Waking was once again an experience as Riley dragged herself back into the conscious world. As she cracked an eye open, she found herself in an unfamiliar room. It was a rich green, like being cocooned in a kelp forest. It was almost soothing, and the thick blanket tugged up to her neck was warm and lulling her back to sleep. She decided she hated the sedatives. Painkillers she would tolerate; it was nice to have the edge taken off, but the sedatives made her brain fuzzy. Despite the warmth of the room and the lingering exhaustion, Riley felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle, and she shuddered. Instantly put on edge, she raised her head to find Lewis leaned up against a piece of furniture that looked very much like his desk, with many drawers. She huffed in annoyance. “That is twice now. Do not sneak up!” she protested.

Lewis glanced up from the small black device in his hand. Riley did not really understand the fascination with the phones. She knew they were for speaking to one another over long distances but staring at it seemed a little pointless to her. “I wasn’t sneaking up on you, Riley,” Lewis countered.

“Lurking creepily counts,” she argued.

“I was waiting for you to wake up so I can check on your stitches. I figured it would be more distressing if I did it while you were out and you happened to wake then, don’t you think?”

Riley rolled her eyes and dipped her head in reluctant agreement. “That is fair,” she conceded.

Lewis stepped forward and hooked his fingers under the blanket, drawing it slowly back off her tail. She twitched her fins as the additional warmth gave way to cooler air. “Move your arm,” Lewis instructed gently. When she complied, he leaned over and began to peel away the white pad stuck to her side. The moment the stitches beneath became visible, Riley averted her gaze. She had gotten a glimpse of the twisted black thread holding her skin in place and her stomach had flipped at the sight. It had looked red and ugly and irritated.

“How does it look?” she forced herself to ask, despite in part not wanting to know.

“Good,” Lewis replied. She felt the tug on her flesh as he finished pulling the pad away. “You heal remarkably fast. How’s the pain?”

Riley shrugged. “It is sore, it itches, but it is not too bad,” she replied. “Just let me know when you have covered it all up again.” She wrung her fingers and chewed on her lip, training her gaze on the wall on the far side of the room. She was determined not to glance back, despite being able to see him moving in her peripheral vision. She heard the click as he opened some sort of bottle or container, but she tensed her jaw and refused to look.

“It won’t be long,” Lewis assured her, and she quietly appreciated that he did not dig at her squeamish reaction to the stitches. She flinched when his fingers came into contact with her side, smearing a cream over her skin. “You okay? I know it stings, but did it hurt too much? I can get you some painkillers.”

Riley shook her head and grit her teeth. It did sting, it throbbed when he put even slight pressure on the wound, but she could endure it. “It is fine,” she assured him. “Just startled me is all.”

She sat silently, trying not to wince or fidget as he rubbed the salve into the injury. Despite the pain, her patience was rewarded as moments later, Lewis was spreading a fresh pad over the stitches and tapping her on the shoulder. “All done,” he informed her.

She sighed and twisted her attention away from the wall. “Thank you,” she replied.

She glanced up at the soft knock on the doorframe. Sophie poked her head in, her curly red hair bundled up on top of her head. “Hey,” she greeted softly. She stepped fully into the room and shut the door behind her. “How is everything going in here? Everything look okay?”

Lewis nodded. “Once again, she’s a miracle patient and heals fast. I would peg it one more good day of proper rest and minimal movement and she should be fine. The stitches have to dissolve before you can get back in the water, but you’re going to be fine,” Lewis reported, directing the last part at Riley. She rolled her eyes but reluctantly accepted one more day of boredom, knowing Sophie would not stand for anything less.

“Good,” Sophie responded. “Are you feeling okay, Riley?”

“Yes,” Riley agreed instantly. She had only been awake a short while and was already feeling restless. She needed something to fill the time. “I feel better than fine. The pain is tolerable, and I slept through the night.”

Sophie chuckled and rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to weasel your way out of bed any earlier than Lewis recommends, so don’t bother trying. Now, are you hungry? I can get you some breakfast.”

Riley paused to consider that option before nodding. “Yes please, and then we can play more chess,” she stated with an expectantly raised eyebrow. If she had to be confined longer, she intended to insist on further games.

She frowned when Sophie shook her head. “I thought we might play something else,” she suggested. “Something more inclusive. Chess is only for two players.”

“Very well,” Riley lamented. “I shall spare you a crushing defeat so that the group may partake in a challenge. I imagine it will be that much more satisfying to triumph over three of you.”

