I’m getting ahead of myself. We agreed to enjoy the Journey (as if that’s possible), and whatever happens on land stays on land. But if we got back to the Blue and Drop suddenly said they didn’t want to see me ever again, I’d be just as hurt as Sean is right now. I might want to sic a pack of tiger sharks on them instead of mope around like Sean, but the pain would be the same.

“What can I get you?” A masculine-presenting human with a pen and paper looks at us expectantly.

Sean motions for me to go first. But the extent of my culinary knowledge is seaweed, seaweed, and more seaweed. So I just point to Sean and say, “I’ll have what they’re having.”

Sean promptly holds up two fingers and says, “Two loaded with fish, please.”

Fish? My stomach curdles and something starts to rush up my throat. Blue below. I’m going to barf. Elder Crab said this could happen. I’ve never gotten sick thanks to the Healing magic of some Elders, and I do not want to find out what it’s like in the middle of this crowded restaurant. It takes everything in me to swallow down whatever is threatening to gush out of my mouth.

“No, no fish.” I gag and have to take a million deep breaths to calm my stomach. “I’m vegetarian.”

The human attendant eventually shoves two foil-wrapped packages at Sean, who grabs them and leads the way through the packed restaurant to a long, skinny table that has just enough room for us to squeeze up to. The way humans cram in together is disgusting. Their bodies pressed up to each other, the air suffocating with the smells of food and smoke and breath. It does nothing to help my lingering barf feeling. I miss the open ocean already.

Sean’s big polar-bear eyes are wide with concern. “Here, drink this.” They pour me a glass of water and actually wrap my fingers around the cup. I take a few tentative sips. I’ve been surrounded by water my entire life, but I’ve never had to drink it before. I’m not sure how much new stuff my stomach can handle right now—and it’s weird that we’re supposed to drink it but if it gets on us, we’ll turn back to mer—but as soon as the cool liquid travels down my throat, I instantly feel my body start to settle.

“Better?” Sean asks.

I nod.