The morning of the summer festival was beautiful. The cloudless sky was the clearest shade of baby blue. The Beach tribe was packed with people. Tiber couldn't afford to lose sight of Cove, or she would be lost. He would brush his shoulder with hers every now and then, letting her know he was still there. "Marina is going to announce the beginning of the festival, so we must stand by the ocean until she does. We can't mingle with any other tribe until she starts the festival," Cove instructed. He and Tiber made their way to the sandy ocean shore and took a spot nearby other Jungle tribe members.

Looking around, she noticed that the Tribe of Snow and Ice was not represented. A feeling of dread began to consume her. Rilian, who wasn't too far away from her, gave her a nudge, "The Snow Tribe is always late, but they have the greatest distance to travel too. They'll come. Don't worry. Besides, you look too pretty not to smile."

Tiber smiled at her friend. She was right. Cove had Misu deliver a breathtakingly beautiful royal blue dress with sheer sleeves. It fell right past her calves and had silver beading along the boat neckline. She really liked it. Rilian looked absolutely radiant as well in her long ombre blue dress. It had cap sleeves and a front slit that came to her knee. Rilian had several bangles in various shades of blue to match her dress. While she was distracted, she heard the beating drums. Her tribe had arrived. Nervousness and excitement traveled through her veins. Cove squeezed her hand.

"You're from the Jungle tribe. You don't know them, remember?" He whispered, tickling her ear with his breath.

"You're right," Tiber admitted. She could not blow her cover. As her tribe arrived, Tiber noticed how many people came. Her tribe was the smallest of the three Waterbearer domains, but they sent the most people.

"Why so many of them," Cove asked.

"If we don't secure mates from the other tribes, we'll cease to exist because of the curse. It is like a steady production. Some couples marry and have children, while others are forbidden to have children. If every family produced a child, we would have no women in our tribe. Securing a mate from another tribe is necessary for survival," Tiber explained.

"I never knew it was that critical. There goes Marina."

Tiber's jaw dropped when she set her eyes upon Marina. She was pretty and looked as if she hadn't aged past twenty-five. Which was impossible, seeing that Rilian and Rio, her youngest children were in their early twenties. Her ocean-blue eyes danced like her daughter's. Rilian, Rio, and Marina strongly favored each other.

"What's her secret," she whispered to Rilian.

"Mother swears by sea salt body scrubs and seaweed facials. But I think it's because she drinks plenty of water," Rilian giggled.

Marina's eyes scoured over the Jungle tribe until her eyes landed on her children. She smiled slightly at them. "Good morning, Waterbearers of all tribes! We have gathered together in peace for our yearly summer festival! This is more than just a ritual, a display of friendship. This is an event of unity, brotherhood, and happiness. In the beginning, the Waterbearers tribes were one tribe. As time went on, we developed different specialties and interests. Our abilities evolved, and we chased the process and embraced our potential. This festival reminds us that we are all one. Regardless of where you find it, water is always two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen. And that will never change. Feel free to express yourselves and mingle, for we are all bearers of water." Clapping was heard immediately following Marina's words. Rilian, Kano, and Rio left Cove and Tiber alone as all the tribes began to mingle.

"We have to make this look natural. So let's enjoy some festivities as we make our way over."

Tiber knew Cove was right. They would look suspicious running over to her tribe; they had to relax and enjoy the event. "So, was there something that you wanted to do?" As soon as the question left her lips, a sea of women flooded over to them, separating them. Tiber was pushed and shoved far away from Cove within minutes. Beach tribe girls, Snow tribe girls, Jungle tribe girls, all of them vying for the attention of the young chief. Tiber lowered her head and went her own way. She didn't want to see anymore. Maybe if her father was alive, she might have been one of those girls, flocking to his side, fighting to be considered as suitable wife material. Her father would have made way for her to mingle with him. But that wasn't the case. Cove was a Chief, and Tiber was an outlaw of our own tribe charged with murder. This lovely dress and relaxing atmosphere quickly made her forget her new reality. She was a nobody, and she had absolutely nothing. Everything around her was borrowed, including time. A deep sadness was making a home in her heart. She just wanted to give up, ball up and cry. She should just turn herself in. Let Nahal have his way. He was winning anyway.

A low growl pulled her from her thoughts as Mika licked her hand several times, attempting to cheer her spirits. Tiber made her way to the rocky cliffs near the beachfront. She sat down with no regard for her new dress, no respect for her life, which was still in danger. She just sighed.

"This is not a day to spend alone, is it?" Tiber looked and saw Marina approach her.

"Good morning, Chiefess. I was just having a moment to myself."

"Number one rule of the summer festival, leave no one isolated, for no one is an island," she peered down to the beachfront and observed Cove being swallowed by women. "Have you ever heard the story of the dancing flamingos?"

"The dancing flamingos?"

