Moon of the Sea by pandemonium_213  

Chapter 2: Pearl

She waited at the waves’ edge with the other girls. The hammered brass ripples of the water’s surface shattered when a figure emerged from the waves, followed by another and yet another. Full breasts and rounded hips were silhouetted black against the brilliant light. Did goddesses arise from the sea? No, it was her mother who walked with the waves, leading the other women to shore. Bags of oysters and scallops slapped against wet thighs.

The mollusks clattered into the sea-reed basket. Her mother grasped an oyster and ran her sharp knife around it, prying the shell open, and then smiled.

“Here, Isilmë – a pearl for you.” Her mother placed the tiny moon of the sea onto her open hand.