Dangerous Waters: Chapter Three
 Chapter Three: New Friends and Terrible News
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Summery: Rho and Henry head to the infirmary to start Rhoâs training. An unexpected run-in on the ways brings a possible friend and day shattering news
Warnings: Crying, Mentions of a war, let me know if anything else needs tagged
It had been about five minutes since we left the house, but I still had no clue where we were going. After getting tired of trying to keep up by running up every once-in-a-while, I grabbed his hand, something I used to do with my mom.
 âWhat is it, Rho?â He asked.
 âNothing,â I replied, âWhere are we going?â
 âOh, well right now weâre just headed to the infirmary to make sure everythingâs in place.âÂ
âOh, ok,â I said satisfied with the answer.Â
I must have made my train of thought obvious because my uncle asked, âWhatâs on your mind, kiddo?â
 âUmmmâŠ...why would I be dead if they found out Iâm a mer?â I could see the color drain from his face and I immediately regretted asking anything
 âI think youâll find out very soonâŠâÂ
We walked in silence, it was what felt like forever even though it was most likely only a few seconds. I saw to people approaching, they looked like a father and son duo, the older gentleman looked like he was of high status. He held his head high, while the younger boy looked like he wanted to disappear, he wanted no part in the older gentlemanâs parade around town.
 He was curious just enough for us to make eye contact. It sent a shiver down my spine and by the jitter motion he made it was mutual. We turned up to our own respective caregivers and asked the same question, âWhoâs that?â A puzzled look crossed my uncleâs face before he registered who I was referring to. A look of hatred, something Iâve never seen him with, flooded his face.Â
âThatâs Issac Stonemaple and his son Dax.â he snarled.Â
âSon, I was rightâ I thought to myself seeing Mr. Issac saying something to his son, Dax. I couldnât quite hear what he said, but based on the facial expression he adorned mimicking that of my uncleâs, it was something very similar to what I had just been told.Â
As we passed, Mr. Issac struck a conversation managing to keep the obvious disdain, from his face, out of his voice, âHello, Oleander,â he greeted, âAnd who may this be?â he asked, bending down to meet my eyes.
 âGo ahead, Rosebud, you can introduce yourself,â His face and voice had softened as he spoke to me.
 âMy name is Rhoma Ezra Kingsley,â I offered my hand out, âand you are?âÂ
âMayor Issac Stonemaple,â he seemed quite charmed as he shook my hand, but I know people, this was nothing but relief that I spoke sweetly.
 âAnd this,â he continued, gesturing to the boy, Dax, âis my son Dax. I hope you two can be friends.â Dax brightened at the aspect of us being friends but did his best at hiding it, he even stepped behind his father.
 âDonât be shy, son,â my Uncle Henry said, smiling sweetly at Dax.
 âYes with the ongoing war I think you two wonât have much of a choice, since Rhoma here is training as a medic,â he chuckled at the end, but it didnât have the same sweet tone as my uncleâs. There was something forced, something twisted, but I couldnât place it.
 âWar?â I thought âUncle Henry didnât say anything about a war.â My uncle only had a trace of the smile that he previously gleamed. âYes, speaking of which thatâs where we were headed. We should probably get going,â he huffed.
 âOf course,â Mayor Issac replied, cheery, as, ever. Dax and I shared an awkward smile.Â
Once we were out of ear shot my uncle spoke, âYou will not be friends with him, thatâs my only request of you. You donât have to give Dax a cold shoulder but you are not to get close to him, alright.â
 âAnd why is that?â I queried, quite curious as to why I wasnât supposed to befriend him.Â
âAhhh,â my uncle sighed, âI know this will seem stupid, but itâs because I donât like his dad.â My uncle looked almost shameful after admitting that.
 âWell Iâm sure that thereâs a perfectly good reason, but we can talk about it over dinner,â I offered. I took it as a win seeing his shoulders relax.
 âWhat about this âwarâ that was mentioned?â I peppered quizzically. He sighed again rubbing his temples, âI was hoping that wouldnât come up, but thereâs no reason not to tell you,â he mumbled. Staring intently, I stayed silent awaiting his answer.
 âThereâs a war between the folks here and the mers. Itâs either referred to as âThe Sirensâ Warâ or âMan v.s. Monstersâ. They donât like any non-humans really.âÂ
I froze, âHow am I supposed to react to that?â I felt all kinds of hurt and shock. It was too much. Before I knew it there only were tears, and Uncle Henryâs comforting words.Â
âThat *hic* explains a lot *hic hic*,â I was sobbing at this point and Iâm very glad that there werenât any on-lookers to judge me. Uncle Henry scooped me up, his words of comfort never wavering. I was filled with so much dread I couldnât take it. âIâm only 7, it'll get better, right?â I thought, but I really doubted myself.Â
Chapter three is done now onto the next one!
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