Swim for the beach

With all your might you pull for shore. Just when your arms are about to give out, your feet touch bottom. You stumble ashore and collapse onto the warm sand.

It is several hours before you are able to stand. You are now far from the cottage where you entered this world. You have no idea how to get home. When you manage to rise, the sun is setting over the sea. You shuffle along the beach, hoping to find the river and follow it back to more familiar locales.

Soon, however, it is dark. The only sound is the lapping of the waves upon the shore.

The moon rises and hovers over the water, casting a glistening trail. You stop to observe this and as you stare out over the water, you see something traveling down the path of moonlight, as if following a road. When it draws closer, you see that it is a young girl riding upon the back of a sea turtle. In the moonlight her skin, hair, and clothing all appear to be the same shade of blue, just a shade lighter than the dark water.  She waves. The turtle glides onto the sand, and the girl hops off.

She looks at you. "I am Surf, keeper of the Mystic Pearls. I seek a band of brutal pirates who have stolen my treasure. Have you seen any pirates?"

You have to admit that you haven't.

"Would you be willing to assist me on my quest?" Surf asks. "I can reward you handsomely when the pearls are recovered."

You have nothing better to do at the moment so you  agree.

Or

You are sorry for her loss, but you really  need to find the river and get back to your previous quest.