In the Siltof Deep Waters

I imagined a mermaid who would truly belong to the underwater world. She holds a fish near her mouth; her gaze and body suggest a living creature driven by instinct rather than a fairy-tale heroine. If mermaids existed, would they necessarily be gentle and reassuring? I wanted to explore a wilder possibility. Her luminous hair contrasts with the dark water and spotted skin: beauty is still there, but it does not make the danger disappear.