The water surrounding her quickly made way for her to move. Twisting around her in their eternal melody.

It was the freedom she looked for everyday.

The people behind her screamed her name, telling her to go back. The ice was near, and even during the rest of the year it was discouraged to go this close to the surface.

Their world was expanding, but they weren't ready. She was.

She was more than ready to broaden her horizons and touch the sky.

Sora ignored their protests as she came closer and closer.

She had done it before and she would do it again.

Her vins reached out to cover as much space as possible, her arms stretched wide. The webs connecting them to her upperbody catching the force of the water.

Almost. She was almost there.

The sun shone on her scales and she knew from experience watching the fish that they glittered in the light.

With one last mighty push of all her muscles did she breach the surface and was flying.

For all of two seconds, as she collided with someone else.

The body she had collided with full force, let out a painful grunt as they both disappeared under the waves once more.

-

"Oh, come one."

Haneul had seen his sister slip away, and in a moment's decision had followed her. He hadn't been as surprised as was supposed to be, to see her heading to the surface.

Nor at seeing her dive under within seconds with someone decidedly not a mermaid.

Life really didn't agree with him the moment Sora made decisions.

"Sora! What do you think you're doing?! Who is that?"

He was getting ready for an actual rant when he saw her panicked expression. She didn't know either, and their third companion looked to be actually drowning.

"Let's get her to the surface first, then we're going to have a talk."

With their combined effort they managed to bring the woman back to the surface. When they had fallen back into the water, they had sunk a lot deeper than previously thought. It gave Haneul some time to think about their new companion.

Someone had to, as Sora was way too busy freaking out about almost letting someone drown.

The water parted around them, and their companion took deep halting breaths. Haneul and Sora kept their faces mostly underwater, they could breathe air in theory. At least that was what the elders said, but they weren't going to take more risks than necessary.

"I- What-"

After one more deep breath did the woman calm down enough to get a full sentence out.

"Who are you?"