A Seamaiden's Tale
Sufficience, The Mermistress
Life started out as a tiny guppling thing way down in the deep. She was so simple and miniscule, so insignificant her existence was hardly worth mentioning. She fed on the rotten things that fell to the seabed and overtime grew long and strong. Following the disappearance of her school friend and aware that her opulent meaty body might be attracting unwanted attention in the northern hunting grounds, she packed her bags venturing away from the cold waters. Sufficience swam through canals, channels, lakes and seas. Down south she found a cozy spot on rock to bask her glistening scales, an abundance of food, and a group of fellow breeds to pal up to. She was in with the notorious Siren gang and rival to the brutish Gorgon Fleet, but only on the long shores and they never went there.
They were a savage pile of beauties, and boy, they knew it. The sea their dominion, reigning over miles of crashing waves and turbulent water. Each gal had a speciality and Sufficience was presented with hers to master. Whistling. Surely a challenge, but come on, whistling? It had to be a joke. No laughter. Instead ensued the four hour long display of their collective skills which included singing, dancing, water spouting out of one's mouth, telepathy, poker, ear wiggling, beatboxing, consuming alcohol, breathing fire, making fire, ventriloquism, flying, hacky sack, juggling, and playing an instrument fashioned out of bone and hair replicating the sound of angels making love. Breathless and astonished in their abilities, discouraged she shall ever make it in with them. Every maiden, they told her, had to fumble through the beginnings of their craft. It was natural to feel clumsy and awkward, they encouraged. And like any youth first setting about their instrument she blew spit and no tone. Then a note was achieved, then another, and eventually she composed a song. Before long she had a whole album under her fishy belt and set to release her debut upon the arrival of the next cargo ship adrift in their waters.
One night there was a great storm. The skies rumbled and flashed. All the girls swam joyously through tempestuous liquid mountains anticipating their next catch. A clearing sky and a subdued sea brought the light accompanying a distant bell. It was her chance and they pushed her out. With bright eyes and fingers folded they draped their slimy bodies over solid black moonlit rock silently awaiting the performance of their young prodigy. Sufficience was nervous to say the least. Through quivering pursed lips and her belly supplied with air she produced the first note, the very first she'd ever learned, melting into woeful melody. Then came the second, then the third and all the while the lantern light grew brighter. When all was whistled and done the ship was edging towards their castle rock. Within range of sharp baritone voices she dipped into the cool night sea making her way to the floating house to meet her siren sisters already on the move. Surfacing near the hull she prepared to greet the girls only to find one lone stranger looking down at her. He made sounds at her and she could only whistle in reply.
Since she was taken in, Sufficience had been party to many of the group's exhilarating kills. She'd set her eyes upon many a man, each more decadent than the last. This fella, though. He didn't appetize her in the usual kinda way but she fancied him something fierce. He gazed at her strangely and she felt an impulse. Instinctively she gargled at him attempting to save him from the upcoming tirade. He stared at her dumbly before replying in his primal language. Sufficience once more uttered caution to him with only his eyes glittering in reply as he weeped. He'd never seen a creature such as this. They'd all been warned to beware and take heed but she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen and he was simply happy to die now. He knew there was nothing more wondrous in the world only wishing he could dive into her.
Before long the girls worked their magic and the ship sank throwing the men out into a dark watery death. The girls rejoiced and clapped their hands together in approval. The booty lay smashed against their black island. Skulls and rib cages licked clean, bones sucked dry, not a morsel lay waste. They wished to congratulate their new member but she had not returned nor shared her helping with them. Where was she?! Sufficience was swimming inland clutching the only survivor of the Patriot Enterprise. Her stomach sore with hunger, she sifted the reed and tiny fish through gills staving off the pain. Sufficience set him on a beach before the sun rose holding her watch until his rescue and returned to her island home.
The girls were highly unimpressed with Sufficience and they banished her from their club. She had unwittingly breached their golden rule about saving humans which at no point had anyone thought it prudent to mention. They refused her apology citing ignorance is no justification and sent her immediately packing. Not entirely upset though somewhat perplexed, Suffience gave them all the finger and swore her revenge.
