Tiasa forced her eyes open. She knew she would get used to the stinging of the salt water soon, but it was still a battle every time. The colours of the reef below like blotches of dye danced with the sunlight filtering through the surface above. As her eyes adjusted, she could see the shadows that were her older siblings shifting along the folds and crevices in the corals. She would be joining them soon. In just a few days, her sight would be as clear below as above the water, and she would be swimming with the fish, scouring for clams, crabs, crayfish.

A draft of water pressed against her skin, ripping her out of her thoughts. Pacu swam up in front of her, his snout close enough to her face that she could make out his features even with her impaired vision. She could almost see a smile on the otter's face, in the way it opened its mouth slightly. He pushed himself away, diving down towards the reef. Tiasa turned and followed in a crude imitation of Pacu's gait. He reached the corals long before she did, scaring away a school of fish that scattered and reformed further away.

Barely half way down, and her strength was already starting to fade. Despite her training, the breath she held was starting to tighten in her chest. Pacu looked back at her expectantly, but it seemed like the distance before her shrunk less with each one of her strokes. At last, with one final push she reached the rocks, her chest burning and begging her for air. She didn't hesitate, immediately kicking off the rock, and swimming back up fast as she could. She burst through the surface, gasping for air. This was almost the deepest she's ever been. 

She waved her arms back and forth and kicking the water beneath her to keep her head above water. She was still out of breath and feeling light-headed, but luckily the sea was calm and there were no waves to struggle against. A cold breeze tickled her wet cheeks. Something caught her eye at the edge of her vision, and she spun to see a furry head pop out of the water. It wasn't Pacu. This otter was larger, and the fur beneath its eyes was darker and in a different shape than her otter's. Crap, she thought. She'd been caught.

Jala's head broke through the surface. She too took a deep breath, though she probably still didn't need one, and steadied herself on the surface. Her otter paddled over to her.

"You're supposed to be on basket duty," Jala said, "what are you doing in the water?"

"I was just taking a break. Pacu jumped in and..."

"And what were you thinking, ascending so quickly, that's dangerous!" Jala's voice was forceful and Tiasa shrank back a little, "Besides, Pacu is an otter, he's a child! Do you eat fish raw like Pacu? Do you dig in the dirt like him?"

"But sis-," Tiasa began, though Jala cut her off, "But sis nothing! Your ceremony is in two days. You are almost a woman! Start acting like it."

Tiasa looked down, feeling her cheeks grow hot. "I'm sorry," she muttered. Her sister stayed quiet for a moment, and Tiasa glanced up, seeing her expression soften.

"No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled," Jala sighed, "But I mean it. Think before you do things." She rapped her knuckles against Tiasa's forehead gently. At that moment Pacu surfaced, splashing in both of their faces, which relieved a lot of the tension that still remained.

A whistle pierced the air. It was shrill and distinct, Tiasa knew what to look for before she saw the source. A small boat with a cabin roofed with coloured tarps was approaching one of the village docks. It barely took as much as a pleading look at Jala for her to smile and say "Fine, go." Tiasa swam to shore.

Tiasa did not go to the docks immediately. Instead, she rushed through of the village in the opposite direction of where the boat had docked. She and Pacu rushed over the boardwalks, jumped down onto a dirt path leading up a small hill, and kept running.

A shack stood there, just on the edge of the forest. Half of its roof was caved in, though it had never been a particularly tall building. Tiasa always thought it looked a little flat, like some giant had just pushed it down into the ground. Pacu overtook her as it came into view, racing up the last stretch of the path. He stopped in front of the shack and looked back at his master, though he did not stand still. When she caught up to him, once again a little out of breath, she crouched down and scratched his chin.

"Maco," she called, "Are you there?"

Receiving an answer, she pushed past the drapes in the door and into the shack. It was dimly lit, as usual, the only light coming through cracks in a boarded up window and holes in the caved in roof. The inside was as unkept as the outside, and looked as though it had been thoroughly ransacked. That was, however, the very state it was expected to be in. On a stool in the part of the room with an intact roof sat a young girl entranced by the sewing of a cloth doll. Her otter, still but a pup, lay splayed at her feet, fast asleep.

"Oh, hey, Dumpling," Tiasa got the girl's attention.

"I told you not to call me that!" Dumpling said, her face flushing a little as she looked up. "What do you want?"

"Have you seen Maco?" Tiasa asked. "I thought he'd be here."

"He's not," Dumpling answered bluntly, and went back to her sewing.

"Well, do you know where he is?"

"I haven't seen him all day," Dumpling shrugged without looking up.

Tiasa paused. An uncomfortable silence filled the air. It was difficult talking to Dumpling, the two of them didn't have much in common. The other girl really didn't put in a lot of effort to bridge the gap either. "The merchant's here," Tiasa said finally.

"Alright," Dumpling said, but she couldn't fully hide her smile.

