Ah!

[Oh, he didn't mean to startle her. But he nodded in understanding.]

Yeah, I know how that's like. It can be weird, coming here for the first time.

[She must be new, especially given how unsure she seemed. He glanced down at his tail, before nodding, looking up at her with a friendly grin.]

It's okay. I'm not normally a merperson where I'm from. I was just on my way to town, and it's faster to take the river.

If you want, I could come out of the river.