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She untied the seaweed from her wrist and tucked her arm gently against her chest. She pushed off from the bottom of the lake, leaving a soft cloud of sand, algae, and silt behind her. It would have been easy to ascend to the surface rather quickly, but Mer savored the last seconds of her time in the warm water. She hovered right below the surface, reaching up and skimming her fingers along the reflective water pane that looked like a broken mirror.

If only she could stay.

Mer made her way toward the edge of the lake, the sides gently sloping upward. Her feet touched the pebbled bottom, and she walked until her head broke through the surface and her eyes were above the water. She scanned the bank, searching for trouble. Her eyes rounded and then narrowed as she spotted a familiarfiileewho lay in the sun, licking its paw like it had all the time in the world.

Mer took a couple steps closer to the bank until her gills were fully exposed to the air. Water poured out of them, and they sealed shut along her neck. She gasped, the cool air rushing into her lungs. Gravity weighed her down as she stomped out of the water toward the troublesome feline.

She stabbed a finger from her left hand at the beast and then gestured to her damaged right shoulder. “This is your fault!”

Thefiileegave her a droll look as if to say,“Whatever you say, human.”

Mer stomped from the lake, sharp stones digging into the bottoms of her feet. She ignored the pain, keeping an eye on the feline. Water dripped down her torn dress to pool at her feet.

There were nipples along the beast’s belly. A female then.

Thefiileetracked her movement and stood. They stared at each other, and she stiffened, almost taking another step back when the feline approached her steadily. First, she sniffed Mer’s feet and then along her legs, slowly circling. Mer forced herself to stay still as thefiileeinspected her.

A large wet nose pressed at the bottom of her spine and huffed. She yelped and leapt forward, only for the beast to dart around her. Thefiilee’stongue slipped out of her mouth, and she licked Mer from knee to hip bone. Mer gaped at the beast. Was this a taste test to see if she was worth eating?

The fingers of her left hand flexed anxiously. “How do I taste?” she grouched. “Like fish?”

Thefiileecocked her head. Her peachy ears perked up at Mer’s voice.

“Not so hostile now. So what? Are we friends?” she asked as the feline pressed her wet, cold pink nose into the palm of her hand.

Mer stared in amazement at the display of trust. She wiggled her fingers, and the large cat leaned into her hand. Excitement suffused her limbs. Had she managed to bond with one of the legendary creatures?

Her excitement was soon eclipsed by dread. If she had bonded with thefiilee, that would surely mean flying again. Her stomach churned at the idea. She was not ready to fly. In fact, if she never flew again, it would be too soon.

She shifted slightly and her arm twinged. Mer gave the feline one cautious scratch along her snout before stepping around the beast and cupping her elbow. She winced.

“It’s time we head back,” she murmured.

Mer glanced around the forest that surrounded the lake, noting that the sun hung low in the west.

Her brows furrowed, and she tried to remember everything she could about the kingdom. To the east was the Bay of Laos. To the west were the mountains and the city of Skigara. To the north, the Northern Sea.

After the hazardous flight from the mountain to the lake, she knew the palace wasn’t horribly far. If she was diligent, she could get back in half a day. There was only farmland, forest, and a few villages along the way. Someone would be able to help her.

Mer stared at the Hollow Mountains, and instead of walking toward them, she spun on her heel and headed north. The stones turned to dried leaves, pine needles, dirt, and dainty weeds. Each step hurt, but she continued on. Walking on her tender feet was something she’d still not gotten used to. Life in the ocean never created calluses. Each day she spent time on the land, her hands and feet would toughen up just in time for her to go back to the sea and have them disappear.

A small sad part of her mourned that this might be the last time she ever had tender feet.

“Let’s go find some help,” she called over her shoulder. She listened for thefiileeand heard nothing. Mer shrugged. It was not as if the feline owed her.

Mer picked her way along the lakeside just inside the tree line until the lake was firmly behind her. She dragged her palms along the rough bark of trees, admiring how strong they were. The sun shone through the boughs of the pine trees, casting long streams onto the forest floor. White-and-purple wildflowers grew along the ground, creating winding pathways. Woodland creatures scurried about the pines, playing and chasing each other. Birds sang, trying to out-trill each other.

But then, all woodland sounds stopped.

Mer froze and scanned the area warily before turning around.

The breath in her lungs froze.

Thefiileehad crept up on her.

Yet she’d never even heard the blasted thing move.

“What are you doing?” she asked, exasperation in her voice.