“The truth of the beginning of the Merfolk has been lost in time.” Rosa said. “It is believed that there was only one clan at first. All Merfolk lived together peaceably, though not peacefully. Tension simmered among the people, anger and frustration denied in the hopes of keeping the people together as one. And then a darkness emerged from the depths. A power unknown to the people threatened their very existence. There were four clan elders. There had always been four. They fought among themselves, unable to agree on how to save their people. One among them sought to claim the power at any cost. They were willing to sacrifice all the people if it meant victory, allowing the few that survived to rebuild their world in peace and security. Some among the people agreed. They knew that there could be no future for our kind while this darkness threatened them. There was no cost too great, it needed to be destroyed. Most were horrified that the majority should be sacrificed for the few. The other elders refused to bow to the one. The one, and those who would follow, left. The other three faced the darkness and used powers long lost to our people to lull it into a deep slumber, sacrificing themselves. The darkness was no longer a threat, but that power was lost forever. And the simmering discontent continued to threaten the people. And so, the people were divided, each finding their own place to call home. Over time, we all changed into what we are today.” Rosa finished.
“And that’s the beginning of the four kinds of Merfolk.” Aniela said. She loved listening to her grandmother’s stories. Rosa would often be gone for weeks at a time, exploring the world, and looking for artifacts, or off on what Aniela imagined were exciting adventures. But whenever she was home, Aniela was always sure to find any time she could to see her and ask about the histories of the peoples, or any other story that Rosa was willing to share. It was hard to find time to see her. Aniela’s father disapproved of these visits, and Aniela was busy with her duties. She would do anything to leave all that behind and join her grandmother exploring the world around them.
“Yes child, but it’s only one of many stories of our beginnings. The Anemone Merfolk sought safety among the stinging anemones, gradually developing a binding relationship allowing us to live with them without being hurt by their poison, protecting us from harm. The Kelp Merfolk gradually began to look like the plants they lived among, hiding from any that would do them harm. The Flying Merfolk stayed close to the surface, jumping out of the water to escape harm as well as dive down on top of prey, growing wings that allowed them to skim over the water. And the Deep-Sea Merfolk developed the ability to see in the darkness in which they lived.”
“And the Deep-Sea Merfolk were the ones that followed the first elder that left. That’s why they’re so different.” Aniela said. She had asked Rosa about the Deep-Sea Merfolk before. They were the Merfolk that everyone whispered about. They were the terror in the darkness, the stories told to scare the children. Aniela remembered her parents telling her stories about them. It was always convincing because she could sense the fear they felt about the clans that lived in the dark depths.
“Yes, very insightful.” Rosa smiled at her granddaughter.
“And the sea witches, the Starai, they are looking for the power that was lost. And they’ve found some of it.” Aniela stated, eager for more approval. People talked about the Starai too, like the Deep-Sea Merfolk. They were supposed to be witches with unnatural powers and the desire to spread chaos and kidnap children that didn’t listen to their parents. Aniela had heard the whispers that Rosa was one.
“The Starai are stories told to frighten children.” Rosa said in a flat tone that Aniela had heard several times before. It meant that this was not something that would be talked about anymore.
Aniela floated comfortably within the anemone, looking at the things that her grandmother had tucked among the tentacles. There were bracelets, necklaces, and rings. There were knives and spears, and other weapons she didn’t know the names of, as well as pieces of armour. And there were other things that she didn’t understand.
“I guess I should be on my way.” Aniela sighed. Life in the clan was so repetitive and boring. She looked at her grandmother, envious of the exciting life she was free to live. “I’ll be late.”
“Especially if you go and see him.” Rosa scoffed, her face marked with disappointment as she shook her head.
Aniela chuckled. “He’s just a friend.” She lied.
“Yes.” Rosa shook her head. “Go on. And don’t be too late. I don’t want your father coming to me complaining that you failed to join the hunting party again.”
“Ok. See you soon.” Aniela swam off. She felt bad about the lie, but the feeling wasn’t guilt. She did feel guilty about lying to Rosa, but there was a stronger underlying feeling, a sense of dissatisfaction and defeat. She felt smothered by traditions and expectations.
“Be careful.” Rosa called after her.
2.
Aniela left her grandmother’s anemone. She loved how her grandmother chose that place as her home. The anemone was tucked in among the coral at the base of a rocky overhang. The shelter of the rocks and corals attracted a lot of sea life, especially since her grandmother was the only merfolk there. It was as though Rosa was a peaceful part of the world.
Aniela was still within reach of the anemone when she noticed a large hawksbill sea turtle swim toward her. She marvelled at the beautiful creature gracefully gliding by. It was as big she was, and the shell was a beautiful amber streaked with black. It moved elegantly and peacefully through the water above the reef. Though the hawksbill would eat anemones, Aniela was sure that it wouldn’t bother Rosa’s home. Rosa’s anemone was protected by the rocky walls and the corals. It would be too much work for the turtle to eat. Aniela watched the hawksbill hunt for sponges along the reef. It reminded her of the time she saw a large reef manta ray swim by another time when she was coming to pay Rosa a visit.
Aniela knew that the clan whispered about Rosa being a Starai, and that many were uncomfortable with how close she was to the village. She thought that was why Rosa lived out here alone. But when she saw such wonderful and majestic creatures so close to her grandmother’s home, she had to wonder if maybe Rosa’s choice to live out here had nothing to do with the clan’s comfort.
