Confusion. That was the principle emotion that flooded the depths of Andrina's brain, as her head breached the surface. She had been brave enough to visit the surface dozens of times since the wall had come down. But she had never seen it like this before. Her olfactory was offended immediately by a scent she couldn't begin to describe. Typically, the surrounding air was salt-scented. But not today. Thick. Acrid. Choking. Andrina did not have in her vocabulary a word that could capture what she was currently smelling. Andrina also noted a strange, filmy substance that skimmed along the surface in iridescent patches. Debris too. Lots of it. Floating freely with the swelling waves. The mermaid shivered. Never, never had Andrina experienced the surface as it was today. Something was obviously wrong, and she wanted to find out what. Without even missing a stroke, Andrina sped her way to the shores that lined Eric and Ariel's palace.

She stopped a yard or so from the long stretch of sand overlooking the palace. Andrina noticed that some to the debris she encountered at sea had also washed ashore. There must have been a shipwreck last night, she decided. There was really no other explanation. Curious, Andrina swam closer to the shore. Perhaps Ariel and Eric were surveying the damage too, and could shed further light on the situation. When Andrina finally reached land, she spotted her sister strolling along the beach looking utterly horror-stricken. She was wrapped in a heavy black cloak to protect her from the winds, and her deep red hair flew wildly about her face.

"Ariel!" cried Andrina, splashing her tail fin for attention.

"Oh, Andrina."

Her presence didn't seem to lift Ariel's spirits at all. Not even a trace of a smile crossed her sister's lips.

"Ariel, what happen here last light?"

"Shipwreck."

"I gathered as much," Andrina sighed, "did you find any survivors."

"Not a soul has washed ashore."

"That's horrible," gasped Andrina, "but there could still be survivors..."

"We've sent out a rescuer crew earlier this morning. They turned up nothing. At this point, prospects look bleak."

Andrina ran a hand through her blond hair. It was just so awful to imagine. Sometimes, Andrina couldn't believe that the ocean, her home, could be so cruel to humans. Drowning, was one thing Andrina had a difficult time understanding.

"It's just so sad," Andrina lamented.

"I know," Ariel agreed, "Eric had granted a biologist permission to conduct research in the waters near our kingdom. Thompson was his name. Charles Thompson. He and his crew were due to dock at the harbor sometime today..."

"Ariel?"

Both Andrina and her sister turned their heads to see Arie's dark-haired husband striding towards them, battling against the strong winds, a remnant of last night's deadly storm.

"Hello, Eric."

"Andrina," the king nodded politely.

Eric protectively wrapped his arms around Ariel's middle, who shivered in the chill wind, despite her heavy cloak. It was actually a very sweet gesture. Ariel, the youngest, had been married before any of their sisters, and after twelve years she and her husband were still truly in love.

"We were just discussing the shipwreck," Ariel explained, peering up at Eric.

"I see," Eric acknowledged, "but Ariel, don't you think..."

"What?"

"You've been out in this cold for some time now, and in your condition..."

"I'm fine, Eric," Ariel replied rather hastily, Andrina thought.

"But the doctor recommended you rest, darling."

Andrina now moved her head from Ariel to Eric and back again. She was beginning to feel confused.

"Ariel?" Andrina questioned, "What condition. Are you ill? If your doctor wants you to rest, you definitely should."

Ariel glared at her husband, and Andrina narrowed her eyes. Why was her sister behaving so suspiciously? Then she noticed it, a subtle gesture really. Eric's arms were not merely wound around Ariel's waist. His hands her firmly planted on her stomach. Her slightly protruding stomach.

"Ariel, you're pregnant."

"Yes," her sister answered in defeat.

"And you didn't tell anyone? Why not?"

Then, Ariel's face changed red as her hair, and Andrina understood perfectly.

"They all know, don't they? Father, Attina... all of them."

"I can explain," Ariel croaked, "we only wanted to protect you. All of us."

"Protect me from what?"

"First Alana fell pregnant, and soon after... well, me. We thought it wound be too painful..."

"Nobody even bothered to ask me," Andrina quipped, "did you think I'd be jealous? Did you think I'd do something crazy?"

"It's not like that at all," Ariel defended.

"And you went along with this?" Andrina directed the question at Eric, who was caught up in the middle of all this. The king only shrugged sheepishly. "I can't believe this!" Andrina wailed.

"Andrina," Ariel began calmly, "I'm sorry, truly sorry, but try to understand..."

"Don't bother. I've heard enough."

Incensed, Andrina dove head first into the bobbing sea. She swam further from shore as quickly as she could, propelling herself with her powerful tail fin. What she needed now was to put as much distance between herself and Ariel. She didn't even know how she could face the rest of her sisters back at Atlantica. How could they have all been so heartless? So clueless? Concealing a pregnancy? That was pure insanity! Andrina desperately wanted to clear her head, and all she could do for now was swim.