Outcast

Shaking her head as her two friends turned tail and swam off Kaliana dived under the water and leisurely made her way back to Mako, making sure to enjoy the marine life as she swam passed, taking in the beauty of the reef that was her home, her mind for from that day 8 years ago.
Upon reaching the meeting point for the start of the patrol, she noticed that her two friends were with the other mermaid on duty, Lyla a blonde who needed to realise that relaxing can be good for you and having fun is a part of life. "I'm on the far shore, you two get the rest. We'll meet back here." She ordered before diving under the water leaving the trio of friends alone.
"Who put her in charge?" questioned Nixie whilst looking at Sirena, hoping she would know the answer. "That's just the way Lyla is, Nixie. All work no play, come on I'll help and do a lap of the entire island later on tonight." Kaliana smiled over her shoulder at her friends before diving, knowing that they would catch up to her.

Noticing a boat heading in toward the lagoon of the island Kaliana surfaced once again when the motor had stopped. "What are you doing?" she recognised that voice it had deepened but it was not easily forgotten, Zac was here, probably to camp as he sometimes likes to do or at least did when she last visited the land people she had come to know. "What does it look like I'm doing mate?" so he wasn't alone? Who could he possibly bring with him last she had seen him he didn't have any close friends that he could trust to go camping with, plus the fact that she didn't know the voice.
"You're just worried I'll catch something before you." The voice spoke again, so they're fishing which means that they will definitely be camping on Mako.
The 16 year old was so caught up in watching what the two boys were doing that she didn't realise her friends had surfaced behind her until Sirena spoke, "Land people. Can you imagine living without a… tail?" the Blonde questioned her friends, as the thought entered her head, not expecting an answer
"Yes, actually I can." Kaliana answered her voice wistful as the memory of first meeting Zac entered her head for the second time that day, not realising how uncomfortable it made her friends
"Let's give them a hand catching something." Nixie suggested trying to relieve some of the tension that had settled between the friends, knowing that no good would come from asked what the girl had meant, only the council knew what happened during the four years she was missing.
"We can't do that. We're meant to scare the fish away so none of them come close to the island." Sirena reasoned thankful of the subject change.
"Sirena, we're stuck on land patrol. Letting them catch one fish isn't going to hurt. Let's have some fun." Nixie bargained already knowing that Kaliana was too lost in her thoughts to be of much help, not that it was her responsibility any way.

As the full moon rose over the water the trio of friends rested within the moon pool, in silence not needing to talk to enjoy just spending time together, the peace however was broken as Layla arrived "The boat is still here. They're staying on the island."
"Can you relax? So we broke one stupid rule." Nixie reasoned, trying to make the uptight blonde see that they had nothing to worry about.
"Keep telling yourself that." The blonde replied back not liking the way that the brunette just brushed it all off.
"No, I'm telling you ok. Land people came to Mako all the time." She reasoned again this time looking at Sirena to reassure her doubt as well.
"Not when it's the full moon and the Pod is celebrating." Sirena replied not wanting to pick a side but seeing the reason to both, causing Kaliana to chuckle to herself,
"Look they're just camping; which means they have no reason to be by the beach at all so the Pod is safe, now if you'll excuse me I'm going for a swim around the island." She told them all knowing that it would somewhat ease their worries, as she gently pushed off the ledge of the pool and lowered herself fully under the water.

When Kaliana returned to the moon pool it was empty of the three very mermaids that were supposed to be guarding it, especially since there are two land people on the island during a full moon, the time when the island shares its secrets that so few know of. Feeling as though she could just be over thinking, she settled down to sleep and decided that the answers could wait until morning.
"I feel really bad leaving him, there unconscious." Sirena whispered to the other two on patrol the following morning, hoping not to wake Kaliana and have her disappointed in them, even if she was already awake but keeping her eyes closed so that they didn't try to lie to her.
"How did he even get in? There's no other entrance. It's solid rock up there." Nixie pondered, so one of the Land people somehow found their way into the moon pool then? Mako island what are you up to?
"We have to tell the Pod." Sirena stated knowing that it was the right thing to do, they needed to be told so that they could all understand what had happened
"Are you crazy?" Lyla argued back, making Kaliana release a loud sigh, "You've got no choice whatever happened the Pod needs to know only then can they determine the best way to move forward."
"Fine, tell the Pod. Then see how long it takes to get your moon rings." Lyla huffed acting very much like a hatchling who did not like being told what to do or how to do it,
"There's got to be a better way to handle this." Nixie mused trying to come up with a plan that would get them all out of the trouble they had cause only it was too late, Aquata had already heard enough to know that something serious had happened last night, added with the pulse of energy the entire Pod felt during the celebration only meant that the council must be told, for the good of the entire Pod.

