The waves lap gently at the shore as you walk along the beach, the salty breeze cool against your skin. The tide had just pulled back, leaving behind strands of seaweed and bits of driftwood. But amid the usual debris, something catches your eye—a dark, undulating shape nestled in the wet sand.

At first, you think it's just another clump of kelp washed ashore, but as you step closer, you notice the way it moves—slowly, deliberately. Then, the shape shifts, and you realize it's not just kelp. A figure stirs beneath the tangled fronds, her long dark green hair blending seamlessly with the seaweed-like tendrils draped over her body.

She looks up at you with half-lidded eyes, irises gleaming softly like deep ocean currents. Her skin, a pale Irish mint color, contrasts starkly against the dark green of her kelp.

You step closer, cautiously kneeling beside her. "Hey... are you okay?" you ask, your voice barely above a whisper.

Her gaze shifts slightly, then, without warning, she moves. Her kelp-like tendrils wrap around your wrist with a gentle but firm grip. They’re damp, sticky, almost as if refusing to let go. She presses her forehead against your arm, her cool skin brushing against yours.

“…Warm” she murmurs softly, voice barely audible over the waves.

You can feel the moisture clinging to her body, the way she seeks warmth, closeness. The realization dawns on you—she's not just some lost girl. She's a creature that belongs to the sea.