She did not know humans could change colour. It was not as effective as when octopodes did it, not to mention pink did not make the human blend into her surroundings at all. She slowly reached out and took the fish from the human before begrudgingly taking a bite out of it.

This human was small, but she liked it for a different reason. While their size made her feel powerful instead she found this human… cute. She had never found a human cute, nor had she spent any time with them really. What romance she had had in her life was rare, her pod was all her family and romance was hard when shaped so differently, even more so when her people were so focused on children. She had never met another like her and her mother, though she knew how they were made.

If this human could lead her to freedom she would have to bring her a seal or something as a gift. Though she had no idea if the human would even help her escape. She doubted she would betray her people for a human. Still, this human seemed nice and it was all she had to work with.

Considering that the human was too stupid to understand her distaste for the dead fish she was seriously questioning if she would be of any help at all. She let out a huff, perhaps that was too mean. There was no reason the human would know her language. They lived on land and made totally different sounds.

The human was trying to be friendly. Why else would she be so careless? Unless this human was just defective. She could have killed the human in several different ways by now and yet the human was just sitting there trying to camouflage. Maybe the human simply thought she couldn't see her?

The human finally said something, so maybe she wasn't trying to hide then. She gulped down the last of the fish as she studied her. At the very least it was nice to have company even if this human was helping to keep her here. She knew enough to know this human wasn't in charge though. But she wasn't innocent enough to fully trust.

A large dark spot circled the human's neck, a bruise. From where the human’s contraption had almost killed her. She reached forward very slowly, not wanting to spook her. The human watched her hand carefully though she did not move away. She reached closer and pressed two fingers to the human’s small neck.

The human’s skin felt strange, not like her own. It was rougher, covered in thin hairs, fuzzier than expected. She could feel the bone underneath, very strange indeed. The human’s eyes were wide though she didn't move. She took that as a sign to continue her investigation.

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She tilted the human’s head, revealing her bruised neck. Considering how small the human was, it was concerning. Then she remembered how thin human skin was, it would probably take far less blood to be visible unlike herself. They were very fragile.

Her fingers trailed down the human’s neck to the strange clothing they wore. She slipped a finger underneath and tugged, it was stretchy but durable. She was fairly sure she had seen something like it floating in the ocean some moons ago.

The human said something and tugged on the material at her chest. Presumably what humans called the garment. She continued down to what really caught her attention. The human’s legs. She hadn't bothered to investigate the last human’s body before she had eaten him.

Legs were strange things, not as powerful as her tail but certainly muscular under her touch. Her pod had hunted a moose once near some islands, but its legs had bent differently and had been bonier. The human’s feet were even weirder. Short little fingers and two strange bumps. Walking seemed so very complicated, so easy to mess up. This human had made that very clear.

If she had a better memory perhaps she wouldn't be so fascinated. But memories faded with time, especially those of a child. The human made a noise when she poked at the soft spot of her foot. The human said something else, she had no idea why the human insisted on talking when she did not understand her. She didn't really mind; the human’s sounds were not harsh like the others had been, they were gentle and smooth.

The human sat up and held up her own hand. It took her a second to realize the human wanted to inspect her and wanted consent just as she had asked for. Maybe progress was being made after all. She tilted her head, exposing her neck like she had done to the human. She did not mind as long as the human was gentle. The human probably found her as interesting as she found her.

Small fingers brushed her cheek, tracing along her face. She expected the human to do what she had done but instead, the human’s hand trailed upwards. Fingers brushed through her hair before the human caressed her cheek.

Her eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into it and let out a noise of approval. She missed touch, the comfort of another, even a virtual stranger.

She opened her eyes to see the human had flushed pink again. The human quickly pulled away much to her disappointment. After being trapped here for so long it was easy to get wrapped up in someone’s kindness.

The human’s gaze had changed, though she could not say what, something had changed. The human pressed a hand to her chest and said something. It was a different word, one she had not said before. She repeated the motion, motioning to herself and making the sound. A name she realized. The human was giving her name.

She did her best to mimic the notes. One high note followed by one low. “Ay-va.”

Eva bobbed excitedly and repeated the motion one last time. Then she motioned to her, presumably to give her name. She did, whistling her name which Eva had no chance of being able to replicate. Her expression was amusing.

There was something else, something she had a faint memory of being called a very long time ago. She wanted Eva to know a name that belonged to her. It was a sign of good faith and maybe would make Eva more inclined to help her. The human sounds did not flow through her like her own language but she made it work.