sword sounds

Nice to meet cha! I am Croftered-with-jam and I am a Sanders Sides side blog for @joltzthejolteon! I will do Roleplays, Theories, Sanders Art, and Share my own Side(s) OCs for the fandom! I will sometimes have +18 posted so stay alert when searching through this blog! I will also be willing to do NSFW based rps but rarely do art of it as I eh art arting humans qwq.

[croftered-with-jam]

Can you draw what Roman and Virgil would look like if they fused?

Ta Da!

@i-is-a-smol-bean

[croftered-with-jam]

Anyone want to rp or send me art requests uwu?

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

The puppet shuddered and slumped its shoulders.

" Y-Y-You can try but I... I don't know how much it will help. Do you think you can save Walt? H-He... he doesn't really tell us when he is like this... I... we want to help him b-but he refuses! He... He is the only actual mortal in the family... "

Walter whined softly at the tightened hold and snuggled more into Virgil, mumbling something but only the selkie could hear.

".... s-star...s... d-d-d-dust... h... hurts... "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil bit his lip, "I-I.... That's...our only chance, right? We... We have to take it... I think I'll be able to save him. But again, im not sure. I'm not sure if ill be able to get it all out even if it does work... The song can only do so much and if his lungs are full with it... Hey, hey, it's not your fault, Patton. Its not your fault. Don't blame yourself, alright? You didn't know, it's not your fault."

Virgil heard the whine and let his grip lessened up some. He didn't want to squeeze him too hard. But he did blink at what he heard from him.

"Stardust... Hurts? What's stardust? What..." He shakes his head, "I... I can do it right now, the song. I'll be tired afterwards since I've had done in twice in a row and it drains us. So I'll need to rest." He informs Patton as he walks Walter to the tub, the human having to be submerged in order for the song to work.

[croftered-with-jam]

Patton nodded and walked as far as he could on the boat. He made a worried noise as Walter was placed into the water.

Walter's body sunk under the water a bit but his head stayed above as he was just long enough to not being able to not fit into the tub. He let out a huffed out hiss at the cold sea water and opened his eyes slowly in confused. His eyes in a dulled glaze from being woken up.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil made sure his head was able to stay above the water as he knows that humans cant breathe in water like him. And when he looks down to see Walters glazed eyes looking at him he smiled. "We'll fix you. Dont worry, Walt. This won't hurt, i promise you. Just relax."

He took a deep breath then closed his eyes. He softly began singing the same song from earlier, and the water already started circling the ship. As he sang the water turned a purple hue and glowed brighter and brighter, the water moved to submerge him completely, even his face, but he could still breathe perfectly fine. They both started floating in the air, Virgil's hair blowing in the wind and his coat flapping behind him.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled at Virgil till the water pulled him up into the air. He gasped and the water went into his mouth but he didn't drown. Soon, he let out a cough and dark, glittering dust was forced out of his mouth. The dust swirled in the water as if it was just being mixed it.

He stared at the dust and the dull glaze in his eyes faded as he stared at the dust. He looked a little frightened, not about the water but the dust.

Patton moved forward, shaking.

" What the hell kind of dust is that? I have never in my life seen anything that we could have mined that... that could have come from. T-T-This... This isn't natural. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continued singing softly, his hands raising up as he coughed out the dust. But he couldn't say anything about it or what Patton was saying. He had to lower his hand to point behind him, guestering that Patton needs to get back or he'll be hit by the water. Then having a finger on his lips as he sang, his eyes closed. He needs all his concentration for this.

Softly he continued singing, and as he did he raised his other hand and more water rose up from the sea and came flooding towards Walter, trapping him inside this massive amount of glowing water. Then another wave came up from the other side. It encased him and kept him in a large bubble that twirled around him. And it became brighter and brighter, and as it did Walter could feel it attempting to heal him.

Though as the water did that he seem to growl, his hands coming together in a loud clap. He seems to be having difficulty in healing this, if he could. Slowly he raised his hands together and Walter could feel the dust raising from his stomach and lungs in a bubble and Virgil was being careful as to not hurt any of his organs in the process.

[croftered-with-jam]

Patton nodded and backed up quickly.

Walter just watched as all the sea water surround him. His eyes widened as he coughed more dust out of him, watching as the bubble formed. As soon as the dust was in the bubble, it seemed to hit the bubble violently. He gasped at the dust got violent and flinched away. He was terrified as he watched it move. He did feel his lungs heal while in the in the water mass and turned his head to the selkie as he saw the other struggling.

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

The puppet shuddered and slumped its shoulders.

" Y-Y-You can try but I... I don't know how much it will help. Do you think you can save Walt? H-He... he doesn't really tell us when he is like this... I... we want to help him b-but he refuses! He... He is the only actual mortal in the family... "

Walter whined softly at the tightened hold and snuggled more into Virgil, mumbling something but only the selkie could hear.

".... s-star...s... d-d-d-dust... h... hurts... "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil bit his lip, "I-I.... That's...our only chance, right? We... We have to take it... I think I'll be able to save him. But again, im not sure. I'm not sure if ill be able to get it all out even if it does work... The song can only do so much and if his lungs are full with it... Hey, hey, it's not your fault, Patton. Its not your fault. Don't blame yourself, alright? You didn't know, it's not your fault."

Virgil heard the whine and let his grip lessened up some. He didn't want to squeeze him too hard. But he did blink at what he heard from him.

"Stardust... Hurts? What's stardust? What..." He shakes his head, "I... I can do it right now, the song. I'll be tired afterwards since I've had done in twice in a row and it drains us. So I'll need to rest." He informs Patton as he walks Walter to the tub, the human having to be submerged in order for the song to work.

[croftered-with-jam]

Patton nodded and walked as far as he could on the boat. He made a worried noise as Walter was placed into the water.

Walter's body sunk under the water a bit but his head stayed above as he was just long enough to not being able to not fit into the tub. He let out a huffed out hiss at the cold sea water and opened his eyes slowly in confused. His eyes in a dulled glaze from being woken up.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil made sure his head was able to stay above the water as he knows that humans cant breathe in water like him. And when he looks down to see Walters glazed eyes looking at him he smiled. "We'll fix you. Dont worry, Walt. This won't hurt, i promise you. Just relax."

He took a deep breath then closed his eyes. He softly began singing the same song from earlier, and the water already started circling the ship. As he sang the water turned a purple hue and glowed brighter and brighter, the water moved to submerge him completely, even his face, but he could still breathe perfectly fine. They both started floating in the air, Virgil's hair blowing in the wind and his coat flapping behind him.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled at Virgil till the water pulled him up into the air. He gasped and the water went into his mouth but he didn't drown. Soon, he let out a cough and dark, glittering dust was forced out of his mouth. The dust swirled in the water as if it was just being mixed it.

He stared at the dust and the dull glaze in his eyes faded as he stared at the dust. He looked a little frightened, not about the water but the dust.

Patton moved forward, shaking.

" What the hell kind of dust is that? I have never in my life seen anything that we could have mined that... that could have come from. T-T-This... This isn't natural. "

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

The puppet shuddered and slumped its shoulders.

" Y-Y-You can try but I... I don't know how much it will help. Do you think you can save Walt? H-He... he doesn't really tell us when he is like this... I... we want to help him b-but he refuses! He... He is the only actual mortal in the family... "

Walter whined softly at the tightened hold and snuggled more into Virgil, mumbling something but only the selkie could hear.

".... s-star...s... d-d-d-dust... h... hurts... "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil bit his lip, "I-I.... That's...our only chance, right? We... We have to take it... I think I'll be able to save him. But again, im not sure. I'm not sure if ill be able to get it all out even if it does work... The song can only do so much and if his lungs are full with it... Hey, hey, it's not your fault, Patton. Its not your fault. Don't blame yourself, alright? You didn't know, it's not your fault."

Virgil heard the whine and let his grip lessened up some. He didn't want to squeeze him too hard. But he did blink at what he heard from him.

"Stardust... Hurts? What's stardust? What..." He shakes his head, "I... I can do it right now, the song. I'll be tired afterwards since I've had done in twice in a row and it drains us. So I'll need to rest." He informs Patton as he walks Walter to the tub, the human having to be submerged in order for the song to work.

[croftered-with-jam]

Patton nodded and walked as far as he could on the boat. He made a worried noise as Walter was placed into the water.

Walter's body sunk under the water a bit but his head stayed above as he was just long enough to not being able to not fit into the tub. He let out a huffed out hiss at the cold sea water and opened his eyes slowly in confused. His eyes in a dulled glaze from being woken up.

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

The puppet shuddered and slumped its shoulders.

" Y-Y-You can try but I... I don't know how much it will help. Do you think you can save Walt? H-He... he doesn't really tell us when he is like this... I... we want to help him b-but he refuses! He... He is the only actual mortal in the family... "

Walter whined softly at the tightened hold and snuggled more into Virgil, mumbling something but only the selkie could hear.

".... s-star...s... d-d-d-dust... h... hurts... "

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continues to cough as he got the water and Walter picked him up and he was set into it. But once he was finally placed into the water he gasped loudly, his body jerking upwards a bit and then he slowly lowered himself into the water. As he does hidden gills on the side of his neck opened and he pants as he breaths in the water. And he started feeling better already. "T-Thank you... Sorry... Sorry... Haven't... Haven't had water... In months... Didn't get enough of it i guess..." He coughs a bit but it wasn't nearly as bad.

