The one and only time Coby had left the hospital had been a few days before he was set to leave the first time, about a week ago. Doctor Yancy had approved it because Ash had made the argument that some fresh air might help Coby’s energy replenish. It had helped, but not by much. Ash thought it was because he was too overwhelmed by all the new stimuli, and the fact he was distracting Coby too much for him to focus. Coby thought it was because he wasn’t close enough to the sea, where the merfolk derived their energy and magic from.

He didn’t tell Ash that, however. He didn’t have the opportunity to. He was having far too much fun and laughing far too loudly to care.

Now, as he stared out the car window at the Turner property, he was completely blown away. If there was one spot outside of the ocean itself Co-Bieasah was going to heal quickly, it would be here. 

The house was two stories with a wrap around porch, the yellow paint faded but still attractive. There were several trees around, one of which had a platform built into it with a homemade ladder attached. There was a tire swing dangling below it from an old rope that was slightly frayed but still holding strong. A detached garage sat to the right of the house, the door open to reveal a large Sheriff’s truck, an SUV, several tools, and other odds and ends Coby didn’t recognize.

Abel followed a softly winding drive that led to the garage, giving Coby a taste of what lay beyond the property. Ash, sensing his excitement, shared a grin with his dad.

“Show him around, I’ll unload the car,” Abel said, parking behind his truck. 

Ash had the door open before the engine was turned off. He spun to open Coby’s door, his beautiful crooked grin in place as he leaned on it, taking in Coby’s stunned expression. 

“Pretty nice, right?” he asked.

Coby slowly moved his head up and down in an approximation of a nod. A gust of wind lifted his hair, shifting his braids around his shoulders, smelling strongly of the sea. He smiled, breathing deeply of the familiar, homey scent.

“Come on, I’ll show you the rest,” Ash chuckled, holding out his hand. Coby undid his seatbelt and Ash helped him out by the elbow, the merman’s thick hoodie covering his arms all the way to his fingertips. He staggered slightly, still unused to the mode of transportation, and Ash caught him.

Coby chuckled nervously. “Sorry,” he mumbled, grabbing onto his jacket.

“Don’t be,” Ash grinned, his hand on his waist. He nodded in the direction of the house. “Let’s go see the rest of the place before we go inside.”

“Okay,” Coby mumbled distractedly, taking in the view around him as Ash led him from the car toward the house and around the back. The merman noticed he couldn’t hear any of the sounds from the town all the way out here, only those of seabirds, the wind, and…

“Coby!” Ash called, somehow having gotten ahead of him during the brief walk. Coby turned to find Ash waiting for him near an old wooden fence that followed the curve of the property, disappearing on the other side near the garage. Coby caught up with him at the gate, captivated by the vast scenery before him.

“This isn’t even the best part,” Ash said, opening the gate and guiding him through. 

He was right.

Coby froze ten feet beyond the gate, his jaw slack. Before him was a full, uninterrupted view of the ocean in all its majesty. Far below them lay a pristine, sandy white beach. Coby’s gaze traced the line of the cliffs that followed the curve of the land, the sea crashing against the walls and the large exposed rocks and boulders that jutted out from the water, peppering the shoreline. Ash stood behind him and pointed out to a spot just to the right where the cliffs curved away from the house.

“The beach you were found on is about two miles that way,” he said, his breath tickling Coby’s ear. He dropped his right arm to Coby’s waist, and pointed out to the left where the edge of the world continued to follow a winding, rocky path that connected to Coby’s beloved home. “There’s a cove over there where pirates used to anchor their ships while they went into town to party. There’s also a bunch of caves, both above and under the water.”

“Have you seen them?” Coby asked, awestruck.

“Not all of them,” Ash said. “Just a couple that I can get to from the beach. Those are still pretty cool though. If you want, I can take you there later.”

Coby nodded, a wide grin spreading on his lips. He turned his head to glance up at Ash, his blue eyes dancing with joy. “This place is amazing!” 

