Some people call them sirens, who stalk the murky waters for sailors, luring them with a killer song. Others, call them mermaids,who glide about near the ocean floor frolicking among themselves. I call them absolutely magnificent- well, at least the one i know.

Truthfully i didn't even think much of them until one summer morning when i was walking along a beach near my house.

I was walking towards some rocks when i saw what looked like a person asleep and wrapped in a sea green towel. But as i walked closer i realized who ever it was wasn't asleep and looked hurt so i ran towards the person. Then i noticed that that wasn't a sea green towel either...

The creature had pale freckled skin, blonde hair that stuck out at all angles that was a little damp like it had been in the water, it also had a muscular chest and over all male body features, but also a long scaly sea-green tail resembling that of a fish.

"Hey! who are you?!"

the creature smiled at me with a wide grin. His sky blue eye met with mine.

"I'm Emil. Who are you?"

"I'm Mathias! where am i?"

He sat up and tried to move his tail, instantly flinching in pain due to a long gash on the side of the tail.

"How did you get that gash?"

Mathias looked at me pain sparkled in his blue eyes.

"It's a long story..."

"oh... Do you need any help getting back to the water or...?"

"NO!" He almost looked frightened at the thought.

"okay... but isn't your tail gonna dry out if you stay here?"

Mathias thought for a moment and looked at me.

"i guess... but i can't go back!"

'what am i going to do? he's stranded and needs water but can't go in the ocean... '

"is there any way i can help you Mathias?"

Mathias looked at me for a moment.

"well, is there any way you can keep my tail wet?"

It finally came to me. "The bathtub!"

"the what?! What's a 'bathtub'?!"

I stared at him for a moment trying to think of a way to explain...

"It's a porcelain um... sort of bowl where you go to soak in water to clean yourself."

Mathias looked at me with intrest. as if i had told him of an amazing story.

"wow... i've always wondered how air-walkers cleaned..."

I looked at him confused. "Air-walker?"

"y'know a mermaid that doesn't have fins and doesn't swim normally and walks on land?"

"ohhhhh... like a human?"

Mathias chuckled i blushed lightly. not sure what was so funny...

"so that's what you call yourselves... im sorry, though i do find you air- i mean humans, quite interesting... that's kinda part of why i can't go home..."

"huh?you can't go home? were you like banned?"

Mathias gave a nervous laugh. "yeah... kinda..."

Realization flooded in. "oh... well if you want i can take you in..."

He looked up to me bright-eyed and smiling, a pink dusting on his freckled cheeks.

"you would?! oh thank you! thank you! thank you!"

He pulled me into a large hug and held on for a solid minute before letting me go. I took in his salty ocean scent in large breaths.

"well let's get going the car's not far!" i stated once the hug had ended.

"um... one issue... i can't walk... you may have to carry me."