Mershark. The word was familiar to her, as most words were. But that didn't truly explain why.
At the merfolk's question, Trinket glanced down at her doll. It glanced up at her. She had commanded it, for now, to mimic her movements. For now.
Two pairs of eyes looked back at the mershark. "She's my friend. She likes to play, too."
Not to be deterred from her line of inquiry, Trinket pointed at the tail again. "Why do you have a tail? Why do 'mers' have tails? Why is yours a tiger shark tail instead of another kind of tail? Why can you turn into a shark?"
She knew the "what" of these things. Merfolk had fish parts, they could transform, these things she knew. But to know was not to understand.
She stared at the mershark, holding all the patience in the world in her tiny hands. She needed understanding. This, too, was a game. And she intended to win.
At the merfolk's question, Trinket glanced down at her doll. It glanced up at her. She had commanded it, for now, to mimic her movements. For now.
Two pairs of eyes looked back at the mershark. "She's my friend. She likes to play, too."
Not to be deterred from her line of inquiry, Trinket pointed at the tail again. "Why do you have a tail? Why do 'mers' have tails? Why is yours a tiger shark tail instead of another kind of tail? Why can you turn into a shark?"
She knew the "what" of these things. Merfolk had fish parts, they could transform, these things she knew. But to know was not to understand.
She stared at the mershark, holding all the patience in the world in her tiny hands. She needed understanding. This, too, was a game. And she intended to win.
