Sunken Feelings

Nuzzling her with its snout, Ciannait worried for her. She was still breathing, but wasn't getting up to move at all.

"Hehe," she wheezed, "good boy." She stroked his muzzle, "Ciannait," he leaned closer, "you must-" she choked through the pain, "get home. You have to warn the others. They can't come out this way. They can't come looking for me."

His eyes were filled with sorrow. Desperately trying to get her to move, he wrapped his tail around her shoulder trying to lift her up.

"No!" She slapped his tail away. "Go! Leave! Git!" He stared at her in shock, not wanting to leave her side. Picking up a rusted can, she threw it at him, urging him to move on. "Get out of here, you stupid animal!"

The tone in her voice was harsh, and her sentiments were harsher still. Shrinking away, Ciannait swam out the other exit where he hadn't sense any danger at all.

Looking down at the harpoon that had pierced her stomach, keeping her stuck to the sunken ship's rotting wood, she tried gripping it again but was lacerated by its serrations.

Looking up at her assailants as they swam in, one murmured, "See, told you merpeople existed."

The other replied, "She's gonna make us rich."

"And famous."

Minutes later, Ciannait swam into their civilization's trench, clicking up a storm with his fused jaw.

"Mom!" Argus pointed out, "It's Irin's seasteed!"

"What's he clicking?"

"Morse code says..." He gulped, "Danger. Don't find me. Flee."

***

Thavien's Tokens: "This story is inspired by the recent Vocal Social Society challenge, as issued by Gina C."

For this week, your prompt is to write a Microfiction Story of 250 words or less about…

A pet on a boat! 🐶🛥️