As soon as I slid out of my truck with the clipboard I always kept on the seat, I took in a deep breath and sighed.

"Nothing better than spending a day at the beach."

Those words made me smirk as I eagerly walked over the shifting sands. My short black hair was blowing like crazy and getting in my eyes, but I was used to it after so many days researching on the dock or a boat. I had already sprayed on some sunscreen while in the truck, so there was nothing left to do but the work that I loved.

Ken's large fishing boat was out, telling me that he was likely to be gone until late, good. I didn't want him bothering me, in case Callem surfaced. Having to explain to someone that mermen suddenly existed again wouldn't be easy. My feet clacked on the worn wooden planks as I walked down to the edge of the peer, knowing that Callem would probably be over by the tie-out net in the distance. I almost wanted to call out to him, but he was no longer meant to interact with me, even though I had a feeling the lab might want that to occur anyways.

Instead, I dropped down into the folding chair I had left out for relaxing and crossed my legs, setting the clipboard overtop them after getting comfortable. I filled out all the necessary information on the first page—name, estimated age, etcetera, and then kept an eye out for the next few hours. When I finally sighted Callem, he was out by the fish net, heading toward shore. After a quick glance to either side, I sighed with relief to see that most of the beachgoers had already packed up and left. It was a pretty overcast day and had drizzled once or twice, so that probably made them leave early.

When I saw the partial outline of a dolphin swim beneath the dock, I hopped up and walked over to the edge. To say that I wasn't happy to see him would be a lie. He was amazing, and I was extremely glad that I had helped him and managed to get him safely back to his real home. Another minute later, I saw a big splash a few yards ahead and smiled.

"There you are, Callem. Great to see you're okay."

Another splash closer to me had my heart skipping a beat. The choppy water made it hard to see his specific details with all the sand and sediment being kicked up, but I knew it was him. When his tail didn't pop up again, I sat cross-legged near the edge and scribbled notes for the better half of an hour. My boss was going to get his report, even though Callem wasn't doing much. I could definitely bullshit a good amount. Of course I refused to lie in my reports, but I could easily fluff it up quite nicely. After years of researching, I was at least good at that. It was sometime around five when I saw another splash, one much closer.

"Hm? Wanna talk now, Cal?"

I set my clipboard down and scooted closer to the edge, letting my feet hang over it. He splashed again, drawing a quiet laugh from me as I kicked lightly. I almost wished the dock was low enough so that my feet could dip into the water... but then again, it would probably wash away in a simple storm if that were the case.

"You're acting a bit weird today. Finally sick of me?"

There was a sudden splash just to my left, making me jump a little, then laugh.

"Alright alright, you're playing with me. Come say hi, Callem."

I leaned over, reaching my hand toward the water with a smile. Of course I wasn't going to go swimming with him in such high waves, but I did want to see him and make sure he was doing well. My gaze skimmed the water, expecting to see his shadow again or at least another splash. Instead, I heard a car door slam over by the dock and looked up to see Jayson hopping out of his SUV. He didn't normally come down to the beach when I was on an assignment, or at least come directly to where I was researching with his car.

"Hey!" I shouted to him, waving with a smile. I was about to turn back to the water to see if Callem had surfaced yet when I noticed Jay looking a bit pale and making weird gestures with his arms as he ran toward me.

~Jayson

That isn't Callem! God dammit, god dammit!

"Parker! Get away from the edge!"

I was literally running, fearful to look away from my friend, afraid that he'd just think I was messing with him. But I wasn't! I knew that mer wasn't Callem. Honestly, I had hoped and prayed when I had seen it while up in the parking lot overlooking the beach that it was just a dolphin, but no. It was longer than Callem but a bit slimmer. And it definitely didn't have a complete dolphin outline.

"Parker!" 

He finally seemed to realize that I wanted his attention and began getting up, but right as he turned and started to kneel with his right leg extended a little farther over the edge of the dock...

~Parker

I heard him shouting just in time to turn and see someone come out of the water. Callem was just going to be playful, but Callem didn't have dark red hair, or shifting green eyes... or that face. My lungs thankfully managed to grab a breath of air before I was abruptly pulled right off the dock and into the crashing waves. The wooden planks had knocked my jaw but luckily not hard enough to make me lose consciousness.

I was pulled through the water at a much faster pace than Callem had managed, most likely because this merman was not injured. My left hand was solidly clamped over my nose to keep water from being forced into it from the harsh current and speed. I was expecting to be drowned. Had no doubt in my mind that I wouldn't be so lucky this time, but suddenly the hand on my ankle disappeared.

Deciding not to look a gift seahorse in the mouth, I scrambled toward the surface, kicking my shoes off in the process to lower the drag and help me be able to move better. Thankfully there were no rip-currents so I managed to break through the surface and pull in a much-needed breath. I didn't have to look to know that I was drifting farther and farther away from the shore, though. With the waves being two or three feet high and the current pulling me along with ease, I definitely wasn't swimming back without a chance to catch my breath completely, but swimming back wasn't what my main focus was on right then.

Jesus M. Christ, there's another mer.

And it obviously wasn't friendly.

Okay, what can I do?

