Welcome to the Haven. A place where adults and children live in peace, along with creatures of the deep. Here, dreams and safety are guarded. But beware, children, peace can never last long. And dreams and safety will eventually falter.

Chapter 10: Calm

Feeling the warm sand on her feet was a ten-year-old girl with long, wavy brown hair that reached to her waist. She stretched out, her fair skin welcoming the warmth that the sun offers. It was a perfect day for early spring! Letting out a blissful sigh, the girl stared at the horizon, taking in the scenery ahead of her: blue waves extending and retracting, pretty shells that littered the white sand, the golden ball resting high in the cloudless sky, and the squawking of the seagulls. To anyone who never came to this area of the beach, they would have missed something. But not her. Nona had lived in the Haven since birth, so she could hear it. The lovely songs of the creatures of the deep.

Walking along the seashore, admiring the scenery as she listened to the calming songs, Nona eventually turned her caramel eyes to see a teenage boy sitting cross-legged as he stared blankly at the horizon. She easily recognized that neat black hair ruffled in the gentle breeze, dark eyes that revealed a gentle soul, and light tan complexion from spending all that time in the sunlight.

Waving her hand to get his attention, Nona called out, "Deka!"

The thirteen-year-old boy snapped out of his trance and turned his head towards her. As the girl closed the distance between him and her, he put up a small smile. "Nona... Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Deka." After seeing his smile disappearing as the boy became somber, Nona inquired worriedly, "What's wrong?"

"I... had another dream..." he answered, returning his gaze to the horizon.

Nona simply stared at the teenager. She had been friends with Deka since she was five. Deka, being the son of the Town Head, was respected by many of the children who grew up at the Haven, both as the son of a beloved leader and as a great friend. However, he had shared with some of his close friends a few things that were never known to the other children. Nona, being one of his closest friends, was told of some of his secrets.

Deka would often have prophetic dreams that seem to tell about the near future. However, they were vague and they never seem to tell the teenager why, how, or when it will happen. It had him always on edge, especially if the dream was a bad one. Sometimes, he would wonder if it was a prophetic dream or if it was just a simple nightmare. There would be no indication that separated a prophetic dream from a normal one. And despite how often they come, it would always be at random. As if it wanted to tell him - warn him - but not give him the context to stop it. The thought of not knowing if the bad dream will come true or not, not knowing when it will happen would have him sulking.

"What did you dream about?" Nona finally asked.

Tearing his eyes away from the sea, the teen's gaze softened a bit upon looking at his friend. "I dreamt that something bad will happen to our beautiful Haven. It... scares me."

"Our town? What exactly happened to it?"

The Haven. That was the name of the wonderful town that was built near the beach. It was named 'the Haven' because of the cordial relationship the town had with the creatures of the deep that go back many years. Both sides find safety in each other. Stories were often told about the creatures living in the sea. They were benevolent beings unless one disturb them. Their kind would often supply the townspeople with food from the depths and in return, the people would offer the creatures gifts of thanks. However, that wasn't it. A story Deka had shared with Nona when she was younger was of his bloodline. The first Town Head who created the Haven had fallen in love with one of the creatures and had pretty babies together. The blood flows down each descendant and though it weakens by blood dilution, it was still there, providing the descendants with a few abilities. The boy's prophetic dreams were one of his powers.

Deka and his father, the current Town Head, would often communicate with the creatures. These sea dwellers would tell them about in-coming storms and knowing the information in advance, the Town Head would save many lives of fishermen who were planning to go fishing in the sea. For years, the Haven had kept a symbiosis relationship with the creatures, protecting each other from harm. No evil influences or malicious monsters could enter. They were protected. But with his recent dream, Deka grew concerned.

"A disaster. I don't know why or how, but a disaster came. I saw... " he trailed off, unsure how he should put things into words as he looked down at the sand. "I saw our town destroyed." He had said that part so quietly that Nona almost didn't hear it.

Concerned, the girl inquired reluctantly, "Did you tell your dad?"

"Yeah, I did. He kept it in mind, but right now, since we don't know anything about it, we could only just wait and hope that it doesn't come true."

However, from his tone, Nona could tell that Deka wasn't feeling too sure about the last part. All of his prophetic dreams - no matter how vague they were - would come true. There was never a time when he was wrong or something changed that deviates from his dreams. His dreams usually concern something big, good and bad. And they only seem to be about events that were set in stone. Not once would he dream about a future event that could be changed. That was what made him worry about the future of their town - because they didn't know when it will happen or how to prepare once it occurs.

Taking a sigh and trying to change the subject, the teen mustered a smile, "So... how's Aunt Ennea, Nona?"

