Throughout her life Mara had always looked forward to the Full Moon Festival and Ceremony every month. It was one of the most important celebrations of the merfolk and no one ever wanted to miss it. The celebration of the full moon was vital to their lives, since the moon was so important. It influenced the entire ocean, and by extension it influenced the merfolk of the world, as well. Legend said that it was the combination of the ocean tides and the moon's light that had given birth to the first of the merfolk. They worshiped them both, the sea and the moon. But the was almost like a mother figure to the merfolk race.

Throughout the day the festival was filled with music, food, stories, games, and dancing. The Elder and his family, as well as other more noble merfolk houses that resided in their underwater canyon of a home, would partake in a sort of parade, and when she had been small she had felt like a princess. And then in the evening, when the full moon was at its highest peak over the ocean, they would ascend to the surface as a pod, the rarest of occasions where going to the surface was approved. 

Maybe that was why Mara loved the Full Moon so much. Maybe the ceremony was what had fueled her fascination with the surface world.

That day, however, while the rest of her pod enjoyed the festivities, she couldn't focus on the celebration that she loved so much. Mara just could not keep her mind off of the surface. More specifically she could not keep her mind off of Mayumi. She tried imagining what her human friend was doing for several moments throughout the day, which was impossible, but mostly she just wished Mayumi could be here with her. Mara knew the girl would love this underwater celebration. There were so many things Mara wished she could show Mayumi, parts of her world she wanted to share, but the girl was human. She needed the air to live. But Mara couldn't believe that there was no way for Mayumi to experience at least a little bit of the world beneath the surface. 

So she sought out the Record Keepers. They were among the oldest of their pod and were tasked with remembering the history and legends of their kind. If there was a way for a human to survive underwater, even for a limited amount of time, they would know. She was recognized instantly by the men and women, it was hard not to be when your grandfather was the most important man in the pod. They nodded respectfully at her, and she responded in kind, but she didn't stop until she found the youngest of the Record Keepers, and the one who might be the most willing to accommodate her strange request.

He was looking over a long wall of carvings and paintings when she found him. "Kole," Mara said softly and the young merman turned his head at the sound of his name.

"Lady Mara!" he said, delight and surprise in his tone, and he gave her a short bow. It wasn't like she was royalty, but she was a part f the Elder line. Her family was the oldest and most noble in their pod. That gave them some sort of power and status that the rest of their pod didn't. But it was more ceremonial than anything else. "What can I help you with? Are you looking for a new story to tell your niece?" Even though he was the youngest in his profession, Kole had still dedicated hours of his life to memorizing all of the merfolk's records. It was difficult, since they didn't have paper to write on and only the most important history was recorded through the carvings and paintings, but the Record Keepers were dedicated.

"No," Mara said shaking her head and swimming a bit closer to him. Her voice became softer and she looked at him intently. "A question, actually. This is...an odd sort of request. And I would love it if we could keep this between us. But I... heard Lea telling Brigit a story the other day. Of a human sailor who fell overboard during a storm, and despite pulling pulled underwater over and over again he didn't drown. Because of a mermaid." It wasn't a complete lie. She had heard the story before, but it had been years. "I was curious. Is there a way for the merfolk to keep humans alive underwater?"

Kole was looking at her strangely. "Why do you want to know?"

Mara felt a nervous flutter in her chest but she managed to remain composed. "Curiosity, honestly. An academic sort of curiosity. And Brigit was asking the same question, but she's a little too shy to ask. I would ask my grandmother myself, but I knew that the Record Keepers would have a better answer." She looked at Kole, her brown eyes round and hopeful and she smiled. "And I know I can trust you, Kole. You've been a good friend to me for years."

"Well," Kole started, smiling a bit, "Flattery will get you...everywhere. Now....let's see." His face contorted in thought and Mara hardly dared to breath.

~~~~~

The next day Mara breached the surface of the water in Mayumi's little cove, flicking her wet hair away from her face as she moved smoothly through the water and carefully pulled herself up onto the shore. It had taken her a little bit longer to get away this day, but she didn't think Mayumi would give up on her easily if she had to wait. Mara knew that she wasn't going to, now that she was the one waiting. She folded her arms in the sand in front of her and rested her chin on her forearms as she bit back a smile. She wanted it to be a surprise. She only hoped that Mayumi would be brave enough to try.