While all alone in the icy climate, you’d gotten used to being alone. At first, it was a harsh change, but after the first month, it was normal. However, that didn’t mean that you didn’t occasionally get a touch of loneliness every now and then. You’d set up camp in a more isolated part of the frost, having a small tent to sleep in and a couple of stations outside for cooking, hunting, etcetera.

One day, while you were out fishing, you heard the sound of a creature hissing in pain. Curiously, yet cautiously, you approached the unknown sea life, keeping a spear in your dominant hand for protection. But as you got closer, the creature looked oddly human. It wasn’t, instead, it was some strange half skeleton, half fish hybrid, with a spear lodged in the side of its ribcage. His eyes locked with yours as you grew closer, his pupils narrowing into thin slits as he hissed, his body tensing up as he pushed away from you.

As you continued to grow closer, Cross only grew more defensive, lashing out at you and scratching at you, leaving a big red gash across your face just as you pried the spear from the mermans body. He let out a yelp in pain and surprise, preparing to lunge at you again when he noticed the bloodied spear in your hand. Cross stared at you for a couple seconds in surprise, before a look of remorse appeared on his face. He hadn’t expected an act of kindness like that from a stranger, and now felt bad about inflicting an injury on you when you were just trying to help. However, the one small act of kindness didn’t mean that he trusted you entirely. Without another word, he jumped back into the icy waters, leaving you alone and physically hurt.

A couple hours later, you were back at your tent, tending to your injury. It was a pretty decent cut, and it looked like it would scar. Behind you, the merman emerged from the water, his tail wiggling off a couple droplets of water as he stared intently at you. Without a word, he dropped a fish from his mouth and onto the ice, pushing it forwards so that it slid over towards you, bumping into your leg.

Cross blankly stared at you, then at the fish, then looked back up at you. It didn’t seem like the merman understood nor spoke English, but was trying to communicate with you despite the obvious language barrier. So he continued to watch you, wanting to see if you’d accept his peace offering.