(Discontinued) Metior_Ice’s Story Thread

The twins returned home after visiting Mua Pel'Am. The sun was setting, and they knew their parents and uncle would feel better if they were home. Sunset and Sunrise was the time most ocean predators were active, to take advantage of other marine creatures going to sleep and waking up.

"So, we never found anything left behind by other merfolk." Dylan said.

"We might have left too early, but it did take a while to swim to Mua Pel'Am. We needed the same amount of time to get home." Zeph replied.

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"Eventually, we'll need to go back and clean up the ocean." Dylan gestured toward the open sea. "We'll need help though."

"I could feel it. It was really unpleasant to swim around that island."

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"Maybe we'll find other merfolk around the sea that can help!" Dylan waved his hands in the air. "We could ask our cousins and the triplets!"

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"That would make seven of us. I've seen a few mergirls and a couple other merboys around too. We could always ask them for help too!" Dylan enthused.

"It's worth a try. But, the trips will need their Patriarch's Permission. Who knows if Kemps will give us or our cousins permission to take human form? We can't exactly do much about the trash without going on land. Our tails don't exactly help us there."

"Believe me, I know. Even after all the times we snuck off to walk on land. We're still stumbling with legs, a human form always feels so unnatural."

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While the twins chatted, their father swam up to them.

"I've got great news!" Calum couldn't contain his excitement. "I managed to persuade Kemps to let us go on land. That means, you two will be able to use your human form without braking any rules!"

Before the twins could respond, Calum continued.

"I know, I know. You probably have a million questions, and yes, you won't be spending more time than absolutely nessecary without your tail. Legs give all merfolk trouble, as I'm sure you learned. Trust me when I say, it's impossible to walk without stumbling once in a while. That's just how it is for us. But, there is still so much to be excited about!"

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"There's also a condition you must follow," Calum added. "You two will meet humans for the first time at a human high school. That's right, you will spend time at a place that all humans are required to go to. I know you are both much older than the other humans there, but as merboys, you will blend in better around something humans call "teens"."

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"What are "teens"?" Zeph asked.

"Only the most tempremental age humans live through!" Calum answered. "They can be difficult to understand sometimes. They also experience things called "Phases" and have something called "Mood Swings"."

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"When around human teens, you'll need to make sure you are mindful of how unpredictable "teens" can be," Calum explained. "As merlings, you might be able to relate to a "teen" easier than full fledged merfolk."

"Are mood swings like our high and low tides?" Dylan asked.

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"Exactly like your tides!" Calum advised. "Human moods change like the tides and they go through highs and lows like us."

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"I have no doubt that Dylan will notice their every mood," Zeph smiled. "He's always much more aware of my tides. He's always been like that."

"You're better about resolving the problems that cause changes in a tide," Dylan added. "I'm sure you'll be solving a lot of what affects a teens mood."

"I want both of you to stay close when among humans," Calum said. "You can help each other navigate the world of teens. It'll be good experience."

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Before the twins could swim around in excitement, Calum had one more condition for being around humans.

"Humans look different from us. I mean, they have their "outfits" for different occasions," Calum explained. "Because we live in the sea and are immune to most weather conditions, merfolk don't wear much. We don't need to and there's no real benefit to us. But, humans are different. They have more outfits than we'll ever need because they can freeze in the cold and overheat in the sun. You'll have to do your best to dress like humans while around humans."

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"But, we don't have any outfits. Like you said, we never needed them." Zeph wondered how they could blend in with humans without "outfits".

"I have the solution to that problem," Calum answered. "Now, it's been a long time since I've used a human form, but I remember some of the tricks I used to blend in with them. I found some "Shirts" left behind by humans and made the rest of the outfits from stuff that drifted in the sea. We'll have to do more to help you blend in better, but these outfits should be a good start."

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"Zeph, are you ready to learn more about humans?!"

"Naturally," Zeph answered.

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Calum and the twins went on land, and their father gave them the outfits he created.

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"You'll need to go to the human high school soon. These will help." Calum added. "It's not going to be perfect, and you might still look out of place. However, it's better than nothing."

Along another shore, Kemps made his first attempt at walking in a very long time.

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'I got this,' Kemps thought. 'Just as easy as learning to swim.'

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