Understanding the shift in topic, the girl smiled slightly as she stared at the sea. Everyone at the Haven was very close so it wasn't surprising for some children to address a grownup using familial terms despite having no blood relations to that person. Nona's parents, Ennea and Roku, were often seen as an aunt and uncle to some of her friends.

"She's doing well. I've been helping around the house, but she had been feeling well that she wanted me to play outside."

Deka laughed, "Well, you should! Milli, Maru, and Elfie had been complaining that you don't come to the beach often anymore."

"Well, that's your fault for predicting my mother's pregnancy!"

The two children laughed as they recalled that day. It had been nearly eight months ago when Deka dreamt of Ennea's pregnancy on the first week of July and had congratulated Nona without telling her why. As she listened to the waves resounding, Nona replayed the memory that happened a few days after the boy's praise in her head.

One day, while working around the house, nine-year-old Nona was preparing breakfast for her mother. She had been taught to be extra careful when using knives and Ennea would often fret and worry over her. However, Nona was determined to learn the arts of cuisine, having expressed interest in cooking when she was seven. She also wanted to learn so she could take care of herself whenever neither of her parents was home. Today, her father went to work and her mother stayed at home. Hearing the slow steps descending down the stairs, Nona turned her head away from the cutting board in time to see her beautiful mother entering the kitchen.

However, something was wrong. Her mother looked a little sick. Concerned, Nona put down the knife and asked worriedly, "Are you feeling unwell, Mom?"

Ennea nodded her head, too nauseated to respond verbally. Turning off the stove, the child got down from her giant step stool and tried her best to lead her mother to the living room to sit down. Telling her mother that she was going to get the doctor, the girl put on her sandals before dashing out of the door. A few minutes later, she came back with the town's doctor. Letting the adult do her work, Nona returned to the kitchen to finish making breakfast. However, she was cropping the vegetables quietly, wanting to listen in and learn if something was wrong with her mother.

After a few more minutes, Nona heard her name being called. Doctor Hino had finished her examination and the girl could see her mother being very happy. Being told to lead the doctor outside, Nona complied and accompany the adult until they were at the doorway.

"There's nothing wrong with Mom, Hino-sensei?"

"Nothing to worry about, Nona-chan. Though, congratulations! Your mother is pregnant!" With that final remark, Doctor Hino left, leaving a confused Nona.

Closing the door, the girl returned to the living room only to find her mother resting. Congratulations? For what? What was she congratulating for? Obviously, it must be a good thing if both her mother and the doctor were happy. But what? And what did Doctor Hino mean by 'pregnant'? That was a new word for the girl. Climbing onto her mother's legs, Nona looked up at her questionably.

"Mom, why did Hino-sensei say 'congratulations'? And what's 'pregnant'?"

Ennea only responded with a lighthearted laugh, scooping the girl up in her arms to give her a hug. "I'm having a baby, sweetie."

Nona gasped in awe, her eyes lit up. A baby? Her mother was going to have a baby? How exciting! The girl squealed in delight. She gasped again as a sudden realization hit her. She was going to be a big sister! Ah! So amazing! So exciting! So this must be why Deka had congratulated her a few days ago! Oh, she couldn't wait to find and interrogate him about it! She knew what babies were. She had seen a few mothers holding their tiny bundle of joy lovingly close to them. They were children like herself, only smaller and way cuter - not that she thought that growing children weren't cute but still! Something about babies was just adorable! They couldn't walk or talk until they get older. However, in her excitement, a question popped into the girl's mind. She knew what babies were, but where do they come from? Looking at her mother expectantly, she asked her the question.

"Nona, you know how fruits and veggies grow, right?" After receiving a nod, Ennea continued, "Well, you see, to have a baby, it first started out with love."

"I love Deka and the others, and they love me. Does that mean I have a baby and they have babies too?"

"No, no!" Ennea fondly shook her head at her daughter's innocence. "You have to be a grownup. You see, your father loves me so much, he gave me a seed and it's planted inside my belly for the baby to grow-"

"I ate many seeds though," Nona interrupted. "When I grow up and someone I love gives me seeds, I'll have a baby?"

"This type of seed is special. It cannot be found in fruits or veggies. It's a love seed."

Nodding her head in understanding, the girl was satisfied with her mother's response. However, she couldn't help but imagine her father giving her mother a heart-shaped seed. It had her wondering how did he plant it inside her mother's belly in the first place. Maybe her mother ate the love seed and it planted itself inside that way? She'll have to ask for another time. It wasn't too important to know now. Giving her mother one last look of curiosity, she asked her final question.

"Boy or girl?"

"I don't know yet."

"When you know, don't tell me! I want to be surprised!"

