Kinds

merkind

Mermaids. Everything above the waist is an iconkind: the same face, the same ears (now swept back as fins) and the same badge on the chest. Below it, a tail.

Three tails

A broad fan, two long lobes, or trailing veils.

Fan

The storybook one.

Split

Two long lobes with air between them.

Veil

Trailing veils and hip fins.

Six, dressed

Scallop tops, wraps, crowns and circlets, each with a badge.

Tide

Comes back, always, twice a day.

Reef

Builds slowly. Shelters whatever settles on them.

Pearl

Makes something lovely out of an irritation.

Kelp

Grows fast, bends with everything, breaks in nothing.

Fathom

Goes further down than anyone asked them to.

Ripple

Small thing, travels a long way.

The guard

Armour, beards and tridents.

Keel

Holds the line.

Brine

Older than the argument.

Gale

Arrives loud. Leaves things moved.

Anchor

Stays put on purpose, so that somebody else is free to move.