Deep Blue Sea

|Eryon|

I felt something brush underneath me. It was dark and the pace was unfamiliar. I looked around and shook my head trying to clear my vision. I had to focus. I needed to get my head in the game.

I looked to my left, to my right, above me...ah! There it is. I followed the glow of the spherical object. I can still win this!

Suddenly I felt something grab the base of my tail and pull me down. "No!" I yelled. I scrambled forward and swam with all my might. I had to win if I was going to be a loser for another year.

"Loser!" I heard them giggle.

That fueled my anger. There was no way I was going to lose again. I pushed my tail to rush myself forward. I had to get that glowing sphere. I felt myself rush past them and close the distance. I reached out and felt my fingers curl around the glowing ball. Then I heard a scream and someone tackled me, making me lose my grip.

The air whooshed out of my lungs and my vision blurred. It was enough for the other team to score. "Ah! Ha! You lose again, Ery." I sighed when I heard my little brother's voice.

"You won by luck, Ero," I wheezed as I tried to catch my breath.

"Okay, loser," he said as he tossed the ball between his hands. "Another round?"

"No," I answered as I swam towards home. "I'm tired and hungry."

I felt him follow me and I smiled. "I'm hungry too." He came beside me and linked our arms together.

I loved the ocean. We were in the middle Equator ocean, called Stellara, the bridge between the big sea. I loved it here. It was warm and the animals were more friendly. They were used to us and it was deep enough to hide us from the Above Wanderers.

I hated the thought of them. I still remember what they did to my friend, Wyntor.

We were only ten at the time. Playing in the shallow waters because we didn't heed the warnings. Our worlds were small — all we knew were the oceans and the animals. We were chasing an octopus when we heard rumbling above the surface. Next thing I knew there were males with limbs swimming towards us with their shiny weapons.

We ran. I ran. I thought Wyntor was behind me and when I turned around I saw him in their trap. I screamed and watched in horror as they took him further away. I looked around to see the other Merkids hiding. We watched helplessly and by the time someone came to help, Wyntor and the ships were long gone.

I cried and had nightmares for years. I hated going outside. I hated being away from my parents and I hated that area of the ocean. I loved the ocean, but that area always gave me nightmares.

I still wouldn't go near that area every time we migrated.

My little brother was born five years after that incident and my sister two years after him. I've kept them away from that area of the ocean every time we passed through it. I warned all the children, as did the siblings who were there with me that day.

Wyntor's parents had more children after him but they still longed for their little boy. They set out and joined another pod with a different migration route. I've run into them once, and they seemed very heartbroken. I would be too if I lost my child like that. His father greeted me but his papa couldn't look me in the eye. I felt guilty. I was guilty. I could've saved him. If only I had grabbed his hand and made him swim with me.

"Eryon?" Ero looked up at me, confused. "Are you okay?"

I unclenched my fist and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine." I sighed. I shouldn't be thinking about this, not in front of Ero. He was still too young. Recently turned fourteen. "Let's go inside. I wonder what's for dinner." I had to change the mood.

"Oh, I hope mom made my favorite!" Ero said as we walked through the door. "It's my first migration after all."

"You've migrated with us before when you were seven." I looked at him confused. "This is Estra's first migration."

"I was too young to remember and now I'm older so I'll get to experience more. Maybe I'll find my mate!" He skipped through the cave excitedly.

I rolled my eyes. "Sure you will." It wasn't easy to find your mate. Not in the ocean. I don't know about the Above Wanderers. I had searched for my mate. Every other year I would visit different pods hoping that my mate would be there, but year after year I came back disappointed. I was only nineteen — I had years to find them. I only came of age last year and the heat cycles were brutal for those without a mate.

I had to be locked up alone with the Merfolk my age because we were getting too aggressive. "I will!" Ero shouted. "Mom! Ery is being mean!" He ran into our mother's arms. Her swollen belly stopped Ero from engulfing her completely.

