"Come To Mama *" by Stephanie Rennolds

          Water droplets. So small and precise, like fluid little sapphires. The exact hue, shape, and size differentiated in each drop, just like individual gems. A smile quirked the edge of Ahraelie’s thin blue lips upwards as she gazed at her collection. That was all that it was, really. A collection of different water shapes and colors.

          Rain; it had fallen on her nose one day when she had poked her head above the surface of the still waters in the cove. It was different as it blew from over the sea than it did when traveling over land and green living things. This beautiful little structure was definitely the over-land one, as it smelled and Felt warm and earthy. Ahraelie could Feel the green that it had soaked up while it traveled over the land. Next to it was the ocean-blown raindrop. It Felt cold and sharp, unforgiving in its beauty.

          Her organization of these droplets was unique. Next to the sea and earth rain was the cove’s water. It bubbled in its case, as it had on her eyelashes as she emerged one day to soak up the sunlight. It was salty and dark blue, a safe Feel for her as it was closest to her birth home.

          Ahraelie could look at them forever. She’d spent a whole week rearranging them in a new pattern just a month ago. With a reluctant sigh, she turned away from them and upwards, towards the beckoning sunlight. How long it would last, she didn’t know. She could taste an oncoming storm in the water.

          This was no ordinary storm. It would change her cove, and her, forever. She knew she may not come out of it alive. It terrified her. Taking a deep breath, Ahraelie broke the surface of the cove waters.

          Above her, the waterfall roared. Tons of water cascaded down upon the generally docile surface. There was rain, and it was flooding the river that fed into the cove and, through it, to the sea. Ahraelie’s body was thrown up against the rocky sides of the cove by the angry waters.

          The water spirit watched as the restless waters carried her out of the cove, and she curled into a fetal position. Mother was angry with her. Oh, Mother, please, Ahraelie pleaded. Kill me if you like, but do not destroy my cove.

          It was the most precious thing to her, other than her collection.

          It seemed that Mother was singing to her. A different song than in the past, but just as beautiful.

          A time has come, my little one…

          There was a mental laugh and Ahraelie suddenly thrashed out. Her four small, frail appendages shot out, and she tried to push herself back into her cove. Regardless of what she had said, she did not want to die. The small muscles in her frog-like body pushed against the raving current. The webs between her fingers and elongated toes served as paddles, but it was doing her no good. It pulled at her.

          No good… It’s no good. I’m coming, Mother.

          That laugh again. Oh, she hadn’t meant to let go of her handhold in the rock. She sighed. Oh, well. If Mother meant to have her back there was very little she could do about it. Ahraelie made a sad attempt to relax, but every minute piece of her remained tense like a harp wire strung too tight. It was a scary experience.

          Then, suddenly, she was pushed down. Just down. It wasn’t forceful, it was gentle and loving. She was no longer fighting to switch between gills and lungs. But this was different. The farther down she went, the cleaner and warmer it got. Ahraelie felt her eyes closing and her muscles relaxing involuntarily. Everything was becoming darker and darker, but somehow she knew it wouldn’t hurt. Mother – No, child. Mama. – Mama wasn’t going to hurt her. It would all be all right in the end. So she let her eyes shut.

          Ahraelie was part of the sea again. Bubbles and currents and calms, that was what that adorable little frog-like sprite became when Mama decided she wanted her daughter back.

          Mama loves you, Ahre. Mama will always love you.