“If the Scarus are unable to answer our needs, then we find the Synchi tribe.”
“Are they another tribe that stays in one location?”
“Yes.”
I knew Therin’s answer before I even asked.“Has anyone in our tribe ever seen them?”
“No.”
“Even Wrell?”
“Only one.”
I tried not to roll my eyes and was surprised when I succeeded.“And what tribe do we go to next if they can’t tell us what we need to know?”
“We search until we find others of our species.”
I stared at him for a moment before asking yet another obvious question.“There are only two tribes that are stationary, aren’t there?”
“Yes, Brett. To be honest, there is little chance either of these tribes have experienced what we have, losing mers in such a way, since they stay in their territory. We believe it is in the open sea that the captures are happening. However, the Scarus and Synchi tribes are the most logical places to begin. If nothing else, they may at least be able to tell us if they have heard of other such losses.”
“If they keep to themselves, why would they have heard anything from other tribes?”
Lelas interjected softly, as if feeling guilty for gossiping,“Not all tribes respect the Scarus and Synchi tribes to the same extent as we Chromis.”
Before I could reply, Wrell sent an image of a small group of mers, both the mermaids and mermen muscular and fierce-looking. Their lionfish quills flaring and quivering. Their spears raised in aggression.
I nodded at him, his message clear. From what I’d heard from Syleen about how the Volitan tribe treated Wrell’s mother, I wasn’t surprised they might be the kind to seek out war with other tribes.
As much as the thought of only two tribes having permanent locations made our task seem daunting, it was more than I believed we had to go on a few minutes before. I’d thought we were simply setting out to swim until we ran into some other tribe.“Since there are only two tribes that stay in one place, it makes sense they would be where we should start. What makes you think Zef wouldn’t think the same thing and come to look for us there, if he decides to follow us?”
Lelas looked at Therin and Wrell.“That is true. While I do not understand why Zef would be opposed to us embarking on this journey, it does seem logical he would come to the same conclusion.”
Therin hesitated slightly.“I believe the possibility will cross Zef’s mind, but I think he will not expect us to invade their boundaries, and even if he does, I cannot picture him bringing the rest of the tribe on such a journey.”
I thought for a moment. Every interaction I’d had with Zef made me think he’d not take too much for granted, but I agreed with Therin. It didn’t seem like him to force the tribe to undertake so much travel for the sole purpose of stopping us. Besides Lelas, Zef was the first one to show me any kindness before I’d saved Wrell’s life during the Great Hunt.“What if he comes on his own?”
Therin shrugged.“He is welcome to join, though he has made his feelings very clear that he believes it is not only a waste of time to entertain such possibilities but a disrespect to both Moheetla and the other mer tribes.”
While I didn’t give a shit about respecting Moheetla, or even the other mer tribes—save avoiding a war—I couldn’t say I disagreed with Zef. To start all of this and risk inciting other tribes all for one incident seemed not only a waste of time but pure madness. For once I kept my thoughts to myself. I’d given my word that I would help, and if there was even a chance they were right and mers were being captured or killed, it was a risk worth taking. Besides, I had eternity. It wasn’t like I had anything better to do with my time.
“Have we rested enough?”Therin offered me a smile.“We do not need to continue at such a hurried pace, but there are still many days of travel ahead of us, and I find myself anxious to get this undertaking started. There have been few days since Ventait’s capture that I have not wanted to find a way to help him.”
Before I could respond, a huge gray mass swept past us, knocking Lelas to the side. Therin’s blade and Wrell’s spears were instantly raised and aimed in the direction the shadow had disappeared.
Turning, I found Lelas. She had been swept several yards away from us. With a couple of strong flicks of her lavender tail, she’d righted herself and was swimming back toward our group. As she wiped at her face, a trail of blood flowed behind her. From this distance, I couldn’t tell whether her nose was broken or her lip was cut.
Lelas hadn’t even closed half the distance before the gray form appeared again out of the murky water, zooming directly at her. It only took a moment for my eyes to make sense of the shape this time—the wide anvil head huge as its jaws opened, ready to tear into Lelas.
Therin darted past me, his blade lifted above his head, preparing to smash into the hammerhead’s skull. Even as he beat his powerful tail, it was obvious the shark was going to reach Lelas before he could help her. I glanced over at Wrell. His spear was up, and he zipped this way and that, trying to find the angle from which he could throw without impaling Therin or Lelas.
The shark was mere feet away from Lelas. Thoughts of Finn didn’t enter my head; neither did the pain of Sonia’s death. I was about to lose Lelas, and without her, there truly would be no one else I cared to live for. With a yell, I kicked myself forward, arms outstretched as if to strangle the beast. The water rippled in front of me, blurring Therin, Lelas, and the shark from view, as if I was swimming through grease.
Although through a haze, I could see both Therin and Lelas whipped to the side, spinning end over end, a mass of tangled arms, tails, and hair. The shark suffered the same fate, revolving over and over. Its tail caught on the sand midspin and sent it careening onto the ocean floor, dark sand spewing up and blocking it from view as it crashed onto the hard ground again and again.
Startled, I pulled up short, trying to make sense of what my eyes were seeing. Turning, I searched for Lelas, expecting to see her lying broken on the sand.
She floated about thirty feet away, seemingly shaken and disoriented. Therin was near her, apparently in the same condition, his long hair tangled about him.
