Chapter 4.

*****

We swam twenty kilometers. With the winds, troubling our tails I got tired. Why was the land this far? I mumbled painfully. If I was traveling alone, I would have taken a rest. The soldiers kept on going and going. We're they not tired?

"This way" the commander's voice echoed when we reached a particular spot. There were two paths to follow. I usually follow the left and now, the merman was pointing right.

Following them again was the last thing I would do. Quietly, I fall out of the lines and started swimming towards the left path without the notice of anyone, not even their so-called commander. Was this the man's mother kept bragging that he was competent and the best candidate for this position? I just escaped now and he had no idea or any clue that one of his soldiers was Missing.

What a life? We all thought we were safe under the sea!

I swam with the hope of reaching the surface of the water. After a few minutes, my head popped up and I saw the one thing I desired – the land. The weather seemed a little calm at the moment. Everywhere was quiet.

Something was strange today. I turned around and I saw a few trees and dry land. There were different types of items floating on the surface of the sea. Mother had caused this but it wasn't her fault after all. She was nature. Nature could not be stopped, no matter how hard we try.

I moved toward some of the things I saw. A wooden box was the first item, I touched. Though it was still wet, the box looked beautiful. I took it. – that was my luck and a little present to Sakura for helping me. Some shoes and clothes belonged to humans. Mother had shown samples to me. She said their clothes were big and long enough to cover their bodies, while ours were short since we have scales covering our tails.

I left the clothes and started a search. Has anyone gotten hurt as a result of the storm? Did they die? What happened here? Many questions ran through my mind, mother must have hurt a lot of people without knowing.

I was still thinking when my back touched something. Or did it touch me? I turned around just to meet a dead body floating. I screamed my heart out but I doubt if anyone could hear me.

I used the back of my hand to control my mouth. This was scarier than I thought. The man truly died. He wore a white shirt and trousers with a lot of badges on them. Was he also a soldier? Just then I remembered that I was still disguised as a merman. Quickly, I changed to my true form.

'Poor man' I muttered and passed. No matter how I wanted to pretend that it was no of my business. It didn't work. He was innocent. I wondered the kind of pain, his family must be going through right now.

There was a big item floating. I could not get a clear view of it, so I have to swim for two minutes to get there. It was a wrecked ship. Mother had shown me one in drawings. She once punished some of the humans on a ship before. They were caught throwing effluents into the sea.

Only the remains of the wrecked ship could be found. I moved towards it and the passengers of the ship also died. What a tragedy in one day. Would their family ever find these bodies? The swelling of their stomachs made me almost laugh. They all looked like pregnant women though they were men. 'This is no time for jokes Yulan' I said, moving away from the ship.

I searched and found more bodies. If there was someone who was still alive here then, I will be glad to save his or her life. But it seemed everyone was dead. I had no choice but to collect the little items, that looked useful despite staying in the water for hours.

I heard a cough not too far from me. Did the commander follow me behind? If he did then he must be silly. I wasn't in disguise anymore and if he jokes with me, I won't hesitate to turn him into a frog. ( Can you do it Yulan? Your magic kept failing).

I rushed and hid behind the ship. There was no commander when I looked around. Was I dreaming or hallucinating? Maybe yes.

I shrugged and continued with my gathering.

The cough came again and this time louder than before. This was no dream or hallucination. Someone was here with me. I had to find out who it was. Searching around the sea with eyes. I found nothing.

When I looked at the dry land. There was a white object there. This was strange. I swam to where it was and found out it was a human. He was breathing yet his eyes were closed. Poor human! How was I going to save him when he looked bigger than I was!

"Human" I called out to him. I was too afraid of touching him. He might drag me out of the water when his pretends were over. The man didn't move. All he could say was "save us please".

Us? I was not in trouble. Only him needed help here. I smirked and tapped him "get up and go, man. It's getting dark out here." No answer. Strange, he spoke just some seconds ago.

When I looked at him. He was hurt and his hands were bleeding. Quickly, I tore my shirt and tied them. The man was not pretending.

How was he going to go down the sea without inhaling water? Mother said they could drink a lot of water and die if they can't control their respiration under the sea.

I wondered if I should sneeze his nose and drag him home!

Not a good idea Yulan! He might die before I could get help.

Magic! Yes, that was the word. If I could do some magic then we could reach the gate in no time! Not a good idea too. What if I try using magic and I turn him into a frog instead?

"No way. I will leave him and just go back to the sea quietly like nothing ever happened. 'No Yulan! You don't have the mind to do that' I slapped my forehead. A thing I always do when frustration kicked at my door. Magic was included in my destiny but my fate knocked it off. That's why I was sucked at it !.

After a few trials, I used magic to help him breathe under the water and we swam home together. When we got to the gate, the guards stared at me with surprise. They tried to stop me but I ignored them and swam fast home.

They were coming after me but I didn't care. Mother was the one to give punishment not them!.