Trinket watched the entire affair without ever a change in her expression. When the merfolk returned, stained with blood, it was possible the slightest hint of a smile touched the corners of her mouth, but it was hard to be sure.
"Survival?" She tilted her head again. She knew the word, along with many other words she had been given when she was born. But to know was not to understand.
She pondered it for a long moment, still staring at the merfolk, still never blinking, never blinking.
Finally she nodded.
"Survival is how you win the game."
She turned towards the water, walking forward. Still dragging her doll behind her, its tiny porcelain feet leaving thin trails in the wet sand. When she turned away, the doll was hidden behind her just for a moment, but when it reappeared in the merfolk's line of sight, it was still staring right at him.
Trinket walked forward until the water covered her ankles. She pointed into the water at a small fish.
"Show me how to play."
"Survival?" She tilted her head again. She knew the word, along with many other words she had been given when she was born. But to know was not to understand.
She pondered it for a long moment, still staring at the merfolk, still never blinking, never blinking.
Finally she nodded.
"Survival is how you win the game."
She turned towards the water, walking forward. Still dragging her doll behind her, its tiny porcelain feet leaving thin trails in the wet sand. When she turned away, the doll was hidden behind her just for a moment, but when it reappeared in the merfolk's line of sight, it was still staring right at him.
Trinket walked forward until the water covered her ankles. She pointed into the water at a small fish.
"Show me how to play."
