her own. She shared with her the concern she had for Vala. Morven held her hand, and they spoke until the light started to dim. Tears cascaded down Willow's cheeks as Morven shared with her many more secrets. She knew there would not be many more of these times together like this. Morven stroked her head, and then they turned, slid back into the waters, and slowly glided home.
19
Willow could not sleep that evening as she lay on her bed of seaweed. She tossed and turned and reflected on all that Morven had shared with her. She found herself weeping throughout the night. It was overwhelming to understand the full extent of what lay ahead. She worried whether she would be able to fulfill the great responsibility. What if she put her pod at danger? The doubts and what-ifs raced through her mind.
As her thoughts intensified, she heard sounds in the dark outside her cave entrance. Then she realized her fears were rippling through the movement of the water and all could hear her. Suddenly, without thinking, she closed the doors to her mind the way Morven had just taught her. The whispering and voices stopped. She slowly eased to the edge of her cave and glanced out. There was no one there; they had left. She had closed her fears off from the rest of the clans. Yes, she had begun to understand the power of keeping her thoughts to herself. This pleased her, for she knew she could keep the fears she had from upsetting the sea creatures and water people. It would later prove to be a strong tool for her.
Day by day, Willow could feel the strength of the ancients within her mounting. She was learning the secrets that would guide her and protect her and the clans from the dangers that lurked in the open waters. She could feel the presence of danger always, and she knew the day would come when she would have to deal with it head on.
As she spent more time with Morven, learning the secrets of her blood line, every whisper in the sea became more intensified. She could feel the slightest change in the way the water moved, indicating that the path was calm or that there was danger close by. After all, she would have to know the sea like she knew her own body in order to make decisions that would impact the Sea Kingdom. She would be the one to feel the fish migrations heading to the warmer waters and alert the Delfin Clan. She would have to know when the land people were taking their boats out on the endless waters to fish. But above all that, she would be the protector. It would be she who sounded the alarm when the sea beasts were near.
Willow was aware too that she would always be the target in the open waters. This frightened her, but she kept those thoughts hidden deep so no one else could hear them. Not only must she keep it from all the clans, but she also knew her fears would be felt by the sea beasts that would use them to their advantage in seeking her out. If they could destroy Willow, they would have power not only over the open waters, but over the coral forest as well. There would be no one to alert those who lived in the coral forest of danger, and the beasts could prey on them as they glided even the shortest distance into the open waters. There would be no time for the Delfin Clan to rally to their aid. For that matter, even the venerable Delfin Clan would be at risk if venturing alone.
Days turned into weeks of sitting close to Morven and Ellura, learning the ways of the ancients and of her pod. Many days, Willow and Ellura would travel together to the various clans, and one by one, Willow would link her thoughts with them. When they touched each other, the silver threads of ethereal lights bridged between Willow and the old one of that clan, and their knowledge since the beginning of time passed between them, revealing all their wisdom to Willow. She had become one with them. She carried their languages and their secrets. She was their protector, and they were hers. She was the link that united all the creatures of the endless waters. Yet she knew there was another aspect of the sea she would not join with but needed to know and be ever vigilant for.
Willow had heard the stories of the sea beasts and had encountered one herself, so she knew their power. Not only were they mighty and fierce, but they were cunning and sly as well. They traveled alone in the sea yet had many lookouts, not because of any loyalty but out of fear that the beasts would turn on them if they did not do their bidding. They would slither through the bottom of the sea. They lived beneath the sands, popping their frightful heads up from the sands just to grab a passerby or to alarm the mighty clan of Adaro.
Adaro was the most feared among all the sea beasts. He had once lived among the Delfin Clan, but he and his pod were so evil they were cast out to live solitary lives in the open seas. Adaro was rarely seen by the other beasts, but when his presence was felt entering an area, the sea cleared, giving him full reign. The open seas were his domain. He didn't just hunt for food; he hunted for the thrill of the kill. It didn't matter what clan member he stole, for he was heartless and cruel.
Adaro roamed in the dark spaces of the sea, fearing no one. Though he was ancient, he possessed the power and strength of the most powerful being in the sea. As he aged, it only intensified his massive power. The more fear that surrounded him, the more fearsome he became. He devoured the life force of those he conquered, so it only made sense that if he could devour Willow, he would rule the entire sea forever. No one would dare challenge him then. He knew she had returned to the sea; he could feel her presence and feel her own power growing. She would be a powerful foe and one he should not take lightly, in spite of her youth.
Adaro knew all the wisdom of the ancients was awakening in her; it was in her blood. She continued to grow ever stronger with the wisdom of all the clans, and they would be able to communicate with her no matter where she was. The spirit clans would watch over Willow, communicating with her whenever there was danger. He knew the entire Sea Kingdom would come to her and protect her if needed, even giving their lives for her. She was the one who would be the Goddess of the Sea, and she must be guarded at all costs.
Adaro knew that once Morven made her transition, she would give to Willow the final chapter of her bloodline, which would make Willow the most powerful creature in the sea and one he would find difficult to defeat. He knew he must take her before Morven gave her the final gift. He needed to lure her into the open waters unprotected before she was totally aware and could defend herself.
So he sent his spies to slither beneath the sands to where the coral forest met the open waters to keep vigil over the comings and goings of the water people. The slithers could not enter the protection of the coral forest. There were too many eyes, so they would be noticed and dealt with before they had a chance to escape back to the open waters. They were not the most dependable of creatures, but they served their purpose as servants of Adaro and his clan.
As they moved closer to the edge of the forest, they shook the sands, causing a vibration, a ripple effect beneath the forest. It did not go unnoticed by Ellura or Morven. They sensed danger near and knew it was the doings of the sea beasts. Ellura and Morven stayed close to Willow, with hopes she would not detect their fears.
Ellura and Morven knew Willow was gaining strength each day. She could communicate with the entire Sea Kingdom and was revered for her gentleness and willingness to learn the ways of the clans. She was honored but also humbled, because she was aware her newfound knowledge and wisdom held great responsibility and sacrifices. Willow had already left behind her land family, whom she loved and missed, to enter into this preordained position. It had been chosen for her; it was written and promised, which weighed heavily at times. She hoped she could live up to what was expected of her; after all, she was not just a creature of the sea but of the land as well. She had to fulfill what was preordained, not only for her family beneath the sea, but for the family she had left behind as well.
Willow remained close to Ellura and Morven and could feel that Vala was always close by. As she grew stronger, she could hear the thoughts that raced through Vala's mind—his concerns for her safety, his concerns that he would not be able to protect her. She didn't want him to be concerned, but he could not be her primary responsibility.
She also sensed Morven's energy weakening, not onl
y in her movements but in her color as well. The brilliant glow that encompassed her was dwindling; it seemed a mere soft cloud now surrounded her. When she and Willow glided in the darkness, it was Willow's glow that lit the way, when it was once Morven's brilliance that had lit up even the darkest corners of the sea.
Willow wondered how she would make it without Morven by her side. She had been with her since she entered the world of the water people. Morven was the one that shared the secrets from the ancients with her. She was the one who presented her to the world of the sea and showed her things that before had only been in Willow's dreams.
Willow felt there was still much to learn but did not want to pressure Morven for the answers. She had become so good at hiding her innermost thoughts that not even Morven or Ellura were privy to them anymore. Of course, this is what they had hoped for. This only assured them that Willow's transition to her place in the sea was occurring as it was meant to be. They could no longer hide from her, either. She could feel their presence and could instantly be there, no matter where they were in the sea world.
It was nearly time for the