Camila could always tell when a storm was brewing, even a day before it happened. So, every time without fail, she made sure the ship moved in the direction of the nearest island to avoid any possible wreckage.

The recent storm was a wild one; high, crashing waves and roaring thunder, vicious slaps of lightning and violent winds that made even the most experienced of sailors seasick and anxious.

Luckily, the nearest island was close by, and Camila and her crew took cover in the lower decks over night. And when morning came, the sky was clear and the seas were calm, not a gray cloud in sight.

“Alright, ladies and gents,” Camila declared loudly bright and early, watching as her crew members sluggishly stumbled out onto deck. “I want everyone to do a sweep, make sure everything is good to—“

“Yo, what the hell is that?”

Camila went to scold for the interruption until she caught sight of what one of her members was talking about. She spotted a figure on shore—but not just any human. It was a merman, long tail and scaly skin, sand gritted hair.

“Well, shit,” Camila cursed, getting off her ship and trudging through the hot sand, kneeling down next to the washed up merman. “Hey, you.”

Camila cupped some ocean water in her hands and splashed it onto the creature’s face. “Wake up, lad. I fear you don’t belong on land, do ya?”

A merman…? Haven’t seen one of these in years. Never this close up though.