Meet Trickle

Trickle

The lithe figure gave a flip of the tail and caught the current of rushing water to beyond the spot occupied by the large black creature. Finding her favorite lichen covered boulder, Trickle tucked behind the stone barrier and watched the action above her. The wicked, black cat was in the hunter mode and crouched to attack another victim.

She ran a delicate webbed finger down the jagged white scar marring the beauty of her scales. The vitriolic beast had caught her off guard and nearly made her the object of a meal. Had it not been for… his voice! He’s close by.

She poked her head from behind the rock and noted he held the female in his arms. Trickle allowed a wrinkle to mar her porcelain forehead. Is she dead? Did that monster feline claim another victim? Movement in the man’s arms answered her query. Trickle watched the woman stomped off toward the building where her cousin worked. Must be the one Chrissy calls The Librarian.

He stood on the bank of the river and she jumped when the sound waves carried his issued warning to all who could comprehend.

Lancelot. That is the name of my enemy. Swishing her tail, she moved to the center of the manic flow of water and peered at the bank where the cat had stood. He’s gone—good.

~ * ~

Uther caught the flash of tail and undulation of golden hair.

“Trickle, my friend? Is that you?”

The tiny creature wiggled her way to his side of the river and peered up at him. He held his hands in front of him as he spoke. “I’ve no net and I promise on my honor as a reformed Night Elf of the house of Saun, I intend you no harm.”

The brown speckled green eyes regarded him suspiciously.

“If I had meant harm would I not have kept you after the attack?”

He tried his best to give her an earnest look of honesty. He could only hope it would work.

The water fae slipped a delicate hand on a rock near the bank and pulled up, flipping around to sit in the best position to afford her a quick escape.

“How are you, night elf?” The words from the mermaid flowed eloquently over Uther’s ears.

He smiled. The first rule to speaking with a merperson was to be armed against the bewitching tone of their voice. He murmured lowly. “Block.”

The mermaid giggled. “Ah, but you are wary.”

“Indeed my watery friend, and still dry on the bank. How is your side?”

Trickle gently moved her hair exposing the wicked white scar she bore from her attack. “It hasn’t disappeared.” She traced the route of the mark.

“Why don’t you magic it away?”

“It’s a reminder to me each time I pass my hand over the hard line to be more alert in my daily life. If you hadn’t come along at the right time… well, I won’t allow myself to become anyone’s lunch.”

Uther nodded. “A very wise move. Be careful. Lancelot appears to be hunting these woods, and I know he hates losing a good catch.”

“I shall, night elf. You be careful. If my cousin Chrissy is right, you are next on the list of targets.” She flipped water with her tail and spattered him. A giggle escaped.

Brushing off the droplets from his breeches, he rose from the bank.

“I will, little one, I will. Until next time.” Uther watched the selkie dive under the turbulent rapids and disappear. Turning from the river, he made his way back to the Library.

~ * ~

He was aware there were selkies in some of the local rivers but hadn’t seen one. On a hunch after the clan meeting where his niece and nephew had been stripped of their magical powers, Uther had followed them out of the building. He’d sent Linda the Librarian off to get him a piece of cake to occupy her while he slipped out the back door.

Using his enhanced vision, he tracked the pair as they crashed through the woods to their home. They still believed their magic was viable and arrogantly issued spells to clear the pathway to walk. On many an occasion that evening, Uther was forced to cover his mouth so he wouldn’t burst into laughter as the two night elves stumbled over bushes and tree stumps which didn’t magic away.

When he’d decided the pair was well on their way to their home, he turned around and headed back. His senses were overwhelmed by fear. Following the path of the terror, he came upon a scene he would not soon forget.

Clutched in the paw of the massive animal Gitty Saun kept as a house pet, was a limp figure. One side appeared to be covered in scales while the other showed bare flesh and flowing yellow hair. Uther acted on instinct and blasted the animal with a magic command.

“DROP HER!”

The cat pulled in the paw bobbling its prize and growling as the creature fell to the ground. It started to reclaim the booty when Uther threw a lightning bolt above the animal’s head. Yowling in anger and fleeing as fast as the padded feet could move, the cat vanished into the dark night.

Uther dashed to the river’s edge and was amazed to find a miniature mermaid bleeding profusely from a slash the length of her body. He knelt and lightly placed a finger on the open wound while uttering a healing spell. He had to repeat the spell twice before the slash closed completely.

Her body fit neatly into the palm of his hand and he was careful not to jar her as he carried her to the river. Water slowly filled his palm as he lowered her into her element. His heart pounded as he prayed this unique creature wasn’t dead. Her eyes fluttered and she opened her mouth to scream.

“Ssshhh!!! We don’t want Lancelot to know you survived.”

Affirmation from the mermaid was all he needed and Uther released her completely, watching her swim slowly on the river’s top then, with a flip of her tail, slipping beneath the water.

He’d not seen her since that time. Spying the little selkie was a pleasant surprise, however, viewing the black monster, Lancelot, was not.

Uther groaned. He just knew Gitty and her brother Morgan were up to something and the rest of the valley would be caught in the backlash.

 

 

I hope you enjoy my little merfae.

 

Sable Angel