Asir growled as Simon easily dodge him and knocked him off his feet. He wasn't getting anywhere! Even Raven was a better fighter then he would be. The way she moved so gracefully fighting against that man. He needed to get better faster. He struggled to his feet as Simon simply pushed him back down.

"You're tired. Let's get some rest. Tristan isn't moving anytime soon so we will be camping out here tonight." Simon told him wandering away. If Tristan hadn't been made of stone or able to morph at will then they could have easily moved him. As it was, moving a block of volatile stone was not going to happen.

"I can still go." Asir huffed. Simon growled annoyed at the stubborn guy. He was going to hurt himself if he kept pushing himself too hard. It didn't help that his mind was distracted with Whylomie catering to Tristan as he fought off the poison.

"I'll fight him. You can go wash up and make dinner." Raven told him rolling out her shoulders. Simon smiled bumping her shoulder.

"Don't go too hard on him. It's not his fault Tristan won't let you near him." Simon told her as she huffed.

"Some guardian he turned out to be." She mumbled sarcastically making Simon laugh. He wandered off leaving Asir to Raven. Asir grumbled as he looked Raven over as she walked around him slowly. She poked his sides making him smack her hands.

"What is it you want? I am trying to learn how to fight." Asir grumbled as he stared down at the small girl. She was smaller than Whylomie in almost every way. Short with small breasts and a small waist. He squeaked when Raven slapped him.

"Keep your eyes to yourself. I can already see your thoughts swimming in your skull, and I don't like them one bit. I am built for fighting not for being used as a pillow." Raven grumbled with a side glance at Whylomie as she fussed over the sweating stone boy. 

She was surprised to see him sweating at all, but that was good. That meant the poison was working its way out of his system. Asir rubbed his stinging cheek realizing he upset her.

"Where I come from, the women are losing their humanity. Most of them have become more streamlined for swimming. Like you for fighting. Whylomie is different in a lot of ways. I have often wondered how our colony would have turned out without Waljan on the throne. I realize I may have upset you, but I am not used to women caring what I think of them in that sense. They merely wanted to have my children, so I guess in a way our feelings were mutual." Asir told her honestly as she nodded slowly.

Once he had finished with them, the females would have ditched him until after the child was born, having no more use for him. Maybe Whylomie was right about them. They would all gladly choose someone over him if they had the option too.

"If you defeat Waljan, will you take your place as king and have a harem full of women?" Raven asked curiously as Asir sighed.

"I'd rather not. It would just be a pain to handle them." Asir confessed as Raven nodded.

"Then maybe what you should do is help me find Meredith's son. Since she was a mermaid, he must be one too, right? He can help you defeat Waljan and maybe he would be interested in having a harem." Raven decided with a sure nod. Asir paused to look at her as she smiled brightly.

"He's a side quest. My main quest is to make sure I stop the demon from waking a dark power that will destroy the world." Raven told him in a serious tone.

"Yes, I think Simon has mentioned bits of your quest, though this is the first time I have heard of another male mermaid." Asir mumbled as he walked beside her. He hadn't even realized they were walking until she slowed by the campfire.

"Shit! That's right! We are supposed to be collecting the pieces of the amulet. I can't believe I forgot. We have to go back for the piece of Elamire." Simon cursed staring out over the water. Raven giggled bouncing over to him as he glared at her.

"I have been wanting to talk to you about that actually. I thought you realized that Whylomie carries the piece of the mermaids on her choker." Raven told him as she smiled slyly. Simon paused to glare at her smug face before he gave in with a sigh.

"Then at least we have it. If you aren't fighting, then help me get dinner finished. Asir go soak in the lake." Simon ordered as Asir paused frowning.

"Why does he get to relax, and I get to work? Seems unfair." Raven grumbled as Simon smiled at her.

"Mermaids have the ability to heal themselves with water. He has been training too hard for the average person. If he had been anyone else, I would have called it quits long ago. Too much strain on the body weakens your muscles when they don't get proper rest. With him I can push him hard, and he can just go take a soak to be good as new. Lucky him huh?" Simon asked Ravens interested look. 

It was clear she was the learning type. Thirsting for knowledge. He only hoped that when the time came, she would let the blood witch knowledge die. Instead of pursuing it.

"Can girls do that too?" Raven asked intrigued as Asir frowned. They could do what? Simon smiled and nodded, pausing when Asir seemed lost and confused. Raven bounced excited noticing Simon's look as he watched Asir wander away.

"Do you think he knows how to do it?" Raven asked worried. She wondered what talents she possessed that lied dormant. If any.

"My guess is if they have lived under water their whole life it became more of second nature, and he didn't he realized what had happened. I am going to go talk with him. Will you please?" Simon asked nodding at the food. Raven rolled her eyes but smiled giving him the go ahead. Simon rubbed her head before chasing after Asir. He stood at the edge of the lake, staring down at his fingers. Simon stopped beside him before he pulled out a small knife cutting the merman's palm before Asir could react.

