I-Triton, uKumkani onamandla waseLwandle, unentombi ezininzi. Bathanda umhlaba ophantsi kwamanzi, apho bahlala khona. Kodwa uAriel, umntwana wakhe omncinci, amaphupha ehlabathi phezu kwamanzi, ihlabathi labantu. Nangona uyise wayelumkise ukuba angahambi apho, uAriel wamncedisa. Udla ngokubhukuda emanzini.
Ariel kunye nomhlobo wakhe omhle, Flounder, uthando lokutyelela i-Skatel ye-Seagull. I-Skatel ibatshela malunga nazo zonke izinto ezenziwe ngabantu ngu-Ariel emanzini asezantsi. Ngolunye usuku uTriton wayesazi ukuba uAriel wayehlala eselwandle. UTriton wayenomsindo. Uyakhathazeka ngokukhuseleka kukaAriel. Ngoko ucela umngane wakhe osithembekileyo, uSebastian isikhubekiso, ukugcina iso ku-Ariel.
Kwiintsuku ezimbalwa emva koko uAriel wabona iinqanawa zidlula elwandle. "Mntu!" UAriel wathandabuza njengoko wajika ngokukhawuleza waya kwinqanawa. "Hayi!" USebastian wamemeza. Ngokukhawuleza yena no-Flounder baxosha uAriel.