Here I was, trapped again for the second - no third, time this week. Unless the hole in the first floor counts, then its four. Whatever. I sighed as I slowly regained consciousness, my body dangling from the shoulder of something large and blue. The parts of their skin that I could feel through the net I was wrapped in were sleek and damp. Blinking my eyes, I tried to bring the world back into focus. Lock was flapping away and beating at the bars of a small cage. I wanted to call out to him, but my lips wouldn’t budge. The weight of them keeping my mouth shut. My eyes drifted upwards from the cage to teal muscles bulging from armor that looked like the scales of a silver river fish. They had various bits and bobs hanging from them like charms that twinkled before coming into focus as my vision cleared. I looked up towards their face. Dark green tendrils fell down to their chest. Their eyes nearly matched their skin and they had large finned ears. Why are they kind of hot?

The creature noticed me staring and smirked. “Cahleera isht ahnkuna noh,” he said to the others in a song like tone. Absolutely no idea what they are saying, but it must have been alerting the others that I was waking up judging by their body language. Where was Breaker? I couldn’t see him anywhere. Fear struck me as my brain went to the worst. What if they had killed him when they caught us? I took another look at my surroundings hoping to distract myself from the thought. Wherever we were, it seems to be deeper into the dungeon level. The features of the cave had morphed from looking like stone and rock to coral like structures. No, he probably ran off. After all, he didn’t want to help me in the first place. He could see this as a problem solved for all I know. Somehow that feels like a better alternative. Either away, he wasn’t here, and we were being carried off by fish men. I have to admit, this wasn’t quite how I thought I would meet my end in the dungeon.

Eventually we came to a settlement. We made our way through a market street. Most were too caught up in their business dealings to pay any attention to us, but some stared with a look of confusion and curiosity at me as we passed. I was most likely the first elf they had seen. They were definitely the first whatever they are that I’ve seen. There was an unearthly beauty to them that I couldn’t pin point, but felt familiar. The coral buildings lined with iridescent shells and colorful glass lanterns that hung from stalls looked like those out of a picture book about mermaids. It was all dreamlike. This was what I imagined adventures to be like as kid, though with less being tied up in a net and taken to who knows where. I could do without that part.

I tried moving my mouth again. My jaw fell open, but no sound came from my throat. “Elklor shhh,” the one carrying Lock’s cage said pressing their finger to their mouth. Oh okay, be quiet. I got that one. Like I had a choice currently. I wish Breaker was here. His presence had been comforting before. I thought back to him bandaging my arms. They were still sore. This field trip wasn’t helping. Thankfully, his work seemed to be holding up against the bouncing motion and being rubbed against by the net.

How could somebody be so soft with me and then run off? A pang hit my chest. It shouldn’t matter. Still, now that I thought about it, it didn’t make sense. He didn’t have to help me, but he did. It must have been out of pity or maybe a want to get me out of his hair as soon as possible. Wasn’t it? He could have easily left me for dead or bruised and bloodied somewhere. Instead, I was alive and his hands had been so gentle. Tears stung the corners of my eyes.

We entered into a large building. Everything in it was ornately decorated.

Whoosh! My body went lunging forward and I hit the ground.

“Hey!” I said looking up at the one who had been carrying me and then to my new surroundings. We were in some kind of throne room by the looks of it. The walls were littered with mosaics of different aquatic beings and scenery. In front of us was one of them sitting on a throne, the back carved to look like spiraling stones of varying heights. His head resting on a fist. He perked up once he saw me.

“Ettear leah ehk magi naos!” One of the members of the group that captured called out to who I assumed was their ruler. He got up from his throne and began walking over. His skin was baby blue with shimmering scales on his shoulders and cheekbones. The metalworking on his clothing jingled as he walked closer and his long hair swayed. It was like watching riverweed flowing under the surface of a lake.

“Ehkah too?” He said bending down and meeting me with golden eyes. He traced his fingers across his lips as he spoke. I could see the slight webbing between each of them. I tried speaking once again.

“What the fuck?”

His serious face then twisted into a smirk, laugh escaping from his lips as he tilt his head back.

Wait, did he understand me?