The Mermaid And The Familiar

Deep in the sparkling blue embrace of the ocean, a whole kingdom thrived under the salty waves.

Colourful fish danced and performed tricks for their friends and family.

Plants of all shapes, sizes and colours swayed to the calm rocking of the ocean tides, and creatures both great and small bid each other safe passage through the vast blue body of water in which they lived.

Only one creature of the ocean was still.

Safely in a bed of seaweed lay a mermaid, her scales glistening in the morning sun.

She laid on her back, the seaweed brushing over her scales with a delicate touch, and dreamed away.

As she dreamed, the sunlight warmed her from above.

The fish passed over her quietly to not wake her.

The rocks underneath her back held steady below her, and the ocean gently rocked her into a deeper sleep than before.

The mermaid continued to dream, until all of a sudden, drop by drop, something dripped above her and made rippling shadows over her still frame, frightening the fish away.

Opening her eyes, the mermaid rose with a baffled look on her face.

From what she could remember, there wasn't a storm mentioned anywhere.
So what was making all those ripples?

Curious, the mermaid swam up to the surface, her tail forming bubbles as she rose higher and higher to the surface of the sea.
'Swish, swish' went her tail, sending her further and further upwards.

Once her head rose above the water, the mermaid gave a soft gasp and looked around.

The sky was as blue as the sea, sparse fluffy clouds floating lazily above her.
Seagulls cawed as they soared in the air, and the mermaid could see the ocean sparkle like a sapphire ring.

Intrigued, the mermaid kept looking around, cautiously swimming through the salty sea.

It was then, and only then, she saw something that grabbed her attention.

A modest wooden pier with waves lapping against its sides.

And on that pier, batting at the water, was a tall creature covered in fur.

The creature was as big as the mermaid herself, but instead of her body ending in a tail, it ended in two long legs that were gently tucked under her body.
Pointed ears sprung up on top of the creature's head, while an eel-like tail -also covered in fur- wiggled as the creature gave the water another bat for good measure.

The mermaid was amazed!

She had never seen another being like this!

Swimming closer, the mermaid floated a little closer, briefly ducking under the water once more when she saw the being look up, swimming just shy of the wooden pier and breaking the surface once more.
She bobbed in time with the gentle waves that lapped against the pier's wooden support beams, staring spellbound at the tall figure that crouched before her.

"Hello" the mermaid spoke, her voice as soft and soothing as the sounds of the sea.

Startled, the one on the pier jumped back with a gasp, their eyes large with shock and sparkling in the sunlight.
Their tail curled around their body, but they stayed where they were, staring back at the mermaid.

"Who are you?" the furred female asked with a curious look.

The mermaid smiled modestly, her tail slowly swishing from side to side beneath the waves.
She rested her arms on the wooden pier, laying her head on her folded arms and looking up at the other lass with innocent blue eyes.