The man sitting before Sevan glanced at him over the sheaf of papers in his hand while he held a phone in his other, awaiting an answer from the one he was calling. Sevan sat comfortably in the seat before the desk, elbow resting on the arm of his chair and his head resting on his hand. "Hello, is this Dr. Strocyzk?" The man asked into the phone, setting the papers down and leaning back in his chair. "How are you today? This is Dr. Ross from the Mako Marine Park in Australia. Oh I'm doing fine thank you, I just had a question for you regarding a reference we were given. I have a young man before me by the name of Sevan Walker here in front of me and he listed you as one of his references, as I said."

Sevan didn't hear what Dr. Strocyzk said in response, but he guessed it was favorable based on the surprised look that flitted across Dr. Ross's face. "Oh, is that so?" He asked with a note of incredulity in his voice. "Really? Your full recommendation?"

Dr. Ross glanced at Sevan again, disbelief evident on his face as the other doctor continued to speak in his ear. "I see. All that? Forgive me, it seems a bit… much from someone so young. It is rare to see even a veteran researcher with as many… accomplishments as him. When I saw that you were listed as his references, and since our parks have done so much joint work, I thought I would contact you to see if there was any truth here."

The conversation went on for a few more moments with Sevan quickly growing bored with having his references thoroughly questioned by the doctor. He hoped that Dr. Ross wasn't intending on calling every single person on his list. He did not have the patience to sit here for every single person on his list to revalidate him to the good doctor. Luckily, after hanging up with Dr. Strocyzk, Dr. Ross hung up the phone and folded his hands as he leaned forward in his chair. "Well, Sevan, it seems that you are what you claim to be."

"I could, and did, have told you that." He answered with an easy grin. "So, what do you say? Care to take me on?"

"Honestly, I have to ask you about that." Dr. Ross said. Sevan hid the annoyance that ran through him easily enough, but it was there nonetheless. "With your resume, with your references, you could have a job at any animal sanctuary or wildlife park anywhere in the world. Why did you bother to come here?"

"Personal vested interest." Sevan said with a shrug. "I've heard good things about your marine park, so I thought it might be a nice place to work for a little while. That, and you have quite the impressive amount of animals here for being a relatively small park."

"Well, you have the job." Dr. Ross said, accepting his words. He then paused and tilted his head ever so slightly to one side. "Actually, you never really gave me a clear idea on what job you wanted to take. We have an opening on our Director of Birds-."

"Anything with exploration?" Sevan asked hopefully. Such a position would be much more beneficial with his actual goal. "You know, keep an eye on some of the animals you have tagged? Perhaps bring back some animals you don't have on display here?"

"We… don't really have anything like that." Dr. Ross said apologetically. "I usually just send off my dolphin trainer, Chris, and my shark expert, Karl. They usually make out pretty well, especially with recent events considered."

"Recent events?" Sevan asked with a bit of eagerness in his voice. "Anything that I could help with?"

"No, well, not anymore." Dr. Ross winced good-naturedly and rolled his eyes. "One of the local boys swears he saw a sea monster out by Mako Island. I had my boys go and take a look, but it turned out to be just a water spout."

"A water spout." Sevan repeated, one eyebrow arching. "At this time of year? In these waters?"

"Look, Dr. Stroczyk speaks highly of you, but as a scientist you have to know that sometimes things just can't be explained." Dr. Ross shrugged. "So, back to the matter at hand, any ideas on what job you want?"

"How about I just manage your… larger animals?" Sevan suggested. "Sharks, dolphins, manatees, everything like that. I could take some of your cephalopods too if you'd like."

"I can't rightfully turn you down, now can I?" Dr. Ross asked with a good-natured grin. "After we finish up here I'll introduce you to the people that you will be supervising. It'll be good for them, being around someone as qualified and knowledgeable as you."

"Who will I be reporting to?" Sevan asked, leaning back in his chair. "You?"

"If something you can't handle comes up, sure." Dr. Ross nodded. "Other than that, I think you should be able to handle almost everything this place throws at you. Right?"

"I don't see why not." Sevan didn't mention that he was far more experienced than even the doctor and that anything he couldn't handle was likely far out of the doctor's league. "So, when do I start?"

"Right now if you'd like." Dr. Ross said, getting up from his chair and extending a hand. "I assume that the salary you'd like-."

"A Director's salary would do just fine." Sevan finished for him. He waited to see if the doctor would pose an argument and was pleased when the hand remained extended. Sevan shook it and Dr. Ross led him out of the room and into what appeared to be a supply room.

He rooted around in a bin for a few moments while Sevan leaned against the wall, curious as to what the doctor was searching for. When he pulled out a tan polo shirt with the marine park's logo on the right breast Sevan had to suppress a sigh. No matter where he went, humans had such an annoying tendency to put their marks on everything they owned in some way. He affected a cheerful smile and quickly swapped out the shirt for the simple white T-shirt he had been wearing. He glanced down at himself, clad in cargo shorts and the tan polo, and then back to Ross. "I see we match now." Sevan noted.

"We have a sort of dress code here." Ross explained, replacing the lid on the container he had gotten the shirt out of and then leading the way out of the room. "Directors and above wear tan shirts while those under the position wear blue ones. It makes things easier, trust me. If you don't mind my asking, that's an unusual necklace."

Sevan glanced down in surprise at the silver chain. Three blue rings were hanging from the metal right in the center of his chest. "Oh, this old thing? Just something I picked up. The rings are… part of a kind of set you see. I collect them."

