Dear Captain,

At the end of every first week of a season, the pods at mermaid academies go on team-building exercises. Ma’am actually used to do this all the time, back at the island. She’d make me and my sisters go with her and her pods. But our excursions were always in the dark deep, and we’d always end up skewering a monster by the end of the night.

I’d like to hope the Land Hike up the mountain path outside of Ma Anod will be less terrifying.

I greatly dislike these things…my commander tends to divide the boys and girls up and gives the boys the more interesting tasks. I rather hunt than watch the rice cook. Ma’am always pushed me to be more assertive, and while I’m terrible with a blade, I’m descent with a crossbow! But if I even try to touch an arrow, the commander will clock me.

Shall I send you a souvenir, sir?

Regards,

Rocca

* * *

To my annoyance, Saturday morning started earlier than usual. Yet to my relief, the extra hour was not used for physical training, but for preparations. Commander Lori gave us her orders through tight lips. We spent most of the hour tracking down cargo and market boats, stocking up on food, blankets, clothes, and portable cookware.

When we returned at the dorms for inspection, Coraline equipped us with gijo sticks. They were basically wooden swords half the size of escrima sticks. The gijos wouldn’t fair well against a sea monster, should we cross one, but at least we could fend off a shark or whatever creature we find on land.

Everything was accounted for by ten o’clock, and we lined up, myself in the back as usual. We were given a long rope with knots spaced out in ten-foot intervals.

“Were going to the shore together.” Commander Lori said. “This will keep us all together for the long swim.”

Chicory Bacon side-eyes me through his mask as if I’m the reason we’re being treated like children.

We were off shortly after, heavy woven sacks tied to our backs. It was only natural that we’d be moving at a snail’s pace. But every time someone glanced to the back, I felt as if they were blaming me.

At the half-way mark, we took a break at the seafloor. Tima had been in front of me the whole time and she didn’t look a hair out of place. But looking at her now, with her eyes barely open, I wondered if I wasn’t the only one tired of Chicory’s lead.

(You feeling okay?) I signed gently.

She barely peeked at me through her reef of hair. (Tired), she managed to sign, slow and deflated. I threw up a wait hand and rummaged through the outskirts of my sack where I’d stored snacks.

A shrill horn cut through the thin water, catching our attention.

(POD, GO.) Commander Lori signed.

I pulled out a spiked lychee nut from my bag just as the others were assembling in formation. I slid next to Tima and discreetly placed the lychee in the hands behind her back. She shook her hair in thanks.

(You,) Lori pointed at Tima, (Swap.), and then she pointed at me. We turned to each other in surprise.

I opened my mouth in protest, but one threatening lurch of the Commander and her rod had me shutting it. I sent Tima an apologetic frown and swam ahead of her, taking her place on the rope.

(Off!) Lori snapped her fingers and kicked off her black and white striped tail. It took a moment for the train to find its momentum, but a strange tingling sensation found itself in my chest as I admired the new angle of tails I was able to see in the number-9 spot in our pod.

I almost felt guilty not looking behind me at the dreadful spot I once occupied, the one my best friend was now stuck in.

* * *

We reached the shore of Ma Anod by noon. It was wondrous seeing it in person. Land stretched as far as the eye could see in every direction except behind me. It was a mix of green and brown, of flat and highlands. And there was no glimmer of water anywhere.

“The path is about a mile from the shore.” Commander Lori said, pointing to a general area on land. We floated on our sacks and strained to hear her over the crashing of waves. “Now, I don’t know which of you guppies had the gall to blab to the captain about our activity, but I assure you all of you will be paying.”

Oof, I don’t like that look in her eyes.

“You’ll all be using the same thin enchanted bintilets,” she said. “One drop of water and you’re on your ass. So be vigilant.”

What!?

Coraline came around with cheap ceriths and I nearly broke my neck shaking my head in protest. “I want my own!” I hissed at her.

“This wasn’t my idea.” She replied, equally low. “Just do as she says.”

“But—”

“Boys change over there, girls over there.” Lori instructed as she pointed out opposing sides of the shore. “We’ll meet in the center. You have five minutes. You’ll be doing a hundred pushups for every extra minute.”

My podmates were off in a splash, but I was stuck in the water, paranoid and stressed. I can’t use any bintilet, I have to use mine! The enchantment on this shell is so thin, it’s like wearing a veil over your privates! I can’t do this! My scales they’ll—

“Are you okay?” a soft, concerned voice tides over my gnawing paranoia. I turned to the innocently smiling Cal. My neighbor from the island, now podmate. I blushed at the attention.

“I…I…” I brought a hand to my face and saw a bright green freckle winking at my knuckle. Crap, it’s starting already. “It’s…these bintilets…”

“They’re different from what you’re used to aren’t they?” he guessed, tilting his head. Aghhh he’s so cute.

“Y-yeah…” I nodded. “I’m a little worried about…m-my legs…I wish I’d brought a longer skirt…”

“I have trousers.” He said. “Want to swap?”

Huh?

“Huh?” I was not following in any way, shape, or form.

He slid his sack over and pulled out a pair of loose pants. “What color is your sarong?”

“It’s…white…” And also around my waist. “Wait, Cal…are you sure?”

He grinned effortlessly. “Sure! I wear sarongs all the time.”

I looked aside as I untied my skirt. While it was true that mermen regularly wore sarongs, it was my sarong, and that in itself made it a little…

“Thanks!” Cal took the fabric and handed over his pants before I could reason further. “Now come on, we don’t want to have to do more pushups.”

“O-okay,” I said just as he dove under. He didn’t even splash me. How polite.

My heart fluttered at the gesture.