• • • • •
And I will give you everything baby.
But can you feel this energy? Take it.
• • • • •
Hours in the open ocean went by and Vera still hadn't found the little merling. She searched the cave and the lands around the rock. The MeClans had vacated the reef and was no where to be seen, just as the merling was. Vera had been at this route for nonstop. Her father worried about her behavior, but understood it. After all, she was his first female in his line. He had been left as the caregiver of three precious merlings that slept the whole time Vera was looking for their sibling. Vera's father was doubtful, but hopeful only for his daughter. He knew how serious Vera could latch herself onto these merlings, and only wished for her safe return. He had news after all.
Vera was currently observing the route she had taken for the umpteenth time. There were countless pathways she had searched, and many crevices she found, but none had the merling there. She wasn't going to give up, but she needed a miracle to find a tiny merling in the ocean. It could have been eaten already and Vera would never know. It drove her through the ground to find the merling. She wasn't giving up hope just yet. She knew the child was out here, whether a male or female, she was going to find them.
The current carried a familiar scent to Vera's nose. It wasn't fresh, and rocked in waves towards her. Vera notices the taste, and recalls the first bite from the male merling. She had rushed off to an open area with kelp growing. Vera remembers patching her fin and testing the movement of it before. She had a spark of hope inside her at the memory. Vera rushes off, following the scent to a field of kelp and seaweed. There wasn't any movement or shimmering white distractions to aid her in her search. Vera dashed around the perimeter of the field before inspecting the vacate land.
When she finished, she came up empty handed and heartbroken. She sifted through the plants and couldn't find the merling. Vera sat in the kelp, causing herself grief. She contemplated on killing herself for the merlings, but it was no use. She couldn't move pass the worry clouding her vision. The kelp around her floats against her scales, unconsciously soothing her from the stress she's creating for herself. The sea around her contains her sadness, and the desperation of the search. The emotions scatter in waves across the field, calling to the creatures around to notice her sweet, familiar scent.
And one of them do.
Vera swallows harshly, breathing in the salty water. The mermaid breathes calmly, attempting to refocus on the task at fin. She begins to think of other places her scent could have carried off to. It was difficult to pinpoint a merling, especially one who has not been bonded with no parent. A parent could call to the merling and the merling would answer back. Without the parental call, there was no way Vera could communicate with the merling, thus creating a difficult game of "hide and seek."
Swallowing her worry, Vera decides to sift through the field once more, only to be positively absolute. She takes her time, moving kelp leaves and seaweed from rocks and burrows. She found many crabs and fish, but none were the merling. An exasperated sigh leaves her mouth before she finally leaves. Her tail sashays through the plants, parting her path. Vera is about to swim faster when something sharp nips her tail. Unexpectedly, she lets out a scream. Vera flicks her tail immediately, and inspects the creature that has latched onto her fluke deep enough to leave a mark next to the first bite mark.
The siren freezes, spotting the dull gray eyes and white hair. It's tiny fingers wrap themselves around her fluke, pushing off of the fin to clean the wound. Vera watches, amazed by his ability to heal her so quickly. He seals the wound after licking it, then catches eyes with her. Vera smiles happily at the merling, which suddenly causes him to laugh and crawl up her tail to reach her. The siren notices this, and wraps him up in her arms. Her claws cradle him to her as he clings to her left breast for comfort. He lays his head directly over her heart, and listens to the soft beating of the organ.
Vera hugs the merling closer, relief flooding her veins. She peers around the area, confirming their privacy before smiling at the tiny creature. Rushing off to the infirmary, Vera smiles brightly all the way through the ocean, dragging her spear along with her. Her silver tail picks up pace, rapidly speeding through the small village. As soon as she swam through the entrance, the siren spots Kieva's white and gray tail.
"Kieva! Kieva!" Vera hollars, swimming towards the shark.
Kieva's dark gray hair falls around her chest in a thick braid ending at her waist. She notices Vera calling out to her, then widens when she notices the merling in her arms. She calls for Cochu, waving Vera after her, and both soon meet in the same room from before. Vera's father swam towards her, smiling as he spots the two mers. The other three merlings cuddle with one another on the palette. They begin their wait for Cochu, and while the mers do, Vera places the final male merling on the kelp blanket. Kieva stares in shock at the child, and smiles when she sees the loving expression in the siren's face. She opens her mouth to speak, but Cochu comes in before she can create a sound.
Cochu's eyes widen when he spots the fourth merling crawling towards Vera. "Oh, yeh've found 'em!" He exclaims. Cochu smiles happily, nodding to the the shark.
"If yeh please." Vera smiles, looking to the beautiful merling, then her father and Vera leave.
Cochu motions the mers out, just for an examination, but as Vera passes the child, he begins to cry and whine, biting at the cecaelian aid when he turns to comfort the child. The siren turns, finding his eyes turn black. She watches, hesitantly widening her eyes, as if black liquid begins to flood his gray orbs until there's nothing left. Vera gasps, curious of the Tagris merling that was now hers. He whines for Vera, crawling towards the siren for comfort. She happily obliges his calling, carefully cradling him in her arms with his head on her left shoulder. The merling snuggles into her neck, softly sighing away his tantrum.
"Under heavy skies in the rain," Vera sings quietly to the merling. His webbed ears perk up while the merling's mouth closes, along with his new noir eyes. They close and shut multiple times, slowing down each time. "You're dancing in your bare feet," Vera continues again, remembering pieces of the lyrics she use to hear her father sing. The child begins to nod off, falling deeper to sleep.
"Just like we're in a movie." Vera's claw runs tenderly down his tail, softly lulling the little creature to sleep. She gently sways back and forth, listening to his little heart slow into a steady rhythm. "Grab my hand and we're chasing the train." The little merling reaches for her neck, comforted by her voice. Vera smiles while she slithers towards the slab of rock.
"I catch you looking back at me," Vera whispers, sending him into a rhythmic sleep. The little one falls quickly under her spell, out like a light. "Running through a cloud of steam." She gently removes the mer from her chest, cradling his head until he lays on the kelp blanket. Vera grins at the sight; all four curling into one another for warmth and comfort, sound asleep.
It takes Vera's father to pull her away from the four and down the hallway. He rushes her out, taking her hands in his. She follows after him, sadly longing to have them in her arms again. It wasn't unusual for merfolk to have many in a pod. Most mers have anywhere from three to seven in a pod, and merfolk have pods up to three times a year. Sometimes four if the occasional mermaid is promiscuous. Vera never understood mating or children, but as soon as their eyes had met hers, she knew their time ahead would be worth everything.
It was only a matter of time until she would have them in her grasp again. They are worth the wait. Now, she knew how her father felt with her. She knew it would be a challenge, considering there are four of them. She was ready, and very hopeful.