Sophie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right,” she teased dryly. “And it would be four people to beat. There are five of us here.”

Riley’s eyebrows dipped together in confusion and she counted off the names in her head, not comprehending the statement. “Five? There is you and me and Lewis and Katie, that is only four people,” Riley argued. “Who is the fifth?” She cocked her head at the conundrum.

Sophie made her way over and took a seat on the edge of the mattress beside Riley. Her weight dipped it down and Riley shifted her tail to make a little more room. “Luna,” Sophie replied.

“Luna?” Riley echoed. “Who is that?” She was not truly intimidated by a name and she trusted Sophie, but she was not overly thrilled at the idea of there being someone in the vicinity she did not know.

Sophie reached a hand up to smooth back some of Riley’s hair off her face. The Mer wanted to protest that the locks were fine, and the conversation was more important, but she had learned not to resist Sophie’s more tender tendencies. She knew it was in part because the motions felt so loving and she quietly craved that affection; though she was reluctant to admit it. “She’s not anyone that you have to be worried about. Luna is a young girl. You asked yesterday about the story behind Katie’s reappearance and change of species,” Sophie reminded. “Well, Luna is part of that story. It’s a long one so I won’t go into the details right now. I’m going to go get breakfast sorted and then I will come back and fill you in properly, alright?”

Riley dipped her head in acknowledgement. She did want the full story, but she would not press to get it immediately. “Perhaps I can come with you and help with food? You could tell me about it-” Riley trailed off when Sophie fixed her with a stern glare. She found herself shrinking under the scrutinizing gaze.

“You’re staying in bed,” Sophie instructed firmly.

Riley crossed her arms and jutted her lip into a pout. “Fine,” she drawled in exasperation. She knew it was petulant, but she was tired of being confined. She huffed and flicked her fins. “One day,” she relented. “I will remain torturously still for one more day, but I refuse to do so any longer,” she announced, jabbing a finger in the air to punctuate her point. She met Sophie’s gaze evenly, silently daring the woman to disagree with her.

Sophie smiled softly and reached up to cup Riley’s cheek. She brought their faces close enough that their noses touched. Riley’s heart skipped and she froze up. Despite all her sweetness, Sophie could be intimidating when she wanted to be. “I think there’s a lesson to be learned here about getting into fights,” Sophie began, her voice dripping with tainted honey. “But you will lie here until Lewis gives you the all clear and that’s final.” She pressed her lips to Riley’s forehead and patted her on the head.

Riley scowled. “Stubborn,” she hissed in response.

“Impossible,” Sophie countered. “Relax, Riley; you survived a month of sitting still, I’m sure you can handle a couple of days now.” She didn’t wait for a response as she rose from the bed and left the room.

Riley sighed. “I do not suppose you would do me the favor of changing your opinion on my healing progress?” she inquired, offering Lewis a grin.

To her surprise, he smiled back. “Sure, I can do that.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Two or three days more bedrest would be better.”

“I hate you,” Riley grumbled and crossed her arms. “Fine, I will be patient and wait out the day.”

“Good choice,” Lewis replied with a wink before he turned and left her alone in the bedroom. Riley huffed and propped herself up a little better on the bed. Her wound stung mightily, but unlike last time breathing and minimal movement did not lance pain through her entire body; she could hardly stand to remain bedridden. She twisted a corner of the blanket between her fingers and leaned her head back against the wooden backing of the bed. There was nothing remotely interesting within the room to hold her attention. Riley lifted her arm out of the way to examine the white pad stuck to her side. It was wrapped partially over her hip – just above where her glider protruded from her skin-scale line – and the skin around it was an irritated pink shade. Chewing on her lip, Riley hesitantly reached out to touch the tender, bruised skin around the adhesive bandage. Her nose wrinkled as she winced. It was definitely sore still. Licking her lips, she left it alone in favor of combing a few tangles out of her hair. She did not care much for the appearance, but if it knotted too badly it would get caught and pull at her scalp and be more painful to correct. It seemed to tangle far more easily when dry on land than in the water.

“Still haven’t let you off bedrest?” Riley glanced up at Katie – who was lurking in the doorway – when she posed the question.

Riley grinned and nodded. “Annoyingly, no.”

The bark of laughter that ripped from Katie’s lips in response startled Riley and she cocked her head. Katie shook hers as she wheeled over to the bed. “Can you blame her? One of her ducklings came home in a poor state. You’ve sent her into an overprotective panic.”

