I accidently posted this (ch3) as ch2, so if it looks familiar, that's why. Please read ch2 again if you have not done so.
Thanks bunches!
Four days later she finds a bundle of flowers tided together and caught in the coral. Her first thought is that they're beautiful; delicate petals the same color as her hair and tied together with a ribbon that matches her facial scales. The second thought is someone sent them into the ocean on purpose.
She doesn't find the owner when she breaches the surface.
"They're pretty." Jazlee remarks, this time hanging upside down from her tree branch. Kaia wonders how her friend's talons haven't cut through the thing yet.
"They are. But I think someone wanted the tide to take them."
"I heard some humans talking about how there was a huge boat crash twelve moons ago and a lot of people were lost." She tossed back the flowers, "Apparently it's human custom to leave a gift at the site where the person rests."
That sounds so sad. Kaia thinks but says, "Humans are strange creatures."
"True, but they're interesting." Jazlee sighs, "I wish I could walk among them."
A jolt of realization shoots through her, "What if we can!" She pushes herself higher onto the bolder, "At my first half-moon I heard a story about a mermaid who gave up her tail for human legs! What if we could do the same thing?!"
Seven moons pass before either of them find any information to validate the story, and then another five to find the proper ritual. During that time Kaia comes across another bundle of flowers in the sea. She searches for hours but, once more, doesn't find who sent them.