End result, whether you got away or not: Those merfolk were actually not so bad. They're ugly, but up until now it was entirely possible they spotted Maria (and vice versa) and went along on their merry way.

You've now succeeded made them extremely hateful toward land dwellers. From here on out, there will be increased incidences of them attacking people who swim, wade into deeper swamp water, or simply get too close to the beach if they're feeling particularly territorial that day.