Sara floated out from her submerged dwelling that was dug into the canal. As she neared the surface of the water, she pulled a cord that untied a knot on her thick neck rufflar. The neatly concealed fabric unfolded to form a maxi-dress that overlaid her one-piece swimsuit. She placed her arms through the oval cutouts and allowed the sleeveless straps to hang around her neck and shoulders.

As she emerged from the lake, she held her breath to allow her respiratory system a moment to adapt to the change in environment. Water dripped from her scales and clothing as she flexed her spiny fins along her arms and legs, collapsing them inward.

From a small waxed pouch strapped tightly to her hips, she retrieved a pair of stilted sandals and strapped them over her webbed feet. The stilts were short but provided enough of a gap between the hot cobbled streets to keep her feet relatively cool.

A pavilion was built nearby with offset mirrors arranged to focus the rays of the sun. After adjusting their alignment with the morning blaze, she closed her eyes and slowly spun in place, allowing her emerald scales and teal skin to drip and glisten as she basked in the warming light.

As she saw a few mermaids drying their hair, she was glad that her mane consisted of widened locks like blades of grass which allowed water to bead smoothly across its surface.

Once she was satisfied with her mostly dry clothes, she clacked down the alleyways with her stilted footwear.

Sara was an apprentice priest of the paternal trees and had been rotated to provide help at a different orphanage today.

She knew she would never reach the higher ranks of the clergy because she, like her parents, also worshiped Aquinda–a serpentine water dragon that embodies rivers and trade.

Her lineage was from a large nomadic tribe that follows the dragon as it creates whirlpools between unconnected waterways. The tribe trades goods between civilizations they meet along their never-ending journey.

Her parents took the surname Arillus to abide by local traditions when they decided to settle in Convail permanently. They took the job of acting as ambassadors to their nomadic tribe but stayed behind after learning of The Everblooming Mother’s blessing of fertility; which is what allowed Sara to be born.

She was crossing a bridge near a complex owned by a human faction when her two whisker-like feelers reacted to a woman in a sky blue dress.

Her feelers emerged from her dimples and in addition to being able to produce light, they also allowed her to sense others' emotions when they were strong enough. As an aquatic race of traders, both abilities were invaluable. She was as adept at using them as she was with her hands; perhaps more so, as her webbed fingers lack dexterity. Despite not being a merchant, she found the empathetic sense vital to her role as a priest.

She spent a few moments mentally feeling the aura that waved off the woman in front of her. She felt a sense of emptiness, yearning, and loathing all mixed with just a tinge of hope.

She decided right then and there to make a new friend.

“Hello,” Sara smiled, “I love your dress.”

The woman barely spared her a glance as she replied, “Thanks.”

Undeterred, Sara leaned against the bridge railing and stretched out her hand, “I’m Sara, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

She stared at the webbed fingers for a moment before reaching her arm out as well, “I’m Lisa, nice to meet you. You have lovely, uhm, scales.”

They interlocked their arms at the elbow in resemblance to the perennial trees before releasing the hold.

“Thanks, sometimes I wish I had feathers though. They work better in colder climates.” She said, eyeing at Lisa’s white wings with longing.

“Maybe, but it’s not worth the price of having chicken legs.” Lisa joked while raising the hem of her dress.

“Oh, is something wrong with them?” Sara asked and raised a leg of her own to dangle in the air, “My webbed toes aren’t so different from a duck.” She waved around with a slow spin, “You’re not exactly the strangest thing around. Are you new to Convail?”

“Well no, I was born here, I just don’t leave the tamers compound much.”

“Ah, that explains it. Those humans can be quite rude.” Sara intertwined their arms and pulled Lisa along, “Come with me, you just need to get out and about.”

“Uhm, ok? And where are we going?”

“I’m starting my first day at a different branch of The Budding Order. We’ll meet new friends together.”

Sara noticed that her new friend was about to pull back and protest so she quickly thought of a question as a distraction, “I noticed the sword on your hip; I've been thinking of learning a bit for self-defense when I poke my head above the water,” she commented, putting more muscle into leading Lisa along.

“Well, you likely use a spear underwater and there's no real reason to change on land,” Lisa thought aloud, “If you find them too cumbersome to carry around you might try a glave with a shortened shaft.”

They talked as they walked through the city, occasionally stopping at a stall or storefront. Just as they walked in front of an ally, a large black panther crashed into them at a full sprint.

“Ah, sorry, really sorry. Are you ok? Great, I gotta go or I’ll be late!” the panther said in a rush before racing away.

Lisa looked off towards the building the panter ran to, “Isn’t that–”

“Yes, that’s where we’re headed.”

They made their way over to see the panther morph into a young woman with dark red skin covered in patches of thick black fur. She stepped forward to receive the orphanage’s breakfast just before they closed.

As she began eating the fruit and vegetables, the head priest hurried over to the therian with a face flushed crimson.

“How many times have I told you not to sneak off in the middle of the night?”

“I lost count,” the therian replied with a mouth full of food and a wide grin.

“Sneaking off is bad enough, but now this?” The priest waved a piece of paper in the air, “You have guards chasing you across the city because you can’t be bothered to put on some clothes.”

“Oh sorry I thought–”

“What? That showing her your token wouldn't lead her straight here?”

“No,” she swallowed, “that she would be lazy like the others.”

The priest closed her eyes for a moment before turning to meet Sara. “Good, you’re the new help yes? Good, that” she pointed to the therian, “is what you will be helping with.”

“How exactly?”

The priest faced the therian, “Ashley, a young master of the Necime family has indicated his interest in courting you as a mistress.”

“Nope, I–”

The priest raised a hand to cut her off, “I know, you aren’t interested. You refuse every offer, even the more respectable ones. The young master said to tell you–if you refused, that he is willing to take you to tour the outskirts of The Twisted Thicket... though, heavens above know why you would want to go to that awful place.”

Ashley dropped her bowl, eyes widened, “I’ll get to explore outside the city?”

With the promise of adventure, Ashley darted off.

“Wait!” Sara called, “You’re not dressed!”