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"Rising Tide"

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By Lauren Rivers

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CHAPTER 3

Navigating underwater had proven to be a challenge, to say nothing of mastering swimming with a single massive tail. Her initial attempts had been less than successful. For an outside observer they might even be downright comical. While she was still in the shallow waters she had moved her tail about in an effort to familiarize herself with the alien appendage. After approximately an hour of propelling herself this way and that she had finally practiced enough that she felt confident in her ability to move where she desired under the surface of the water.

Regardless she intended to proceed carefully as even small movements of her fins displaced a rather significant amount of water. Once she had gotten herself moving in a single direction swimming became almost effortless. Her body seemed perfectly suited to glide through the ocean currents. The ruby red scales that adorned her lower half were perfectly formed to provide minimal resistance. With each gentle stroke she felt a burst of speed allowing her to move with minimal energy expended in the effort.

Once she was capable of traveling under her own power she recalled the directions Harumi had provided her to her underwater home. With no way to reach Ethan and the others and nowhere else to go, she saw little choice but to seek help among the mermaids. Perhaps the merfolk would even know how to restore her to her land dwelling form. Given her limited options she maneuvered deeper into the water and further away from the reach of the sunlight.

No doubt the merfolk lived in someplace isolated deep beneath the border of water and sky. Their ability to remain largely undetected all this time was likely a deliberate move on their part. Whether it was due to necessity or simply personal preference one could not deny its effectiveness. Anonymity was their first defense against the dangers from above. Much like artifacts from Aldris, mermaids were rare and mystical and their mere existence highly prized. Armed with their ability to move unnoticed among the land dwellers, she began to wonder how much they knew of the surface world.

Momentarily distracted by a school of fish that swam beside her she reached out to touch one. The fish flitted away at the contact, along with the rest of his companions who moved away in a different direction. Amused, she followed them for a short while watching their tails move much as her own did behind her. Pursued by the larger ocean being the fish increased their speed, soon leaving her behind in the quiet of the ocean.

Diana paused where she was, taking a breath to stare upwards at the surface and the rays of sunlight that penetrated deep into the water. She felt the water move in and out of her gills and for a moment allowed herself to simply experience existence in the ocean. It had felt so natural she had not even realized for a good long while that she had no need to hold her breath or surface for air. No doubt her lungs were capable of such a feat as Harumi had made her way onto the beach somehow, but it appeared that unlike those on the surface mermaids were capable of existing in both worlds, at least for a short time.

The canine mermaid returned her mind to the task at hand, certain if she kept going in this direction long enough she would find the home of the merfolk. Resuming her swim she propelled herself through the water with a gentle push of her tail. After swimming for what seemed like another half an hour she came upon a rather beautiful coral formation much like the one her wayward mermaid had described. It was tall and full of bright colors, resembling a piece of art more than anything else. She wondered if perhaps it was crafted by hand or simply a mystery of natural formation. In either case there was no disputing its beauty.

A short distance behind the coral was the cave opening Harumi had described. It was large, almost three times the width of the coral and easily tall enough to fit it inside. Several individuals like her swam about the opening with far more grace than she had managed thus far. Diana watched them from a distance until finally moving close enough to be seen.

The beings that waited there were much like she currently appeared with humanoid upper bodies and tails similar to her own in structure through it was clear at a glance that was where the similarities ended. Each and every mermaid bore a unique design to the position and number of their fins as well as the shimmering jewels set into each of their tails. Though some appeared to have comparable characteristics no two mermaids appeared to be exactly alike.

Before she could wonder any further about mermaid anatomy she was approached by a pair of merfolk with what she could only assume was some sort of underwater weapon. Uncertain how to communicate her non hostile intentions she settled simply for holding her hands up before her.

"Who are you?" the first demanded, resembling a lupine upper half.

The other, a male with a bovine upper body moved to her other side. "I don't recognize you."

"My name is Diana Lynwood. I come from the surface and I need your help." She yelped as one of the two grabbed her arm to ensure she could not escape. "Hey!" she shouted.

"Don't resist," he commanded. Left with few options she had no choice but to comply. If she hoped to secure their aid she would need to convince them of her good intentions. She knew enough to understand these two were simply door guards with no real authority. Any effort to talk them into releasing her would merely be wasted energy. She would need to wait until someone with authority swam by to deal with her.

