The young Merman swam through the sea tides, laughing as he heard the calls of his mother behind him, swimming as fast as his little minty blue tail would take him, eyes open so very aware of his surroundings, of the world around him.
A loud laugh left his lips as he saw the light shine through the surface of the water, swimming up higher and higher, reaching out and feeling his fingers escape the water and the cool air touching his skin next his head was the next to surface and a smile broke out onto his lips, seeing the world above the surface for the first time in his life.
His mothers hand grabbed his wrist as she popped up beside of him, pulling her young five year old son closer to her chest protectively as a pathetic attempt to keep him safe from the evils humans that seemed to snatch away their kind and torture them for fun.
''Mummy!" He whined, wiggling out of her arms, tail hitting against the water and causing a little slash that barely rippled the surface still not strong enough to cause much damage.
''I am fine, Mummy, see! No nasty humans are around here! We are far far away from the land or any humans…! '' Sherlock exclaimed, gesturing towards the seemingly never ending view of water.
''No Sherlock, listen baby, it is not safe up here! They are boats that the humans use to be able to come far out into the ocean and steal us away from our family! You are /not/ allowed up here without me until I say so… Understand?'' She warned, wearing a stern look on her face and holding her son in his arms.
The child sighed and looked around, splashing his hands around the water and huffing in annoyance wanting to explore and discover the world above the sea water.
''Alright mummy, I promise.'' He huffed, looking down and holding on tight to his mother.
That promise was soon broken, Sherlock really did not mean to disappoint his mother… He never thought she would find out but to celebrate on his sixth birthday he decided to go and explore the surface by himself.
Though when he popped up to the surface he found himself closer to the shore than he had meant to be. The massive flashy lights of the fun fair caught his eye, having never seen anything like it before, it was simply amazing… The bright lights, the music that was so much unlike his own mer folks songs of beauty and love.
Daringly he swam closer, and then closer, and closer until he was near a boat which he had thought was just docked up and unattended by any fishermen or mer hunter's. His eyes danced as he watched the human children run around on the warm looking sand, the older humans laying and staring up at the sky which the child mer really had no idea what they were doing but they seemed to be happy.
Just as he was about to duck down into the water to go back home before he was missed the water began to shift around him, gasping and crying out as rope began to tighten and lift. Sherlock tried to dart under the water only to find that he was completely surrounded by net, a cry of fear leaving him as he tugged at the rope, trying desperately to escape, sobbing and crying as he was lifted up out of the water.
He tried to hit against his prison with his tail but it was still so weak, having not yet grown strong and dangerous, so failing to make any damage at all.
''Mummy! Mummy! Help me! " He screamed, gasping as he found himself completely lifted up out of the water and being lifted up into the air, lowered down on the deck of a ship, Human men surrounding the child.
He kept his mouth shut to make sure the men did not hear him speaking English so they would simply assume he had no idea how to speak so hopefully they would not force him into telling them were his family were.
''Well, well, well look what we have here!'' A human male boomed, opening up the net making Sherlock hit the deck.
His tail slapped against the wood, gills opening and closing shocked by how much air was surrounding the mer used to so much water around him.
His hands were grabbed and tried together with a thick rope so stop him lashing out, being picked up from under his arms and dragged over to an ice box, dropped in causing the boy to yell in shock at how freezing the water and ice was, splashing his tail and hitting against the glass before the lid was closed and locked up tight. That would be the last time he would see true sunlight and be surrounded by fresh air for a long time.