The Song of the Siren (Accepting :: OPEN)

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Katalina blinked at the sound of a motor, and immediately flipped upright. She drifted to the surface, watching a small motorboat buzz straight towards her.
Figuring she had plenty of time to duck before the human saw her, she half-closed her eyes against the glare of light on the water and watched the boat, the currents allowing her to drift slowly closer.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

As he drew closer to the reefs, Joshua slowed the boat. Before long, he'd come to a complete stop. He gave out a piercing whistle, and watched Marie come to him in response. He made a loop in the rope attached to the front of the boat. "Come on now. To the reefs today, please." Willingly, Marie tugged the boat closer. When they'd reached the right spot, Josh through an anchor overboard. "Wouldn't do to have the boat drift off, now would it." He mumbled to himself. Joshua strapped on his scuba gear and, sitting on the side, flipped into the ocean.  

[Tigrex fang]

Alex heard her but he decided that it was good to brush on his survival training he gathered Coco nuts, wood for fire, shelter, and a raft. and some drinking water " ok then... if i only had some rum... oh well.." he began to make the raft.  

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Fascinated, Katalina peeked around the piece of coral she'd hidden behind, watching the human swimming.
What is he wearing? she wondered.
She slipped out from behind the coral. She was attempting to be stealthy, but the summer sun cut right through the water and flashed off her scales like silver. If the human happened to look around, he'd spot her easily.
But she didn't know that.
Curiously, she followed him.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

Poking and prodding, Joshua began working his way around the coral reef. Marie followed him, playfully nudging him. He pushed her away lightly, trying to examine the coral behind her. Mentally he noted all the changes since the last time he'd been out here. He came out once every week or so, to keep a progress record on the coral. It fascinated him because it was alive, yet seemed dead.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw something flashing. His first thought was that it was just a fish. Then he realized that no silver fish lived around the coral. He turned around, looking for the new fish. Joshua was always eager to see new species. He wasn't prepared for what he saw floating there. He stared. 'That is definitely not a fish.' Some part of Joshua's mind absently noted. Yet he continued to stare at the mermaid before him. He'd always hoped they were real but no evidence had ever been brought forward.  

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Katalina froze, already large eyes going wide.
Get away! her mind squeaked, but what was the point? He'd seen her.
Nervously, she slid backwards in the water, then forwards again - the mermaid equivalent of pacing.
Then she turned and dived behind the coral, hoping against hope he'd dismiss it as imagination.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

Joshua just stared as the mermaid moved around, then dived away. He came back to reality as Marie nudged him. Absentmindedly he pushed her away again. 'Am I seeing things?' He thought. Josh glanced at the rest of the water. Everything else seemed normal and he wasn't deep enough to have the sickness associated with the depths. 'So that means it HAD to be real.' Determined to find out, he swam towards where she'd disappeared. He feverently hoped she'd been real. This is what he'd always wanted, a chance to really communicate with a mermaid. Prove to himself that they were real! Suddenly he had a thought. 'I hope no one else finds out! Or this could end badly.' Then he realized no one had ever been to Half-Moon Cove except for him. 'So she's safe....' Joshua sighed mentally and smiled as he came around the coral.  

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Katalina looked up from where she curled, trying to hide in plain sight against the coral, and saw him. She squirmed back and wished fervently to disappear.
She looked somewhat like a cornered, frightened animal as she tried in vain to push back through the solid wall of coral. Her eyes searched his hands for hooks or nets, looking for what he planned to use to catch her.
And he would. She had nowhere to dodge to.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

When Joshua rounded the corner his eyes swept the coral so fast that he missed her. Taking a second look, he found her curled against the coral. 'She's scared.' He realized with a start. Now that he could look at her properly, he could appreciate her startling beauty. Her scales shimmered in the summer light as she squirmed. He took note of her eyes, large in fright. Joshua stopped swimming, instead just treading water. He made no move to come closer to the frightened mermaid. The only move he made was to extend his hand, trying to get her to realize he meant no harm. Nor did he want to catch her.  

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Katalina judged the amount of space on either side of him. Not enough for her to get past, get out.
Then she realized he'd stopped coming on. Her eyes flickered, looking for the net. Not enough, she realized.
Too close for a net. Too far for hooks.
Did he have something...else?
He extended a hand and she flinched back. "Don't hurt the coral," she whispered. "Please, I'll come, just don't hurt it."  

[Lucky_Tiger]

Joshua watched her flinch at his hand. Then he heard her voice. As much as the water and mask distorted it, he could still tell it was a beautiful voice. And he damned himself because he couldn't talk back to her. Instead he gestured at the coral with his other hand and shook his head, meaning he didn't want to hurt it. Using the hand he had extended at her, Joshua pointed upwards. He wanted her to come to where he could speak as well. Idly, he wondered if mermaids could speak above the water. Still, it was one more thing to learn. Joshua pointed upwards again then began swimming towards the surface.  

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Katalina watched him go towards the surface.
She was terrified, and wanted nothing more than to hide beneath the coral and pretend it was over. But she'd said she would go, and so she went upwards, slowly.
She didn't break the surface, instead remaining just under. She didn't know what he planned, where he wanted to take her, and she wanted to stay for as long as possible in the water that she loved.
She flicked her tail once to keep steady in the slight current, and waited.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

As Joshua's head broke the surface, he shook his head to get some of the water out of his hair. Still treading water he removed his mask, placed it on his forehead, and looked for the mermaid. 'There she is.' He spotted her hovering below the surface. "Come up please? I just want to talk to you." As he spoke Joshua motioned for her to come up.  

[SilentShadowDreamer]

Katalina frowned. Why did he want to talk to her?
"I can hear you," she said calmly, "just fine down here."
Her protest made, she broke the surface, scanning quickly for boats out of habit. Being caught in a propeller once was enough.
Then she turned to him silently, tilting her head.  

[Lucky_Tiger]

'I was right. Very pretty voice.' Joshua thought. He opened his mouth to ask her something, then closed it realizing he didn't know what to ask first. He frowned for a moment, trying to decided. Finally he settled for "What's your name?"