The sunlight sparkled of the water, the reflecting veins reflecting upon Roisin's face. She squinted, watching the fish dart away from her feet. Absentmindedly, Roisin reached down to scratch her ankles, the skin peeling away under her nails. She winced as a large piece of skin flaked and she forced her self to stop.
Mother had told her not to scratch.
Roisin splashed up the shore, her feet sinking in the thick sand. Arnurna stood on the front stoop, watching Roisin play in the water.
Arnurna closed her eyes and sighed, remembering the day she brought Roisin home. She had forced the memory from her mind. Roisin was her child now, not the sea. The sea had rejected her and left her upon the shore. Now she was Arnurna.
She opened her eyes again and watched painfully as Roisin attempted to play with the other children. They ran away, teasing and one girl ran to her mother crying.
"Roisin!" Arnurna called. Roisin looked up, and when realizing her mother called she came running, her scratch marks showing red upon her legs.
"Mama, why do they run?" Roisin asked quietly. Arnurna gathered her in her arms and kissed her cheek.
"Don't worry about them honey, you're my little sea star." Roisin giggled happily at the nick name and Arnurna let her go. "Go clean up for supper." Roisin nodded and rushed inside.
Arnurna stood and was about to her home when she heard her name called. She turned and saw that Murgheal had called. She turned around quickly and pretended she hadn't heard. Murgheal had always been strange, and despite being born to the village of Aquana had chosen to live sheltered from others. Arnurna still hoped to one day be adopted into the Aquana family. Roisin had not made that easy.
Everyone in the village knew Roisin was different. Roisin was a clever girl, yet she played dumb. Arnurna prayed everyday that they would never realize exactly how different Roisin was.
