Creatures of the Below

The sea is like ink, rippling in the light of the crescent moon overhead. A figure emerges from the depths, slowly walking onto the shore, its gaze locked onto the forest ahead. Oil-black scales cover its warped humanoid body like a wet suit. Five floating islands rest high over the sea.

As the water falls away, the scales peel from the humanoid's body and collect onto its back, creating something like scaled dragonfly wings. They drape against its backside, the clothing made of hide fraying into beaded strings at the hem. The figure's tan skin is swollen and purple, its limbs and features bulbous and horrifying. How could she, an ugly one, ever venture out into a world tailored for those who are beautiful?