Do you have a choice? (Circled by sharks)

You feel a tad uncomfortable and think that perhaps you should leave.

However, no sooner has the thought struck you that you realise the blackfin sharks have already begun to circle you. Even when just cruising, they are still faster swimmers than you.

"what meaty pectoral fins!" "look at how fat he is!" You hear many such enthusiastic telepathic male voices, too many to identify any one individual. Though you don't possess pectoral fins, you get the gist of what they're referring to and you wonder if they are complimenting you. Taken a bit aback by their enthusiastic welcome.

"Wow, are you a turtle-merman?" One of the manny males call out to you, though his voice is much clearer. You just about catch sight of one with glittering black eyes and mahogany skin, before he slides behind the black-tipped dorsal fin of another merman eyeing you with great interest.

"Never, seen a turtle with your colouration before." Another even stronger voice rings out with wonder from the din of telepathic noice from behind you at the same time as you feel a hand caressing up one of your keels.

You flinch slightly, not expecting the sharks to be so touchy already.

"Hey, be nice to our new friend!" The one female blackfin shark reprimands diving from above with a quick aggressive motion, giving you a good view of her small tanned breast. Above her you see a few white bellies of the sharks form her school.

With a flash of grey and silver. The merman who'd been touching your carapace darts into a quick dive with a few strokes of his long caudal fin. Looking down you catch sight of smiling blue eyes beneath a fringe the colour of sand as he banks with the other circling sharks. You notice that he is different not only in colouration but that all of his finns are contoured by a white line.

"I mean no harm friend" he calls out again before he melts into the swaying bodies of light brown backs.

You feel overwhelmed, by the number of merman, realising that you are surrounded on all sides by these powerful creatures. You had never expected they'd be so enthused by your presence. You want to feel honoured but a twinge of uneasiness fills you quietly.

You being to long for the lonely empty waters of the pelagic sees and the darkening depths of the Twilight zone which you'd only ever heard about.

"Calm yourselves. Show some restraint and give our guest some space!" Another, deeper female voice commands. Instantly the ever encroaching circle of sharks widen their sphere around you, and gradually slow their revolving encirclements.

It's the Great white shark who's called out, and you marvel at the sway she possesses over the school of formidable merfolk.

Your anxiety is somewhat appeased by the two mermaid sharks who have both put in the effort to restrain the other overenthusiastic sharks.

You smile shyly as the beauties approach you. One possessing long black hair her skin the rich colour of silt. The other pale and blond, with a large bust. You notice a long gash on her flank, just behind her pectoral fin. The wound looks like it's not yet fully healed along with many other smaller and shallower bite marks along her shark body.

"Where are you headed, friend?" The blond Great White asks with a distant tone which is softened by a quick dazzling smile of pristine white teeth.

"I'm headed to the pelagic-waters, beyond the continental shelf." You muster yourself to say as clearly as you can.

A murmuring spreads out around you, and you gather that the mermen's curiosity have been piqued. Their kind seldom venturing out so far, preferring to stay in the warmer waters of the shelf.

"I too have considered to part for the pelagic-ocean soon, why don't you stay for a bit and let us acquaint ourselves with you for a while?" proposes the the blond mermaid, with glittering eyes the colour of the deep blue you've only heard about.