A HUNTER STOLE HER BABY BY THE RIVER, YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT A MERMAID DID
The mermaid hid inside the water, staring at the woman who just gave birth by the river. Suddenly, a hunter appeared from the bushes, took one of the babies, and disappeared. The mermaid’s eyes burned with fury. It was very early in the morning. The had not yet crowed in the village. The sky was still dark, but a faint light was showing in the east.
Birds had not started singing. Everywhere was quiet. Epheoma, a young woman, carried a water pot on her head and carried a small calabash in her hand. She was on her way to the river to fetch water. Her husband was still sleeping and most of the neighbors were still inside their huts. She was pregnant, very heavy with child, but she did not want to wait for anyone to help her.
She had always been strong, and she told herself she could manage. The road to the river was long and lonely. Tall trees stood on both sides, and the grasses were wet with dew. A cool wind blew, making her wrapper shake as she walked. Her feet made soft sounds on the sandy path. As she walked, Ephilmer thought about her life.
She had waited 3 years for a child. People had mocked her, called her barren, and whispered behind her back, but now she was full of hope. Her stomach was big, and soon she would prove them wrong. When she reached the riverbank, she bent down slowly, put her pot on the ground, and sighed. She stretched her back, tired from the walk.
She knelled and dipped her calabash into the cool, clear water. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her stomach. She dropped the calabash and held her waist. Her breath caught. The pain came again, stronger. This time she tried to stand, but her legs shook. The water pot beside her rode slightly on the sand.
“Oh no,” she whispered. “Not here. Not now.” But it was too late. Her body was ready. She was going into labor. The river flowed gently, as if watching her. The trees stood still, silent witnesses. There was no one around, only the water, the wind, and the hidden eyes of someone beneath the waves. For deep under the river, a mermaid, Nenna, had been hiding.
She had long hair that floated around her like silk, and her eyes shone like the morning star. She had been in the water all night, waiting, listening. Now she saw everything. If Faom fell to her knees, crying out as the pains grew stronger, she pushed sweat pouring down her face. Alone, afraid, yet determined, she gave birth, right there on the sand.
Her first cry of joy came when a baby boy slipped into her hands, wet and small, but alive. He let out a weak cry, and Ephemer hugged him to her chest. But before she could rest, another wave of pain gripped her. She screamed, pressing her teeth against her lips. Within minutes, another baby came a girl.
If gasped in surprise, “Twins? I have twins?” Her eyes filled with tears. She was too weak to stand, but she smiled through her pain. God had blessed her double. The shame was over. She had children at last, but she did not know that danger was near. From the thick bush behind her, footsteps sounded. A tall hunter stepped out quietly.
He wore animal skin around his waist and carried a bow on his shoulder. His name was Odog Wu. He was not an ordinary hunter. Many feared him in the village because he had powers that nobody could explain. He could walk like a shadow, appear like smoke, and vanish without a trace. If saw him and thought, “Help had come. Relief filled her face.
She raised one hand weakly and called out, “Please help me, my babies.” But a dog’s eyes were strange. They glowed faintly, and his lips curved into a smile that was not kind. He walked straight to where the little girl was lying, still crying. Ephilma tried to sit up. “Wait, don’t touch her,” she begged.
But before she could say another word, Odo bent down, lifted the baby girl, and in one blink, he was gone. He disappeared into thin air. The riverbank was empty. Only the sound of flowing water remained. Ephemer froze. She looked at her arms. The boy twin was still there. She looked at the ground where the girl had been. empty. Her heart broke.
Her mouth opened in a long, painful scream. My baby, my baby. Her cries echoed across the river. She tried to crawl forward, but her body was too weak. She held her son tighter, rocking him desperately. Tears streamed down her face. Somebody help me, please. My baby is gone. Somebody please. But nobody answered. The village was still asleep.
PART2
The road was still empty. Only the mermaid in the water had heard her cry. Slowly, the mermaid rose to the surface. Her shining face appeared above the water. Her hair floated like black silk, and her eyes were full of pity. She had seen everything. She had watched the hunter take the child, yet she had not moved.
Now she stood in the shallow water, staring at the weak woman on the sand. Her heart beat fast. She had always longed for a child, but the water kingdom had never given her one. When she saw the twins, her heart burned with desire. She thought of how easy it would be to step forward and take the boy left in Ephuma’s arms.
