We named her Se’Janna. We had to call her something, and we had no way to speak with her at first, until she learned to sign. Se’Janna was a good name for her, I thought, meaning “land and sea”, specifically where the two meet. Se’Janna was frightened and confused at first. We tried to explain through hand motions, but there was no way to know if she understood. 

She learned the basics of signing quickly, and soon we learned her landwalker name was “Pheobe”. It took longer to explain to her what had happened - the storm, her transformation - but we kept trying. We left out only the goal she must meet and the price she might pay. There would be time enough to explain when she was older. She chose to use the name we had given her. She kept her landwalker name just between us three, the child, the Sea Witch, and me.

The Sea Witch was right, as she usually is. Children grow. It seemed as though I blinked and Se’Janna was twelve years old. She would explore the edges of the Nothing, just like I had at her age. I waited for her to come back full of questions about the land. Other merchildren did. But she never

asked.

“Se’Janna.” I signed to her one day. “Why do you never ask to go back to the land?”

She shook her head. “I live here now.” She smiled sweetly. “I have you, Ommer Adat, and the Sea Witch, and I love you both more than I loved my parents, and I love the sea more than I loved the land. I do not want to go back.”

I sat with her then, and told her about the goal she would have to meet, and the price she might have to pay, for the life I had given her. She looked frightened. Well, I had also been frightened, when my parents had told me about the Wise One’s prophecy… I tried to reassure her there was plenty of time, but she seemed troubled.

“Do they have to be a merman?” She asked.

I smiled. “No.” I signed. “Merman, mermaid, or merperson, whoever makes you happy. That’s all we want for you Se’Janna. To be happy, and alive.”

She shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “What if I never want anyone that way, or no one wants me?”

I kissed her forehead and hugged her tight. “You are my beautiful, sweet child. Someone will love you. Still, I will talk to the Sea Witch. There may be another way.”