Then he thinks about what Walter said and looked over at Patton. "You've...always wanted...a pup? But you...can't have one...cause your a puppet...can you?" He asks while taking deep breaths. And he lifted up his hood to transform back to a seal so he has more room.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter and Patton sighed in relief as the selkie seemed to get a bit better. The puppet looked at Virgil.

" Well... that is one way to put it. "

It chuckled nervously.

" I mean umm... Walt is like a pup. He is the youngest of all of us. He is about 18 years? "

It turned its head towards Walter.

" Am I correct about that? "

Walter nodded.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil looked at them and tilted his head, "Or...a ghost? Or...uh..." He mumbled quietly then stared at them. Then at Walter. "Youre 18? You are like a pup.." He chuckles.

"im...40 years...in selkie years? So...thats what years to human... Uh..." He thinks of the equivalent to human years would be. "21? I think? We age fast but we don't grow until we're older... So... Yeah, 21?"

He chuckles again at walter and nods, "You're definitely a pup for sure." He says and coughs a bit more. "I think... I have to do a healing song... I didn't finish it last time... And can feel it... Help if i finished it..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled, and moved towards the side of the boat.

" I will fish something up for you if you want! "

He smiled and threw a small net into the water to catch make a fish or two.

Patton chuckled.

" He is very active. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Oh, okay... Thank you!" He raised a flipper towards him that flopped on the water a moment later.

Then he chuckled at Patton and smiles, swallowing thickly. "Mhm... That he is... Um... I'd uh...stand back for this... It could get you know, wet?" He says as he moves to lay under the water, ready to do the song once more.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh... yeah I will just... "

Patton chuckled nervously and moved back as far as it could. It sat down where it stood and watched the selkie.

Walter hummed and pulled up the net, revealing two fish in its grasp. He quickly moved to place it in the saltwatered tub that the selkie was in.

" Is that good enough? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil chuckles and looks to where he moves, making sure he's away enough so he doesn't get wet. He imagines its not good for a puppet to get wet and he doesn't want to hurt him in any way.

When walter comes up and gives him the fish he beams and nods, "Yes! Thank you!" He quickly scarves them down, licking his lips and setting the bones aside.

Once he got finished eating he repositions himself so he could be completely submerged in the tub. Then he takes a breath and closes his eyes.

And softly he began to sing, now that he was in the sea it was even easier to concentrate and sing the song. Softly the water began to glow a purple hue, that it became brighter as the song went by. The song filled the entire pier and it sounded just like the waves crashing, or the calm before the storm. As the hue became brighter and brighter he began to raise up in the air, his flippers covering his stomach and the water raising up to meet his tail and body. The water in the sea surrounding them bubbled then also rose up to meet him, and as it crashed with the water already there there was a brief flash of light. Then the water seemed to explode, leaving behind bubbles that went across the top of the ship and slowly lowered down.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter immediately panicked silently and ran underneath the deck to hide and Patton watched in shock as he ran down. The puppet turned back to watch Virgil's show of water in silent awe.

Walter was shaking in a hiding place underneath the deck as the boat shook.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil didnt notice that Walter had ran off, he was too busy focusing on the song to pay any attention. Once the bubbles exploded along the top of the ship the song started dying down. And slowly he lowered himself back to the tub, until he was brought all the way down to the tub. Then the song ended and he opened his eyes. Immediately he felt way better then he previously did and he beamed as he hopped out of the tub. He changed back to his human form and looked around, only to purr at the puppet. His skin looked a lot more healthier and his coat was sparkling in the moonlight. "Thank you! I feel so much better! Thank you, human! Wait... Wheres the human?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" W-Walt ran below... Most humans are terrified when something they are on shakes... and he is... one of them. He ran down below if you want to see him. Humans... don't have the strongest bodies, so shaking makes them think something will fall on them no matter what which can easily brake them. "

Patton explained and looked at the door.

" It... It is pretty sad that no doubt he can easily get hurt. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Wait, oh... I didn't mean to scare him! I'm really sorry! If I knew that it would scare him I'd have you guys put me in the sea! I didn't know hed be that scared by that! Oh... I feel so bad now!" He rushes to the door and frantically opens it, "Walter? Walt? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! Walter!" He shouts out to him as he starts making his way down the stairs and he looked around, now feeling absolutely terrible that he had scared the human that had helped him. What a way to repay the favor...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter shook violently and let out violent coughs and hiccups. He heard his name and turned to look in the direction, his face looked horrified.

" Y... Y... Yes? Who...? "

He noticed the Selkie and gulped. He waved and tried his best to stop shaking.

" O-O-Oh h-hey... did umm... did something happen? "

[anxietyx-lover]

When he heard the violent coughs Virgil gulped thickly. He.... He really scared him, didnt he? And when Walter turned to look at him, and he saw the horrified face that only confirmed it. "Oh... Hey..."

He rushes over towards him, but tries to not go so fast. Then he held his hand, "No, no, nothing happened... I was just worried for you. Hey, can you look at me?" He makes sure Walter is looking at him before he closes his eyes and takes a breath. Before he starts singing a lullaby. It was soft and peaceful, sounding very much like the calm and gentle waves, and the calmness radiated from him and plastered itself onto Walter. He hoped that this work....

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter nodded and looked at selkie, still shivering. His coughing slowly halted as the lullaby started to play. He mumbled some nonsense and his horror on his face faded away. He began to fall forward with his eyes opening and closing as if he was trying to stay awake.

" D... Don't... te...tell 'em.... "

He coughed weakly, a bit of dust exiting his mouth.

[anxietyx-lover]

When he heard the coughing had slowed down he knew it was working and smiled at that. As he opened his eyes though he made a surprised squeak as he stopped walter from falling completely forward. Then he blinked and tilted his head, only to widened his eyes when he saw the dust from his mouth. Now, he doesn't know a lot about humans, but he knows they shouldn't be coughing up dust. And he looks really weak right now.

"Woah... Woah, whats wrong? Walter? Don't tell them what? Why are you coughing dust?! Walter?!" He frantically asks as he pulls him over to look at him.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter hummed as all tension in his body started to disappear as he started to fall asleep. He heard the selkie's panicked voice through the fog of his head and sleepily answered.

" M... Mi... mines... "

It was all he could say before passing out in the other's arms. He placed his weight towards the selkie, letting them warmth of the other lull him deeper into sleep. He mumbled nonsense softly in his sleep and unconsciously nuzzled against him.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil could tell he was starting to pass out, just by the look in his eyes and the way his body was swaying. But when he heard the word he blinked, mines... He said something about mines earlier... Is he sick?!

Before he could think up anything more about it the human passed out in his arms. He gave a startled squeak but he held him close, letting the warmth from his coat engulf him. And letting him nuzzle against his arms and chest, before he stands up and rushes back to the deck. "Patton! Patton! Puppet! Patton!" He cries out, not knowing what to do to help walter, he doesn't know a lot of things about humans after all. Since they practically raised him from what he could gather, they'll know what to do.

[croftered-with-jam]

Patton heard the selkie coming back up the stairs and in a panic. So, it, itself, began to panic.

" W-W-What happened? What happened to Walt? Do... Do I need to call everyone if I am unable to help? "

While it couldn't betray its worry through the puppet's face, its voice did.

" Oh comet, he is okay right? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I dont know! I found him down the stairs and he was shaking! When I sang the calming song he calmed down but he was coughing up dust? I don't think thats a normal human thing to do! Then he mumbled something about mines and passed out?!" He said in a rush and with one breath, clearly panicking for his new friend. As he took deep breaths he frantically shrugged and shook his head, "I have no idea! I don't know a thing about humans other than from legends! Which isn't very helpful in this case!"

[croftered-with-jam]

" D-D-Dust? That... That really isn't good! Humans have lungs that can't handle anything that isn't oxygen! He... He might... He might have a lot of dust in... in his lungs... he might not... be able to survive it for long... I... I can't help him. "

Patton's voice was cracking.

" I can't heal his lungs! Even if I did, the dust will turn it back to how it was before. I am sorry I can't... I cant do anything.... "

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continues to cough as he got the water and Walter picked him up and he was set into it. But once he was finally placed into the water he gasped loudly, his body jerking upwards a bit and then he slowly lowered himself into the water. As he does hidden gills on the side of his neck opened and he pants as he breaths in the water. And he started feeling better already. "T-Thank you... Sorry... Sorry... Haven't... Haven't had water... In months... Didn't get enough of it i guess..." He coughs a bit but it wasn't nearly as bad.

Then he thinks about what Walter said and looked over at Patton. "You've...always wanted...a pup? But you...can't have one...cause your a puppet...can you?" He asks while taking deep breaths. And he lifted up his hood to transform back to a seal so he has more room.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter and Patton sighed in relief as the selkie seemed to get a bit better. The puppet looked at Virgil.

" Well... that is one way to put it. "

It chuckled nervously.

" I mean umm... Walt is like a pup. He is the youngest of all of us. He is about 18 years? "

It turned its head towards Walter.

" Am I correct about that? "

Walter nodded.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil looked at them and tilted his head, "Or...a ghost? Or...uh..." He mumbled quietly then stared at them. Then at Walter. "Youre 18? You are like a pup.." He chuckles.

