Chapter 680 Chapter 680
Malik looked at her for a moment and then turned to look at Konner. “Do you think it is possible that there are mates between our kind?”
Konner drew in a long breath and exhaled slowly. “At one time, we were all one people.”
“This is true.” Gali nodded. “The stories are from another time, but it could be again that we are one people.”
Part of Konner wanted to jump up and down. The rest of him didn’t want his clan to leave the sanctuary. “I don’t know how we would safely gather.”
“Your sanctuary is safe, Konner.” Terah put her hand on his arm; her eyes were filled with hope.
“It is.” He looked back at the man, who had the same guarded expression that Konner felt. “I have traveled for years and found the lands and collected records of all known clans of our kind and combined; it is a very wealthy estate. Sanctuary is a large area with rivers and lakes, and it is very secure.”
“There are many houses on it and the fishery. Konner grows fish for us.” Terah smiled. “Very good fish.”
Gali looked at Malik and then back to Konner. “We have to avoid the netting from fisherman’s ships to feed. Any ship spills or pollution deplete our food sources, and we must move. It happens often.”
Malik gave Konner a look. “We will have to discuss everything with the other sea clans, and then maybe,” he gave his mate a gentle look, “maybe we can plan something come spring.”
“Konner has a helicopter. He could fly everyone.”
Konner grinned. “I can’t fit twenty in the chopper, Terah.”
“You fly one of those machines in the sky?” Gali looked excited.
“Yes.”
She turned and touched her mate’s arm. “I would like to fly and see from above.”
Malik’s mouth quirked briefly. “As I said, there is much to consider. We will have to solve the water issue.
“Have you been in freshwater?” Konner didn’t want to hope for too much.
“Some of us have.” Malik shrugged. “Not often.”
Terah grasped Konner’s arm. “Konner. You can help. The vest thing and the green drink—you could make it with water.” She nodded. “You can make pools with the salt, yes?”
Konner touched her hand and gave her what he hoped was an encouraging smile. He didn’t want to discourage her. “I’m sure things could be worked out for visits.”
“Green drink?” Gali looked at her mate. “What is this?”
Konner opened his pack. “I’ve had a company make this. It took a long time to figure out and grow the proper plants in the right environment, but it helps us when we can’t be in water as often as we’d like.” He took out a packet and held it out to Malik. “We mix it with water and drink it.”
Malik took it and studied it. With a curious glance at Gali, he opened it and held it beneath his nose. His eyes widened. “You grow sea plants.” He lifted a brow. “That is what some of these smells like.”
Konner nodded. “Even though we haven’t been in oceans for many generations, our bodies still crave the nutrients from the plant life.” He shrugged. “As well as freshwater plants.”
Gali took the packet from Malik and sniffed it. “This helps when you are not in the water?” She gave her man a blunt look. “We have never thought to try this.” She turned back to Konner. “We can only be out of the water for a day, but it’s not without suffering…”
“Konner made a vest that stays wet.” Terah looked excited. “When he was taking me to his sanctuary, I was not very strong. I needed the water a lot, but his vest helped me.”
Malik looked back at Konner. “You have something like this?”
“I don’t have one with me right now, but I have some on the yacht…”
Gali grabbed her mate’s arm. “Malik, we must follow them and try this vest.” She nodded. “Amaya and Aenon are so curious about land. They should be able to go and experience it.”
“Amaya and Aenon?” Konner poured the fresh water from the bottle in his pack and held out his hand for the packet. Terah took the bottle from his hand and went toward the water.
“Our children. Also, Deniz and Eyre would love more information.” Malik watched Terah come back with the bottle. “They are expecting and worry about the storm season in our hidden location but fear going on land for too long.”
Konner hadn’t considered how they would live through the storms. He had heard stories of before times changed, they would go deeper and stay there until it passed, but with more one-forms in the water than his kind, he imagined it would be dangerous to try that. Ships, underwater adventurers, drilling, fish boats—he could see how their lives were in more danger than those that could stay on land. Konner took the bottle from Terah and poured the packet into it, and then capped it and shook it. He held it out to Malik.
Malik took it and opened it slowly. He lifted it to his nose and then shrugged and took a sip. Licking his lips, he turned to Gali. “It tastes good. I don’t know what freshwater plants are like, but this is good.” He held it out to her.
Gali gave him a hesitant look and took the bottle. She took a small sip, and her eyes widened. “That is good.” She turned to Konner. “With this and your vest, we can stay on land for more than a day?”
