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Each thrashing of the water threatened to turn the boat upside down. Ocean's waves, like arms, tugged at the little ship from side to side, flooding the deck. Illuminated by the full moon, a small figure was running around recklessly, trying to keep her boat afloat.
Fisherwoman’s luck disappeared this morning as her only surroundings became a mist, yet the most unsettling was her compass freaking out and meaninglessly moving. The sun’s light had been dispersed across the sky, making it hard to discern the direction. Her only hope was for visibility to come back at night. Which it did, only to exchange it for the unruly waters, worries about her whereabouts pushed back by more real danger of imminent death.
The relentless fight with nature itself ended abruptly, the ocean became flat. As the tired out mind of the person aboard couldn't properly comprehend what the heck happened, she heard a singular splash. Dragging one foot after the other with effort, her head picked overboard. There was a human.
This was surely a dream.
Those were her last thoughts as she lost consciousness, falling into the ocean.
As Gem started coming back to consciousness, moving her torso up out of habit, there was a shuffling beside her.
Slowly opening her eyes, the first thing she saw..
“My boat!” Her arms flew up, clutching at her hair. The ship's condition wasn’t the worst, but it needed fixes before it could swim again. After a few seconds of counting all the expenses, Gem finally noticed a person looking at her, turning their head to one side in question. Their ears, resembling fish fins, twitching from time to time. One final glance at the scaled tail of the stranger connected the dots in her mind.
“AAHHhh–Uh?” Fisherwoman’s scream was quickly cut off, as she noticed the creature slightly backing off, no sign of malice.
Taking in more of the merling’s physique, most of its body was covered in silver scales, while upper ones and ears had a red tint to them. Their whole form was almost glowing in the moonlight.
As its hands started making motions, it took a moment for Gem to realize that the merling was signing.
“C-can you repeat?” Her mind couldn’t catch up to what was happening, she only heard stories of merfolk from old fishermen, who were mostly drunk. To see one in the flesh felt like a dream. Or maybe a nightmare, she still wasn't sure.
Creature's eyes squinted at Gem's lips as she was saying that, unsure expression on their face. Their eyes met in mutual nervousness and uncertainty, slowly turning into one of curiosity and awe. Both of them studying the other's appearence.
Taking a deep breath, Gem tried to remember what she learned a few months ago.
“You. Fish?” she signed sharply, her face conveying confusion. Merling stared blankly at her, before it opened and closed its mouth in an imitation of a smile or laughter, the clicking of teeth being the replacement. Gem's face grew red at being laughed at.
“Yes,” Calming down, the stranger signed enthusiastically, head nodding. “My name is Pearl. And yours?”
A small smile crept onto her face. “Gem”
“So. We are both a treasure, pirate?” Pearl signed proudly, fully grinning with her mouth.
“That is..” She started saying before stopping herself, “You could say that, I guess” Amused smile betraying her, as she signed sheepishly. “But I am not a pirate” She finished, shaking her head.
“That is good!” Pearl’s torso moving forward before backing away again self-consciously.
“I” Her form froze as she was pointing at herself, eyes averting and coming back to look at Gem. “It was me who nearly drowned you” Her hands trembled a bit, while she continued. “I am so sorry. I didn't know you were here. And. The mist usually keeps everyone away” Pearl's rapid movement of hands was stopped by Gem's face suddenly appearing right in front of her own.
“Wait. Woah, you can do that?! How?!”
“Moon. It's full tonight, so I decided to have some fun" Twinkle of mischief in her eyes. "But. You are not mad at me?” Pearl's face fell with sorrow.
“Well.. You did almost killed me... But I think it can be forgiven, if you’ll help me get this back on the water, of course” Gem ended with pointing at Pearl and then her ship.
The merling nodded eagerly.
Barely holding back a yawn, fishwoman signed slowly “But now I really really need some rest”
It took half an hour for Gem to find some wood for the fire and make a floor out of leaves to sleep on. Her new friend wasn't on the shore, making her start doubting everything that happened. Nevertheless, as Gem layed her outer clothes near the fire to dry out, there were splashes of water on the sand.
Pearl’s mouth was somehow holding two sizable fishes at once, as she skillfully dragged herself to the fisherwoman’s makeshift camp. Her eyes briefly glanced at Gem's body.
As they finished their dinner, one cooked and one not, Gem's soft hand lightly touched Pearl's scaly clawed hand.
Other than a small twitch of her ears, merling didn't show any reaction. But in time they moved closer to each other, delighted by the presence of the other. Soon the soothing sound of another creature breathing brought them both to sleep, Gem closer to the fire while Pearl to the ocean.