Effervescent Froth

Trillo danced at the water's edge. He was one of the Troomdwell. He cared for the living plants and animals in the tundra, like the rest of his kind. Though, he was more attracted to the waters than anything. It was peaceful there; very little noise to bother him during times when he wanted to get away. The water in the lake never froze, despite how cold it became. The waters were warmer there, just barely warm enough to keep it from freezing.

"Hey Trillo!" His younger sister, Yearsley, had followed him again.

"Yearsley, I told you that I didn't want anyone following me."

Yearsley gave him a weak smile. "I didn't want to be lonely."

Trillo stared into the water, "You wouldn't have been, you have Evelyn."

She sat beside him, "She's busy today."

Trillo touched the water's surface, such a small disturbance caused the entire pond to waver gently.

"Why do you like staring into the water so much? There's nothing interesting here."

Trillo ignored his younger sister, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes.

He imagined something inside the water, a hidden beauty that he couldn't see through the vast darkness of the pool.

His sister sat bitterly beside him. Feeling slightly betrayed because of his dismissive nature. "Sometimes I don't know how I'm related to you."

"Technically, sister, you aren't." Trillo gave her a look. "We just get attached to certain Troomdwells, and then we call them family."

Yearsley felt insulted. "Why do you keep pointing that out? I already know that, I'm not stupid!"

"I know you aren't." He sloshed the water back and forth with his fingers.

Yearsley clutched the grass under her hands angrily. Trillo noticed, "Sis-"

She pouted, "You're rude."

Trillo sighed. "I know," He felt something touch his hand.

"Why are you always so mean to me anyway? I chose you as my older brother, technically my guardian! You could at least show some appreciation for accepting you as family? Nobody else wanted you."

Trillo was silent, "Did I-" Yearsley started before his arm was yanked into the water. Trillo let out a startled shriek and Yearsley pulled him away from the water.

"What in the forests grabbed you?!"

Trillo glanced at his dripping hand, trembling a bit. "I-I didn't see much, there was a face in the water. A hand reached up and grabbed mine."

Yearsley slowly rose up and started toward the small body of water. Yearsley crotched near the drink and touched the surface with her fingertip. "I don't see anything, Trillo."

Trillo made his way to the pond and sat next to her. "I swore I saw a woman in the water. She was staring at me."

Yearsley shook her head. "There's nothing here." She retreated from the water. "Let's go home."

"No, I need to know what was in this water."

Yearsley grabbed his arm. "You can't be serious, you could drown! We are part of the Creation Tribe. We are not from the Loch Tribe!"

Trillo slapped her arm away and dove into the water. Immediately, the being grabbed him, and Trillo held onto them. Even underwater, they felt scaly and slimy. He was pulled deeper into the dark water. The world above him faded into an inky black as he was dragged away from the surface.