Troller

The warmth I was wrapped in suddenly disappeared. As if I’d been lifted out of the ocean and left to dry. I shivered and grasped at the cloth I blindly found. It was too bright for me to open my eyes. I moved slightly and cramps shot up from my fin. No, not fin, feet. Legs. After so long searching I still couldn’t believe that I found the boat and the man who I rescued. Now I hoped he’d rescue me from my mistake.

After discovering Council leader Halic’s secrets, I confronted him on shore. The one place he claimed we were no longer able to go. He could shift, and he had magic on land and under water. When felt brave enough to meet him on land, he used his magic to force me to shift. He would have killed me if it hadn’t been for a large wave that swept me out to sea. I finished my change and swam, hard and fast, as he chased me. I lost him and went in search of the only place I thought that might offer me shelter. A boat with the name Aire Apparent. 

When I found it again, I was elated. So many current shifts had passed searching harbors and ports in the cover of night to find it. When I did, it was deserted. After several hours late into the evening, I saw him stumbling along the dock, obviously unsteady. The sight of him warmed my insides, though I wondered if he was hurt again. I grew bold and determined to help him if I could. 

I launched myself out of the water and grabbed onto a buoy that hung from the side of the boat. As I pulled myself up and onto the deck, a wild wind kicked up and a storm started in earnest. The change began immediately even though it rained. I choked back cries as I shifted. The first time had been excruciating and the sand felt painful on my newly made extremities. The deck was better, but much colder. 

I watched as the rain washed away my protective skin, scales, and my beautiful fins. The eddies of water on deck picked up the evidence of my other self, then carried over the side of the boat. 

Without my protective skin, I started to shiver. I crawled to the hatch nearest to me. My newly formed legs protested as I levered myself up and opened the door. Everything blurred together as my vision adjusted to life on land. I wiped at my eyes as I stumbled down a narrow passage until I heard breathing and that brought me to a living space, where the man I recognized stood gazing out of the window at the storm.

As large as a bull seal, I couldn’t mistake him for anyone else. The lightning from the window put his form in relief and I nearly cried out from recognition that I was so close to him, but so far away. 

Instead, he turned and saw me. A moment later, I was in his arms. He touched my hair, like I’d touched his. Another wave of relief washed through me. I’d taken a horrible risk and had no idea if I would be welcomed or not. 

He picked me up as if I was a trout and put me on the sleeping platform. He wrapped us in cloth and wrapped his arms around me. My chill subsided and I slept, exhausted. 

The light and the cramps from muscles shifted to another form brought me out of my memories. I pulled the cloth over my head and wondered why I was alone on the sleeping platform. I had my answer when the cloth was pulled back a bit and I scrambled to pull it back over my head. 

I heard a noise of movement and instantly the light disappeared from the room. A deep voice asked, “Better?” 

I moved the cloth from my head and looked at him. I didn’t know the word, only that it was a query. I nodded, hoping it was the correct response. He nodded in return. 

“Here, I brought you something for your stomach.” 

I sat up and let the cloth pool around my hips. He sat down next to me and handed me a warm cup of liquid. The smell reminded me of seagulls. I took a sip and warmth shot through me, then reminded me how hungry I was. I tipped the cup back and gulped at the hot liquid. Once I’d emptied it, I held it out to him. 

The smile on his face was like light on my heart. His kind, green eyes were exactly as I remembered them. His facial hair exaggerated his smile and I risked a smile in return. He took the cup from my hand. 

“Would you like more?” He asked as he pointed to the cup

I nodded in the hope that he would bring me more seagull liquid. But when he stood up, panic went through me as I realized he meant to leave again. I reached for his arm to stop him. 

“Shit, you’re strong.” 

I stared at him, and pleaded with my brain to form a word, a sound that would make sense. “No.”

“If you want more,” he tapped the cup, “I have to go to the galley to get it.” He pointed toward the door. 

I knew that there was a separate space for food. I’ve seen enough ships and shipwrecks to understand. I nodded and let him go. He only had cloth covering his hips and legs, and he wore coverings on his feet. They squeaked as he walked. I realized I had no coverings except the cloth I had slept in. I shook my head. I had not planned this well at all.