"im...40 years...in selkie years? So...thats what years to human... Uh..." He thinks of the equivalent to human years would be. "21? I think? We age fast but we don't grow until we're older... So... Yeah, 21?"

He chuckles again at walter and nods, "You're definitely a pup for sure." He says and coughs a bit more. "I think... I have to do a healing song... I didn't finish it last time... And can feel it... Help if i finished it..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled, and moved towards the side of the boat.

" I will fish something up for you if you want! "

He smiled and threw a small net into the water to catch make a fish or two.

Patton chuckled.

" He is very active. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Oh, okay... Thank you!" He raised a flipper towards him that flopped on the water a moment later.

Then he chuckled at Patton and smiles, swallowing thickly. "Mhm... That he is... Um... I'd uh...stand back for this... It could get you know, wet?" He says as he moves to lay under the water, ready to do the song once more.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh... yeah I will just... "

Patton chuckled nervously and moved back as far as it could. It sat down where it stood and watched the selkie.

Walter hummed and pulled up the net, revealing two fish in its grasp. He quickly moved to place it in the saltwatered tub that the selkie was in.

" Is that good enough? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil chuckles and looks to where he moves, making sure he's away enough so he doesn't get wet. He imagines its not good for a puppet to get wet and he doesn't want to hurt him in any way.

When walter comes up and gives him the fish he beams and nods, "Yes! Thank you!" He quickly scarves them down, licking his lips and setting the bones aside.

Once he got finished eating he repositions himself so he could be completely submerged in the tub. Then he takes a breath and closes his eyes.

And softly he began to sing, now that he was in the sea it was even easier to concentrate and sing the song. Softly the water began to glow a purple hue, that it became brighter as the song went by. The song filled the entire pier and it sounded just like the waves crashing, or the calm before the storm. As the hue became brighter and brighter he began to raise up in the air, his flippers covering his stomach and the water raising up to meet his tail and body. The water in the sea surrounding them bubbled then also rose up to meet him, and as it crashed with the water already there there was a brief flash of light. Then the water seemed to explode, leaving behind bubbles that went across the top of the ship and slowly lowered down.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter immediately panicked silently and ran underneath the deck to hide and Patton watched in shock as he ran down. The puppet turned back to watch Virgil's show of water in silent awe.

Walter was shaking in a hiding place underneath the deck as the boat shook.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil didnt notice that Walter had ran off, he was too busy focusing on the song to pay any attention. Once the bubbles exploded along the top of the ship the song started dying down. And slowly he lowered himself back to the tub, until he was brought all the way down to the tub. Then the song ended and he opened his eyes. Immediately he felt way better then he previously did and he beamed as he hopped out of the tub. He changed back to his human form and looked around, only to purr at the puppet. His skin looked a lot more healthier and his coat was sparkling in the moonlight. "Thank you! I feel so much better! Thank you, human! Wait... Wheres the human?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" W-Walt ran below... Most humans are terrified when something they are on shakes... and he is... one of them. He ran down below if you want to see him. Humans... don't have the strongest bodies, so shaking makes them think something will fall on them no matter what which can easily brake them. "

Patton explained and looked at the door.

" It... It is pretty sad that no doubt he can easily get hurt. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Wait, oh... I didn't mean to scare him! I'm really sorry! If I knew that it would scare him I'd have you guys put me in the sea! I didn't know hed be that scared by that! Oh... I feel so bad now!" He rushes to the door and frantically opens it, "Walter? Walt? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! Walter!" He shouts out to him as he starts making his way down the stairs and he looked around, now feeling absolutely terrible that he had scared the human that had helped him. What a way to repay the favor...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter shook violently and let out violent coughs and hiccups. He heard his name and turned to look in the direction, his face looked horrified.

" Y... Y... Yes? Who...? "

He noticed the Selkie and gulped. He waved and tried his best to stop shaking.

" O-O-Oh h-hey... did umm... did something happen? "

[anxietyx-lover]

When he heard the violent coughs Virgil gulped thickly. He.... He really scared him, didnt he? And when Walter turned to look at him, and he saw the horrified face that only confirmed it. "Oh... Hey..."

He rushes over towards him, but tries to not go so fast. Then he held his hand, "No, no, nothing happened... I was just worried for you. Hey, can you look at me?" He makes sure Walter is looking at him before he closes his eyes and takes a breath. Before he starts singing a lullaby. It was soft and peaceful, sounding very much like the calm and gentle waves, and the calmness radiated from him and plastered itself onto Walter. He hoped that this work....

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter nodded and looked at selkie, still shivering. His coughing slowly halted as the lullaby started to play. He mumbled some nonsense and his horror on his face faded away. He began to fall forward with his eyes opening and closing as if he was trying to stay awake.

" D... Don't... te...tell 'em.... "

He coughed weakly, a bit of dust exiting his mouth.

[anxietyx-lover]

When he heard the coughing had slowed down he knew it was working and smiled at that. As he opened his eyes though he made a surprised squeak as he stopped walter from falling completely forward. Then he blinked and tilted his head, only to widened his eyes when he saw the dust from his mouth. Now, he doesn't know a lot about humans, but he knows they shouldn't be coughing up dust. And he looks really weak right now.

"Woah... Woah, whats wrong? Walter? Don't tell them what? Why are you coughing dust?! Walter?!" He frantically asks as he pulls him over to look at him.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter hummed as all tension in his body started to disappear as he started to fall asleep. He heard the selkie's panicked voice through the fog of his head and sleepily answered.

" M... Mi... mines... "

It was all he could say before passing out in the other's arms. He placed his weight towards the selkie, letting them warmth of the other lull him deeper into sleep. He mumbled nonsense softly in his sleep and unconsciously nuzzled against him.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil could tell he was starting to pass out, just by the look in his eyes and the way his body was swaying. But when he heard the word he blinked, mines... He said something about mines earlier... Is he sick?!

Before he could think up anything more about it the human passed out in his arms. He gave a startled squeak but he held him close, letting the warmth from his coat engulf him. And letting him nuzzle against his arms and chest, before he stands up and rushes back to the deck. "Patton! Patton! Puppet! Patton!" He cries out, not knowing what to do to help walter, he doesn't know a lot of things about humans after all. Since they practically raised him from what he could gather, they'll know what to do.

[croftered-with-jam]

Patton heard the selkie coming back up the stairs and in a panic. So, it, itself, began to panic.

" W-W-What happened? What happened to Walt? Do... Do I need to call everyone if I am unable to help? "

While it couldn't betray its worry through the puppet's face, its voice did.

" Oh comet, he is okay right? "

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continues to cough as he got the water and Walter picked him up and he was set into it. But once he was finally placed into the water he gasped loudly, his body jerking upwards a bit and then he slowly lowered himself into the water. As he does hidden gills on the side of his neck opened and he pants as he breaths in the water. And he started feeling better already. "T-Thank you... Sorry... Sorry... Haven't... Haven't had water... In months... Didn't get enough of it i guess..." He coughs a bit but it wasn't nearly as bad.

Then he thinks about what Walter said and looked over at Patton. "You've...always wanted...a pup? But you...can't have one...cause your a puppet...can you?" He asks while taking deep breaths. And he lifted up his hood to transform back to a seal so he has more room.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter and Patton sighed in relief as the selkie seemed to get a bit better. The puppet looked at Virgil.

" Well... that is one way to put it. "

It chuckled nervously.

" I mean umm... Walt is like a pup. He is the youngest of all of us. He is about 18 years? "

It turned its head towards Walter.

" Am I correct about that? "

Walter nodded.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil looked at them and tilted his head, "Or...a ghost? Or...uh..." He mumbled quietly then stared at them. Then at Walter. "Youre 18? You are like a pup.." He chuckles.

"im...40 years...in selkie years? So...thats what years to human... Uh..." He thinks of the equivalent to human years would be. "21? I think? We age fast but we don't grow until we're older... So... Yeah, 21?"

He chuckles again at walter and nods, "You're definitely a pup for sure." He says and coughs a bit more. "I think... I have to do a healing song... I didn't finish it last time... And can feel it... Help if i finished it..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled, and moved towards the side of the boat.

" I will fish something up for you if you want! "

He smiled and threw a small net into the water to catch make a fish or two.

Patton chuckled.

" He is very active. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Oh, okay... Thank you!" He raised a flipper towards him that flopped on the water a moment later.

Then he chuckled at Patton and smiles, swallowing thickly. "Mhm... That he is... Um... I'd uh...stand back for this... It could get you know, wet?" He says as he moves to lay under the water, ready to do the song once more.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh... yeah I will just... "

Patton chuckled nervously and moved back as far as it could. It sat down where it stood and watched the selkie.

Walter hummed and pulled up the net, revealing two fish in its grasp. He quickly moved to place it in the saltwatered tub that the selkie was in.

" Is that good enough? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil chuckles and looks to where he moves, making sure he's away enough so he doesn't get wet. He imagines its not good for a puppet to get wet and he doesn't want to hurt him in any way.

When walter comes up and gives him the fish he beams and nods, "Yes! Thank you!" He quickly scarves them down, licking his lips and setting the bones aside.

Once he got finished eating he repositions himself so he could be completely submerged in the tub. Then he takes a breath and closes his eyes.

