Page 1 of Trapped By Claws
OTTER IN THE WATER
Adark, serpentine shape shot out from beneath the stern of the ship, closing in on the lone otter.
I gasped, leaning out over the carved octopus figure at the back of the ship, my long auburn hair swinging over my shoulders. "Swim faster, little guy!" My fingers pressed hard against the painted wood.
What was that otter doing out here all alone? Where was its family?
The otter sliced through the deep-blue waters, but it stood no chance of escaping the enormous eel that chased after it. Even if it managed to get onto one of the small white stone islands that dotted the watery landscape, the eel could easily snatch the poor creature in its jaws.
I balled my hands into fists and struck the wood as I stared after the terrified creature. Its dark-brown tail swept desperately through the waters.
The poor baby!
It was all alone out here. And that giant green-and-yellow eel was bearing down on it, its long dorsal fin and sleek back slicing through the water.
The eel was going to eat it.
No!
Nature might be cruel, but that didn't mean I had to stay up here and watch the carnage.
I swept my hand down to the ring clip at my side, pulling up the mini-crossbow. It clattered against my wooden stew spoon and flint stick. Fingers steady, I loaded a blue bolt into the narrow slot. A single bolt was enough to stun most predators of the sea. Captain Hosvir might not approve of this, as it wasn't one of their enormous hunting otters at risk, but who cared? Let him be mad.
The wind was all but gone today. It had been that way for days. All I had to account for was the gentle rise and fall of the ship. I hooked my leg around one of the wooden tentacles, leaned down, aimed, and squeezed the trigger.
The blue bolt shot through the air, faster than the eel, almost as quick as the wave sliding over its lengthy body. With a sharpthwick, the bolt embedded in the eel's hide. The eel lurched back, its tail drooping down into the water. Its head spun about, bright-green eyes blinking as if in shock. Then it sunk out of sight.
Yes!
Success!
Half a breath more and I'd once again secured the mini-crossbow to my belt alongside the wooden spoon. Then I hopped back from the carved cephalopod onto the deck. I grabbed a sling, seized one of the knotted ropes, secured the sling, and cast the rope over the side.
The otter circled in the waters below, whimpering. As it rolled onto its back, I glimpsed its right paw. It was lighter and smaller, almost twisted or deformed.
Poor thing.
Was that why it was circling instead of swimming away? Maybe it had nowhere else to go. I certainly understood that.Obviously, I had to help it. Otherwise, it'd be easy prey for whatever other predators lurked in these waters.
"Hang on, little guy!" I grabbed up the knotted rope, checked to ensure it was properly secured, and swung off the side of the ship.
My stomach dropped as I fell off the edge.
This was a move I'd struggled to learn when I first got on the ship. But weeks of practice allowed me to swing off the side of the ship and land on the stone. The otter had come alongside the table-sized island of smooth white rock and was now near the single trunk-like column in the island's corner.
Had to be quick. Didn't want to get clawed or bit.
Stooping down, I scooped the otter up. It was heavier and larger than it looked, about the size of a small child. Rivulets of water streamed off it, soaking my dress as I held it close.
But the otter didn't struggle or fight. It didn't even appear slightly frightened. It patted my cheek and pushed its whiskered snout against my face.
It smelled of fish, salt, wet fur, and algae, not quite as pleasant up close as from a distance.
Then it hugged me.
My heart melted. "Oh. Oh, little baby." What could I do but hug it right back?
That fishy, furry scent was no longer so jarring.