Aniela never saw such beautiful things in the village. Much of the sea life stayed away. They must have known that the village wouldn’t be safe for them. But somehow, deep down Aniela knew that there was more to it than that. The Merfolk didn’t belong here. They were outsiders to the rest of the sea life.
She watched the hawksbill swim around for a bit longer. She didn’t want to leave and took the time to appreciate the beautiful distraction. But the turtle went on its way, and once it was gone Aniela decided that it was best to move on.
She swam up and followed the reef back toward the village. Although she kept a close eye out for predators like reef sharks, she still enjoyed the view on the swim back to the village. The coral reef that her clan made their home in was the centre of their world. She saw the light of the sun dancing over the colourful anemones and corals below. The fish swam around, some casually, others darting here and there. She couldn’t help but wonder about the world beyond the reef, beyond the village. What things had her grandmother seen? What else was out there?
The thoughts were exciting. She dreamed of Rosa rushing after her and asking her to go explore with her. Rosa was getting old, and it was dangerous out in the wild ocean. Aniela could help her. They’d go far beyond the clan borders, maybe visit other villages. Maybe they’d find some new artifacts that would tell more stories about the past of the Merfolk.
Aniela knew that it must all be connected. The history of the Merfolk, their place in the world around them, and their purpose for being. The clan didn’t talk about those things. The only thing that mattered was the clan, the village, and their borders. The only history that mattered was relevant to the day-to-day life of the clan. Which wasn’t really history anyway since the only things that mattered were a part of the present.
Aniela remembered an argument she had with her father not long ago. She was curious about how long the village had been in this reef. She had seen another reef in the distance while on a hunting party and asked Rosa about it. Rosa mentioned that the clan had a village in that reef, but reef sharks, hawksbill turtles and other predators had killed some people. The elders had decided to move to another reef where the rocks provided better protection to the people and the anemones. But that was long forgotten. Her father said it didn’t matter, but Aniela pointed out that members of the clan were starting to spread beyond the rocky covering of the reef. It would attract more predators and would be dangerous. But he had dismissed what she said, and he refused to mention it to the clan elders. No one remembered that the clan hadn’t always lived in this reef, no one except Rosa. So, it didn’t really happen, and the lesson was lost. Thankfully, no had been hurt yet, but Aniela believed that it was only a matter of time. Her father took the passage of time as proof that she was wrong.
What other histories had lessons that could help them? Rosa said that the clan had been the same since before her grandmother was a youngling. Couldn’t the lessons from the past help to make the clan better, and stronger? Couldn’t it help them grow and become more than what they were?
And what about the beginning? How did the first Merfolk come to be? Where did they come from? Rosa said that the truth had been lost in time, but Aniela believed that finding the truth would help them find a greater purpose in life. She yearned for that truth, for that purpose. She wanted something more than hunting and patrolling the borders. She needed more to life than just the same thing every day.
Aniela could see the outlying anemones that members of her clan called home up ahead. The clan nurtured the anemones they lived in. Anemones grew from the sea floor, as well as rocky outcroppings in the area. Many different types of anemones created a vibrant rainbow of bright colours. The bright anemones would begin to glow when the darkness started to settle. The clan chose bioluminescent anemones for their homes, providing light in the darkness.
Realising that she was getting closer forced her to start considering another problem. She had promised Glen that she would meet him in the sea grass before she set out with the hunting party. But she didn’t really want to. And she was already late.
She felt like she should want to see him. She should be happy that he wanted to see her. She had approached him in the beginning, making sure that he noticed her. Everyone looked at her sideways, and she knew that there were whispers about her being odd, not knowing her place. Glen was popular, and he was going to be a future leader of the clan, just like his father. He had influence and respect. She thought that being by his side, being chosen by him, she would have a stronger voice. But nothing changed. They still whispered about her. Except now the whispers had turned uglier. People wondered what she did to make Glen want to be with her. And Glen dismissed her and her opinions. She wasn’t sure how she felt, but she didn’t like it.
“I didn’t think you were coming.” Glen was laying in some sea grass.
Aniela tried to keep some distance, hoping that it could be quick, and she could move on. She didn’t even know why she had bothered to come. “I don’t have much time.” She said. She didn’t like being in the hunting party, but in that moment the hunting party seemed like the better option.
Glen reached up and took her hand, pulling her into the grass. She knew he liked how it tickled. She didn’t like it. But that didn’t matter.
He started kissing her neck. “Did she have any new stories.” His hands started exploring her body.
“Yes, she had a story about when the clans were one.” She said, trying to ignore how his kissing and his hands made her feel. She was supposed to want this. The other girls wanted it. He was Glen. And he was handsome. But his touch made her skin crawl.
“Sounds interesting.” Glen was distracted. “I should come with you one of these days and listen for myself.”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
Glen stopped. He looked her in the eye, hurt. “She doesn’t like me.”
“She likes being alone, and she doesn’t really like people. She doesn’t even like it when my parents visit. She just likes me.”
“She is a strange one. Everyone talks about her.” Judgement replaced the hurt. Aniela was starting to wonder if his look of hurt was real at all.
“I really need to go. I’m in the hunting party heading out, and I can’t miss this one.” She gave Glen a quick kiss on the cheek before he could do more. “Sorry.” She pulled away from him.
“Will you come see me tomorrow?” He asked.
“Yes, of course.” The smile was forced. But her relief at leaving was real. She didn’t understand her feelings. She hadn’t always felt this way. She remembered the excitement she felt when he had first noticed her. The first time they spoke. Their first kiss.
That excitement didn’t last.