And softly he began to sing, now that he was in the sea it was even easier to concentrate and sing the song. Softly the water began to glow a purple hue, that it became brighter as the song went by. The song filled the entire pier and it sounded just like the waves crashing, or the calm before the storm. As the hue became brighter and brighter he began to raise up in the air, his flippers covering his stomach and the water raising up to meet his tail and body. The water in the sea surrounding them bubbled then also rose up to meet him, and as it crashed with the water already there there was a brief flash of light. Then the water seemed to explode, leaving behind bubbles that went across the top of the ship and slowly lowered down.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter immediately panicked silently and ran underneath the deck to hide and Patton watched in shock as he ran down. The puppet turned back to watch Virgil's show of water in silent awe.

Walter was shaking in a hiding place underneath the deck as the boat shook.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil didnt notice that Walter had ran off, he was too busy focusing on the song to pay any attention. Once the bubbles exploded along the top of the ship the song started dying down. And slowly he lowered himself back to the tub, until he was brought all the way down to the tub. Then the song ended and he opened his eyes. Immediately he felt way better then he previously did and he beamed as he hopped out of the tub. He changed back to his human form and looked around, only to purr at the puppet. His skin looked a lot more healthier and his coat was sparkling in the moonlight. "Thank you! I feel so much better! Thank you, human! Wait... Wheres the human?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" W-Walt ran below... Most humans are terrified when something they are on shakes... and he is... one of them. He ran down below if you want to see him. Humans... don't have the strongest bodies, so shaking makes them think something will fall on them no matter what which can easily brake them. "

Patton explained and looked at the door.

" It... It is pretty sad that no doubt he can easily get hurt. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Wait, oh... I didn't mean to scare him! I'm really sorry! If I knew that it would scare him I'd have you guys put me in the sea! I didn't know hed be that scared by that! Oh... I feel so bad now!" He rushes to the door and frantically opens it, "Walter? Walt? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! Walter!" He shouts out to him as he starts making his way down the stairs and he looked around, now feeling absolutely terrible that he had scared the human that had helped him. What a way to repay the favor...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter shook violently and let out violent coughs and hiccups. He heard his name and turned to look in the direction, his face looked horrified.

" Y... Y... Yes? Who...? "

He noticed the Selkie and gulped. He waved and tried his best to stop shaking.

" O-O-Oh h-hey... did umm... did something happen? "

[anxietyx-lover]

When he heard the violent coughs Virgil gulped thickly. He.... He really scared him, didnt he? And when Walter turned to look at him, and he saw the horrified face that only confirmed it. "Oh... Hey..."

He rushes over towards him, but tries to not go so fast. Then he held his hand, "No, no, nothing happened... I was just worried for you. Hey, can you look at me?" He makes sure Walter is looking at him before he closes his eyes and takes a breath. Before he starts singing a lullaby. It was soft and peaceful, sounding very much like the calm and gentle waves, and the calmness radiated from him and plastered itself onto Walter. He hoped that this work....

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter nodded and looked at selkie, still shivering. His coughing slowly halted as the lullaby started to play. He mumbled some nonsense and his horror on his face faded away. He began to fall forward with his eyes opening and closing as if he was trying to stay awake.

" D... Don't... te...tell 'em.... "

He coughed weakly, a bit of dust exiting his mouth.

[anxietyx-lover]

When he heard the coughing had slowed down he knew it was working and smiled at that. As he opened his eyes though he made a surprised squeak as he stopped walter from falling completely forward. Then he blinked and tilted his head, only to widened his eyes when he saw the dust from his mouth. Now, he doesn't know a lot about humans, but he knows they shouldn't be coughing up dust. And he looks really weak right now.

"Woah... Woah, whats wrong? Walter? Don't tell them what? Why are you coughing dust?! Walter?!" He frantically asks as he pulls him over to look at him.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter hummed as all tension in his body started to disappear as he started to fall asleep. He heard the selkie's panicked voice through the fog of his head and sleepily answered.

" M... Mi... mines... "

It was all he could say before passing out in the other's arms. He placed his weight towards the selkie, letting them warmth of the other lull him deeper into sleep. He mumbled nonsense softly in his sleep and unconsciously nuzzled against him.

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continues to cough as he got the water and Walter picked him up and he was set into it. But once he was finally placed into the water he gasped loudly, his body jerking upwards a bit and then he slowly lowered himself into the water. As he does hidden gills on the side of his neck opened and he pants as he breaths in the water. And he started feeling better already. "T-Thank you... Sorry... Sorry... Haven't... Haven't had water... In months... Didn't get enough of it i guess..." He coughs a bit but it wasn't nearly as bad.

Then he thinks about what Walter said and looked over at Patton. "You've...always wanted...a pup? But you...can't have one...cause your a puppet...can you?" He asks while taking deep breaths. And he lifted up his hood to transform back to a seal so he has more room.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter and Patton sighed in relief as the selkie seemed to get a bit better. The puppet looked at Virgil.

" Well... that is one way to put it. "

It chuckled nervously.

" I mean umm... Walt is like a pup. He is the youngest of all of us. He is about 18 years? "

It turned its head towards Walter.

" Am I correct about that? "

Walter nodded.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil looked at them and tilted his head, "Or...a ghost? Or...uh..." He mumbled quietly then stared at them. Then at Walter. "Youre 18? You are like a pup.." He chuckles.

"im...40 years...in selkie years? So...thats what years to human... Uh..." He thinks of the equivalent to human years would be. "21? I think? We age fast but we don't grow until we're older... So... Yeah, 21?"

He chuckles again at walter and nods, "You're definitely a pup for sure." He says and coughs a bit more. "I think... I have to do a healing song... I didn't finish it last time... And can feel it... Help if i finished it..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled, and moved towards the side of the boat.

" I will fish something up for you if you want! "

He smiled and threw a small net into the water to catch make a fish or two.

Patton chuckled.

" He is very active. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Oh, okay... Thank you!" He raised a flipper towards him that flopped on the water a moment later.

Then he chuckled at Patton and smiles, swallowing thickly. "Mhm... That he is... Um... I'd uh...stand back for this... It could get you know, wet?" He says as he moves to lay under the water, ready to do the song once more.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh... yeah I will just... "

Patton chuckled nervously and moved back as far as it could. It sat down where it stood and watched the selkie.

Walter hummed and pulled up the net, revealing two fish in its grasp. He quickly moved to place it in the saltwatered tub that the selkie was in.

" Is that good enough? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil chuckles and looks to where he moves, making sure he's away enough so he doesn't get wet. He imagines its not good for a puppet to get wet and he doesn't want to hurt him in any way.

When walter comes up and gives him the fish he beams and nods, "Yes! Thank you!" He quickly scarves them down, licking his lips and setting the bones aside.

Once he got finished eating he repositions himself so he could be completely submerged in the tub. Then he takes a breath and closes his eyes.

And softly he began to sing, now that he was in the sea it was even easier to concentrate and sing the song. Softly the water began to glow a purple hue, that it became brighter as the song went by. The song filled the entire pier and it sounded just like the waves crashing, or the calm before the storm. As the hue became brighter and brighter he began to raise up in the air, his flippers covering his stomach and the water raising up to meet his tail and body. The water in the sea surrounding them bubbled then also rose up to meet him, and as it crashed with the water already there there was a brief flash of light. Then the water seemed to explode, leaving behind bubbles that went across the top of the ship and slowly lowered down.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter immediately panicked silently and ran underneath the deck to hide and Patton watched in shock as he ran down. The puppet turned back to watch Virgil's show of water in silent awe.

Walter was shaking in a hiding place underneath the deck as the boat shook.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil didnt notice that Walter had ran off, he was too busy focusing on the song to pay any attention. Once the bubbles exploded along the top of the ship the song started dying down. And slowly he lowered himself back to the tub, until he was brought all the way down to the tub. Then the song ended and he opened his eyes. Immediately he felt way better then he previously did and he beamed as he hopped out of the tub. He changed back to his human form and looked around, only to purr at the puppet. His skin looked a lot more healthier and his coat was sparkling in the moonlight. "Thank you! I feel so much better! Thank you, human! Wait... Wheres the human?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" W-Walt ran below... Most humans are terrified when something they are on shakes... and he is... one of them. He ran down below if you want to see him. Humans... don't have the strongest bodies, so shaking makes them think something will fall on them no matter what which can easily brake them. "

Patton explained and looked at the door.

" It... It is pretty sad that no doubt he can easily get hurt. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Wait, oh... I didn't mean to scare him! I'm really sorry! If I knew that it would scare him I'd have you guys put me in the sea! I didn't know hed be that scared by that! Oh... I feel so bad now!" He rushes to the door and frantically opens it, "Walter? Walt? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! Walter!" He shouts out to him as he starts making his way down the stairs and he looked around, now feeling absolutely terrible that he had scared the human that had helped him. What a way to repay the favor...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter shook violently and let out violent coughs and hiccups. He heard his name and turned to look in the direction, his face looked horrified.

" Y... Y... Yes? Who...? "

He noticed the Selkie and gulped. He waved and tried his best to stop shaking.

" O-O-Oh h-hey... did umm... did something happen? "

[anxietyx-lover]

When he heard the violent coughs Virgil gulped thickly. He.... He really scared him, didnt he? And when Walter turned to look at him, and he saw the horrified face that only confirmed it. "Oh... Hey..."

