Mermaid + Mushroom - Fantasy Spring Garden

Her form cut through the water easily. Long tail sweeping back and forth to drive her forward.

The shore raced to meet her, her body beaching itself on the lakeshore. Her friend was not waiting for her. Birds sang and insects filled the air with their noise. But no voice raised in joy at her appearance.

Her skin prickled under the heat of the sun, digging hooks of heat into her pale skin. She undulated backwards, working her way back into the water until it covered her shoulders. The water would protect her from the worst of it.

Fluttering her gills in the water, she scanned the treeline. The sun was so bright above her, and so hot on the top of her head. She dipped under the water for a moment, blinking water from her eyes.

A half-submerged tree caught her attention. Its soggy trunk had snapped, the branches sunk under the surface. But the jagged stump had something new. Soggy and blackened by the water, a pale colour had caught her eye.

She glided to it, reaching out to touch the protuberances with a gentle finger. It was soft. She snatched her hand back, following the brown and cream step-like growth up the side of the stump. 

It made no reaction to her touch, and she couldn’t help reaching out to touch it again, delighting in the spongy texture. She pressed too hard and a section broke off, leaving behind creamy flesh inside.