Silky

Age 16. Named for her “silky white tail” — “slick and it is also silky looking” — and her “long silky blonde hair.” Her tail is described as a “listening white tail that’s really hard to miss.” Standard human-mermaid size.

Silky has no magical powers but is a skilled and active protector of sea animals, rescuing them from fishing nets and other human-caused entanglements. She rides seahorses — “If you’re lucky, you will see her riding a seahorse jumping out the water in, out, in, out” — and sometimes dolphins.

She runs an underwater farm growing seaweed, kale, and similar water crops, with farm animals including seahorses and sea cows. Her home doubles as the market of Mermaid Isle, where she sells vegetables, seashell bracelets, coral necklaces, and other sea-product items. She also operates a rescue-adoption “pet store” — animals she has saved come to market visitors who are right for them: “your pet that will probably be for you will come to you.”

Silky is a near-mythical figure locally, known as “the Silky.” Swimmers spot her and rumors circulate about having seen her house.