Diana did not have to wait long. After a moment or two a merman with an equine upper half swam in their direction. She could tell from the response of her guards that this was the merman in charge. When he got close enough he looked into her eyes and then to the guards in turn.

"Report," he said.

"We caught this one approaching the cave entrance. She claims to be from the surface but we do not recognize her," the wolf merman said.

The equine merman held up a hand. "You may release her." When their grip upon her loosened he directed his gaze towards Diana. "Do not mistake this for leniency. I have questions which I believe only you can answer, and if necessary I will treat you as an enemy to our people but I would prefer not to do that unless you force me to do so. Provided you do as instructed and answer my questions no harm will come to you. Understand?" he asked.

Diana nodded. "Yes."

"My name is Hisoka. And you are?" he asked.

"Diana. Diana Lynwood," she said.

"Definitely not one of us," he replied. "Despite appearances you are far from what I would regard as a natural born swimmer. You fight your tail with clumsy movements, accomplishing locomotion but without the grace one born with our forms would know."

"I'm not normally a mermaid," she said.

"That much is evident," he replied.

Diana met his stare with one of her own. "There's no need to be rude," she said. "All things considered I think I've done fairly well. I managed to find my way here, didn't I?"

Hisoka touched his chin taking the time to evaluate her carefully. "True enough, though once you are beneath the waves it is not so insurmountable a feat as to be considered impossible. However, you aren't the worst I've ever seen, I'll give you that much." He swam around her to get a look at the Doberman mermaid from every angle. Once he came around to her right paw he grasped her wrist and pulled it towards him. It was then Diana realized what had caught his attention. She was still wearing Diana's ring, the magical object that had started all this. "How did you get this?" he asked.

"I was walking on the beach when I came across an unconscious woman. I thought she needed help so I stopped to see if she was all right. When she didn't wake up I looked to see if there was anything to tell me where she came from but all I saw was this ring," she said.

"And so you stole it?" he asked.

"What? NO!" she replied. "I thought maybe it might tell me more so I put it on since I could sense the power emanating from it and thought perhaps it would provide a clue. Instead it did this to me," she said, gesturing down at her ruby red fish tail.

Hisoka appeared to consider her story for a moment until at last he ordered them to take her deeper into the cave. Despite her desire to know what would become of her she felt it was best at this moment to remain silent. They swam in a triangle around her making certain there was no possibility of escape. She followed the merhorse's direction until he swam into a small cavern with what looked like a place for a single mermaid to stay. She entered and was promptly stopped by the merhorse who removed the ring from her finger. As she watched him clasp it in his hand she knew she was trapped in this form for the foreseeable future.

The two who had greeted her at the cave entrance were replaced by another two who guarded the entranceway which itself was soon blocked by some sort of magical field she could not identify. At least for the time being she wasn't going anywhere. She found a place to sit and placed her hands on her lap while her interrogator (for lack of a better word) continued to watch her every move.

"Where is Harumi, surface dweller?" he asked.

"I don't know," she said.

Hisoka narrowed his stare. "Don't lie to me," he said.

"I swear to you, I don't know where she is. The last time I saw her she was running inland," Diana said.

The merhorse frowned, clearly unsatisfied with her answer. "If you've harmed her in any way I promise you will regret it," he said.

"I had nothing to do with her situation. I was trying to help, that's all," she said. The merhorse looked at her with some hesitation. "I promise, I mean you no harm. I only came here for help," she said.

Hisoka swam towards the entrance. The field dropped as he approached. "I'm certain you're involved in Harumi's disappearance. The only thing I don't know is how and until I do you will remain here in our custody." Once on the other side the field reappeared with a crackle of energy. "She is to speak with no one other than myself, is that understood?" he asked.

The guards nodded dutifully, and a moment later he swam off. Left alone to her own devices she began to inspect her hopefully temporary lodgings. There appeared to be a bed or something like it made out of seaweed and other oceanic materials against the closest wall. Reaching out with a paw she touched it to test its softness and was surprised to find it appeared rather comfortable. On the opposite side of the room was a set of shelves which contained various knickknacks. None of these appeared to serve any particularly useful function, forcing her to conclude they were decoration. Most of them appeared to be made out of seashells, pearls, coral, and other easily obtainable materials. The way they were arranged made it clear this was done with a significant level of skill. Quietly Diana wondered what other things they had in common with the world above the waves.

