“Something strange and beautiful stumbles out of the ocean on legs they don't seem familiar with having. This is weird enough. What's even weirder, though, is that you're pretty sure there was NOT an ocean there at all this time yesterday.”
What’s even worse about this is that you’re certain you’d taken your medication the night before. The medication that helped you keep track of time on your walks. You squint up at the rapidly purpling morning sky. You had begun your midnight walk at, well, midnight. By the light, it was at least four thirty.
You let out a curse, and jump when it echoes back at you. Oh. Right.
You face the creature with a smile. “Welcome, young one. I’m your guide.”
And you were. Are. It didn’t matter. The curse hung true on your skin like a tattoo as you stretched out a hand for the sealskin cloak. “I am the guardian of the sea here. You need a place to sleep this morning, right?”
The little thing nodded as it took your hand and pushed freshly-grown feet onto the cool wooden planks of the boardwalk. It had hair still spotted like it’s (former) species. Spotted Seal, study and experience supplies to you. Rare for this far south. “What brought you to me, I wonder.”
“I wonder,” it says back, and smiles at you with too-sharp teeth.
“Mireya, then.” It tilts its head at you, and you clarify. “Your name. It’s Mireya.”
“Mireya,” it says, and you smile politely, because you must.
“Let’s get you some breakfast,” you say. Best to get this one off the streets before the local police decide to wake up. The fewer explanations needed, the better. You hope the last one had left you some fish sticks.