Page 29 of Saved By the Selkie

My heart sinks. I can’t get home. I can’t go any further north than here, not until spring comes and the ice melts.

Despair grasps at my flukes, and I want to sink down into its depths, let it wrap around me until darkness closes in from all sides.

Instead, I muster what strength I have and swim to the edge of the ice, hauling myself out onto it. A couple of seals startle, staring at me with their big, black eyes.

I nod to them.

“What are you doing here?” one of them asks, tilting his head.

“Never seen a selkie so far south,” says the other. He bounces a little closer in curiosity.

“Got lost,” I tell them, then flop onto my side, letting exhaustion wash over me. I’m so tired. I wonder how far I’ve swum, how many days it’s been since I left the ship.

I lift my head a little. “Where are we?”

“A little north of Narsaq,” says the first seal, bouncing up beside me. The two of them are looking me over, but I can’t be bothered to care.

“And where’s that?”

“Greenland. Do you know where you came from?”

I want to curl up and sleep for a week. “Some place called Sint Jahns.”

The seals exchange a look. “That’s a long way,” the first one says.

“Especially for one in your condition,” the second says.

I huff.

“You know you’re going to have a pup soon, right?” The second seal seems especially concerned.

“I know,” I whimper.

“What were you doing so far south?” the first asks. “Why did you swim all this way?”

“I went south with my mate,” I whimper. “And then he was killed, and the ones who killed him, they want to kill me too.”

The seals exchange another look. “Poor dear,” the first says, raising a flipper and patting me on the side. I whimper as I realize how much I’ve missed physical touch. I have no idea how long I’ve been at sea, how long I’ve been by myself.

By some silent agreement, the seals flop down on either side of me. “It’s all right now,” says the first, “Naardan and I will look after you now.”

“Yes,” agrees the second with a bob of his head. “You’re in good flippers with Quin and me. Is this your first pup?”

I nod meekly, cuddling into Naardan’s side. Quin pats me with his flipper. “Poor dear,” he says, “it’s a good thing you found us.”

“Yes,” I agree.

Quin rests his chin on top of my head. “You just rest now,” he says. “You’ve had a very long swim and a very trying time. Your pup needs you to lie still for a bit, hm?”

“Yes,” I agree again and close my eyes.

“That’s a good boy,” Naardan says, stroking my side with his flipper. “Rest up, you’ll be right as rain after you sleep.”

I somehow doubt that, but sleep is calling me. I let loose a wide yawn, tossing my head back. Quin has to move out of the way.

The two seals keep patting me and whispering encouragement at me, and, before long, I’m fast asleep.

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