She could raise him in the water, keep him as her own, and no one would ever know. But she hesitated. The mother’s cries touched her heart. The pain in Ephoma’s voice was so deep, so heavy that even the waves seemed to tremble with sorrow. The baby boy cried too, his voice thin and weak. If struggled to calm him, whispering broken words.
She rocked back and forth, her tears dripping onto his small face. The mermaid’s hands shook. She stepped one pace closer, the water swirling around her glowing tail, her eyes shone with longing and confusion. Should she reveal herself? Should she come for the woman? Or should she take the child and disappear under the waves? The sky grew brighter.
Dawn was breaking. Soon the villagers would begin to wake and someone might come to the river. Time was running out. The mermaid’s heart pounded. She knew she had to decide quickly. But she did not move. She only stood there watching, listening, and waiting. For years, Nana the mermaid had longed for a child.
She had prayed to the river, cried to the waves, but no baby had been given to her. Now she thought, this may be my chance. This baby boy can be mine. Nobody will know. Nobody will stop me. She lifted her hand slowly, preparing to step forward. But before she could move, another figure rose from the water. It was another mermaid.
She was taller, her face glowing like the morning sun. Her name was Oledo, one of the oldest and wisest mermaids of the river. Her tail shimmerred with golden light. And when she moved, the river seemed to bow in respect. Olaido’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Nana. What are you doing here, my sister?” she asked in a calm but firm voice.
“Why are you standing at the edge, staring at this human woman?” Nana’s heart jumped. She had not expected anyone to catch her. She lowered her eyes and whispered, “I I am only watching.” But Olido was not fooled. Watching? No, she said, shaking her head. I see your heart. You are thinking of taking that child.
You want to carry him into the river and raise him as your own. Is that not true? Nana’s lips trembled. Slowly, she nodded. Yes, I want him. I want to be a mother. I have waited too long, Olido. Too long. The river has given me nothing. But now I see this child and my heart burns. Why should I not take him? The woman has two. A hunter has taken one.
Let me have the other. Olido’s eyes hardened. She shook her head and said, “No, Nana, that is not the way. You cannot take what is not yours. Do you not know the river’s law? Every child belongs where the river places them. If the river has not given you a baby yet, then it is not time, but your time will come.
Nenna frowned, her eyes filling with tears. But when, Olido, I have waited many years. My heart aches every day. I want to feel a child’s arms around me. I want to hear someone call me mother. This may be my only chance. But Olo stepped closer, her golden tail flashing in the water. Her voice was strong yet filled with kindness.
Listen to me. Na na na. If you take that child, you will not find joy. You will only find trouble. The spirits of the river do not bless those who steal. And what of this poor woman? Can you not see her pain? She has already lost one baby to the hunter. Do you want to tear her heart apart completely? Do you want to be the reason she loses both children? Nenna looked again at Ephoma.
The young mother was still sitting on the sand, rocking the little boy in her arms, tears flowing like a broken pot of water. Her cries were heavy, her eyes swollen. She was whispering prayers to God, begging not to lose her only remaining child. Nana’s heart squeezed. She could feel the woman’s pain as if it was her own. She bit her lip, fighting back tears.
Olo spoke again, softer this time. Instead of thinking of taking her child, you should be thinking about helping her. Did you not see what the hunter did? He took that innocent baby girl. He vanished into the air with her. Who knows what evil he plans to do? If you want to be blessed, nenny, if you want the river to hear your cries, then rise and fight for justice.
Help this woman find that wicked hunter and bring back the baby. Maybe, just maybe, that is where your miracle will come from. The words sank into Nenna’s heart. She turned them over in her mind. She thought of her years of emptiness, her prayers unanswered. She thought of the hunter’s cruel eyes and the way he vanished with a baby.
Slowly, her sorrow began to turn into something else. Fury. Her face burned. Her eyes glowed. She clenched her fists. And the water around her began to stir and bubble. Yes, she whispered. You are right, Olido. The hunter is the enemy, not this woman. He has stolen what does not belong to him. I will not allow it. I will fight for justice.
