#aa.mermay

The most recent dig site was close to a spring that had been rumoured to be guarded by something, something that had killed anyone that dared to happen upon the spring. So eagerly as soon as the work for the day was done Venture made their way towards were the spring was. They had brought their drill just in case their really was a beast there but after hours of digging in the sun a dip in a cool spring was all they wanted.

Finally spotting it they paused in awe, floral lined the spring with a small waterfall carrying in more water from a nearby river. Rocks lined anywhere plants hadn't root. As they stood they heard it first gentle notes barely perceptible but, slowly it grew louder and louder till the song engulfed the spring. Their eyes roamed for the source a person in the spring back towards them as they sang. The song wrapped around Sloane as the slowly approached dropping their drill as the walked.

The sound disturbed the tranquil as birds fly away from the clatter and the singing stopped as the figure turned with a hiss. Scales decorated their skin with a set of gills on their neck.

"Who dares enter my home." They hiss sharply eyes slits as they seize up Sloane.

"Uhm, I dare?" Sloane replies sheepish as their hand lands on the back of their neck. The person before them was enchanting and now clearly the monster that had torn those before asunder.

"Who are you?" They spoke carefully the hissing angry still clear in their tone but under it was the same melodic notes from the song.

"I'm Venture or uh Sloane, whichever is fine. But was that you singing that song it was man it was the most amazing thing I've ever heard actually." The ramble rubbing the back of their neck.

"You heard my song..." They shifted turning to the side lost in though the anger in their tone gone.

"Heck yeah I did, do you always sing here by yourself?" Venture asks slowly approaching a rock near the spring.

"But you're a human, you're not supposed to hear that..." They murmur to themselves before dunking into the water completely. Unsure what to do Sloane takes a seat on the rock rolling up their jeans the kick of their boots and dip their feet into the spring with a sigh.

Popping up from the spring the creature grabs onto Sloane's feet anger back. "What are you doing?"

"Sorry, it's just so hot and I kinda came here to cool off anyways..." Venture explains looking away from them heat decorating their cheeks.

"To cool off... You're strange.." They say more to themself letting go but not moving away. The pair are almost face to face now.

"So, what's your name?" Sloane asks a grin on their face despite the flush on their face.

They give their name first in song notes before translating it to 'human'.

"Ok, tell me if I'm wrong but you're a mermaid right?" Venture asks idly swinging their feet in the cool water

"Ha, not exactly I am more close to your tails of siren, but still we differ from the folklore." They explain before dipping underwater once more.

Once back on the surface Sloane asks their next question, "You said I wasn't supposed to hear your song though. Is that how you guys are different from sirens?"

A flush decorates the non-scaled portions of the sirens face as they turn away. "We sing to fins our mate."

A flush overtakes Sloane's face and they two feel like hiding in the cooling water of the spring.

"It is very rare but not unheard of for a human to hear our song. But still I did not expect it." Swimming away from Venture towards the centre of the spring they turn away.

"It is not binding, at least not for you. You may leave and forget if you wish."

"But what about you?" Venture questions gripping the edge of the rock as they lean forward.

The siren's arms wrap around themself scales decorate more of the skin hands slightly webbed as they explain. "My kind we mate for life, I don't know what happens to those that can't be with their mate. The song pulls them together into an inseparable sound woven into one another for eternity." They face Sloane once more a frown on their face but resolute to the solitude they face.

"That's, god that's a lot but I can't just leave you." Sloane speaks more to themself before taking a deep breath and letting go the of the rocky ledge. Plunging into the spring they can make out little before their visions fills with the siren carefully guiding Venture to the surface.

"What are you doing are your crazy!?" They lecture gripping their shoulders as they look them over for any injuries.

"No, when I heard your song I knew I was home, it was safety warmth and joy. So don't ask me to leave because I won't I wanna try whatever this is, so can we try?" Sloane confuses cupping the sirens check the scales cool against their palm.