"You let a boy into the Moon Pool?" Maya accused looking at the teens
"We didn't let him. He fell." Nixie told them trying to get them to understand that it was not the trio's fault, they wouldn't dare blame Kaliana knowing what happens when she is pushed too far.
"That's impossible. There's no other way in. What did you do?" Aquata questioned her sister, not wanting to believe that she had been a part of something that could endanger their Pod,
"Nothing." She replied, the tears in her eyes clear to everyone within the pool,
"Stop lying." Maya hissed at them, she always knew that the group of teens shouldn't have been trusted with such an important task.
"That's enough Maya. Mako Island is full of secrets it is possible that there is more than one entrance during a full moon and that the boy really did fall in, but you scolding them isn't helping anyone. They tried their best and now they are trying to find a way to fix it without having to worry Viridia don't be so judgemental." Kaliana snapped at the brown skinned mermaid knowing that no matter what she would tell the Pod as was her duty, which was proven right as she sneered at the ebony haired teen before leaving the pool.
"If what you say is true… and something has happened to the boy… I fear for us all." Aquata gently told the group before she followed after her friend hoping that she could somehow lessen the way it sounded to the council.
"What if she'd worng? What if nothing did happen to the boy? We have to find out." Nixie speculated knowing that this was their only hope of getting out of trouble, but not able to look her best friend in the eye because of the shame of letting her down, she had done the very same job all on her own before and nothing happened and yet this happened when there were three mermaids on duty, their only hope was if nothing had happened to the boy.

The four mermaids followed after the boat as the two boys headed home, only to resurface underneath the jetty, where Kaliana and Nixie had first come across a young Zac playing in his back garden with his toys
"This is wrong. No mermaid is allowed this close to shore." Sirena worried, always the one in the trio of friends to be concerned about breaking the rules, especially now that this is the second rule the group had broken. "What if they see us?" Lyla questioned adding to the worry.
"Don't worry. Nixie and I have been here before, and no one's seen us." Kaliana informed them knowing that they were looking at Nixie for answers; "I happen to like watching land people, okay? Now can we have some shush?" The brunette questioned shooting daggers at the back on her best friends head instead of watching the land boy but the water pump.
'How interesting that the water is moving away from Zac's hand as he tries to clean his fishing line, well it looks like Mako felt that it was time for the Mermen to return to the Pod' Kaliana thought to herself as Sirena told the other two that Zac has powers, since they're view wasn't as clear as hers.
Giving the girls behind her a smile apologetic smile, she ducked under the water already knowing that the girl's punishment would be severe, but maybe she could help lessen the pain somehow.

"Aquata I already know what the punishment will be but I can promise you that I will watch over Sirena, you are one of the few that know what truly happened and how connected I am to Mako, I'll watch over them, but you have to make sure that they understand." Kaliana spoke as soon as she spotted the elder blonde, "Thank you… I know this will be painful for her… them but knowing that you will still try to protect them, it helps ease my mind." She replied as the two shared an embrace before waiting for the three soon to be outcasts arrive at the moon pool.
"I'm so sorry." Aquata apologised when her sister questioned her after surfacing within the pool, "We can explain?" Nixie tried to reason only for a murmured "It's too late," from Kaliana to quieten her. "You neglected your duties. You let a boy onto the island and you let him into the moon pool. You broke so many laws." Aquata continued trying not to cry for what she was about to do, not meeting her Sirena's eyes as she moved closer. "We didn't mean to. We didn't want the boy to get powers."
"The boy and the island are connected. The Pod must leave." Kaliana quietly informed them already feeling the connection begin to form between the island and the boy. "This is our home." Nixie whispered, how could the Pod consider leaving it?
"It's not safe here anymore." Aquata told them, knowing that the difficult part would be next.
"Where will we go?" Lyla questioned not knowing the pain such an innocent question would bring. "Not you. The Pod is going. None of you may follow. You've all been cast out." The elder replied, barely holding back her tears. "Aquata, talk to them. Tell them it was a mistake." Nixie begged as she saw the heart break on the sisters faces at having to be separated.
"I can't they blame you. I tried to speak on your behalf but they wouldn't listen. Ki have to go the Pod is waiting." She said before ducking under the water and heading out to meet the rest of the Pod, leaving her sister begging behind her.
"Sirena, Aquata gave me this to give to you before she left." Kaliana told the crying girl as she handed her the moon ring that had once been her sister's.

"Where will we go?" Sirena questioned as she hugged closer to Kaliana, seeking comfort from the girl. "You're not going anywhere. Mako is still your home it always will be as long as I am here." She spoke into Sirena's hair but loud enough to know that the other two had also heard her words, even if they didn't understand the significance yet. "We're gonna put this right." Nixie muttered, determination filling her voice, "We'll find a way. We have to." Lyla added, she wanted her family and friends back not to be stuck with the two idiots and the girl that everyone gave special treatment to… why wasn't she cast out when she returned from being missing for 4 years.

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