He rushes over towards him, but tries to not go so fast. Then he held his hand, "No, no, nothing happened... I was just worried for you. Hey, can you look at me?" He makes sure Walter is looking at him before he closes his eyes and takes a breath. Before he starts singing a lullaby. It was soft and peaceful, sounding very much like the calm and gentle waves, and the calmness radiated from him and plastered itself onto Walter. He hoped that this work....

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter nodded and looked at selkie, still shivering. His coughing slowly halted as the lullaby started to play. He mumbled some nonsense and his horror on his face faded away. He began to fall forward with his eyes opening and closing as if he was trying to stay awake.

" D... Don't... te...tell 'em.... "

He coughed weakly, a bit of dust exiting his mouth.

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continues to cough as he got the water and Walter picked him up and he was set into it. But once he was finally placed into the water he gasped loudly, his body jerking upwards a bit and then he slowly lowered himself into the water. As he does hidden gills on the side of his neck opened and he pants as he breaths in the water. And he started feeling better already. "T-Thank you... Sorry... Sorry... Haven't... Haven't had water... In months... Didn't get enough of it i guess..." He coughs a bit but it wasn't nearly as bad.

Then he thinks about what Walter said and looked over at Patton. "You've...always wanted...a pup? But you...can't have one...cause your a puppet...can you?" He asks while taking deep breaths. And he lifted up his hood to transform back to a seal so he has more room.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter and Patton sighed in relief as the selkie seemed to get a bit better. The puppet looked at Virgil.

" Well... that is one way to put it. "

It chuckled nervously.

" I mean umm... Walt is like a pup. He is the youngest of all of us. He is about 18 years? "

It turned its head towards Walter.

" Am I correct about that? "

Walter nodded.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil looked at them and tilted his head, "Or...a ghost? Or...uh..." He mumbled quietly then stared at them. Then at Walter. "Youre 18? You are like a pup.." He chuckles.

"im...40 years...in selkie years? So...thats what years to human... Uh..." He thinks of the equivalent to human years would be. "21? I think? We age fast but we don't grow until we're older... So... Yeah, 21?"

He chuckles again at walter and nods, "You're definitely a pup for sure." He says and coughs a bit more. "I think... I have to do a healing song... I didn't finish it last time... And can feel it... Help if i finished it..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled, and moved towards the side of the boat.

" I will fish something up for you if you want! "

He smiled and threw a small net into the water to catch make a fish or two.

Patton chuckled.

" He is very active. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Oh, okay... Thank you!" He raised a flipper towards him that flopped on the water a moment later.

Then he chuckled at Patton and smiles, swallowing thickly. "Mhm... That he is... Um... I'd uh...stand back for this... It could get you know, wet?" He says as he moves to lay under the water, ready to do the song once more.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh... yeah I will just... "

Patton chuckled nervously and moved back as far as it could. It sat down where it stood and watched the selkie.

Walter hummed and pulled up the net, revealing two fish in its grasp. He quickly moved to place it in the saltwatered tub that the selkie was in.

" Is that good enough? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil chuckles and looks to where he moves, making sure he's away enough so he doesn't get wet. He imagines its not good for a puppet to get wet and he doesn't want to hurt him in any way.

When walter comes up and gives him the fish he beams and nods, "Yes! Thank you!" He quickly scarves them down, licking his lips and setting the bones aside.

Once he got finished eating he repositions himself so he could be completely submerged in the tub. Then he takes a breath and closes his eyes.

And softly he began to sing, now that he was in the sea it was even easier to concentrate and sing the song. Softly the water began to glow a purple hue, that it became brighter as the song went by. The song filled the entire pier and it sounded just like the waves crashing, or the calm before the storm. As the hue became brighter and brighter he began to raise up in the air, his flippers covering his stomach and the water raising up to meet his tail and body. The water in the sea surrounding them bubbled then also rose up to meet him, and as it crashed with the water already there there was a brief flash of light. Then the water seemed to explode, leaving behind bubbles that went across the top of the ship and slowly lowered down.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter immediately panicked silently and ran underneath the deck to hide and Patton watched in shock as he ran down. The puppet turned back to watch Virgil's show of water in silent awe.

Walter was shaking in a hiding place underneath the deck as the boat shook.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil didnt notice that Walter had ran off, he was too busy focusing on the song to pay any attention. Once the bubbles exploded along the top of the ship the song started dying down. And slowly he lowered himself back to the tub, until he was brought all the way down to the tub. Then the song ended and he opened his eyes. Immediately he felt way better then he previously did and he beamed as he hopped out of the tub. He changed back to his human form and looked around, only to purr at the puppet. His skin looked a lot more healthier and his coat was sparkling in the moonlight. "Thank you! I feel so much better! Thank you, human! Wait... Wheres the human?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" W-Walt ran below... Most humans are terrified when something they are on shakes... and he is... one of them. He ran down below if you want to see him. Humans... don't have the strongest bodies, so shaking makes them think something will fall on them no matter what which can easily brake them. "

Patton explained and looked at the door.

" It... It is pretty sad that no doubt he can easily get hurt. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Wait, oh... I didn't mean to scare him! I'm really sorry! If I knew that it would scare him I'd have you guys put me in the sea! I didn't know hed be that scared by that! Oh... I feel so bad now!" He rushes to the door and frantically opens it, "Walter? Walt? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! Walter!" He shouts out to him as he starts making his way down the stairs and he looked around, now feeling absolutely terrible that he had scared the human that had helped him. What a way to repay the favor...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter shook violently and let out violent coughs and hiccups. He heard his name and turned to look in the direction, his face looked horrified.

" Y... Y... Yes? Who...? "

He noticed the Selkie and gulped. He waved and tried his best to stop shaking.

" O-O-Oh h-hey... did umm... did something happen? "

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continues to cough as he got the water and Walter picked him up and he was set into it. But once he was finally placed into the water he gasped loudly, his body jerking upwards a bit and then he slowly lowered himself into the water. As he does hidden gills on the side of his neck opened and he pants as he breaths in the water. And he started feeling better already. "T-Thank you... Sorry... Sorry... Haven't... Haven't had water... In months... Didn't get enough of it i guess..." He coughs a bit but it wasn't nearly as bad.

Then he thinks about what Walter said and looked over at Patton. "You've...always wanted...a pup? But you...can't have one...cause your a puppet...can you?" He asks while taking deep breaths. And he lifted up his hood to transform back to a seal so he has more room.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter and Patton sighed in relief as the selkie seemed to get a bit better. The puppet looked at Virgil.

" Well... that is one way to put it. "

It chuckled nervously.

" I mean umm... Walt is like a pup. He is the youngest of all of us. He is about 18 years? "

It turned its head towards Walter.

" Am I correct about that? "

Walter nodded.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil looked at them and tilted his head, "Or...a ghost? Or...uh..." He mumbled quietly then stared at them. Then at Walter. "Youre 18? You are like a pup.." He chuckles.

"im...40 years...in selkie years? So...thats what years to human... Uh..." He thinks of the equivalent to human years would be. "21? I think? We age fast but we don't grow until we're older... So... Yeah, 21?"

He chuckles again at walter and nods, "You're definitely a pup for sure." He says and coughs a bit more. "I think... I have to do a healing song... I didn't finish it last time... And can feel it... Help if i finished it..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled, and moved towards the side of the boat.

" I will fish something up for you if you want! "

He smiled and threw a small net into the water to catch make a fish or two.

Patton chuckled.

" He is very active. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Oh, okay... Thank you!" He raised a flipper towards him that flopped on the water a moment later.

Then he chuckled at Patton and smiles, swallowing thickly. "Mhm... That he is... Um... I'd uh...stand back for this... It could get you know, wet?" He says as he moves to lay under the water, ready to do the song once more.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh... yeah I will just... "

Patton chuckled nervously and moved back as far as it could. It sat down where it stood and watched the selkie.

Walter hummed and pulled up the net, revealing two fish in its grasp. He quickly moved to place it in the saltwatered tub that the selkie was in.

" Is that good enough? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil chuckles and looks to where he moves, making sure he's away enough so he doesn't get wet. He imagines its not good for a puppet to get wet and he doesn't want to hurt him in any way.

When walter comes up and gives him the fish he beams and nods, "Yes! Thank you!" He quickly scarves them down, licking his lips and setting the bones aside.

Once he got finished eating he repositions himself so he could be completely submerged in the tub. Then he takes a breath and closes his eyes.

And softly he began to sing, now that he was in the sea it was even easier to concentrate and sing the song. Softly the water began to glow a purple hue, that it became brighter as the song went by. The song filled the entire pier and it sounded just like the waves crashing, or the calm before the storm. As the hue became brighter and brighter he began to raise up in the air, his flippers covering his stomach and the water raising up to meet his tail and body. The water in the sea surrounding them bubbled then also rose up to meet him, and as it crashed with the water already there there was a brief flash of light. Then the water seemed to explode, leaving behind bubbles that went across the top of the ship and slowly lowered down.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter immediately panicked silently and ran underneath the deck to hide and Patton watched in shock as he ran down. The puppet turned back to watch Virgil's show of water in silent awe.

