“We need your help.” she said plainly.
The Ambassador raised her gaze furtively, and emitted a stream of dolphin-clicks that the Wanderer hoped was a translation.
Several of the Mer lashed their tails to drift closer, and the trilling of clicks around them trailed off into a slower, more menacing tick.
Help? The word sifted through the humans' minds like sand through dry bones. One of the Mer tilted its head to regard Red's outstretched hand. The Ambassador kept herself low, and clicked another alien explanation.
Change. The unblinking eyes of the Mer fell upon the humans. Some merely drifted in place; others began to circle, trailing streamers of sand as their tails disturbed the seabed. Change!
Leveler? Another mind-voice whispered, and then others took up the name - rising and falling like the crash of surf. Leveler. Leveler! Leveler-leveler-leveler-leveler-levelevelevelerelereler!
The Mer who had been regarding Red's hand drifted closer, until Wanderer and Red could see themselves reflected in its bottomless black eyes. Though they were no experts on such things, the Mer appeared male. His expression was blank but he seemed agitated, with tiny tremors of his arms and fins stirring the water around him so that his hair drifted like seaweed. He tilted his head again, and emitted a single sharp click.
How help? threaded through the humans' minds, low and suspicious.
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