"See you around, Dumpling," Tiasa said as she turned to leave, only drawing a despondent "Mhm" from Dumpling. Tiasa ducked back outside, Pacu at her heels. The sun stunned her for a moment and she raised a hand to her brow. This isn't like Maco, she thought, he's always here at this time of day, it's his nap time. 

She began to walk back towards the village, lost in thought. He'll turn up eventually, she assured herself. She decided just go to the merchant's boat alone for now. Pacu trailed in front of her and came to a halt at the boardwalks. She helped him up then clambered up herself, and the two trotted towards the docks.

The docks were already crowded by the time Tiasa arrived. The boat was tied by the bow and the stern, its oars resting on the dock. A number of men from the village were unloading sacks of rice in pairs, each big enough to feed someone for a whole year. Their otters were waiting patiently out of the way.

She spotted her blood-mother standing upon the boat near the cabin. She ducked and dodged through the crowd, over the boarding planks, and onto the boat, making her way over to her mother. Her mother was conversing with the head merchant. He and the other sailors were strange men, their skin wasn't dark gray as an adult's skin ought to be, they all looked a little like Maco. However they weren't childlike, unlike him. When she was younger they frightened her, but she grew more accustomed to them with each of their visits. It was still difficult for her to tell a lot of the sailors apart, she couldn't even tell if she had seen them before. All but the man her mother was talking to, though she still could not remember his name. He was hard to miss, wearing his brightly coloured tunic and a skirt that went down to his calves which did little to hide his muscular frame.

"You're early this time," she overheard her mother speak, "we weren't expecting you 'till next week."

"The winds were in our favour," the merchant's voice was sharp with a throaty accent.

"Good thing too," her mother responded, "I'm not sure we would have had enough ichor for the bonding ceremony coming up."

"Oh, when is that?" the man answered as Tiasa approached. 

"The day after tomorrow," her mother said, noticing Tiasa and turning, "Tiasa, aren't you supposed to be on basket duty?"

"Jala let me come," she explained, "I'll finish up later."

"Perhaps I will be able to join you," The merchant smiled down at her, his teeth were so white they seemed to shine. "Tiasa, look at you, girl! You have grown so much since I saw you last! How old are you now?"

"I'm fifteen," Tiasa smiled back, a little shy.

"Yes, it'll be her ceremony," her mother said, "It would be lovely to have you there."

The two adults continued to exchange pleasantries, and although Tiasa did want to take part of the conversation, she found her interest drifting. The door to the merchant's cabin was standing ajar right there, beckoning her. Pacu seemed to have similar ideas, as he, sniffing the air, approached the door. Tiasa glanced back at her mother and the merchant. Neither was paying any attention to her, they had begun to negotiate the village's payment for the goods. In the clear, she thought. She took a breath and held onto it as she stepped through the door, carefully sliding it shut behind her.

Tiasa was met with a cascade of foreign scents and colours. The cabin wasn't roomy, but it was filled from floor to ceiling brimming shelves. She stepped further into the cabin, her senses wide open to a plentitude of experiences. There were tapestries in bright colours with shining metallic threads embroidered upon them, beautiful metal necklaces hanging on the wall, racks of spices and foods of all sorts. There was little light, and many of the crates, urns, jars, and other containers were stacked precariously. She eased past an amphora placed dangerously close to the edge a shelf. Pacu seemed to sense her caution and stuck close to her feet.

There it was, hidden among the crates a box stuffed with what looked like crystals in all colours imaginable, each growing on a thin wooden stick. She had loved these sweet treasures since she was a child. No berry or fruit ever quite compared to these. No one will notice if one or two go missing, she told herself. A quick glance back towards the door, a swift sleight of her hand, and two sticks of rock candy were safe in her pocket. Just then she heard the door slide open.

Tiasa turned, pushing her back against the shelf. She shouldn't be in the view.

"I have brought some ichor already," the merchant's voice rang into the room, "but I will have to go back to the ship for the rest of it." Tiasa however had her attention elsewhere. The amphora she had dodged was knocked off balance in her rush to hide. She snatched the handle, steadying it carefully, holding her breath.

"Your pearls truly grow larger each year," the man said, and she could hear the clicking of a metal lock, "I am impressed every time again."

"You are too kind, Quai'tlo," her mother's voice still came from outside, "but flattery will not get you anywhere, we have a deal."

"Your pronunciation has gotten much better," Quai'tlo answered, still fiddling with the lockbox, "but you cannot blame a man for the attempt. "

Her mother laughed. Tiasa loved that sound, though it had been too long since she'd heard it. She felt a smile tug at her lips.

The clicking of the lock was followed by the creaking of its hinges and a rasping sound, as the merchant lifted a large glass jar out of the box. As he did, a faint blue glow washed across the room, catching in the shadows where Tiasa hid. She pushed herself further against the shelf, but dared a look, catching glimpses past the containers on the shelf. She had seen Ichor before, but the cloudy, teal liquid marbled with wisps of silver was still a mesmerising sight. Quai'tlo stepped back outside, holding the head-sized jar in both hands. Tiasa let a breath go she didn't know she was holding as the door slid shut.

