Iris was floating in a lightless void, it felt like a dream. The void cradled her recently abused body like a soft cocoon. As she became more conscious of her surroundings, she realised she was in fact not in a void at all. The air smelled of brine, and she could hear water lapping froghteningly close to her head.
Her eyes flew open, but nothing could be seen besides the smattering of stars across an inky sky.
Was she on a dock? Were they trying to dispose of her?
Panic and bile rose up in tandem, and she lurched against her plush bindings. The water churned around her.
"Hey! Be careful, female. We did our best to keep you safe, but you'll drown if ya flood your buoy. Then you'll be dead in the water again!" A man in the darkness growled.
"Buoy? What do you mean? Where am I?" She cried out, though she calmed slightly, not wishing to drown.
"Hmm? Oh, we're entering Otter territory. We found you in our nets tonight. Since I drew the net, you're tied to my fishin' boat and gonna have my pups." The voice, though gruff, seemed young. The realization made Iris a bit less concerned, and she rolled her eyes.
"No, I'll not have your pups, weirdo. I'm going home soon as I can." Iris stared adamantly.
The pod she was enveloped in shook crazily as the boat she was attached to came to a lurching halt.
"Of course. If you don't want to come, we can always leave you in the water. You're more than welcome to go home." The boy stated dejectedly.
Was he serious? She asked herself.
Seeing as she could not swim away without being able to see, she replied frantically. "No, no. Please take me to yours, for now. I'm not promising anything, though."
"Right-o," Chirped the boy, and continued rowing. "I'm so glad I found myself a mate!"
After what seemed like forever, both the boy's craft and her buoyant sleeping bag pod-thing (buoy) ground against the shore.
She tried to sit up, but quickly tired out. Her body throbbing everywhere. She whined slightly from the pain but kept her face turned away from the man, unwilling to admit she needed help.
"Alright, woman, let's get you inside." She was lifted like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder. Across his other shoulder was a 6ft fishing basket filled to the brim with writhing iridescent fish. It struck her that she'd never seen this kind of fish before.
The ball of dread started writhe in her gut again. How far from home was she? What would he do with her once inside.
Lost in her thoughts, she was shocked by the unceremonious dumping of both her and the fish on what smelled like the floor of a barn.
The stranger shuffled in the dark and then lit a lantern. From the small face opening in her bag-buoy thing, she finally saw her saviour/kidnapper. His chest was a golden colour, and well chiseled, so were his arms, hands, fingers… Iris stopped as her eyes accidentally landed on a very naked groin. Despite his young manners, he was very much a man.
She shouted in horror, "Sir, you're naked."
"Well, yes. Is that wrong? You are too, inside my hide." He said in confusion. "I've never met a woman before, so-"
Her eyes snapped up to meet his, but her barb died on her lips as she gazed upon a sharp fang glinting in the lamp light as well as two rounded ears nestled it a nest of dark curls. The distinct member hanging from an identical thatch of curls lower blew her 'boy' theory from the water.
Instead she said, "Sir, what's with the fake ears? Why are neither of us clothed? Are you a weirdo?" She blushed, as she was a very avid consumer of beastman comics back home. However she kept a strong glare fixed on his face as she tried again to wriggle from her bindings.
"Let me help!" He exalted taking quick steps toward her, his little beastie swinging in the breeze.
Flashes of Ayyub crossed her mind. "No, please stop!" She cried, which ground him to a halt.
"I just-" He took a slow step closer.
Her body began to shake as he continued his approach. "Dont touch me."
He stopped. "Woman, I just want to help."
Iris shook her head and curled back into the hide. If she could not get out on her own, she'd just become one with it- the pelt was comfy at least. An odd noise filled the room, pitiful whine- like an injured puppy.
Still, she refused. "Go away, perv."
"Are you alright, woman? Can I come closer now?"
When no response came, the stranger sighed, brushed past her and exited the hut. "I won't be long."