Thirty-six hours later, just as the sun peaked over the eastern horizon, the Diamond limped to shore on the beaches of the new island. They landed in a secluded cove protected from the sea by large sand bars, and from prying eyes by thick palm trees. Exhausted merfolk and humans collapsed onto the sand. Andrew nestled into Tirnan’s muscular arms as they both fell into a deep sleep.
The sun had moved well past its zenith before everyone began to rise from their refreshing slumber. The merpeople took to the waters to explore their new home, while the Diamond’s crew salvaged what they could from the ruined hull.
A few of the men fared a little better than Andrew, who’d lost everything, and they gathered their belongings, equipment, and necessities in the brush above the beach. They huddled