Walter was shaking in a hiding place underneath the deck as the boat shook.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil didnt notice that Walter had ran off, he was too busy focusing on the song to pay any attention. Once the bubbles exploded along the top of the ship the song started dying down. And slowly he lowered himself back to the tub, until he was brought all the way down to the tub. Then the song ended and he opened his eyes. Immediately he felt way better then he previously did and he beamed as he hopped out of the tub. He changed back to his human form and looked around, only to purr at the puppet. His skin looked a lot more healthier and his coat was sparkling in the moonlight. "Thank you! I feel so much better! Thank you, human! Wait... Wheres the human?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" W-Walt ran below... Most humans are terrified when something they are on shakes... and he is... one of them. He ran down below if you want to see him. Humans... don't have the strongest bodies, so shaking makes them think something will fall on them no matter what which can easily brake them. "

Patton explained and looked at the door.

" It... It is pretty sad that no doubt he can easily get hurt. "

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continues to cough as he got the water and Walter picked him up and he was set into it. But once he was finally placed into the water he gasped loudly, his body jerking upwards a bit and then he slowly lowered himself into the water. As he does hidden gills on the side of his neck opened and he pants as he breaths in the water. And he started feeling better already. "T-Thank you... Sorry... Sorry... Haven't... Haven't had water... In months... Didn't get enough of it i guess..." He coughs a bit but it wasn't nearly as bad.

Then he thinks about what Walter said and looked over at Patton. "You've...always wanted...a pup? But you...can't have one...cause your a puppet...can you?" He asks while taking deep breaths. And he lifted up his hood to transform back to a seal so he has more room.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter and Patton sighed in relief as the selkie seemed to get a bit better. The puppet looked at Virgil.

" Well... that is one way to put it. "

It chuckled nervously.

" I mean umm... Walt is like a pup. He is the youngest of all of us. He is about 18 years? "

It turned its head towards Walter.

" Am I correct about that? "

Walter nodded.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil looked at them and tilted his head, "Or...a ghost? Or...uh..." He mumbled quietly then stared at them. Then at Walter. "Youre 18? You are like a pup.." He chuckles.

"im...40 years...in selkie years? So...thats what years to human... Uh..." He thinks of the equivalent to human years would be. "21? I think? We age fast but we don't grow until we're older... So... Yeah, 21?"

He chuckles again at walter and nods, "You're definitely a pup for sure." He says and coughs a bit more. "I think... I have to do a healing song... I didn't finish it last time... And can feel it... Help if i finished it..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled, and moved towards the side of the boat.

" I will fish something up for you if you want! "

He smiled and threw a small net into the water to catch make a fish or two.

Patton chuckled.

" He is very active. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Oh, okay... Thank you!" He raised a flipper towards him that flopped on the water a moment later.

Then he chuckled at Patton and smiles, swallowing thickly. "Mhm... That he is... Um... I'd uh...stand back for this... It could get you know, wet?" He says as he moves to lay under the water, ready to do the song once more.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh... yeah I will just... "

Patton chuckled nervously and moved back as far as it could. It sat down where it stood and watched the selkie.

Walter hummed and pulled up the net, revealing two fish in its grasp. He quickly moved to place it in the saltwatered tub that the selkie was in.

" Is that good enough? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil chuckles and looks to where he moves, making sure he's away enough so he doesn't get wet. He imagines its not good for a puppet to get wet and he doesn't want to hurt him in any way.

When walter comes up and gives him the fish he beams and nods, "Yes! Thank you!" He quickly scarves them down, licking his lips and setting the bones aside.

Once he got finished eating he repositions himself so he could be completely submerged in the tub. Then he takes a breath and closes his eyes.

And softly he began to sing, now that he was in the sea it was even easier to concentrate and sing the song. Softly the water began to glow a purple hue, that it became brighter as the song went by. The song filled the entire pier and it sounded just like the waves crashing, or the calm before the storm. As the hue became brighter and brighter he began to raise up in the air, his flippers covering his stomach and the water raising up to meet his tail and body. The water in the sea surrounding them bubbled then also rose up to meet him, and as it crashed with the water already there there was a brief flash of light. Then the water seemed to explode, leaving behind bubbles that went across the top of the ship and slowly lowered down.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter immediately panicked silently and ran underneath the deck to hide and Patton watched in shock as he ran down. The puppet turned back to watch Virgil's show of water in silent awe.

Walter was shaking in a hiding place underneath the deck as the boat shook.

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continues to cough as he got the water and Walter picked him up and he was set into it. But once he was finally placed into the water he gasped loudly, his body jerking upwards a bit and then he slowly lowered himself into the water. As he does hidden gills on the side of his neck opened and he pants as he breaths in the water. And he started feeling better already. "T-Thank you... Sorry... Sorry... Haven't... Haven't had water... In months... Didn't get enough of it i guess..." He coughs a bit but it wasn't nearly as bad.

Then he thinks about what Walter said and looked over at Patton. "You've...always wanted...a pup? But you...can't have one...cause your a puppet...can you?" He asks while taking deep breaths. And he lifted up his hood to transform back to a seal so he has more room.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter and Patton sighed in relief as the selkie seemed to get a bit better. The puppet looked at Virgil.

" Well... that is one way to put it. "

It chuckled nervously.

" I mean umm... Walt is like a pup. He is the youngest of all of us. He is about 18 years? "

It turned its head towards Walter.

" Am I correct about that? "

Walter nodded.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil looked at them and tilted his head, "Or...a ghost? Or...uh..." He mumbled quietly then stared at them. Then at Walter. "Youre 18? You are like a pup.." He chuckles.

"im...40 years...in selkie years? So...thats what years to human... Uh..." He thinks of the equivalent to human years would be. "21? I think? We age fast but we don't grow until we're older... So... Yeah, 21?"

He chuckles again at walter and nods, "You're definitely a pup for sure." He says and coughs a bit more. "I think... I have to do a healing song... I didn't finish it last time... And can feel it... Help if i finished it..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled, and moved towards the side of the boat.

" I will fish something up for you if you want! "

He smiled and threw a small net into the water to catch make a fish or two.

Patton chuckled.

" He is very active. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Oh, okay... Thank you!" He raised a flipper towards him that flopped on the water a moment later.

Then he chuckled at Patton and smiles, swallowing thickly. "Mhm... That he is... Um... I'd uh...stand back for this... It could get you know, wet?" He says as he moves to lay under the water, ready to do the song once more.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh... yeah I will just... "

Patton chuckled nervously and moved back as far as it could. It sat down where it stood and watched the selkie.

Walter hummed and pulled up the net, revealing two fish in its grasp. He quickly moved to place it in the saltwatered tub that the selkie was in.

" Is that good enough? "

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continues to cough as he got the water and Walter picked him up and he was set into it. But once he was finally placed into the water he gasped loudly, his body jerking upwards a bit and then he slowly lowered himself into the water. As he does hidden gills on the side of his neck opened and he pants as he breaths in the water. And he started feeling better already. "T-Thank you... Sorry... Sorry... Haven't... Haven't had water... In months... Didn't get enough of it i guess..." He coughs a bit but it wasn't nearly as bad.

Then he thinks about what Walter said and looked over at Patton. "You've...always wanted...a pup? But you...can't have one...cause your a puppet...can you?" He asks while taking deep breaths. And he lifted up his hood to transform back to a seal so he has more room.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter and Patton sighed in relief as the selkie seemed to get a bit better. The puppet looked at Virgil.

" Well... that is one way to put it. "

It chuckled nervously.

" I mean umm... Walt is like a pup. He is the youngest of all of us. He is about 18 years? "

It turned its head towards Walter.

" Am I correct about that? "

Walter nodded.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil looked at them and tilted his head, "Or...a ghost? Or...uh..." He mumbled quietly then stared at them. Then at Walter. "Youre 18? You are like a pup.." He chuckles.

"im...40 years...in selkie years? So...thats what years to human... Uh..." He thinks of the equivalent to human years would be. "21? I think? We age fast but we don't grow until we're older... So... Yeah, 21?"

He chuckles again at walter and nods, "You're definitely a pup for sure." He says and coughs a bit more. "I think... I have to do a healing song... I didn't finish it last time... And can feel it... Help if i finished it..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled, and moved towards the side of the boat.

" I will fish something up for you if you want! "

He smiled and threw a small net into the water to catch make a fish or two.

Patton chuckled.

" He is very active. "

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil continues to cough as he got the water and Walter picked him up and he was set into it. But once he was finally placed into the water he gasped loudly, his body jerking upwards a bit and then he slowly lowered himself into the water. As he does hidden gills on the side of his neck opened and he pants as he breaths in the water. And he started feeling better already. "T-Thank you... Sorry... Sorry... Haven't... Haven't had water... In months... Didn't get enough of it i guess..." He coughs a bit but it wasn't nearly as bad.

Then he thinks about what Walter said and looked over at Patton. "You've...always wanted...a pup? But you...can't have one...cause your a puppet...can you?" He asks while taking deep breaths. And he lifted up his hood to transform back to a seal so he has more room.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter and Patton sighed in relief as the selkie seemed to get a bit better. The puppet looked at Virgil.

" Well... that is one way to put it. "

It chuckled nervously.

" I mean umm... Walt is like a pup. He is the youngest of all of us. He is about 18 years? "

It turned its head towards Walter.

" Am I correct about that? "

Walter nodded.

