“H-hold up!” Alon panted, breaking the surface with his back fin while he tried to take speed. Somehow, he still could not catch up with her. “Iara!”

He shook his head in disbelief, barely managing to catch a glimpse of her gray tail, her figure moving at top speed ahead.

Her eyes gleamed brightly and her laugh echoed all through the water, even if the stingray she was chasing was still managing to avoid her.

Her face showed pure determination; even if the animal did not swim as fast as her, it still made her tag behind. It was making her have to dodge coral and rocks, much smaller than her, putting obstacles in her way.

Alon had not objected to her playfulness, in fact, he had found it lovely through all these days. He never had this much fun with anyone, not counting his family. Today, however, while she kept on chasing that fish, he could not avoid seeing that they were nearing the beach too much. It was something he did not like. Not now, not in plain daylight.

Iara outstretched her arms and yelled in triumph, almost able to grab her target. It had slowed down above some rocks.

Alon winced, because Iara yelped loudly, slamming onto the rocks due to her fast speed. The stingray moved away at the last moment.

The mermaid huffed and plopped herself in defeat, her tail swaying in frustration while the animal swam out of sight. It left without letting her play with its fins and tail.

Alon slowed his pace, smiling a little. Iara’s face was one he would try to remember. She pouted while he swam in circles around her, amused by her silly landing.

“Not funny, Al.”

“Oh, you said it would be fun to chase it!”

“No, I said it would be fun to catch it!”

Alon sighed, stopping smiling to glance sideways. He leaned closer to her, worried, for he could see the sand ahead; they were near some rocks at the beach.

“Iara, let’s go. The sun is up, and you know there are humans in this cay.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, laughing.

“Do humans scare you, Aly?”

He fumbled with his hands and looked away nervously, his tail moving below him in fast sways.

“They don’t scare me, but you know it’s dangerous. I know what they can do.”

“Pfff! With how much they deny our sightings…”

“When they see us, we disappear and become bait!”

“You are such a drama queen.”

He frowned down at her seriously, his long black hair flowing with the motion.

“I’m realistic. Can’t we just leave, please?”

Iara waved her tail at him, dismissive. She even dared to swim closer to the shore, breaking the surface and looking down towards him.

“Al, humans don’t visit this beach! The town is at the other side of the cay, where the docks are! This place is deserted!”

He broke the surface as well, to be face to face with her and try to reason.

“I don’t want to push our luck.”

“We have been in deep waters for days. I want to explore some more.”

“Iara, please-”

He let out a tired sob when she turned around and swam towards the waves breaking on the shore.

“Fine! Let me just grab some shells here, and then we can go back.”

“But-“

There were no buts. She was already inspecting some, her hands even reaching out of water. He just kept his distance near the rocks, waiting for her to tire.

Both swam there… unaware of something moving above, at the stairs leading to the beach and sand. Ears perked up, a nose sniffing.

The dog let out a curious whine and leaned her head, hearing water moving below. But not from the waves she was used to hearing every day. She barked a little, running down the stairs, because her eyes caught something moving between the tides, blending with them.

Iara gasped, hearing fast steps. When her head came out of the water to investigate, her azure eyes widened in surprise like the dog’s did.

Alon had been leaning against some rocks, caressing his hair tiredly, trying to keep it from falling down like a jellyfish out of water. Sadly, he jolted, hearing Iara squeal. He thrashed slightly, regaining his balance to bolt and see what happened.

“Iara-?!”

He froze, seeing her nuzzling herself against an animal, but not one of the seas.

Iara laughed, petting the dog and looking back at Alon, who now was fidgeting nervously at a distance, as if doubting to bolt for her.

“Look, Al!” She chuckled, the dog’s nose giving her another nudge. “A dog!”

The merman had not seen a dog in his life…

“Iara, g-get away from that wolf!”

“Oh my god, Al.” She gripped the dog’s snout, leaning it cutely for him to look at. Even though it was big and had long brown fur, there was no way it could be wild. “How can you mistake this cute thing for a wolf?!”

“I- I don’t care what it is! J-just-!”

“Shamira?!”

This time, both gasped. That was not a bark, it was not the sound of waves either, nor something known. It was a human’s voice.

Iara did bolt away then, causing Shamira to whine in disappointment, seeing her hide along the rocks ahead, leave. She sat there, letting her tail drop sadly; meanwhile, a brunet finally caught up, panting.

Matthew huffed, resting his left hand onto one knee while he tried to regain his breath. He finally reached the stairs, able to see the beach. He stood there, relaxing as he spotted Shamira sitting at the waves, staring at the sea.

“S-shamira!” He grumbled, raising his gaze gruffly. “P-please, don’t run ahead like that.”

The young man sighed and walked down the stairs slowly, to then step onto the sand. Still, he did not move closer to the water, calling nervously instead.

“Come on, chum. Let’s just have a calm walk along the beach, alright? No running…”

Shamira took a minute to look at him. Matthew breathed out in relief when the dog moved away from the waves, at last, to walk at his side like every day.

He smiled and brushed a flick of hair away from his hazel eyes, beginning to go ahead. He was looking forward to a few hours of walking along the coast.

Silver and azure eyes watched warily in the water while the human hid his only hand in his brown jacket, calmly going away along the shore, the dog keeping close.

Alon soon huffed, scowling. He lowered a hand on her shoulder, his voice still tangling with worry, for her.

“See? That human could have seen you. Let’s leave before more come, please.”

She only nodded, sighing tiredly.

“Fine.”

He smiled in relief, quick to dive and take the lead into deeper waters. However, she waited a minute before following, staring at the human in the distance with a frown. Even from far away, she could see the sad smile on his face.

No. No more humans will come.

This one was here to be alone.

She shook her head, pushing her assumptions away. Those hazel eyes did not see a gray tail dive,  nor the black fin sink away. He was left alone with his own thoughts.