Howl Your Appellations

Rests and a Connection

Lissana Mons

So he’s a Mer-Were?! Man. I thought those guys stopped existing a long time ago. So they’re still here…that’s great…that’s

“What’s wrong? You suddenly turned quiet. Ah, please stop eating so much. Save some for the other poor souls.” Ah! I almost finished the whole bush! Pull yourself together, Lissana!

“Do you…not like that I’m a Mer-Were? We’re not really very common, aren’t we?”

That’s not it. Man, how am I suppose to tell him that I’m…I’m actually super stoked he’s a real genuine Mer-Were! I don’t know how to act. Luna, I don’t want to embarrass myself. He might have things he could tell me that my mom couldn’t.

“Coo~ Coo~” It’s the water nymph. So they’re a little different after all. I am not sure if I ever heard of them but creatures like nymphs aren’t really unheard of. Faes are soft of like nymphs I think.

“Colleh’s asking if you like the berries.”

Oh she is? “You wanna know what I think?” It kind of reminds me of  ponkans but a lot smaller, they’re also kind of like grapes but um…uh

“Coo~!” Gah! I don’t know where her ‘’voice’’ is coming from but it’s definitely not through her mouth. I wonder what else is different. In any case, I’ll just tell her the skin’s weird.

“I’d give it a 9.7 out of 10. I’m not a fan of the skin.”

“That’s because you’re not supposed to eat them!!”

“Coo!!!”

“What?!Why didn’t you tell me? What am I supposed to do now???”

Ah. They’re both laughing now. These idiots are making fun on me. I guess I walked into that one. Okay, alright.

“Hahaha, hey, sorry about that. Colleh doesn’t get much visitors. You’re the closest one we have to a guest. ”

“Ah. Is that so? Then she wouldn’t mind if I laid down and take a nap then?”

“You just woke up! Hahaha but it’s fine. We’ll lie down with you too.”

“A--what?! Oh o-okay so you guys are really doing this huh? Fine by me.”

They’re too close. I didn’t have to be the one in the middle, man. Hmm, but this feels really familiar. The ceiling almost looks like the sky and the dripping water sound like the rivers.

“What happened to me?”

“What do you mean, Sana?”

He called me ‘Sana’! Man,I’m getting so embarrassed and he’s just reading my Appellations! They’re stupid don’t read them! Gahhh!!! It’s fine Lissana, you i***t calm down. Be proud. I’ll just imagine him as a regular dude. Make his skin less blue, minus the scales and uhh..the fish ears and fins. His scales are so beautiful. His brown eyes too! Gah!

“Does the fact that I’m a Mer bother you that much? You don’t have to be afraid. I’m just a regular person ultimately. I was afraid when I first saw a Mer too but now I’m one of us. And I’m very happy with my decision.”

“Yeah,guh, sorry. You just…it’s complicated. So where’s the other Mers? And uh… the other nymphs?”

“Oh most of us live in the ocean. Not a lot part from it. I’m new so I’m not really attached to the seas as much as they are. There are actually tunnels here leading to the ocean. It’s really easy traveling.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And Colleh over here, she’s has a family around here somewhere. They kind of help out the watchers so they scatter. There’s really actually a lot of them but they like to help out so much they tend to get separated. Colleh likes to help Cocoo the most that’s why they’re always together.”

“Oooh. So that’s why. Why are you here now? What’s the caves to the Mers?”

“Me? I help out too. It’s um…official Mer-Were business. Pfft, I always wanted to say that!”

As he laughs, I think Colleh has fallen asleep. She’s using my arm as her pillow, her skin’s cold and like jelly. I’ll leave her be.

“Ho? What sort of business?”

“I’m not allowed to tell you~ but it’s similar to what the nymphs do but more effective.”

“...okay…”

“Ahaha! Apologies, I’m actually not sure what I can tell you or not. I’m just trying to keep it safe. We’re a bit more secretive than the other Weres.”

“Yeah, I can see that. We all thought you guys were extinct!”

“Ha! You guys just didn’t know where to look. The process is different between regular Weres and us. We’re a lot closer to the moon. And I’m told things have changed in recent years, it’s harder to tolerate the land, they say.”

“Man, y’all must be going through a lot. Luna can be a huge b***h sometimes.”

“Wha! You! You’re a grown Were, you know the consequences of badmouthing The Luna. You’ve got big guts for a big lady. If she decides to punish you near the ocean, I’ll be there to bury you.”

“Ha!Thanks. I’ll appreciate it!” I don’t know why but this feels nice. The sand feels great, the water feels great and it feels great to finally talk to a Mer. I might not have this opportunity again so I have to make the most of it; cherish it.

“I feel relieved. I’m glad I’m alive and the fae curse somehow got lifted. I haven’t had a lucky break in a while. I feel so great.”

Oh man what am I doing crying in front of a stranger. He’s going think  he owes me a hug or something. Just leave me be, dude, I’ll be done in a sec.

“There, there. Congrats on your lucky break. I’m happy I got to help out with your curse too. I managed to meet a fine Were.”

⁂

I think we fell asleep after that. It was one of the most comfortable rests I’ve had in a while. The two of them laying by my side made me feel so secure I could cry. I stopped feeling this way with my pack when Nike died. I need to reconnect with them. It’s what he would have wanted and it’s what I want right now.

“I’ll lead you as far as I can but when we reach ‘land’, you’ll have to find an exit on your own. Don’t worry, most of the lost souls get out and if they don’t…well…some decided to stay anyway.”

“For someone new you sure do know a lot.”

“Haha! I have to! It’s part of the job.”

“Alright then. What about Colleh? She’s not coming with?”

“Nah, she has to go help Cocoo. Bye Colleh! See you later!”

“Coo!”

So she’s not coming with. I thought she’d stick with us ‘til I’m out of the caves but I guess not. I guess I’ll have to say goodbye too.

“Bye Colleh!!”

“Owa!!!”

“Ahaha! She said you can always call on her when there’s water.”

“What? For real?”

“Yeah but it’s up to her if she decides to show up or not haha!”

Well, at least this won’t be the last time I’ll be seeing her. Makes me feel reassured somehow.

“Hey, if you’re feeling lonely without her, I can always hold your hand~”

“Don’t even think about it, fish-boy!”