[anxietyx-lover]

@croftered-with-jam

The selkie was just curious. He wanted to see what the human world was like. Hes heard stories of their tales and he wanted to experience it for himself. What a fool he was... It didn't take long before the humans figured out what he was, and captured him. And when they did they took his coat away. The only way he'll be able to go to his true home... Now they kept him locked in a cage, tied down with chains and a muzzle. And being bought to other humans for some profit. Yeah, he was stupid...

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter noticed the selkie but looked at the seller confused.

" Um. What is this? "

He clicked his tongue at the seller in anger and huffed air out of his nose.

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller looked over and grinned at him, having been talking to two other men. "Why, hello there small boy. You interested in this selkie? It's fresh, just caught! Would make for a fine tasting meal, or a servant if you want one. Heard it's even good in bed, if you know what I'm saying." He winked at him.

The selkie was panting heavily and as Walter came closer he could see how bloodied and pale the poor guy was. He was shaking violently and even though his body was thin as can be his stomach was round and swollen. He was blindfolded, so he couldn't look at Walter at all.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the seller then at the Selkie and sighed.

" H-How much are they... "

He didn't like the idea of buying the mystic creature but... it's better than some person who might do something worse to it.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Hm... 5 thousand. And thats on the cheap, considering what it took to have this bastard. It took at least ten or fifteen of my guys just to hold it down. Quite the fiesty one. But, we worked all of that out so now it's obedient as a dog!" He seemed proud of this and hit the cage with his leg. The selkie whimpered and shook even more, crying softly.

[croftered-with-jam]

" With the coat? "

Walter turned to the cage with his eyes never leaving the saleman.

" If you dare try to cheat the coat out, I will do worse than what it did to you and your men. I am not to be messed with. I will pay if you hand me the coat now. "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller rolled his eyes and nodded, "Fine! Fine... But be warned to not give it to that beast. And water! Don't give it even a drop!" He warned to him as he stepped in the back to grab it. A few minutes later coming out with a thick white sparkly coat that seemed to glitter as he moved it about. "Here, this is its coat. Now, five thousand, pay up." He says and raises his hand, guestering for him to pay him up now.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and took the coat. He nodded and fished out a smallish gold nugget, handing it to the salesman.

" Hopefully that can pay for it. I am not really from this area and my family is a mining family, so we are visiting for two moons. "

He looked at salesman.

" Can I get the key for the cage? "

[anxietyx-lover]

The seller stared at the nugget in shock, he blinked at it then at him. He bit the nugget then stared at it, trying to see if its authentic... "Mhm... I'll get it checked but yeah... I guess it will? Never been paid by a golden nugget before... Don't know how much it'll be worth really." He admitted then at his question he shakes his head. "No need for that. Men!" He calls over about three men who came running when they were called.

"Get this creature ready for this fine gentleman here." They nods and gets the key out, unlocking the cage. As soon as their hands grabbed the selkie he started panicking again and he panted heavier. His head going back and forth in his cries. But they only slammed him to the ground face first, probably hurting the pup that might be in his belly.

They unhooked his chain attached to his legs and hooked an electric collar onto him that was attached to a leash. Finally one of them handed the leash to Walter, and the selkie shakily stood to his feet. Barely able to take a step but somehow managing to do it. "And heres the remote for the collar, just in case."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked at the men with a glare as they slammed the Selkie to the ground. He growled before taking the leash and the remote.

" Thank you. "

He said with a degraded tone before gently tugging on the leash as a sign to move. He watched the selkie's problem so he sighed and picked the creature up with ease into a bridal position.

" You could have just given me the key, I can hold myself up just fine. "

He mumbled as he walked away from the salesman with anger in his eyes.

[anxietyx-lover]

"Your welcome. Come again, little boy." He grins at him, seemingly not caring that hes glaring at him or his angered tone. He simply shrugged and watched him walk away, going to talk to one of his men again.

The selkie cried out in fear when he was picked up, and he was shaking violently as he was carried. He shook his head but when he still couldn't open his mouth he sobbed even harder and he seemed terrified out of his mind, even though he has no clue what's going on. He wanted to beg this human for easy punishment, easy everything. But he couldn't and that only made him more scared.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter looked down at the selkie.

" Please calm... okay? It will all be over soon, I promise. The salesman will have his share of misfortune. He doesn't seem the brightest. "

His voice betrayed his glee.

" Once we leave here, he won't be feeling all that well, especially since he bit the piece. It was near a piece of lead deposit, so... heh he will get his own, very soon. "

He smiled as he walked out of the darkened market place, holding the selkie.

[anxietyx-lover]

The selkie seemed to look up at him, his head tilting towards him. Then he sucked in a breath, he didnt understand what he is saying but he did liked the idea of him getting misfortune, he hopes he gets a lot more then that. But it's a start. Then his head tilted at him, confused on what he's saying. Lead... Can humans not have lead? He has no idea.

But he was still crying and panting heavily, his body shaking violently. He couldn't get those to stop. And when Walter walked out of the market place he started hacking, he couldn't properly cough since the muzzle was on so tightly. But blood started leaking from the muzzle and he sucked in a painful breath. He laid on walters chest, unable to fight anymore and he kept sucking in breath after breath.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter felt the blood on his hand.

" S-Shit, nearest water... nearest w... THERE! "

He screamed the " there " and ran towards a river he saw as quick as he could. He worked the muzzle off along with the collar, before placing the selkie in the water. He bent over, out of breath from the sprint, and coughed, a bit of dust coming out of his mouth as he did.

[anxietyx-lover]

He didn't even moved as he yelled and ran towards the river. His eyes was closed as he worked the muzzle off of him, blood all around his mouth and he was panting for air. And when he pulled the collar off his hidden gills flared open and he gasped louder. As he was placed in the water through his gills opened and closed frantically, he continued gasping as he got used to the water after so long without having it. But he seemed to be breathing easier. He reached up with his boost of strength to grab his coat before getting it on quickly, and shakily dropping himself to the deeper end. A tail poking out a minute later from the water. More coughs came from deep down until harsh singing started. As the voice continued to sing the water in the river started glowing a bright blue color. And he started to rise from the river, his eyes closed and him in his seal form. His flippers covered his stomach as he softly twirled in the air, water rushing below to met him. And as he sang his wounds slowly started to heal one by one, the scars were still there, but at least the bleeding wounds are slowly healing.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter laugh at how full of energy the selkie was and got up, coughing still but not as harsh as before.

" Well I guess I will be seeing you. Be careful and what not okay? "

He smiled but coughed once more as some more dust exited his mouth. He turned away from the selkie and started to walk away from the river.

[anxietyx-lover]

When the selkie was shocked out of his song by what he said he harmlessly fell into the river, him landing with a splash. Then his head popped out. "Wait! Wait! Please, wait!" He said as he made a mad dash towards this human, he kept calling to him as he waddled on shore and followed him.

"Wait, please! I can't go back! They'll banish me! I have nowhere to go! Please, don't leave! I have to at least thank you properly!" He cried out to him, waddling up to him. His seal form was still covered in scars and he was incredibly skinny. Other then his round belly that dragged on the ground.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well I can't really keep you. It... It feels wrong to own someone... I bought you just because you didn't look well and no doubt they would care. Plus that nugget was tainted with lead and the place I was working for makes gold coins and only pure gold, which that piece wasn't. Didn't think he would bite into it, but that's his fault he will have misfortune because he bit it. Lead tends to be very toxic for us and once a flake touches water is makes it poisonous. So his saliva will kill him basically. "

Walter started to ramble on.

" Lead tends to react violently with our systems and causes it to shut down slowly and painfully. There isn't a way to stop it he will just die slowly and in a lot of pain. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil listens quietly, though when he hears the fate of the human that hurt him he smirked dangerously. Even more so when he heard that he'll be dying a slow and painful death. Good, that monster deserves it. "Good riddance... He... That monsterous human hurt me...in more ways then possible..." His flipper went over his stomach as he growled. "The most painful death imaginable isnt enough for him. Mother Moon deserves to tear him to shreds for eternity... But... You... Bought me just cause I didn't look good? Oh... I didn't think a human would care that much about my species..." He glanced away and sighs, "I can't go back though... I'll be banished... And my pup would be eaten alive... They forced mated me... Or uh...raped i think is the human term? It's forbidden to mate with a human... They wont care that it was by force..." He rubbed his round belly as he spoke then gulped.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter's eyes widened.

" They what. "

His voice turned violent.

" I don't have powers to make them suffer but I managed to find a thing while mining once. I can harm the best I can. But I can tell you my family might not be okay with you. If it isn't safe for you to head home, I can bring you home with me. My family tends to not like many sea creatures due to sea travel is rough due to them. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil flinched at his violent tone then hesitantly nodded, "T-The... The... Leader human... When they first caught me... Months ago..." He swallowed and shook a bit then he looked up at him and nods. "Making them have a painful death is all I want. Its what they deserve... Hm... Well... I..." He chews his lip, he didn't want to cause any ruckus at his home or to have Walter get yelled at. But he...really doesn't have anywhere else to go. Selkies aren't powerful enough to live by themselves, that's why they live in a pod. He'd be taken by a shark within weeks... "I... I can deal with your family... If they're mean to you then tell them to yell at me... I'll take it... I don't want to burden you, im really sorry..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" They won't yell at me but, they might yell at you. Well you know waters well, they might umm... use your knowledge to help avoid storms or sirens... They haven't gotten violent towards others unless the other attack the family. But if they get violent towards you, I can give you the thing they gave me. Most of the avoid the dagger once it is out. "

Walter smiled softly and kneeled before the selkie.

