The Beast hummed a merry tune to himself - an ancient prayer to a long-forgotten idol that he was taught long ago in the form of the song. For his people weren’t people, but they might’ve had the chance to be, if they were born on the right side of the Sun-Divide that separated his world from theirs.

A long time ago, the Beast coveted their sun, but that was a long time ago.

Nowadays, he valued a nap abetted by a full belly and a sunless shoal.

Nowadays, he used the gifts his people had once used to survey the stars to reach more earthly, attainable ends.

Orange and fading as it was, the sky of the other side of the Sun-Divide always hurt his eyes, even through his third set of eyelids. He felt sluggish just being up there where there was so little life in the air or air between his gills, but easy pickings were easy pickings, and easy pickings the young maiden who sat with her legs dangling over the edge of the old dock most definitely was.

Something about the situation hit the Beast with a wave of nostalgia as he drew closer to the surface, close enough to make out the rebellious streaks of green and red in her tawny hair, close enough to brush against her hanging feet, if he so wished.

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The sea breeze always calmed Jemma Wilson’s nerves. She’d inherited those from her mother, just like she’d inherited her hair from her father. The smartphone in her hand, too, with its infinite selection of low-commitment entertainment, but her battery was steadily depleting, which meant it was time to start heading home. She let out a long sigh, running her hands through her hair.

Apologies were always difficult, especially when she was in the wrong. Jemma clasped her hands together. Tomorrow, she'll cook lunch. She hated the whole exercise, but her mother did always love it when she cooked. She braced herself against the sudden chill that had set into the otherwise warm summer night, and righted herself, starting the trek back to land.

Jemma took one step, two, and just like that, she was taken from the world.

Later that week, the Beast finally slept on a full stomach.