author notes: I know mer may is over but look I got really busy in may and it just got worse over time (not all negative though), so lets pretend that it's still is may. Big shoutout to @ravenwriter16, her fic Poor Unfortunate Soul was a big inspiration for this so go check out her fics! Anyways hope you all enjoy!
The world was calm. The sky free of any clouds reflects on the water below. The waves have long since subsided. It was just you and the open ocean.
Well you aren't really alone.
A couple of months ago you sneaked onto a ship. Why? You couldn't live with your parents anymore. One night things hit it's breaking point with them and you snuck out to survive. Their yells ring in your ears as the fresh marks burn when it hits the air. The surroundings blur together as tears run down your face.
You run through the night, not looking back once, until some salt fills your lungs. Slowing your pace you take a moment to wipe your tears and asses your surroundings. It was already late into the night and with living in a small village it was almost impossible to see anything. Everyone had already gone to bed so the stars were the only thing illuminating the ground below. The only sense of direction you can follow is the smell of salt carried by the wind.
The plan was made in a spur of the moment, but it was your only chance. You know that if you stayed in the town or a nearby one you would be dragged back home like always. But not this time, no. This time you will get as far away from them and never see them again.
Your feet carry you through the night, and almost off a cliff, until soil gets replace with sand. You had made it to the beach. Stopping, you take a moment to catch your breath and calm your nerves. The sound of calm waves rustle in front of you in a rhythm that you try to mimic your breathing to.
It was peaceful out here. The ocean ahead filled your mind with hope, hope that you could escape this hell. All you have to do is sail across it and you'll be free.
Letting your memories guide you, you walk along the shore letting the water splash your feet. You had forgotten your shoes when you ran, but that's fine you could always steal a pair when you get a chance. The only thing you could focus on was getting on a ship. And you knew just the one to sneak onto.
A few days before a large ship docked so the crew could get treated for their wounds and gather more supplies. At the time you couldn't hear what cause the injuries, but you assumed it was just some accident. They were going to leave early in the morning so this was your one chance.
The adrenaline pushes your exhausted body forward as the coldness of the sea keeps your eyes open. You knew that it wasn't that far from the homes, so you kept psyching yourself that you could make it. It kept you pushing through even as your legs begin to give out.
Soon enough the port come into view unveiling a huge ship. What you assume to be lanterns illuminate the surrounding area just enough to see people occupying it. You crouched down and quickly skittered under the port. The sound of heavy footsteps and creates being dragged sound above you. Many different voices can be heard talking about something, but you don't hear it as you're focusing on finding an entrance.
The sand soon turned to water so you jump up and take hold of some of the beams. Swinging from beam to beam you follow the sound of footsteps until they trail off onto the ramp and into the ship. You stay hanging there, listening to the voices, until they all walk out again to presumably grab some more cargo. Once they get far enough you swing yourself to the edge and pull yourself up. Swiftly you skitter across the ramp and behind the first large object in your vicinity.
Whatever tiredness that drowned your consciousness is now replace with anxiousness. Now that you have step foot on the boat you couldn't get caught, or else you'll get dragged back there and who knows what punishment awaited. You needed to find a hiding spot and camp there until the ship docks again. From there you would live out the couple of years left then you would be an adult and live out the rest of your life in peace.
With a promise of a safe future ahead you asses the ship to find a way to get below the deck. A few people gather on the other side of the ship observing the cargo as the others help carry it onboard. Multiple big boxes scatter across the ship providing you some cover as you venture across the floor. You get pretty far from everyone before coming up with an idea.
Putting it into action before thinking it over you open a crate that's bigger than you and peer inside. It was filled with various harpoons and other fishing equipment you can't identify. Closing it you move on to the one next to it. This time it was filled with a large fabric, which you assume was a replacement sail if it were to rip.
Jumping into the crate it was a little smaller than the last, but you manage to squeeze in. The fabric rustle underneath you as you try to find a comfortable position. Once found you fully close the lid the dark creeps in and cradles you until your body gives out and sleep takes you at last.
