Dark Water

Chapter 6

"What happened next?" Kieran sat forwards, and the other shushed him to be quiet. She couldn't help but chuckle at the reaction, taking a sip of her drink as the storm raged outside.

Orliantha quickly noticed, leaning over her shoulder, and studying what was happening. Her arms started to feel stiff, unable to move her hands as the pigmentation spread slowly, her joints feeling like they were shifting and rearranging themselves. She tucked her hands closed to her chest, shivering from the pain as Orliantha slowly embraced her. It continued spreading up her body, making its way up her face and neck, all the way down to her bare feet. She let out a cry as her bones shifted and cracked, her hands and feet becoming webbed, as her fingers extended into claws. She felt blood run down her neck as fins sprouted from behind her ears, her shirt ripping as another sprouted down her spine. Orliantha quickly had her clothes off, cradling her in her arms as she cried out and shivered in pain, her legs slowly soldering themselves together, becoming a long, forked tail. The pain began to slowly subside, Orliantha slowly laying her down against the cool rocks. She was in a daze as Orliantha looked down at her, worry plastered on her face.

"Blue?"

She looked up at her, blinking a few times.

"Yes?"

Orliantha cocked her head at her, curiosity in her eyes.

"Hello."

Mihris slowly sat up, a shiver running down her spine as she did. She felt odd, slowly blinking as she looked herself up and down. Her legs were gone. She had to stifle a scream, checking herself over multiple times. She was a siren. Tail and fins and all. She slowly looked up from her hands at Orliantha, grabbing her by the shoulders and pinning her to the rocks in an instant.

"What the hell did you do to me?" She seemed surprised by her strength, slowly wrapping her hands around Mihris's wrists.

"I don't know, I don't think you're stuck like this forever though." She slowly pried Mihris off of her, sitting back up. Mihris's eyes went wide as she truly registered what was happening.

"I can understand you." She slowly reached out, touching Orliantha' s cheek, who in return nuzzled herself against her hand. Her affections had always been quite strange to Mihris, but now they seemed normal, comforting almost.

Mihris laid up against her chest, letting out a small sigh as Orliantha lazily wrapped her arms around her, resting her chin atop her head.

"My blue," She mumbled under her breath, just enough for Mihris to hear. this wasn't going to last forever, and soon she would turn back to normal, unable to fully understand Orliantha once again. Orliantha looked down at her with a smile, and she couldn't help but return it. She tucked Mihris in her arms, sliding down the rocks into the water with a small splash. it no longer felt freezing to her, her now scaly skin keeping her from feeling the bitter cold. She swam around in the water with her, holding her close as she did, trying to help her get used to the feeling of not having legs, even if it would only be for a brief time. Most of the others had resorted to sleeping or going out to hunt, but a few watched from the rocky ledges at the scene below. A youngling got too curious, making their way down into the water and slowly swimming towards them. Orliantha' s eyes narrowed, giving a low growl of warning to the other siren.

"Hey," She turned Orliantha' s face to look at her as she spoke. "Let her come over." Orliantha slowly lowered her guard, the youngling swimming over to them. She seemed to be looking Mihris over, before moving over to Orliantha, laying up against her. Orliantha slowly put an arm around her, pulling her close to her side while still holding onto Mihris. She slowly noticed the similarity between the two and it slowly clicked in her brain.