ENCHANTAILS: Kumi Tai Realm Book 1

KELANI'S SECRET ISLAND

 

EXCERPT

CHAPTER 1:  The Island

 

          Kelani broke the surface of the Pacific Ocean. She spotted the familiar island in the distance.
Tropical birds flew overhead. They sang a foreign song while the clouds above formed beautiful shapes.

​The mermaid princess swam on her back, admiring the hot sun beating down on her bronze skin.
She flipped around about halfway to the island and discovered a funny-looking fish swimming beside her. Fish often were attracted to her because of the color of her tail.

          Kelani's tail was vibrant and orange. It could be seen from far away, but could be camouflaged in coral if necessary. The mermaid led the way into the exotic lagoon with a smile on her face. She often escaped to this place to tend to the plants and animals because the other mermaids from her realm would not. The merfolk from Kumi Tai were very compassionate to  undersea life but were reluctant to travel to the surface.

          The water in the lagoon was emerald green, sitting in the center of a small tropical island.

"Be careful up there," Kelani mimicked her father in a serious tone.  She giggled when she finally arrived at the center of the island and saw two tropical birds chasing each other around a tree.  They were so innocent and playful. She wondered how her father could think the land was dangerous.  She swam to the tree to observe.  It looked unusual with big leaves and bright pink fruit scattered throughout.  Kelani picked a fruit and gazed at it in amazement.  She planted the tree just a few days ago.  It was already fully grown.
She held the reddish pink fruit with sharp green scales in her hands, closely examining it.  The fruit reminded her of a dragon.  She peeled back the scales in an attempt to find the edible inside as curiosity got the best of her. The center of the fruit was opposite of the outside. Soft, spotted, and white.  She hesitated before tasting. It was delicious and sweet.

          Kelani finished the fruit and flopped out of the water to make sure the tree was properly maintained. She checked the ground for seeds that could be planted later. She found a seed near the water’s edge and buried it. Not a moment passed before it sprouted the beginnings of a new tree. This one looked like it might grow into a palm. She began splashing water on it when she heard a noise behind her.

          It sounded like a baby crying at first, until she turned around and discovered the source of the noise.  A wounded dolphin lay on the sandy banks of the lagoon.  The sight startled her. She swam over to help.

​"What’s wrong?" she asked the tiny dolphin.

          The dolphin was very small but looked strangely familiar. It was light grey in color with a black fin that seemed to be severely damaged. Kelani gasped. She recognized this Maui dolphin. It was Keiki, her long lost friend.

          "Keiki! What happened to you?” the mermaid asked in shock.