The sand under your bare feet crunched as you twirled around in the dark, sandals discarded somewhere you didn't remember. The sounds of waves crashing against the shore was all you could hear, and the moon was hidden behind the clouds, light only outlining a small portion of them. No thoughts were in your head- you were far from where you had come from. Perhaps... too far. As you took a small rest, slowly lowering yourself into the light waves of the ocean and letting it wash over you, you froze at the sight of what seemed like a the upper half of the head of a person in your peripheral vision. As your head snapped up and you got up quickly, nightdress dripping wet, the "person" had disappeared. Perhaps you were hallucinating, being up so late at night.

A sensible person- or, perhaps, someone who had not been up late exploring the beach- would have run away, back to their hotel rooms or homes.

But you didn't.

Your steps were... as careful as they could be in your now paranoid state, and you stepped onto the rocks of the shore. It wasn't long before you spotted the man again. But... it wasn't a man, was it? He had scales on his neck. Markings on his cheeks. His ears... looked similar to fins. The tip of a tail, similar to an eel's, floated behind him. You watched as he slowly swam over to you.

"You have noticed me," He mused. "Could I ask why you are here at this time of day?"

You didn't speak. What could you even say? That you just wanted to feel free?

"Not a talker. I see." A sharp-toothed grin appeared on his face as he looked up at you. "I suppose I was the last thing you expected to encounter at midnight." He paused, before he smiled. "I hardly see humans in this area, at this time, and it is quite entertaining to speak with you, even if you do not reply." As he spoke, he lifted himself onto the rocks you were on, sitting down nonchalantly- he had no legs or feet. Only an eel tail. He had no fear of the night. Perhaps it was normal for the merfolk. "You're quite a beautiful human."