• • • • •
They say that time's supposed to heal ya,
but I ain't done much healing.
• • • • •
4 |
MER OUT OF WATER
"Let's discuss this calmly—"
Vera tunes out her father, tending to Adare's thirsty needs. She lifts the growing merling and situates the gen in her arms to lay back and suck her nub. Adare takes the bait, squeezing her right breast between his black claws. Vera's scales protect her from any puncture wounds, and Adare drinks from her in a feast. Vera smiles at the site, grinning as the gen takes his fill. She was at peace and the only thing that could dim her mood was swimming through her cove.
"—only ta know te un who birthed yuh." Dariol finished. He glances at Vera calmly with hope of understanding in his noir orbs.
Vera glances at him, barely missing the emotions dwelling within his soul. She snarls, angered by his proposal. "'Birthed me?' And how about the mer who raised me?" Vera's fins ruffle, creating the illusion of growing twice her size. The siren laughs mechanically, and Adare tightens his grip on his mother's breast. "You said it yourself; she gave me to you. Never once attempted to find me or you, Dariol. I cannot wave what she has done aside," she admits, lowing her voice for Adare. He snuggles deeper into her mounds, not suctioning to her buds like before. Vera brushes away her emotions for a moment, staring the mer down.
"The answer is no, Dariol. I will not live with her, let alone see her." Decrees Vera.
Dariol huffs from Vera's stubborn attitude, knowing he'd have to persuade the siren a different way. She was his daughter after all, and he was proud for many things, but this moment was not one of them. He watches in silence as Vera nurses her gen happily. Adare departs from her nipple and yawns. The little creature then smiles lazily, snuggling into Vera's scales. Vera tends to the merling as if she had pods before, which Dariol was very impressed with, and he suddenly thought of an idea. It was a risky idea, and very delicate to bring up after what he proposed, but Dariol was willing to take the chance, for Marzena.
Dariol hums a moment before reasoning with her, "Visit Wol'ernry—" before Vera has the chance to strike, Dariol hurriedly finishes, "An if yuh do not find any comfort there, visit Ae'era! Visit Ear'ern, Insolia, Ferrona, Wicken'ell, an all te o'ers! Buh," Dariol pauses, striking up the courage to speak. Vera notices the change in the male before her, and pauses out of curiosity herself. Her father's shoulders slump lazily, and the twinkle in his eyes was dull. Vera felt sorrow grow within her heart at his dismal disposition.
Dariol connects with her gaze, "Don't wash away ah chance fur yur gen ta experience ah part of yuh, not even yuhself, has never known."
Vera is silent for moments, thinking about his words. He was right and she knew it. Why should Vera punish herself and the quads when they were innocent between the parents? She did nothing to harm either one and her gen certainly weren't apart of it. Vera was against giving the landris any right to know her, yet she wondered to think about her family in Aquatica. Her father would be here; the only true flesh and blood she has. Corvina would be here, but she was a free mer herself and Vera wouldn't make her choose. Nesrin and Iseki were jewels, but they were too into each other when it came down to it, her father was the only one who would stay. The picture she formed for decades now began to crumble, and Vera starts to realize why her father became so assiduous towards her learning about her mother in the first place, but she was uncertain.
As much as Vera hated the idea, she was curious to know what else she was besides mer.
Vera speaks, calming her rage before doing so. "Why should I give her a chance when she tossed it away already?" The siren persists. She was curious as to why it meant so much to her father that she visits the one person who abandoned her; her mother, a Wolvernrian. Vera could care less if the beast dies or becomes injured, so what was the point for the arguement? Vera couldn't answer her own question.
Vera's father gently settles his claws on Vera's shoulder, smiling with his rebuttal. "Because.. wi'out her, te quad would not have survived." Dariol let the words strike her heart, preparing for a lash out or fire to combust in her eyes, but none of that happened. Dariol was surprised when she turns and stares at the tiny creature Vera cradles in her arms.
The siren begins to think of a world without her and without the quad; and her heart shatters. Her father was right. Without him and her mother, she would have never been born and the quad would have never been saved. Vera finally understands what Dariol has tried to tell her. She couldn't wrap her mind around it completely, but Vera had grasped the concept of what her mother meant to her and her merlings. She could give her a chance, the chance she threw away with her, or she could turn the other fin and forget all about this none sense. Vera preferred the latter, but she became enticed by traveling to other realms.
Vera has always wanted to venture into Aethera, wondering what the dragons would be like there. She wonders about the infamous Aethera Peaks and Volcanoes. Then, she thinks about Winter Frieght, the infamous whitish blue lake swimming with dangerous predators, in Wickentell. Vera has always heard about the magical lake from the males who travel during the Anima Luna. She wanted to see it herself, and maybe even dive into the infamous pool of water. Then, she began to think about the exhilarating waterfalls in Faelkyria. How Iseki had spoke so fondly of the streams flowing through the brooks and rocks. Vera was sure the trip to Faelkyria would be exciting, one she would definitely share with her quad.
The siren unintentionally smiles.
As Adare sleeps peacefully within her arms, Vera finds she begins to convince herself to go rather than staying in Aquatica. Staring at the little angel in her arms, Vera came to a consensus within. She sighs, "Okay, I'll go." Vera straightens her back, and slowly cradles the gen in her arms until she's reached the bed of kelp and sea flowers. She places the merling down, and leans over to kiss his forehead as he sleeps with his siblings.
Dariol floats in his spot, amazed. It had worked, and a smile rose on his lips. He tried to keep his happiness calm, but Dariol was relieved from her decision. When Vera turns from her place, swimming over to him, the mer only lays a hand on her shoulder in concern. "Promise me," he draws Vera's face close, "promise me yuh'll come back ta me." Dariol whispers.
Vera raises a brow in confusion as Dariol wraps his free arm around her waist. She returns his affection by swimming closer to his tail, brushing her fins against his in comfort. "Not soon, buh un day. I want ta see how grown yuh've become, an te quad." Dariol hums. He looks into the eyes of his offspring, smiling with hope. He knew she wouldn't return within weeks and wanted to ask her to stay, but he could only ask her to remember to come back to him one day. He would always remember his first daughter.
As Dariol slithers his claw from her shoulder to her neck, he caresses the female in front of him. Vera smiles sorrowfully and holds her father's cheeks within her palms. "I could never forget you, Dariol." Vera proudly admits, touching her forehead to his. Their eyes stay connected the entire moment until Dariol smiles and kisses her nose. Vera giggles softly, not to wake the merlings from their slumber.
"My li'l scarberah," he murmurs.
The siren continues to giggle, laughing at the gentle tickles coming from her father. Dariol smiles lightly at his gen's laughter, soon joining in. The merlings unconsciously smile in their sleep, listening to their mother laugh. Elsa and Eira lay in between Adare and Atlas quietly. The four link their tails together in a massive ball, slowly drifting back into a dreamless sleep. There, deep inside the massive ball, were colors slowly turning the scales into different shades.