“Ducklings?”

Katie waved a hand. “Ducks are a partially aquatic bird found around bodies of freshwater. A duckling is a baby duck. It doesn’t matter. The point is, Sophie considers you one of her own and if you leave and then come home injured, she’s going to hover and fuss over you.”

Riley shrugged. “I am fine, it was barely a scratch.”

“You got stabbed,” Katie countered with a raised eyebrow.

At that, Riley grinned. Her lips pulled back to show off her fangs. “I would have won in a fair fight and I took out two of the three. Not too bad, all things considered.”

Katie snorted. “Two out of three still leaves you dead,” she points out. “You got lucky and you know it. Let her fuss. The more you resist it, the harder she comes down. I’ve had years of experience with Sophie’s overprotective mothering, trust me on this.” Katie propped her elbows on the bed and leaned forward to rest her chin atop the mattress. “Lewis says you’re healing well, which is good though.”

“I heal fast,” Riley stated. She gently shifted her weight on the bed. She could not decide if she was cold and wanted the blanket or too warm and wanted to discard it. She was drying out and would have to do something about it.

“I’ve noticed that,” Katie agreed. “Faster rehabilitation rate. But not that fast; what’s your secret?”

Riley shrugged. “Not sure, but I am not complaining about it.”

Sophie strolled back in a moment later with a plate in her hands. She set it down on the small wooden surface beside the bed. Riley made a mental note to inquire later about the names of the pieces of furniture. She glanced down at the plate, recognizing the fruit slices instantly, but pondering over the other component to the meal. It was brown and ribbed and smelled delightful. Her mouth watered at the sight.

“Ooh, waffles,” Katie commented. “Looks good.”

“Yours are in the dining room if you want some,” Sophie offered. She leaned over and handed Riley a fork. Riley took it with one hand, but her free hand was already plucking up an apple slice and pushing it into her mouth. She was unapologetic about it, despite Sophie’s eye-roll. Fruit was not meant to be skewered on tiny metal picks to be eaten. Certain things were meant to be enjoyed naturally. “You should go eat. I’m going to talk to Riley.”

Riley glanced at them out the corner of her eye and plucked up a grape to nibble on.

“I think I’ll stay,” Katie decided.

“Are you sure? I intend to gloss, but still,” Sophie pressed.

Riley frowned and began to pay a bit more attention. Whatever she was about to learn was clearly a terse, painful subject.

“I’m sure,” Katie insists. “I’ll be alright. And besides, I want to be here. As long as Luna isn’t alone,” Her voice trailed off and she leaned back in her seat to peer out the doorway as if searching for someone.

“She’s with Lewis,” Sophie replied. “They’re going to play checkers.”

“I thought Lewis refused to play checkers?”

“You know he can’t resist making that little girl smile. I just want to know what it is with Mer and the obsession with plaid game boards.” Riley raised an eyebrow as both of her companions began to laugh. She ignored them and ate another grape before deciding to try the ‘waffle’ as Katie had called it. It was cut into four triangles and she plucked one up.

“I think you forgot the syrup,” Katie stated.

“No, I didn’t forget,” Sophie replied. “Riley is not allowed syrup anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Because she can’t be trusted with it.”

“What?” Riley protested. She shot Sophie an annoyed glare and then took a bite of the waffle triangle. It was crunchy and soft at the same time and she shivered at the pleasant taste. After licking her lips and swallowing, she took another bite.

“The last time you had syrup, I had to cut knots out of your hair because of the mess you made,” Sophie countered. “And you fussed the entire time.”

Riley ducked her head and averted her gaze. Sophie was right, of course; she had not been expecting the brown substance to be quite so sticky. It had tasted good, but she could live without it, so she pursed her lips and took another bite of her breakfast as if she had not wanted the topping in the first place.

She only glanced back when Sophie took a seat on the opposite side of the mattress. “Riley, can you sit up a little more, hon or do you need a hand?”

Riley shook her head and pushed the last piece of the waffle wedge into her mouth. “I can do it,” she mumbled around the mouthful. She pressed her palms into the mattress and gently shifted so that she was leaning back against the wood backing of the bed and able to properly survey the room. Once she was settled, she trained her gaze on Sophie expectantly.

Sophie took a deep breath. “I’m going to fill you in on what you missed since last time you were here, but it’s not a fun story.”