She snuck back to the entrance and cracked the door. Her mother soon left to look for her, and Quai'tlo seemed to be heading to the elder's house. When the coast was clear, Tiasa went back outside.

It wasn't until much later that day that Tiasa found Maco. Even though she was worried, she still had work to do, and Jala wasn't one to let her laze about all day without consequence. So it was that she finished her chores, and went out for another swim with Pacu, he even managed to catch himself a good few fish for dinner. It was when Maco wasn't around for dinner that she got worried. After wolfing down a grilled fish and some rice, she ran off to look for Maco once more.

She found him north of the village, some boys had seen him go that way. He was sitting near the edge of a cliff, his knees tucked into an embrace and his head resting upon them. Tiasa clambered up and sat down next to him. Pacu arrived soon after her, settling beside her on the rock. It was warm from a long day of sunshine, and it felt pleasant beneath her legs. The sun was setting, scattering motes of orange light upon the waves below. She could even see the merchant's main vessel anchored in the deep water out at sea, and the green of the neighbour island. She stayed quiet for a while taking in the sight.

"Hey," she said, almost whispering. She looked over at Maco. His eyes were half closed, and she could not see his lips beyond his arms. He didn't respond.

"Were you here the whole day?" she tried again, carefully. Again Maco didn't respond. An extended moment passed. Finally, she said "Did I do something?"

"No," Maco mumbled at last.

"Is something wrong?" Tiasa asked.

"Not really," he answered, still speaking into his arms. She gave him a moment, not pressing him.

"You know I'm here for you," she said, "If there is anything that I can do..." She trailed off.

"But that's it," Maco mumbled so quietly that Tiasa didn't understand.

"I'm sorry?"

"But that's just it," he repeated, louder, "You won't be."

An icy feeling settled in her stomach. "What do you mean?"

"You're leaving. You're growing up."

"You mean my bonding ceremony?"

"Yeah..." he sighed, "You're leaving me behind."

"I'm not going anywhere," Tiasa said. "I-"

"But you're changing," he interrupted, "You'll be a grown up, and not my friend anymore." He started playing with grasses growing in the cracks in the rock, pulling them out and ripping them apart. "Like everyone else. They grow up and I stay behind. You're growing up already."

"Maco..." Tiasa began, but choked on her words. So that's it. Tiasa understood. It wasn't complex, few of Maco's thoughts ever were. "I can't stay a kid for ever," she said.

"But why not?" it wasn't a question, it was a plea. "Everyone else leaves. Everyone else grows up. It's not fair!" with that he threw the grass into the wind, anger rising.

Tiasa took a breath. "Maco, I won't lie, things will change. I'll change," she admitted, pausing, "Though some things also won't. I'll always be your friend. I'll have less time, more responsibilities and more freedoms, that's true. But I'll always make room for you." She smiled weakly. She looked back over at him, and he once again hid his face in his arms. A muffled sniffling escaped from between them, but otherwise, Maco did not answer. When he sat there curled up and hugging himself, he really did look like a child. He looked small, young, the signs of his true age hidden by his posture. His skin tan like hers and the other children, lacking the dark grey of adulthood.

A dark thought crossed Tiasa's mind. What if my bonding also fails? What if I really do stay a child for ever, what if I end up like Maco? A pit formed in her stomach, not just from the anxiety of a potential failure of her bond with Pacu, but also from thinking of Maco like that. Too many already did, going as far as avoiding or even tormenting him for fear he may somehow incite the same fate in others that he himself suffered. He was defenceless, in mind little more than a child despite having the physique of a young man in his twenties.

A cold touch to her forearm jolted her out of her thoughts. Pacu was looking at her intensely, something hidden beyond his eyes. "What is it, buddy?" she asked him. Of course, he did not answer. Soon I'll understand you. She sat back and felt something hard and sharp push against her leg. Oh right, of course, she remembered, pulling out the two pieces of rock candy.

"I got you something, but you gotta keep it a secret, okay?" she said, holding out the candy towards her friend. He looked up at her, then down at the candy. He hesitated, but took it by its wooden handle.

"Thank you," he said, "what is it?"

"You eat it," Tiasa explained, and demonstrated by biting down on it. The candy crunched between her teeth and she could feel it throughout her entire skull and her mouth was bathed in the greatest sweetness there was. Tentatively, Maco did the same, raising the candy to his lips and licking it. His eyes grew wide and he took an eager bite, looking over to Tiasa with an enthusiasm really only a child could muster, every hint of dourness washed away.

The two of them sat there for another while, watching as the sun sink into the ocean, painting the sky in all its colours. They didn't speak. They didn't have to.