The Sightsear - MerMay 2021 Short Story

The Sightsear

Taisha was a warrior of the waves. Yet she could see into other realms.

She shook her head.

Only the forest races of nymph and fairy could do this.

And she was a purebred mermaid.

At least, that's what she'd been told.

She told herself they were just dreams. She could only see other places at night, once she had laid herself to rest. So it can't be real.

She nodded her head once.

That's right, come back into reality.

As she swims through the coral cave of their house, her mother checks her forehead temperature.

"Another restless night, my sweet?"

Love and a bittersweet twang fill her eyes as she looks to her youngest daughter.

Taisha shrugged,

"Just dreams."

After eating breakfast she grabbed her spear and swam out to find her sister's group. She arrived just as her sister finished her inspirational speech. Taisha smiled weakly. Her sister was too overzealous.

Regardless, it was time for the hunt. Today's prey was the grandpa whale of the North-Western Sea. Thus far it had alluded them, but a mermaid from their tribe had never spent more than a week on a single hunt underwater. And today marked the week's end. 

The group headed to the cave maze under the north-western point of the continent. Although most of the caves were underwater, there were pockets of air, with a few vents to above land.  One of the mermaids went ahead to scout the location of yesterday's sighting of the whale. She soon came back. 

"He's gone further in, a couple of young ones are guarding the entrance."

The particular cave he was in was a dead end in the maze. And that entrance was the only way in. Taisha's sister nodded as she merged with the current, only a faint purple glimmer giving her away. 

"We'll sneak past the young ones and kill him quickly," her garbled voice rushed through the group. They joined her in the current and flowed through the caves to where grandpa whale was hiding. 

He noticed something the young whales missed, and let out a deep bellow, no doubt asking the whales for help.

Yet the group was ready. Before he even finished his bellow, the mermaids were reforming themselves and their weapons. A water barrier was put up to stop the young whales from helping grandpa whale, even if they were able to respond in time. 

Taisha wrapped the current around her spear, going for grandpa whale's eyes. Each mermaid had a predetermined section of the whale to aim for. Once the spears were released the magic of the mermaids twisted small currents to drive the spears through the whale, tearing him apart. 

I shall dream of our victory tonight, thought Taisha.

She did not. 

Although she did bring along her spear, she was not in the ocean. Her fins and tail faded into feet and legs as she stood inside a land building. 

"Neat spear."

Taisha turned to the speaker. A human girl stood there, smiling. Almost as if waiting for a response. 

Well, it's normal to interact with others in your dreams, right? Taisha nodded. 

"Hi."

The girl walked over to have a closer look.