Aureli

The storm had come fast.

Aureli, in a spontaneous moment, had swam up to the service just a ways away from the shadow of a large boat, and he waded as the clouds rolled in dark and menacing.

Rain pelted his face, soaking his hair and shoulders. He went lower until only his eyes and forehead showed above water, moving towards the boat to see closer. It was a ship, very large and imposing, and he leapt up onto a dangling ladder, peering through a hole.

Men about the ship talked and jeered, but nobody saw Aureli.

When the wind sharpened and the rain began to fell like sharp jabs, the merman dived back into the water just as a CRASH sounded.

The noise and the impact jolted the water, pushing him away. He whipped around, watching as fire caught and raised high in the rain, spreading quickly throughout the boat. The men on board hurried into a smaller boat, and Aureli ducked well beneath the water in fear of being caught.

Pieces of the ship fell into the water, and fires were doused. Aureli watched, listened, but stayed utterly still. Until a large splash sounded. He swam forward and saw legs kicking. Not... human legs.

He gently pushed the furry, wet creature in the direction of the lifeboat, then turned as another splash echoed through the water. Much heavier than the last. Aureli swam around, then down, and grasped a man’s arm. He was unconscious, mouth open, and Aureli quickly pumped his tail towards... anywhere!

He swam onto the shore by the time the storm had let up, laying the man down. He was not breathing well, and his eyes had yet to open, so Aureli patted his chest hard, shaking him lightly.

Finally, the man coughed up a bunch of water. Still... he stayed unconscious, so Aureli brushed his hair back, humming a tune that got caught in the wind. He wiped the man’s face clear of water droplets, staring down at his comely face.

...Then the man’s eyes opened.

The storm had come fast.

Aureli, in a spontaneous moment, had swam up to the service just a ways away from the shadow of a large boat, and he waded as the clouds rolled in dark and menacing.

Rain pelted his face, soaking his hair and shoulders. He went lower until only his eyes and forehead showed above water, moving towards the boat to see closer. It was a ship, very large and imposing, and he leapt up onto a dangling ladder, peering through a hole.

Men about the ship talked and jeered, but nobody saw Aureli.

When the wind sharpened and the rain began to fell like sharp jabs, the merman dived back into the water just as a CRASH sounded.

The noise and the impact jolted the water, pushing him away. He whipped around, watching as fire caught and raised high in the rain, spreading quickly throughout the boat. The men on board hurried into a smaller boat, and Aureli ducked well beneath the water in fear of being caught.

Pieces of the ship fell into the water, and fires were doused. Aureli watched, listened, but stayed utterly still. Until a large splash sounded. He swam forward and saw legs kicking. Not... human legs.

He gently pushed the furry, wet creature in the direction of the lifeboat, then turned as another splash echoed through the water. Much heavier than the last. Aureli swam around, then down, and grasped a man’s arm. He was unconscious, mouth open, and Aureli quickly pumped his tail towards... anywhere!

The merman swam about with the man in his arms, but panic had his head all muddled up. He stared at the man as they slowly sunk lower into the water, then kissed him before he could think before of it. He attempted to suck the water from the man’s lungs, then pushed some good air into him, dragging him backwards towards the castle.

They had infirmaries there, with stuff that could surely help. Perhaps he could find a tank?

Aureli surged down towards the large, opulent kingdom. He slipped inside, weaving through the hallways and hurrying into his chambers. Full of trinkets and gadgets, he cleared off a bit of his seaweed bed to set the man upon, then sat beside him.

He kissed him again, this time channeling some power into creating a bubble for him to breathe proper air in through. He brushed the man’s hair back, gazing at his handsome face.

...Then the man’s eyes opened.

Aureli had given his voice for this. He’d been convinced by the sea witch that legs would be perfect, that he could totally seduce the human prince in three days, and he had given up his voice to get the legs he now stumbled upon.

He’d hurriedly swam up to the surface, bare from the shoulders down, and gasped as he broke free from the water. He panted, swimming desperately towards anything that wasn’t the middle of the ocean.

Aureli’s arms were already tired, but he swam and swam. The sun rose up behind him as he finally set his eyes upon what seemed to be land, and he helplessly swam faster. He crawled into the shallow area, slumping onto his elbows and sighing.

He looked down at himself—his skin, tanned slightly from his visits to the surface. His stomach, flat and bare with a shadow of muscle. His legs—his legs. They were the same color as the rest of him, but they were real. Long and slim, and he could even wiggle his toes! They were wet, dripping, and something tickled his shin as he shifted a bit.

A crab crept up onto his knee, and Aureli tilted his head. He braced for a scolding that he knew would be coming, and stared. But the crab, his father’s very assistant, stared right back. Aureli blinked.

Then came the scolding. It actually lasted quite a while, up until Aureli stood and the crab fell off of him. He staggered up onto the dry sand, toes curling into the grains. The heat from the sun made it quite warm beneath him, and his legs gave out once more. Aureli slumped onto the sand, sighing.

”RUFF! Woof, ruff, ruff!”

Aureli’s head snapped sideways, and he scrambled upright as he saw a furry beast bolting towards him. He stepped backwards, then spun as the dog rushed to sniff at his wet legs. He tapped his hand against its wet nose, then flinched in disgust.

He ran away, looking for protection. A rock should surely do—so he found a tall one and pulled himself up, curling his knees up as the dog pounced repeatedly at the rock. He gulped, holding on for dear life.

Then a voice called from nearby, and Aureli looked over. It was the prince.