Tyde

The massive ship rocked back and forth. It was stormy when they hauled Tyde onto the deck with a thud. They had expected to make a tremendous catch of fish but were shocked when they opened the net and found Tyde lying there with a broken tail. She let out a yelp as the net pulled on her broken tail. The spikes of her purple and black tail tapped against the wet deck as she floundered about, panicking. “Please!” She begged. Their young captain emerged from his quarters as he heard her panicked calls from the deck.

“Step away!” He demanded of his men.

“But captain!” One of his men began.

“But nothing, you’re scaring her,” he replied and knelt down to the failing mermaid. The clouds then let loose their watery wrath; it bounced and soaked into Tides' bare skin. She started shivering. “Prepare the bath in my bathing area immediately!” he barked at his men, who scattered like ants. Drake picked her up, ignoring Tyde’s attempts at pushing him away, but when she attempted to flick her broken tail and spines his way, he paused by the side of the ship. “Do you really want me to throw you back to the surf with a broken tail? You’ll just be shark bait! You won’t last long.”

Tyde just sighed and gave in, wrapping her arms around his neck, knowing that this ship was going to be her home, whether she liked it or not. He carried her into his quarters. The bathtub was waiting for her; it was warm but also filled with salt water. He carefully lowered her in; she yelped slightly. “Sorry,” he said and walked to the door, “I am just getting the doctor, I’ll be back soon.” Tyde looked around at her new surroundings; they were lavish and dimly lit with candles, in gold and red. She tucked a few strands of purple behind her ear. After a few minutes, the doctor rushed in, stopped at the door, and, dumbfounded, dropped his bag.

“Drake? I thought you were joking, but she’s real!” he exclaimed. “I’ve never been close to a mermaid before; I always just thought they were a myth.”

“You’re lucky my tail is broken; otherwise, I would show you just how violent we can be,” Tyde said, glaring at him.

“Easy darling,” Drake said. “What’s your name?”

“Tyde,” she replied.

“Fitting name,” the doctor said, as he started to examine her tail, she yelped and threw her head back in agony.

“Easy Tyde,” Drake said and gently rested his hand on her shoulders, as the doctor poked and prodded she sloshed the water about all over the floor. “Calm down! You’re going to injure yourself!” Tyde gripped the sides of the bath instead, by the time night fell her tail had been splinted and wrapped, now the healing began.

“Why are you being nice to me?” Tyde asked.

“Because your kind deserves to be treated with respect and honour just like everyone else,” he replied. “I can also tell you’re more gentle than most.”

“How do you know?” she quizzed him.

“For the fact that you didn’t attack my men straight away, and you just huddled into yourself?!” he responded. She just nodded, knowing he was right.

“So what now?” she asked.

“I will keep you until you’re healed, then throw you back to the sea once you can swim again,” he replied, dragging a chair and sitting down next to the tub.

“Why are you staying?” she asked. “Don’t your men need you more?”

“They do, but I would rather make sure you’re more comfortable. Do you need anything?” She shook her head.

“How do I know I can trust you?” she questioned him.

“You’re still alive, aren’t you?” he responded.

“That’s true, I guess,” Tyde said, her lilac eyes meeting his green ones.

“You’re safe here; you’re just going to have to trust me,” he replied, placing a hand down on the tub, his ringed fingers tinging against the side of it.