The more I struggle against this horrid world, the more it pushes me back into the mud, face first.

A tentacle the thickness of my leg wrapped around mine. The giant fish wanted me.

"NO!"

I shrieked and bashed it with my paddle. But it didn't flinch, instead curling further around my ankle.

I need something heavier.

I looked around and saw fearful eyes all around. I saw Pim, squished in between a panicking circle of people, holding George close to his heart. I saw the club lying next to him. My club.

I reached for it, leaning on the nearest two people for lack of a spare balancing hand.

It's gonna pull me in, it's gonna pull me in.

I got elbowed in the side of my face for my efforts. But I also got the club. It was a heavy thing and in my current state, I struggled to lift it above my head.

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon.

I brought it down on my leg with fury fueled by fear. I barely felt a dull pain through the tentacle, my club impacting it with a wet smack. It tightened around my ankle and for a moment, I thought it was going to pull me in and under again.

Instead, I smashed it a second time. The constriction loosened and I was free to pull my leg away and squeeze backwards into the huddle of scared people.

I'm OK. I'm OK.

I was in fact not OK at all. My heart was beating so loud I didn't even hear what the wolf was yelling at me. It just didn't reach that place in my ear that turned noise into words. The general pandemonium unfolding on the raft probably played a part in it. The blank terror playing in my mind as well.

However, as I saw a pair of tendrils creep up to the side and grapple the arm and leg of a monarch clad in matted yellow and another pair going for someone in red on the opposite side of our float, I knew instinctively that he wouldn't be able to handle this situation alone.

I can't just sit here and watch. I have to do something.

So, I did. I got up, shakily, the ground beneath my floor bobbing up and down, slipping left, right and forward. There was little enough room on the raft as it were, the people desperately huddled close together in the center, and what little free space I had to step on was on the outer edges of it. No one wanted to be close to the water.

Step. Step. Shit, out of my way dammit!

I wormed my way over to the person in yellow, having stepped on only a few hands along the way.

Sorry! Sorrysorrysorry!

The woman - I only recognized her as one in that moment - screamed as a single tug had her legs dangling right off the edge of the raft. But I was there, just in time and I gathered my strength and crushed one of the tentacles beneath my heavy club. Or, well, I would have if I had hit it a bit better. There was honestly not much strength left in me to gather and what little I did have was mostly trying to keep me from falling down and then overboard. So, I hit again and again.

Fuck. Off. Fuck. Off.

The tendril retreated, sullenly, almost like it had been insulted instead of smacked with a heavy bludgeon. I went to work on the second one. Then I heard the wolf scream. I ignored it for the moment, just focusing on what was in front of me. I was feeling unusually calm, by my standards at least.

"Gah! Die die die die!"

It was kind of scaring me. No one who was looking at me on the outside, fighting like my life depended on it, would have guessed, but on the inside, I knew that we wouldn't be able to keep this up, defend everyone from a dozen tentacle-beard things coming from every side of the raft. Sooner rather than later, me or the wolf would be too late. And then, someone would be pulled away and under.

I looked at the frightened woman in yellow.

Will it be you?

I looked at one in green to the side.

Or maybe you?

The wolf swore and I tore my stare away and towards him. He had dealt with the one in red, but now he was at the rafts side, one leg in the water. Something was probably pulling it. He should've gotten it out by now.

Or is it going to be him? Are you not as strong and unbeatable as you make yourself seem, o’ wolf knight of a distant lady?

For now, it didn't matter. If someone was pulled under, we could only hope that the fish would be satisfied with a single mouthful. If no one did, which was looking unlikelier by the minute, we'd have to continue this struggle until either us or the fish gave up. My body was already beginning to fold, and my mind was almost indifferent to the outcome.

I continued on regardless.

I roughly pushed the lady towards the others in the middle, making my way through the huddled masses once more. I almost reached the wolf when he stabbed at something in the water with his big ass sword and stood back up.

"Other side!" He yelled and I turned back around where I'd just come from without wasting another breath.

Green was in danger, and I reached him just barely, smacking the tentacle a whole four times before it let go and receded into the bog below. I turned back to hear a purple woman in danger. A small one.

Kind of fucked up how I can only differentiate their gender by the sound of their screams.

I freed her as well and this song and dance continued for minutes at least.

Red.

Purple.

Yellow.

Green.

Yellow again.

Red.

You could make a game out of this.

Wait, no. Bad Rye. Focus. Good eggs focus. Even when they’re exhausted. Even when it gets hard to care.

