With a Flick of my Tail

Captive

...... Consciousness took over ever so slowly. My head throbbing so much I thought my head would burst. Slowly, I blinked my eyes a few times. Water was running and dripping. It sounds like a cave. I finally opened my eyes all the way, and, sure enough, it was a cave. I sat up trying to get a good look at everything. I was lying on sand. In fact, the ground was covered in it. The cave was shaped like a dome with a few columns of rocks everywhere. They looked as if they were carved to look like actual Grecian columns. There was a pool of water in here, and a stream that led down into that pool. There was a door on the right wall facing the pool. I decided I would go check it out.

Gingerly, I stood up, testing my legs and my arms to make sure nothing was damaged or broken. Thankfully, none were. I crept over to the door and peeked out - nothing greeted me but darkness. Suddenly, I heard whispering coming from the other side of the cave.

"Yes. I'm sure it's her. She has the tattoo.", a girl whispered.

"Tattoo? You mean?", a boy replied in shock.

Curious, I followed the voices until gradually they grew louder.

"Yep. She's one of them.", the girl replied.

"So that means we can finally leave?", another girl said.

"Yes. She's the only one who can do it.", Girl 1 spoke.

I must have kicked a pebble or something because one of them growled and got on the defensive.

"Who's there?"

"Show yourself.", the boy commanded.

Gingerly, I walked out from behind the cave wall I was listening to them from behind.

"I assume you heard everything.", Girl 1 said. I nodded. Now that I could see her, she has brown hair and greenish eyes. It's dim in here, so I can't make out features that well. She sounds like the alpha. "Alpha's mate actually." My eyes went big. "Yes, I can read minds. The name's Megan, but you can call me Meg. This is Louis and Sophie." She pointed to the girl behind them and the guy beside her who waved. "What's yours?"

"Dana.", I replied.

"Well then, Dana, welcome to day one of the rest of your life.", she said and walked off.

"Eh... Don't mind her. She's just upset.", Louis said.

"About what?", I replied.

"The owners here have lengthened her time in view."

"In view of what?"

He sighed. "We're in a cage here, Dana. It may not seem like it, but this zoo we are in -"

"Wait. Zoo?"

"Yeah.", Sophie replied. "The South Florida Zoo. It's actually a pretty zoo - if you aren't locked up, that is."

"Wait. Why are we locked up?"

"We're werewolves. The owners captured us. They force us to go out to entertain as wolves. They think you are a werewolf, too. But we know better. We know what you are. You have the mark and scent of a mermaid, but you're no ordinary mermaid. You're a pure blood. I guess they put you in here with us because you were last seen hanging around Nate, the alpha's son of the local pack.", Louis replied.

"I knew it."

"Knew what?"

"That Nate's a werewolf."

His face went red, and he started scratching the back of his head. "Oh, so you didn't know before I told you?"

"No... well, sort of. I had my suspicions. You kind of figure it out when he starts growling to a bunch of boys. Plus he said I was his mate." I paused and they gasped. "That's a werewolf term, right?"

"Uh.... Yeah. A mate is basically a soul mate. They are lifelong partners that are meant for each other."

I just stood there in shock. "Oh."

Louis nodded his head. "Yeah. 'Oh.'"

"I'm just wondering because I've spent practically my whole life under water. "

Now it was his turn to stare at me in shock. "Wow. That must have been amazing."

"It was pretty cool. You get used to it after a while, but it was still cool." Just as I finished saying this, a lock on the door behind me clicked before the door opened.

We turned around to see a boy around my age staying in the doorway. The three werewolves in the room with me growled menacingly at him. "You." He pointed at me. "Come with me." He said, as he walked out. I gulped, hesitant to follow. He poked his head back in. "Now.", he added and walked back out. This time I followed him. I wanted to know why I was here.

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Here's the new update! I hope you enjoyed it!

- Stephanie Ann