User blog:Gnomehunter/Day 7: The Tides That Bind

Day 7: Write a story with an aquatic-type monster

'''Maaaaaan, I love turtles. What took me so long to recognize the turtle girl’s charms? That being said, I have no idea how she works. The shell does not look big enough to fit her whole body inside. Her arms and legs are attached to the body like a human, so it looks like she’s wearing a backpack, rather than a shell that’s part of her body. I guess that makes it easy to wear clothes. Like the lizardman, who looks like a human dressed in tights, I think this girl could have been drawn a bit more like the creature she’s based on without detracting from her sexiness. Whatever. '''

'''Alternate titles include “Tidal Title”, “Turtle Title”, and “Coming Out of Her Shell”. But that one was way too easy. '''

The Tides That Bind

'''Three kids are hanging around on the beach, wondering what to do. They wander along the water’s edge, running back as the waves roll onto the surface, lapping at their feet. As they look out along the sandy expanse, they spot a small figure slowly walking up out of the water. But as they get closer, they realize that it’s not a human at all, but a little girl with a turtle shell on her back. She looks behind her, as if regretting the decision to leave the water, before turning back on her original course. She plods slowly up the slope, and when she’s standing right between the water and the land, she starts walking along the water’s edge, this time in the direction that the kids are walking. She stares down at her feet, as if paying close attention to every footstep, but when she looks up to see the kids calling to her, she yelps in fright and crouches down, pulling her limbs into the shell and disappearing from sight. “Hey! Turtle girl, come play with us! They run up to where she lies on the ground. '''

'''“Come on, play with us!” They crowd around her, waiting for her to move. But she doesn’t budge. So they start to kick her shell, jumping around and yelling at her. The girl trembles in her hiding place.'''

“Please just leave me alone.” 

'''Far below the surface of the water, a kraken is relaxing in her home, her tentacles coiled around her husband. Abruptly, she feels a shift in the currents, one that she can’t identify, but which demands her attention. '''

'''“Sweetheart, I’m really sorry to interrupt, but I have to go to the surface. Something feels wrong.”'''

'''“What do you mean? Should I come with you?” '''

'''“I don’t think that will be necessary. I just...have a feeling. She peels herself away and begins to swim to the surface. The feeling pulls her in the direction of the shore, and when she surfaces near the beach, she spots four human children, all seeming to be arguing, while standing around a green shell. Are they…? She swims closer and finds herself joined by a Nereid and a Mershark, as they poke their heads out of the water. '''

“What brought you lot up here?” The mershark asks.

'''“I’m guessing you both felt the same thing as I did”. The kraken replied, pointing to the kids on the shore. '''

'''“Are they bullying that umi-osho child? Oh they are going to be sorry!” The nered said, swimming closer to confront them, the other two following her. As they got closer, they caught a bit of what the children were saying. '''

“You can’t just pick on whoever you want!” 

'''“Try and stop us!” But the boy went silent when he turned to see three monster women approaching them, one looking like a human with blue skin, one bearing the features of a shark and the third, a giant squid. '''

'''“And just what do we have here?” The kraken asked, looming over them, her arms crossed and her tentacles waving in the air. “Picking on this poor girl? Is this your idea of fun?” One of the boys managed to speak.'''

'''“W-we were just playing a game. We weren’t trying to hurt her”. '''

“I find that hard to believe when you were kicking her shell.” 

'''“We promise we’ll stop”. The human girl spoke up, looking up at the three monsters. Two of the boys nodded quickly. The three women discussed amongst themselves. '''

'''“Alright. We’ll let you go today. But think again before you pick on another kid like that.” The nereid said. The girl and two of the boys agreed and ran off, leaving the last boy by himself.'''

“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?” The kraken said, looking sternly at him.

'''“I wasn’t hurting her I was trying to-” He stammered. The girl emerged from her shell. '''

'''“Umm, excuse me? This boy wasn’t one of the ones picking on me. He was trying to stop them.” She stood up, unhurt but still very shy. '''

'''“Oh dear, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize you were trying to help.” The kraken apologized. “That was very brave of you. And dear, are you alright?” She asked the girl. '''

“Mhmm”, she nodded.

