A new friend

Emma had spent the past few days trying to find out why the werewolves were so dominant, and whether they knew about the existence of mermaids or not. All she found were some stories about wild animal attacks, which she knew were caused by the werewolves.

The next Saturday, her family went out to the beach to relax. Emma knew that was a dangerous environment for her, so she simply walked along the sand without going into the water.

Emma had walked along the beach for some time and had reached a rocky outcrop. In the distance, she saw another woman jump into the water. She looked around and saw she was alone, so she dived into the water too. As she began swimming at high speed, she saw an outline of a large fish tail. She realised she was in the company of another mermaid and decided to follow her.

After speed swimming for some time, Emma had lost sight of the other mermaid. She lifted her head above the water and saw an outline of an island. It looked very similar to Mako, but she realised that she couldn't have swum all the way back to Australia.

Emma reached the shoreline and hauled herself out of the water. She headed inland until reaching a strange looking rock carved into the cliff face. She sat down and a few minutes later, another woman suddenly appeared out of thin air. The woman had long blonde hair similar to her, and Emma noticed that she was wearing a ring with a light blue gemstone attached to it. The woman pointed her ring at the rock, and it opened up into a cave. The woman entered, and Emma decided to follow her inside. The cave then closed, and the woman panicked.

"What the hell are you doing here! You wolves are not welcome in this sacred island!" shouted the woman.

"Calm down, I'm not a werewolf!" protested Emma.

"Then what are you doing stalking me, you sicko?!" yelled the woman.

"Well, I'm a mermaid. Just like you," said Emma.

"Is that so? Then prove it!" replied the woman.

Emma wasn't carrying any water with her, and she spoke "Do you have any water on you?"

The woman sighed, as she led Emma deeper into the cave. The two reached a pool which looked very similar to the moon pool at Mako Island.

"I know what this is!" exclaimed Emma.

"Then what is this place?" asked the woman.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but this appears to be a moon pool. Back home in Australia, I fell into one during a full moon and that was how I transformed into a mermaid," replied Emma.

The woman was getting excited. "So, you are just like me then! My name is Arielle, and I'm a mermaid. Only I was born this way, and I have a moon ring that can cast all types of magic spells."

Emma then answered, "So I guess you have trouble with the werewolves too."

"Psst! Don't say that!" exclaimed Arielle.

"Well, I was attacked by one of them when I stumbled upon their so-called hideout in the woods." said Emma.

"You really ought to be careful gal! A werewolf bite is fatal to us mermaids," replied Arielle.

"But how come it didn't kill me?" questioned Emma.

Arielle thought for a while, then responded "Maybe you didn't get a full dose of venom. Or it's because you aren't a true mermaid like me."

Emma just laughed as she and Arielle bonded with each other. The two then jumped into the moon pool and in their mermaid forms, swam back out into the open water.

Later on

Emma and Arielle had enjoyed a swim together and returned to the California moon pool. Arielle proceeded to give Emma some advice.

"Now Emma, the hills around LA are a very dangerous place for a mermaid like yourself. You should learn how to cloak yourself, so you don't get into any more trouble."

"Cloak myself? How do I do that?" Emma asked.

"Cloaking, or turning yourself invisible, is a skill all mermaids should learn. It's an ability unique to us, and it's what has kept us safe from our hostile enemies." replied Arielle.

"I guess you are going to teach me how to turn invisible then," said Emma.

Arielle nodded and began the demonstration. "First of all, do you have a moon ring?" as she held out her ring. Emma was surprised and spoke up "So that is what your ring is called. I guess it has its own source of magic, but I don't have one."

"Yes, it is a powerful object. But since you don't have one, you'll just have to use your fingers for now. Simply wave them in front of your body, like this." Arielle proceeded to wave her hand, and she turned invisible.

Emma was amazed seeing Arielle use her powers. Arielle reappeared as she cancelled her spell. "Now you try," she spoke. Emma began waving her hand in front of her, but the invisibility power didn't seem to work.

"Maybe you need to move your hands a bit more," suggested Arielle. Emma continued a few more times, but she couldn't quite get her powers to activate.

"Hmm, I think you have a problem. As you weren't a natural born mermaid, maybe you cannot access all magical abilities."

"How about I come back to this place at the next full moon. It took a special full moon for me to gain enhanced cryogenic powers," replied Emma.

Arielle thought for a bit, then responded "Yeah, that might work. For now, please try to stay out of the woods. I've heard that those pesky wolves are now attacking anyone who enters their territory, not just other mermaids."

Emma laughed as she spoke, "Yeah I've heard that there are dozens of so-called wild animal attacks. I'll promise to keep low until the next full moon."