"I guess you haven't heard of it. I'm not the best storyteller, but here's a go at it. A flamingo couple hatched a young girl chick along the banks of the great river. They raised her with love and care. They taught her everything, what to eat, when to eat, how to fly... everything. When the flamingo turned two, her mother was hunted. This left her and her father. Her father did his best to keep up with his daughter's needs. This went on for years. When she was old enough to survive on her own, she was preparing to meet at the river banks with the other young flamingos around her age. When they were all present, an atmosphere began to overtake them, and they all started to dance. Hundreds of flamingos began dancing and dancing, and every few minutes, a male and female would take to the skies together, signifying their union. After the first day, the daughter went to her father and sobbed. She told him that none of the males wished to take to the skies with her. She questioned herself and compared herself to the other flamingoes. Was her neck long enough? Curved enough? Were her feathers preened enough? Was her pink plumage pink enough? Her father told her to go back and keep dancing. The daughter went back and danced again. She did this for three days. On the third day, there were hardly any males left, but when she found a mate willing to fly to the sky with her, she found a mate for life."

"The point is that regardless of what we have endured, there's someone special for everyone. We all have life trials, but that should not hinder happiness. The dance is a compatibility test. Instead of wasting time forgetting your worth, keep going, dancing, expressing, and changing until you find that one. The one who wants to dance with you forever."

"Kind of reminds me of this festival," Tiber replied. "I guess I'm like that flamingo, wishing she was more."

"And the more she danced, the more she realized that she was becoming everything she wanted to be. Keep dancing. Your father would have wanted that."

Tiber violently shook her head and turned to her. Marina placed a finger upon her lips, signaling Tiber to hush. "You have eyes like your mother. We were good friends. She was in awe of your father. She, like you, ran when she saw other women flock to him. She would sit up here and sigh over and over again. I told her, 'If you don't go and start talking to him, I will put you in a net and toss you in that ocean.' Your father was sad over the loss of his first wife and was struggling with being a single parent. Every festival, they started growing closer and closer until they got married. She was a wonderful friend to me."

"Please don't tell anyone that I'm here."

"I heard what happened. And I know that you would never kill your father. Yas came looking for you. But you weren't here, obviously."

"Why are you even talking to me? Don't you want to side with Neptune?"

"Of course not. I am a believer in the Universe, but I have a policy in place to deal with whoever in order to look out for the best interest of my tribe. Because of that, I often appear neutral. However, the truth is I'd rather not fan flames. Tiber, listen to me. Our time may be short. Your father felt his demise coming. He entrusted me with great secrets. Listen to these words carefully. I can only afford to say it once. 'The world changed when the sun and moon rose together. Blood turned to ice and flames. The sun's rays burn with hate. The sea has one set of eyes but two faces. You are the new moon, and you will rise. The cat holds the key. Look in her eyes.'"

Tiber jumped to her feet. Part of the message was confusing, but the other part, she knew exactly what it meant. "Thank you, Marina! Grace the Universe. This was exactly what I needed." She hugged her tightly.

Marina pushed her away, "My duty here is done. Go and mingle. Your life depends on it." Marina hurried off, and Tiber hurried to the beachfront. She decided to find Chelan and Sita on her own. Cove was too busy with his audience anyway. Mika stayed by her side the entire time. She ran on the beachfront and saw the ocean waterworks show. She stopped to observe the beautiful performance. Beach dancers were standing in the ocean, manipulating the water in sync with the beating drums. As her attention was on the show, she felt someone nudge her. When she looked from the corner of her eye, she saw Chelan and Sita smiling at her. She nodded in their direction. Sita came close to Tiber.

"I'm glad to see you're okay," she whispered to Tiber, "we have the information on Nahal and Neptune."

"Good, and I have the decree. We need to go to one of those tent shops to act like we are making a trade. Meet me at that jewelry tent after this water show. We have to remain discreet."

"Yes, we do. Nahal is here, and Chelan is keeping tabs on him. If we knew this tribe better, we could find a discreet place to meet."

"I know a place, but we must get there while it is still crowded."

"Okay, Tiber, we'll meet later," Sita whispered as she and Chelan walked to get a different view of the water show."

Hands grasped her shoulders, "Talia, why did you run off?" It was Cove, and Tiber was relieved. He looked genuinely concerned about her.

"I'm fine. Besides, I wouldn't want you to miss out. Like you said, you never have time for events like this."

"What are you talking about? Miss out on what?"

Tiber ignored him and continued watching the waterworks. She could sense Cove's rising frustration. She didn't want to anger him, especially after all he's done to help her. But she was being honest. This, whatever it was, was not meant to be. She had to focus on why she was here. Her father charged her with saving her tribe, and the Universe gave her a second chance to change her destiny. Cove was an amazing person. He was kind, loyal, and strong. Tiber knew in her heart the moment those other girls separated them that regardless, they were not meant to be. She didn't want to blur the lines of true love and fellowship. They didn't know each other, so she decided it would be unwise to let her emotions misguide her.