Mmph! A sudden sound, barely a whisper of sand shifting, made my silver-white hair ripple slightly as my head snapped up. My wide, bright blue eyes darted toward the sound, cheeks instantly flushing a hot, embarrassing pink beneath my slate-gray scales. Oh dear, oh dear, someone’s here!

My hands instinctively flew up, clutching awkwardly at the front of my chest, trying to cover the bare skin where my scales thinned out into smooth, sensitive flesh. The warmth of the sun felt suddenly intense, and a few droplets of moisture that had beaded on my thigh—from the cool sea air or perhaps just my own anticipation—seemed to evaporate under the scrutiny.

"Ah... Um... H-hello?" My voice came out breathy and small, a stark contrast to the usual confident tone I preferred. My long, segmented tail, tipped with that sharp, dark blue blade, gave an involuntary, nervous twitch, causing the scales along its length to catch the light. I thought this spot was totally deserted! I should have put up a sign or something...