By night she had returned to the shore of anthropoids. The beach was covered in uprights illuminated by firelight. She watched in wonderment, marvelling at their special talents for they, too, could sing, dance, and make sounds with strange objects. Her great fins rhythmically slapped the sodden rock while her body instinctively writhed to the beat, heart exploding with delight and longing. She wanted to be with them, oh how she wanted those two pokey things instead of her own body! By day she slept, awaking in late afternoon to feed on the ripe vegetation, strengthening for the long night of dance in shallow waters looking onto the shore. She had long forgotten to fear man and fought against her taste for them. One night she ventured inland closer than before. Screaming brought all music to an abrupt halt while Sufficience carried on dancing. They shouted 'monster' pointing in her direction. A large pop followed by a bright flash. A man was brought to his knees while another held him down. She heard a voice shouting in their vernacular unknowable to her ears. The Man cried out to the frenzied crowd she is no monster having saved him from certain death. He owed his life to her and will battle any who dare harm her. The Man who silenced the crowd ran towards Suffience, her heart trembling with fear. He bent low on his knees in front of her and grasped her hands pressing his lips upon them. She took his and returned the gesture. A life for a life.
For many moonlight nights the Man stayed with Suffience, leaving her by dawn for rest. He built a sheltering structure accessible to the sea where they both could rest together. She began to learn his language as she attempted to teach hers, with little success. The Man spent endless time with her until one day he returned to their home with a look of great sadness while packing a sack full of his garments. He told her he'll come back to her again kissing her hands goodbye. After he left she became despondent and weary until remembering the great beach parties that had so fascinated her. She left their home that evening in search of the long beach with light and music.
The uprights were not afraid of Sufficience anymore and soon they danced with her in shallow waters as much captivated by her as she was by them. She became a feature in their nighttime rituals and people came from far and wide to watch the mermaid dance and whistle her strange and sorrowful tunes. It wasn't long before deals were transacted to attend the special performance and she picked up an agent to handle the dirty work. It didn't take a minute to start living well with her cut and Sufficience invested in the renovation of the crumbling music hall, complete with open steaming baths. She prospered greatly, amounting power and wealth, yet there remained the long ago memory of the Man who had saved her having never returned to her as promised. What became of him? Lost at sea, perhaps, or to the indomitable Gorgons, feared by both walkers and swimmers alike. Before bed each dawn Sufficience lit the sacred candle in his honor, repeating the name she called him sending him in peace wherever his body lay.
Weeks later a crowd of withered sailors docked and the whole town flurried into action making their preparations for new stock, new money, and men. Sufficience bought all her gals new frocks and had a pretty set for herself. That evening they entered the hall boasting, as sailors do, about their prized possessions. Sufficience overheard them, now fluent in the walker speak, making out they brought with them the head of a Stonemaker. My God, she thought, They've done it. Sufficience poked her head around the corner peering at the men with no less than two women each in attendance, some of them from her young flock. Her eyes picked over each face until she gasped and gargled in shock, The Man! But, had he not even asked about her? Did he not want to know? Heartbroken and disillusioned by her memory she removed herself that evening and refused to perform. Bitterness grew like disease inside of her. He was better off dead and she overturned the candle that burned for his salvation, setting alight the entire structure.
Sufficience swam out to sea while the walkers extinguished the flames. Floating on her back she had slept soundly all through the night waking at sunrise. Gazing out to the the glorious horizon finding comfort and solace. The uprights had been kind and good after the initial misunderstanding, conceding the Man had a great hand in her approval, but she had grieved for him so long and he broke his promise to her. For many days and nights she sought refuge in the sea, her first memory, her first friend.