Mom looked at me confused and chuckled while ruffling his hair. "I am sure he didn't mean to be." Her smooth voice had a calming effect on everyone. It didn't affect us much since she was our mother, but everyone in the pod loved her. She was good at conflict resolution and persuasion. No wonder dad fell head over heels for her.

I shook my head and swam over to kiss her on the cheek. "What's for dinner? It smells good." I smiled, pulling away as Ero clung to her like a baby. I stuck out my tongue when she wasn't looking.

"Oh! Your father was lucky today and caught one of the deep-glowers. I fried them with kelp. I'm also craving some fermented kelp...I'll have to make some." Mom loved cooking and food. Before she met my father she used to help my grandparents with their cooking stall. It was really famous.

They had settled at the deep trench, Mariana, and when we visited them they always made the most delicious food. "Sounds good! I'm starved. After teaching Ero how to hunt without cheating, I need something delicious to soothe me." I gave her my best innocent eyes.

"Ero." She frowned. "You cheated? You know you're supposed to learn to hunt without taking from others."

Ero looked at me with a scowl. I smiled innocently as I walked deeper into the dining area. It was already dark and the Gloweries were casting blue and yellow light throughout the cave system. Estra was already there, munching away. Her face was a mess but she looked so cute with her puffed cheeks. "Hey, cutie." I smiled and picked her up. I kissed her chubby cheeks and nuzzled my face in her hair. Such a little one.

"Erie!" She giggled.

"How was your day?" I asked as I placed her back near her food.

"Good, mom taught me how to make kelp. Try!" She shoved the kelp in my face.

"Oh, thank you," I said, trying to hide my disgust. "I'll try some later."

I don't like kelp and it was an issue because it was everywhere. We chitchatted for a bit until dad came home and we had dinner.

In two days we would be moving to Pyrrhalos, the Pacific sea. That's where the pregnant Merpeople would give birth. There was a ring of fire there where the teens could hang out and enjoy themselves while the others were busy mating or giving birth.

The migration was always stressful. I enjoyed the destination but getting there was hell. Most creatures were friendly but there were some we had to watch out for—the black and white whales, the leopard seals and others. They loved to hunt us or prey on us for sport. I hated them, and when the warriors killed one, we would feast on their bodies. They tasted very good.

I couldn't wait to become a warrior. I would start my training next year. I had to learn how to fight. I had to keep my family safe. I knew the basics but there was always more to learn. I looked ahead at the pod moving through the currents. We followed the currents—it helped us get there faster. It was a safer route that had been discovered a few years back. Less and less of us had been taken or hurt since then.

I swam beside Kurus, a blue-tailed merman. He was two years older than me and one of my best friends. "Hey," I greeted him. He looked at me and smiled. "How is it so far?" I asked as we swam together.

The waters were getting colder and I hugged my jacket tighter. Soon it would be warm but we had to get through the cold waters first. "Good," he answered as he relaxed a bit. "It's always hard with my little brother. He doesn't understand the difference, but now he's grown more accustomed to it. My parents prepare better each time." He smiled.

"That's good. I'm glad Dyln is getting more used to it." I smiled back. We chatted for a while and soon Geryn and Frea joined us. It felt nice to relax and talk with my friends.

After hours of traveling we took a break. The surface was close but not close enough to be seen. The sun was setting and it was time to hide. We were strong but we still had to watch out for the children and elderly. This migration would be the last for some of them before they settled somewhere permanent.

The scouts found a cave system and we quickly piled in while the soldiers stood guard.

Five more days of travel. Soon this would all come to pass.

I was tired, but this was my third migration. I should have been used to it by now. I had asked mom once why we did it. "It's a tradition," she had answered. "Our ancestors did it and now we do. We may have separate pods but we are all born in the same waters and sand. It connects us."

It made sense, so I kept it at that.

We were nearing the end of our week-long journey. Our pod lived the closest to Pyrrhalos. Some pods traveled for months.

