As she drew close to the wall of mist, something struck her shoulder with jarring force.

Something grabbed her waist, and she was pulled upward. Someone was pulling her through the water. Then she was on solid ground, and the next thing she knew, she was in the grass, the sun shining warmly on her face.

She looked up at the sun, then turned back to look at the water.

A girl hovered over her, blonde hair down to her shoulders, wide green eyes both anxious and curious. Her skin was the color of summer grass, and tiny scales gleamed silver around her neck. She grinned, and her teeth flashed as sharp and pointed as an eels.

She moved away.
"Uh- Hello?"

She had legs instead of a fishtail, though webbing spanned her fingers and toes, and her claws were very, very sharp. A small white dress clung to her body, the hem of it dripping wet. She cocked her head. "Youre funny-looking," she stated, her voice rippling like water over rocks. "What are you?"

"I... I'm a human." She stated.

"Human?" The girl cocked her head the other way. She could see pink gills under her chin. "My sisters told me stories of humans. They said they sometimes sing to them to lure them underwater." She grinned, showing off her sharp needle-teeth. "Ive been practicing. Want to hear?"

"No, she certainly does not." Grimalkin came stalking through the grass, bottlebrush tail held high in the air. The feline was soaked, water dripping off his fur in rivulets, and he did not look pleased. "Shoo," he growled at the girl, and she drew back, hissing and baring her teeth. Grimalkin seemed unimpressed. "Go away. I am in no mood to play games with nixies. Now, get!"

The girl hissed once more and fled, sliding into the water like a seal. She glared at them from the middle of the river, then vanished in a spray of mist.

"Irritating sirens," Grimalkin fumed, turning to glare at Lia, eyes narrowed. "You did not promise her anything, did you?"

"No I don't think so... I only told her that I was human..."

The cat flicked his tail, spraying her with drops. "The only reason she pulled you out of the river was curiosity. If I had not come along, she would have either sung you underwater to drown, or she would have eaten you. Fortunately, nixies are not very brave. They would much prefer a fight beneath the water where they have all the advantages. Now, I suggest we find somewhere to rest. You are wounded, and the swim took a lot out of me. If you can walk, I encourage you to do so."

She nodded, but she did walk with a small limp.
"Do you know where we are now?" She asked, following him.