Zac was the first of the group to surface in the pool of Rita's grotto, followed shortly by Evie and a panting and tired Cam. The four water born mermaids slowly rose from the water behind them, looking distraught and their eyes puffy. Evie offered them a sympathetic look.
"We just got the pod back," Ondina sniffled.
"We'll find a way to get them to understand," Zac said rationally. He looked over at his sister and realized just how much this was hurting her. Before they found out that they were twins, the pod was the only family that she knew and now they were taken from her.
"I'm sorry, this is all my fault. If I had just resisted the pull of the moon then none of this would have happened," Cam said, shamefully looking down and swishing his deep blue tail back and forth in the water.
"It wasn't you or the moon," Weilan said grimly, "It was the water dragon."
Rita appeared into the doorway of the stone cavern, "What about the water dragon?" She asked looking sternly at the new girl. Zac looked over at her quizzically, her tone made it sound like she knew something on the subject. He challenged her to say more with his gaze, "Why don't you all get dried off and we can talk more in the grotto?"
It took a while for all seven merpeople to lift themselves from the pool and completely dry off (especially Cam who had little experience without the use off his legs). And one they were all on their own two feet again, the group followed Rita into the treasure room and took seats along the stone bench or floor.
"So, will someone please explain to me what you know? You're telling me that it wasn't the full moon that turned me into a merman it was a dragon." Cam demanded.
"Well not exactly," Weilan piped up, "The dragon just channeled the moon's magic to persuade you to go to Mako, which explains why you acted moonstruck even though you were still a land boy at the time."
Cam swallowed, facing another harsh reminder that he was no longer human. Looking around the room he realized that nobody in this room was even human. He was a part of his once nicknamed 'Mako Club.'
"I haven't heard about the water dragon in centuries," Rita elaborated, "The pod leaders used to tell us the stories of the dragon when we were hatchlings but I always assumed that they were just myths."
"I can assure you that the dragon is no myth," Weilan said, she lifted up her shirt and revealed a long scar that ran up the side of her right rib cage. "I followed the dragon here from Shanghai after I realized where the dragon was headed, I raced ahead to warn the Mako pod. It caught me and tried to catch me but I was too quick and got away with just a gash."
"Why did the dragon decide to come here?" Sirena asked.
"The dragon is attracted to where there is the most magical activity," the Asian mermaid looked over at the two former land people, "And there certainly has been a lot of magic happening here."
"Erik always said that we were never subtle," Ondina added quietly.
"So, if we know that my transformation was the result of the dragon, if we somehow defeat it will that take my powers away?" Cam asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not, Cameron," Rita responded sadly, "The dragon used the power of the full moon to transform you. If anything, that would only make the now merman side of you stronger. The two added forces are very great, as I have been told. I'm sorry."
"And why did the dragon choose me?" The blond merman asked.
"Well, whoever has had the most exposure to magic will be the first on the dragon's list. And it won't stop until it completes its mission of creating a new race of merpeople," Weilan explained.
"What?!" Everyone, except Weilan, simultaneously exclaimed.
"The dragon travels to all the moon pools on the seven different continents, trying to transform as many people as possible. It's attracted to areas and land people involved in the most magical activity," Weilan tapered off hoping Cam could pick up.
"And that's me. I was the first person to know about mermaids and I've been on Mako for multiple full moons and I got splash by the moon pool water and briefly had powers." Cam finished.
"You know what this means, right?" Mimmi asked the group. She huffed when no one would respond, "It means that there will be someone transformed during the next full moon and it will most likely be somebody that we know."
"Well, when the time comes we will prepare and be ready," Rita said confidently. "In the meantime, we will have to start training Cameron to adjust to his new lifestyle and powers. Zac will you escort him home," She finished with a wink in their direction.
"Rita, what about the pod?" Zac asked, weary to return to the ocean after having just escaped it only a half hour ago.
"I think that the threat of a new merman will keep the pod away, at least for a little while. And besides, Cameron has to learn how to navigate underwater sooner or later." Rita added, "I think you all will be fine."
"Okay, then," Zac said standing up, "Follow me!" The two boys waved to the mermaids in the grotto, Zac gave Evie a kiss on the cheek and they made their way to the pool leading to the ocean.
Cam looked down at the water and tried to push away the pit forming in his stomach; it was hard for him to believe that diving into the water to turn into a merman and swim off into the ocean was becoming normal for him. He hated how much he was starting to enjoy it. He suddenly turned to Zac, smirking, "Do you think I'm faster than you yet?"
Cam didn't give him time to answer before he dove back into the water and let his tail propel him out of the cave. Zac laughed and shook his head, "Dream on, buddy." Then promptly dove into the water behind his best friend.
Back in the grotto, the mermaids were left sitting around and Sirena gave a loud sniffle. The group looked at her, it was the first time that she'd made a noise since they all gathered there together. Rita tentatively reached a hand out to the younger mermaid's shoulder, "Sirena, are you alright?"
"No!" She wailed, "We've lost the pod again. They cast us all out again!"
"We'll find a way to get them to come around," Evie said positively, "They came to terms with me and Zac. It'll be okay, things will work out."
"But my sister…" Sirena whimpered.
"She'll be on our side. She has to see reason." Ondina said matter-of-factly.
They all took their time comforting Sirena, trying to ignore the long uphill climb that they all faced.