Such a fond memory had Nona smiling at it. That day, when her father returned home, she had run up and excitedly told him the news. He was bursting with joy, scooping her up to lift in the air, and had wanted to make a bet on the gender of the baby. However, since she wanted to surprise herself, Nona had declined the offer to bet. The next day, she'd told her friends about her becoming a big sister and they congratulated her family. They were excited just like her and promised to be the big brothers and sisters to the unborn sibling. It was a wonderful time.

Cling-clang, cling-clang, cling-clang!

Hearing the town bell alerted Deka as he turned his head around to glance over his shoulder. Nona did the same and saw a man dressed in formal attire. It was the Messenger. Getting up to their feet and dusting the sand off their clothes, the children went to greet the man. The Messenger politely greeted the children before handing Deka a letter. Opening it up and taking a quick scan of the content, the boy had a neutral expression on his face.

"I have to return home to discuss some things with Dad. Some group of travelers will be arriving at the Haven and Dad wants to talk to me about it," he explained.

Tugging onto his sleeves to get his attention, Nona inquired, "What do you think it'll be about?"

"Well, we often have foreigners coming to the Haven to seek refuge from the outside. Maybe they're trying to escape from that strange force in the air?" Deka suggested.

Nona nodded her head. "That would make the most sense. The Haven welcomes everyone."

Seeing that the Messenger was waiting patiently for him, the boy quickly replied, "I have to go. See you later, Nona."

"You too," she gave a wave goodbye before turning to have one last look at the horizon. After having the sight in her mind, the girl left the beach to return home.

~oOo~

Returning home, Nona put her sandals to the side before putting on her slippers to enter the kitchen. Her mother was trying to make a simple lunch but the moment the girl saw her, Nona panicked. That couldn't do! Her mother was near the due date! Okay, maybe she wasn't near the due date. It was by a month, but still! She shouldn't be up and about! She has to rest! The girl had tugged onto the hem of her mother's dress, trying to pull her away from the stove. Of course, compared to her mother's tall frame, there was no way for the girl to truly pull her away. With her size, she was like a puppy tugging onto its owner for attention. She never understood why the adults were tall and why children like her were tiny but didn't question it much. That was just how their world worked, she assumed. Still, the height disadvantage was an inconvenience for someone her size.

"But little rice ball, I have to make lunch," Ennea insisted, explaining that she had the sudden urge to eat sushi.

The girl insisted that she'll make her mother lunch, simply requesting that the woman rests in the living room. It had taken a few minutes until Ennea complied as Nona put on an apron. With a white ribbon, the ten-year-old braided her hair, letting it rest on her back so it wouldn't hang over her shoulder and get dirtied from the cooking. With that out of the way, it was time to finish what her mother had started. It only took a few more minutes before the child plated everything and delivered the food to her mother.

As Ennea enjoyed the sushi, Nona climbed up to the adult. Her eyes were glued to the big bump in her mother's belly. Unable to resist herself, she gently wrapped her tiny arms around Ennea, placing her head on the bump. She was trying to listen for any movement. A thump could be heard and she felt it.

"Ah! The baby is kicking, Mom!" Nona happily exclaimed.

"Yes, the baby is," her mother laughed, patting her daughter's head with a finger while rubbing her belly with the other. "You'll make a great older sister, Nona."

The girl squealed excitedly, clapping her hands in glee as she giggled. Within the next month, the baby could be born! She was so excited to welcome the fourth member of her family. "Hurry up so I can meet you, little brother or little sister!"

"Oh? You don't seem to mind if the baby will be a girl or a boy," Ennea teased, recalling how her daughter didn't want to know the gender of the baby nor take part in the bet her beloved Roku wanted to do.

Though Nona didn't take the bet, Ennea did. She bet against her husband, each picking a gender and sticking with it till the end. Since her last visit with Doctor Hino, Ennea knew the gender of her unborn child, but Nona had kept insisting on not ruining the surprise for her. As for the winner of the bet, well... there weren't really any losers. However, Roku was the winner. Since he had named Nona when she was born, his condition was for Ennea to name their next child. It was a bet with no true losers. Everyone was a winner in the end.

"I would like to have a little sister so I can spoil her with lots of love, but if I have a little brother instead, I'll still love him just the same! I'll spoil him too!"

The mother and daughter duo laughed, enjoying this moment. As Ennea continue to eat, Nona simply rubbed her mother's belly, hoping that the baby could feel her in some way. Eventually, Ennea inquired where had her daughter gone, curious if she had fun outside. Nona told her mother about her stroll to the beach and her conversation with Deka. Choosing to not stress her mother about the boy's prophetic dreams, she had excluded that one detail. In the girl's mind, it might not happen soon. That was what she hoped.

