Reborn as a Side Character in the Beastworld

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-seven

As we watched Muir go, Mitchell turned to me with a wide smile, "Great. Now that that's settled. That means I get to spend everyday with you until the bird gets back. What would you like to do first?" His eyes roamed up and down my body, "I'd love to reacquaint myself with your...with you."

I grimaced in disgust, "I'm going on a date and you're staying here."

One thick black eyebrow rose on his tan face, "A date? What's a date? And why can't I come with you?"

I placed my hands firmly on my hips, "I don't feel like explaining that to you."

Winston was the first to bring up a logical plan, "You will be allowed to stay within the village, but you will be monitored at all times. Lance, you and I will have to make a schedule."

Lance whirled on the tiger, "A schedule!? Bah. Let's just leave him on the sandbar. It's not like he can swim and escape." He placed a contemplative hand on his chin, "Or maybe he can stay with the fishes in a bubble for two weeks. Yes. That sounds like a great idea." He nodded happily.

Mitchell's face paled as he waved his arms to ward off Lance's plans, "Wait. Wait. Wait. Don't do that. I'll be good. I'll just...I can..." He looked around and after finding a sunny and dry boulder twenty feet or so from the shore, sat down. "I'll sit right here. For two weeks. I won't move from this spot. Promise." He smiled as innocently as a venomous bug.

I sighed, shook my head, and looked at Winston, "Do what you must but don't kill him." Then, I gave my fox cub a stern look, "Kit, stay away from him. I'll be back before nightfall." Turning to Bluepool who had been watching it all curiously from the water, I said, "Let's go."

Bluepool perked up at that and immediately started blowing a large bubble. I had agreed to the date, but the weather was too cold for a swim. I was wearing two layers beneath a tiger skin leather jacket, the stripes as clear on the tanned skin as they were on the fur. My snakeskin leggings were tucked into thigh high leather boots. I thought I looked biker chic but instead of a crotch rocket, I'd be zorbing to whatever destination the mer had planned.

"If you don't want to be salted and preserved as emergency food, then you'll do as they say and stay put." Lance warned Mitchell before turning to follow me to the water.

Pushing past the viscous membrane, I eased myself into a sitting position inside the gently bobbing ball. And with one last look back at the males and my cubs, we departed. I wasn't worried about them managing without me. Nor was I worried about Mitchell causing issues. My men were capable. The feeling of assurance I had in them made my chest feel warm. In such a short time we had been through so much, but we had conquered it all. Not once in my last life had I felt so confident in those around me. I never relied on anyone like this before being reborn. Most humans hadn't been reliable. It was an incredibly freeing feeling and I made a mental note to ask my mates when I got back what I could do so they could also feel like this.

Bluepool used his muscular tail to propel us across the water like a speedboat with Lance following through the stern wake. The sun was high and, in an hour, it would be the warmest part of the day. It only took half that time to reach our destination.

Following the coast and passing the sheer rock walls of Eagle Cliffs, Bluepool sped us east. The cold water splashed around me, and I watched as we approached a narrow plateau that jutted out from the coast with a tall arched opening towards the tip of it. It almost looked like an elephant using her trunk to drink the salty blue water. Small whirlpools spun lazily around where the trunk's tip sank into the sea.

We sailed through the gap, then the mer angled us towards the coast and a giant cave opening. A shiver of trepidation went up my spine but we were only in darkness for a moment before we reached the dead-end of a hidden beach. Like sitting at the bottom of a coffee mug, the walls were tall and sheer, but the top opened up to clear blue sky. The wide crescent of soft yellow sand bordered a smattering of palms and tall grasses. The water that had seemed tumultuous outside was gently lapping at the beach and the whooshing gurgling sounds of the tide echoed up the stone. It was beautiful and isolated with only the hermit crabs scuttling along for company.

"This is beautiful." I said in awe as Bluepool placed my bubble on the sand and popped it to release me.

The handsome mer beamed at me, "I thought you might like it. The cave opening is usually underwater. The tide is only this low during certain seasons and times of day."

Lance slithered up the beach and after finding the sunniest spot, stretched out the massive length of his body contentedly.

I squatted down to touch the soft sand and scooped it into my palm. Blocked from the wind and directly beneath the midday sun, the sand was warm. I slipped off my boots and rolled up the edges of my leggings to let my toes wiggle and sink into it. I moaned at the pleasant sensation. Bluepool's smile faltered and he blushed a little at the sound. Then he swapped his tail for legs, not bothering to cover himself, and hurriedly headed for the trees.

He soon came back to me with his arms full of supplies. "I brought some things that I thought you might like. After you told me what a picnic was, I made sure to prepare blankets, firewood, snacks and plenty of fresh water." He set the bundle on the ground and then took out a large cloth, waving it in the air to unfold it and lay it on the sand. It wasn't like anything I'd ever seen. The fabric was green and though it was an interwoven design of wide strands, it didn't seem to be cotton or wool.

"What's it made from?" I asked, reaching out to feel the texture. It felt like what I remember tatami to feel like. Smooth but deceptively springy.

"It's made from a type of seagrass. Only us mers know how to make it. It takes a long time to weave it all together but it will keep the sand from sticking to you. I brought two in case you wanted to hang one between the trees like how some birds make nests between branches."

I imagined the cloth tied like a hammock and became excited at the prospect of swaying gently in the shade should the sun become to strong for my skin. I smiled at Bluepool in approval, "That sounds lovely."

Again he blushed and his boyish grin returned. With a spring in his step, he moved to immediately set up the hammock. I admired his backside for a moment before lowering myself to the blanket and laying flat to look up at the sky. The few clouds drifted slowly, merging and splitting into imaginative shapes. I hadn't felt this languid in ages. With no cubs or villagers to demand my attention, I could let my mind wander to unimportant things. This date was quickly becoming a mini vacation and I promised myself to enjoy it for all it for as long as possible.