Care of a Cecaelian Aid

As a mermaid, she would have glanced, then went on her way. It was the way of life. They were abandoned and it was not her duty to care for offspring of different blood. A Vark would never care for a child that's not theirs, yet a Lumos would.

Her Lumos Siren was clawing for the three children, demanding to protect their gentle spirits and to claim them as her own. Three little merlings to provide and care for. Her Vark Siren wanted to watch the children fall before gobbling them up after they've bitten her tail. She wanted their blood between her lips and their flesh ripping between her teeth. The thought was most satisfying.

Yet, the Vark in her swells with pride when she remembers their savage eyes. Any Vark would be proud to have them as offspring, and this is what causes the mer to dash towards the eerie cave. One of the females is the first to fall. The siren torpedoes towards the little creatures, gathering the first one in her arms. She was no longer than the siren's arm, and clings to her hand with tiny fingers. Amazed the merling chose to snuggle into her hand, the siren swims towards the other two children. Another falls from the edge, and it's the second female. The mermaid catches her effortlessly as she drops and settles in her arms. Before reaching the edge of the cave, her eyes glue to the male, who wriggles towards her. He smiles brightly at her appearance, digging his hands into the dirt to reach her even faster.

The siren glances around in surveillance as the merling crawls to her, and spots light shadows drawing near. Widening her dark eyes, she scoops the last merling in her arms as soon as he's within her arms' length. The siren doesn't hesitate to leave. The tiny male clings to her neck as the females find security in her arms. They take comfort in her grasp as she rushes them into the nearby reef. The colorful coral display many beautiful mers mixed with all kinds of fish as she rapidly swims towards the nearest infirmary. She only had one goal in mind and it was to find their mother, or if they had one, their father.

The mermaid bursts in with her spear on her hip. Many fish and other mers glance at the sudden interruption of daily life before going back to their own problems. It was an underwater cove decorated with sea weed and flowers of several glowing colors, such as electric blue, neon yellow, and sea foam green. The plants light the dark tavern. Kelp grows from the ground and tickles the siren's peduncle when she notices a creature with pearls flaunting her bosom. The white-tailed mer rushes towards the female with the merlings in a haste.

The mer with the tail of a Great White notices her coming, and turns her full attention to the siren. She smiles with fanged teeth, "How may I assist you, Miss..?" With a slab of rock in her hand and her claws lingering over the slab in the other, she patiently waits for a response.

"Yes!" The siren exhales softly, not to disturb the merlings. "I found these merlings in a cave. I'd like them properly observed," she commands.

Her eyes linger on the merlings, noticing them sleep in her arms as if they were hers. One of the females nuzzle deeper into her shoulder as she yawns sweetly. The male curves around her exposed breast, hugging the ball of mass as a pillow. The female clinging to her arm snuggles a bit more and tightens her grip. A tug on her most important organ throbs within her chest as she glances at them further.

The shark nods, marking on the slab with a claw. She glances to the siren, narrowing her suspicions of the merlings. "Of course. Mah name es Kieva. Tis way, Miss..?" The shark tries once more. Kieva smiles carefully with her pointed face, holding the slab of rock to her abdomen. She directs the siren towards the back, and the two travel deeper within the infirmary.

The siren sighs, "Vera, Warrior of the Varken Tribe."

The shark hesitates in her writing and swimming. Her eyes widen briefly before scribbling the rest down quickly and beckons her to swim once more. Kieva nods again, not saying a word while she leads Vera down the corridor of smaller caverns. The first female, whom had bit her second, was slipping from her grip by the time she arrived to the room with a cecaelian aid. The male had eight tentacles, each gathered with supplies for the triplets. Vera catches a child with her tail before she falls from her grasp. The merling lands in the coils of her scales, softly snuggling into the silver beauty once more.

The cecaelia smiles gently as he motions Vera to lay the tiny creatures on the slab of rock. "Cochu, Miss Vera," he introduces himself. "Wait wit Kieva an I'll 'ave ta raysul's quickaye." Cochu directs, sending a look to Kieva. Her sharp eyes darken before she nods.

Vera halts suddenly, sliding her claws over her waist scales. She turns to the little merlings again before nodding. "As you say, Cochu."

Vera takes the female snuggling into her shoulder, carefully placing her on the plant bed. The little merling clings to Vera's claws, but she skillfully maneuvers around the little one's grasp. The second female follows after her sister, only Vera has to peel her tiny fingers from her fins. She's gentle enough with the merling as Vera sets her down onto the patch of seaweed. The male clings to her right breast as second skin, not wanting to leave Vera's side. She does her best to remove him until her Lumos Siren thought of an idea.

"Heaven only knows where you've been," she began softly. Vera's right claw holds the merling's body softly, as if she were cradling him. Her left claw gently soothes the shivering child into calm breaths. "But I don't really need to know. I know where you're gonna go." The merling's hand fists her scales nub until she replaces herself with her claw. He holds on tightly to Vera, not letting go.

A gentle smile brightens Vera's face. Her dark eyes soften at the little creature's strength. "On my heart where you're resting your head," Vera continues quietly, inching closer to the slab of rock where his sisters reside. He snuggles his head onto her chest, searching for the beating organ.

"And you just look so beautiful. Just like you were an angel..." Vera's claw smooths away his white hair that seems to be growing in. Another gentle smile towards the merling directs eye contact with him.

His eyes were now noir, just as Vera's orbs. They had changed within time and it causes Vera to pause. She looks into the infant's eyes, questioning his existence. He stares back with twinkling eyes. A smile grows across his lips and before Vera sings again, the merling jumps from her grasp and rolls sideways to his sisters, bumping into one of them. The two begin to laugh, and soon after the last triplet joins in. Vera's eyes brighten from their laughter, and joy serges through her heart. It was contagious.

As Vera is ushered out, the sound of their laughter calms her Vark Siren.

Vera waits. She listens to the triplets through the halls. Their giggles cause her heart to smile. She watches the prissy Kieva weave in and out of rooms, mostly the triplets'. Vera ignores all of the mers around her, only focusing on the little merlings with the cecaelia. Every now and then, she would begin to think of her tribe and of her father, which would lead to the triplets' parents. Her heart aches, knowing they had adapted to her instead of the rightful parent. She knew she couldn't let them leave her now, and she would kill if it meant so.