Captivity

Chapter 6: It All Starts With One

The jet black mer rolled over to one side, arms stretching out across the sands with a contented yawn. The water was warm, and the tide lulled gently from side to side; his belly was full, and it all made him feel happy and lazy. He wasn't entirely sure why he felt that way, considering that he knew the world around him was an imitation, and that he was trapped. Perhaps it had just been the fish. It had been a long time since he'd had a meal that satisfying, even out in the open waters, he couldn't remember such a large variety of flavors. It left him licking over his fangs at the memory, almost able to taste it. But there was still something different. Something he couldn't place; and it wasn't the taste of the food.

Jolting upwards, he tumbled back as soon as he felt the odd tug at the back of his head. A hiss building in his throat as he whirled, claws drawn and aimed at his attacker, and yet, there wasn't one. There was no sign of any enemy. However, the nagging pull was still there, agitating the back of his head. He squirmed, struggling to grasp at whatever was causing his distress. Catching it in his fingers and yanking, the harassing object pulled free, and he could finally view the pest for what it was.

What graced him wasn't what he had expected. Stretched around his fingertips, was a purple band, elastic in its nature, and yet resisting the strain his hands put upon it. It was an odd, unfamiliar thing. It left the mer puzzling over where it had come from or why it was even in his hair to start with. But the more he stared at it, the more familiar it had become, and the scent that lingered on it told him just who it belonged to. He could see it in his memory, the purple glinting in the light from where it rested, tied up in smooth black hair.

His eyes widened in realization. This belonged to the human female, Sam; that was what he heard them call her. He found it was an odd sounding call, and that it was near impossible to make himself, but the fact that she would respond to it when the others made that sound, made him sure it was a call she identified by. But why would she give him something like this, a part of herself? She couldn't possibly hold that sort of interest in him, and yet right in front of him was the one thing that threw him for a loop.

The dark mer held a hand up to his chest, trying to settle his beating heart. In all the years he'd spent alone along the reefs, his call unheard within the wild waters; he'd never believed that with losing his freedom, he'd find a possible mate. The problem, she was a whole world away, both in species, and in communication.

How was any of this going to work? He couldn't even speak the same language, let alone call her name. A soft whine hung within his throat, and his ear fins lowered as he brought his gaze back down upon the tie within his hands. It was such a simple object, with such a complex meaning. The first sign that she was wanting to reach out to him, to get to know him, to be a part of him. If she was willing to try and breach the barrier between their worlds, why shouldn't he?

The creaking sound of a door interrupted his thoughts. He blinked, mildly confused; it was too early for her to be here. His eyes narrowed as his senses honed in on the intruder, making his way to the surface to get a look at who dared to step into the exhibit. It may have been a prison to him, but this prison was still his domain, and he wasn't about to let anyone waltz in like they owned the place.

Cresting the surface, he watched in silence as the man drew near, and quickly recognized the redheaded male for who he was. He'd never liked the man, but then again it was like that with most males. Probably the only reason he tolerated the scientist was that he smelt familial, rather than a potential competitor. But if he was family, then perhaps it was wiser to not make an enemy of the human male.

The biologist was currently meddling with a number of the containers that lined the wall along the far end of the patio. He'd always been confused as to what they were. All he knew was that some of them smelled of food. In truth, he wasn't far off. It was just that the food wasn't meant for him.