Your memory hasn't been the best since that night, though you guess that you most likely have some sort of head injury caused by your parents. What you are able to remember is your and the others scheduled.
You'd wake up in the crate that was moved to the lowest desk and tucked in a dark corner. You assume it was a storage room with it being crowded with other crates. There is crates in there full of food which is what kept you full. You almost never left that area, instead prompting to gather information from people who would come and grab some stuff and leave. It was all boring stuff like what they needed to grab and some small talk.
That was until of recently when people started visiting more often. They started talking very vaguely about what their propose for joining was. It was hard to understand at first you were able to put the dots together after thinking it through.
You remember hearing them call each other by weird names, but you thought you were mishearing think because of the lack of sleep or nutrients. When they started grabbing their harpoons and talking about target practice is when it hits you. There is only one type of hunter that uses fake names to protect themselves from what they are hunting.
Just your luck you crashed on a leviathan hunters ship. It does answer the question of why it was taking them so long to dock to a new town. They are known to stay out at sea until they either kill some leviathans, need repairs, treat their wounds, or die. When they do decide that they need to dock it's almost impossible to do so since most cities and towns turning them away.
Great, when you finally thought that you escaped one hell you fallen right into another. Who knows when they will dock next, or at all. You have to wait and see who finds you first: the crew or a leviathan.
No, you can't let that happen. You have already came this far so you won't give up. You'll stay hidden in this box until they need it, then you'll hide in another. This is just a game of hide and seek and you'll make sure that you are the winner.
For the next couple of months you gain the courage to sneak out to gather more information. Sure it was risky but if you wanted to make it off the ship you would need to know everything about who was running the ship and what their plan was.
For who is running the ship it is two brothers who goes by Sun and Moon. Moon seem to be the main captain of the crew. You haven't seen him at all during your stay, but from what you heard he mostly stays in his office. He is the navigator and planner of the crew. That is all you could gather on him since, just like the name, every personal information is abandoned.
Sun seemed to be more of a caretaker for the crew. From what you have observed he makes sure the crew is doing their job on top of being the cook, medic, and therapist. Or what you deemed him, the mother of the ship. His bouncy and electric personality reminds you of some of the nice mothers you always envy. Well almost thanks to the weird pirate like outfit he wore.
Now for their plan you didn't discover a lot. You were right about them hunting for leviathans, but there is more to that. They are hunting for one specific leviathan. What's interesting is that other than the captains no one knows anything about this special leviathan and the ones that do seem to scared to talk.
It's quite common for hunters to target the most dangerous ones since their rewards are higher. Though this one seems different because of the area their heading to. It's far from any town and city, it's just in the middle of the ocean. Then again you don't have much knowledge of them so you could be wrong. Something just smells fishy with these two.
What fuels the suspicion was what caused them to docked in your town. One of the reason was because some people needed their wounds treated but digging a little deeper reveals a lot more. The simple and expected answer was that they were attacked by a leviathan, but there is a lot more to the story. From what you've heard the leviathan that attacked them was one the one they were looking for. It snuck under their ship and started grabbing the crew with these large tentacles. Due to its massive size it took a lot of the crew, leaving the rest injured, and severely damaged the ship. Somehow they were able to fend him off before any major damage was dealt.
Learning about this caused a shiver down your spine. Sure they were able to fend it off, but leviathans are intelligent creatures so most likely it already learned from this and improved its hunting methods. You cling onto hope that if they were half successful the first time then maybe they will be the next for your sanity.
With this you made an escape plan just in case something things go south. With some wooden planks you found you crafted a little raft. For a paddle you carved one out of one of the wooden planks, which did leave you dealing with a few splinters. It's hidden in right next to your box so it's easy to grab.
The issue for food was quickly solved when you found a knife in a weapons crate. Tying the holster for it around your waist and securing the knife so you don't lose it. With that you can spear fish. You do have a small makeshift bag filled with water and food for emergencies just in case fish aren't enough.
