A Sea Tail

[poohlive]

"Yes... but most people up here wear clothes..." He pointed to his own, which he would have shed for her if they were not already wet and dripping. If anything they would make her even colder.

"It helps warm the body, here..." He ran up to the pier, where his jacket was waiting beside his tackle supplies. Usually he laid it down to sit on it, getting comfortable. He shook it out, and then ran back to her, putting it around her.

"There, that should help. Just curl up in it... and me."

He moved beside her, putting his hands around her, letting his hot breath come down upon her slender neck.

"There... you'll be dry in no time, and then we can go get you some real clothes, ok?"

 

[Calyxxx]

She smiled at him and pulled the jacket around herself. It smelled the way he did and she inhaled deeply. Nerina rested her head on Leo's shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Thank you. I feel warmer now." She sighed happily, feeling the sun warm her body. The drips of water on her skin shriveled up and she slowly dried off. Nerina began to doze off, shivering at the small beads of water that ran down her back from her hair.

"The sun....makes me feel sleepy." She blinked her eyes a few times before they wouldn't open anymore, and she drifted to sleep, comfortable on Leo's shoulder.

 

[poohlive]

"There we go," He kissed her on the cheek. She had fallen asleep, she must have been soo tired. He picked her up, wrapping her as best he could with his clothes and taking her to his home.

With little people out and about this time a day, it was no problem for him to slip inside and lie her down on his own bed.

The transformation took his breath away. To watch her scales fall off, like leaves falling from a tree. And beneath were her legs, her pink pale perfectly shaped legs. They were beautiful.

He let one hand slide up her leg, the calf muscle responding, right up to her thigh. Oh, how he wanted to touch further, just a little higher, but he didn't dare.

She was human.

He picked out some of his clothes for her. They would be big on her, but she only needed them until they bought her some of her own clothing.

"Wake up... Nerina wake up. You've got brand new legs... look at you. You are beautiful."

She was always beautiful...

 

[Calyxxx]

Nerina heard her name being called, and she stretched her arms, willing the tiredness from her bones. She tried to flick her tail to send her sailing from her bed, but for some reason, it wasn't working. Her eyes flashed open and she looked around herself. She was dry! She was out of the ocean and she was in some strange place she could not even describe. It all came rushing back to her. She bolted upright and her hands flew to her tail...or...rather, where her tail should be.

"Legs!!" She cried out, astonished. "I have legs!" She looked up at Leo, half excited, and half scared to death.

Tears streamed down her dry face and she brushed them away with slender fingers.

"I don't think I know how to use them. I want to try to stand."

 

[poohlive]

"Ok... here, let me help you."

He held her hands, scooting her to the edge of the bed. The feet dangled off of the edge. They scraped against the floorboards, hanging limply. Leo moved his hands down to each leg, pushing them solid into the ground.

"Just keep them straight, push down on them ok?"

He grabbed her arms, holding each one gently, delicately, but ready to catch her if she happened to fall. He brought her up, the weight coming to each leg.

"I wish I could teach you how to do this... but walking is just instinctual. I couldn't teach you to walk anymore than you could teach me how to swim. Just stand up."

And there she was, up on her feet... standing.


"See?"

 

[Calyxxx]

Nerina grinned. She was standing! On legs! A bit wobbly, but she was still doing it. Hands gripping Leo's tightly, she experimented, shifting her weight from one leg to the other, hips thrusting sideways.

"Wow, this feels so weird." She laughed gleefully, eyes brimming with excited tears. She tightened her hold on Leo before lifting a leg and pushing it forward. A step! Nerina was walking! She quickly took another, and another, before she lost her balance and tumbled forwards. He caught her easily and she grinned up at him. She bit her bottom lip and stood again. In no time she was walking around the room on her own.

"This is getting easier! It's different, but I think I'm getting the hang of it!"

 

[poohlive]

"There you go, just takes some practice, that's all. Most people spend years learning this, and you got it in just a few minutes."

He steadied her with her hands, which she had all the way out, as if balancing on some high wire up in the sky. Then she got the hang of it, and soon he barely needed to touch her at all.

A thought swept over him about women spending most of their time walking around in high heels. Perhaps it was better not to mention some of the dress to Nerina. Corsets and bras and many layers of clothing. It might keep her warm, but it was best to keep things simple.

"Come on," He urged her, heading towards the door, "Now there is much to see. The market place. We need to find you clothes... and there will be people there, oh lots of people. You can ask me any questions you like."

