With lovers interrupted by a monster, there is a discovery that no one is ready for.


Art by  bunbun-art

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Monster
Tabitha Thomas
2/19/2022

‘My last sound was you’. The words echoed in Alexander's ears and tore at his very soul. It had seemed like such a short time that he had even been able to hear him. The moomba could only imagine the fear and hopelessness that his sergal companion had right now. Despite their moment of intimacy, now he needed comfort more than anything. “Ankor... What can I do?”

Ankor was torn. He couldn’t stop the tears that fell down his face because he knew that this was a moment that was to mourn the loss of something so dear to him. Accepting it would have been so much easier if he hadn’t wanted to keep it so badly. Before meeting Ali, he had accepted it. The time would come when no sound would enter his ears. Now that he had the kit in his life, he had never wanted it to vanish. How was he going to cope with the fact he would never hear his voice again? The agonizing, stabbing pain in his chest was all that kept him conscious. His head felt light, everything around them seemed to still spin and a feeling of nauseousness crept up slowly. An overwhelming feeling of dread took over and for a moment he thought this was all just a horrible nightmare. None of it seemed real. A part of him hoped to wake and it all be a bad dream. The sergal paused for a moment and took a deep breath. He needed to shift his focus away from the trauma before he did something drastic; he needed to do something that would make it easier to manage the fate bestowed upon him.

Despite the bliss he had just enjoyed, he turned his focus to Ali regardless of his misery. His thin fingers brushed the cheeks of the boy. For so long he couldn’t speak due to the vibrations sabotaging his eardrums, now he could speak and not fret any consequence. “Ali.” He could feel the deepness in his throat and the rumble in his chest but not the sound of it. Despite normally being so good with words he was at a loss. What was he going to tell him?

“Speak your truth, Ankor.” Alexander leaned his head into his hand gazing up at him with a supportive gaze. There was little he could do until he said he needed it. Nevertheless, he was going to be here for him. “There are only four words that mean so much more than I love you, and those words are I’m here for you.”

“I am at an impasse. I know what I feel but I can’t handle it right now. I want to focus on something else.” His other hand slid up the back of the boy and brought him closer. “I want to return the joy you gave me.” Hot breath ran over his collar and neck while bringing him closer and then locking lips with him again.

Alexander felt his fur stand on end and heat caused his body to stiffen then relax. His hands went to Ankor’s chest leaning closer. This was another moment he had been anxiously waiting for. A purr was in his throat as he grew intoxicated by the moment that he had imagined in his head so many times and now he was finally going to live it.

“Ahem.” Longshot was leaning on the doorway with a less than amused look on his face, “Capt’n is calling.” He turned heading up to the deck.

Alexander’s cheeks were a bright red and he was now embarrassed as well. Looking to Ankor he still saw the love in his eyes, “Do you want me to tell everyone?” Seeing him shake his head he frowned, “Alright but we will need to promptly. They deserve to know.” Ali blushed when the sergal was caressing his hip, “Ankor?”

“Fuck him.” He wasn’t going to let Longshot ruin his moment with Ali.

The moomba giggled and squirmed lightly but then suddenly the boat rocked violently and there was a loud creaking coming from the hull. “The hell was that?”

Ankor was quick to get up and draw his trousers back on, there was little time to argue with himself that now there was something more important. Their love would have to continue at a later time.

Both rushed up to the main deck and Ankor grabbed Ali in his arms and leaped out the way as a giant appendage crashed over the ship. The suckers tried to pull the wooden planks from their place. The both of them gazed up seeing a giant monster of the sea as fangs seemed to extend intending to eat them. Daggers flew from up high causing it to reel back and screech loudly.

Longshot continued throwing daggers at the limbs while Doziai fired her weapon at the ones near the helm. Captain Blacktail threw light orbs which quickly turned to fire and incinerated its flesh. Ankor tugged Ali down, “Go below and launch cannons.”

“What about you?”

A soft smile crossed his maw, “Don’t worry.” From his trouser pocket, he pulled out a short stick then tapped it to the ground as it extended. The weapon was known as a bō, a 6ft staff made from rattan wood for its flexibility and density. He rushed towards the edge of the boat and jumped off the rail towards the creature. Landing above the mouth he began to tactfully bring the weapon down atop its head. He seemed to focus on one spot and it was clear the monster was affected as it pulled back its arms from the ship and attempted to remove him. Canons fired below deck and punctured the side of the varmint which led to it teetering back and forth. Ankor dodged back to the deck tucking and rolling then popping up with his staff at the ready.

The fiend started to recoil and descend back into the depths of the water with a wallow of defeat.

Longshot landed roughly and pushed the chest of the sergal, “How did you know?” Seeing his confusion, he raised his voice, “It’s the soft spot! You knew it had a soft spot there; have you encountered them before?”

Ankor looked down to the raven eyeing his beak movements which were too swift for him to decipher. He regrettably was terrible at reading his words. Gaze then turned upward to the captain and his wife making note that they had similar questioning faces. He saw Ali rush up and block off Longshot from him. Despite this, his hands were still firm on his weapon eyeing the bird.

“It’s like an octopus. They have nine brains because, in addition to the central brain, each of the 8 arms needs a mini-brain that controls each arm. I came to this because its blood was blue. They have adapted to the cold, low oxygen water by using hemocyanin, it’s copper-rich in protein. The brain would naturally be a soft spot and the main one is at the center between the eyes and along the center of its skull.”

Longshot still eyed the sergal with narrowed eyes, “I’m not satisfied with just that as an answer.”

Blacktail waved his hands as the ship moved forward to put some distance between the monster and them and came down to the main deck, “Ankor, I’d like ta ‘ear your explanation.” The red dragon looked to him with cautious eyes. It was strange. Monsters like that are not local and ever since Ankor had joined he had indeed seen more show their faces and each one seemed to grow in size and power. He was grateful this one was a nipper.

Ankor touched the shoulder of Alexander who was about to start translating, shaking his head he gazed up to his Captain, “I’ve encountered them before in the Isle of Miscreation's.”

Doziai, Longshot, and Blacktail gazed in bewilderment at the mention of the haunting area of the ocean where no ship returns. Blacktail cleared his throat, “How pray tell did ye make it there?” His hand slowly went to his flintlock; any that may have survived such a place were considered tainted beings and dangerous.

Gazing into the eyes of his crewmates he then grew stiff, holding his staff now tighter as if going to defend himself. His captain was armed, his wife had a rapier at her waist and hand on it, and naturally, the bird had his hand on several daggers ready to put them in him if he saw it necessary. The only one that looked up to him with kind, confused eyes was Alexanders. Clearing his throat, he gazed at them all then his face turned serious, “Because I am one of the monstrosities from there.”


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