Aquatic Nursery Ⅲ

Holding her hand up, the merfolk obediently fell silent awaiting their Chieftainess to speak. "We shall not harm you, foreign one," Merchieftainess Murcurs steadily said, "I only ask no harm comes to my people."

Ondine blinks in surprise as he wasn't expecting to be tolerated. He merely desired not to be harmed. It was a much better outcome than he had initially expected.

 Suddenly something large and powerful darts through the water causing the water to violently ripple. Ondine tenses as he sees a large albino serpent rapidly approach through the water. With ease, he could estimate the serpent at 19 feet long and at least as thick as a man's waist.

The albino serpent drew to a halt near the merfolk lazily slithering through the water. The merfolk bowed reverently to the Great Horned Serpent. The serpent's sapphire-colored eyes glitter brightly as does the embedded glowing gem in its forehead. Instinctively Ondine bows to the lake guardian.

Nadira's tongue flicks in the water. "He shall be a speaker for the tribe, an envoy among the land dwellers," she hummed knowingly.

 Many of the merfolk's yellow eyes bulge in genuine shock. Outsiders were occasionally accepted but never half-breeds! Their Chieftains had already been merciful by not killing the half-blood on the spot and permitting him to share the waters of their tribe.

Merchieftainess Murcurs was not necessarily pleased by the pronouncement, however, she would solemnly obey the will of the Guardian of the Lake regardless of her personal feelings. "Your will shall be done, guardian," she bowed with her hand to her chest in solemn vow.

Seeing the Chieftainess bow to the lake guardian, the merfolk obeyed as the warriors even lowered their spears. Pleased Nadira approaches the surprised young wizard. The wizard blinks as the serpent introduces herself, "I am Nadira, wizard. You shall be the speaker of the tribe; this is my will."

Ondine blinks at the pronouncement, but he has always been quick on his webbed feet. "I shall obey, guardian," he reverently said holding back tears at bay. He had been given a place among the merfolk and would be accepted as one of their own.

Darting through the water, Nadira stirs the water in her wake causing them to barely be able to remain in place. Soon the serpent vanishes in the distance leaving them alone. Merchieftainess Murcurs straightens and motions at the half-blood to follow her.

 "Come," Merchieftainess Murcurs said as the merfolk parted to permit her to pass.

Numbingly in disbelief, Ondine had followed and found himself initiated as a member of the tribe descended from the great and first mother Lusca, the Lusca tribe. It was a first for him and something even now he still finds almost impossible to believe. It was something that not even his father would have ever believed remotely possible. Yet surely his mother would have for she had always liked to believe in the impossible.

Returning to the present, Ondine subconsciously touched the small shark tooth hanging on a leather water-proof cord made from the flesh of an aquatic creature. It represented his belonging to a (merfolk) tribe, a member of the Lusca Tribe. Even if he ventured into other waters, he would not be immediately attacked as he now belonged to a mer-tribe.

Smiling to himself, Ondine reached for White Water Crowfeet, an aquatic plant that grows in mats on the surface of the water. The flowers that bloom is white with a yellow center reminiscent of a Daffodil's coloring. The plant itself is poisonous and is useful in potions both good and dark.

Seeing that the mermish professor is otherwise occupied, Eponine grows impatient and removes her robes, shoes, and socks. She rolls up her trousers and decides to enter the cold water. She shivers violently and wonders how the mermish professor can stand the cold! In retrospect, it is his mer-blood that permits him to resist the cold.

Wadding through the water, Eponine approaches the tray and sees Bladderwort. It is a small delicate carnivorous plant that eats tiny parasites such as protozoa or rotifer. She fondly smiles at the seemly innocent-looking plant with small blossoming yellow flowers.

Seeing the mermish professor approach, Eponine begins to work and is joined by Ondine. Noticing the peeks from the potion's professor, he says, "By the glances cast in my direction, I sense that you hold some curiosity regarding my scar, Professor Mortimer? Please correct me if I am wrong."

A pink flush spread across Eponine's face. She was ashamed of being caught. However, she wasn't one to back down from a challenge. "So, what of it?" She harped arching her brow at him.

A charming smile flashed across Ondine's face. "I am not ashamed to answer," he calmly answered before his smile faded away. "When I was still a boy, shortly after my mother's death, I was almost killed by a member of my father's former tribe. The tribe wasn't pleased with the existence of a half-blood like me. They believed my existence was a blight, a blemish upon the honor of the tribe. To them, my very existence was an abomination, a foul taint upon the sea."

Ondine paused a moment to collect himself, "I almost died as a result, but I survived." He subconsciously touched the awful scar stretching from just under his ribs down his belly and further below his waist. "Unfortunately, Father being limited (by his tail) could not seek help on land. Father tended to my wounds as best as he could. Thankfully, I survived, but I am sterile as a result of the attack."

"Sterile?" Eponine frowned and reflexively followed the path of the scar and glanced at Ondine's groin, before hurriedly raising her eyes.

"Mm, they had no desire for my filthy blood to continue to reproduce," Ondine nonchalantly shrugged. "Thankfully I am not a eunuch," he held his fingers nearly touching in the air. "However, it wasn't from lack of trying on their part."

"And that doesn't bother you?" Eponine curiously asked, before flushing at her impertinence. She shouldn't be so curious, especially about another professor! "My apologies, Professor Ponce," she stammered unused to apologizing. "It wasn't my place to ask."

 "It's fine," Ondine tranquilly responded as he reached for another plant. "It wasn't your fault, Professor Mortimer." He gently placed the plant in the water. "And as for your question, I was angry for a long time at having the choice taken from me. However, a good friend kindly reminded me that not all families are blood-related. And that I could still have a child if that was my utmost desire."

Eponine is somber as she feels she has over-spoken. It was an unusual feeling. She felt so off-footed around him. Yet, she couldn't help herself.

 Feeling uncertain, Eponine tactfully decides to remain silent until they are finished. Once they are finished, Ondine climbs out of the water and sets to dry his trousers. He grabs his neatly folded loose shirt and pulls it on.

"I'm simply famished," Ondine announced as he put on his shoes and socks. "Would you like to have a bit to eat together, Professor Mortimer?"

"Don't be so presumptuous, Professor Ponce" Eponine haughtily responded.

"I have no such ill intentions, Professor Mortimer," Ondine innocently replied. "I am new to Hogwarts, and I don't know the best places to eat. I could use the help."

Seeing the earnest expression of the mermish professor, Eponine feels another stab of guilt. "I suppose, I could show you. Mind you, I expect to be paid for my efforts."

 "I can certainly pay for both our meals," Ondine sincerely said. "Though in my culture, this is typically only done for friends or those in a courtship."

 Flustered, Eponine doesn't know what to say except hurrying away. "You better follow closely or else I'll leave you behind!" She briskly called out as her face flushed a rosy pink. She held her chest trying to convince herself that her heart had not leaped for a second at his words.

 "Coming," Ondine called out with a small knowing smile to himself as he willingly followed Eponine Mortimer. He wouldn't mind a courtship though he could tell it would be an uphill battle. He and his mother had never chosen the easy path. Yet he had the feeling it would be worth it in the end. It certainly had been for his mother.