Turbulent Seas

Our Kind

Naian swam just behind Freud. They had been on the journey for hours now, and his tail was starting to ache from the lack of rest. Freud also noticed that Naian was having problems keeping up.

"Don't worry, we're almost there." He slowed down a bit. Naian had always been on the softer side. He wasn't built for anything that tested strength or endurance, but Freud had never tried to push him too hard. It didn't matter whether Naian was a hunter, a tracker, or whatever. All he knew was that to him, Naian was like a son. A son he never had.

The two of them continued swimming for roughly half an hour longer before Naian felt the stirs in the water. He felt a faint pull at his heart, the tell tale sign that he had grown to know meant that their kind was nearby.

"They're close!" He couldn't help but exclaim, a smile spreading over his features. Freud's mood was lifted upon seeing Naian's smile.

Soon enough, the signs of habitation began to show up. The sea bed was clearly disturbed, but not in a way that normal aquatic life would leave it. Although to a human, it wouldn't seem different, Freud could easily spot the signs here and there. A few curled seaweeds that were tied together at their base, a couple stacked seashells, and some other more signs.

Now, normally, merfolk could be very territorial, but before the fall of the merfolk kingdom, Freud had been well known around these waters. The merfolk they would encounter here would surely give him face.

The two of them swam slowly for a couple more minutes before they ran into their first merfolk in years.

Three large mermen that were just shy of Freud's size bolted forward, large metal spears that were expertly crafted held in their grasps. They watched Freud with vigilant gazes, their eyes shifting to Naian, who had hidden behind Freud's bulk.

"Who are you? Return to where you came from!" The largest one who floated in the middle jerked his chin in in the direction they came from, his spear held threateningly in front of him.

"We mean you no harm. We just seek temporary solace. I am Freud, of the House of Tempest. We are just passing through, and will be out of your scales in a week or two. Don't worry, we pull our own weight." Freud drifted forward and puffed up his chest. He extended his arm and opened his palm, making a grabbing gesture.

Water swirled between his fingers as it formed a mini whirlpool around them. A crystal blue spear that was covered in exquisite carvings appeared in his grasp as he swung his arm to the side, sending a strong current barreling to the side.

The mermen before them shrunk back and lowered their spears, their eyes going unfocused for a second.

"My apologies, Sir Freud! Please, if you will, we can lead you to the head of our settlement." The one who spoke before took up the lead, smoothly apologizing to Freud.

"It's alright." He waved his hand, and the spear vanished. "I don't mind meeting the head of your settlement. Let's go." He took a hold of Naian's smaller hand and swam behind the three guards. Heads popped out from small caves and between corals reefs and seaweed clusters. Their colorful hair swayed as it was ruffled by the soft, ever present current of the sea.

Naian watched with wide eyes as he saw two smaller merfolk poke their heads out from between a patch of seaweed. They sported white hair that was striped with a light brown. Fins ran down the sides of the arms, from their elbows to their wrists. Their scales were a striped orange and white. Naian watched them curiously, as they did him.

"Don't get distracted. You can try to mingle with them when you rest and get back your energy." Freud tugged him slightly, bringing his attention back to where they were going. The further they got into the settlement, the more developed it got. Actual buildings, like those Naian had been told about by Freud when he was younger, dotted the surrounding area. It seemed like this was a permanent settlement, or at least, the merfolk didn't plan on leaving any time soon.

"Just ahead." The gray tailed merman spoke, gesturing to the largest building that was present in the settlement. From what Naian could tell, it seemed that the building was firmly planted in the center of the settlement. The stone building stood proud and tall, much better than those that dotted the settlement which sunk into the sand, making them tilt slightly in one direction.

The three mermen led Freud and Naian up the incline at the front of the building. It was large, but modest. Nothing like the beautiful castles that Freud had told Naian  about through stories when the boy was younger. They passed several other guards who guarded the entrance to the building. The guards all nodded at the gray tailed one that led they way. His two subordinates went their separate ways upon entering into the building while he led them deeper inside.

"You can call me Gray." He spoke. Naian smiled. A gray tailed merman who went by Gray. 

"The head of our settlement is in this room." He said, stopping by a pair of massive double doors that ran from floor to ceiling." Using his superior strength, he pushed open the door with the help of the two guards that guarded the door.

The three of them entered into the room while the guards closed the door. In the center of the room, a mermaid was lounging on a pile of soft looking corals. They bounced beneath her weight as she turned to face her visitors. Her bright red tail swayed slowly as she watched them approach.

"Oh, visitors. We haven't had any of those for a while now. What brings you to my humble settlement?"