The only other thing to fill the room was a small seating area on the wall opposite the entrance. It was carved out of the natural rock but the best way to describe it would be a place for one to sit or lie down and a flat surface on which one could place something else. In effect, it was your basic table and chair.

As she moved to take a seat in one of the provided spaces it was then she realized she had never questioned where the lighting was coming from. Above the waves there was always the sun or some other form of artificial light but down here it appeared to be entirely the result of bioluminescence. Sea plants placed in strategic spots in the ceiling of the cave provided enough light to completely illuminate the room though she was unable to spot any sort of control mechanism for them. Swimming up towards the ceiling she reached to touch one.

No sooner had her paw touched the plant than it immediately shrank inward on itself and darkened to inactivity. Surprised, she drew her paw away and observed it for a little while. When the plant did not reactivate by itself she extended her paw once again for another gentle tap. The plant flared to life with a surge of illumination and the room was fully lit once more.

She glanced towards the opening where the two guards stood with their backs to her. Other than the occasional flip of their tail they appeared to remain mostly stationary, but any time she crossed over to the far side of the room one of them would turn to observe her.

Diana knew that she could not stay here indefinitely. While there was little she could do to help Harumi in her current state she could not afford to wait until Hisoka became convinced of her intentions. For now, she knew it would be foolish to attempt an escape, but she would watch for an opening and when it was presented, she would need to be ready.

To that end, she would need to refine her familiarity with this body. She looked at her tail and began to swim about, practicing her maneuvers with each motion of her fins. It would take some time but she would master the art of swimming with a fish tail. Any chance she had of finding a way out of this mess depended on it. She filled her gills with freshly oxygenated water and closed her eyes. She had to stop thinking like a land dweller and start thinking like a mermaid.

HALVERN

Rhodes looked up as Lydia closed the door to the bedroom where their newest companion currently resided. She met their glances before stepping away to join them in the living area. The Gypsy vanner horse folded his arms and balanced his weight against a bookshelf while Ethan remained seated on the ottoman. "How is she?" he asked.

"She's sleeping, for the moment," Lydia replied. "I gave her some tea and something to help her relax. She probably won't be out for long but it'll give us a chance to talk."

Rhodes glanced dismissively at the door. "About what? You don't seriously think she's a mermaid, do you?"

"I do," she said. "At the very least I sense no duplicity from her whatsoever. What she's telling us she believes is the honest truth as far as she knows it."

Ethan leaned forward. "Could this be real? Is there any possibility that she really is a mermaid?"

"Well, of course I can't say for certain, but we can't rule out the possibility without more information," she said.

Rhodes shook his head. "If mermaids were real, there would have been some evidence. Someone would have seen something."

"Like the portal to Aldris?" Lydia replied. "It's been appearing and disappearing in our world for over a thousand years and the few who have seen it have never been able to prove their claims. Just because we don't have tangible evidence does not invalidate the likelihood of its existence," she said.

"Point taken," Rhodes conceded.

Lydia seated herself on the couch. "There are any numbers of reasons why no one has seen a mermaid, not the least of which is the probability they don't generally want to be found."

"You're suggesting they've remained hidden on purpose?" Ethan asked.

"They wouldn't be the first," she pointed out. "And if that's the case they may have any number of measures in place to prevent anyone from stumbling upon their secret, including those who might be inclined to do them harm."

Rhodes nodded. "Like whoever Harumi was running from when we came across her in the woods."

"Exactly," Lydia said. "While we were getting lunch I sensed she had seen something that had alarmed her but she wouldn't open up to me. I suspect whoever she's hiding from has a presence in the city and possibly elsewhere nearby."

Ethan leaned forward and interlaced his fingers. "And then there's the fact that she's the only person who knows where Diana is."

The Oracle brushed a hair out of her face. "I think we can all agree that if Diana were capable of doing so she would have returned to us on her own."

"Agreed," Rhodes and Ethan said in unison.

"That being said, as much as we're all concerned for Diana's safety we have to assume at least for the moment that she's in no immediate danger. Even if she was, there's not much we can do about it for the time being," she said.

