Aulani could change our world. She could save it, even.
The boy ran back to the group to take his turn with the mermaid and the bird. “She’s a miracle,” said the old man.
Next to me, Ho‘ohuli quietly spoke. “There was another like her… years ago.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
Ho‘ohuli moved his hand as if to emphasize Aulani’s hair. “The hair. The striking eyes. She was a mystery but just her presence healed the songbirds, like this girl. She had hair like her–not red, but green. And some say she was the woman your father loved.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Are you speaking of my mother?”
A nod. Nobody spoke ofmymother. She was a foreigner, someone who literally came out of nowhere, then completely disappeared. Nobody knew where she came from or where she went.
Not even father would speak of mother. Only said we had the same eyes.
“You met her, didn’t you?” I asked.
Ho‘ohuli remained silent. Then, “Aulani could save our island… we need her, just as we needed your mother years ago.”
Before I could ask any other questions, a guard drew Ho‘ohuli’s attention away.
My mother?Nobody hadevermentioned what she looked like, besides the fact she was a foreigner and I had her eyes.
I looked at the mermaid turned human, who now laughed, silently of course, with the children.
I need her.I swallowed hard. Our kingdom needed her.
No.I had to get her to the sea.
But as I looked at Aulani, I saw her with new eyes. She wasn’t just a carefree mermaid who I’d grown affectionate towards. She was so much more… And Ho‘ohuli was right. If she could not save our songbirds, who could?
As if to remind me of my current situation, a coqui chirped in the distance.
The coquis are taking over…
Shortly after Cressida announced herself ruler, she stopped hunting the coqui frogs. And because of that, they were growingat unprecedented rates again. Some were even mutating and becominglargerin size.
A soft breeze blew through the area, and I felt the ground beneath me humming, as if the island were speaking to me. It had been a while since I’d felt this, but the prompting was clear:save the birds.
I nodded to myself. As soon as we got back to the palace, I would put together an emergency council. The frogs needed to go.
Now.
And I wasn’t Aulani’s responsibility.
Something is bothering you.Aulani’s attention turned to me. I nodded and she let the bird fly into the air, all watching with awe.We should go back.
I promised I’d take you to the sea today–
The birds are dying, Ezra. I can sense it.She gave me a serious look, and, despite all the people around us, it suddenly felt like it was only us. Alone. Looking into each other’s eyes from a distance. There was something, deep inside of her, that meant she was bothered too.
Is something wrong, princess?
Of course. I can’t go… not with your kingdom like this–
I can’t ask that of you.
You didn’t ask. I am choosing.