Suddenly, he came closer to her, almost a whisper, "But ask them so only I can hear. Some of the questions other people might think are silly or weird, and they wouldn't understand it, they might start asking questions of their own."

He smiled, opening the door for her, "After you."

 

[Calyxxx]

Nerina watched his smiling face as she struggled to put on the clothes he had laid out for her. They seemed to fit a little loose, but if humans must wear clothing, than she figured she'd better just get used to them until they could find some better fitting ones. He ushered her outside and she walked carefully, brow furrowed in concentration.

"The wind feels much nicer on me with clothes." She commented, face smiling up at the sun. "I've never seen the sun bright like this. It always looks so small and far away from where I look." She wobbled a bit on her new legs and reached for Leo's arm. Once steadied, she refused to release her grip. They walked towards the market place slowly, Nerina giggling now and then, excitement bubbling up in her throat.

 

[poohlive]

"See, I told you that you would like it."

Who wouldn't like the market place? With a little money in your pocket, the marketplace became a good friend, an old pal one has been reunited with. It had an inspiring moment of personal status and friendship, the crowning achievement of the human race so far.

He wondered about the merfolk, if they had anything like this down below the water.

"Come, there is someone I want you to meet."

One of the larger canvas tents held a dazzling woman with sparkling eyes. She wore a very revealing top, flowing and brillow dress coming just below her ankles. When she saw them arriving, she giggled and waved.

"I didn't think you'd show your face so soon, Leo."

Leo's cheeks reddened just a bit, "I'm here with a friend, actually. She's in need of some clothes."

The girl sighed, "Always were a bit rough with them, weren't you?"

He pretended to ignore that remark, "Nerina, this is a friend of mine, Sammy. Sammy here will help you with whatever clothes that you need."

Sammy stood in front of her, eyeing her up and down. She grabbed a piece of her hair, sniffing it, "An exotic flower. Oh, where did you find this one?"

"I caught her," He smiled, "Out in the water."

Sammy smiled, "She is definitely a keeper. Ok. Come on in. Nothing but the finest clothing..."

Sammy opened the canvas curtain back just a bit, revealing the many tops and bottoms, dresses, leathers, corsets, and finest clothing ever created. Sammy was the best seamstress in town, some would say best in the whole country. Her wares were worn by women all over.

"Special discount for knowing a good friend of mine... come on in Nerina. Try out what you want..."

 

[Calyxxx]

Nerina grinned as the woman ushered her in to see the clothes. She ran her hands up and down piles of folded material, stacks of wonderful colors and racks of the pretties things she'd ever seen. She moved immediately to a long skirt, a pretty purple color that reminded her of her tail. She smiled and held it up for Leo to see before Sammy piled her arms full of every piece of clothing imaginable.

She tried a few things on, twirling on her new legs, watching dresses fan out around her waist, feeling the softness of material on her arms, and gasping in awe at the shape her body took laced into a tight corset.

Soon she had parcels and bags filled with enough clothing to last as long as she could imagine and she thanked the woman, giggling the entire time.

 

[poohlive]

"Do you see?" He showed her off now, in her perfect clothes. She looked wonderful, a lot better than running around in his old rags. She did not belong on his arm, with such beauty. Many a man stared at her with more than just interest, and at him with more than just jealousy.

"Now, you must try our food."

The food carts were out and ready for the meal times. Just walking towards them produced enough smells and sights and sounds to drive the senses crazy. People called out, hollering for their wares, to try the baked pork, or roasted beef, or chicken broiled in seasonings and salts and...

He helped her, buying an array of different foods, all for her to try. A heaping plate of just about everything that humanity has been able to create using meat and plant. All of it before her, staring with desire.

"Try it... try all of it. It is delicious," He said, snatching away one of her pieces of pork, and moaning as it popped into his mouth.

 

[Calyxxx]

"Mmmm." Nerina closed her eyes, rolling a piece of chicken around in her mouth before chewing it up. She quickly took another bite.

"Wow, this tastes wonderful!" She smiled at Leo, a small drip of grease on her lip before she licked it away.

Bite after bite, Nerina's eyes grew wider. Like a child discovering Christmas, she smiled at Leo, offering him bits of the food. Finally she handed the plate to Leo.

"It's all so good, but I'm more than full! Can we just keep it until later?" She looked at him with hopeful eyes.

 

[poohlive]

"Of course we can. It will be here later when you want to eat again," he smiled putting the food away. He wondered what she ate down there, how they cooked meals and handled food.