Rhodes pushed away from the bookshelf. "So what do you suggest?"

"We need a boat," Ethan said.

"To go where?" Rhodes asked, shaking his head. "There's no guarantee that even if she's telling the truth that we'll be able to find Diana out there." He touched the back of his neck. "Even if we knew she was out there we have no idea where to look and may I remind you that's a pretty large ocean."

Ethan looked up at the stallion. "What's the alternative? Wait here and hope she comes back?" The hawk exhaled into his chest. "Without her help we'd be stumbling around in the dark with no idea where to start looking. She knows where Diana is, or at least she has a fairly good idea. All I know is that she is out there somewhere and she needs our help."

"I think it's clear our friend knows more than she's telling. If we're going to get anywhere with her we need to find a way to get her to trust us," Lydia said.

Rhodes tilted his head. "And who did you have in mind for that job?" he asked. When she stared at him, he straightened up in surprise. "Me? Surely one of you two would be better suited for something like this."

"We aren't the ones who need to gain her trust. You've made it abundantly clear that you don't believe her and I believe it's that resistance that keeps her from trusting us with the full story. Ethan and I can talk to her until the next full moon but you're the one who needs to win her over," Lydia said.

Rhodes sighed and touched his forehead. "I still don't see why I'm the one you want to talk to her."

Ethan stood up between them. "Because for whatever reason, she seems to like you. I saw how she reacted when she first ran up to us. She clung to you like you were a barrel adrift in a storm."

Lydia nodded her agreement. "She does seem to prefer you."

"Shouldn't I help you get a boat?" he asked.

"Lydia and I can handle that. I have an idea on where we can obtain some discreet transportation. Besides, someone needs to stay here and keep an eye on her when she wakes up. I don't think it's a good idea to let her wander around on her own just yet," Ethan said.

The Oracle gazed towards the bedroom door. "It shouldn't take us too long, and it'll give you two some time to talk." She placed a hand on the stallion's arm. "Besides, a boat won't matter until we have a destination and she's our best chance of locating our missing archer."

Rhodes looked towards the room where the mysterious red panda slept. Even though he still had a hard time believing her story at the same time he doubted that she was being deceptive given her behavior since joining the group. Harumi acted like someone who had never seen the things he took for granted, or was experiencing the world for the first time. She possessed an innocence to her that seemed to be genuine as far as he could tell. Despite his hesitation he could see no reason for her to lie about having seen Diana. Even so, he could not quite accept her assertion that she was a mermaid.

Lydia must have sensed his hesitation as she gently rubbed his shoulder. "Is it really so hard to believe she could be telling us the truth?" she asked.

"I don't know," he replied. "I've seen some remarkable things but for some reason, this is different."

"Why?" she asked.

"Things like that don't exist," he said after a long pause.

Lydia shrugged. "That's what people said about Aldris. For every person who believes in something you'll find dozens who don't. No matter which side is right, what's the harm in allowing for the possibility that there are things in this world we don't understand?" she asked. "Considering all the things we've seen and all the things we know to be true from our history books how can you be so certain there are no more mermaids swimming in the seas?"

"I suppose I can't," he admitted.

The crocodile smiled just enough so he could see her teeth which somehow she always managed to make warm and inviting. "I'm not asking you to join the mermaid pride parade, but can't you at least give her the benefit of the doubt?" she asked. "The way I see it there are two possibilities. Either she's making it all up and it's simply a harmless delusion, or she's telling the truth and we may be the first people to see her kind in who knows how many years. Call me a dreamer, but I'm hoping it's the latter."

Rhodes let out a deep breath and nodded. "Okay," he said. "I'll consider it."

"That's all I ask," she said.

Ethan moved towards the doorway. "We should get going. If we're going to secure a boat it'll take us some time to get down to the waterfront."

"What am I supposed to do while you two are gone?" Rhodes asked.

Lydia turned back towards him. "Be yourself. Get to know her. Convince her that we're here to help."

"And how exactly do I do that?" He let his arms fall against his sides.

"You'll figure it out," Lydia replied, and a moment later they were gone.

Rhodes sighed and looked over his shoulder at the bedroom. He turned around and walked up to the knob, turning it slowly and pushing the door open just enough so that he could see inside. The red panda slept soundly against what seemed like far too many pillows amongst a rather comfortable looking bed. Pushing the door open he stepped inside the room to get a closer look.

