Without any humans around, Dylan and Zephyr snuck off to an abandoned Karaoke Bar to sing. The old machine was broken, but the twin merboys used their natural mermadic voices to make up for any dysfunctional hardware. As the sun set, the merboys wanted to get home before their dad found them missing.
"I'm not sure about sneaking off anymore." Zephyr said. "You know how dad feels about us going anywhere near the human ruins."
"Just relax." Dylan reassured. "There aren't any humans around and dad was diving in the deep when we left."
Zephyr raised his hands and took a deep breath.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500249265_24e86da636_c.jpg"That's it Zeph." Dylan said. "We got this. There's no need to get..."
Dylan saw their father swim up from behind his brother and froze up.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499772066_c58fff6c0e_z.jpg"Zephyr?" Calum said. "Why are you so close to this place?"
"Well," Zephyr stopped to think. "We just really wanted to get a closer look, you know."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499285407_8d1dfbe7a9_b.jpg"If Dylan wanted to sneak off again, you should have told your mother or uncle." Calum advised. "Last time you two snuck off, we had to spend the day getting your tails free from the human debris."
Zephyr shivered at the thought. 'I remember the rope and metal wire...' He wouldn't admit it to his father though.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499772026_0acf0bfb5c_b.jpgZephyr was feeling cornered. "Why can't we go to the ruins?! Humans left the Islands a long time ago!"
"Humans left the Islands, but their pollution still remains. You two could get hurt."
"We explored the human ruins! We had a lot of fun and nothing happened this time!"
"Zeph!" Dylan whispered.
Zephyr realized what he said too late.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500054314_512b461496_b.jpgZeph wanted to take back what he said, but he couldn't find the words. Calum was lost for words, but for only a moment.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500326658_743c58420d_b.jpg"This isn't a game. You both know that you aren't allowed to go anywhere near human ruins. If Kemps knew..."
"You won't tell him, right?" Zeph begged.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499285347_7144217466_b.jpgCalum pulled back. "Your uncle is the Patriarch. I can't keep it a secret if he asks. He's the one that made the rule too."
"But... He'll beach us if he knew." Zeph didn't want to get his brother in trouble. Zeph was the one that wanted to do something fun when he saw that his brother was bored.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499771946_b89763aa16_b.jpg"There's not much I can do. Kemps makes the rules to keep the pod safe."
"Dad, we won't go near the ruins again. We promise!"
"We promise!" Dylan added.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499285287_9ddc40d005_c.jpg"Why do we have to follow his rules anyways? He makes the sea a prison! We can't do this. We can't do that!"
"Zeph, he cares about all of us. The sea can be dangerous, but the human ruins can be even more dangerous."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499771931_c9faed892b_c.jpg"Dad, he didn't mean it." Dylan said.
"I did. I meant every word!" Zeph insisted.
"Zeph, I expected better from you." Calum said.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499771921_5f140d9b25_c.jpg"Zeph, go home. I need to talk to your brother."
"Dad, Dylan is innocent. He didn't..."
"I said go home."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500054304_ee2c6321cb_c.jpgZeph swam home and Calum turned to face his other son.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500250545_62f1904142_b.jpgDylan couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Why are you like this?! Why do you have to be so mean?!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500250520_c205fd6baa_c.jpg"We had fun! There's nothing to do at home. All we do is swim!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499285217_c9356dae88_b.jpg"I'm sorry you feel so bored, but human ruins are not the place to have fun!"
"So many rules! Me and Zeph feel trapped! Can't you see that."
"Enough! We are going home."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500054289_a6d05168dd_c.jpgAs Dylan swam home, Calum wasn't far behind him.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500055414_43e8df1c7e_c.jpgWhen Calum and Dylan returned to Zalia Shores, Zeph swam up to his dad.
"Dad, I'm so sorry. I'm the one that suggested that we go to the human ruins."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500326428_6615fac68f_c.jpg"Zeph, you know better."
"I know. I know. Dylan was looking particularly bored. He loves music, and I thought..."
"It's okay. Just... Don't do it again. I think I owe your brother an apology."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500250390_2534492ca0_z.jpg"It's hard sometimes. You two do everything together."
"We're best friends. I can't imagine doing anything without Dylan!"
"I know. Believe me, I know. I'd be surprised to find either of you without the other."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499285092_4b1f38655b_b.jpg"So, how was it?"
"How was what?"
"You know, being in the human ruins." Calum asked.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499770466_0e4b3fd55a_z.jpg"Well, humans have a device called a "Karaoke Machine." It doesn't make any sound, but the "microphones" were fun to sing into."
"I remember when that place had seen better days. I think those machines did make sound in the past."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499285057_9f0e1d1622_z.jpg"I remember humans wearing so many funny outfits and visiting that place often."
"I can't imagine what that looks like. I've never seen a human." Zeph replied.
"Well, human outifts are completely unsuitable for swimming. I can tell you that much."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499771656_be37a9ec42_c.jpgAfter their father left, the twins crawled onto shore. One of their Uncle's rules was that they could go on land as long as they didn't shapeshift. It made things more challenging, but the twins would curl their tails to their side and chat by the waves. It was something different from swimming and playing with dolphins.
"So, what did dad say?" Dylan asked.
"He accepted my apology." Zeph answered. "He definitely knows more about humans than I thought."
"Give me all the details!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500252685_ce83fe0b51_b.jpg"Apparently, that machine we sang with used to make sound!"
"No way!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500328498_d484be997a_b.jpg"What else?!" Dylan asked.
"Well, humans have "outfits" that they wore to that place. Those things didn't help them swim."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500057539_579b295df8_b.jpg"I wonder what kind of music those machines made. Do you think the machines could make our singing better if it worked?" Dylan asked.
"Our voices are naturally pitch perfect. How can you make that better?"
"I don't know, but it sounds like it would be fun."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499284432_fb2a9b4914_b.jpg"One day, I want to play an instrument or something. I want to do more than sing!"
"I want to invent new gadjets! One day, we'll be able to take a human form with Kemps's permission!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499287227_2bfea99e2d_b.jpg"We'll get our chance. I know it." Dylan reassured.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500328453_18c5e17f72_b.jpgThe twins slipped back into the water to continue their conversation.
"I've got a genius idea." Zeph said. "Let's swim to another Island and do a little exploring."
"I don't get it. We can do most exploring around St. Taz."
"But, we've explored every reef, seafloor, and seagrass meadow around here."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499286982_82f9a22ffb_b.jpg"We'll just have to be careful and avoid swimming too close to human ruins." Dylan said.
"It shouldn't be too hard to do that."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52499770946_6e1715a245_b.jpg"Let's do it!" Dylan cheered!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52500057269_2357bb2050_b.jpg
