The siren’s tail flexed like a muscle covered in slick evergreen scales, the wide fin pressed into the deck, allowing the creature to steady itself. Its upper torso was humanlike, but this creature was not some fairy tale sea-princess. Slits between the flesh of its ribs opened and closed as it heaved. Its webbed fingers ended in sharp bony protrusions. A clear membrane closed over the eyes as it blinked, and a scant layer of thin dark hair covered its head in patches. This was the
