The waters were abundant with jewels and treasures in the water along the coast here. The waters were warm, the sand a light color almost like a pearl and not nearly as course as what lay further within the waters. The rocks were welcome as well, hiding and providing shelter for different sea creatures, drawing them in with the cycles of the moon or the changing of the seasons.<br/><br/>It was here that Aerwyna had made her home. It was true that mermaids typically made their homes near their pods, not wanting to stray too far from where home would always be. But the spit fire mer was not like her pod mates. She wanted to explore the ocean, find adventure like the males of her kind were prone to do. So, she did just that.<br/><br/>Blue scales glittered in the bright light of the sun as she floated closer to the surface than she usually would, but she couldn't resist the warmth of the sun along her back. The waters were different here than near her home. The color of the ocean was lighter, the sand different, the sea life even stranger than what she was used to. It was like an entirely different world than where she had matured. She loved it.<br/><br/>Chancing to drift closer to the coast, she couldn't resist running her claws through the sand, enjoying the feel as it slipped across the webbing in between her fingers. The fish and crestations gave her a wide berth, but she could sense in the background the low threat of the predators of the sea, but she was the real predator here. Sharks posed little threat to her kind, their fangs and claws more dangerous than a sharks mouth. A necklace made from the teeth of her last shark hung around her waist as a jeweled belt, a testament to her skills.<br/><br/>Settling towards the sea bed, she dug through the sand, pocketing different shells or clams that she would feast upon later. A knitted bag she'd found in the waters carrying her items easily. With her treasures tucked away she moved deeper up the coast, up a narrow channel towards a cove she had claimed for herself. To any other mer they would be able to smell her scent along the land, an open threat that this was her space.<br/><br/>Luminescent life forms lit the water of the cove as night fell, though she could see perfectly in the dark waters. The lapping of the waters had worn at the rock of the cove, leaving her shelves to stock her treasures. There were shells, gold pieces, weapons lost to the depths like daggers or swords, chests, some forks, plates, a marble top that had come from somewhere that had strange circles cut out in the center. The humans were truly strange in what they tossed into the ocean.<br/><br/>Their pollution and disregard for her home was enraging, so she carved out a home for herself here, collecting the thing the humans didn't want and stashing them away from the sea life, where it wouldn't harm the creatures.<br/><br/>But it was strange, the scent of something metallic hung heavy in the water of her cove, as if someone had been there that shouldn't have. The deeper she went, the more the rocks rose high and offered a large overhang that protruded into a cave. She followed this scent as far she could. Her head breached the top of the water and she quickly ducked back under without a sound.<br/><br/>Humans had explored the cave numerous times, but these humans seemed to be settling down. Why in her cove? She bit down a growl as she tried not to disturb the waters as she retreated. She would observe them, see what they were doing and if they planned to stay long which she hoped they would not.<br/><br/>It was here that Aerwyna set up her vigilance, unaware of the intentions of the humans that were unloading tightly sealed packages along the cave walls from their boat. Little did the sea creature know of the difficulties coming.