"They look familiar." Dr. Ross said uncertainly, his eyes clouding over as he attempted to remember. Sevan waited with a high degree of apprehension but was disappointed when the doctor slowly shook his head. "Sorry, I know I've seen them before but I can't remember. I'll let you know though, if I see anymore?"

"No arguments here." Sevan said, shielding his eyes from the sun as they re-emerged outside. He had expected Australian summers to be hot but this was far more than he had expected. "Anyways, where to now?"

"Well, I actually have another appointment right now." Ross said, consulting his watch. He pointed down a path to their right and said, "Follow that down and take the first right. That will take you to the dolphin enclosures. You can introduce yourself to Chris."

"The dolphin trainer, right?" Sevan recalled, "Sounds good. I left my number on your desk, you can call me with the specifics of what programs you want me to head up. For now, I'm going to say hello. Have a good day, Dr. Ross."

"And you as well, Mr. Walker." They shook hands again and Ross began to walk back inside the management building. "It is a pleasure to have you join our marine park family."

"Oh, believe me, the pleasure is all mine." Sevan smiled back and set off down the path he had been directed.

He had to admit, the Marine Park was quite lovely. The foliage and the water exhibits flowed together wonderfully and the animals seemed genuinely happy. He passed an exhibit of penguins and rolled his eyes as he passed them, the birds evidently recognizing his shirt and demanding that they be fed. "Penguins never change, no matter where I go." He said aloud, chuckling softly. "Greedy little devils, the lot of them."

"Yeah, I have to agree with you there." A girl said from behind him.

Sevan turned around and immediately placed a smile on his face. "Sorry, I was just thinking aloud." He explained, nodding back to the birds. "I've worked with them before, you see."

"Oh, have you?" She asked, leaning on her stuffed-animal laden cart and gazing over the birds. "They do like to eat though. Mackerel is their favorite."

"Is it now?" Seven asked, regarding the birds thoughtfully. He pulled a notebook from his pocket and quickly jotted down the note. "Good to know. Has that been tested, or is that just what you have noticed from feeding them?"

"Oh, just something I noticed." She had deep brown hair and a tanned complexion, but what caught his attention was her accent. Or therefore lack of one.

"You aren't from around here, are you?" He asked kindly, noting this as well. She looked momentarily startled and he shrugged. "Your accent is a dead giveaway. Let me guess, North America somewhere? Maybe Canada?"

"Somewhere around there." She admitted, her smile now slightly wary. "I'm… sorry, I don't know you."

"Oh, forgive my rudeness," Sevan winced and laughed. "My name is Sevan, I'm the new Director of Large Animals here. Or something like that. My title isn't really clear. I'm taking over as the manager for the sharks, dolphins, and such."

"I'm Mimmi," She said, extending a hand tentatively.

Sevan extended his hand as well and shook it. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm sure that we will get along very well. I'm sorry, I think I might have gotten a little turned around. Do you think that you could point me in the direction of the dolphin pools?"

"Oh, I'm going there too!" She said brightly, setting the brakes on her cart. "I love dolphins, they are just so playful."

"Smart, too." Sevan nodded. "Do you know the species that they have here?"

"They have a few actually." Mimmi told him. Sevan nodded and wrote this down as well. "They don't… They don't always get along, coming from different pods, but they make it work well enough."

"You talk like you can speak with them." Sevan told her, smiling kindly.

"Oh, mate, you have no idea." A brown haired man told him, jogging up to them as they neared the dolphin pool. "Mimmi is magic with the dolphins. It's like she can talk to them or something. Even taught me enough to get me sent to become a dolphin trainer."

Sevan pulled out a second notebook and, keeping his face neutral, made a note of this as well. "Well, Mimmi, it appears that we are quite fortunate to have you with us." He turned to Chris and shook his hand as well. "My name's Sevan. I'm the new Director of Large Animals."

Chris blinked in surprise and glanced down to Sevan's shirt. "Mate, you can't be much older than I am."

"Eighteen, actually." Sevan nodded. "Dr. Ross just hired me on, you are welcome to check with him if you'd like."

"No, no, it's fine." Chris said quickly. "He just didn't mention any of this to me, or any of us."

"I just got in today." Sevan explained. "I prefer to be spontaneous. Makes things more interesting. Less of a chance for people to put up false fronts, you know?"

"I can understand that." Chris nodded. "So, did you want me to give you a tour?"

"Actually, I was thinking, why don't the three of us get into the pool with the dolphins?" He suggested, gesturing expansively to both of them. "I find that animals have a better sense of people than, well, people do. And I would like to see how you both work with animals. Especially you, Mimmi, if you are as good as Chris says you are."

"Oh, I really can't." She said immediately, barely after the words had left his lips. "I have to get back to my shift." She apologized again, waved goodbye, and then jogged away to presumably return to her cart.

"You were saying?" Sevan asked Chris skeptically, "You said she is some sort of prodigy?"

"Oh, trust me, she is." Chris hurriedly reassured him. "But she doesn't like going into water where people can see her."

"But you have seen her in the water?" Sevan asked, a knowing smile quirking his lips.

"Of course." Chris said immediately. He then paused and amended his statement. "Sort of. When she taught me how to work with the dolphins, she made me close my eyes."

Sevan wrote this down in his notebook as well and frowned slightly. "That's interesting…" He murmured. "Very interesting."

As promised, Mermaid Hunter has returned. As you can undoubtedly see, the first changes are obvious. The biggest one to note is that this is taking place during Season 4(for Netflix watchers that is. Aussies, this would be season three for you.) This particular chapter comes right before Zac learns Turn the Tide. I thank you for your time in advance. Any issues you have with this, please, let me know.

Cheers, Hallowed