'''“Well, it looks like our job is done. You take care now, child.” The nereid said to the boy.'''

“Ok,” he said shyly, before waving to the girl and running off.

'''“Do you need help getting home? Where do you live?” They asked the girl.'''

'''“In Ryugujo”. She answered. '''

'''“Thank you”. '''

'''“Oh, I live there too,” The nereid replied. “I’ll take you back.” She led the child out into the deeper water, and they both sank beneath the surface.'''

---

'''When the kraken returned to her home, she was still fuming. '''

'''“Honey, what’s wrong? Did you see what was the matter?”'''

'''“There were three children picking on an umi-osho child. Can you believe it? They were hitting her shell with sticks. They’re lucky we let them off with a warning. She took him into her arms, still cross about the ordeal”. '''

“We?”

“There were a few other monsters who had the same feeling”.

'''“Well, it sounds like you dealt with them. So the girl’s ok?”'''

'''“Yes...there was also one boy who was trying to defend her. I wonder if they’ll see each other again”.'''

---

'''The nereid dropped the girl off in front of her house, wishing her well. When the girl stepped inside to see her parents, she started to cry. '''

'''“Kasumi what’s the matter? Did you make it to the beach?” Her father asked, picking her up. '''

'''“There was-there were some kids on the beach. I tried to hide but they were hitting my shell.” She continued to wail. '''

“Oh, sweetheart, did they hurt you anywhere?” Her mother asked, trying to console her.

'''“Wwell, no”, she sniffled. She hadn’t felt a scratch from her tough shell, but the act of being jumped on by other kids still left her a bit shaken. '''

'''“Well, dear, we’re very proud of you. You made it all the way to the beach by yourself.” Her mother said.'''

'''“There were some nice ladies who got the kids to stop hitting me. And...there was a boy who was trying to make them stop too”.'''

'''“Well that was very nice of him. Did you get his name?”'''

“Oh, I guess I forgot.”

'''“Well, maybe you’ll meet him again,” Her mother said, sharing a smile with her husband as they remembered how shy she had been when they met. '''

---

'''Hikaru was running to the beach, in the hopes of meeting someone he had not seen in many years. He had taken every day of the summer for the past year, hoping she might show up. But of all the people he’d passed by, the monsters he’d been trying to avoid, he never saw the one he was searching for. As he crested the hill and made his way down the sandy slope, he looked out over the edge of the water. He visited early in the morning and late in the evening, in the hopes she might visit when it was quieter. As the sun began to sink past the horizon, he was ready to give up. He wondered if there was even a point to waiting, or if he was wasting his time. '''

'''Kasumi was plodding along the edge of the water. Since she had first ventured out of the safety of her home, she had made a great effort to increase her confidence. Talking to more people both in and out of the underwater city. Her mother had taught her the Sea God’s ritual, necessary for enabling men to breathe underwater. She had seen many human-monster couples, always giving them her blessing. Now on the beach, she took in the sunset, radiating streaks of orange and red across the sky, bathing the land for one more moment before it gave way to night. And she spotted another figure on the edge of the beach. '''

'''“Ok, Kasumi. You can do it. Just go over there and say hi. Nothing to be scared of”. As she calmed her nerves, she walked carefully, closer to the person standing on the shore. As she got closer she saw it was a young man. Her heart beat faster, and she felt the urge to dive into the water, but she was determined not to be scared. “Hello there.” She said timidly, finally coming close to the young man. He had sandy brown hair, and stood at almost her own height. When she spoke, he stared directly at her, brown eyes wide with amazement. '''

'''“Um….hi. I’ve been. I’ve been looking for someone like you. An umi osho. I met one many years ago, and she was being picked on by some other kids. But I tried to stop them, and when I left, I never managed to talk to her.”'''

'''Hikaru had been watching the approaching person, and when he saw it was a young woman, he wasn’t sure whether he should leave. But as she got closer, he saw her green clothing, the head covering she wore over her short hair and a decidedly short skirt. And as she approached him, he saw a large shell on her back. It was just the monster he was looking for. But was she the same one? “Um, hi”, he said to her, explaining who he was looking for. Her eyes widened in shock, her long sleeves hanging over her hands as she put them to her mouth. '''

'''“That was me…A boy helped me when I was being picked on by some kids”. Hikaru was overjoyed.'''

