Edit: This started out as sharing an idea for a potential Legacy, but this thread has become a place where I keep my rotational stories together. The challenge I created will be a significant part of ...
When the Kailani's and the Twins, Dylan and Zeph, arrived on the Selvadorada Island, Lir took a dive in the pool before putting Zalen to bed. He had to catch Zalen as he ran around with more energy than he should have had. Like all merchildren, Zalen was, for all intensive purposes, the same as a human as far as needs were concerned. He wouldn't have any of his mermadic powers or his white tail until he got older.
Zalen was determined to tuck himself in when Lir wrangled him into his pajamas. Lir and Krista decided that they would teach Zalen to blend in with humans and hide his mermadic nature from them. They didn't want the Darkfins to find him and hurt him like the Darkfin hurt Lir and Dylan.
Eventually, Calden left the pool and slept in his bed. Maria's bed was in the same room. Due to the smaller space, the teens were allowed to share a bedroom, but with seperate beds.
When Lir left to do the dishes, Zeph chatted with Zalen. Zephyr could sense something similar to himself in Zalen and decided to keep watch over him.
Zeph: "I know you can't talk yet, and I'm sure you're wondering who I am and why I'm talking to you. My name is Zephyr, but you can call me Zeph. I think we'll end up being good friends in the future, and all my friends call me Zeph. Keep learning new things."
When Lir finished playing with Zalen, he tooked him in for a nap. Dylan and Zeph sat in the teens' bedroom and chatted.
Zeph: "So, what's your plan."
Dylan: "What do you mean?"
Zeph: "You can't fool me, I know you sang your Charmer's Lullaby to Cecelia and gave her your Mermaid's Kiss. There's no going back after that, and now, she's human. Mom didn't approve before. She might disapprove even more."
Dylan: "I plan to propose no matter what she thinks. I'm not going to let a Darkfin, or mom, stop me from being with the girl I love, mermaid or not."
Zeph: "So how are you going to propose?"
Dylan: "Well, I haven't figured it out yet, but I have the pearl ring in my bag."
Zeph: "Maybe you could take her to those waterfalls in the jungle."
After helping with the Summerfest decorating, the twins left for the jungle. As Elementals, they had all the skills necessary to open the way forward to the Island Temple in the jungle. While no humans were around, the young mermen did little to hide their mermadic identities.
Dylan cleared the thorny brush blocking the entrance to the jungle. The locals weren't anywhere close by because the jungle took over and blocked the path. After entering the jungle, Dylan saw fireflies pestering some sloths. Dylan performed a local dance that confused the flies and saved the sloths from being scorched.
Zephyr's keen eye and his focus allowed him to master the art of fishing. With these skills, he watched a Jaguar fishing in a pond without being noticed. A swarm of bats spooked the jaguar and Zephyr took the fish it left behind.
After traversing deeper into the jungle, a swarm of spiders decended on the merman. Zeph outsmarted nature by staying still and shook off the creepy crawlies.
The twins sat on the pool's edge. They were ready for summerfest, but Dylan had some questions for his brother.
Dylan: "I remember some of the stories about the Darkfins. They angered the Island Elementals in the Spirit Realm and got banished from Sulani after taking the lives of the Kings and Queens of Old. Why do you think one of them would return?"
Zephyr: "I think she's trying to finish what she started, but I'm more worried about her associate. We know that she wants our souls and Lir's soul. I think she made a deal with someone that tipped her off."
Dylan: "So, it's like she's playing a game of chess. First, she tries to take Lir's soul, but she fails because Lir's Dads stop her. Then, she yties to take mine with a curse..."
Zephyr: "Based on that logic, you'd think she'd try to take mine next, but I think she's going to be desperate to take all of our souls at the same time. I think, if she fails one more time, her associate will come to collect. Based on her tendency to take what she wants, I think a temple artifact will be the perfect temptation to throw her off her game."
Dylan: "So, we're going to clear the path to the temple and then she's going to follow us into a place filled with traps."
Zephyr: "If all goes well, she'll be the one falling for our trap."
Summerfest arrived faster than the Kailani's and Twins expected. The teens and Zalen stayed up late thanks to the excitement for presents. The Twins both loved to sing, so they sang by the Summerfest Tree.
After Summerfest, the twins decided to help prepare Lir for a journey into the jungle. Zeph mentored Lir in the ways of strategy while Dylan played against him. Dylan was the only one that beat Zeph in a game of chess, so he was a good opponent.
Zeph: "Pay close attention to what your opponent does."
Lir took note: "Stay obeservant and pay attention."
Dylan saw Lir move a chess piece: "That's a creative move."