Everything was perfect and you started to relax. Getting more bold you started sneaking out more to hangout on the top deck when it wasn't very busy. You barley saw the ocean since it was too far from your house, but out here you couldn't be more amazed. From the sight of the clear water glittering below, to the feeling of wind and small water droplets hitting your skin, and the smell of fresh water mixing with the clean air it all feels so freeing. For once in your life everything feel calm, you feel safe.
Just like today everything was calm. Most of the crew was on the lower deck eating lunch so you got to soak up some of the sun. A few birds circle above you, cawing at each other. It's another day of smooth sailing.
You spend another couple of minutes in your own world where you don't notice all the birds going quiet. When you do you look up to find them all gone. Strange but not uncommon, they don't always hang around the ship.
The water starts forming small wave that gently rock the ship. That seemed to be the trigger. The crew on the top deck with you split up, a few staying and watching the water and the others scrambling to the lower decks.
That was a signal for you to leave, but your body didn't let you. It was so sudden that your mind could catch up to the situation. You were not prepare for this happening so soon and because of that panic raised in your body.
The sound of footsteps coming closer kicks your body into gear. Without thinking you crouch down and scurry to one of your hiding spots as more people gather. Luckily it was near the tail end of the ship where everyone gathered more in the front and the sides. You wait patiently until no sounds can be heard from the stairway.
Once you peaked down making sure it's clear you rush down it. Keeping your eyes and hears open for any movement you almost make it back before chimes of bells echo in the room. You slow your steps as you get closer and peak in. You already knew who that was since only one man wears bells, Sun.
He franticly search through the crates while trying to keep his balance. Something does catch your eyes, his outfit. Before it was a simple cream button up with brown pants, but now it looks more like a complicated pirate outfit. It was mostly yellow with accents of red except for the pants which stayed the same. All he was missing is the hat, but if you were being honest it would just make him look ridiculous. To be honest the whole fit was ridiculous since he's not even a pirate!
Whatever that's not important. What is important is you getting back into your crate and prepare for your escape. He is most likely looking for weapons so you should be fine.
Waiting until his back is turned you crouch down and skitter in between crates. You try to be as quiet as possible even though the crashing waves fill the room along with jingling of bells. You both dance around each other until the crate appears right in front of you. Taking one last peek to make sure the coast was clear, to which thankfully it was, you quickly open and slide yourself in.
It doesn't take long for him to find what he needed and leave in a hurry. And thank the stars that he did because you were getting motion sickness. Yells from the crew above grows as even in your crate you're able to hear it. The waves sound like thunder as they hit harder against the ship, rocking it to where the crates start moving.
You decide to get out rather than wait till rocking settles. Something was wrong and you weren't staying around to find out. Dodging sliding crates your hand reaches out and grabs your supplies. Scrounging around you were able to find your raft and head back towards the stairs.
It took a while since you had to drag the raft and avoid crates that could crush you, but somehow you made it. You hurry up the stairs until you reached the common sleeping quarters below the deck. Back when you were creating an escape plan you needed to find a quick entrance and your best bet was a window. Most of them were too small, but one night when you looked over the rail you found a particularly large one you haven't seen before. Investigating it more you discovered that it was located in Moon's and Sun's room.
And that is exactly where you are heading. Everyone should be on deck dealing with what you assume to be a leviathan so now is your chance. When you arrive you don't waste any time and barge right in. Luckily it was empty so you booked it towards the window and set the raft next to it. Looking at the frame you try to find the latch that keeps it close, but you cant see any.
It's hard to focus as the yells above you get louder that you could mistake them for screams. Or are they? And is the boat suddenly not rocking as much as before?
You raise your gaze to be met with the sky. Slowly you lower your gaze to the sea to find it below you by a couple of yards, and getting further away. Wait are you in the sky!
Well no wasting time now. It would be best to break the window instead of wasting time by looking for the latch. And as the world heard your plan something crashes into the window breaking it. It misses you by an inch and it takes you a few seconds to process that before you see what almost hit you. A giant dark red tentacle that is very much bigger than you.