The fish was biding its time. It was cunning. I couldn't do much more than bruise its feelers and the wolf's cuts weren't deep enough to fully hack the thicker tendrils in two before they could retreat back underwater. It was waiting for one of us to slip up again and all it really needed was that one chance.

In the end, I was the one to slip up. As always.

I had just freed the green guy from a single incredibly thick tendril when the raft lifted on one side, then sank again. I fell to the ground, almost, almost on my right side and arm, but managed to roll my body to the left at the last moment.

Something bumped the raft from below again.

Screw this fish.

But as I noticed that it was trying to shake up the platform we were standing on, I completely failed to realize that it was only part of the reason why I had fallen. I was exhausted, of course, and I couldn't just step on people's limbs and not expect to have my footing move or pulled out from under me.

But the thin tendril hidden under water coiling around my ankle was what really tripped me.

Get up. Gotta get up.

I didn't notice it until with a tug, I was suddenly a lot closer to the edge.

“Oh no.”

Then two more tentacles came and quickly wrapped around my legs as well.

Ohno, Ohno. Nonono, not like this, not again.

I was mercilessly pulled closer towards the edge, and I screamed.

“NO! NO, I DON'T WANT TO DROWN AGAI-“

A hand gripped my left arm. I looked back, still kicking and screaming. It was the yellow woman, holding on to me like I meant the world to her.

"Riches!" She yelled.

The fish didn’t mind her much at all and pulled us both in, closer. I refused to let her go. I didn't care whether I was damning her to the same grizzly fate that was awaiting me. I didn't think about the fact that I had a ring that allowed me to breathe underwater. All I could think of was that I was terrified of the fish and the water. Unreasonably terrified.

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"Cloths!" the green one cried out and he too tugged at my shoulder, pulling at a pauldron.

The fish pulled the three of us in further.

"HELPHELPGAHFUCKHELPOHGODSPLEASEOHPLEASEPLEASE!"

"...HAND OF MY DAUGHTER!" The purple woman joined in.

It didn’t help. The fishtugged again and the tendrils were up to my hip. The others were looking our way, but they were either too scared to act or realized the futility of the situation.

Another pair of hands clasped around my right shoulder, yet another around my right arm, and I did everything in my power not to scream bloody murder at them. It hurt so much that for a moment, I’d rather have drowned than be pulled apart in this useless struggle.

I pressed my eyes closed and prayed that it just be over soon.

A moment passed. I was being pulled in two directions at once, painfully, and letting go didn’t help at all, hands still grasping my arms and armor, tentacles my legs and feet. My boots.

Then, the tension lessened.

I cracked an eye open, half expecting to see the waiting maw of the fish, half expecting to see myself pulled apart at the belly.

What I saw instead was Pim, sticking to the right side of my body and holding on to the tentacles with his stick-thin arms. He jerked his head back and a three-foot piece of tentacle dropped on to the floor. It was still twitching, and the blood colored the water around me a deep red.

Ho–holy shit.

I could barely believe my eyes as I saw him go tear into another one holding me.

He’s, ho–holy…

The tension in my body lessened as I felt the tendrils loosen and slink back away. Pim was thrown back a few feet as he was still holding on to one when with a whipping motion it catapulted him backwards. I looked at his sideways face.

Round, blue human eyes. Weird cat-ears. Human face. Jagged teeth. Blood hanging down in thick ropes.

He saved me.

He’s so frail, so thin, he’s a child but he can do that?

He saved me.

He’s a monster. He’s on my side, but he’s not human.

But still, he saved me!

I stood up on shaky legs. He had bought us a moment of rest as the catfish retreated its appendages off this side of the raft. I could faintly hear the wolf still fighting behind me somewhere, swearing and yelling.

I will never let anything happen to Pim. Or George. Or the wolf or anyone else.

My eyes tiredly searched the surface of the water for any signs of approaching danger. The fish would be back. It wanted its pound of flesh, doubly so now that it had let some of its own blood. I knew it just like I knew that this had to be the same one that pulled me below before.

I’m scared.

A wide mound of something in my dim light moved, bobbing ever so slightly up and down. It looked like an island, but it was the fish. Images of its maw, wide and all-encompassing filled my mind.

The taste of dead mud, the feeling of being helpless, being crushed, squish, squish, squish…

I had felt it all before and to me, it was still just as real right this moment. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. My chest hurt, the air tasted horrible and was filled with the smell of blood.

It’s just a taste. Just a feeling. Just a drop.

“Rye!” someone yelled.

I took a step towards the edge.

