the rock wall, grabbing on to the sharp surface. Her breathing was labored. As she pulled herself up, her hands were empty. No human floated in the water beside her. She had come back without one.
Pearlina pulled Syrene to her. Her fingers brushed over her sister’s neck, moving her dark hair from her shoulders. Why has she done this?
I don’t know.
Their mother and two others glided ahead of the troop, toward Daryah. Pearlina wanted to get closer, but she wasn’t going to get in the way of the ceremony. If Daryah didn’t bring back a human, it wasn’t her own life in danger.
Pearlina searched the water for Daryah’s betrothed. The bumps on her flesh squeezed tighter, and she dipped below to warm herself.
This will not end well for her. Mother’s voice appeared in her mind as her hands brushed against Pearlina.
She has two more days, Pearlina sent to Syrene. Why return now without a human? Her earlier curiosity about the human disappeared, overtaken by fear for Daryah’s betrothed. If she didn’t go back to complete the ceremony, then her time on land was over. Her betrothed’s life would end if Daryah couldn’t convince the older generation of her commitment to fulfill her duty.
Ambudhi, Daryah’s betrothed, appeared next to the rock wall. His eyes never left Daryah’s, yet hers were on the approaching three.
Daryah let out a keening sound and moved up the side of the rock wall.
Syrene squeezed Pearlina’s hand. Her sister’s wild thoughts raced through her, but she closed off her mind to dampen them. Whatever happened next, she couldn’t tear her attention away. All Daryah needed to do was go back to land and finish her duty. Instead, she froze on the rock wall as if time itself had stopped.
Pearlina knew what was coming, yet she didn’t predict the glint of the sky light against the curved dagger made from sea glass rising above her mother’s head. Ambudhi didn’t see the tool, but he knew what was coming. His eyes never left Daryah.
Sonata, the one in charge of the Drywalking ceremonies, spoke in a strange tongue, coaxing Daryah from the rocks.
Defeated, Daryah moved closer to the water. Her legs dipped below the surface as Sonata curled her fingers around the pearl necklace at Daryah’s throat. The pearls were integral to the ceremony, supplying the essence to give a Drywalker legs. Sonata lifted the necklace from Daryah’s neck, but she clung on to them, sputtering in that strange human tongue. The woven seaweed pulled and snapped. The pearls plunked into the water, forever lost at sea.
Then, she grabbed Daryah’s arms and pushed her under the water. Daryah thrashed, creating sea foam over the surface. Pearlina stared for what felt like years. When Daryah resurfaced, her gills sliced across her throat. She was no longer out of breath. She flicked her fin and reached for Ambudhi as Mother plunged the dagger into his chest. Two other males grabbed his arms and dove under the surface. Instead of a human, Ambudhi would serve as the sacrifice to their troop.
Daryah’s screams echoed in Pearlina’s mind. She clasped her hands over her ears, as did others. This instance would forever serve as a reminder that the humans were still their enemies. Even though a human hadn’t held the dagger that killed Ambudhi, humans themselves were to blame for his death.
The troop turned away from Daryah, diving under the surface to complete the ceremony.
Syrene left Pearlina’s side, following them. Pearlina remained, keeping her head above water. Those who didn’t complete the ceremony were no longer welcome. As Ambudhi would reunite with the watery depths, Daryah would perish in the water, but many years later. No one would mourn her.
Their eyes met. Daryah shook her head and screamed again.
Pearlina couldn’t take the sound anymore. She took one last look at the land in the distance and dove. She couldn’t wait for the day when she could avenge Ambudhi. She would fulfill her duty to the troop and allow them to continue for generations and rule the sea, unlike Daryah who would die alone and without ceremony.
Even years later, Pearlina still experienced Daryah’s banishment during her sleep. The memories were more vivid as her own Drywalking ceremony had arrived. It was her turn, yet she wished it were any of the others. Her time had come. She was the eldest of the unbonded females and had no choice.
She woke before Syrene and swam out of their hidden cove, deep below the surface, where the humans rarely ventured. The periphery of the cove was home to plentiful sea life. A school of fish leisurely swam by. Not one part of her wanted to leave this place, but it was her duty. The survival of their kind depended on the strength of the females, and the ability to reproduce. On land, she’d prove her worth and dedication. When she returned, she’d bond to a male and never be faced with another human again.
The ceremony seemed simple enough, but the memories of Daryah clung to her mind like coral to the cove.
In the time since then, Pearlina only left her home for hunting journeys. For prolonged periods, she distanced herself from the land. The rest of the time she waded through life, wishing she could stay under the surface for good. It wasn’t the most ambitious of plans, but she didn’t want to be a burden, like Daryah. Pearlina would live a long life, serving their survival.
Above her, the sky light altered the hue of the water as it started to filter down to the depths of the cove. The ceremony neared.
The announcement of her betrothed worried her as much as going onto land. Who would she spend the rest of her life with? Those who were bonded in the troop never traveled without their partners. When one died, the other went shortly after. The only one Pearlina ever imagined by her side was Syrene. It was hard to believe any of the males could take her sister’s place. But as a member of the troop, she trusted the ceremonies in place.
Syrene’s signature vibration approached. Pearlina fisted her hands by her sides before flicking her fin in her sister’s direction. The last ceremony passed through Pearlina’s mind. The Drywalking ceremony had taken place in less than one cycle of the sky light. The female, Tamami, had brought a human corpse to the cove before any of the troop noticed her arrival. She’d bonded to her betrothed before the second day of her proposed ceremony. It was a feat to rival, but Pearlina didn’t have a competitive spirit.
Syrene’s hand touched Pearlina’s shoulder. Sister, are you ready?
Yes.
Syrene moved in front of Pearlina and took her hands. What is wrong? Today is a celebratory event.
For some. Pearlina removed her hands from Syrene’s and turned away, wanting her mind to be private for once.
With a flick of her fin, Syrene appeared in front of Pearlina again, but this time, Syrene kept her hands at her sides. Her eyes said enough.
There was nothing to say. Pearlina had no choice.
It had taken Daryah’s fateful Drywalking ceremony for Pearlina to finally understand why Syrene preferred the water to the air. Their cove was uncomplicated and straightforward – the way Pearlina now preferred.
The Drywalking ceremony was a disruption