I will find him. I will bring back the child. Oleo smiled gently. She reached out and touched Na’s shoulder. That is the spirit. That is the way of truth. Remember my sister, the river blesses those who defend the innocent. Do this. And who knows? Your cry for a child may be answered sooner than you think.
Nana lifted her head high. Her eyes were no longer filled with weakness, but with fire. Olido turned her golden tail flashing like the sun and began to sink back into the water. I must leave now, she said. But remember what I have told you. Do not take what is not yours. Do what is right.
Farewell, my sister, Nina said softly. Farewell, Olido replied, her voice fading as she disappeared into the deep waters. The river was calm again. Only Na remained, her heart now steady with a new decision. She looked once more at Epheoma. The woman had not seen any of the conversation between the mermaids. She was too lost in her pain, hugging her baby boy tightly, her tears dropping on his little face.
Nenna’s chest tightened. She wanted to step forward, to comfort her, to tell her she was not alone. But she held back. Not yet. Not until she was ready. Her eyes burned with fury. The image of the hunter lifting the baby girl filled her mind again. She clenched her fists and whispered to herself, “You will not escape. I will find you.
I will return this child. I swear it by the river.” The waves rippled as if agreeing with her words. Nana stayed there half hidden in the water staring at the broken mother on the sand. Ephelma rocked back and forth, her voice, whispering prayers and begging for strength. The sun was slowly rising now. The sky turned orange, and soon the villagers would begin to wake, but still Na did not move.
She stood in silence, her eyes full of fire, watching and waiting, her heart burning with a promise of justice. The hunter Od Wu ran through the narrow bush path, his chest rising and falling like a drum, his legs were strong, but even he was panting heavily. In his arms he carried the baby girl he had stolen. He had wrapped her in his own shirt, clutching her tightly to his chest as if the child already belonged to him.
The baby cried softly, her weak voice echoing in the silent forest. Sweat poured down Odogu’s face. He looked left, he looked right, his eyes sharp like a trapped animal. He did not want anyone to see him. He knew what he had done was dangerous. Finally, he reached his hut in his own village. It was small with a thatched roof and a wooden door.
He stood before it gasping for breath, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Nobody was outside, but still he was not at peace. He raised his fist and knocked hard on the door. Open. Open quickly,” he hissed. Inside, his wife, Ni, had just woken up. She tied her wrapper and came to the door, surprised at her husband’s voice.
When she opened it, Odogu rushed inside like a man being chased. God’s eyes widened when she saw the bundle in his arms. “What is this?” she asked, stepping back. What are you carrying? Odo woo poo the shirt aside and showed her the tiny baby girl still crying softly. Mozzy’s mouth fell open. A baby? She gasped.
“Where did you get a baby from?” Udu’s chest still heaved as he dropped on a stool, holding the child tightly. His eyes glowed strangely as he said, Nazi listen to me. For 20 years we have been childless. For 20 years we have carried shame. People mock us. People whisper. But today he raised the baby high. Today our shame has ended. This child is ours now.
She will call us father and mother. Nobody will take her from us. Goody stepped back, her face filled with fear. Odo, are you mad? Did you steal someone’s baby? Odo’s eyes flashed. I did not steal. The river gave her to me. I found her lying there. This is a gift. Do you not want to be called mother at last? No shook her head in disbelief.
Her heart pounded. No, this is not right. You cannot take another woman’s child. That woman must be crying now, searching for her baby. You must return her, Odu. Take her back at once. But Odogu’s voice hardened. Return her? Never. If you want me to return this child, then you are asking me to remain a laughingstock.
You are asking me to continue living in shame. I will not. Goi. I am keeping this child. And if you do not agree, then you can pack your things and leave my house. Goi gasped, her hands trembling. She could not believe her husband’s words. Tears filled her eyes. She loved him, but she knew this path would bring trouble.
Meanwhile, back at the river, Ephoma was still on the sand, too weak to walk. Her baby boy laying her arms crying softly. Her voice was from screaming. Suddenly, two village women appeared, each carrying their water pots. They had come early to fetch water and were shocked to see her lying there. If one of them shouted, dropping her pot, they both ran to her.
