Trapped By Claws (Of Seas and Tides)

1. Otter in the Water

Adark, serpentine shape shot out from beneath the stern of the ship, closing in on the lone otter.

I gasped, leaning out over the carved octopus figure at the back of the ship, my long auburn hair swinging over my shoulders. "Swim faster, little guy!" My fingers pressed hard against the painted wood.

What was that otter doing out here all alone? Where was its family?

The otter sliced through the deep-blue waters, but it stood no chance of escaping the enormous eel that chased after it. Even if it managed to get onto one of the small white stone islands that dotted the watery landscape, the eel could easily snatch the poor creature in its jaws.

I balled my hands into fists and struck the wood as I stared after the terrified creature. Its dark-brown tail swept desperately through the waters.

The poor baby!

It was all alone out here. And that giant green-and-yellow eel was bearing down on it, its long dorsal fin and sleek back slicing through the water.

The eel was going to eat it.

No!

Nature might be cruel, but that didn't mean I had to stay up here and watch the carnage.

I swept my hand down to the ring clip at my side, pulling up the mini-crossbow. It clattered against my wooden stew spoon and flint stick. Fingers steady, I loaded a blue bolt into the narrow slot. A single bolt was enough to stun most predators of the sea. Captain Hosvir might not approve of this, as it wasn't one of their enormous hunting otters at risk, but who cared? Let him be mad.

The wind was all but gone today. It had been that way for days. All I had to account for was the gentle rise and fall of the ship. I hooked my leg around one of the wooden tentacles, leaned down, aimed, and squeezed the trigger.

The blue bolt shot through the air, faster than the eel, almost as quick as the wave sliding over its lengthy body. With a sharp thwick, the bolt embedded in the eel's hide. The eel lurched back, its tail drooping down into the water. Its head spun about, bright-green eyes blinking as if in shock. Then it sunk out of sight.

Yes!

Success!

Half a breath more and I'd once again secured the mini-crossbow to my belt alongside the wooden spoon. Then I hopped back from the carved cephalopod onto the deck. I grabbed a sling, seized one of the knotted ropes, secured the sling, and cast the rope over the side.

The otter circled in the waters below, whimpering. As it rolled onto its back, I glimpsed its right paw. It was lighter and smaller, almost twisted or deformed.

Poor thing.

Was that why it was circling instead of swimming away? Maybe it had nowhere else to go. I certainly understood that. Obviously, I had to help it. Otherwise, it'd be easy prey for whatever other predators lurked in these waters.

"Hang on, little guy!" I grabbed up the knotted rope, checked to ensure it was properly secured, and swung off the side of the ship.

My stomach dropped as I fell off the edge.

This was a move I'd struggled to learn when I first got on the ship. But weeks of practice allowed me to swing off the side of the ship and land on the stone. The otter had come alongside the table-sized island of smooth white rock and was now near the single trunk-like column in the island's corner.

Had to be quick. Didn't want to get clawed or bit.

Stooping down, I scooped the otter up. It was heavier and larger than it looked, about the size of a small child. Rivulets of water streamed off it, soaking my dress as I held it close.

But the otter didn't struggle or fight. It didn't even appear slightly frightened. It patted my cheek and pushed its whiskered snout against my face.

It smelled of fish, salt, wet fur, and algae, not quite as pleasant up close as from a distance.

Then it hugged me.

My heart melted. "Oh. Oh, little baby." What could I do but hug it right back?

That fishy, furry scent was no longer so jarring.

A knot of emotion formed in my throat. The first time anyone had hugged me in weeks, and it was an otter? Yeah. Actually…this wasn't so bad. Little baby was good at hugging.

"Come on. I'll get you to the ship, and then we'll get you some nice fish. Would you like that, baby?" I stroked its back, my posture relaxing.

The otter perked up, lifting its head from my shoulder. Whiskers twitching, it let out a series of sharp, trilling chirps.

I turned.

A dark shape shot toward us in the water.

Salt's bane!

Was that the same eel?

I'd hit it right in the body with that dart. The eel should have been out of it for another five or ten minutes. Similar bolts had taken down beasts far bigger than it.

But that yellow-and-green striping was so distinctive. It was the same one.

Adjusting my grip on the otter, I fished out another capped bolt from my pocket and seized the mini-crossbow at my side.

Why hadn't I just climbed back on the ship? This was what I got for delaying. At least I'd practiced this enough times to load it one-handed?—

The otter wriggled and tore the crossbow out of my hand.

"Wait! What?" I struggled to hold onto the otter when it knocked the bolt from between my fingers too.

With a yelp, I fell back. The bolt rolled into the water, and the crossbow clattered onto the coarse white stone.

The otter leaped from my arms, snatched up the crossbow, and dove into the water.

The little bastard!

My hand went to my hip once more. Salt's bane! I wasn't wearing a dagger, and I'd left my paring knife in the kitchen. All I had was my stew spoon.

I sprang to the corner column of rock. Not even a pebble marred this island's surface, so there was nothing to throw. I cringed against the stone as the eel rose up out of the water.

"Mmmphhhhh—" The eel reared up out of the waves, water spilling from its squared head. It brought its jaws toward me.

Glaring, I pressed against the stone spire and struck the eel on the snout with the wooden spoon. "No! Go away!"

The eel pulled back, blinking. Its bright-green eyes practically glowed in the autumn sunlight. "You can't truly think that's going to work," it rumbled, its voice vibrating through the air.

My mouth fell open. Somehow an otter stealing my crossbow wasn't the strangest thing that was going to happen today.