The float beneath my feet dipped down. I opened my eyes and looked out into the reddened murky water. The shape was still there, following us as we dimpled along the bog.

Sooner or later, someone is going to be pulled overboard.

Just as I thought that another tendril shot out from behind and grabbed Pim by the neck. He struggled, unable to bite back and while some of the monarchs helped, I stood there and gulped.

But if it has to be anyone, it should be me.

I took a step forward.

I can’t believe I’m doing this.

“Rye!” screamed the wolf somewhere behind me.

Thrashing, twisting, wrenching, choking, bubbles fleeing the scene and I’m alone, all alone.

Calm. Be calm. You need to be calm. Swallow your… fear.

There. Good. Now.

Take the knife.

Jump in the water.

Kill it.

I dropped my club and felt for the pointy blade at my belt. It was still there and, ironically, my memory told me that this type of knife was specifically used to cut out the best parts of fish.

Won’t be able to swim in this armor. Too heavy. No strength. I’ll let it grip me, pull me in, drown and swallow me. Like before.

I’m alone, all alone.

Then I’ll stab it from the inside until it’s dead. And I’ll be free.

“Rye!”

Stop yelling. I have to do this. Only I can do it.

I spread my hands and leaned towards the edge. I could see the stupid fish still sitting half a dozen feet away from us in this stupid swampy water. It’d all be so easy if I had a spear. But now, with only a knife and no energy left within my body, I had to do it the hard way.

It’s always the hard way. But it’s just another step. One small, simple motion. I can do it. It’s easy as pie.

I leaned forwards and fell towards the dark abyss.

A hand gripped me and threw me backwards. The raft below me buckled and I watched, part shock, part horror, as the tall metal frame of the wolf sped past me. The face on his pauldron looked to be mocking me and when the world sped up again, he disappeared off our raft and into the darkness, and I was flung back into the waiting arms of my throng of monarchs.

Their arms embraced me like clingy vines choking a tree and they didn’t let go. I lay there in a tangle of bodies and limbs, silent mutters and cries filling the air next to the occasional distant splash in the water. I blinked, slowly, trying to play what had just happened back in my head.

The wolf threw me back. He jumped in the water. I was too late, and he sacrificed himself in my stead.

Silent tears ran down my cheeks.

Godsdammit. Godsdammit! Why does nothing go the way I’ve planned? Why can’t I ever do a single thing right in my life?

All I had to do was jump! And now… now he’s dead. Drowned. Eaten.

Godsdammit. That should’ve been me.

In spite of all the hot emotion rolling out from me, I couldn’t bring myself to move an inch. I was completely spent, beyond that even, I was drained to the point of pain tugging at every muscle, every joint and bone in my body.

Squek

A small bundle of fur appeared in the nook of my neck. George, the purest of all. Pim looked up at me with a blood smeared face, innocent eyes questioning whether he did a good thing and if everything was going to be ok.

I don’t know, buddy. But George feels nice. Thank you, for that.

I closed my eyes and tried to smile, but I knew it looked pained and defeated.

I can’t do any more than this. In spite of everything, I’m still really glad I didn’t have to relive the horror of being drowned and eaten by the giant fish.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The monarchs had taken up the paddles and were, somewhat slowly, paddling in one direction or another for a while. I only noticed it when the gentle flow of trees past my vision stopped, and the raft settled at a very slight angle. From the sound of it, the people I’d saved were getting more and more agitated.

I sat up and saw the reason why. Everywhere my light was thrown against the trees, there was a fleshy white spider thing, fat, and disgusting. Every time they wiggled or moved even the tiniest bit the monarchs strewn around me whimpered in fear and ducked their heads.

Thank the gods. It’s just some sticky spiders.

After some time passed, staring at the lazy movement of the spiders, I forced myself to stand. I felt as wobbly and weak as a newborn doe, just like I had when I first climbed out of my grave.

Things are different now. I have light. I have other people.

But I don't have the wolf.

I heard rustling at the edge of my light. Bristle spiders, no doubt attracted by the sounds of almost a dozen moaning, whining, and whimpering people.

Was it worth it? Was setting out, no longer ago than yesterday morning, to find people, to find answers really worth it all?

Two days. That’s how long I was gone.

I got a broken hand for my troubles and while Pim and George are great people and all these other ones are ok, I guess, I lost the most important person of them all. The wolf.

I clenched a fist and cursed myself for having been so, so… me.

He seemed like he knew what was going on in this place. He had a sword and knew how to use it. How am I supposed to lead nine people and a rat out of this swamp on my own, without a shield and a broken arm to boot? How am I even supposed to feed nine people and a rat?

