Should've.
"Should've drowned, this one." Was the first words she heard, the only ones she could process though her waterlogged brain. There was that word, should've. She should've been able to wake up with some dignity, but instead she found herself vomiting water up onto herself, rolling off onto her side with an audible groan as her lungs forced the water out, as well as emptying her stomach while they were at it, just to really rub it in. Her mind returned soon after she was finished, and she began piecing her memory back together. She… she should've been able to remember what happened right away, but instead it took an embarrassing amount of time to realize what had happened. That shipmaster, that, DAMNED half-man! Half-thing! He was right to hate them! She should've seen it coming!
"Heh, you still alive down there?"
The mystery voice from earlier spoke up again, and Emraku came back to reality, leaving her thoughts behind. She should've realized, she was lying right in front of her rescuer. He was a taller man (thankfully), deep black skin as dark as bronze, and it was only when she brought her gaze further up did she see his curved round ears and dark eyes, a gaze of both concern and amusement. A human, an exotic one at that. He had told her about their kind before as well, how he disliked their callousness and intrinsic indifference. How they were always detached and never truly cared. He was right about half-things, he probably was about them too. Emraku shook her head as she pushed herself up, sitting upright as she brushed the sand and the remaining water out of her scales, as he continued.
"Don't get a lot of… your kind, here. Eastern, right? Never could remember. Heh, unless you're some kinda sea-serpent."
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He guffawed, laughing to his own joke, a sight which furrowed her brow and made her tongue click in annoyance. He was right. Their kind really was uncaring. Here she was, washed up and half dead, and he was cracking jokes! She staggered as she stood, her hands pressing against her knees as she forced herself to stand.
"Woah, ey ey, relax, you're gonna fa-" The man stepped forward as he spoke, only getting his concern somewhat out before, like an animal backed into a corner, she struck at him, her hand slashing at his extended arm. Claws raked across bare, bronze flesh. He gasped, recoiling back, his hand grasping at his now bleeding arm. They stared at each other, the man's empathy mixing with caution and Emraku, looking more akin to a rabid, mad dog than anything, heaving as she stood, expecting him to try again. The moment was thick with tension and fear from the both of them, before the man raised his hands in a gesture of peace, one hand now spotted with blood.
"I get it, okay? You're scared. Just, relax, okay? You're alive. I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to help, okay?" Like someone trying to console a wild animal, he spoke calmly, forcing himself to be relaxed. It should've worked. Should've.
There was a sudden voice, someone else calling out from somewhere further along the beach. "Oy Ali, you okay over there?! Everyone's waiting for you!" The man, Ali, glanced over towards the voice. Emraku however, ran, running down the beach in the opposite direction. Ali turned back around, shouting out, "Hey wait!" Before giving chase. Further down the beach, the voice who called saw the new scene unfold, his friend running after a strange figure. He gave chase as well, the others with them joining. And all Emraku saw was her being chased after by a group of strange men. She should've seen what they saw, realize what was really happening, she should've seen through her animalistic panic.
Should've.