Ash laughed, wrapping his arms around Coby from behind, hugging him tightly. “Glad you like it,” he said, resting his chin on Coby’s shoulder as they both gazed out over the stunning vista, watching the sunlight dance on the horizon line. The view reminded Ash of the most epic part of this entire view, one he decided he would leave as a surprise for later that evening after dinner.

Coby’s sleeve-covered hands slid over Ash’s and he leaned back against him, feeling safe and warm in the chill of the early-September morning, the breeze buffeting his hair around his face. Even if he wasn’t ready yet to return to the water, being able to see it like this after weeks in the hospital made him feel more relaxed than he had in a long time.

He rested his head against Ash’s and sighed. “Thank you for showing me this. It really is something else.”

“Think it’ll help at all?”

Coby nodded. “It’s quiet, peaceful, and close enough that I can feel the ocean’s energy even from here. I even feel closer to my gods here.” He chuckled softly. “I’m sure that sounds strange.”

“Not at all,” Ash said, standing straighter. “When I was a kid, I used to come out here with my mom and she would read me stories of the High Divine and his family. She said the same thing, that she felt closer to him and the gods here than she did anywhere else. Our family isn’t super religious, but we do honor them in our own way. From what I understand, that’s what they prefer, anyway.”

“It’s one thing to devote yourself to a deity you wish to serve and bring glory and honor to. It’s another to be a fanatic, to force others to believe the same way you do, to hurt them if they don’t. My sect is devoted to the service of the sea god Poseidon, and we serve him through our care and protection of our people and the sea itself. We don’t wage wars or commit sacrifices in his name, there’s no reason to. We give offerings of life, help others, act selflessly and treat others kindly, as they deserve.”

He frowned, dipping his head slightly, his eyes dropping to his feet. “We do fight,” he added quietly, “and we do kill when the need arises, but…”

Ash gazed down at him. “You don’t like it.”

Coby shook his head. “I am an acolyte in service to my god, meant to protect and defend when I’m called to do so. I may be good at what I do, but you’re right, I don’t like it.”

Ash was silent a moment, turning his gaze back to the horizon. He rolled his hands, running his fingertips over the backs of Coby’s hands, wishing, not for the first time, it was his skin and not his sleeves he was touching.

“It is better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardner in a war,” he said softly.

“Hm?” Coby glanced up at him, brow furrowed. “What’s that mean?”

“It’s an old quote from a Japanese philosopher named Miyamoto Musashi, although some people might dispute that.” He shrugged. “That’s just where I read it back in high school. Anyway, it means that it’s better to be prepared and do your best when the time comes, than to be weak and powerless in the face of adversity. At least, that’s what I got out of it.” He chuckled. “I got an A for that essay, actually.”

Coby smiled. “It makes sense, though,” he said thoughtfully. “It’s similar to what my Master used to teach me. ‘It is better to have a sharp knife when facing the eye, than a dull one when facing the mouth.’”

Ash nodded. “Sounds like he knows what he’s talking about.”

Coby tensed in his arms, hesitating before saying in a soft voice so low Ash almost didn’t hear him, “He was the wisest among us.” He reached up, running his fingers over his short braid three times before twirling the red glass bead at the end. He silently sent a prayer for his Master’s soul, promising to send more for each of the rest whose lives were stolen that day in the caverns once the sun was at its zenith. He turned his face up, closing his eyes, allowing the wind, the sea, and the sun to wash through him, feeding his soul and energy.

Ash was quiet, holding him gently, knowing instinctively that all Coby needed in that moment was his presence, not his words. After a few moments, Coby relaxed and Ash loosened his hold.

“If it’s okay,” Coby said, running his covered fingers over Ash’s, “I’d like to come back out here alone in a couple hours.”

“Sure,” Ash said. “You can come out here whenever you want, with or without me.” 

Coby rested his head on Ash’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

They turned suddenly at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Abel stood at the fence, leaning on the top rung.

“Thought you might be hungry,” he said with a grin. “I’ve got sandwiches ready.”

Ash could feel saliva pool in his mouth. “Starved,” he confirmed, grinning at Coby. “You?”
Coby nodded. “Yeah, a bit,” he admitted. He hadn’t eaten anything since the night before and he was ready to enjoy something other than oatmeal and applesauce.