Chapter 12: Play Mate

Mikel was now resting on a mostly-clean Moose's back, lying like a dead body. He's been carried along with them for quite some time but he didn't have the energy to side step and get off.

"My back…" he cried out quietly.

He could hear running water from afar but he didn't bother looking, only listening to the soft gurgling eased his ming. He was lost for sure now, but that wasn't important either.

The sound of flowing water was getting more and more audible as the moose kept progressing through the forest. When the animals finally came to a stop, Mikel raised his exhausted head just to see a gorgeous waterfall flowing into a large pond, further supplying the river they were following.

"Holy.." Mikel was in awe. The water was shining beautifully, it was perfectly see through from afar as far as he could tell.

The moose began walking into the water, taking Mikel down with them. When the refreshing water finally got in contact with his skin, he froze. He wasn't prepared for a cold bath right after waking up ! Panicked, he quickly swam off the moose's back and onto the bank of the pond, trying to ignore the impending chill.

"I guess they brought me here to clean up with them as thank you…" Mikel mumbled to himself as he slowly dunked his legs into the pond, sending a chill down his spine.

REALLY COLD!

He kept his legs submerged, but he still could feel himself shiver a few times.

Pondering, he stood still, silent and immobile for a while, only looking at the light reflected on the water surface. He couldn't see through the water, but the way it glowed almost made him feel bad for washing off here.

But if the animals do it, I can too…

Keeping his rags on him, Mikel began walking in further, sinking himself into the water until only his head remained out. He wasn't really comfortable showing off his malnourished body, even if it's to animals. He hasn't recovered yet and the cold water was still enough to make him shake like a leaf.

He took many deep breaths to try and accustomate, but he couldn't stay in this water for long. He began to wipe the mud off of his clothes, occasionally dunking his hair underwater while combing his fingers through it.

The water felt oddly refreshing; he felt rather revitalised. It seems like civilization hasn't polluted this place yet.

When he pushed his head below the water once more he saw something strange between his nearly closed eyelids. He couldn't tell what it was, the water making everything blurry even if he tried harder to see.

Breathing out, he glanced at the group of mooses who have been splashing and making noises since getting here.

"They're having fun…" he hummed to himself while he stared back at the water. If these animals didn't perceive any danger, it's probably nothing…

He reached towards the strange thing, plunging his arm under the water and keeping his head out. But while searching with his fingers, he suddenly felt something grasp onto his wrist!

"AH!!" he squealed while pulling back his hand, stumbling in panic as he tried to retreat to the shore.

Then, something popped its head out of the water.

That's all. That's all he got to see before he fell into the water, his heart stopping in shock.

When he finally got to open his eyes, after an unknown amount of time later, he was leaning onto something hard but warm. Another moose? His heart ached a little…

"Uh..." Mikel rubbed his eyes, still watery from the swim.

He slowly turned his head towards what he was resting on.

He leaned against a muscular man whose arm was thrown over Mikel's shoulder. He was completely drenched and water droplets were tracing the curves of his perfect body.

"A-ah.." Mikel was about to say something, until he noticed something ripple out of the water. A dazzling blue scaled fish tail was poking out, its fin shaped like a W.

Taking note of Mikel's surprise, the unknown man began swaying his tail back and forth through the water.

Mikel turned his head back to the mereman. He had deep green hair clinging to his shoulder and his piercing silver eyes were not leaving Mikel's green.

Unsure whether it was a dream or not, curiosity getting the better of him, he stretched out his hand to tug at the merman's tail, who flinched in response. It was silent with nothing but the falling water filling the air, the Moose left at an unknown time when he wasn't paying attention, leaving Mikel alone with the creature.

Despite the silence, Mikel was not shy with his staring. He was looking at the man's tail who kept swishing as if seeking the attention, his lean build wasn't left out of sight either. His eyes looked dull, letting his green hair stand out more.

"A mereman?" Mikel asked curiously while the man only stayed silent, his arm still resting over Mikel's shoulder.

Maybe having been through so much stopped him from passing out once more. Thus, he finally came to a conclusion.

This place is not normal.

He raised his hand up to his chin in thought. The human-fish hasn't spoken a word, can he not talk? Does he not understand my language?

Well, Mikel doesn't really care. He was more preoccupied with the discomfort of this position. Since the man doesn't seem hostile, there is no rush to try and communicate with him.

Maybe it's only mermaids that drown men… what do meremen do?

Mikel began to smile to himself as a wild scenario came up in his mind. His past lecture didn't help him figure anything plausible… Past lecture? Did he read something like that before… Lost in thought, he finally came back to reality when the merman splashed some water around with his tail.

Looks like he's trying to keep my attention, but why…

Mikel was not gonna be easily taken advantage of, but he definitely wasn't gonna throw hands either, for now. But since he's getting all touchy with me… how about I give him a taste of his own medicine?

Mikel carefully placed his hand onto the man's abdomen.

SOLID!

He gently began tracing the outline of the merman's abs, its tail curiously slowed when he noticed the other man's gesture

I always wanted to do this to someone! Can you blame me?

His fingers lingered longer than he would like to admit, he's never seen someone with such a build personally before so curiosity got the better of him.

Surges of excitement went through him when the merman made no attempt to stop him, even sometimes flexing its lower muscles for a better view.

As time kept flowing and the sun disappeared behind the thick trees surrounding them, the glow of the water source became more obvious. Light seemed to come from the inside of the source rather than being the reflection of the sky.

Mikels thoughts were interrupted when the man grabbed onto his wrist, slowly guiding his hand up to fondle his chest.

I think he likes it…

Mikel continued his soothing touch, to which the creature clearly leaned into, his arm tightening around Mikel's shoulders.

Now that I think about it… I feel so warm! Is it because of him?

Mikel looked around, just to find his clothes folded away on a rock.

If they're there….

His eyes moved back towards his own body, it was bare.

AAAAAAHHHHHHH-!!!! THIS DUMB FISH!!!!

Mikel threw a weak punch against the chest of the merman, who only flinched as a response, clearly confused about what he did to make the other mad.

"don't take off peoples clothes.." Mikel was about to move his hand away but the man held onto it tightly, guiding it towards his own face.

His eyes looked pleading, as if innocent to his crimes. The cute look, as well as the tight physical contact he realised he was in, caused Mikel's heart to miss a beat.

It's been ages since someone got this touchy with me! Do I pull away?

Their eyes were locked together, one was swearing innocence while the other was looking to find the guilty.

Mikel turned his head away in defeat. Clearly there was no reasoning with this mute creature. The mereman beamed with joy seeing him soften, immediately hugging the man's frail body, who left out a cracking sound...

AGH! STRONG!

But warm..

After some consideration, he decided to just let this animal be. Maybe it simply craves a companion. Mikel stayed in this position for longer than he'd like to admit, this reminded him of someone.

Is that…?

He gently pushed the man back. Obediently, the fish-man swam back, allowing Mikel to get a better look at him.

No, that's not him... it doesn't ring any bell. Oh well! Guess it's time for me to get out of the water.

Mikel made a spinning movement with his hand, turning the merman away before jumping out of the pond and throwing on his clothes, faster than the merman man could turn around.

"Alright I gotta go." he exclaimed with a stretch, smiling at the Merman and gesturing a goodbye to him. Without much more thought, he turned around and started to walk away, following the river.

The eyes of the creature did not leave Mikel as he walked off.