out."

"Why?" Arnaav asked, "That seems a bit weird."

"It is. Frankly it's annoying half the time, but it's bearable. Here," Merrick pulled out some extra small underwear, and went down to put it on the boy. Merrick then picked up his wallet, and opened it, "Kay... 5, 10, 20... Got $24 in here... Lemme..." Merrick then took his iPhone from his shelf, and dialed a number.

"Huh?" Arnaav blinked curiously as Merrick held the strange, flat device up to his head, and stood still. He took a moment to dial a few other numbers onto the phone, and held it up to his ear again. After a short pause, he nodded once and hung up, "Still have over a hundred dollars in there, we're good."

"Good? I don't understand."

"Oh, um, well see," Merrick opened up his wallet, and showed Arnaav the slips of pale green paper, "This is called Money. Humans use these to trade items and services."

"Don't they trade item for item instead? That might make more sense."

"No, they don't. They used to, centuries ago, but in this age, their whole sense of trade revolves around money." Merrick pockets his wallet, and goes to put on a white leather jacket, "And we need this to get you some clothes."

"If you say so." Arnaav said, "H-Hey, Merrick? You know about... What we know about humans... Are you sure they're not as powerful and colossal as we think."