Running around it as it attached itself to the floor. You try to avoid any contact with the tentacle to not give away your position. Reacquiring your raft you angle it out the window and toss it. It takes it a good few seconds before it hits the water, signifying how high up you're being held up.
The ship shifts again almost tossing you across the room if you didn't grab the frame. Once it shifts backs you took that as your chance to jump. Pushing yourself out everything inside of you feels like they are lag behind as you fall.
In a blink of an eye your body hits the water leaving a chill in your bones. darkness surrounds you as light tries to push through. All the screaming from before is becomes muffled as your heartbeat pound in your ears. A burning sensation brew in your chest reminding you that you need to breath air.
Kicking as hard as you can you try to resurface, but the waves prove to be some trouble. You get pushed around with each new wave causing you to get dragged down a little. You don't give up though as you legs and arms pull yourself up with as much forces as you can muster. The light gets brighter the closer you get until you breach the surface.
Immediately you gasp for air and cough up any water that you accidentally breathed in. The world seems to snap back into place as you look back up at the ship. It's currently being held up by a few tentacles as a massive leviathan looms over it laughing. The sun makes it hard to see anything though with it starting to burn your eyes. You look away and splash them before returning to the escape plan.
The sea tries to drown you while you search, but you lean more on your back to float better. The waves themselves make it almost impossible to find, that is until it flies towards you. You duck down before it can ram into you and when you resurface you chase it.
The waves push and pull you both until it becomes right into arms reach and you're able to grab on. Struggling to pull yourself on you eventually make it and try to keep it balance. Once stable you check for the paddle that thankfully was still left tightly tied to the raft. You take out your knife and cut off the restraints and grab the paddle. The knife is secured back into it's holster before you start paddling to who knows where.
You don't have to do much work as the waves start pushing you away from the chaos. Harpoons, that you guess the crew is shooting at the sea monster, fall from the sky almost hitting you multiple times. More tentacles spring out of the water and flail around you. Using your paddle you try your best to steer around them.
The leviathan patronizes the crew but you tune it out and focus at the task at hand. From his booming voice, you guess it's a male buy the voice, the screams of the crew, and the crashing of waves you were starting to get a headache. Your breath starts to get uneven as everything starts to get overwhelming. Shaking takes over your small form becoming uncontrollable the more you paddled on. The world around you seem to flicker and skip as your head starts to feel light.
You row on as your heart feels like it's rapidly beating out of your chest. Your lungs burn for air that you can't seem to pump any into them. Instead water from the high waves splash in causing you to continuously cough it up. Jabbing pain attacks your chest as your stomach turned.
Your thoughts start to run wild. Thoughts about what death would be like to what would have happened if you if you didn't run away. You already know the answer to that second one.
A tentacle trashes around almost hitting you, causing you to snap back into reality. Looking behind you your pleasantly surprised by how far you were. It was at least a couple hundred if you were to guess.
A small laugh escapes your lips. You might be able to get out of this situation. Sure you'll be stuck in the middle of the ocean, but it was better than becoming fish food. He seemed distracted with the ship so you have a chance to escape without being seen.
Looking back at the ship it was torn in half and falling apart. His head was tilted back as he shakes one half of the ship, gulping down any poor soul that falls out. It was blinding to see, partially because the sun still shinning directly into your eyes, but also of how gruesome the scene was.
Yet you can't peel your eyes off of it. A weird fascination or cruel curiosity that kept your gaze as he finished up with that half, crushing and tossing it away. Following his movement he plucks two individuals and tosses them towards the wreckage. Then just like he did with the fist half he scarfed down the rest of them.
He was a lot slower with his eating this time around as if he was savoring it. If you weren't nauseous from sea sickness then you definitely were now. Even though the waves boomed in your ears you could hear their scream being cut off by their bones crunching.
