"What exactly happened back there?" Simon asked as Asir growled down at him.

"Nothing." Asir hissed trying to follow his sister. Simon grumbled pulling him back.

"Look, you may not want to talk about it, but let me assure you, I know what a sirens call is. They won't stop looking for you or your friend and I want to know why. My job is to protect that girl there and I will not put her in unnecessary danger." Simon told him in a low tone making Asir glance at him. Simon thought he was pretty average at five feet nine inches tall, but Asir was just slightly taller, making the smug bastard glare down at him.

"She is my sister. Our king tried to kill her. I am unable to kill him, but I will return and kill that man who hurt her. And anyone that gets in my way." Asir threatened as Simon simply smiled.

"Then we understand each other. Come on. Let's follow after them. The sooner you get some pants the better." Simon told him as they caught up to the gossiping girls. Whylomie was laughing at something Raven said making Asir relax a little. They climbed in silence before leaving the darkness behind.

Tristan dropped his stone jogging forward into the dimming light of the ruins. Raven giggled after him, pulling Whylomie into the light. Whylomie gasped in amazement at the ruins turning back to see Asir having a quiet conversation with the other male. A male that wasn't related to her by blood. She blushed shaking her head. She wasn't ready to consider such things just yet.

"Asir!" Whylomie called before turning back to the large cavern. She felt a hand on her shoulder glancing up into her brother's face. "Look at this place! Who built it? I never thought we would be living so close to someone else." Whylomie told him in awe.

"I thought the mermaids built it?" Tristan asked making Whylomie squeak surprised.

"It talks?!" Asir growled placing himself between Whylomie and the cat.

"So rude. Of course, I can. I am a boy like you. Well maybe not exactly like you, but hey we can't all be fish. I see you weren't kidding." Tristan grumbled at Simon embarrassed. Asir turned his cold gaze on the other male looking him up and down. Simon sighed ignoring the naked man as he turned to Raven.

"Do you think you two can hunt down a place for camp? I am going to fetch Huxley. Why don't you come with me, and I will help you find some pants?" Simon suggested.

"We can keep Whylomie company and show her around a little." Raven added keeping her gaze on the ruins. Asir frowned at her reaction. Was she repulsed by him? Impossible! He was a very desirable specimen among the females. Though he had also been the only male.

"I will be alright." Whylomie told her anxious brother stepping out from behind him. Raven turned to smile at her, ignoring Asir. "They are nice." Whylomie told him stumbling over to the smiling girl.

"I think you are nice too." Raven giggled leading Whylomie over to the river patterns. Asir watched them go nervously before he followed Simon over the bridges.

"What happened here?" Asir asked making Simon hesitate.

"You don't know? I thought something happened that caused you to flee to the deeper pools." Simon said surprised. Asir shook his head confused.

"We have always dwelt beneath the waves. That pool has been our home for as long as I can remember. Meredith was the first to leave it. She also never returned. It is not an ideal place to be." Asir grumbled as Simon continued forward. He clicked his tongue smiling when Huxley let out a snort of annoyance before trotting over to him.

"I see. Things aren't quite how I remember them either. This is my companion Huxley. Let's hope one of my spare pants fit you." Simon grunted digging into his bags. Asir stood cautiously watching the animal as it sized him up.

"Exactly what are pants?" Asir asked as Simon brought over some fabric. He pulled on the fabric covering his legs making Asir frown. "What is the point of those?" Asir asked watching as Simon considered him.

Exactly how naive was everyone going to be on this trip?! Though it seemed like the mermaids had been separated from other cultures for a long while.

"Look, pants cover things that should be covered. Two legs like Raven and I don't let everything hang out. We only get naked around those we consider mating with. So, unless you are considering mating with me, I suggest you put them on." Simon told him.

"I have no desire to mate with anyone. Give me the pants." Asir demanded. Simon nodded handing them over. Asir considered them before getting splashed from behind. He twirled around, frowning at his giggling sister. She was swimming through the channels in the floor as Raven and Tristan followed on land.

"We found a place that looks good for a camp. Should we get set up?" Raven asked keeping her eyes off the naked merman. Like his sister had been, he was pasty white from the lack of sunlight. With deep blue eyes and the start of blonde hair.

"I know. We are twins. Hard to tell though because of the hair huh?" Whylomie teased Raven as she blushed. Whylomie paused giggling as she swam about in circles. "You are so cute!" Whylomie declared making Raven blush darker.

"No one has called me cute before and meant it. Are you hungry? If we set up camp, we can eat something and get to know each other better." Raven suggested as Whylomie nodded happily. Her wet curls sticking to her face. Asir watched them quietly as his sister happily teased the other girl. Raven wasn't like the other girls he had known before. She was actively avoiding him as much as she could instead of throwing herself at him. Though maybe it had to do with the other male.

"Let's do that. I am ready for a break and to get some answers." Asir sighed as he fidgeted with the pants.

"Why don't you two go and get started? I will lead them there in a bit." Tristan suggested as Raven nodded relieved. Tristan watched them go before sitting down and scratching his ear. "Your sister is nice. I like her." Tristan told the fish boy missing the look that crossed his face. Simon noticed it as Asir tried to hide his rage and jealousy.

"How old are you any ways? I'm twenty, Tristan is the baby at sixteen. So far." Simon asked to make small talk. Asir glanced at him managing to get one of his legs in the weird fabric.

"Whylomie and I are twins though she was born first by minutes. We are both of age to breed and mate. Twenty if that matters to you." Asir told him as Simon smiled.

"Then you and I are the same age." Simon told him, frowning when the cat chuckled.

"Sorry grandpa. Keep doing what you are doing." Tristan told him nervously as Asir smiled.

"So, what's up with the weird thing? Why does it move and talk?" Asir asked as he pulled the pants into place. Simon nodded, slapping his shoulder in support before urging the cat to lead the way.

"Well, if you must know, I am a cursed boy trying to break the spell. Framtida said I was born with too much power and that it would have killed me, so she trapped me in this form." Tristan sighed giving him the same answer as his sister.

"I have heard of Framtida. She was the reason Meredith left in the first place." Asir growled.

"Don't worry about it too much. Let's join the girls and make a plan to go from there." Simon told him as Asir simply nodded.

"I think I like guys." Asir said simply making Simon cough. They were much better company then the females he had spent time around. At least they weren't clingy. Asir frowned at Simon's and Tristan's reaction. "Did I say something wrong?" Asir wondered as Tristan seemed nervous.

"Um, Whylomie said you were one of only two males and the other male tried to kill you." Tristan considered as Asir nodded.

"That is correct. I grew up a prince among the three thousand women. They were always desperate and clinging. I couldn't stand any of them except for my sister. You are nothing like them and I enjoy having these conversations. I have not spent enough time with Raven to judge the women land dwellers, but she makes Whylomie smile. That's a start." Asir pondered gazing out at the forgotten mermaid kingdom. It was amazing. Why did his people ever abandon it?

"Right then. I think I am done for the day. Let's eat." Simon told the grinning cat as Tristan nodded prancing forward happily.

The sun was turning the light leaking through the cracks into an orange color making Simon believe it was getting late. They found the girls in what looked like an old medical building. Beds lined the walls and a circular fire pit sat in the center of the room.

Huxley opted for the overgrown flower garden out front, making Simon smile. Since they couldn't leave until morning, Simon decided it would be best to learn more about these new additions. Then they would need to restock their supplies.

Having a mission was bringing new life into him as Simon quietly watched over Raven as she laughed with the others. Though If she joined Ari's side, he would have to be willing to kill her this time around. He couldn't repeat the same mistakes. Not this time.