One never forgets the first unfairness, or in this case, the first two, and Sufficience concluded before she leaves the shore for good, there is one last task she must accomplish. Sufficience returned to land requesting the audience of the sailors, who are by their nature and profession a predictable sort. She offered them the chance of a lifetime, rewards beyond their wildest dreams. They shall collectively inherit her entire fortune, amounting to more than a lifetime's survival for each of them, upon their successful return with the entire stone encased Siren hoard in tow.
They were a savage pile of beauties, and boy, they knew it. The sea their dominion, reigning over miles of crashing waves and turbulent water. Each gal had a speciality and Sufficience was presented with hers to master. Whistling. Surely a challenge, but come on, whistling? It had to be a joke. No laughter. Instead ensued the four hour long display of their collective skills which included singing, dancing, water spouting out of one's mouth, telepathy, poker, ear wiggling, beatboxing, consuming alcohol, breathing fire, making fire, ventriloquism, flying, hacky sack, juggling, and playing an instrument fashioned out of bone and hair replicating the sound of angels making love. Breathless and astonished in their abilities, discouraged she shall ever make it in with them. Every maiden, they told her, had to fumble through the beginnings of their craft. It was natural to feel clumsy and awkward, they encouraged. And like any youth first setting about their instrument she blew spit and no tone. Then a note was achieved, then another, and eventually she composed a song. Before long she had a whole album under her fishy belt and set to release her debut upon the arrival of the next cargo ship adrift in their waters.
One night there was a great storm. The skies rumbled and flashed. All the girls swam joyously through tempestuous liquid mountains anticipating their next catch. A clearing sky and a subdued sea brought the light accompanying a distant bell. It was her chance and they pushed her out. With bright eyes and fingers folded they draped their slimy bodies over solid black moonlit rock silently awaiting the performance of their young prodigy. Sufficience was nervous to say the least. Through quivering pursed lips and her belly supplied with air she produced the first note, the very first she'd ever learned, melting into woeful melody. Then came the second, then the third and all the while the lantern light grew brighter. When all was whistled and done the ship was edging towards their castle rock. Within range of sharp baritone voices she dipped into the cool night sea making her way to the floating house to meet her siren sisters already on the move. Surfacing near the hull she prepared to greet the girls only to find one lone stranger looking down at her. He made sounds at her and she could only whistle in reply.
Since she was taken in, Sufficience had been party to many of the group's exhilarating kills. She'd set her eyes upon many a man, each more decadent than the last. This fella, though. He didn't appetize her in the usual kinda way but she fancied him something fierce. He gazed at her strangely and she felt an impulse. Instinctively she gargled at him attempting to save him from the upcoming tirade. He stared at her dumbly before replying in his primal language. Sufficience once more uttered caution to him with only his eyes glittering in reply as he weeped. He'd never seen a creature such as this. They'd all been warned to beware and take heed but she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen and he was simply happy to die now. He knew there was nothing more wondrous in the world only wishing he could dive into her.
Before long the girls worked their magic and the ship sank throwing the men out into a dark watery death. The girls rejoiced and clapped their hands together in approval. The booty lay smashed against their black island. Skulls and rib cages licked clean, bones sucked dry, not a morsel lay waste. They wished to congratulate their new member but she had not returned nor shared her helping with them. Where was she?! Sufficience was swimming inland clutching the only survivor of the Patriot Enterprise. Her stomach sore with hunger, she sifted the reed and tiny fish through gills staving off the pain. Sufficience set him on a beach before the sun rose holding her watch until his rescue and returned to her island home.
The girls were highly unimpressed with Sufficience and they banished her from their club. She had unwittingly breached their golden rule about saving humans which at no point had anyone thought it prudent to mention. They refused her apology citing ignorance is no justification and sent her immediately packing. Not entirely upset though somewhat perplexed, Suffience gave them all the finger and swore her revenge.