"What did you do that for?!" Asir hissed jumping away from him.

"To show you. Come now, stick your hand in the water and heal yourself. Or pull the water to you. I have known very powerful mermaids that can cause the rain to pour and lakes to rise. You are determined, I will give you that. More practice and I think you can be one of the greats." Simon told him confidently as Asir glared at him.

"Forgive me if I doubt your sincerity." Asir growled crouching down to put his bleeding hand into the lake. Simon sighed crouching beside him.

"I'm sorry. I am not very good with people. Or things with feelings in general. Ask the stone cat, he'll tell you. I leave that to Raven. I told you I would try to help you where I can, but I am not a mermaid. I can only teach you so much. You are going to have to be the one that pushes forward." Simon told him slapping his shoulder and getting to his feet.

"Unlike mermaids and fairy's, I heal the old-fashioned way. I'm going to go rest and help Raven out. You figure yourself out here." Simon told him walking away. Asir sighed watching his blood taint the water. Nothing was happening making him grumble.

"What are we doing?" Whylomie whispered making Asir jump. He grumbled looking her over as she giggled. She sat beside him leaning her head on his shoulder. "Are you going to tell me?" She wondered as Asir simply sighed pulling his bloody hand out of the water.

"Simon said mermaids can heal themselves with water. But it doesn't seem to be working." Asir grumbled wondering if Simon had lied to him.

"Really?" Whylomie hummed thoughtfully. She lifted her skirt to reveal the large bruise on her thigh. Asir growled as she simply rolled her eyes.

"Tristan is made of stone. He had a coughing attack while his head was in my lap. An accident." She pouted as her brother simply huffed. She shrugged dipping her hands into the water. Now she needed to heal her leg. Maybe she brought the water to the wound?

She tried to cup water, focusing on keeping the water in her hand. She gasped when the water clung to her hand like honey covering it completely instead of falling back into the lake. She brought it to her thigh slowly, trying not to lose her concentration as Asir stared dumb founded.

"How are you doing that?" Asir asked amazed as Whylomie tried to focus. The water began to shimmer, relieving her aching thigh. Whylomie sighed as the water removed the blueish color from her skin, leaving her thigh flawless. She then decided to have fun, turning the water into floating bubbles. Asir tried to copy her growling as he failed.

"Stop thinking so much. I just decide I want the water to do something, and it does it." Whylomie giggled letting the bubbles splash before creating little whirlpools. She squeaked startled when something wet licked her face, blushing as Tristan laid down at her side in his cat form again.

He was still shivering and struggling to make sense of things, but he knew Whylomie, and he would stay by her side. She patted his head gently as he leaned into her, getting comforted by her touch. Asir frowned as he watched the dazed cat cuddle up to his sister. He glared at his aching hand annoyed. 

Heal damn it, he silently commanded the wound. He jumped startled when the surface of the lake leapt up to take his hand, healing it in its waters. Whylomie applauded him as Asir finally relaxed feeling the call of water. Whylomie was right, it was simply waiting for his command.

"Let's go help with dinner, shall we?" Asir said getting to his feet. He helped Whylomie to her feet, pausing when Tristan growled at him softly.

"Asir is a friend. He is my brother." Whylomie told the cat as he watched her. She stood on her toes patting her brother's head. "We like Asir." Whylomie told him as Tristan merely huffed unimpressed. He was swaying on his feet trying to hold a steady ground. Asir wanted to fight with him, realizing Tristan was using what little strength he had to try and keep his sister safe from possible threats.

"Let's go eat. Let him stay with you. He seems calmer in your presence. Maybe you can help him recover faster." Asir suggested wandering away. Whylomie blushed giggling as she led Tristan over to the fire. He collapsed in a huff at her feet when she finally sat down making her worry over him. Raven tried to approach them slowly watching as Tristan's nose twitched as he scented her. He raised his head growling protectively trying to protect Whylomie from her.

"You, big jerk. When you are feeling better, I am going to give you a piece of my mind. I am supposed to be your friend." Raven huffed sitting just a little bit away from him. He mewed at her in warning making Raven frown. He had never mewed before. Simon paused watching them closely.

Tristan didn't normally make animal noises, but he remembered Tristan had sounded like a bear during the fight.

"Raven, do you think the poison is affecting his curse? I mean I have only known the guy for a week or so, but he isn't acting like a boy anymore. Just the animal he currently represents." Simon asked serving up the baked fish and veggie soup. Raven considered it as she looked him over.

"But if so, is it making the curse better? Or worse?" Raven wondered worriedly as she watched Whylomie feed him some fish.

"We'll find out in the morning." Simon told her as she nodded slowly unsure. They spent the rest of the evening talking about mermaids and listening to Simon describe the mermaids of his past. When the fire burned down, they settled in to get some sleep.

* * * * * * *

Tristan floated in the deep water, wondering why he wasn't sinking. He tried to move but every inch of him felt weighted down. The water was uncomfortably warm, making his skin tingle from the heat. He wanted to get out. To wake from this nightmare and leave this place. Something cold touched his face making him pant nervously as the large figure loomed over him.

