The Tree of Water by Elizabeth Haydon

fish need to eat, too. But many of them do, because there’s safety in numbers.”
    â€œI kinda wish we had brought along the rest of our friends from the inn,” Char said. “Nick and Saeli and Clem and Ida—well, maybe not Ida—”
    â€œThey would have had no way to breathe,” Ven interrupted. “I think it’s best that we just tell them the story when we get back.”
    â€œ If we get back,” said Char gloomily.
    â€œThat’s the spirit,” said the merrow. “Let’s get going—the herring are starting to head for the reef. They must feel that there aren’t many predators, because they’re swimming in sheets. That’s a sign that they have clear seas—so we had better take advantage of that while we can. And if they make it, the herring will throw a party, and we’ll be invited, of course. It will be a huge celebration.”
    â€œLet me guess.” Char’s thrum sounded sour. “A herring ball?”
    The merrow blinked. “Well, yes. Herring are great singers, and they dance pretty well, too.”
    â€œOf course they do.” Char looked at Ven, who was scowling at him. “All right, let’s go.”
    â€œIf you listen, you can hear the herring singing,” Amariel said as they followed the great silver cloud of fish through the drift and out to sea. “Their thrum is pretty.”
    Ven listened. At first he didn’t hear anything, but after a moment he could feel in his skin a pleasant tingling, as if he were being brushed by a feather. Then he realized the thrum was all around him, echoing through the sea.
    â€œThat is pretty,” he said.
    â€œIt can confuse predators, if there are any nearby,” Amariel said. “Soothing sounds and smooth gestures go unnoticed. A whole school of fish can swim right past a shark if they are singing nicely. It’s jerking movements and thrashing around that comes when a creature panics that will catch its attention.” She gave a thrust of her powerful tail to catch up with the herring.
    â€œWe’ll keep that in mind,” Ven thought out loud. He let the drift carry him as Amariel had showed him, and found that he was able to follow the fish fairly easily.
    He was paying such close attention to keeping up with the curtain of herring that he didn’t notice the change in the seafloor.
    Until something large and dark as night with wings like a giant bat passed directly beneath him.
    Waving a sharp weapon that gleamed menacingly in the light of the sun.

 
    10
    The Coral Reef
    â€œUh, Ven,” the merrow said. “Don’t move.”
----
    She didn’t have to tell me twice.
    In fact, I’m not sure she had to do so even once.
----
    The immense creature glided along the ocean floor, which Ven could see now was alive with strange formations in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Some looked like plants, others like stone, but Amariel had told him enough stories that he was fairly certain he was now hovering above the coral reef the merrow had told him about.
    Coral formations made up of billions of tiny animals.
    The bat-like beast came to a halt just above the coral bed. It turned to face them, then puffed its back like an angry cat. Its dark hide was mottled with flecks of gray and white, and it looked hollow as it watched them, its gills opening and closing quickly. Ven guessed it was bigger than the bed he slept in back home in the Crossroads Inn.
    It’s a marble ray . Amariel’s thrum echoed in his head. A stinger. You’ve startled him. He doesn’t want to hurt you, but he’s frightened, and he will if you make him feel threatened. And he can kill you very easily. He can break your leg with a swipe of his tail, and that barb is like a land sword—it can run you through.
    Ven held still. He hovered next to Char in the drift, who was frozen beside him.
    â€œSorry to have bothered you,” Amariel said