By night she had returned to the shore of anthropoids. The beach was covered in uprights illuminated by firelight. She watched in wonderment, marvelling at their special talents for they, too, could sing, dance, and make sounds with strange objects. Her great fins rhythmically slapped the sodden rock while her body instinctively writhed to the beat, heart exploding with delight and longing. She wanted to be with them, oh how she wanted those two pokey things instead of her own body! By day she slept, awaking in late afternoon to feed on the ripe vegetation, strengthening for the long night of dance in shallow waters looking onto the shore. She had long forgotten to fear man and fought against her taste for them. One night she ventured inland closer than before. Screaming brought all music to an abrupt halt while Sufficience carried on dancing. They shouted 'monster' pointing in her direction. A large pop followed by a bright flash. A man was brought to his knees while another held him down. She heard a voice shouting in their vernacular unknowable to her ears. The Man cried out to the frenzied crowd she is no monster having saved him from certain death. He owed his life to her and will battle any who dare harm her. The Man who silenced the crowd ran towards Suffience, her heart trembling with fear. He bent low on his knees in front of her and grasped her hands pressing his lips upon them. She took his and returned the gesture. A life for a life.
For many moonlight nights the Man stayed with Suffience, leaving her by dawn for rest. He built a sheltering structure accessible to the sea where they both could rest together. She began to learn his language as she attempted to teach hers, with little success. The Man spent endless time with her until one day he returned to their home with a look of great sadness while packing a sack full of his garments. He told her he'll come back to her again kissing her hands goodbye. After he left she became despondent and weary until remembering the great beach parties that had so fascinated her. She left their home that evening in search of the long beach with light and music.
The uprights were not afraid of Sufficience anymore and soon they danced with her in shallow waters as much captivated by her as she was by them. She became a feature in their nighttime rituals and people came from far and wide to watch the mermaid dance and whistle her strange and sorrowful tunes. It wasn't long before deals were transacted to attend the special performance and she picked up an agent to handle the dirty work. It didn't take a minute to start living well with her cut and Sufficience invested in the renovation of the crumbling music hall, complete with open steaming baths. She prospered greatly, amounting power and wealth, yet there remained the long ago memory of the Man who had saved her having never returned to her as promised. What became of him? Lost at sea, perhaps, or to the indomitable Gorgons, feared by both walkers and swimmers alike. Before bed each dawn Sufficience lit the sacred candle in his honor, repeating the name she called him sending him in peace wherever his body lay.
Weeks later a crowd of withered sailors docked and the whole town flurried into action making their preparations for new stock, new money, and men. Sufficience bought all her gals new frocks and had a pretty set for herself. That evening they entered the hall boasting, as sailors do, about their prized possessions. Sufficience overheard them, now fluent in the walker speak, making out they brought with them the head of a Stonemaker. My God, she thought, They've done it. Sufficience poked her head around the corner peering at the men with no less than two women each in attendance, some of them from her young flock. Her eyes picked over each face until she gasped and gargled in shock, The Man! But, had he not even asked about her? Did he not want to know? Heartbroken and disillusioned by her memory she removed herself that evening and refused to perform. Bitterness grew like disease inside of her. He was better off dead and she overturned the candle that burned for his salvation, setting alight the entire structure.
Sufficience swam out to sea while the walkers extinguished the flames. Floating on her back she had slept soundly all through the night waking at sunrise. Gazing out to the the glorious horizon finding comfort and solace. The uprights had been kind and good after the initial misunderstanding, conceding the Man had a great hand in her approval, but she had grieved for him so long and he broke his promise to her. For many days and nights she sought refuge in the sea, her first memory, her first friend.
One never forgets the first unfairness, or in this case, the first two, and Sufficience concluded before she leaves the shore for good, there is one last task she must accomplish. Sufficience returned to land requesting the audience of the sailors, who are by their nature and profession a predictable sort. She offered them the chance of a lifetime, rewards beyond their wildest dreams. They shall collectively inherit her entire fortune, amounting to more than a lifetime's survival for each of them, upon their successful return with the entire stone encased Siren hoard in tow.
Sufficience knew it was certain death for all and they shall never succeed. She left the shore and sirens forever behind her.
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Wow! That is amazing and fits her to a tee..little Squirrel, you are Amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteFabulous story and Mermaid!
ReplyDelete