Yes, he thought as he watched them take off,I think he would be the right person to ask.
Perhaps after their work was done, he could ask Tempest to introduce them.
Satisfied with this plan, Reed headed back to the shore. He believed the sea lion shifter would agree to help him, but in the meantime, he could still find out more about Crescent Cove. This time, when he approached the beach, he paused to look at the tall, white brick structure with the light at the very top. The lighthouse sat high up on the hill. Curiosity filled him at the thought of it.
He’d never seen a lighthouse from the human side, only from the sea on stormy nights when the glowing embers of light guided ships safely back to shore. Merfolk had no use for such things, but perhaps this one might be a beacon to guide his family to the hidden town.
Reed pulled himself from the water and shook off the droplets of water, letting the sun warm his skin and dry him out. The transformation, though not pleasant by any means, felt like less of a shock this time. Painful but not all-consuming, as his tail split to become legs and his scales disappeared.
“I’m sure Tempest won’t mind,” he said to himself as he headed down the beach to her house. “She seemed adamant that I needed to wear those ‘clothes’ when out around town.”
The merman climbed the front steps, up onto her porch, and turned the doorknob easily. Unlocked, just as she had said itwould be. Nodding, Reed slipped into the house and padded to her bedroom, locating the pants and shirt he had worn yesterday on a chair where he had left them when he had undressed.
Carefully, he repeated the steps she had taught him for getting the clothes onto his human form. It made him think of the way Tempest’s body had felt, her breath shallow and warm on his skin as she had helped him dress. The way that her green-blue eyes had sparkled even as she turned pink and looked away from him.
“I suppose I ought to get some clothes of my own, if I’m going to be staying,” Reed said as he observed himself in her standing mirror.
Remembering his pouch of jewels and paper money, he ran one hand through his tangled dark tresses and headed back out onto the beach. A short walk returned him to the edge of the Boardwalk, where he had tucked his treasure into a little hole he had dug in the soft, wet sand the other night.
Sure enough, it was right where he had left it. Buried just deep enough the tide wouldn’t pull it out to sea, and packed well enough the bigger waves wouldn’t dislodge it. He dusted the sand off his pouch and opened it to count the remaining paper money he had.
“Surely this will be enough for a few pieces of clothing,” he said to himself as he started up the Boardwalk. “And maybe another chocolate croissant.”
Reed followed the wooden walkway up to the main row of shops, looking around in hopes of figuring out which one might sell clothes. When he spotted a silver-haired man with pale peach skin, he took a chance and approached him.
“Excuse me. Do you know where I could buy clothing?” he asked shyly.
“New to town, hmm?” asked the other man with a smile. “That shop there, with the yellow sign.”
With a smile, Reed replied. “Thank you very much! May I ask…what kind of shifter you are?”
“I’m a selkie,” answered the man.
“Oh! I’ve never met a selkie in person before,” Reed brightened. “I’m a merman of the Cascadia pod. We…don’t usually venture onto land.”
The silver-haired selkie nodded. “You’re the first merman I’ve ever met walking on two legs.”
They shared a chuckle before the man waved him off. Feeling excited about the wide range of magical creatures to be found in Crescent Cove, he hurried to the shop. Inside, he found racks and rows of clothing, and wonder gave way to overwhelm.
“Can I help you?” asked a woman standing behind a small counter.
“Ah, yes, please. I’ve never done this before,” Reed said, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
“Shopped?” she sounded surprised, coming around to get a better look at him. “Well, not to worry! I can help with that.”
As she danced around him, pulling items out and holding them up to him the way Tempest had, he acquired a rather large stack of items. The kind shop owner made suggestions on colors and styles that would suit him and made small talk the whole time.
After what felt like ages, she gestured him to a small stall with a hanging curtain. She waved him in and pulled the curtain across the space. “There you go!”
It took Reed a moment to figure out the space was meant for him to try the items on and see how they fit. Not that he knew how clothing ought to fit or what styles might be popular on land, but he could at least see what he liked.
He bit his lip as he tried to decide what to try on first. A pair of shorts with a blue-green shade that reminded him of Tempest’s eyes felt like the right choice. He glanced at the other pieces, remembering he needed one for his legs, and one for his chest.Ashirt, Reed reminded himself.
One is a soft fabric with the white of a cresting wave felt like a good combination, so he slipped it on and turned to look in the mirror.
“Are you ready with your first look?” asked the shopkeeper from beyond the curtain.
“Yes,” he said, not entirely sure but ready for feedback.
