As we arrived back at the moon pool, I announced we'd can the food. I'd learned how in Europe, so I knew what I was talking about.
"But what do we can them in?" Cleo asked.
"That's where you come in. If you can make some water jars, that'll help."
"Alright…" she said, a little unsure. She created a medium sized jar, and I stuck out my hand. I turned it to jelly, then did the same gesture again, hardening it. It turned rock solid, plunging into the water. I hurried forward and grabbed it.
"Perfect!" I said.
"That's brilliant!" Emma said.
"Thanks, Em." Cleo said shyly. We made so many more jars, I lost count. We would use some for getting water from above, and some for the food. I volunteered to do all the canning, while Rikki and Cleo went back for more fruit, and Emma went to get water. Rikki made a fire, so I could boil the water, and keep warm in the night.
Emma dropped down the tunnel, careful not to get wet, she had three jars of fresh drinking water, ready to be boiled. "This was all I could carry." She said, handing them to me.
"Thanks. This is plenty." I said. After a while, Cleo and Rikki surfaced in the water, more fruit to be canned. We helped haul them out, causing us to grow tails too, but Rikki just dried us off. We set to work, preparing for the night. I showed Rikki how to can fruit, first peeling them then heating the contents so they melted, then I turned them to jelly. Emma worked on boiling the water, using her ice powers to make handles so she wouldn't burn herself. Rikki would have done it, but she was busy canning the food. Cleo and Emma left for more firewood, while I wove blankets out of grass. We made a pretty good team, if I do say so myself. I also made some flower pillows, using the soft petals to made comfortable rests for our heads.
-Later-
-After they'd finished preparing for the night-
-Emma's POV-
I twirled around, letting my new leaf skirt fray out like a ballerina tu-tu.
"Wow, Bella. These are so cute!" Cleo exclaimed, glancing down at her skirt and tank top, which Bella had sewed out of large leaves, also attaching some flowers for extra decoration with sticky tree sap she'd found. Rikki had a short leaf mini skirt, along with a strapless top that stopped half way between her chest line and belly button. It was really cute, and the bright red flower on the top right corner really complimented her blond hair. My skirt was longer, reaching my knees, it twirled outwards when I spun, and it had little blue flowers around the waste, all stuck to a long vine, just like a belt. My tank top was wide strapped, with a blue flower on each strap. Cleo's skirt was longer than Rikki's, but shorter than mine. It reached the mid-way between to her knees, and was of woven grass and leaves, giving it a cool, unique pattern. It had purple flowers hemming the bottom, giving it a nice finishing touch. She had a yellow flower tucked in her hair, and a yellow and purple patterned flower bracelet on her right wrist. I had a blue and white flower anklet on my left ankle, while Rikki had a red and orange one around her neck. Bella had a skirt just a few centimeters longer than Rikki's, and a similar belly shirt, which was also longer. She had a wreath of pink and white flowers on her head, along with a pink and white bracelet on her left wrist. We all looked like typical stereo type island girls, and we were all barefoot. Just like most castaways from those movies. Bella looked kind of like our queen, our leader. Because she knew all this stuff about surviving, and because of the wreath of flowers on her head, she did kind of resemble an island princess. I'd have to talk to the other girls about that. We could maybe even take turns at being the 'princess' of the island. What? We still need entertainment. We're still nine year old girls. Nine year old girls who happen to be mermaids, but still. Who doesn't want to be a princess every now and then?
"We look amazing! Thanks Bella!" Rikki said, placing a red flower in her hair.
"Yeah, we all look great. And you were right! These are really comfortable." I added.
She blushed. "Thanks, you guys. I guess traveling the world pays off. Speaking of which, where are we?"
"Uh, on Mako Island. It's near the Gold Coast, Australia." I stated.
"Wow. I swam that far?" she exclaimed.
"How far? Where'd you come from?" Cleo asked.
"Ireland. I just became a mermaid last night." Bella explained.
"Really? Wow, does that mean there are other moon pools?" Rikki asked.
"Moon pools?"
"It's what we call the place where we became mermaids." I explained.
"Oh." She said, stretching out the 'o' sound. "Well, yeah, I guess so. There's a moon pool in Ireland, by the sea cliffs." She explained.
"So, we should be on the lookout for other mermaids?" Cleo asked.
"I suppose so." I replied.
"Oh. Is that good or bad?" Rikki asked.
"I'm not sure. But we should settle in for the night soon. I'm exhausted." Bella said, stifling a yawn.
"Yeah. Goodnight guys." Rikki said, walking off into her own cave. Cleo and Bella also departed, and I went to my own cave. I found a comfortable sand bed, a flower petal pillow, and a woven grass blanket. A small fire was in the corner, surrounded by rocks so it wouldn't spread, even though sand can't catch on fire. At least, I don't think it can. But it gave it a real comfortable, safe feeling to it, and I enjoyed it. Bella sure was good at this survival in the wild thing. I settled down on my bed, which was only about sixty centimeters from the fire. Covering up with my blanket, I laid down on my side, my back to the fire to keep my eyes shielded, I laid my head on my pillow.
I closed my eyes, whispering "Goodnight." I was glad to finally be in a real home, with my sisters, thinking my parents hadn't even noticed my absence.
-In's Rikki's Cave-
-Rikki's POV-
I sat down on my bed, clenching my fist slightly, and my fire grew warmer. I smiled, wondering again how I'd gotten so lucky. Being a mermaid was the best thing ever. Because of it, I now had three spectacular sisters, a wonderful home where I could be adventurous and explore, and plus, the outfits were supremely cute and sassy, totally my style. That's what I hated about life on the mainland. I was always the outcast because of my tomboy ways. Most girls wanted a Barbie doll or a new dress, but not me. I didn't like the girly girl types. Some of them are exceptional, like Cleo and Emma. They're great; they're friendly and not total snobs, like Miriam. Sure, they don't appreciate getting too dirty, but even I have to admit, it does irritate the skin after a while.
Anyway, I love my sisters very much, even though we just met maybe a month ago, with the exception of Bella, who we'd just met today. I laid down, covering myself with my woven blanket, smiling. Tomorrow would be the best day ever. Because we'd already collected our supplies, we had all day to just explore and chillax. No school, no parents, no younger siblings (for Emma and Cleo anyway). I sighed, thinking of how wonderful my life would be now that I was home, in my room inside a volcano. How many other girls could say they lived in a dormant volcano with a magical pool of water in it, on an uninhabited island? None, besides my sisters. I closed my eyes, drifting into sleep, dreaming about all the adventures we'd have as we grew older.