He watched her chest rise and fall underneath the sheets in a peaceful rhythm. Harumi stirred but did not wake as she shifted position against the pillows. Rhodescould not help but smile while she slept soundly despite his presence. In her current state she seemed so helpless and innocent. Whether she was a mermaid or not it was clear she had no idea about the world in which she found herself and needed their protection.

Silently he contemplated the possibility she really was a mermaid. As he pictured her in his minds eye he imagined a long flowing tail with smooth scales leading to gossamer fins that despite their delicate appearance were strong and perfectly contoured to propel her through the ocean water. He sat beside the bed and took her paw, feeling her grasp his own and gently squeezing it.

It would be several hours before the others returned with the means to search for their missing companion. Somehow he would need to find some way to enlist Harumi's help before then. For now, he would guard her as she slept and be there when she awoke.

THE NARROWS

The narrows was a place one generally did not arrive at by accident. It was a relatively secluded area of Halvern known for being the oldest part of the city. In its earliest days it was intended as a starting point for future construction as the coastal settlement grew from a simple trading post to a large population center over the span of a half century. Initially consisting of half a dozen houses and other structures it rapidly expanded in all directions to house the massive amounts of workers and traders making their way to the town in order to find their fortune.

Despite the massive resources and economic opportunities flowing into the area one businessman in particular had managed to position himself in a pivotal position to guide Halvern towards its future. That person was an African wild dog by the name of Silas Werner. His resources, personnel, and business acumen quickly allowed him to secure a monopoly on local trade. Others attempted to do the same but even with several of them managing to secure a foothold it was clear who the leader of the pack was in this city.

Such was evident in their attempt to secure a boat by the harbor as nearly every ship Ethan and Lydia had approached bore the Crimson Sun logo and was thus unavailable to be hired. It seemed the company had its paws in everything from fishing to trade to providing labor and raw materials for manufacture. As a result the pair's inquiries had led them here to the narrows.

Rumors stated the when Crimson Sun took over as the primary business concern in the area, plans to expand the narrows into proper city streets were abandoned in favor of new construction and the city simply grew up around it. In time the area became known for being a place where a person could do business without a lot of questions and one of the few places the Crimson Sun generally did not interfere.

Ethan kept his wings folded close against his body, necessitated by the width of the streets on which they walked. Though the hawk spent most of his time on the ground he disliked being in situations where flight was not an option. Even if he wanted to there was not enough space anywhere for him to spread his wings and become airborne, not that he would abandon Lydia even if it were possible. Nevertheless he kept his hand on his sword just in case.

The two emerged into a small courtyard like area where he spotted the sign indicating the pub where their contact supposedly held court. From what he could tell it was full of sounds of people drinking and laughing and carrying on. Sparing Lydia a glance she gestured for him to walk forward as the pair made their way into the establishment.

No one looked up as the duo walked in and took a look around. Ethan walked to the bar and ordered a drink, turning to Lydia who politely held up her hand. The hawk held the beer in his hand and sat on the stool scanning the place for the otter they were seeking.

"Is he here?" Lydia asked.

"I don't know yet," Ethan replied, searching the crowd for one particular face. At last he settled upon a booth in the corner, dimly lit with a small candle. Seated on one side was the otter they had been told about. Picking up his beer he walked across the room and took a seat with Lydia sliding in right behind him. "Nolan Phillips?" he asked.

The otter raised his head enough to get a good look at the pair. "Who's asking?" he replied in a gruff tone. His own drink was nearly empty as he took a swig and set it back down on the table's surface.

"My name is Ethan and this is Lydia," he said, declining to give his last name. Even though he doubted anyone would recognize it in a place like this it still seemed prudent to keep it to himself.

The otter kept his eyes on them for a full half minute, no doubt taking their measure and deciding if they were worth his time. He glanced at Ethan and then back to Lydia before tapping his hand on the mug. "First things first," he said.

Ethan raised his hand and indicated the mug across from him. Less than a moment later a rather attractive looking blue jay deposited a fresh mug and spirited away the empty one. Once the otter had a chance to take a drink Ethan addressed him again. "Word around here is that you're the man to see about a boat."

