Will hummed quietly, his fingers trailing along the ship's railing. The dark sea gently rocked the boat, while the moon cast a silvery glow over the waving water.

He often found himself awake at night, a habit born from restless sleep and bouts of sleepwalking. It was easier to linger in the quiet hours, even if it meant facing fatigue in the morning.

The crew engaged in lighthearted chatter, their voices speaking not very quietly in contrary with the sounds of the ocean. As Will's gaze drifted to the water, mesmerized by the rhythmic movement of the waves against the hull, he noticed a dark shadow gliding under the water, making him squint his eyes.

He caught a glimpse of shimmering scales reflecting the moonlight, perhaps a fin? Blinking in disbelief, he watched as it vanished into the depths, leaving him puzzled.

“Will?”

He turned to his companion, shaking his head slightly.

“Sorry, thought I saw something.”

.

“Somebody go get the Captain!”

A shout rang out from the deck as crew members struggled to lift a net, Will's eyes widening at the sight of a large, writhing creature within it. Hisses and clicks echoed as bright scales flashed in the sunlight, a testament to the fierce battle the crew had waged.

With a final heave, the net landed on the deck with a heavy thud, the creature inside slamming against the wood with a startling noise that made Will flinch and step back —gods, that sound was deafening.

At last, their attention turned to the captive— a fish? A shark? It resembled something from a ballad, a being that was part human yet distinctly otherworldly, with slitted pupils, fins, and a long, scaled tail. It glared defiantly at the pirates surrounding it, muscles tensed beneath the weight of the wet net.