"It isn't time to wake yet. They still need you." A deep voice whispered all around him. Suddenly he was pulled back into the depths watching as the figure disappeared into the darkness.

Tristan woke with a start dazed and confused. Nothing worked like he thought it would as he flayed about in the sand. He could hear voices talking, but he couldn't hear their words. The ground beneath kept shifting and moving under his weight making him panic more. I'm going to drown! He thought wildly as he glanced about in the darkness.

Something soft and warm hugged his head, making him freeze as he panted terrified. A light flickered to life as Simon stoked the coals, adding more wood to the fire. Whylomie was holding his head as she hummed a familiar tune.

"Meredith would sing that song to me when she came to visit with auntie. She also taught me a few druid songs." Tristan panted as he calmed down. Whylomie paused smiling down at him making him blush and pull away from her, sitting up in his boy form again. He didn't need to be cradled like a child. Someone touched his shoulder gingerly making him glance at Raven. He simply blinked confused before she threw her arms around his neck.

"Thank goodness you are alright! I was so worried!" Raven told him as he hugged her back confused.

"What happened? I remember helping to clean up the corpses, then I saw Whylomie crawl out of the lake. I remember thinking I needed to keep her safe until Asir returned, just in case there were more, but then I blacked out." Tristan told her as she pulled away. She giggled a little making him frown.

"The creatures you attacked were poisoned. You ingested some, causing you to get poisoned as well. You became weak and unstable. However, even though you were struggling, you were determined to protect my sister. Even from Raven and I who tried to approach her." Asir filled him in making Tristan blush embarrassed.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I wasn't quite myself." Tristan told them as he glowed a bright pink.

"It's okay. We forgive you. What happened that had you freaking out?" Whylomie asked as she hugged him from behind, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She giggled when his glossy stone surface turned a shade of red. His shoulders were broader than Asir's and though he was younger, he was better built making Whylomie sigh happily as she settled against him.

"I was drowning. Again." Tristan mumbled as Whylomie leaned over to look at his face.

"Makes sense. It is your biggest fear. Well since everyone is awake shall we head out?" Simon asked getting to his feet and stretching.

"Where are we going?" Asir asked as Simon glanced at Raven.

"Welpion. The kingdom of the elves. My dad is friends with the king there. I think he will help us prepare for our quest. I have been thinking about it and I feel I need to travel to Albitonya. It is where everything started." Raven told them as Simon packed Huxley's bags.

"It's reasonable to assume the demon will be there. However, we still need to collect five pieces of the amulet. Elves, which hopefully we can pick up in Welpion. The piece of the Dwarves, the golems and the Fairies. From what you have told me, I am going to assume that the final piece may still be at the castle in Albitonya.

Maybe Welpion will have a map of the valley. Elves were known for their collection of knowledge after all." Simon nodded leading Huxley over to the group. Raven peered at him with interest but didn't say anything.

"Rosila should be in Welpion too. She is waiting for Raven. Perhaps she has made connections that can help us." Tristan suggested as Asir helped him to his feet. Asir frowned at the naked stone man, glaring at his sisters' roaming eyes.

"Well, you better put on some pants then we can travel. We are going to take one last swim before we get moving." Asir grumbled grabbing his sister's arm and dragging her away. She pouted at him, but simply followed taking an early morning swim. Tristan nodded nervously as Simon helped him find the pair he had lost.

"Luckily you turned into a cat first and they just fell right off. If you had turned into the bear first, you would have shredded they only pants I have to offer you." Simon teased as Tristan blushed embarrassed.

"Sorry." Tristan mumbled as he quickly dressed. He noticed Raven was gone glancing around. Simon simply waved him off heading away. Tristan reached forward grabbing his arm.

"In my dream... there was a creature I had never seen before. But she looked like the dragon on the metal doors under dragon tears. I never saw her very clearly, but she was swimming above me as I sank deeper. I know it was female because she spoke to me. But I can't remember what she said. Just the sound of her voice. It was deep and calming." Tristan told him shyly as Simon stared at him surprised.

"Wilspar is the water dragon. She looks after all things water related. It is odd that she would take interest in a stone being like you." Simon grumbled as he considered it. "Maybe it was because you were close to Whylomie all night. She has the amulet of the mermaids. Maybe it is somehow affecting you?" Simon mumbled thinking about it. Tristan shrugged unsure.

"Doesn't matter now. Don't know why I even brought it up. We should be heading out soon." Tristan mumbled nervously as Simon held up an arm to block him.

"Imay act like I know everything, but you should realize that's it's all just forshow. I am not as smart as I act like I am. Afterall, I am younger than thetwins. I just happened to get trapped for a thousand years. Now go find Ravenand spend some time with her. She was sad you refused to let her near you whileyou were recovering." Simon teased making Tristan blush and nod. 

He hurried offto find Raven as she collected wild herbs to fill their lacking medical supplies.