Instead of focusing on the other, more developed WIPs, my brain decided to write Nefele and Angelina's first meeting with a tiny bit of background mythology in the Fairy WIP
Angelina looked nothing like her sister. She was tall, taller than even Nefele, had lighter skin than either of the sisters and ash blond hair that was put in a ponytail. She wore freshly applied, but subtle makeup, but she had no manicure. Instead, it seemed like the bad habit of nail biting may be genetic. Dressed in jeans and a purple top, she looked like your average teenage girl and if Nefele had ever passed her on the street she would have never guessed she was a fairy, much less her own half-sister.
But now that she had been introduced to the magical world, Nefele could see, from the corner of her eye, Angelina's fairy wings. The two masses of energy that were the metaphysical manifestation of the girl's soul, yet, like all fairy wings, could not truly exist on their physical plane. Nefele had always wondered why fairies called them wings. They were mostly shapeless waves of color that might sometimes resemble bird wings, but most of the time looked like tendrils that twisted themselves in concentric circles and - to her great disappointment- did not offer the power of flight.
Every fairy's wings looked different. Some were more prominent, like they were fighting to escape their astral prison and merge completely with the body which housed the soul that had birthed them. Others looked watered down and almost tired. Nefele had not seen many fairies, but each had wings as unique as their fingerprints. What fascinated her the most were the colors. Angelina's wings were vibrant pink, sunshine yellow and gold, all bleeding together like paints on a wet canvas. Nefele didn't know if there was some connection between the color of a fairy's wings and their personality, but Angelina's seemed fitting: this was not someone to be trifled with; brittle and assertive, she had the makings of a leader as she grew older. But for now, with the pouty look on her face and the expensive jewelry, she looked more like a spoiled brat.
This one was a challenge to decide what to do, and a lot of fun to write after I got an idea for it! I hope you like it!
The first time Kiba saw her, she was swimming. Normally hewouldn’t pay much attention to a human swimmer, only enough to keep out ofsight, but this far out to sea it was such a rare event he couldn’t help buttake notice. He keep out of sight, but couldn’t help but edge closer for abetter view. Her skin shone in the water like a pearl, and her hair was themost beautiful shade of pink he had ever seen. This human was beautiful, enoughto put most mermaids to shame.
He watched her swim around for a few minutes, going up tothe surface as needed for air, before she returned to the ship that was anchorednearby. When the anchor was lifted he couldn’t help but follow the ship, hopinghe might catch another glimpse of her.
Akamaru, his large white dog-shark partner, was followingalong in his wake, all the way telling Kiba what a stupid idea this was.
I just want to see herone more time, Kiba shot back at his partner, then we can go home okay?
Akamaru gave him a pointed look, one that roughly translatedinto you’re an idiot but he stoppedprotesting and followed Kiba in the wake of the ship.
It didn’t take long for the calm sea to become rough, wavescrashing violently against each other and the sides of the ship. Kiba had knownthe storm was coming, it was something all Merpeople could sense because theywere so attuned with the sea around them. The merman and dog-shark watched theboat lurch back and forth from far below, knowing that even they could be introuble near the surface when it was so violent.
That was when it happened, a wave (a large one from thelooks of it) crashed over the ship and the sea above Kiba and Akamaru was suddenlydotted with debris. Daring to move closer he could see several barrels, chucksof wood and bits of rope, other things he knew were associated with ships froma childhood spent exploring sunken wrecks. There was something in the distance,however, sinking faster than anything else that he couldn’t quite make out.
Keeping low he swam toward the strange object until he wasclose enough to make out the shape more clearly. It was a human!
Kiba had always been told that humans were dangerous, thatno matter what he should never approach one, but watching one falling throughthe water, knowing they couldn’t survive down there the way he did, he couldn’thelp but want to try and help. When a flash of lightening above the surface litthe water briefly and he caught a flash of pink, his debate was over almost assoon as it started. He cut through the water, using his powerful red tail toclose the distance between them as quickly as possible.
Absently he noticed that she was as pretty up close as shehad been from afar, but the thought was brushed aside the moment his arms werearound her. He starting swimming directly up, clutching her close to his chest.Her skin was cold against his bare skin, but he wasn’t sure if that was a badthing or not. Were humans always this cold? He didn’t think so but he wasn’tsure. He pushed himself to swim faster than he ever had before, even when thatidiot Naruto had goaded him into a race at the bottom of the dark ravine near theirvillage, but he wasn’t sure if he could make it in time. How long can she survive without air? He had no idea, no one knewmuch about the humans that dwelled above the waves.
As he was nearing the surface, not long after he had reachedher, a wave crashed above and the force of the water pushed him back down,sending them both spinning towards the depths. Akamaru was suddenly there, Kiba’stail grasped in his jaw to steady him.
Kiba shot his partner a grateful glance before looking backand forth between the girl in his arms and the surface. He couldn’t get therein time, the waves were too strong an even if he did there was no way he couldbefore she drowned.
It was then that he remembered something Shikamaru, the damnknow it all from the same guppy group as him, once told him about humans. Thatthere was a way to turn them into Merpeople. No one had really believed him ofcourse, it sounded daft, but for some reason Kiba couldn’t stand the idea ofthis girl dying here so he was willing to try.
