New Song

Author's Note: So, while you do not need to read Northern Waters to understand New Song, there are a few things that are explained in that story, but not here.

-My mermaids do not actually speak in the true human sense, with exceptions for naming their children and professing love.
-Sleeping circles are where individuals link up by grabbing the tail of another mermaid and forming a circle, usually between two and four individuals. Small children cling to their parent's pelvic fins rather than linking up.
-Mermaids have only one mate in their entire life. This doesn't mean they only have one partner in their lives, but that once they chose to be mated with someone, they will never break that loyalty, even after the death of that individual.
-Bachelor pods are made up of males that have been chased out of their own pods or simply leave due to internal stress. Some pods form strong loyalties, but others are disastrous, with never ending power challenges.

Natalia could clearly remember the day those two joined the pod. She was still young enough to be tucked under her mother's tail while they swam, for protection, and her song was still simple childhood ditties rather than the songs of the adults.
Mother was guiding them to a new fishing ground. It was summer, and the harvest was bountiful. Natalia watched the long strands of black hair flowing behind her mother and caught them in her hands, smiling as her mother allowed her to braid them.
Nearby, Natalia's older brother and sister played with Matthew and Alfred, chattering and rushing around, playing tag. Alfred's mother, Alice, called to him. Natalia held back a giggle when he zipped over, and before she could check on him, he zipped away, back towards the others. Alice shouted after him, and Natalia saw that even momma was smiling as the grumpy mer woman chased her son. Natalia was still too young to be playing with the others, so she watched them from a distance instead.
Their pod contained the three adult females and their offspring. Natalia could also remember a time when a big male had swum with them, cuddling with her and playing. But papa had been gone before she could recall him clearly. She could remember those blue eyes and dark tail, but that was it.
She was beginning to get hungry, and took her mother's hand to inform her, but suddenly a mersong cut through the water.
The pod halted, and the older children rushed back to their mothers. Natalia swam over to Katyusha, who kept her close. At fourteen summers, she was the oldest child.
The song was one of grief and loss. Mother sat for a few moments, and then began to sing back. Her song was one of friendship, offering to share in the grief of the other pod.
Soon, two young merfolk emerged. They were the same age, one male and one female. The female looked like a normal mermaid. She had a green tail and brown hair. Her eyes were green as well.
But Natalia squeaked in surprise at the sight of the male. His skin was usually pale, and his tail and hair were both white. But what scared her most was the fact that he had bright red eyes. She darted back underneath mother, who shushed her cries quickly.
The two approached, keeping a respectful distance from the larger pod. The female's arm hung limply at her side, and Natalia realized that she could smell blood in the water. She hid under mother's tail even more.
The male finally swam forward and introduced himself, the squeaks and whistles that made his name forming a word in Natalia's mind.
Gilbert.
He told her mother that he and Elizaveta had been playing when a pod of orcas approached and had attacked. Elizaveta had lost her mother, and Gilbert had lost his father and brother.
Momma listened to their story, and then called the young female over. Alice came forward and set a hand on her arm.
The bone began to mend under Alice's gentle touch. She had sea witch blood in her veins. Soon the young mermaid was able to move her arm freely, albeit stiffly. Natalia watched as her mother made a decision.
The big merwoman gently rubbed her cheeks against theirs. It established that she was the pod matriarch, but for orphans or podless individuals, it also represented an invitation.
Accept me as your matriarch, and you can join us.
The two paused for only a second before responding, tucking their heads under her chin. She carefully groomed the top of their heads before pulling away.
Slowly, the pod gathered around them, sharing names and giving condolences. Natalia waited until the other children had given their names to zip over to them.
She darted up between the two new members, chirping her name. Elizaveta managed a weak smile, but Gilbert grinned. He reached for her and tickled her. She laughed, and darted away.
The white merman followed close behind as she zipped through the pod, but Natalia's joy was quickly ended when she was snatched up by her mother's strong arms.
She quickly realized that she had, in the game of chase, ended up at a decent distance from the pod, and at only four summers, she was still too little to be this far.
Her mother snapped at Gilbert, who quickly apologized and rushed back towards the main pod. He had only been in the pod for a minute, but he was already in trouble with the matriarch.
However, mother reserved a special snarl for Natalia, who ducked her head, and then grabbed her mother's pelvic fin as the matriarch headed back towards the pod. She clung to it for the rest of the day, but her eyes rested on the newest members of the pod, who seemed to be worried, but also trying to act like the children they were.
She smiled when Matthew got Elizaveta and Gilbert to agree to play a game of hide and seek once they reached the new fishing ground and had eaten their fill.