Syrena had found the promised challenge as foreshadowed in the wind earlier that day. She knew it would be a difficult venture but she knew it would be worthwhile to protect her identity aboard the vessel with Elizabeth. The ship was destined to leave at dawn and it was nearly midnight. She had but six hours to teach herself how to walk.

She of the sea and pulled herself onto the beach. Thankful for the darkness, she glanced around to make sure no eyes were prying into her business. Her tail and scales melted away as she attempted to stand. The light of the moon danced on her still-damp skin as she held on to a tree for balance. Shaking just a bit from the sudden shift in her gravity, she glanced down at her- feet.

Such funny things they were, feet. Strangely shaped and odd looking. She wiggled her toes, feeling the grains of sand slip between them. The sensation tickled, sending a slow smile across her lips.

She let go of the tree for just a moment and stood, balancing herself. Her shadow spread across the sand. She looked at it quizzically. It was so strange to stand upright, to look down and see pale white skin and legs as opposed to a tail with multi colored scales. Her brown eyes took in the look of herself in human form. She felt awkward and almost broken.

Syrena let herself get used to the mere feeling of standing before she even attempted to move. After a few minutes she lifted one foot. It hovered in the air before meeting the sand again with the rest of her body following. She let the cool sand touch her skin for just a second before she pushed herself onto her knees. Determined to walk, she pulled herself back into a standing position. She held on to the tree and mimicked the motions it took to walk. They felt so strange. Syrena hated the unnatural feeling she was experiencing. She longed to be back in the sea. But if she wanted to disguise herself as a human, she had to walk like one.

She curled her toes in the white sand, wrinkling her nose at the sensation it triggered. Wishing she had accepted the offer when Phillip had wanted to teach her how to walk, she again tried to put one foot forward. This time she managed to stay upright until she transferred her weight. She plummeted to the ground face first, sand hitting her in the eyes and in the face.

"This can't be worth it!" Syrena hissed. Her hands tore valleys in the sand as she struggled to her feet yet again. Adrenaline and anger fueled her. Her mouth set in a thin line, she refused to fall. She stood and lifted her foot. Her arms were outstretched to help her keep her balance. Syrena carefully placed her foot back onto the sand and transferred her weight, lifting her other foot as she did so. Wobbling just a bit, she managed to take a step and remain upright. She smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. She took another step and another, ignoring the strangeness of the motion and simply focusing on the fact that she could do it. With every step, the movements became more natural and less awkward. She traveled faster and faster, nearly running, until she finally broke into a run.

She ran until she ran out of beach an then ran further, realizing she had not the slightest idea of how to stop. She let herself fall, her legs aching and her heart pounding, her lungs sucking in air faster than she ever had. Pure joy emanated from her face. She had done what so few of her kind ever had. She had walked- she had ran. By the position of the moon, Syrena could tell she had two hours left until dawn. With enough practice, walking would look natural enough that she would be able to deceive even the simplest of humans. The night had been well spent.