Late into the afternoon, when my coffee was long since finished, my stomach let out the loudest rumble, I’d ever heard. 

 The tide had gone out, so I’d slowly been moving out of the cave to follow Rayin as he moved with the water, but if I’d been in the cave at that moment I’m sure the acoustics in there would’ve picked up that impressive rumble amazingly.

 Rayin looked up at me, as if to ask, ‘what the fuck was that’ and I held an apologetic expression, with my hand over my stomach. He looked confused, but if he really didn’t know what a stomach rumble was, then that was a conversation for another day. 

 I was sat on the edge of the rocks, with Rayin sitting barely a metre away, attempting to use the sun to dry off my clothes that were still a little damp from my earlier escapades. I’d elected to keep my shoes and socks on despite them being incredibly soggy, simply because any time I brushed my hands down near my feet Ray looked uncomfortable and I didn’t want that.

 “I should probably think about going home.” I sighed.

 “Now?” Ray asked quickly, turning suddenly to look to me

“Yeah, I’m hungry and my Mum will probably be back soon.” I give him a little smile.

 I put my hands on the rocks and begin the use them to push onto my feet. When a sudden splash startles me, and a second later a wet hand on my arm, causes me to do everything I can not to yelp in surprise.

 I look down carefully to the cold hand bracing my lower arm in quite an intense grip, to see it taloned and webbed. The tips of the nails were tinted a dark brown, almost black, fading up the fingers and along the thin webbing until it matched the colouring of the rest of his upper half. 

 I looked along down the toned arm that was holding me. There was a translucent fin along the length of his forearm, finishing at his elbow. It was thin, like the webbing between his fingers, with the same ombré of colour from tip to where it met his forearm. His skin, like that covering his face, was layered with translucent scales.

 I look back to the hand around my own arm, and grimace as I notice little pricks of blood where his nails had accidentally pierced me. Upon noticing them the sting began to make its way along my senses. 

 I don’t know what expression I hold on my face in that moment, but it can’t have been good. Ray yanks his hand away as if my skin were hot coals after glancing at my expression. He notices the blood after his hand is removed and moves his hand up again as if to inspect it. 

 On instinct I flinch away.

 He freezes and looks down into the water.

 “I am sorry,” he whispers “Please I-“

 “It’s okay” I cut off, finding my voice finally.

  He looks up and meets my eyes again. I notice that the glow has returned to them.

 “It’s okay.” I repeat, “You just surprised me is all.” 

 I find myself letting out a small chuckle.

 “I really should be going though.” And I stand to my feet a little shaky.

 “You- Will you still return?” He looks at me, his eyes silently begging.

 “I-“ I falter for a second, each new thing I learn about Rayin seems to confirm in my head that he is a predator, and I’m potentially his prey. Maybe he’s just buttering me up to become his next meal. Maybe that’s how his species has stayed unknown by humans for so long…

 I shake my head, willing the thoughts away. He could kill me, sure, but if I have the chance of making a friend. Someone who, though I’ve only known for an afternoon, it feels as though I’ve known his for far longer. It might just be worth it.

 “I’ll meet you here, same time tomorrow” I say with a nod of my head, both to reassure myself and him.

 He gives me a small smile, but I see his eyes slip down to my arm where his nails cut into it. It’s only tiny scratches, I can honestly say I’ve had worse from stray cats I’ve tried to befriend in the past. 

 “Hey, don’t worry, I don’t know about your skin but human skin is ridiculously fragile, it’ll be fine after I clean it at home.” I smile down at him and walk over to grab my bag, still laying by the edge of the cave.

 He stays silent but but I see a hint of relief in his features. 

 His eyes stopped glowing as I walked away, but I don’t mention it, I guess its just one of his little quirks. 

 He makes no move to go, so I take a few steps back giving a little wave.

 He seems very confused by the gesture, but nonetheless raises one of his webbed hands in a little wave of his own. 

 I smile to myself as I turn around.

 God have I got a lot to think about this evening.