What happened? Why are you here like this? The other asked. Between sobs, Ephoma told them everything. She told them how she had come to fetch water, how her labor started, how she gave birth to twins, and how a strange hunter appeared and took her baby girl before her very eyes. The women put their hands on their heads, their mouths wide in shock, one cried. A hunter took your baby? Yes.
If wept bitterly, he disappeared before I could stop him. Please help me. Help me. My baby is gone. The women carried her gently. One supported her from the left, the other from the right. Slowly they let her back home with her baby boy still in her arms. All the way, she cried and repeated the story, and the women shook their heads, too shocked to speak.
Unknown to them, Naenna the mermaid was still watching. She had stayed in the river, half hidden, listening to everything. When she saw the women carry Ephoma away, her heart tightened. She wanted to rise and follow, but instead she sank back into the water quietly. She had made her decision. She would not take the child.
She would go after the hunter. The water swallowed her and she disappeared into the deep. Days passed. Ephemer’s story spread like fire through the village. Some people believed her. Some did not. Some whispered that maybe she was lying, that maybe she only gave birth to one child and was imagining things.
But the women who carried her home swore by their eyes that she had spoken the truth. Epha herself grew weaker. She would not stop crying. She could not eat. She held her baby boy tightly every day, fearing he too would vanish. Her husband tried to console her, but her pain was too heavy. She would only sit and whisper, “Where is my baby girl? Who has taken her? Will I ever see her again?” Meanwhile, in Odu’s own village, his wife Nodi remained troubled.
Every time she saw the baby girl, her heart burned with guilt. The child was innocent, but she did not belong to them. She pleaded with her husband again and again. Please Odo, return her. This will bring us sorrow. But Odo refused. His face was set like stone. She’s mine now, he said again and again. Then one morning, Odo took his calabash and walked to the river in his own village to fetch water.
He whistled softly as he walked, but his eyes kept scanning the bush as if he feared someone was following him. When he reached the riverbank, he knelt and dipped the calabash into the cool water. But suddenly the water rippled strangely. He looked up and what he saw made his heart nearly stop. A woman’s head rose from the river.
Her hair floated on the water, long and dark. Her eyes shone like glass, her skin glowed faintly. She was not an ordinary woman. Odogu froze, his hands shaking, his breath caught in his throat. The mermaid Na stared at him with burning eyes. Her gaze was sharp, filled with fury, yet calm like the deep river.
She said nothing at first. She only looked at him as if her eyes alone could pierce his heart. Odogu gasped in fear. He dropped his calabash and staggered back. His chest rose and fell quickly. “What? What are you?” he whispered, his voice trembling. But the mermaid did not move. She only tilted her head, the water swirling around her like a crown, her silence heavier than a thousand words.
Odo’s heart pounded. He knew at once this was no ordinary river woman. This was a spirit, and deep inside he knew why she had come. The hunter stood at the riverbank, trembling as the cool morning air brushed against his skin. He was still holding the small clay pot he had come to fill with water, but his hands shook so much that the pot nearly slipped.
His eyes were wide, fixed on the river where the mermaid’s head had suddenly appeared. Her long black hair floated on the water like a dark cloud and her eyes glowed with fire. The hunter gasped loudly, his heart thumping against his chest. He wanted to run, but his legs felt weak. You. The mermaid’s voice rang out like thunder.
Yet it was calm and steady. You stole what does not belong to you. You took the innocent child of a woman who cried at the river. Do you think the gods do not see? The hunter’s lips quivered. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. “You have 3 hours,” the mermaid continued, her voice sharp like a blade.
“3 hours to return the baby to his mother. If you fail, this river will swallow you alive, and your name will vanish from this land. The hunter dropped the clay pot and stumbled backward, breathing hard. His whole body was wet with sweat, even though the sun had barely risen. He turned and ran through the bushes, his heart screaming louder than his legs.
When he reached his heart, he found his wife outside cooking. She looked up and frowned. “Husband, why are you running like someone chasing you?” The hunter waved his hand and rushed inside without answering. His wife followed quickly, her face full of worry. “What happened?” But he did not explain.
He went straight to the mat where the baby lay. The baby was sleeping peacefully, his tiny chest rising and falling. The hunter bent down, picked him up gently, and pressed him against his chest. His wife’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?” she asked in surprise. But he only muttered, “I must return him. I must take him back before it is too late.
