A Miraculous Mermaid Tale

Chapter 22: Storm

"Those are some dark clouds," Nino noted in the morning after they'd left the island. Nathalie turned her gaze to the oncoming storm, eyes narrowing.

"I don't think there's a way to avoid it," she sighed.

"You kids need to stay under the water," Gabriel ordered. "You'll be safer there. Go down far enough so the currents don't affect you."

"Yes, sir," Marinette replied, gesturing for her friends to do as he said.

"What about you?" Adrien asked worriedly, staying behind.

"We'll be okay up here," Gabriel said.

The boy looked at Nathalie, brows drawing together. "But, Nathalie . . ."

"It's just a little rain," she assured him. "Your father will keep me above the water."

"I will."

Adrien hesitated. "I'm staying until the storm comes."

And he did, even when the clouds rolled over them and the wind quickened.

"Ready?" Gabriel asked.

She tightened her grip on his shoulders. "Not really."

"Try to find land if you can," Adrien suggested. "It might be safer than the waves."

"Don't worry about us, son," his father replied with a smile.

"Are you sure I can't stay here with you?"

Nathalie shook her head. "You're much smaller than your father, Adrien. You won't be able to fight against the waves. You could get hurt."

With a loud boom of thunder, the downpour started. The waves rolled angrily, battering them.

Already struggling, Adrien yelled, "Stay safe!" and reluctantly dove under the water.

The waves weren't so bad at first.

Nathalie swiped the water from her eyes, her hair already coming undone. "Are you doing alright?" she asked Gabriel.

He grunted a "yes", arms winding more tightly around her. "Just hold onto me and you'll be fine."

A large wave crashed over them, threatening to pull her away.

"We should have stayed on the island," Gabriel muttered, the water so loud she could barely hear him. "Do you see any land?"

"I can barely see you!"

With another wave, she lost hold of him. She would've been dragged under with the current, but he dove and grabbed her again.

"Hold onto me!" he repeated. "Whatever you do, don't let go!"

So she clung to him once more, an embrace her life depended on.

After what could've been hours, a wave threw them to the side. Her feet brushed sand, and she realized they'd made it to an island.

Gabriel pulled them both onto the shore and collapsed as soon as they were far enough away. The waves still soaked them, but they wouldn't be pulled back into the water.

The rain eventually eased, and the wind died down to a gentle breeze. The sun began to peek through the clouds, casting beams of light onto the ocean.

The tide had drawn back as well, leaving them dry and Gabriel without fins or scales.

She sat up, shortly followed by him. Their eyes met, his gaze bleary. "Did you break anything?" she asked.

"No, I'm just exhausted." He tiredly pressed his forehead to hers. "Are you injured?"