That was enough to snap you out of the trance. Your hand ache from gripping the oar so tight. Air force their way back into your lungs as you remember that you have to breath. The shaking in your body comes back, not even noticing it had stopped while you were watching.
You push through it as you continue to move your paddle through the water. Any noises and horrific scenes are blocked out as your brain can only focus on surviving. Keep going and Don't give up repeats in your head over and over again as you inch closer to safety.
You ignore it. You can't stop moving. If you do then you'll waste time. And if you waste time then you could get caught. If you get caught then you'll get eaten. And if you get eaten-
Before the thought finishes something squeezes your sides and lifts you into the air. The paddle fumbles in your hands from the sudden movement. Your stomach churned from how fast you were risen, causing you to almost vomit.
You stop abruptly as your vision fills with yellow. It takes a second before your eyes were able to make out the indentations that gave chills down your spine. Slowly moving your gaze upward your met with a giant eye staring at you. You become a deer in headlights as you stare back.
It was like staring into a black void as it inspected you back. Once it shifts to look at something else yellow coloring once again flashes you. You don't have time to process anything, not that your brain was anyways as it was in full on shut down mode, as you are pulled closer to one of the eyes.
He opens his mouth causing you to squirm, but instead of throwing you in he instead speaks, "Alright which one of you two had a child and didn't tell me about it."
It goes silent for a few moments before a quiet voice from below speak up, "Neither. They aren't apart of our crew."
You know that voice, it's Sun's. Once the leviathan looks back toward the voice you follow it to see that you were indeed correct. Sun sits soaked on a small broken piece of the ship next to another man. If you were to guess who it would be your best guess would be Moon with how similar they are dress other than the colors being more of blues and yellows instead of yellows and red.
"Right so a random child just magically appeared in the middle of the ocean." the sea monster sarcastically states.
"I'm not a child," you mumble under your breath.
You feel all of their gazes shift towards you as the words leave your mouth. Immediately you shrink in on yourself as you move your gaze towards the paddle. It's silent for a few seconds before Sun speaks up.
"Eclipse, why don't you hand them over to us and we will return them back home," reaching upward as he pleads.
"Why don't we let them decide," Eclipse starts, "Well little one would you like to go home?"
Your stomach drops from the word. Your face drains of color by how screwed you are. Tears form in your eyes as you contemplate the choices. Images of what your parents would do to you once you're returned causes you to shake the though away, mistakenly saying no.
A tentacle sneaks under your chin and gently lifts it up. His eyes inspects yours before falling back to the hunters. It stays like this for a moment as he processes your answer. Once he fully processes it he shift you back a little as he fixes his smile to be softer.
"Tell me little one, did you sneak onto my brother's ship?"
That seems to snap your thoughts to his statement. Looking back at the two they look and act human. Then when you observe the sea monster in front of you it they look totally different. Well from a small glance of his dark red skin and speckles of gold scales and the sharp frills that circle his head it's not that hard to see the difference.
"Brothers?" you ask as you curiously inspect him further.
"Yeah same dad different mom," he quickly states, before slightly squeezing you more. "Now answer my question. Why did you sneak onto their ship."
Opening your mouth to try to answer but nothing other than small chocking sounds come out. Small spasms spark throughout you body as your breath hitched. Your brain tries to form words together but it just becomes a jumble mess.
Why is he even asking? He is just going to eat you in the end so why does this matter? In the end you'll just be apart of his meal, so what's the point?
"Hand them over Eclipse," a raspy voice speaks up. "They're clearly not going to confess so just give them to Sun so we can return them home."
Eclipse glances towards the voice before returning it back to you. His grip looses a little as you begin to be lowered.
"NO!" you scream as panic took over.
The oar lifts up and slams into his finger, causing him to almost let go of you. Just as fast as the attack, darkness followed. The fingers squeezing you before released you, for your safety to not fall to your death, was instead cupped in his hands. This didn't seem to stop you though as you continue to thrash around. Muffled talking can be heard outside but are interrupted by your gasps of air.
