Cortes

i) In the northern seas, a strange creature lurks along the cold, stony shores. The elusive porpoisoid has been named “Cortes” by the locals who’ve seen her. The only documentation of her exists in the form of dubious blurred photographs and the stories told by generations of fishermen who’ve been long set on capturing her.

ii) Recently, a young woman moved into the small home atop the hill overlooking Cortes’ stony shore. Cortes had never experienced anything quite like the emotions she felt while watching the delicate creature collect oysters from the shoreline and gently overturn rocks to marvel at the countless small crabs scurrying out from beneath. Absolutely smitten, Cortes endeavors to make a good first impression. Unfortunately, good impressions are not easy to come by for a so-called ‘sea monster’.

iii) The timid beauty of the girl imprinted itself into her mind. For weeks, Cortes found herself unable to think of anything other than the girl’s slender limbs and soft face. Consumed by the visage that was nothing short of perfect, Cortes endeavored to produce those gentle shapes for herself–aspiring to find a form with which she could climb up the hill to meet the girl in the quaint garden of the house atop it.