Did she just run through the ocean eating smaller fish? So many questions he wanted to ask her, but he couldn't... because they were in public.

It didn't matter though. He would find his time to ask them later. Once they were all along again he could ask her anything.

But, when they were all alone he didn't want to talk with her, he wanted to kiss her and touch her.

"There are many other places to visit. Just tell me where you want to go, and what you want to see, Nerina..."

 

[Calyxxx]

She shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes skyward.

"What about dancing! I want to learn how to dance! Can we do that?" She looked at him, excitement painted across her face in broad strokes, hopping up and down on her new legs.

 

[poohlive]

"I think it would be great to go dancing."

He knew just the place, an old alehouse down by the warf. It was usually loud and boddy with drunken sailors and working women going on into the night. This time of day though it would be nearly empty and vacant.

But, there would be music. With a few coins slipped between people, he could get them to make some good music.

He showed her the place, and the dance floor, and the band who was setting up for a set tonight.

"Give us something to dance to," He said, looking back to his sweet Nerina. He offered his hand, holding her as he moved around her.

"There is no right or wrong way to dance, just feel the music run through you. Sway your hips..."

He let his hands come down, brushing over her, "These are your hips. Move them side to side. Your legs will know what to do..."

The music began.

 

[Calyxxx]

Nerina was nervous and excited all at the same time. Leo ushered her into a dimly lit building and she smiled at the smell of the place. Musky and smoky.

He led her to the dance floor and she listened intently to his instructions. She smiled at him and raised her arms, resting her hands on his shoulders, giggling at the feel of his hands on her hips. Hips that no longer had a tail attached to them, but legs. Legs meant for dancing with!

She gasped silently when the music started. Never had she heard such sounds! Beautiful music that surrounded her, its thick sound filling her ears. Nerina followed Leo's instructions and began to slowly sway her hips, finding her feet lifting slightly, one at a time, with the sways. She smiled and looked down at her new skirt, watching it swing around her.

"Wow," she said softly. "This is the nicest feeling."

 

[poohlive]

"Isn't it? It's wonderful," He was watching her dance. Women had such a fluidity in movement. She looked as if she were in water, swimming like he saw her before.

His hands on her, moving up and down, touching her. He loved dancing with girls, to move with them. A man could touch a woman dancing that would be weird or wrong anywhere else.

He smiled, bringing her in closer to him, pushing her into his body, kissing her.

"I love dancing with you," He whispered.

 

[Calyxxx]

Nerina wrapped her arms around Leo's neck when he pulled her closer. She felt her stomach flip flopping again, the way a fish would when she'd catch one by it's tail.

She grinned when he kissed her again and she held him tighter, enjoying the warmth of his body against hers. She heard the song slowing, fading, and knew it was almost over. Nerina squeezed him tightly and smiled.

"I'd love to dance to another song, but my legs... I guess I'm just not used to them yet. I feel sore, like I've been racing with dolphins all day."

 

[poohlive]

"Sometimes you get tired easily, and this is your first day after all. Here, let me go get you something to drink."

He helped seat her down on one of the tables. It looked like half of a barrel that had a piece of wood slapped on top, but it did its job. A table needs only do one thing, and it certainly was doing it.

Leo went up to the bartender, trying to decide what was least alcoholic to give her. His back was to Nerina, so he didn't see the two half drunken sailors leering and moving over to her.

"You did some mighty fine dancing up there," One said, sitting very close, his breath a surge of alcohol and what could only be described as dead rat. His partner was on the other side, just as close, smelling her hair.

"Was wondering if you'd like to do some dancing for us..." He let his hand ride up her thigh, slow and methodical, pushing up further and further against her finely pale skin.

"She sure is pretty, would like to see her dance again."

 

[Calyxxx]

Nerina smiled innocently at the two men approaching her. Her smile quickly faded, however, when they sat down and pulled themselves closer. They smelled horrible and stumbled over their own lips when they spoke.

She gasped audibly as her thigh was roughly rubbed by grubby hands. Startled, she stood up and yelped, sending the drink from one of the men's hands flying. Quickly, Nerina stepped backwards, afraid the liquid might land on her feet and tripped over her chair in the process.

She found herself face down on the floor and scrambled quickly to pull her new legs away from the men. Where was Leo? Was this something normal? How was she supposed to react? She gasped a moment, fearing she had exposed her true self to these men and hastily scanned the room for Leo.