You stop after a few minutes after realizing that he wasn't going to budge. It doesn't make you calm as tears continue to stream down you face. All you feel is dread. Dread for your possible death or reunion with you parents.
Once you prove that you weren't going to fight anymore Eclipse slowly opens his hands to evaluate your state. The best way he could put it was that you looked like a soaking wet kitten. You're guessing that's why he looks more concerned now. What's even weirder is him cradling you closer to his chest and carefully wiping away any stay tears.
"Are you quite done fighting me little one?" he quietly ask, as if any louder would scare you back into a panic.
You stare at him, contemplating your answer, when a gust of wind runs through you reminding you how cold it is. Shivering to generate any type of warmth you huddle closer to his hands. They were a lot warmer than you right now and you don't really have a choice.
A small displease hum escapes him. Your state, both mental and physical, was nothing he has seen before. Every human he has met carried themselves with confidence and arrogance. Even when they coward it was for a second chance at life. You however are the exact opposite.
"Do you want to go home?" He presses you more against the top of his chest. The warms lures you in as snuggle into it. You shake your head without thinking while your hands find something to grip in and holds it like it's a lifeline.
"OW! Ok I get it you don't want to go home! Can you let go of my gills!" A tentacle comes up to try to peel you hands off of him, but it proved futile.
If you let go then who knows what could happen. It was warm and felt almost safe. The feeling of safe is something you rarely felt, only really felt it when you're alone or with someone who has done no wrong to you. So in this situation, even though most would be terrified, you couldn't as he hasn't prove that he would do anything to you yet.
But you are hurting him. Instinctively you release your grip and start apologizing profusely. One of thumbs rests onto your lips, shushing you, then carefully lifts your head up. You don't focus on his face though, instead focusing on his gills. It fanned out over his shoulders. Black cover them with a gold line looping around. It looked almost silk like texture, kinda like a collar a clown would wear.
"Are you even listening to me little one?"
You nod to please him, but you weren't really. Your mind could focus on a lot with how much stress it's going through. it still causes your attention to rise, but your gaze land on his, what you guess to be, rays. They're look fleshy but get sharp at the ends. They match the collar, black making up most of it before fading to gold at the tips.
By the time you checked back into the conversation the three of them were arguing. They were all yelling over each other so you couldn't piece together a lot of what they were say. A few "you can't do that!" from the two hunters and a something like, "what else do you suggest I do?" from the sea monster. It had to do with what he wanted to do with you for sure, but what?
This is giving you a headache. Everything is sore from what you put it through. Exhaustion tugs at you consciousness, luring you to close your eyes and drift, but you don't let it. As much as waking up to the decision being done, if you can even can do that, it's not the option you should take. Reason still rings through your brain enough to make decisions.
"I don't think they should go home. Their reaction stated as much," Eclipse replied.
That finally got you to look at him, or more like stare. If he isn't taking you home then the only other option is to become his next snack. By the way the brothers were arguing for you to go home it seems that they already know what's going to happen.
But then why does he look so pitiful.
"Then what will you do to her? You don't even know them or their actions," Moon shouts below.
This prickles something in you. He is correct that Eclipse doesn't know them, but he doesn't either. The audacity he has to defend them.
"Not fucking a fish, that's for sure."
Why did you say that? Your emotions were all over the place that you didn't think before speaking. It doesn't matter anyways, his pleas would do nothing. You just hope that it's quick.
Instead though, a cackle cuts through the air. It causes your ears to start ringing making you cover them for protection. His frame shakes with laughter causing you to follow along. Eventually it dies to low snickering as he gaze back at you with an amused look.
"I don't doubt that," a small chuckles escapes before continuing, "God I haven't laugh that much in a long time." You tilt you head at that response, but he keeps going. "You almost remind me of myself when I was still a little guppy. A small pathetic creature until you're taught to hunt, then your becoming the most feared being in the sea. Hm…"
He draws out the hum as he pokes and prods at you with tentacles. You try your best with the strength you had left to smack them off of you. You are able to get a few off of you before giving up. This once again earns you another chuckle from him.
