The Golden Winged Horse

Chapter 13

My heart pounded so hard I could hear my pulse in my ears. I looked to Calico for reassurance but he seemed to be struggling with his own thoughts as he stared into the distance. Was this it? Did we have no choice but to give in to the fact we would be in Isidora's clutches one way or another?

We stayed there for what felt like forever but more likely only a few minutes. A dark mass approached us from the left, gliding through the water at speed. I realised after a few seconds it was the mermaids and mermen. I expected them to swim back past us but when they stopped next to Calico, I held my breath, hoping for a miracle.

A merman swam out of the group and approached Calico, his yellow tail glittering like a gem with each move he made. He moved his trident through the water, spinning it around and around and then stuck the prongs into the water, ending inches from Calico's face. I startled and let out a small scream, thinking he was attacking Calico but when the handsome fairy didn't flinch, I dug my fingers into the dog's fur and hoped for the best.

The merman floated inches away from Calico and his pink lips were moving, like he was talking. I realised then that he'd entered Calico's oxygen bubble in order to speak to him. He nodded a few times, glanced over at me quickly, then beckoned Calico to follow him.

Calico looked at me and gave me a reassuring smile. Were they helping us? How? The merman poised his trident out in front of him and slowly swam forwards, I presumed carefully exiting Calico's oxygen bubble.

The group swarmed around us like bees on honey. Again, the dogs and the horses seemed calm and Calico stuck his thumb up in an 'ok' sign so I tried to calm my shallow breathing. With the merfolk all around us, I could see nothing but them, which after seeing the freaky jelly-spider, probably wasn't the worst thing in the world.

It was a fascinating world here in the ocean, but I longed to be on solid ground and to see the bright blue skies above me once again. The horses barely moved now the merfolk seemed to be pushing us along to wherever they were helping us to. I felt like one of those empty shells being swept along with the current.

I lost myself in my thoughts, wondering what Macie was up to back home, what time it was and if she'd had to cover for me yet. How could I even begin to describe to her everything I'd seen here? I wished I'd brought a Go-Pro with me so I could film it and show her everything first-hand. I wondered how Tristan was doing and if Dad had thought of any other options as of yet.

Before I knew it, we were being slowed to a gentle stop. The merman who'd spoken with Calico before pointed his trident ahead of us, nodded his head at Calico, and then took his group back into the ocean, leaving us just as bare and vulnerable as before.

Izar moved forwards, his ears pricked and a spring in his step. Kaisa quickly followed suit, her eagerness almost making her vibrate. It dawned on me then that something was happening that I didn't quite understand. We must have only moved a few metres before a small runway appeared in front us, only just big enough to fit a single horse on. The dusky pink bricks immediately made me think of the Queen's Court.

The narrow pathway angled upwards, leading me to think we were going to be on dry land very soon. Calico took the lead, Izar's powerful hindquarters pushing him up the steep runway. Kaisa kept close to him, matching him step by step.

A few paces up and we then turned a sharp left. The path kept going up but I could see the surface of the water literally six or seven strides in front of us. Calico pushed Izar forwards, breaking out onto dry land and normal land. I urged Kaisa forwards, desperate to be back in some kind of normality.

When she broke the surface and my oxygen bubble dissolved, I gasped for breath like I'd not had any for hours.

Calico laughed. "You really are quite amusing."