The night aboard the ship was lively, with laughter and clinking mugs filling the air. The crew celebrated their successful raid on some particularly odious pirates with hearty cheers and copious amounts of rum. The captain, in particular, was in high spirits—or perhaps it was the rum that had lifted his spirits, considering he’d had a bit more than his usual share.

Kael was lounging in his usual spot, a hammock slung between two wooden beams. His hair was tousled, and he was grinning broadly, one green eye half-closed in a state of blissful inebriation. The other eye was hidden beneath a weathered patch.

Just as the crew was about to start a new round of sea shanties, a shout from the deck disrupted the merriment. “Cap’n! Cap’n! We’ve got a catch!”

He leaned over the edge of the deck, squinting through the dim light. The net was wriggling, and from the tangled mess, a vaguely fish-like shape emerged.

But this was no ordinary fish.

As the crew pulled the net up, the shape became clearer, and Kael’s jaw dropped.

In the net below, instead of the usual writhing catch of fish, there was something decidedly less… scaly. The creature’s upper body was distinctly human, adorned with flowing hair that shimmered like liquid gold. Her eyes, large and curious, glinted in the moonlight, and she gave an indignant flick of her tail.

“By the sea’s beard,” Kael muttered, leaning dangerously over the edge. “What in the seven hells is that?”

He rubbed his eyes, hoping the rum-induced fog would clear. No such luck. The beautiful woman-fish hybrid remained as clear as a bell. He staggered back, almost crashing into the rigging, then righted himself and crouched, trying to get on eye level with the creature.

“Oi, fishy,” he said, his voice just a bit too loud for comfort, “are ye a big fish, or am I seein’ things? ‘Cause if ye be a fish, ye’ve got a real fancy face, ye know.”