Sunlight filtered through the water, causing faint reflections to dance off the newborn's face. The girl giggled and reached a tiny hand upward, trying to grasp the dancing light. Aquamarine eyes creased as the girl paused and contemplated what was happening.
Around her everything was still. The water pulsed gently as the winds above caressed the surface, sending miniature waves out of reach. Laughing to herself, the child was carried on the waves, until she hit the white sands of shore.
A shout rang through the air and people came running. Tall and fair, Arnurna reached the infant first. When she saw the tail her breath caught in her throat. Swiftly she gathered up the child and tucked the tail beneath her arm.
"It's nothing." she heard herself tell the chief of the village. "I lost track of my child, but…she's safe now." she swallowed hard and hoped the chief believed her. He lifted an eye brow but left her be, ushering spectators away.
Sighing Arnurna took the child to her hut, away from the village. Still new, the village of Aquana had not yet accepted her into their family. And now looking at the child, she wasn't sure if they ever would.
