This was something Tal could never expect happening. The boat began to move faster, riding up and down the crests of the waves that had formed. He was traveling way to fast for either twin to catch up to him. The humans were probably trying to get back to shore as as quickly as they could. Tal clutched the net as tight as he could as he was thrown up and slammed back down into the sea with the force of the boat. The storm was here now. Rain fell in sheets, hitting the roaring sea with tremendous force. It was so heavy that only lightning could illuminate what was around him.

What was he going to do? He had a horrible vision of the humans pulling up their net and finding him, caught like an ordinary fish. Would they eat him? His father had never mentioned it. At least he had witnesses. The twins would be sure to tell the colony what happened and they would look for him. This was a comforting thought, but how long would it be? And was it even possible?

Tal began to grow tired. He had been swimming all night. His hands ached from gripping the net. His eyelids were heavy with exhaustion. He must have closed his eyes for only as second when he felt a strong yank on the net from behind. Tal shot right up in a panic. He imagined a giant shark grabbing the net in a viscous tug-of-war. Or better, his colony was here to rescue him.

But alas, he was mistaken. Some of the net had wrapped itself around a metal thing floating in the water. His father called it a buoy. Tal was still tangled in the net under the water, somewhere halfway between the buoy and the boat. He could hear muffled shouting from the humans on board, but couldn't make out a single word due to the crashing waves and thunder around him.

Suddenly the strain between the boat and the net disappeared. He forced his way to the surface and saw the boat heading toward shore without him. The humans decided to cut the net! Tal couldn't believe it. Of course, he was still trapped in the net and being tossed around in the storm. A huge wave crashed over his head, sending him back under, tangling him further. Tal got his bearings and wrapped his arms around the buoy to catch his breath. It wasn't incredibly stable but it was better than before.

Tal was even more tired than before and the pounding waves and wind were not helping. He had to untangle the net from the buoy before he couldn't move anymore. Treating it as if it was a matter of life and death, Tal's fingers searched frantically for the piece of the net that would free him. He couldn't see all, the rain was nearly blinding and the lightning was his only source of light. He tried ripping it, chewing with his teeth. It was impossible!

In his wild tugging and yanking, Tal sliced the side of his right hand on some sharp metal on the buoy. In the moment, he didn't feel the pain but just seeing his blood made him want to cry and scream with frustration. Wait...

Even more hurriedly, Tal began rubbing the net on the metal. He almost cut himself again as the ocean obviously did not want him to succeed that easily. The net began to fray. Then it ripped apart.

"Yes!" he exclaimed. He pulled himself through the net and pushed it away as far as he could. He was out of the deathtrap. Tal still clung to the buoy. His tail felt like dead weight. He had to hold himself up for so long, Tal highly doubted he could make it back to the lagoon. Before he could decide what to do, the ocean took charge. A monster wave, larger than any he had seen before crashed down on him. Tal was thrown under, spinning head over tail. The world became a blur of black and blue. Every time he steadied himself, he was tossed under again. If he was human, he most certainly would have drowned.

In this haze, Tal could see the shoreline looming closer. It was only twenty feet away. Lighting lit up the sky, outlining craggy cliffs that looked so tall, they couldn't possibly stand up straight. Tal was so distracted he missed the next big wave. It swept him up and slammed him down hard.

Tal screamed in pain. There had been a line of boulders sticking out of the water and he landed right on top of them. The rocks were sharp and he felt them tear through his tail, scales ripping off, exposing his flesh. Half- delirious, Tal pulled himself over the wall and crashed into the water on the other side. He could smell blood in the water.

I need to get out, he thought. Sharks would surely smell it too and that would not be good. Paddled through the water with his arms, his tail rendered useless. He was glad it was too dark to see the damage. He was too scared. In desperation, Tal pulled himself toward the shore. In him mind, part of him was urging him to get out and the other was screaming at him to stay. The water was familiar, it was his home. It was safe, or at least, it was supposed to be. Right now, the ocean seemed like it was trying to kill him.

He could almost hear his father scolding him for even considering going on land. "It isn't our way," he would have said.

But this was an exception. Rain still pouring into his face, Tal pulled himself onto the little beach, gasping for air. He collapsed face-first in the sand, which was gritter and rougher than any he had felt underwater, but he didn't care. He was about to fall asleep when he suddenly realized what would happen when he did.

The storm would eventually end. He would soon dry off after- and his legs would appear. All merpeople had this ability but it was never used. What a waste. Tal wondered if his injury would hurt worse on a leg than a tail. He hoped it would be less. Tal shifted in the wet sand, trying to get comfortable while avoiding using his tail. He could feel scales that were still partly attached digging into his flesh as they were all twisted. He grimaced at the thought of having to pull them off but it would have to be done at some point.

Tal gently curled himself into a ball. The sound of the crashing waves was almost soothing now. Not worrying about humans, or the storm, or his injury Tal rested his head into the crook of his arm. Perhaps, he thought, he would walk around a bit tomorrow on his new legs. Just to see if there was anything remotely interesting here.