Chalakon drifted through the busy afternoon market circle, eyeing jewelry and trinkets on display in the afternoon. Most of the craftsfolk he'd known as far back as he could remember. A few shops had been passed from master to apprentice, but nothing had really changed. 

"Hello Chal, my pearl." The wizened jeweler waved Chal over with a smile, clasping hands with the young mer. Chal grinned and gently squeezed the old woman's hands, noting the faintest tremor. 

"Good tides, Gran Cora. How's the family?" 

"Oh, they're just fine. Aline is expecting, you know! Finally. I knew they were worried after the second year past the wedding..."

Chal listened politely, though this was a bit more information than he really wanted to hear. But most elders liked to chat, and Gran Cora had always been kind to him. 

"Listen, pearl. I will be moving on very soon." 

"Wait, what?" Chal was yanked harshly back to the moment, as if he'd gotten his tailfin caught in a ripcurrent. "You can't!"

"I can, and I will." The woman's voice was firm. "My hands can't work the metal like they used to. And with the grandchild on the way, things are changing. It is time." She reached up and patted Chal's cheek, as if he were a grandchild of hers already.

Then she plucked up a work from the display case and held it against Chal's skin. "Hmm. No. White coral washes out your tone." She set it aside and eyed the selections on the table."Perhaps... Ah! Hold still."

"But-"

"Hush now. And hold your hair." 

"Yes, Gran."

Gran Cora wrapped a delicate, expertly woven choker around Chal's neck and tied the clasp. Then she swum up a bit to press a maternal kiss to his forehead. "Lovely. That's a gift from me, no trade needed." 

Chal touched the choker and smiled, feeling burning tears threatening. "Thank you, Gran. It's beautiful. Um. Just remembered I've got a lunch date, so..." 

"Ah, young love. Don't let me keep you, then. Off you go!" Gran waved and Chal rose up and up, leaving the market behind.

-

By the time he reached his favorite sandbar on the surface, Chal's eyes were sore from crying. He wasn't sure what it was even about. Changes like that hurt him at the core, some days. 

An odd noise caught his attention, and on instinct he rolled and slipped off the bank and under the waves. When nothing dangerous approached, he swam toward the noise. He found two strange creatures on the beach. One gray and fat and loud. The other was almost human, but the ears were wrong, and- was that a tail? Since when did humans have those? He watched from beneath the water, as close as he dared.
-

Meanwhile, one of Harry's earbuds starts to fizzle with static.