Chapter 2 finally up and running! WHOO! Enjoy!

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Ireland:

The icy fluid enveloped them. It was almost too cold to breathe. The heavy water pressing down upon on their lungs made it just that much harder, too. Fish glided by as the group steadily slowed and surfaced. October air met their faces with a chilled breeze and a quiet drizzle. It was hard to hear over the waves crashing into the rocks so nearby. Three human heads bobbed on the waves, rising and falling with Neptune's pulse. Only one stretch of grassy shore was visible from their angle, and upon it stood a lone, thin figure, ripples of golden locks twisting in the wind behind her. Her outline fuzzed between the raindrops. The triplet of heads continued towards the girl.

"Annaliese!" sang a voice from the waters. The girl on shore waved to the group, anticipating their arrival. The three reached the beach quickly and pulled themselves onto the deserted shore just outside of Arklow, exposing their shimmer in the Irish sunlight.

"Here, let me help you," Annaliese cried over the noisy tide. She pulled her friends up onto a nearby boulder, straining her smooth features in effort as she did so, making sure each one had easy access to their home.

"Thanks, Anna," one of the three sighed. He was the only male of the whole group. It was easy to tell how strong he was. His large hands wrung the left over saltwater out of his shoulder length wisps of golden brown as Annaliese pulled up the final friend. His features were strong and bold for his age of nineteen, but they suited his person perfectly.

"Next time, Braxlin, lemme know a little more in advance when you plan to beach yourselves," Annaliese scolded him, her deep blue eyes fixed on his sandy-colored ones. "One day I'm not going to be able to make it on time, and you're all going to get caught floundering on shore."

The youngest of the group giggled in the background, catching everyone's attention unexpectedly. She looked like she was sixteen, but acted like she was thirteen at most. Her gentle features faintly wrinkled as she laughed, flattering her childish yet attractive face.

"What's so funny, Arty?" Braxlin inquired from her, annoyance rising in his voice.

"Well," Artilia chimed in her flute-like voice, still laughing. "I was just picturing you kind of thrashing around on the beach like a flounder. It's sort of funny when you imagine it."

Braxlin snapped his head away, snorting angrily. Annaliese laughed a little along with Artilia.

"Arty, don't upset Braxlin," sang a fourth voice. She, like Braxlin, was wringing out her ruby curls. Her curves followed the grooves in the rock as she stretched out. She was stunning. She was Neptune's child, for sure. Even her bright eyes matched the swelling ocean's blue-green hues. Her lovely features, however, were now tight in a bothered expression, concentrated towards Artilia. "We already know how he feels about being a fish." The three girls broke out in laughter, leaning on the boulder for support.

"Are we here to have a girl talk or to talk business?" Braxlin asked, genuinely annoyed.

"Oh, calm down," said Annaliese, putting her palms up to him in surrender. "We're just joking. I mean, I don't get to see you all this often."

Braxlin grumbled something incomprehensible to himself before slinking down onto the other side of the rock, hidden from view.

"So how are you, Anna?" questioned Artilia, twirling her pink tendrils around her finger playfully. "And the rest of the gang."

"Oh, we're good," Anna sighed, taking a seat on the rock next to her friends. "What about you, Arty? Vonnie?" She looked from girl to girl, comfortable with them both.

"Oh, no," Artilia whispered back. "Ta'Vonne doesn't want to talk about it."

Annaliese immediately froze, her face transforming it's expression to one of concern.

"Why?" she asked, hesitantly. "What's wrong, Vonnie?"

Ta'Vonne sighed. "No," she hesitated, "it's not me. It's Leiken. He's acting really strange lately, and he's got me worried."

"Which is exactly why we're here," interrupted Braxlin harshly, resurfacing from behind the rock. "We need to talk."

Annaliese gazed at him, eyes narrowing. "So let's talk."