" They aren't really human themselves, so I guess the dagger is magic or something, maybe dangerous. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"I can handle yelling... Dealt with it by them i can handle it... Yeah, i can sense when storms are coming and can hear sirens. I'll be able to help them out if they want to use me. Sharks and whales though is a problem that we selkies face... But if they can help protect me from that then I'll be fine helping... They won't...get violent at my pup... right? I don't...want my pup hurt..." He mumbled as he kneeled down before him. "You...aren't human? What are you then? You look human... This dagger....what does it do?"

[croftered-with-jam]

" No I am human, most of my family, though, aren't. I was kind of adopted. And for the dagger, no clue. One of them said it looks like its blade is made of meteorite. We found it in the ground at a mining site. Had it for a while. Also they won't hurt your pup. I will make sure they don't. "

Walter hummed out.

" Would you want to see the dagger? You mentioned Mother Moon, whoever that is, you might know what it is? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Oh... Okay, what is your family then? Or at least most of them? Meteorite... Um... We do have some legends of Mother Moon losing parts of herself and those parts landing on land... And those parts of her being incredibly powerful that nobody can touch it. But those are only legends... I'm not sure if it would be it or not... But, thank you. Thank you...so much... I don't want them hurt, i don't care about me... I just...dont want them to be hurt..." He rubbed his belly as he talked about them, and he swallows.

"If you want to show me? Mother Moon is her," He raises his flipper towards the sky where the moon is. "Selkies gets all our power and life from her. She watches us all and blesses us with the power of life and the songs we can do. Without her we all will be nothing." He smiles as he talks about Her.

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter smiled and pulled out the dagger slowly. It was a slight tan color that darkened closer towards the hilt of the weapon with little holes and divets on the sharpened parts.

" I don't know what they mostly are. Most are not human and all are different. I think one is part fae or something because they found out that the gold was laced with lead by it landing on them... They say they are slowly healing though, they have a burned scar on the side of their face. "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil stared at the dagger in awe, he raised his flipper to pull his hood back so he can go back to his human form. Slowly he reached out to hold the hilt of it and he nods. "Part fae... Yeah... They really wont like me... Faes and selkies arent normally on a uh...good basis these days... But lead and gold... I can feel that this is powerful, extremely powerful. And it could maybe be from a god... But not Mother Moon... I can tell that much..." He raises it towards the setting sun and stared at it. "It definitely isn't Mother Moons... Hers wouldnt be this harmful... A lot of her magic is for healing. But theres a lot of God's who's power is for pain and harming others. I believe this is from one of those gods..." He tilted the dagger to and fro then he tested something, he places his hand directly on the dagger but immediately he hissed in pain. Frantically he rushes over to the water and sang a quick song, the water hissing as it healed him. "Alright...can harm selkies too... That's interesting..."

[croftered-with-jam]

Walter jumped at the hissing and grabbed the dagger.

" S-Sorry. I should put something over the blade part. You are okay right? "

He looked at the selkie in worry.

" About the family member... he refuses that he is a fae, I heard that fae will swap human children out with their own. So he could be an offspring but forgot he was one as... as that also happens. But we don't tell him that we know he is a fae. He tends to help us a lot. We have a possessed human sized puppet in the family, we don't know if he is possessed by a demon or a spirit but he tends to heal a bit. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"No! No! Its alright! I wanted to see if it'll hurt me or not! Yeah, im alright, see?" He raises his hand out of the water and it revealed most of the wound has already healed. "Guess it doesn't hurt me as much as lead does for a fae..."

Then he nods at him, "Yeah, they do. Its tradition, ive heard, for the parents to swap out their children with human pups. And when they do they eat the human pups for food, but the leave their pups with the human. And yeah... A lot of times they don't come back for their pup so they don't even know their fae until their late teens... Most of them forget about their actual parents. Human sized puppet? Huh... Might be a ghost then. If they heal then they're probably not a demon. Demons dont have healing properties... Probably a ghost then, strong ghosts can have healing abilities."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well um... I have to go through the town... we are preparing to leave and go across the sea. Areyou okay with walking or should I... Should I just carry you? "

Walter asked looking up at the sky, seeing the sun disappear from above.

" They will get upset if... if I don't get back. They told me to get rid of the gold nugget so I did. So um... if you are going to be with us, I guess you must choose one. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Um..." He lifts his hand that now was completely healed and thinks. "Um... I'm still weak... So uh... I guess you can carry me? I would say that i can go to my seal form to make it easier for you but that might be weird to carry a seal through town, huh?" He chuckles sheepishly and rubs the back of his head. Now that he was in human form again it became awfully clear how skinny and frail he was, and how large his stomach is.

He walks over to him though and now seemed awkward as he mumbles, "So uh... Gonna just...pick me up? Or..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Yeah. I am just going to pick you up. "

Walter chuckled and picked up the selkie into a bridal style.

" Just hold on tight and don't look at anyone in the eyes! And don't be afraid to tell me to move faster okay? "

[anxietyx-lover]

"O-Okay... Okay... Yeah..." He squeaked as he picked him up, and he tried not to shake in his hold. He does put an arm protectively around his round belly to protect it from anything and he moves his face deep in his chest. The other could feel that there's whiskers above his eyes and on his cheeks as he does so. His clawed hand holds onto his shirt tightly then he nods. "Okay... Okay, ready.."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Alrighty! Let's head home! "

Walter smiled and ran towards the town, being secure with the selkie. As he ran towards the docks, a few people looking at him like he was crazy. He ran up the ramp to the ship.

" I am back! And I brought someone! "

A slam was heard below deck before footsteps can be heard and the door creaks open.

" Walt! You are back! "

A large puppet greeted the two, a smile on its face.

" Gasp! Did you find a new member? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil was quiet as Walter dashes through the town, he doesn't open his eyes at all while he does so. And he holds on tight to his shirt. But once he heard the wood below them he finally peeked open his eyes, only to jump at the slam. He digs himself further into him, his pupil-less eyes widened in fear. When he sees the puppet though he tilts his head but hes still terrified. "H-Hello...?" He shakily stutters, raising his clawed hand from his stomach to wave at him. And his fangs in his mouth clearly visible... Including his weird eyes...and whiskers...

[croftered-with-jam]

" Well hello there! "

The puppet's smile was painted on. The puppet waved at the two, unblinking.

" You are selkie aren't ya? Our family is just filled with so many different creatures! Like Walt being the only human, Dee being... well Dee! Tommy being a shapeshifter. Well you get it! Many different people! "

Walter laughed and gently placed the selkie down.

" They are a selkie Pat. Oh wait. "

He looked down at Virgil.

" What does... What does your kind eat? "

[anxietyx-lover]

Virgil found it very unnerving that the smile was painted on, and he just...stared at them. True hes a puppet but... Stars, it looked really creepy... Like something from nightmares. Though he can also tell that hes trying to be nice and kind so... At least there's that. At his question he nods, then blinks at the rest of his words. "Shapeshifter... Huh... Shapeshifters are really rare nowadays..." He mumbled then quietly thanks Walter as he sets him down.

"Y-Yeah... I'm a selkie... S-Sorry...to uh...barge in... I know you probably don't like me and everything.... But um... I don't have anywhere to go and...I'm..." He points to his large stomach, "Yeah..."

"Um...fish. Any type is fine, but no eels. And not cooked. I can get my own food if we're heading to sea, I don't mind." He says to Walter.

[croftered-with-jam]

" Oh my stars and comets! You have a pup! Can I be like a godfather? "

The puppet said with glee and its action copied the emotion. And nodded

" We are heading out to sea pretty soon! We will leave when Tommy and the twins get back! "

Walter nodded.

" Well we are on the sea right now but do you think you will be okay hunting on your own though? I wouldn't like you to get hurt and I think Pat agrees. "

[anxietyx-lover]

"Uh...sure? I guess you can? Uh..." He leans towards Walter, "He wont do like...anything freaky to my pup, right? He seems...a bit too excited that im pregnant... And uh... Yeah..." He whispers to him, finding everything about this possessed doll to be creepy.

He was silent as they talked for a bit but then he looks back up at Walter and shurgs. "I mean... If you don't want me too then I'm fine with staying here... Just uh... The only thing that'll come after me is sharks, whales won't come this far in land... Sharks might smell me and head over so... Do you have fish here then? It has to be uncooked, i can't eat-"

Hes caught off guard by a sudden coughing fit. He had to grab onto Walter to keep himself steady and upright. And he shakes as he coughs. Once he thinks hes done coughing he looks at his hand to see blood there, fresh blood, and he starts coughing more. "N-Need...more...water... Didn't...stay in the river long enough..."

[croftered-with-jam]

" Nonono he wont, he says he always wanted to be a father but never could. Godfather means he most likely will spoil them with gifts and shiny things. "

Walter whispered back with a chuckle. His smile faded when the selkie started to cough.

" Oh um... Pat can you get a tub and fill it with water quickly please! "

The puppet nodded and ran to get a medium washing tub and filled it with water from the sea, placing it down near the selkie while Walter picked him up to place him into it.