Riley dipped her head. “I figured. Everyone seems to be skirting around it and you all get this somber tone about the topic. You do not have to tell me if you do not want to.”

“You need to know,” Katie stated. “We need your help, but it won’t make sense until you hear the rest of the story.”

“Okay,” Riley agreed, though her mind was spinning. She was happy to help however she could – she owed Sophie her life twice over – but she was not quite certain what they would need from her that was not simply teaching Katie culture, which she hardly needed a backstory in order to do.

When Sophie began to speak, she listened intently and it did not take long for a deep frown to pull at her lips. She kept an eye on Katie out the corner of her eye and though it was clear Sophie was being vague about the specific details, Katie seemed to deflate significantly. It was clearly a hard topic for her, and Riley was quickly understanding why.

“We’ve been doing the best we can to figure out the situation, but it’s why I’ve been a little firm on Katie staying in the apartment where she’s less likely to be seen,” Sophie explained.

Riley was silent for a moment and then nodded. “I understand better now what you meant when you said to me that humans would not necessarily react well to me. You have my sympathies, Katie, however meaningless that may be.”

“Thanks,” Katie responded. She forced a smile, but her tone rang hollow.

“You mentioned that you needed my help,” Riley changed the subject, eager to further the conversation so they could move onto more pleasant topics since it was clearly upsetting Katie more than Riley was comfortable with. “I am not certain yet with what, however?”

Sophie sighed. “Well, we need your help about Luna. She’s just a little girl but she was in that facility a lot longer than Katie was, and she is Mer by birth. She was very little when she was captured and we’d like to get her back home to her family, but she has no memory of who they were or where she is from originally,” Sophie began.

“Poor child,” Riley commented. “That is an unfortunate fate.”

“I know it’s a long shot, but we were hoping maybe you could just ask around when you’re next travelling? See if anyone is missing a daughter about her age? We have no other way of locating any pods. We know she’s from tropical waters, but there’s no way to narrow it down further,” Sophie explained.

“We have to do something,” Katie pressed. “And neither Luna or I have any idea how to properly manage ourselves out there, so traipsing around the oceans isn’t smart. At least, not without a guide.”

Riley chewed on her lip for a moment, mulling the situation over in her mind. “Of course I will try, I would be happy to help,” she began. “But I cannot make any promises. There are a lot of pods and they are very widespread. It could take a very long time to track down her original family group, if we even ever managed it. It is a hard truth, but you may never find them.”

“I know,” Katie acknowledged. Riley watched her fingers curl into fists. “But I have to try. She’s my best friend.”

“I will do what I can, Katie. I will have to meet this Mer first, however. It is far easier to mention her if I know her physical features. Many Mer traits are very distinctive,” Riley added.

“That’s a given,” Sophie agreed.

The moment Sophie made the statement, a peal of laughter echoed down the hall, drawing Riley’s attention. She saw both Sophie and Katie look up as well. A few minutes later, Lewis appeared in the doorway with a young girl clinging to his back, her tail curled around his waist. Her mouth was agape in a wide smile, her bright blue eyes shining gleefully. Her fingers were fisted into his shirt and her brown hair swung around behind them both. Her tail was a rich blue, like deep water, and Riley studied the pattered circles on her light blue fin. She was pretty.

“Katie, take your problem back,” Lewis protested lightly as he twisted and dumped the young Mer on the edge of the bed. She giggled again as she twisted to prop herself back upright. Her smile slipped in favor of a look of awe as she caught sight of Riley.

“Hello,” Riley greeted her, grinning. “Luna, I presume?”

“Hello,” she echoed softly, her head ducking.

Riley’s smile softened and she turned back to Sophie. “The answer is yes,” she decided. “As soon as I am healed enough to swim, I can take her home.”

“Wait, you know where she’s from?” Katie asked eagerly. “Are you sure?”

Riley nodded. “Yes, Katie, I do,” Riley said as she turned back to the child sitting stunned on the bed. “You were very young last I saw you; do you remember me, I wonder?”

Tears began to water in the young Mer’s gaze and she shook her head. “I am sorry; I do not.”

“Do not be sorry,” Riley placated. “It has been a long time. My name is Riley. We played together when we were children; you were full of energy and could almost keep up with me. We are cousins. Our family was devastated at your loss and while your story pains me to hear, I am glad you are safe now.” Riley’s smile grew and she chewed on her lip to fend off the tears threatening to water in her own gaze. “It is good to see you, Kera.”