At least I have my boots, boots, boots, boots.

They aren’t going to ward of spiders though. And I lost my lucky charm, the pendant, quite some time ago. I should go look for it.

I searched around for my club and found it just as I saw the first of two bristle spiders enter the edge of my outer vision. They got closer and when they reached around nine feet away, turned directly towards us. They just stood there. Even if they were probably the creatures I was most comfortable fighting, I wasn’t favoring the odds of myself winning a fight in this condition.

“Screw. Off.”

The spiders remained motionless. I could see them a bit better now, their bristly feelers tasting the air, their thick looking carapace that wasn’t all that thick at all. Their weird crab-like pincers up front and the pulsating butt with a dagger-like stinger.

Yeah, those are definitely not spiders.

We both remained motionless, for a time. Then, as if they had forgotten something important, the spiders turned around and skittered away into the darkness.

Huh. That never works.

I was way too exhausted to care much beyond not having to fight any of them. I looked around and sighed. Sadly, we weren’t home just yet. Home? No, at the temple. There’s no going home.

The sooner we get there, the better. Someone’s coughing like they’ve swallowed a lake. Gods, that doesn’t sound healthy at all. I hope none of the monarchs have any diseases.

I turned around to see them slowly step off the raft. I went to pick up Pim, but the coughing hadn’t stopped. And it wasn’t coming from them. Or him.

The raft suddenly dipped under water hard. Pim screamed. George squeaked. I scooped him off it as quickly as I was able to, just in time to see a figure pull itself out of the water.

“Wolf?” said Pim.

I stared at him, incredulously. He was still holding on to the old rope with one hand as he crawled on to the raft. Water poured from every opening in his armor. But he was alive.

I was beyond relieved. “WOLF! Holy shit, you’re, you're...”

“Hurgh!” he said, water gushing from his visor. “Blurgh!”

I didn’t get the impression that regurgitating water into a closed helmet was doing him any good, so I sat Pim down next to him and tried to open it. The visor didn’t budge, stuck or rusted close, and he gently batted my hand aside as I fumbled again and with more force.

“H–how?”

Panting and snorting water out of his nose, his face turned to me, shaking slightly.

“Well – cough – first off, never, and I repeat, never do what you were about to again.”

“O-ok?” But I did have a plan and tried to explain myself, even through my persistent headache. “I… you’re ok. Holy shit. But, I… don’t know how to feel about you just throwing yourself at the giant fish in the water. In full armor. Without a ring that allows you to breathe. Like I have. I should’ve been the one to do that.”

He scoffed. “What, so you could let the fish eat you and you could stab it in the eye?”

That was… not too far off, actually.

“N–no.” I said, only mildly embarrassed. “I had a plan. A better one.”

“And you think I did not?” Well, that was a fair comeback.

“You didn’t tell me you had a plan either, so I guess that makes us even.”

He chuckled. “You also failed to mention that your ring prevents suffocation, but not drowning.”

How…? Ugh, nevermind. I’m just glad he’s still here. We can get back to the temple easily now. I can… oh, woah, I feel a bit dizzy. Way too dizzy.

I looked at Pim, who was making grabbing motions to be carried on the wolf’s shoulders again. The wolf stood up, still a bit wobbly, and heaved him over his head. I shakily gave Pim the fish knife which he immediately used to skewer a not so sneaky sticky spider to a tree. The almost casual nature of the act made me feel relieved, if a little sick as he immediately started snacking on it.

Still, being in the shallow swamp is good. I know this place. It’s not as dangerous. We can get back.

As I turned to the rest of our waiting throng, my head felt more and more like mush and I needed a moment to catch myself again. An errant thought came to me just as I almost gave in to the need to lie down for just a moment.

“So… you killed the… fish, I assume?”

“Mhm.”

“And then… you....”

“Yes. It took some effort, but I prevailed.” I almost yawned, so tired, so heavy, so sleepy.

“So… how come you didn’t drown?”

“Ah, well, about that. First off, I ask you to not think ill of me. I carry a… boon of sorts.”

He turned towards me, and one hand went for my nose.

Wait, nooo, I didn’t break it again! It’s still sensitive, don’t touch it–

He pulled his hand back to reveal a shining bauble between his thumb and index finger.

“I got yer ring.”

Motherf–

And then I crashed down on to the muddy swamp floor, fully aware of my fading consciousness and the panicked movements all around before I fell into a fevered half-slumber.