 

[poohlive]

One of the two men were on top of her already, helping her to her feet, letting her stand lewdly against him, as he jutted his hip out at her. The other was cursing the glass of ale all over the front of his shirt, spitting and spewing out filthy words at the girl his partner was holding.

Leo had turned at the shuffle, unsure what was happening, when he saw Nerina move for him, Leo thought something wrong. He went over to help, but stopped seeing the two sailors in their state.

"Where are you going, little miss?" The one holding her tightly said, his eyeline going down the front of her shirt.

"Hey... guys come on, let her go."

The other was now a little more together as he got up, going around, "You know, this fucking cunt spilled my damned ale. She's gonna have to pay for that."

"It's ok," Leo said, "I'll pay for another round for you guys. Just let her go."

"She owes us a dance," The one next to her said, purposely pushing his hip into her, grinding into her ass, making her push back, dancing in some weird lewd rocky motion.

"She's tired guys, and she needs to go home. She's done dancing for the night."

"It's ok... the kinda dancing we want to do don't involve her on her feet."

Leo couldn't tell if Nerina understood what was happening or not. He bit his lower lip, hoping she would understand she was in trouble, in danger. These guys would not take no for an answer. All they did was take.

"Run, Nerina... run back to my place," He winked at her, smiling, and leapt, lashing out at the one holding her. His fist landing square in the jaw, sending them both sprawling right back onto the barrel of a table. It cracked under the weight, dumping them both onto the floorboards.

Leo on top, getting in a few good punches and kicks. The guy beneath him flailing more than fighting.

The other one, with beer running down his chin, seemed to look at the fight and then at Nerina, then back again. The clogs were slowly working in his mind, and he was not sure what to do. She was all alone, helpless. He could just take her, but then again Leo was going to win this fight with his friend.

In the end, he threw himself into the brawl. Leo fell forward against the weight, screaming in pain, as one of them hit him square in the back, right in the kidneys.

 

[Calyxxx]

Nerina shook in fear, very much confused at the situation. The man who had her by the arm wrenched his hand away from her violently as Leo slammed into him. She yelped and backed away, nodding her head at his words to run. She made for the door, looking back at the men over her shoulder. She saw Leo cry out and resisted the urge to run back to him. Her fear took hold and she ran, as awkward as a run can be on fresh legs, back the way they had come and towards Leo's home.

She came to the door and hesitated in front of it before deciding to instead run down to the pier. She sat herself down on the edge and peered into the water below, tears dripping down her cheeks and splashing into it, breaking the smooth surface.

 

[poohlive]

They had their fun, that's all they wanted. Either to fuck some anonymous girl or kick the shit out of some anonymous guy. One of them was pretty much the same as the other in their book, and they went off laughing about the entire thing.

Leo tried to stop his nose from bleeding, but it kept gushing. He had a towel completely soaked with blood, he kept it close to his face anyway, to try.

Limping back to his place, he didn't see Nerina. He called out for her, but she was not there. He checked the closet, under the bed, anywhere a girl could hide.

Did something happen to her, did they get her after all? Suddenly his injuries didn't seem so bad, but to have Nerina gone from his life. It wasn't fair...

He ran to the only place he knew she could be... the only place she knew, the ocean.

And there she was, at the pier. He stopped behind her, unsure. She was crying. Why would she cry?

"Nerina... Nerina I'm sorry. You're not hurt, are you?"

 

[Calyxxx]

She watched her sad reflection in the water and her heart leaped silently in her chest, happy to be hearing the comforting voice behind her. She spoke softly, calmly.

"I didn't know that when I cried, water escaped my eyes. Lots of things look different up here than down there. Is this the way it is here? Those men made me feel scared and very uncomfortable. No one would intentionally do that at home." She turned around to look at Leo and saw his bloodstained shirt, the smear of red on his face. Nerina scrambled to stand, and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Are you alright? Thank you so much for helping me. I'm scared to think of what those men wanted from me if you hadn't have helped."

 

[poohlive]

"Men up here aren't like men down there," He said, trying his best to wipe the blood away. He wanted to look good for her, presentable at least. He didn't think so, he probably looked like some dirty fool.

"I'm sorry, I wish you hadn't seen that. Men up here are greedy. They want things they can not have, and they get pretty violent when they don't get it. This time they wanted you. I guess they saw what I saw. A nice lovely girl in good clothes. She's very kissable, and touchable."

He smiled, but it hurt his lips, so he stopped.

"Do you want to go now, Nerina? I am sorry for how they acted. I wish I could have shown you a better time here..."