Between Scylla and Charybdis

Chapter 10.

Charybdis hated these mer. He hated their stupid nonsensical customs. He hated that spiky bastard in particular. He hated the body he was in, despite it being modified to suit his needs better. He hated the crowd for their "Ooh's" and "Aah's" every time blood was drawn.

When he noticed Scython rushing towards him, it was as if time slowed down. He'd noticed the danger a mere second before Scylla did, but it was enough to buy himself some time. The way he saw it, he had a choice. He could save himself, get himself out of harm's way, leaving Scylla smack dab in the path of that quilled bastard to fend for herself. Or...

Or he couldn't.

One option was remarkably more appealing than the other. Why was he even considering this? His sense of self-preservation flared up, his body screaming for him to move.

Charybdis pulled Scylla into an embrace and curled around her. His mind exploded into searing hot pain as his back got torn to shreds. Then everything turned dark.

When he awoke again, it was still dark, but not unnaturally so. Cold stone surrounded him, stalactites and stalagmites protruded from above and below. A trio of green crystals vaguely illuminated the room. He was inside. How did he end up back in the cavern? While raking his mind, Charybdis tried getting up, raising his body weight on his arms.

That small movement was enough to make the muscles in his back scream in agony. He instantly dropped back down, letting out a tormented moan.

A small silver colored female with spotted fins poked her head from around a corner, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.

'You are awake! Barnacles, that's quick.' She rushed towards him, carrying an assortment of bundles wrapped in seaweed. Charybdis tensed. He couldn't move and the mer came straight at him, all his instincts flared up and he let out a rumbling growl originating from his chest.

'Stay the fuck away from me.' He hissed with a hoarse voice, his claws sunk into the brittle rock beneath him. The female halted, but only for a second.

'You need these.' She gestured towards the bundles pressed against her chest. 'For the pain. I'm not done yet.'

'Done with what?' his throat was parched so the words came out as a wheeze.

The female advanced forward, pointing at his back. 'Removing those.'

Charybdis did his best to turn and look, but all he could make out were shapes of black sticking out of his flesh. Some memories came rushing back.

'That bastard.' he grunted.

Scython had cheated. Why hadn't he thought of that? Charybdis furrowed his brow and tried getting up again. More pain seared through his back and he plopped back down with a short defeated thud.

'You're not going anywhere until we remove all of those I'm afraid. I had hoped to get them while you were still unconscious though.'

The female started unpacking the different bundles, placing them by his side. He eyed them with no small amount of suspicion.

'I'm Gaia.' She introduced herself.

This female was even smaller than Scylla, Charybdis didn't think that was possible, but it was true. An itch krept up his throat as he watched her trail past one of his clawed hands. It would be all too easy to grab and subdue her, even in the state he was in. He could force his wounds to close if given enough energy. He entertained the thought for a moment, carefully reaching for the female's wrist as she unpacked what looked to be salves.

'Scylla asked me to treat you.' she gleefully continued, unaware of the immediate danger she was in. 'We grew up together, she's a year older than me, but we're thick as thieves.' She grinned. 'It's rare for her to make friends. From what I gather, she quite enjoys you as well.' Gaia leaned in front of his face so he could see and coily rolled her eyebrows at him. He was unfamiliar with the gesture, but something about the female's behavior gave him pause.