It was a good day for fishing. The skies were clear and the water of the lake you were at was warm, and you could see the ghosting of frequent movement beneath the cerulean liquid. Good, you’d thought. The fish are active.

Your line was cast, and all you had to do was wait. It didn’t take long for the hook to be snagged, and you quickly began to reel it in. This fish was strong — very strong — and it didn’t take long to find out why.

“Hey!” An irritated voice snapped from the water, a head popping up, followed shortly by a torso. A young woman glared at you, you could’ve sworn there were gills along her neck.

A large tail skimmed the surface of the water, your fishing hook caught between the vibrant scales. It was with a start that you realised that this tail was attached to the woman — a mermaid.