Beneath the ocean waves lies a miserable little mermaid. She lives in a hidden underwater city, lonely and surrounded by merpeople who don’t understand her—who are baffled when she says she doesn’t want a mate. Driven by sadness and frustration, the little mermaid swims to the surface, risking her life every time her tail peeks above the water; a human could spot her and attack, reawakening a hunt from a thousand years ago.

She manages to avoid human eyes for a long time, but one day she’s careless and lets the waves carry her wherever they wish—even to the treacherous reef that surrounds the island. It is here she meets her first human: a young black woman who shows no malice and little fear.

Through kindness and curiosity, the two women become friends. But along with their friendship arrives a sea of trouble. When the humans and merpeople discover them, will their bond withstand the test of fear and hatred? Can these two friends heal the damage and mistrust festering between their people?