Zara stepped into the shadowed alley, her grey cloak hood obscuring most of her features. The small passageway between the two buildings on the harbor docks provided some shelter from prying eyes while the cloak and her loose hair provided coverage for her gills. Although they were closed, allowing her to breath in air rather than as if she was in water, they were still an obvious feature to show others just what she was.
The
siren had been trailing news of strange occurrences happening along this coast. Although far removed from her native island near the Cortosi Coast, any information she could gather on what had been happening might provide evidence for the strange rumors that had been circulating among her people.
Sirens never surfaced. At least, that's what most of the stories said. Most folk knew they were capable of leaving their watery habitats to walk on land, but doing so meant interacting with the land-dwelling
species and Sirens at all costs avoided that. However, when word spread of enemy siren clans breaking this code and not only talking to those above water but rather making deals with them, the leaders of her own clan had decided that the truth behind this needed to be found.
That was what had brought Zara here, so far from home, in a dock whose smell of gutted fish made her want to throw up with every breath.
Shouting on the far side of the beach caught her attention. Men, gathering around something that had drifted up onto the sand.
I wonder if this is similar to the instance that occurred a few months ago...she thought to herself, pulling her cloak hood up tighter and checking the sword sheath strapped to her waist before venturing out of her dark hide-away and towards the commotion.