Gifts Given By the Ocean can also be taken back.
After the death of the Village Head, estranged cousins Mandeeq and Shermake reunite at their Grandfather's funeral where their fathers fight over who would be the Heir to the village. With tensions ru...
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SHERMAKE
Shermake turned his back and swam further away, his anger the only thing that fueled his speed. Zipping between schools of fish, maneuvering between rocks and just barely avoided hitting a giant turtle.
Shermake looked behind him as he swam and slowed down just a bit, taken aback by what he saw. A camel appeared seemingly galloping through the water not too far behind him. Was this the sea camel Amana was referring to? He swam much faster trying to get away from it. Shermake still denied that such a thing as a sea camel existed. And yet there it was, swimming after him. What did it want? To drag him back to its beloved sea witch so she may finish him off like his brother?
Swimming as fast as he could, Shermake stopped in his tracks and stared in disbelief. He looked up, with his mouth hung open as he took in the sight of a waterfall. It was the most absurd thing he had ever seen, strangely enough he couldn't tell exactly where the waterfall had started. It was as if it had just appeared, as if someone had conjured it out of thin air. He wondered if it were possible for mermaids to do that, their very existence was a mystery as well as his gift. Who was to say that magic is not real?
He didn't understand how this could happen, he looked down and couldn't see anything, no floor, no fish and no rocks, it was just him alone. This was another reason why he didn't like the ocean. Not only was it confusing, it is where those vile creatures, those mermaids, took his brother, his truest friend. He couldn't forget and he couldn't forgive them. Amana the evil sea witch that stood before us was the reason this all happened. He couldn't wrap his head around Mandeeq's willingness to trust that beast. How was he supposed to work with a mermaid? They were very creatures his father warned him about. He wouldn't allow it, he couldn't. To accept their help would be the same as betraying both his father and brother.
Shermake manoeuvred himself on his back to look up hoping to catch a glimpse of the sun. There was nothing. He was able to see though which surprised him, considering how far down they were. There was an intricate system of lanterns that hung from vines. Or was it seaweed? He recognized them as King Protea, a flower that bloomed seasonally in the village, it was the pride and joy of their people. A symbol of peace and beauty.The lights were connected to tall aluminium polls. He would admit that it was an interesting system they have set up. He wondered just how far below they actually were. The more he thought of it the more it made sense to him. If the merfolk lived too close to the surface there would be no secret to hide. More humans would have encounters with these fish people, and then who knows what chaos would ensue. It's better this way, he thought. He missed the sky, he even missed catching bits of conversations between the birds. Things worked differently down here. Shermake relaxed his muscles, unclenched his jaw and allowed the tension to escape. Normally he refused to let his emotions take over but this was far from normal. He had to think rationally, assess the situation and make the best possible decision.
