Eight - Part One

CHAPTER EIGHT: FAUNA AND THE MERMAN

“You!” She pointed at the young boy. The young boy she saw in her dream. “I saw you in my dream.”

The young boy inclined his head to the side as he watched her. His golden eyes stared into hers and Fauna could feel her beat pick up speed. There was just something so intense, yet so gentle about his gaze, and Fauna couldn’t understand why he looked at her as though she was the most important person he had ever set eyes on.

He looked at her as though he was willing to listen to every word she uttered. He looked at her like she was something he had been searching for. She should have felt uneasy, but her body refused to. Her heart rate sped up, but it wasn’t because she was afraid. It was something she had never felt before. Was it in response to his touch? And why?

“You did?” He grinned widely. He sounded pleased by the fact. “That’s rather flattering.”

“Flattering?” Fauna shook her head. She stared down at his fingers which were still wrapped so delicately around her wrist and she swallowed hard. He was a stranger. She shouldn’t be letting him touch her. However, she realized she didn’t want him to let go.

“Indeed.” He nodded.

“No! I don’t know you. How then did I see you in my dream? It makes no sense. You had a tail and scales and you called me Snow. The bears say I got the name here. I always thought Ari named me. I was wrong, but how is it possible that I –”

“Slow down, dear one.” He chuckled. The sound was light and sent a pleasurable shiver down Fauna’s spine. Everything about the boy made her body react in ways it never had before. She found it confusing and wanted to know why, but she didn’t really hate it.

The boy sat beside her and dipped his legs into the pond. He finally let go of her hand and a light whimper escaped her lips as she found herself missing his touch. All too suddenly, the cold rushed back to her and she wrapped her hands around her body as she watched the merman. Like the rest of the bears she had seen, the boy had an orb of light hovering over his head.

She stared him up. She wanted to memorize his every feature. His smooth face was pale; as though he hadn’t seen the sun in a long time. He was covered in a kind of jumpsuit that clung to his skin. It looked like it was made of silk, but Fauna wasn’t sure. The black colour of the clothing contrasted perfectly with his pale skin, making him look even more glamorous.

His hair was pale like his skin. He had a sharp yet delicate looking jawline, high and defined cheekbones, a narrow nose and deep-set eyes that were pleasing to look into.

“You’re cold,” he noted and he reached out to her again. He touched her arm and Fauna watched in awe as her clothing changed so she was now wearing the same jumpsuit he was wearing, except hers was white that matched the colour of her hair.

The material felt light on her skin, but it immediately filled her with warmth. She frowned in confusion, but the boy only smiled as he admired her. She decided that she loved the clothing.

“You probably saw me because I was trying to reach out to you,” he explained. “For the first time in years, I felt your presence. It was as though you were reaching out without to me. Perhaps you weren’t aware, but you were. I swam everywhere searching for you.” He sighed deeply and for a second, he looked downcast, but his face brightened up immediately and he beamed at Fauna.

“What does it matter? You’re here now, thank the dragons.”

Fauna could only stare at him. She had a lot of things to ask, but she didn’t know where to start from. Who was he? Why did she react the way she did around him? Why was he also searching for her? Were they close?

“My name is Lyle, and I’m your mate,” he answered as though he could hear her thoughts.

Fauna flinched, taken aback. She moved few inches away from him as she stared at him, waiting for him to laugh and tell her it was a joke. Her heart flipped and jumped in her chest and she felt a slight humming in her head.

“You’re feeling a lot of things at the same time.” He wasn’t asking her. He said it as though he was sure. “You’re angry, but you’re deeply saddened. Now, you’re confused, but a small part of you is somewhat happy.” He reached over and with his index finger, he touched her forehead.

The humming ceased immediately and her breathing relaxed. It almost felt like he was literally taking away her pain. Her eyes fluttered close and she leaned in to his touch, allowing him to soothe her. When he pulled away though, her eyes flew open.

He was staring at her, his thin lips slightly parted and his eyes sad.

“He was hurting, Snow. You did absolutely nothing wrong. He was hurting and you were different and he was afraid, so he made a selfish decision.”

Fauna frowned as she wondered what the boy was talking about.