'''“I can’t believe it! Do you know how long I’ve been coming to this beach, hoping to meet you again? For the past 2 years!”'''

'''“Oh….well, I’m glad we were able to meet.” Kasumi shuffled a little. '''

'''“Can we spend some time together? I want to get to know you better.” '''

'''“I-I'd like that too”. Kasumi said softly. “Maybe..maybe I could show you the city? It’s underwater but I can lead you there.”'''

'''“I’d love that! Can we do that tomorrow?” '''

'''“Sure. Meet me tomorrow morning”.'''

'''“I’ll be here bright and early.” Hikaru waved goodbye this time planning to meet her, and ran home, giddy at his success. Kasumi watched him leave, still blushing a bit.'''

'''The next morning, Kasumi performed the ritual, granting Hikaru the ability to breath underwater. She took his hand, and led him away from the shore. As they walked deeper and deeper, Hikaru’s heart fluttered. When they were below the water’s surface, he took a short, experimental breath and found that it was just like breathing on land. '''

'''“You see? Nothing to be afraid of”. Kasumi began to swim, pulling him along. Hikaru lost track of how long they were swimming, engrossed with looking at the sandy sea floor, the little fish that passed by, and especially the sight of Kasumi swimming slowly ahead of him, as she clutched his hand. Ryugujo appeared in front of them, a great magical barrier which they passed by, and now descending to the floor, watching the many monster couples swimming by, walking on the floor below them, the combination of artificial structures and natural sea life surrounding them. '''

“This place is amazing!” 

'''“Let’s go, there’s a lot of things I want to show you”. They spent the whole day, trying the tasty dishes that were served for guests, listening and watching the entertainers as they sang and danced, and taking in the sights of the city. To finish their day, Kasumi took him right to her own house. “And this is where I live. You’ve got to come inside, I told my parents you were coming and they want to meet you.” '''

'''“Oh, well if you insist”, Hikaru mumbled. She opened the door and called out to her parents. In came a man and another, older umi osho. “Hello. My name is Hikaru. Your daughter has been showing me around the city and I love it”. '''

'''“We’re so glad to meet you, young man. Kasumi told us about that time when she was much younger. How lucky for you both that you were able to meet again”. '''

'''“Would you like to stay the night? Her mother asked. '''

'''“I’d love to!” They smiled. '''

'''“Why don’t you wait in the other room? We’ve been preparing for your arrival and dinner will be ready soon.” As Hikaru followed her father, Kasumi’s mother pulled her aside. “Are you going to try the thing I told you about?” She whispered.'''

'''“I...think so. I’m a little nervous.”'''

'''“That’s perfectly fine, dear. Hikaru is a very sweet boy.” When they finished eating, Kasumi’s parents cleaned up while she took Hikaru to her room. As she showed him a few things, she sat on the bed, and casually leaned back, until she was lying flat on her back, her shell making it hard to move. '''

'''“Oh, Hikaru! Could you help me up? I can’t move”. She laughed nervously. Hikaru went over to help, but when he stared at her, prone and unable to move, he felt a stirring. He climbed up and leaned over her. '''

'''“Kasumi, you’re-very pretty. Can I uh, can I kiss you?”'''

'''“Ohhhhh”, Kasumi’s breathing was growing heavier. “I think I’d like that. They shared a chaste peck on the lips, but Kasumi pulled him closer and began to kiss harder, her tongue crawling over his own. Hikaru was surprised at the forcefulness with which she was acting, but embraced it. When they broke, she said more quietly, “would you like to go further than that?” Hikaru nodded. He began to tug at her clothing, when he saw that her skirt was far more transparent than he’d realized, and gave him almost no resistance to accessing her lower body. He grinned, looking at her lying beneath him, panting, barely able to move from the weight of her shell. '''

'''“I’m going to make sure we both enjoy this”. '''