The Summer was the perfect time to harvest the herbs, and she knew that her twin would appreciate having some of the seeds to grow.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394184997_d52d070bdf_b.jpgAs Jade wandered through the silent forest, she started to think about moving somewhere closer to the land. She loved living in Sulani with her family, but she started to feel more distant from the aquatic home she knew. Granite Falls felt more like home, and she started to wonder if another world with less water would feel the same.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395195473_0578845640_b.jpgAs she walked, she fiddled with her phone and checked out the different worlds. Among all the worlds, there were a few that caught her attention, but she wasn't sold on any of them yet. She didn't even know what she would say to her father and mother. The only other family member she had that wasn't half-fish was her older sister. Jade considered talking to her first.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394184942_534bcc1e8d_b.jpgThe glint of crystal caught Jade's eye and she excavated the gems from the earth. From the earth, she recovered a chest.
'I wonder what's inside this. I'll open this later.' Jade thought. 'The sun is starting to rise again.'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395195373_925752eff7_b.jpgAfter Jade returned to her Cabin and began hibernating, Juniper woke up and left for the Granite Falls National Park. The park had a large lake that he could stretch his fins in. It was a much better alternative to the cramped bathtub. Juniper sat on the ledge of the pond and tried to identify the strange berries he found.
'It has a strange taste.' Juniper thought. 'Not quite Elderberry.'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395191993_f50a0cf9ed_b.jpgHe took another taste of the berries.
'Maybe Huckleberry?'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394685446_047f7ee426_b.jpg'No, it's kinda mucky?'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395195218_4bdefd51e1_b.jpg'I know what this is! Muckleberry, False Huckleberry!'
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394184737_6dc714b43c_b.jpgAfter figuring out what the berry was, Juniper decided to slip into the water. How he missed the feeling of swimming and being in his natural form.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394184712_a648609935_b.jpgAs he felt the water splash around him, he flicked his fins in the water. His older brothers and his girlfriend were chatting in the middle of the pond. He wanted to join them, maybe give the reef merfolk oral tradition of storytelling a try!
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395126045_105aca52cc_c.jpg"You guys looked like you were having fun! How about I tell you guys a story?!"
"Sounds exciting!" Dylan replied.
"I'm interested." Zeph added.
"Sounds like fun!" Kendra added.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395195138_7155c6a538_b.jpg"The story starts around the distant Islands of Sulani, far from the Mountains of Granite Falls!"
Juniper turned to Dylan.
"The Pirates had a lot to deal with around the Sulani Seas, in particular, Captain Samwell Handwich. All merfolk remember him and his pursuit of the Hearts of Sulani!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395125960_04355877c9_b.jpgJuniper turned to Kendra. "If you can believe it, my older brothers are one of the seven Hearts of Sulani, the Sapphire Princes! What Captain Samwell Handwich was looking for was actually our Grandmother, the late Sapphire Queen and the original Sapphire Heart of Sulani!"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394985964_4699672922_b.jpg"Now, before my brothers interject, I want to make it clear. Pirates mistook the Hearts of Sulani for simple buried treasure. They never knew that the true Hearts resided within the hearts of the Sulani Pod's Royal Families. My brothers already know this, but together, they are the true Sapphire Heart. As special as my brothers are, the Sapphire Heart isn't enough to achieve the fabled wealth promised by legend."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395195028_f5c78312cc_b.jpg"All Reef Merfolk know that the Hearts of Sulani were represented by Island Trinkets. The Legends say that the Six Hearts are united by One. Captain Samwell wanted the one that would give him the wealth of six, and he hoped to find it among the islanders. It is said that Jocasta gave him the first Heart of Sulani. Soon after, Captain Samwell obtained all Six Hearts, but he could never find the one to unite them! Many fought him to claim the treasure, a treasure he never truly found."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394985929_f59e97a5b9_b.jpgJuniper turned to Dylan.
"Among Captain's Samwell's greatest foes was the dreaded Darkfins, merfolk that gave into their inner darkness. Captain Samwell believed that these mermen and mermaids knew where to find the True Hearts and hunted them."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394685241_754e05a730_b.jpg"Captain Samwell sailed the seas, searching for the mythical merfolk. During his search, many storms blew in from nowhere and slowed him down."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394184517_7c1c04aed9_b.jpg"Eventually, the storms sank Captain Samwell's boat. That's when Coraline Zalrian rescued him."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395191943_7877855f6f_b.jpgThe older twins took a knowing glance at their younger brother. Kendra was surprised to hear that a mermaid saved a human.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395194903_43503dc14b_b.jpgZeph made a sideways glance Dylan. 'Don't tell me you told him?'
"Our grandmother endured many hardships in her lifetime. Our First Grandfather died shortly after our father was born. And our grandmother fell for a human."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394685096_defc003703_b.jpgZeph smiled. "Dylan, You definitely told him."
