Fins and Fairyfolk

Young Samantha watched the merfolk from the river bank. Tall grasses covered her hiding spot on the small cliff above the river. The slope curved down to a rocky beach below. Her village was over the hill above the river. She had never seen them before only heard of their fabled existence.

To see the legendary river people was a rare experience. If they knew humans were about they hid. Some said they were just a myth, or so few in number they were no longer able to breed and on the verge of extinction.

An older male sat on a rock near the beach below. A younger female on another in the middle of the lapping stream waters. Her long black hair shown nearly blue-black in the midday sunlight. It was obvious the pair were unaware of Samantha's presence or so she thought.

In truth, the older male with the cropped hair, was well aware of her existence. He could sense that the young thing meant no harm and was mearly observing. His younger daughter was unaware. Sinking below the rippling waters the pair left the rocks and swam below. Watching them depart, Samantha slowly raised up to peak out of the tall grass. Seeing no sign of them, she got up and slid awkwardly down the bank to the beach below. Barefoot she stepped carefully over the slippery river stones.

The water rippled merrily before her, but there was no sign of merfolk. A shining object caught the girls attention at the edge of the beach. Nestled among the stones and waterplants was a shiny comb. The mermaid must have left it behind on accident Samantha thought. She reached and and picked up the object . It looked to be made of mother of pearl. Stories of the merfolk held they raised giant river clams in their underground homes, and used there pearls for all manner of things. The girl wondered if this was what this comb was made from. She held the magical thing up into the light. It winked all colors and made rainbows over her skin.

A slushing sound from nearby raised goose ups on her arms. She raised the eyes to see the large daddy merman coming toward her. She quickly set the comb back down where she found it and ran to scramble up the bank shed come from. In fear she kept slipping down the slope, and unable to find a way up.

With a sloshing sound the merman came ashore he picked up the comb his daughter left and examined it smiling. The poor little human child was terrified. He was not heartless. Trying to erasure the creature he used the human tongue. "Little one have no fear."

Wide brown eyes swam with tears as the girl looked back at the finman. "Sir I meant no harm," she said earnestly in a quite sweet voice, "I only wanted to watch."

The mermans almond eyes crinkled up jovially at the corners. "Your from the village are you not child.", While his smile was friendly the razor sharp tips of his teeth were not. The smile was still reassuring, and she tried to give the same pleasant response she had been taught to give older people.

"Yes Sir" she answered relaxing a little. "Over the hill yonder she pointed."

Just then another splash could be heard, "Papa did you find my comb? Mama will be cross if she finds out I lost it." Looking up she sell the human girl and gasped preparing to leap back in the water.

"Katibella stay child this little one means us no harm. "

"But father, you said to stay away from the humans and that they were dangerous."

"They normally are, but look at this one. This chit of a girl child could no more harm you than then merriest minnow. Is that not right little one?"

"Yes Sir, indeed Sir," the girl stammered. "I give my word not to tell a soul. For no one would believe me anyway. Your kind are myth and legend. My Uncle says you left this land for less civilized country a century ago."

"Nay child there is little uncivilized land left in this world."

"Not even Mount Crumptainia in Eluthium."

"Smart girl! Those lands are still unknown to humans, but the trolls make it unsafe even for my kind."

The girl noted, that the merman did not say for certain that they did not live in the mountains. There was a difference.

Seeing that she was not in any danger the teenaged mermaid relaxed and addressed her father. "Papa the comb?"

"Oh yes!" The older merman handed the item to his daughter.

Curious Samantha couldn't help asking the girl. "Your comb is very pretty. Is it made from a shell?"

Looking to her father for support, she addressed the human girl . "Yes the giant clam." The girl looked again to her father. "Papa should we be talking to a human?"

"Katiebella I raised you with better manners."

After a moment of silence he asked, "Child have you a name calling you 'girl' seems rather silly don't you think?"

"Yes Sir" she stammered "I'm Samantha Lemursore"

"Lemursore? Sounds like a bad time indeed" Katiebella popped out.

"Do you not have last name?" Samantha asked the mer girl.

"If we do they certainly don't sound like that. What does it mean anyway?"

"Red Wind I think. Although, I was told that my grandfather changed the pronunciation a bit when our ancestors came to this land."

The older fin-man shook his head at his daughter. "I am Zamtibitan child."

He raised a strange contraption that was made of river weeds and wood. It must be a basket Samantha thought. She saw what appeared to be a number of black river snails and the brown and several large brown perch, which she had seen her Uncle come home with on occasion. "We must be off Katiebella." He addressed Samantha. "We must get this catch to my wife before she comes looking for us. Good day child!"

Without preamble Katiebella sank beneath the water . The older merman began to do the same.

"Sir...sir may I call on you and your family again sometime?" Samantha yelled from the river bank.

Stopping with his head partially submerged , like an otter, the fin-man smiled. "Perhaps little Samantha good day to you." With that she saw no more of either one of them.