Hadruf Island

    They were daughters of the sea, sisters of the glimmering waves, a society of mermaids that lived through time, ageless and beautiful. They inhibited an island that would move across the ocean to wherever they pleased and on a night of a full moon and high tide, the island sailed towards a city known as Manama. The city was known for it’s ample water supply for it was overlooking the sea and for its precious pearls that mermaids could attain. It was a start of a new era for them, a new home, a new beginning. 

    Overtime, the mermaids’ island began having unwelcome guests, alien creatures that looked like them but had two long fleshy sticks instead of a tail. These aliens kept wondering around their territory, but somehow never interacting with them. Day after day, blocks were built higher and arches were constructed. It looked like a grotto made of metal, glass and concrete. On a cloudy nowrooz morning, raindrops started trickling down ever so lightly till it turned into heavy showers. And to the mermaids’ surprise, these heavy showers were accompanied by direct death stares by the aliens. Suddenly, the island was washed up by noise; noise from the raindrops, from the sea, and from vocal cords. 

    The two societies had an ongoing argument. A matter of pride and a matter of place. Each side defending their civilization that came first, claiming that this is their home. This island was the mermaids’, this was their home for eras, they sailed through their fathers’ sea with this island, how could these aliens make it their own? A matter of survival of the fittest; water based competitions were held to settle this once and for all. The mermaids were sure to win, after all the water is their home. Throughout the days this competition has stretched across, they have noticed that one of their eggs have been stolen, an act of greed they were repulsed by, but they decided to stay quiet about it, leaving the universe to avenge them. 

    Days have passed and the competition was not over. To their surprise, the aliens were quite impressive with their water skills. Deciding to come to a truce, the mermaids chose to remain in the water surrounding the island, making it their home and leaving the concrete harshness that's above the island to the aliens.  

    Three generations have passed, time in favor of the mermaids granting them beauty and youth, not looking a day older over yesterday. Mermaids loving the water have had no problem living in it throughout their time. 

    On a sunny morning, and for the first time ever, the aliens started sailing on a wooden island that floats on water. The mermaids looking at each other smirked and swam up to this island forcing the aliens to stop.

“Did you ask our permission to cross our territory?”

Furdah Island

    They are the children of Adam and Eve, siblings of earth, a society of humans that roamed the land. They inhibit the city of Manama, where trade was booming and the economy started to flourish with palm trees and pearl diving. On a hot sunny day and with the crack of dawn, to their surprise, they saw a new land attached to the Manama they knew as if the sea just brought in a new gift. 

    The instinct of human nature has kicked in, and the opportunity to build up this land has become their top priority. A building of concrete, glass and steel has been constructed to create a new landmark for their future economy. On a cloudy nowrooz morning, raindrops started trickling down ever so lightly till it turned into heavy showers. To the humans’ shock, they started seeing mermaids on their land. It was something out of a fairytale that should never be part of their reality. Suddenly, the building was washed up by noise; noise from the raindrops, from the sea, and from vocal cords.

    The two societies had an ongoing argument. A matter of pride and a matter of place. Each side defending their civilization, claiming that they came first, and this is their home. The humans constructed this building, and it was the result of their hardship, how could these creatures invade it? A matter of survival of the fittest; a suggestion was made to settle this struggle by having water based competitions. The humans were sure to win, after all they are famous for pearl diving in this region, in addition to the fact that they lived on an island. Throughout the days this competition has stretched across, a group of the humans decided to steal a mermaids’ egg to keep their own and swam across to the neighboring city of Muharraq.

    Days have passed and the competition was not over. The mermaids were persistent creatures that did not give up, and the fact that they are sea beasts did not help. Deciding to come to a truce, the humans took over the land with the building and left the ever-changing sea to the mermaids. 

    Three generations have passed, time being an angel of death to humans taking away parents and leaving kids as orphans over time. But after all, this was the life they have been used to and it was nothing new.

    On a sunny morning, and after a lot of hard work building a new wooden ship to sail to other countries to for trade, the humans decided to embark on a new journey. All of a sudden a group of mermaids swam up to their boat ferociously and in a loud voice asked:

“Did you ask our permission to cross our territory?”