Off The Coasts Of Ireland (Septiplier)

~ Chapter 33 ~

The weeping started off gentle, only being a few sniffles, then gradually grew more and more profound. Until suddenly, it exploded into a heavy fit, full of sorrowful chokes and trembling whimpers. Instantly, I swept my head curiously around the crowded gorge to look for the mysterious Merrow who was crying, who could it possibly be? Everyone else began to look around with puzzlement, mumbling to each other with concern and scoping about until almost on cue, all our eyes met onto four Merrow huddled within the center of the crowd, all with tears in their eyes.

Abruptly, Meara gave out a loud gasp from behind me as she fluttered her purple tail in petrify. "Children..?" Meara whispered with astonishment as her dull brown eyes suddenly lit up. Deep love poured graciously from her startled gaze, drowning any sadness she felt at the very moment within an instant. 

"It's so amazing to see you again, mother..." An older merman from the huddle choked out. He had a long rough scruffy beard and matted brown hair that was laced with grey strands. From the looks of him, he seemed to be the eldest of all the four Merrow in the huddle. He had deep blue eyes that wrinkled as he gagged out his sobs and fought back his tears. His dark navy blue tail swatted the water as his shoulders jerked from his fierce cries. "Oh come here, Malcolm," Meara beckoned softly as she extended her arms and immediately, the older merman collapsed into her embrace helplessly, drooping his arms cumbersomely over her small shoulders and spilling out blubbering cries. Meara cautiously closed her arms over the bare back of one of her sons and hugged him endearingly with quivering hands as her eyes strongly grew tender and a trembling grin poked at her lips.

Meara's instinctive action seemed to be so overwhelming and unusual for her that it looked to have caused an expression that was unfamiliar to her body. As if it was an expression she hadn't used in years...

"I'm so happy to see you again," I could hear her whisper into his ear before she looked up. "I'm happy to see all of you..." She smiled over Malcolm's sobbing shoulders and motioned for the three other Merrow to join, they all immediately collapsed in a fit of tears and huddled together in a group. "Oh, I love you Malcolm, Allison, Susan, Simon..." She soothed them as she warmly stroked their backs. "I'm so sorry you all had to live without me, I'm so sorry I couldn't be with you..." Her voice trembled terribly as her adult children sobbed within the comforting cradling of their mother. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..." She repeated soundly as the choking weeps of her children echoed through the water currents and hushed the surrounding crowd of observing Merrow.

My brother and sisters... I could hardly believe what I was seeing, I was in front of my siblings! My eyes bulged from their sockets as I inspected each of my family members with fascination. They were all older than I was, grey streaked their hair and small wrinkles formed on their skin, showing they were at least a decade older. One of my brothers had a long fanned out beard, presumably Malcolm, with a dark blue tail that matched his eyes perfectly. The other brother was a tad younger, his brown hair was shorter and his hazel eyes were shining with love. He had a very dark green tail that swayed rhythmically as he hugged Meara. My two sisters both had shorter hair that met to their shoulders, one had a rich crimson red tail while the other had pinkish peach scales. I felt my hands twitch and my heart quiver, my siblings were stand right there...

Meara's eyes were deeply absorbing the image of her children protected in her arms, she was so engaged by them that tears fell from her eyes without her noticing. Slowly, she lifted her head to gaze fully over to me, a loving smile beamed on her face as she looked to me with softened eyes. "And Seán, come over here." She spoke quietly as she extended an arm out, welcoming me to join the family reunion. Before I could even decide properly, I fled over to her in a heartbeat. My eyes grew so wide I could barely hide the gleam of surprise shining in my gaze. My heart boomed and pounced from my chest as I felt my soul flourished with inner happiness.