"I am, if you've got the money to pay for it," he said. "She's not much, but she'll get you where you're going as long as you don't ask too many questions."

Ethan nodded towards the crocodile and Lydia removed a small cloth bag from somewhere out of sight and set it on the table. "That's fifteen silver pieces." He placed it between them. "There's more where that came from if you can help us."

The otter considered the bag for a moment and then met Ethan's glance. "That depends."

"On?" Lydia asked.

"On where you want me to take you and what you plan to do when you get there," he said.

The hawk tilted his head. "I thought you didn't want any questions," he said.

"I said I didn't want you asking any questions. Now before I consider taking you wherever it is you want to go I need to know what you're asking me to do." The otter placed his mug to the side of the bag of money blocking it from view.

Ethan glanced at Lydia, who nodded. "We need you to take us out into open water. We'll tell you our destination when we leave."

"See, that doesn't work for me. Everything around here is controlled by Crimson Sun and the only way I tend to stay in business is by not getting on their bad side. Now I have a feeling that you wouldn't have come to me if you had any other options and I wager there's a good chance that whatever you're going to do will run afoul of their operations one way or another, so no thanks." He reached out for his mug.

Lydia placed another bag of the same size on the table. "Fine, we'll throw in two gold pieces on top of our price."

"You think that makes it worth it?" he asked.

The Oracle lowered her head for a moment. "It does when you consider the last part of our offer," she said.

"Which is?" he removed his webbed hand from the mug and kept it on the surface of the table. Ethan knew his body language indicated despite the risk of running into Crimson Sun, he was intrigued. All he needed was one final push.

Lydia touched her gold spiral armband. "Ask me any question you wish and I will tell you what you want to know." She met his glance. "You know what I am. You know that I can provide you with something you've wanted to know for years, but only if you agree to our terms. Take us where we want to go, no questions asked. When all is said and done, you have one question." She kept her eyes locked on his while he considered the matter.

Ethan knew from personal experience that the Oracles had an uncanny ability to sense people's wants and desires before they even were aware of it themselves. Rather than use this ability to their advantage they used it to provide guidance and comfort to anyone who sought their counsel. There were limits, of course, to the things they could tell a person. While knowledge of the scale of their talents was widely known it was not limitless. There were certain things the Oracles simply did not know, or if they did, they weren't telling. And there were certain things they were strongly discouraged from discussing, such as their alleged ability to foretell the future.

At times Ethan wondered whether this was simply an act of theatre to preserve their mystique. Oracles generally tended to stay in their temples but those that chose to travel often bartered their services to address their basic needs. While they were never to take advantage of this mechanism for personal gain beyond reason, it would not surprise Ethan to know they kept certain things a mystery to enhance their bargaining power. He knew better than to ask, though.

Nevertheless, he knew firsthand how much the right question was worth to some people. There were those who spent their entire lives searching for the answer to one basic question.

The otter stared at his webbed digits and nodded. "Then you have yourselves a boat." He extended a hand to Ethan and shook it. "It'll take me some time to get her ready. If you want to come and help we can get underway by tonight." He reached for the bags of money and placed them in his pockets.

Lydia nodded and got to her feet. "Lead the way."

Ethan rose after her and waited until they were far enough behind that they could speak privately. "How did you know that would work?"

"I'm an Oracle," she said.

Suspecting that was the only answer he was likely to get, he let the matter drop. While it did not always work, having an Oracle traveling with them was a unique advantage, one that at the moment he was extremely grateful to have. The Oracles had no formal authority, but their reputation carried a certain weight with it as did their word. Oracles were known to conduct themselves with honor and it was considered a matter of pride that their word was true. While it was not unknown for an Oracle to lie, it was so rare and so frowned upon by their order it was generally accepted that whatever an Oracle said was factual as far as they knew. This, coupled with their general mystique, meant that even those who might be inclined to do them harm generally did not do so as such actions were likely to bring repercussions from those who considered the Oracles worthy of being revered. Despite the general fact that the Oracles did not carry out acts of violence barring self defense, most knew better than to attempt harm upon anyone with the golden spiral upon their arm.

A few moments later they arrived at the docks. The boat the otter owned rested at the far end where the few craft not belonging to Crimson Sun sat waiting. He stepped onto the craft and gestured for them to precede him as they got to work.