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Kal is on duty once spring comes and the waters near the shore of Cape Code start to get warmer under the radiant sun.
Krypton mermaids don't live under Atlanti's rule but they work together to keep humans away from their Kingdom. Keeping humans safe from shark bites is just Clark's hobby. His nose is too sensitive to the smell of blood and Kal doesn't want humans to attack the sharks.
Kal loves sharks. They are big and their skin is soft. Their teeth may look scary, yet they are docile animals.
And killer whales prey on them. Kal knows a particular pod that swims near his waters. Their leader is a big alpha male and seven members, two of them are calves. The pod doesn't interact with other mermaids or creatures and Kal has never seen them hunting. They all disappear when the sun goes down. It's starting to make him feel uncomfortable to live surrounded by predators with such unpredictable movements.
He shouldn't worry about it but he has babies of his own to care for and Lara and Jon like sharks. Kal would hate to see his kids crying because their favorite pet is dead.
"Easy, Jon, be gentle" Kal smiles at his one-year-old baby, while the kid touches the gray shark's nose. It's midday and Kal can hear the people on the beach, the vibration when they jump into the water.
The sun is gently burning his shoulders and Kal can feel the warmth all over his body, even on the blue and red scales of his tail. Jon gurgles happily and he screams surprised when his sister comes out of the water in a splash, scaring her father and brother as well as the shark who disappears fast into safety.
"Lara!" Kal is surprised and scared as Jon. For a second, he is angry at his eldest kid but the feeling disappears as it comes.
"Sorry!" But his daughter don't seem sorry at all and Jon stretch his little arms toward his sister "I meant to scare him, not you Mom"
"You scare all of us, even the shark"
"That's good for him, I saw the orcas near here an hour ago," Lara says worried but also with a touch of defiance Kal is accustomed to seeing in his daughter.
Kal lets Jon go with his sister and Lara starts to cuddle him. That's not good, Kal doesn't want such a big predator close to his kids. Orcas are ruthless when it comes to their kills and it's impossible to survive a pack attack.
"Okay, let's go home. I don't want any of you here" Kal picks up Jon from Lara's arms and leads his kids back home, in the safety of their own people.
Hours later, once his kids are safe, Kal begins his patrol on the shore. The sun is red now and the water is starting to get muddy because the light is starting to fade. Nights are quiet in the ocean. And it's been a while since Kal had a mate. A true one, not just the occasional one during mating seasons. He is grateful for those who gave him kids but Kal doesn't like to sleep alone. He craves touch and love.
The idea to live for centuries alone makes Kal's heart shrink when all he only wants is to be someone's true mate. Such an intimate and sweet feeling comes at the most inconvenient time when he is busy with his work. Duty comes first, the safety of his family and community. Orcas are never a good sign and Kal has no reason to think this time is going to be different at all.
Or maybe he could be wrong. And he always has hope before anything at all.