"In Captain Samwell's crew, there was a sailor that caught Coraline's eye. To save the young man, Coraline gave him the magical kelp that made him a merman. Caspian Kailani became our second grandfather. Caspian was Captain Samwell's first mate, and Captain Samwell grew envious of him after suriviving the wreck."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395194803_5a8c037460_b.jpg"After Caspian Kailani learned to shapeshift, many years had already passed. Captain Samwell was handed wealth and fame all his life. He was given everything, and over the years, he felt entitled to the Legendary Wealth that only the Hearts of Sulani united by One could offer him. Captain Samwell was stranded on Mua Pel'Am, and he refused to leave. While Caspian and Coraline fell deeply in love, Captain Samwell grew angry with jealousy. The only thing he could remember was a beautiful mermaid choosing his first mate instead of him. The image of a sapphire blue tail burned into his mind."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394985719_fbc33d65e5_b.jpg"During one stormy night, Captain Samwell realized that his firstmate wasn't only rescued by the mermaid instead of him. He was rescued by one of the very things he was looking for, a Heart of Sulani, the Sapphire Heart. He also remembered how he survived. A creature of the deep saved him, a Darkfin."
"I didn't even know this until Dad told me." Dylan said.
Juniper turned to Dylan. "This part is exciting and sad at the same time."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394685021_19b45e04d5_b.jpg"Caspian eventually returned to the land. He found his captain, but his presence only angered Captain Samwell. Caspian became a merman and never aged. Captain Samwell grew old as a mortal human. Eventually, Caspian and Samwell broke into a fight. Caspian was stuck between Mount Pel'Am's lava and the Captain that grew to hate him. Caspian didn't know why his Captian hated him. He didn't understand his envy."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394985689_fb76ddcbaa_b.jpg"But the Darkfins knew." Zeph interjected.
Juniper kept his focus on Dylan. "The Darkfins told Samwell many lies. They promised him wealth and immortality in exchange for doing a simple task. They wanted him to kill Caspian. They promised Samwell that he could regain his youth if he took it from Caspian. They said he would gain untold power that would allow him to claim what he desired if he succeeded."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394684966_e3f77f96e3_b.jpgJuniper turned to Kendra. "Captain Samwell sailed the seven seas and used his good looks and charm to get everything he wanted. In many ways, he was given everything. This was the first time he had to take it for himself."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395194633_7cc74c654f_b.jpg"Before Captain Samwell followed through with his plan to push Caspian into the Volcano. He began to remember his adventures with his Firstmate. A song carried on the wind, and the old captain remembered his friendship with Caspian."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394684906_2fdf68d8f4_b.jpg"Old Captain Samwell was decieved by the Darkfins. He was led to believe that he could gain what he desired by taking the life of his best friend. When Samwell lowered his sword, he learned that mermadic kelp was the only way to get what the Darkfins promised him. The Darkfins were plotting to hurt the Sapphire Queen by taking away the one she loved. The one named Flaira filled Samwell with rage. She lied to him. And used him as a pawn in her scheme."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394983059_6a68e5efce_b.jpg"Flaira seethed with anger when she saw Caspian and Samwell joking about old times by the shore. Flaira began to sing a Siren Song that threatened to lure Old Samwell into a watery grave. However, Caspian was immune to the effects, and he ended up saving his best friend before the mermaid could pull him under."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394983059_6a68e5efce_b.jpg"Caspian Kailani returned to the sea that day. Samwell chose to remain human. The following days, the merman and old pirate captian met to talk about old times until Samwell's last days."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395125510_58d7f98652_b.jpg"The Darkfins watched and became more consumed by their inner darkness. In the shadows, they continued to plot new ways to get revenge on the Sulani Pod."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394684821_f16aea8f4c_b.jpg"It's said that Red Beak was with Samwell through all his adventures and even hid his treasure before he passed on."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394684716_2d044d4504_b.jpg"Caspain returned to the shore one last time, and he found his best friend's remains. To honor his last wishes, Captain Samwell and Red Beak were put to rest in the lava of Mua Pel'Am."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394181442_5849b78a9c_b.jpg"Captain Samwell passed on to the Netherworld and found peace. After his long life, he spent so much time looking for treasure, only to nearly lose his best friend to his obsession."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395194358_13259a0c73_b.jpg"The Sulani Pod soon realized that humans were susceptible to corruption and greed. The Legend of the Six Hearts United by One was just one of many stories that led to a rise in piracy. To guard against further corruption, the Sulani Pod took up residence around the Sulani Islands. Over the years, the merfolk managed to tell new stories that inspired humans to seek different treasures."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52395125245_1c8863005e_b.jpg"There are humans that continue to look for treasure, but the legends they chased no longer led them to the Darkfins. As it turned out, the original legend that was past on to Jocasta came from the Darkfins. The Darkfins used song to plant the seed of greed in the minds of those that fled Barnacle Bay. Jocasta didn't know better, but she remembered the Legend woven in Mermadic Song."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394684506_272f157469_b.jpg"Even though the Mermadic Royal Families aren't what they used to be, the Zalrians remain the Guardians of Mua Pel'Am and protect the Island Sacred to all Merfolk. We tell the stories in song that inspire those who crave adventure. We sing legends that lead humans away from the Darkfins and their influence."
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394684461_43c25fabce_b.jpg"So Dylan, how did I do?"
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394985224_9ccb4ed3d0_b.jpg"I couldn't have told that story better myself!" Dylan answered.
"You got a real talent for storytelling!" Zeph added.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52394183622_4e6a52a268_b.jpg
