"Wait there, I want to show you something."
She waded out until her feet settled back on the solid, wet sand. The mermaid remained in the water as promised, reclining against the passing waves, her shimmering tail drifting at the surface in front of her. She watched the woman on the shore with open curiosity.
The young woman took a deep breath to recenter herself as she got into position. And then she began to move in time with inaudible music, like the crashing of the waves. She swayed and shimmied and stretched and turned and jumped. She spun in the air, once and again, again, each time for a little bit longer, a few more turns, until at last she touched down on the sand and took a bow, the water lapping at her feet.
Her chest heaved with the exertion, her heart still racing even as she stilled.
The mermaid examined her, no less curious than before. "It's one of yours?"
"Yeah, I think I'll do it for the competition next month." She flushed. "It was inspired by you - the water and how you move."
"Oh. I'm honored."
The young woman grinned.
"I expect that it will bring you to victory."
"I hope so!"
Writer's Month - word: chance | setting: dancer AU
AUgust - Artist's Muse