The Sea Remembers Us — Episode 4

colony would slink over and drag away the lure. Merfolk were drawn to strength. A male who could bring down enormous prey easily won female attention, but this idiot fish had never attended the underwater courtship dances. I consulted my professor, who said merfolk were social animals. Males typically left in groups of two or three brothers. A solitary mer had likely

been separated by accident, or abandoned, forced to grow up alone. That would explain why this one was such an exceptional hunter. Without a family's protection, he'd had to become powerful to survive the ocean's dangers. It also meant he probably didn't know the courtship song or dance. Without performing the courtship ritual, none of the young females would even know he was

Of course he didn't have a mate. Once mating season ended, Opal would leave Emerald Atoll with nothing to show for it. I could feel my thesis slipping away. I had to do something. It was just a song and a dance. I'd teach him myself. I pulled up recordings of courtship songs and waited at the dock. Opal arrived, dragging another massive tuna. The

The warm light softened his cold features. I knew he was dangerous, but merfolk had no recorded history of harming humans. I approached him slowly. Opal.

Opal, that's the name I gave you. Merfolk could only produce simple tones. They had a basic language, but communicated through ultrasound.