Challenge: Merfolktown
Word Count: 100
The red stain across the merfolk houses and municipal buildings had started a few weeks earlier, after a family from an industrial area had arrived and brought cuttings from their garden. “We didn't know we brought the Red Death,” said the wife, her voice trembling. “We would have gone to the sea to cleanse ourselves before coming here.”
“Can you help us, wizard?” said the chieftainess. “Or will you mock us as so many have before?”
Severus chewed more gillyweed. “Give me samples of the algae for analysis. I will do what I can.”
“Very well,” she said.