The sun did little to quell the frigid temperatures of the coast. It was late winter, and damned cold, with a harsh wind blowing up the coast and no shelter from its bite. The beach was frozen, its salty sand having hardened up in the cold weather, and now as solid as the rocks cliffs overlooking the ocean. If it were a little warmer, anyone enjoying a long walk on the beach would notice an odd smell, one currently hidden by the biting coldness of the air, and if it were summer, a passerby would cringe at the distinctive smell permeating from the yellow beach. The smell was that of rotting flesh.
Several piles of refuse had washed up on the crusty beach’s shore, close to the waters edge and now frozen in place. They were a dull red in color, with what looked like scales and fins covering their lower parts- or what was left of them. A tall man stood over the objects. He had black hair tied back in a ponytail, and a dark red cape draped over his shoulders that blew in the wind. His face was hard, a frown below his thin mustache. A metal frame was covering his neck. He seemed to be oblivious to the cold around him. After a moment, he nudged his large foot against one of the frozen figures, disturbing the layer of scales on it, making many of them fall to the ground. The man grunted, and folded his arms over his wide chest, turning his head to stare at the black waters of the ocean, so cold and unforgiving this time of year. This event boded ill for his cause.
“There’s little left for me to do now, without a ship.” He said to himself, turning away from the corpse to look up the beach. That’s what the refuse was; several remnants of what were mermaids. They were men and woman variants of the species, all somewhat young, and torn beyond the point where anyone would even know they were human. The man who stood beside them had been sent to find out what was killing them, and protect them, if possible. But he had run into a dead end.
“What to do now...” He thought aloud to himself. Honestly, he didn't care if the mermaids died. What he did care about was getting this mission done and over with, though, and done correctly. He would need a new plan to succeed, and formulated one in his head as he stared into the ocean.
Walking only a small distance away from the beach he held his katana tight. He didn't like the area much. Not only because of the threat of pirates but as he looked around he could see too much life in it. All the grass below his feet and a few spare trees here and there. It was rather cold out but he didn't care. Worrying about personal comfort was below him. As he continued along the small worn grassy path he began to get another sent then just the sea air. He knew what it was the moment he first got wiff of it. Rotting flesh he thought as a smile slowly crossed his face. Without even thinking he changed his direction to move toward the smell.
As he neared were the smell was coming from he noticed another figure standing near the water srounding by lumps on the sandy beach. As he got closer he got a better look at the scene before him. The man standing there was rather tall and a blood red cape draped over his shoulders that blue in the wind. His hair was black and tied back in a pony tail. On his shoulders a metal frame rested. As he got a closer look at the mans face he could easily see his thin mustache. Looking around at his feet he could se the remains of what appeared to be a mixture of humans and some kind of fish. Taking in a deep breath he realized he had mixed feelings. He had wished that he had died with what ever these other things were. But then now he would have to opportunity to kill the man himself. As he thought about it though he realized that this man might have killed these things. If he had he could prove useful to kill others. Thinking of that he walked onto the beach in plain sight skill clutching the hilt of his katana.
His long white hair blew in the wind much like the mans cloak. He was dressed in mostly back expect for silver shoulder pads. Not giving the man time to react to his sudden presence he spoke, "Who are you, did you kill these things?" he asked waiting for a response.