The Blackest Shade of Blue

A glowing pearlescent blue emanates from it, with hints of pink and silver. I let herself float for a moment; in awe of the newness, I saw. My tail before was a simple purple—a color that was and still is my favorite. But this—this otherworldly color was…I couldn’t find the words. I run my fingers over the scales, feeling the mix of warmth and coolness. If anything, I could get used to this part of myself. Blinking, I shoot up towards the surface, feeling the water rush over me. The caress of air bubbles dance over my skin as I cut through the water, causing a smile to pull at my lips. Whenever I under the surface, I feel at piece. I feel safe. If I was to be exiled in the human world forever, I would make sure to be near a body of water just so I never lose this feeling. I break the surface, water racing down face and chest in little droplets. I comb my fingers through my hair, taking in the suns warmth while looking back towards the shore. Thankfully, my rucksack and clothes were still there but I wasn’t ready to go back just yet. I didn’t know when I would find another body of water and I wanted to take advantage of it for as long as possible. I turn my back towards the shore, intending to dive back under when I come face to face with a pair of hollowed out eyes. My heart leaps into throat and I jerk away, processing what I’m seeing. Standing on the opposite side of the shore was a figure made entirely of wood and vine. Its arms and legs were thin, its fingers curling into talons. There are holes where the eyes and nose should be but nothing for the mouth except a tangle of twigs and vines. It stood at the very edge of the shore, the water barely touching its wooden feet, but it was tall enough to lean over the short distance, allowing its face to come within a few inches to mine. I’ve heard of only one creature that match this description and it was on my list of avoidance. A Hiisi. Creatures that disguised themselves as trees and only came to life when they felt their land was threatened. Matron Farah always warned us about them, always warned us that if we ever encountered a Hiisi we were to offer a twig of violets, to symbolize our harmlessness. I look back towards the shore where my belongings are, gaging on how fast I can shift back. If I can offer some violets then…shit, how am I supposed to find any now? I should’ve taken some from the Flora when I had the chance. “Water witch,” it hisses, drawing my attention back. Its voice slithers along the water, causing it to ripple. “How dare you show your face on my land?” This is just perfect. I hold up my hands in a gesture I mean to one of peace, but Hiisi draws back as if I’m about to attack. “I don’t mean any harm,” I say. As I speak, I inch back towards the shore, if a Hiisi felt cornered it will attack and I really didn’t feel like being stabbed by a tree. “They all say so,” the Hiisi says, “and harm befalls us anyway.” “Well,” I search for words, anything that can get me out of this. “What I speak is true. It was unknown to me that this was your land and if you let me leave, I promise to never step foot on it again.” The Hiisi is silent for a moment, staring at me. Its unnerving how I know it’s looking at me without actually knowing. The hollowness of its eye’s bores into my soul as if it can see all my deepest secrets. “Promises, promises, promises,” the Hiisi sings, its voice sending a shiver down my spine. “Empty words from an empty soul.” I knew a Hiisi like to spin its words, but something about what it said tugged at me. It was true, I felt a hollowness inside me. One that grew every day. But to me, I held promises close to my heart, they weren’t empty words to me. I open my mouth the speak but am cut off when a branch from above begins to slither down towards me. The Hiisi growls, “I have no patience for the empty words of a water witch.”