I did my best to calm my breathing so I could float a bit more than rely completely on swimming, switching between holding my breath every few seconds to taking in a deep one. That's when I noticed something only a few yards away.

Oh my god, yes! The cast net!

I could have squealed like a little schoolgirl with excitement as I scrambled (dog-paddled) toward the heavy wooden post sticking out of the ocean. There was no doubt in my mind that the mer would return, and honestly, I had no idea why it had even let me go, but I didn't waste a second getting to my woody savior and climbing to the top, about three feet above the waves. It wasn't safe by a long shot, but at least I was out of the water.

~Jayson

"Parker!"

Everything paused around me as I stumbled to the edge of the dock, looking frantically for Park. I tried to shout, but shock made my voice nearly mute as wind whipped around me and waves crashed below.

"Oh god, Parker."

I was just beginning to go into a panic attack when I saw something struggling out of the water a good ways out to sea.

"Holy shit. Yes! That's my Park!"

I think I literally hopped up and down twice before whirling on my heels. I needed to go get our research boat from where it was docked near the shore, but a more pressing matter immediately made itself known. A very naked, very angry-looking merman with dark red hair and churning green eyes slowly pulled its lips back from very uhm... nice? Looking teeth. I knew from research that they didn't appear sharp, but there was no way I was going to let it get a hold of me. Every single tooth was serrated, made to tear scales and skin away from anything that made the mistake of crossing its path while hunting. Granted, large carnivores weren't often on the menu, but I was no large carnivore compared to him.

I soon found myself staring, even though I knew it was a bad habit and generally meant I was showing aggression to another, but I still couldn't wrap my mind around, well, him. He was hissing now, but that wasn't what was drawing my attention. That would be the bubbles pouring out of the flaring gills around his neck and hell, even on his torso.

"I dislike humans who stare."

My head jerked up, eyes wide. I hadn't even noticed he'd stopped hissing.

"Wait... you just talked."

He smirked, raising a brow beneath his soaked hair. I expected a response, but unfortunately it was physical, not verbal. His fist connected with my lower stomach, forcing an immediate gag response for the lunch I had eaten right before coming there. My whole body shook as I emptied my stomach on my hands and knees, not exactly happy as his deep laugh sounded above the wind and waves.

"Screw you..."

I know, taunting something that could easily kill and or eat me was never a good idea, but I rarely had good ideas when puking my guts out.

"Such a stupid human."

Giving one final gag, I wiped my mouth and struggled to my feet. My lower belly was literally burning in pain, and I didn't doubt that I already had some serious bruises beginning to form.

"At least you can actually take a hit. Too bad I doubt you'll handle another without drowning."

I knew I was in trouble, but when I managed to clear my blurry vision enough to see him again, I noticed something else... or someone else.

"C-Callem?"

The mer in front of me nonchalantly glanced over his shoulder as the other approached.

Oh man, please like me more than this asshole. Pleeeease. I'll give you a cookie. Fish! I'll make you a damn fish-cookie.

Callem stopped right next to the other, then crushed my hopes and dreams of living. He fucking began to nuzzle the guy's shoulder and almost sounded like he was purring. The slightly taller mer ran his fingers softly through Callem's wet hair, then licked his forehead before turning his attention back to me.

"I don't like it when humans mess with my little brother."

Of course. Of. Fucking. Course. Man, Park will kill me if he hears all the cursing I am doing in my head.

"W-Well that's great... W-we have no intention of doing any sort of messing!"

His eyes narrowed on me, then darted over my shoulder before returning to me. I knew he was trying to make me look away, but I wasn't that stupid. Parker would probably argue that most times, but I wasn't. I swear.

"No intention? Is that why my brother insists on staying in this area? He vanished during a storm many nights ago, and now I find him pining after some disgusting human male."

He looked over my shoulder again but didn't let his gaze linger long before returning to meet mine. Well, at least I knew Parker was likely still there.

"Listen, Parker didn't mean to uh, submit? Or do whatever it was that he did to show your brother that he was interested in him in any way. It was a mistake."

Wait a second...

"But hey, why can you talk, but he struggles with it?"

The red-haired mer's brows shot up as he looked sideways at his brother, then back to me.

"He does not talk."

My head tilted slightly. I knew that was wrong.

"Yes, he does. He knows Parker's name, and they can somewhat communicate. He learns insanely fast."

The mer seemed shocked, which unfortunately led to anger.

"He has never spoken to me. Why should I believe you?"

"U-Uhm... because he can talk. I swear."

My gaze darted to Callem, and I pursed my lips.

"Callem? Parker needs Callem..."

He looked at me lazily, then turned to lick his brother's shoulder a few times. The taller mer didn't look impressed in the least. Shit!

"I-I swear. He'll talk to Parker. They've talked a lot."

"Hmm..."

His silence made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

"Alright, human. If you can go get your friend and bring him back to this dock without setting foot on the beach, I will humor you, one time. If your Parker is able to make my brother speak, I may reconsider eating you both."

Okay! I can totally do this! The boat isn't on the beach so I just need to get to it and save Park!

While I was silently celebrating in my head, his clawed fist shot out, slamming into my previously injured chest and sending me straight over the edge of the dock... and into the crashing waves.