Konner didn’t want to promise things he had no data to back up. “In theory, yes. I have only tested it with myself and some of my clan. I have no experience with seawater clans.”
Malik studied him for a moment and then turned to his mate. “You will go home, and I will follow Konner and bring back this vest.”
Gali smiled. “Yes.”
Konner felt relief flood him. “I can give you a phone.” He pulled out his own. “It’s waterproof and I’ll give you some waterproof pouches for the packets and phones.” He didn’t know how many to spare Illias would have, but he knew Devin would back him on this. “I can give you more phones for the other clans as well. You can call the Alliance or me anytime if you need something or help.”
“We have had no contact with the Alliance before. Our elders did, but only one survives now, and she doesn’t travel often.”
Konner motioned to the notebook. “If you know the oldest elder name you can think of from your clans, I would like to look them up in the records we have.” He glanced from one to the other. “Maybe find out if some of the land and wealth belongs to some of your clans that did go on land.”
Malik didn’t hide the surprised look. “You think you have records of our descents that went on land?”
“I think it’s possible.”
Gali touched her mate’s hand and then looked at Konner. “We will take your phones and gladly call you and converse more.”
Konner smiled. For his entire adult life, he had traveled the globe searching for his kind, and now he may have found answers to the hundreds of questions he had.
“I would like what you are wearing too.” Gali bit her lip and looked at Terah. “It is very pretty. You can swim in this?”
Terah looked down at the two-piece bathing suit she wore. “Yes. It takes time to get used to it but being naked around everyone is not good.” She shrugged. “Especially the ones that are not our clan.”
Konner grinned. “It is a different world now. I’m sure at one time all shifters were comfortable with lack of clothing, but it isn’t so now.”
“Yes. I have observed the way one-forms are dressed.” Malik didn’t look enthused. “I do not understand a lot of it. Or things they do.”
“We should get them a tablet, Konner.” Terah nodded.
He tilted his head. “They would need wi-fi and internet to use it, Terah.”
“I do not know what that is.” She frowned.
“I’ll explain it later.” He turned back to Malik and watched him write in the notebook. “I think for now, phones are the most important so we can be in touch.”
“Yes.” Terah turned and looked at the water. “I want to check on Willow soon, please.”
Konner pulled out his phone and held it up to check for a signal. It wasn’t great, but there was enough to message Illias. “I’ll send Illias a message and ask how everyone is.” He typed quickly. “I’ll tell them that Malik is coming back with us and get their approximate location.”
“Yes. Okay.”
“I think I will like having a phone.” Gali grinned at her mate.
Malik closed the notebook and held it out. “I think we will use it for important reasons, mate.”
Gali chuckled. “Of course. I was thinking I could talk to Ginevra and Tarni and see how the other clans are.”
Malik nodded slowly. “I will contact Derya tomorrow and meet him to give him the phones, and then he can meet Struan and give him the ones for the others.”
Konner sent the message and then took the notebook. “How long will it take for you to get the phone into the hands of the other seawater clans?”
Malik stood up. “We can accomplish it in seven days. But weather and shipping traffic can sometimes delay things.”
Konner nodded. “In two weeks, we can all have a conference call.”
“A conference call?” Gali took Malik’s extended hand and stood up.
“Yes. All of us will be on our phones at once and speaking to each other.” His phone vibrated in his hand. “Everyone is doing good. Including Willow.” He glanced to see Terah looked relieved. “You should drink some biotrien before we go back in the water.”
Terah nodded and worked her pack from behind her. Konner had to tighten hers, so it was snug on her back. She moved too fast to have something inhibit her in any way.
“We can all talk to each other?” Gali put her hand over her mouth for a moment. “I am thankful you came to that island today, Konner and Terah.” She touched her mate’s hand and then awkwardly started toward the water. “I must get back to our children and tell the others this news.”
He didn’t know if the old language had been kept, but he tried anyway. “Kenna friðr, Gali.”
She stopped and looked shocked. “Kenna friðr, Konner of land-water,” she inclined her head to Terah, “and mate.”
Malik watched until she was in the water. “You speak the old way.”
Konner shrugged. “My Aunt, our Alpha, does more than I do.”
“I think today has been a good day, Konner; that is going to lead to a better future for all types of water clans.”
Konner smiled as he put the notebook and phone back in his pack. “I was thinking the same thing.” The future of the water clan was looking much better than it had in a long time.