Talia's Storm

An original fantasy horror short story

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Tears glistened on Talia’s reddening cheeks and her whole body shook with rage. Her hazel eyes hardened and trailed the long white boat as it kicked up foamy waves while speeding from the lagoon. The trespassers did much worse than steal a few fish. They committed a cruel, unforgivable crime.

Those land parasites ripped her mate from her life.

Talia unleashed an anguished scream after the boat passed through the inlet leading back to the ocean. Her tail slapped the water, sending out expansive ripples, as she plunged beneath the surface. Talia clenched her teeth and pinched her eyelids shut. She swam in a wave-like motion away from the lagoon. Her entire soul ached as though a violent wave crashed upon it.

Kano tried to convince her that he could reason with the fishermen. His plan sounded simple and logical. Swim to their boat. Explain how the lagoon was a sacred space reserved for their merfolk colony. Persuade the fishermen to journey to a different island. Other humans chose to leave in peace upon learning the truth about the lagoon. Kano believed these would do the same.

Doubts swarmed Talia’s mind once she laid eyes on the two trespassers and their boat. These were not curious humans who took a wrong turn while sailing. Their boat resembled many fishing vessels Talia saw in her journeys. A hard shell with windows enclosed the helm. Unshaded chairs sat near the stern. Long poles lined each side of the boat behind the helm. These humans journeyed here harboring an obvious intent to raid the sacred lagoon and deplete the fish raised by the merfolk colony.

“Humans who fish are unpredictable and selfish creatures,” she said, turning back and facing Kano. “Our legends share this truth. You can’t approach fishing vessels like you’re engaging other merfolk. It’s too dangerous.”