And if it failed he was going to kick Shikamaru’s tail formisleading him.
Normally he would be hesitant to kiss someone he didn’t know,but he didn’t have the time to flounder about like a guppy about this. Hepressed his mouth against hers, parting her cold blue lips with his tongue andbreathing in through his gills and exhaling through his mouth into hers.
When Shikamaru had told them offhandedly that humans couldbe turned into Merpeople, he hadn’t wanted to go into more detail (he saidexplaining it so they could understand was too “troublesome”) but Ino had forcedhim into revealing the secret. Ever since then she had entertained idea of findinga human prince trapped under the waves and saving him. Surely he would fall inlove with her in his gratitude. Kiba had never, in a million years, thought hemight try it himself. He didn’t believe it possible really.
But as he breathed water and air into her lungs he foundhimself praying to Neptune that this worked.
He didn’t have to pray for long before she jerked in hisarms. As she pushed away from him, he watched in fascination as her legsmorphed, fusing together and growing scales and large graceful fins. Light pinkscales sprouted along her waist and up her sides, gills opened just under herstill covered breasts. When it was over, less than a minute after thetransformation started, she opened her mouth and screamed. Her voice cut acrossthe water, a siren’s call that if it wasn’t stopped, would attract every fishin the area.
He shot forward to where she had drifted away and coveredher mouth with his hand.
Calm down, calm down, hesaid, you’re okay I promise. I’m sorrythis must be weird but it was the only way to save you.
As he spoke the expression on her face softened, the fear losinga bit of its edge and confusion replacing it. She looked around quickly beforeglaring at him suspiciously.
Who are you? She demanded,and what did you do to me?
He shot her a sharp toothed grin, name’s Kiba and I just saved your life but you kinda… well… hisvoice trailed off as words failed him, really how do you tell a human that bysome weird Merperson technique (that is probably going to get him in so muchhot water with his mother) that they aren’t, well, human anymore. He settledfor gesturing to her lower half.
She followed the movement of his arm and gasped audibly asher eyes took in the tail that was where her legs should be.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Sheshrieked, hand curling into a fist and she swung at him. Slowed by the water,Kiba was easily able to move back and dodge the blow.
Listen, I’m sorry butyou were going to drown and I couldn’t get you to the surface, and who knowshow long you human folk can survive in the water and I just didn’t want you todie without knowing your name, he finished lamely, looking up at hersheepishly.
I don’t suppose thisis reversible, is it? She asked after counting to 10 twice.
He shook his head and she took a deep breath (which all onit’s own was a strange new sensation, breaking in from the gills on her sideinstead of her nose) and the anger bled from her face. It was hard to stayterribly mad at him when he was just trying to save her after all.
So what do we do now?I don’t suppose you live out here do you?
Kiba scoffed, Ofcourse not. I guess I need to take you to the Namikage. She’ll know what to do,and most likely give me an earful for this.
Sakura nodded her head Goodyou deserve it for being so reckless- Ahhh! Oh my god shark! She startedyelling, darting behind Kiba and hiding behind him.
Akamaru had decided to stop hiding below them, and wasswimming lazing towards them. Feeling her pressed against his back, andshivering slightly. Her skin was much warmer now, he noted before turningaround to face her.
It’s okay, hesaid, this is my partner Akamaru. He won’thurt you.
Wait… she said givinghim a strange look, you have a shark as apet?
Kiba wasn’t sure what a pet was exactly, but he noddedfiguring it was probably the human equivalent for the partnerships betweensharks and the Merpeople of his clan.
That is so cool! Sheshouted, surprising him by the grin on her face and the sparkle in her eyes, Do you think I can get a shark? Shegrabbed his arm C’mon let’s go to thisNamikage thing you mentioned, I want to know EVERYTHING about being a mermaid!
Amused by her sudden change in emotion he started swimmingtoward home, to Umigakure, and answering her many questions with a smile. Heeven managed to sneak in a few questions for her about humans, things he hadalways wanted to know. She even told him her name, Sakura and after she explainedwhat it meant he thought it was perfect for someone as beautiful as her. Maybeif he played his cards right she would fall in love with him for saving her,that’s how Ino insisted these things work, right?
I saw that 'I want to write this' tag on that monsters sharing a bunk bed post. I SAW IT 👀
Lol - yeah, I'm in something of a writing slump right now - I'm trying to finish skeptic and am sorta...curdled...
So I'm thinking I might break up my writer's slump by trying to write lil' things. But to be fair, if you wrote it, you'd own it - always bow to my superiors...;p
I just saw your post about your book and that it's based in Shropshire and I S C R E AM E D bc hello I am from Shropshire
Anon oh my god
We go on holiday there a lot (I was brought up in the latter half of my life in Dorset) since we have family in the Wirral. so we usually stay in Shropshire before going on a short drive to see everyone!
It’s such a lovely part of the world!!!
Also yay for people being from the UK lmao a reminder that not everyone here is American!
This sounds depressing. I almost always feel like an akward third-wheel. But yesterday, I confessed this, and my Wonderful friends told me how muchthey care. They willNEVERbe able to understand how much I love them. :)