“Your father,” he elaborated. “You were wondering why he cast you away. You were blaming yourself, but you did nothing wrong.”

“Can you read my thoughts?” She raised a brow in suspicion as she perused the young boy who simply smiled at her.

“You’re my mate, Snow,” was all the explanation he offered.

“Fauna,” she corrected him and he hummed in confusion. “Fauna. My name is Fauna now.”

His smile dropped and he looked crestfallen for a second, but his smile quickly returned. It was almost as though being happy was his default setting and he couldn’t maintain any other expression for too long.

“That’s saddening.”

“Why’s that?” She inquired. She noticed he had moved closer to her so he was sitting right beside her.

“I gave you the name the first time I set my eyes on you. You were easily the most beautiful pup I had ever seen.” He let out a breathy chuckle as he stared into the distance.

Fauna tilted her head as she watched him studiously. What he said made no sense.

“You look about my age. How could you have possibly named me.”

“We are the same age, yes, but I have lived for about twenty-five years.” He grinned widely at her as he eased himself into the water. Fauna watched as he disappeared beneath the surface. His golden orb of light hung over the water as though waiting for him.

“You’re saying absolute nonsense, Kyle –”

“Lyle.” He rose to the surface and corrected. Fauna muttered an apology, but he waved it off as nothing.

Fauna couldn’t take her eyes off him. His clothing was gone, but it couldn’t have been shredded as she couldn’t see the material floating in the water. Where then did it disappear to?

He had golden scales covering some parts of his arms and chest and when he did a spin in the water, Fauna noticed he had fins on his back.

He really was a merman.

“Also, I’m not saying nonsense. When I noticed we were mates, my life sort of restarted so we grew at the same pace. I don’t know why. Perhaps the moon goddess had a thing against age gaps. Who knows?” He chuckled as though he found it all amusing. “I would have loved to ask her, however, that’s impossible seeing as she is now deceased.”

“Wait! The moon goddess is dead?”

Fauna felt like she couldn’t catch her breath. It was as though the moment she learned something new, another piece of information was thrown her way.

Merfolks are real, she was raised by the bears, she has a mate, her father threw her out of her own home, the moon goddess is dead. What else?

“Oh, don’t bother yourself with that.” Lyle waved off her concern as he did a backwards flip so his tail was visible for a moment before it disappeared again.

His tail was magnificent. Silver and gold. The most beautiful thing Fauna had ever seen.

“After she and the dragons passed, the remainder of magic was handed to us merfolks. It’s why we mostly stay hidden. We have to protect the forest without it even knowing. If the humans get a chance, they’ll destroy this forest and make a factory that’ll just pollute the planet. We use our magic to make sure that never happens. Amongst other things.”

“So, you’re magic,” Fauna pointed to the swimming boy. He looked so happy as he moved around in the water. It was so natural to him. She almost wanted to join him.

Was he the reason she loved to swim so much? Was it because they were… connected?

He swam closer to her and rested his hands on either side of her legs. She watched as the water dripped down his face and upper body. He looked so perfect, so ethereal, yet so humble.

“Indeed, I am. Do you want to come in for a swim?”

Fauna shook her head immediately as she stifled a yawn. She was way too exhausted to do anything. It had been a long and stressful day. She had gained so much knowledge, but she was left with more questions and she didn’t think she would be able to sleep.

“May I?” Lyle asked as he stretched a palm out to her face. She hummed lightly and he went ahead to rest his palm against her forehead.

The moment he made contact with her skin, a jolt of electricity rushed from her head down to her whole body, making her feel more alive than she had ever been. She let out a gasp as she was taken aback by the feeling, but it immediately died down.

It was replaced by a soothing calmness that washed over her whole body. Her thoughts calmed and her muscles relaxed. She fluttered her eyes as her lids became too heavy to hold open.

“Wh- what’s hap –” she slurred, but the words died on her tongue.

“Shh! Rest now, dear one.” Lyle’s voice was a whisper and the blur of his golden eyes was the last thing that Fauna saw before she fell into a deep and dreamless slumber. The best she had had in a long time.

~~~

And the romance factor is finally here.

Gentle-people, allow me to introduce my personal second fav character, Lyle. *squeals*

He's so hot, isn't he?