A Mermaid's Cry

Chapter 24-Battle Plans

We kept our pace slow and silent, Ares and the other males spread out behind us. While Ikari, Octavia, Adila, her younger sister Amani, and me lead the way towards the eastern shore. Unease pricks my skin, it has sense Ares's friend Marcus decided to show up. That irritating male that tried to flirt with me last week. Oh how I'd like to let Ikari have her fun, but we could us the help, unfortunately.

On we walk, sending snakes, lizards, and rodents into the safety of the dark undergrowth. The humid air, soon leaves our bodies covered in sweat, and our mouths set to salivating for the relief of cold river water. However, the threat of the Northerners forces us to sate our thirst for later. When the sand and the sea, will drink of their blood and ours.

"How much longer cousin?" Arcus questions, sneaking to my side as we all take a much needed break for water.

"Not long, another mile and we will be at the Eastern Cliffs. A perfect vantage point for us to pick out our targets," I reply, pulling out the last oyster pearl from my hair after wrangling the rest of them out on our tireless trek.

"Does that mean I can have my birthday present?" Amani whispers evilly, her frizzy braids framing her toothy grin and cat-like eyes.

"Of course," I answer, dropping the bag of blow darts and blow gun into her outstretched hand.
"Remember, like the harpoon patience is needed to hit your mark."

Amani nods her head, pressing the bag and blow gun to her chest she rushes over to show her sisters. The hem of her cotton pants and green tunic, fluttering like insects wings as she leaps over a fallen moss covered log.

"I'm worried," Arcus mutters, crossing his arms and taking in our ragtag group. "She's only just turned sixteen, and now she's ready to go headlong into a fight."

"If I remember, you were the same way," I chuckle, playfully punching his shoulder. "Hmm, is it concern for her age, or is it something else Arcus?"

He huffs, giving me a disbelieving smirk. However, his eyes wander to Amani and her sisters. All three of them plotting their part in our attack, and never has the resemblance between the twins and Adila been so obvious.

"Something far more tame than what you and Ares have," he answers with a conniving grin.

"There is nothing," I whisper harshly, my hair whipping against my shoulders as I turn my gaze back to him. "I don't know what the pod has been telling you, but I know one thing. Nothing is between him and me except irritation and endless distractions."

I know the instant the words fly out of my mouth, that it's a lie. One that is disproved as swiftly as it is uttered, when Ares appears at my side.

"A distraction you say," he whispers into my ear, startlingly close and yet not close enough.
"If that's the case, what happened after you downed that vile prince was a distraction that you liked way too much."

I glower at Arcus, my brows scrunching together with rage at his amused and easy smile. "You'd be wise to keep your mouth shut cousin," I hiss, briskly extracting myself from Ares and heading over to the rest of the group.

Twigs and brush crunch under my feet, drawing the attention of the girls, Zola, and Marcus gathered round a patch of clear ground.

"Alright," I say, kneeling down in the dirt in order to draw out the layout of the cliffs, jungle, and beach with a stiff finger. "Here is the plan, Adila, Amani, and Ikari will take care of the sentries. Doubtless, they are positioned to keep us from getting to the beach. Octavia and Arcus will lie in wait when they realize their sentries are down. Which reminds me, Ikari this should come in handy."

Taking of what looks to be a simple thin leather bracelet from my wrist, I place it gently into the girl's hands. "Happy Birthday," I say, smiling when she finds the hidden wire in the bracelet. "This should be useful, in the event that you need to be up close and personal."

Ikari smiles, hurriedly putting it onto her wrist and watching as the small purple beads bring a glow to her ebony dark skin.

"What of us?" Marcus questions, quirking a brow at me, as if expecting me to smirk but finds my flinty gaze instead.

"I believe you have the necessary weapons," I reply, continuing the layout of the plan with methodical glee.

"For that you will help Zola with distracting the main group. I hope you both don't mind being the bait, I wish I could be the one to do it but I will need to keep an eye on Ares."

"What do you mean by that?" his low voice caressing my ear. I stiffen, and glare up at Ares with a furrowed brow. Once again, he has gotten too close for my liking. The heat of his body leaching into my flesh, begging me to draw near, but I won't give in. Not when our witnesses are as perceptive as their fighting skills.

"You are the next leader of the pod," I answer, not backing down from his gaze that sends a smoldering flame up my spine. "If you die or are injured in any way, I will be to blame, not the Northeners. It's my decision to engage them, and my fault when lives are lost."

A gentle hand falls upon my shoulder, accompanied by the smell of violets. I look at the pale hand, and find Octavia giving me a reassuring smile. "We chose to follow, they can't blame you for that," she says, chuckling slightly and making me scrunch my face in confusion.

"Besides you should have seen it, we all got up and ran off while Ares's father threw curses at us. But it's get better, at the last second Zola turned around and put up his middle finger."

Everyone breaks into contagious laughter, of course I force myself to remain composed. When they are done, I stand up and turn to Zola looking pleased with himself. "Really? I thought your mother taught you manners," I say, making him grin even wider.

"She did, but the look on his face was priceless," Zola answers with a wink. I roll my eyes and pick up my spear. Without a word, they follow my lead. Grabbing up their weapons, and readying themselves for the fight ahead. I only pray that we will succeed, and for once I hope that this encounter does not turn into a blood bath.