I turned around to see my family trailing behind. Warriors were positioned at the front, middle and back, and soldiers guarded the sides. We were safe.

"Watch out!" Someone screamed. I turned around to see the hull of an Above Wanderer vessel looming overhead.

We instantly dove lower. They couldn't breathe underwater, which made it easier for us to escape. "Why would they attack now?" Someone whispered. I looked left and right, trying to find my family. I rushed past many panicked members as I searched frantically.

I spotted my mom's golden hair and my father's white one. "Mom! Dad!" I yelled as I got closer. I hugged them tightly and heard my mom sob. "What's wrong?" I pulled back to see her face.

"Es—Estra!" My mom screamed. "I can't find her!"

Panic set into my bones. No, not again. The sounds around me blurred and all I could think was that I had failed. "There!" Father yelled as he pointed upward. No. She can't be up there.

I didn't even realize I was moving until I was inches from her. She looked at me, terrified—the same look Wyntor had. "It's okay," I gasped as I tried to free her from the trap. It was the same type of trap they always used. They were pulling her up. I gripped the net and pulled down with all my might. "Swim with me," I commanded, and she nodded her little head.

I looked down to see father, Dlaphy and Geryn. They were close but not close enough. I felt the pull of the net almost make me lose my grip. I wrapped the net around my arm and reached for my blade. Once I had it in hand I started cutting.

I had to get her free. I had to get her free. It was the only mantra in my head as I sliced through the net. We were close to the surface. I had to be quick. I couldn't let them take her. When the last strand snapped I grabbed her and pulled her out. "Go!" was all I could say before I saw the horror spread across my father's face.

"Eryon!" He yelled as he reached for me. It was too late.

I hadn't even realized it until that moment. My hand was caught in the net. They were going to take me. I gripped the knife and started cutting at the net around my arm. It was too tangled. I looked down as the water around me grew brighter. My eyes burned—I couldn't see. I thrashed around trying to swim downward. I looked down to see my father and the pod staring up at me in horror as the guards held my mother back.

They're safe. I saved her. I might die, and I was okay with that. I saved her. I didn't let them take her like they took Wyntor. I saved her.

My eyes burned as I tried to adjust to the light. The heat spread to my lungs next. I couldn't breathe. It hurt so much. My arm was still tangled in the net as they hauled me onto the dark brown deck. It was filthy. My white tail was already turning green from the grime.

I thrashed around as my lungs burned. I heard them yelling and screaming. I started crawling towards the edge of the ship. I had to get back into the water.

I heard the creak of the floorboards and a hatch opened. A woman walked in, looking worried. I didn't care for her. My lungs were burning, as were my eyes. My attention was elsewhere—I was caught and tangled in the net.

The Above Wanderers rushed all around me but my focus was to get back into the ocean. Back to my family. I had to get back to them. I had to be there to meet my new sibling.

I could hear their voices getting closer but I didn't care. I'd rather die than give in easily. My lungs might burn but it wouldn't stop me.

I couldn't understand what they were saying, but I knew a few of their words. A tall man stepped out of the hatch, said something, and a minute later I was lowered into a clear tank of water. It helped ease the fire in my lungs, but I kept my eyes shut tight. I felt my hand be freed from the net and tried to grab whoever was near me — with no luck.

I won't give up. I'll leave this place. I will see my family again.

I looked at the strange woman. I wanted to tell her to set me free, but I didn't think she would understand, so I stayed quiet and unresponsive. I looked down at my white bracelet with a blue pearl. It was a gift from my father on my seventeenth birthday. I touched the clip in my hair and the necklace at my throat. I sighed in relief when I realized everything was still there.

I looked up to see the woman and a few other people in the room. My headache was gone. The blonde woman came over and sat beside the tank. "Are you...okay?" I caught the words. I looked at her, confused and scared.

I moved away from her and looked around for an opening. Then, out of nowhere, a man, stunning and handsome, walked in. He looked at me and smirked.

"My prize."