” Husband,” the woman cried, blocking his way. “What are you saying? You refused to return this child when I begged you. Now what has happened?” The hunter turned to her, his eyes wret with fear. “You will not understand. The river has spoken. I must take the baby back to his mother now. If not, death will find me.” His wife stepped aside, trembling.
She had never seen her husband so shaken before. Without another word, the hunter tied the baby securely on his back and rushed out of the house, leaving his wife confused and scared. He ran for hours through the thick forest path and narrow village roads until he reached the village of Ephoma.
His feet were sore, his breath was short, but he did not stop. When he got to the center of the village, he called out, “Please, I am looking for the woman who gave birth at the river some days ago. Where is her house? Show me her home. Some villagers curious came out. One old man pointed to a small mud house nearby.
That is where she lives. But why are you asking? The hunter did not answer. He ran straight to the house and knocked hard. Inside, Epha was sitting quietly breastfeeding her remaining twin. Her eyes were swollen from days of crying. When she heard the knock, she opened the door slowly. The moment she saw the hunter with her stolen baby strapped to his back, she screamed so loud that neighbors came running.
“Thief!” she shouted, pointing at him with trembling hands. “This is the wicked man who stole my child.” The hunter immediately fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. “Please forgive me,” he begged. “I was blinded by pain and foolishness. My wife and I have been childless for 20 years.
I only wanted to keep her, but I was wrong. Please take your child back.” The villagers, angry and shocked, rushed forward and pounced on him. They beat him with sticks and dragged him through the street. Ephemer wept as she collected her stolen baby, hugging both twins tightly against her chest. The villagers took the hunter to the palace where the king sat in his long red robe.
His face was stern and his staff of authority lay across his lap. The men pushed the hunter to the ground. “My king,” they said, “this is the thief who stole Ephema’s baby at the river. He has returned with the child. What should we do with him?” The king frowned and stared at the hunter.
“Is this true?” he asked. The hunter bowed his head. Yes, my king. I took the child. My wife and I have been barren for many years, and I was desperate. Forgive me. I have returned the baby now. The palace grew silent. The king sighed deeply. What you did is wicked. A mother’s tears can bring curses to the land.
But since you have returned the child with your own hands and begged for forgiveness, I will not take your life. Let this be a lesson. Do not steal what is not yours again. Leave this village at once and never return.” The villagers murmured, some angry, some relieved. The king turned to Ephoma and said gently, “Take your children home, woman.
Raise them with love.” The gods have returned what was stolen from you. Ephemer knelled and thanked the king, still clutching her babies tightly. The hunter returned to his village in shame. His wife was silent when she saw him. She thought the guards would punish them with more baroness for what her husband had done.
But something strange happened. 2 months later, the mermaid who had warned the hunter found herself pregnant with child. She had never known what it felt like to carry life inside her. But the river had blessed her with a miracle. She smiled often now, rubbing her round belly and whispering to the unborn child in her womb.
At the very same time, in the hunter’s hut, his wife discovered she was pregnant, too. For 20 years she had been mocked and insulted by neighbors, called barren and cursed. But now her stomach began to grow. She wept tears of joy, though she never forgot the pain of the stolen child. It was as if the gods decided to reward both the guilty and the innocent.
The mermaid for her patience and the hunter’s wife for her suffering. Meanwhile, Ifma’s hut was filled with laughter again. She had her two children back, and the villagers supported her with food, clothes, and care. Women came daily to check on her, helping her cook and bathe the babies. Sometimes she would sit by the river with her twins and whisper a silent prayer of thanks.
She never knew that a mermaid had fought secretly for her justice, but her heart told her that the gods had not abandoned her. Her babies grew stronger each day, and she promised herself that no matter what, she would protect them with her life. The hunter never returned to Ifma’s village again.
The memory of the mermaid’s fiery eyes haunted him for the rest of his days. But in the end, both his wife and the mermaid were blessed with children, showing that patience is always greater than theft. And so life continued in the village. The river still flowed, carrying its secrets, its power, and its mysteries.
But deep down, everyone knew no crime ever hides from the eyes of the gods. If you enjoy this story, don’t forget to subscribe, turn on your notification bell, and tell us in the comments where you’re watching from. See you in the next one. Bye.