"I think I can work with this. It'll be a lot of work, but I was taught by the best so it shouldn't be too much trouble. "
Now you defiantly staring at him with a tilt of the head. Nothing he is saying is making any sense. There was only one other option so what could he possibly be implying otherwise. Maybe he is just toying with you and giving you hope before ripping it away. You already learned not to hold any.
"Are you going to eat me yet?" you ask, trying your best not to stutter.
Now it's his turn to look confused. He though he made it clear he wasn't. You must have some form of head injury with how you're acting. That is a future problem for him though.
"No, quiet the opposite. You will officially become my offspring. For however long I see fit you will live with me and learn how to be a feared being."
Everyone falls silent. The words pound into your head brick. They make sense when put together, but the meaning makes your head spin. He wants to adopt you? No, that can't be right. Why would he want you? No one wanted you. Everyone looked the other way when it came to help and blamed it on you. Being told that you won't be loved over and over until it's branded onto you. Until you start to believe it.
Yet why does he feel so different.
From the way he looks at you with not just pity like everyone else, but also compassion. No that's not quite it. It more like when you see a stray animal in bad condition. You feel a weird mix of concern, pity, care, and understanding. Something that makes you sick.
He hold you close for warmth. Surely he is freezing the longer he stays above the surface, but he doesn't so you won't. Holding you like a cracked porcelain doll that will shatter with little pressure. More care than you have ever gotten. It's almost too good to be true.
"You can't be serious," Moon claims, breaking the long stretch of silence.
"Do you know how to take care of a child? They are human so you can't just take them without risking them drowning," Sun speaks up with a hint of nervousness in his voice.
These causes Eclipse to roll his eyes. Annoyed with his brothers he cause a huge wave with his tentacles to push the little raft away. He already had his fun with them and he doesn't need them to ruin anything else for him. They scream and shout, but they can't do anything about it. He has made up his mind and it can not be changed.
He brings his attention back onto you as he sinks more of himself into the water until only his shoulders and head rest above it. The sea calmed with him as he processes his next moves. They were right about you drowning if he was to take you home. His cave had no air pockets so he will have to find one with it. Now thinking about it he did see a one inhabited by a smaller leviathan. He could kill it them and make it your new home.
Something pokes his cheek causing him to snap out of the thought. You sit closer to him with a hand still out. Fear coats your face like you had just done something wrong. In your eyes the is a subtle shake as if you are reliving a memory and waiting for the outcome.
The outcome of that will never come as a small sigh is release before lightly petting you. You melt into it as you slink back into the warmth of his hands. You don't look happy, more like tired and detached from the situation.
A shive take over you form as the wind picks back up. You aren't going to sleep anytime soon with cold aching in your bones. This signals him to start looking for that cave. Cupping you closer he slowly glides through the water. A quiet tune floats the air pulling you eyelids closer together.
You brain tries to shut off where you don't even think before asking, "Why do you care."
This causes him to momentarily stop and think. You can guess what answer he will give, something like you will be useful to him or I feel sorry for you. Less likely the second one, but still held no weight.
He looks at you with a gentle expression before answering, "Because I want to."
He doesn't explain further as he goes back to his mission, letting the words settle. It's such a simple answer that feels like there should be more, but then the it looses it meaning. He cares simply because he wants to. Anyone can care, it's easy with it being in our nature, though it takes a lot to want to act on it.
This baffles you. Why would he want to when he doesn't know anything about you. He doesn't know about your pain or scares. Hell he just ate dozens of humans without a care in the world, so why does he want to care for you?
What makes you so different?
It doesn't matter. He wants to help you and who are you to refuse. Things could finally be alright.
You can finally feel safe.
Your eyelids shut as sleep pulls you in. For once in a long time, you can't even remember when the last time was, you smile. The humming gets quieter as you fall deeper. The warmth grows, covering you like a blanket.
"Thank you," you whisper before drifting off.
