Between Scylla and Charybdis

Prologue

'This year's the year!' Scylla's mother loudly exclaimed to anyone willing to listen. Seeing as she was the Matron and ruler of the pod, quite a lot were willing to listen... Scylla cringed, desperately rubbing a webbed hand over her forehead, picking at the freshy formed mark, hoping that if she just rubbed it hard enough, it would disappear again.

Alas she didn't have such luck. She was Three-marked now. An almost-adult. Pretty soon her fourth mark would appear and then she's be well and truly fucked. Both in the figurative and literal sense of the word. Scylla's nails dug into her sides, teeth grinding against each other. Three or Four-marked Mers were eligible to find a mate and her mother wouldn't waste any time to volunteer her for this year's ritual. After all, now that Scylla was of age, she could take over her mothers role as Matron.

It had taken mother five litters to finally, after an agonizing labor, birth a daughter. Scylla had been treasured, pampered and known no trouble up until now. But the birth of a daughter had put the rite of succession in motion. Mother would gradually lose her powers and the pod would weaken if Scylla did not take over the role of Matron. She knew what was expected of her, but it came too soon. Along with the responsibilities of looking after the pod, Scylla dreaded losing her freedom to the whims and needs of her kind. They'd all look at her, wide eyed and expecting. Deep down, Scylla hated them for that. Why did she have to take care of them? Protect them? She did not owe them anything?!

Upset, Scylla tried rushing past her mother back into her chambers, but the Matron struck out like a mantis shrimp and took hold of Scylla's Wrist.

'Where do you think you're going? We have lot's to prepare, So many things you still need to learn before the ritual.'

'I won't join.'

'Oh, don't be ridiculous. There's nothing to worry about. Once I send word that you are eligible, prospects will come from far and wide. Only the best is good enough for you dear.'

Attracting a mate wasn't what worried Scylla... She'd inherited her mothers looks. Dark scales framing a sharp face, streaks of bright red running down her neck turning into an ebony tail. Flaming Orange eyes to top it off. Her rare colors alone would have prospects tripping over each other. No, looks wouldn't be the problem.

'I'm not ready.' she yipped. 'Look at me! Do I look fit to lead?' pointing at her petite frame. A Matron tended to be an imposing figure with a tail that continued to grow until they eventually became Five-marked. Pretty as she may be,imposing she was anything but.

Her mother smacked her lips and narrowed her eyes in a way that made Scylla's scales crawl.

'We all start somewhere dear. Don't argue with me. This is how it is done. You'll become stronger before you know it.' Scylla wanted to say something, anything, but her mothers gaze was fierce, she wouldn't tolerate anymore discussion.

'You'll be great!' Her mother purred, content at seeing her daughter's submission. 'You'll see! And once you have a mate and some pups, you'll think back to today and see how silly you're being. Trust me.'

Ah yes, pups. Scylla felt her stomach turn. Yet another one of those lovely responsibilities that came with leadership. Like her mother before her, she'd have to give birth to a daughter or risk losing her line. The males in her pod outnumbered females five to one, piece of cake, right? What could go wrong?

She wasn't ready. Not for a mate, not for pups, not for making everyone's stupid life choices for them. They could tell themselves what to do and whirl themselves into a maelstrom for all she cared. But getting her mother to see that would be impossible. Unless she came up with a plan...

-

Down in the darkest deepest depths of the chasm of bones, Charybdis twisted around himself lazily. Stretching his tail until the soft chitin underbelly cracked some of the bones that made up his bedding. Something yelped and he noticed a green flash of fins out of the corner of his eye. His gaze slowly wandered across his lair to the little makeshift bonecage he used to keep his food in. The young green mer pressed itself as far back as he could, the whites of his eyes clearly visible. Charybdis grinned, baring his fangs in the process and the creature shrank down even more. He'd almost forgotten his catch. Not knowing what to do with it, he'd tossed it into the cage and took a well deserved post-feed nap. There originally had been two after all...

'What's your name, little one?' He mused. The mer tensed up at the sound. It took him a moment to realize he'd been addressed.

'Rudeus...'

'Well met Rudeus. I'm sorry you and your friend found yourself in my path yesterday. Didn't you know to stay away from a hags lair? What's the rhyme again? Attention wee fish o' mine, stay at home, lest the fiends of the deep rip flesh from bone? Or something like that? I only know it from hearsay.' he hummed gleefully.

Rudeus did not seem to find his taunting amusing, his face twisting in anger and fear alike.

'We're... I am not from around here, I had no idea who lived in this chasm.' He paused, mulling over his words. Charybdis knew what would come next though.

'Please sire, We didn't know. I promise if you let me go, you'll never see me again.'

'Oh, don't be so boring! It's always the same with you Mer! Please sire, have mercy sire. Don't you ever have anything interesting to tell? Believe it or not, there isn't a lot of stimulating conversation to be had down here. Tell me Rudeus...-' The hag pulled himself upright to his full height, towering above the cage and hunching over it. His joints cracked as his tail shifted around the room soundlessly. 'What brings you so far away from home and into my territory?'

The Mer fell silent, glancing back and forth between the hag and the makeshift cage.

'If I tell you, you'll let me go?'

Charybdis frowned.

'If it's interesting enough, sure. I've already eaten after all and I don't eat my greens.' He jokingly purred before leaning in closer.

'Out with it.'

Rudeus took a moment, but then started prattling on about how he was on his way to this yearly mating ritual. It was to be held under the next full moon. Charybdis felt his interest wane with each consecutive syllable, until a very specific word got muttered.

'This year will be especially big, because the Matron's daughter will partake.'

'The Matron?' The hag's head cocked to one side. Agathis is stepping aside and letting her welp take over. How interesting.

Charybdis never met Agathis face to face, he only knew her name, because he dealt with her mother in the past. Back then, he actively hunted the Mer. It was safe to say that he wasn't a very good neighbor. Once Agathis was born, they struck a deal. partly out of some motherly sense of protection as well as his own sense of self-preservation.  He'd refrain from hunting her subjects, and in return, they'd leave him in peace, free to prey upon every other creature that wandered into his territory without repercussion.

Charybdis begrudgingly accepted, he wasn't as big back then as he was now. If the Matron chose to send her guard after him, the fight would be a bloody mess. One he probably wouldn't have won. That was over a hundred years ago though... He'd gotten quite a bit bigger since then... And now history is about to repeat itself. Agathis' welp will inherit her mothers powers and the pod will in turn be vulnerable for a while... Charybdis smelled an opportunity. Why settle for the odd stray, when he could have access to a buffet?

I've always been fascinated with those weird little customs of your kind, Rudeus. Tell me more about this 'Ritual'.