The True Confessions of a Nine-Tailed Fox

Chapter 167: When You Offend the Wrong Goddess

The "wrong" goddess? How had she managed to offend any goddess at all?

Lodia was so shocked that she started to ask which one and why, but when her lips parted, a stream of bubbles escaped. She clamped them shut again. Never mind which goddess had decided to execute her! Air! She needed air!

Stripey's claws released her tunic at last. She prayed that it was because he'd decided to save himself, not because he'd drowned.

With her free hand, she pried at the tentacle around her wrist. Now that the oystragon had dropped his mirage, she could see the spirit who held her fast. It was an octopus, wearing an official-looking helmet.

Let me go! she thought desperately and futilely at the spirits. Or at least let me say something before you kill me!

Her nails skidded off the octopus' skin, without leaving so much as a scratch. Her lungs burned, and in spite of herself, her mouth opened to gasp for the air that wasn't there. She sucked in water – not much, but enough to make her choke, and then cough reflexively, which only made her suck in more water and choke harder.

She was going to die. She was really going to die.

No!

Panicking, she kicked and beat at the octopus, but it just wrapped more tentacles around her wrists, her waist, her legs, pinning her arms to her sides and squeezing the last of the air out of her lungs.

I can't die. Not now. Not like this. Please. Please, someone help me. Kitchen God, haven't I done everything I can to spread your worship? Please, if anything I have ever done in my life has pleased you, save me!

But there was no burst of divine light, no Heavenly presence in the water. It was cold and dark, and she was out of air, and she was going to die alone, far from home, abandoned by the gods.

The last thing she saw before her vision went black was the oystragon's gleaming fangs. "I'll make it quick and painless, human girl," he promised. "Like I said, it's not personal."

Stripey exploded out of the water, feathers plastered to his skin and so much smaller than usual that he looked like he'd been plucked for the cookpot.

Stripey! You're alive!

I sped over to him, right as his wet feathers dragged him back under.

Hang on! Don't sink! We'll get you out of here! Dusty! I yelled at the horse, who was swimming in useless circles, hunting a foe who had long since escaped into the depths. Dusty! Get over here and help Stripey!

Although I half-expected him to snort something about how he was the Valiant Prince and required the appropriate obsequies, he swam for us at once. He treaded water next to Stripey, and I grabbed the crane's forehead and pulled until he managed to haul himself onto the horse's back. Stripey collapsed in a heap of feathers.

Stripey! Are you okay? What happened down there? Did you find Lodia?

"Let him breathe!" Dusty scolded me, sounding oddly like Floridiana. "Where's Mage Flori?"

I blinked at him, then scanned the ocean. There was no sign of her. She went to help Stripey and Lodia! Where did she go?

I looked at Stripey for answers, but he was coughing too hard to speak.

"Bird, I can't believe you lost both of our humans – "

I did not lose both of our humans! And anyway, Floridiana is a mage. She can take care of herself. I've seen her literally walk underwater!