After her mother finished eating and Nona guided her up the stairs to sleep, the girl returned to the kitchens to wash the dishes before hearing a knock on the door. Stepping down from the sink, Nona opened the door to be greeted by three smiling faces. Adventurous Elfie, cheerful Maru, and mild Milli. Delighted, she invited them inside her home as her friends questioned excitedly about Ennea's condition. Bringing out snacks and drinks, Nona join her friends in the living room as everyone took some sweets to eat. They started to chat about many things until Elfie brought up a new topic to talk about.

"I heard that a circus is coming! Apparently, the travelers came from there!"

The children all murmured with each other, curiosity and excitement filled the air. A circus? The children knew what a circus was, from books or from any grownups who weren't from the Haven, but they'd never seen one before. Was it just as the adults claimed? Many rides of splendor and fun? Were there many vendors that offer food that could only be found outside of town?

"When are they arriving?" Milli questioned.

"Tonight. I heard from the Town Head that their circus is too big, so the tents would be put up just outside the border. Some of the people will be welcomed inside," Elfie responded. "We should go have fun tomorrow!" Looking at Nona straight in the eyes, the girl added, "And you are coming with us!"

"I don't know, El. My mom..." Nona trailed off.

"Come on, Nona! You haven't been playing with us, it would be fun!" Maru exclaimed. "I'm sure Auntie Ennea will allow you to go!"

"Hmm..." Nona hummed before smiling playfully, "Okay!"

"Yay!" her friends cheered in unison.

Nona smiled at her friends' antics to get her out of the house just like her mother did. They didn't have to try and convinced her. She had decided to go since, like many of the kids in town, she'd never been to a circus before. Maybe she could get a souvenir! Seeing that the plates of sweets were gone, Nona offered to get another batch, much to the delight of her friends.

They talk and ate until Roku came home. The children greeted the man, excusing themselves out to go home. They waved goodbye to Nona, excitedly telling her that they'll see her tomorrow morning. After closing the door, the girl found her father already working in the kitchens. She had offered to help, which he accepts. Dinner was prepared quickly and was set onto the table, ready to be eaten.

Very soon, Ennea joined the duo and the family of three eat, idly talking about many things until everything on the table was finished. Getting off her seat, Nona went to wash her plates. Once the task was finished, she rushed to the other end of the table to give her parents a hug and a kiss on her mother's belly before rushing up the stairs.

~oOo~

In her room, cute tiny lamps glowed against the soft pink walls. Her bed had many stuffed animals which Nona couldn't wait to share with her unborn sibling. A few feet away was an empty crib. Looking at it, Nona smiled. In just a few more weeks, the baby could be born! When he or she does, Nona will welcome her newborn sibling with lots of love to give. The ten-year-old giggled to herself at the idea as she changed into her white nightgown. Taking her hair out of its braid, she combed her brown locks before opening her window, letting in the sound of the waves and the lullabies entering her room.

Looking at the beach during nighttime was an experience Nona couldn't get enough of. She would never tire from the scene. The full moon was very white against the dark sky, illuminating the dark waters. Many stars twinkle like diamonds. The waves calmly rise and fall, extend and retract. From the distance, the moonlight was refracted from the water's surface, giving an almost mystical glow to it. Faintly, as she stared out her window, the girl could see the creatures singing their songs. Mermaids. The guardian beings that protect the Haven and gain the townspeople's protection in return. Closing her eyes, Nona took in the cool breeze as she listened to the sweet melody that was being carried by air. Their voices were so soothing to listen to and it was very pleasing to the ears.

Letting out a refreshing sigh, she opened her eyes again. Leaving the windows open, Nona climbed into bed, pulling the blanket over her. Hugging a teddy bear close to her, Nona stared at the ceiling.

What will tomorrow bring, I wonder?

Smiling, she prayed that tomorrow will be a happy day, full of joy and laughter. Closing her eyes, Nona allowed the songs of the mermaids to soothe her to sleep.

Some little fun facts on the names of the characters:

Ennea is Greek for nine.

Roku is Japanese for six.

Deka is Latin for ten.

Maru is Japanese for circle or a zero.

Elfie is Elf in German, but 'Elf' is eleven.

Milli is a word part for million.

Hino is not a number name, but it's Japanese for 'sun field'.

A lot of number names, but I wanted characters who play an important role, be it major or minor, to be based on numbers. And the reason why most of the names aren't Japanese numbers is that... one) from a story perspective, some of the children have at least one parent who was a foreigner to the Haven, two) both parents took refuge in the Haven before the child's birth, and 3) I'm trying to be unique with the number names despite the Haven is in the east region of the world aka the parents want to give a name that stands out.