Wounds

As she was left defenseless beside the fish. Her mind wandered.

For a long time, she sat in her cocoon and thought about what life had been like before tonight. Before the assault and kidnapping. Her eyes were screwed shut.

She'd lived alone now for about a year, and had just started thinking about becoming a parent or adopting now that she did not have to think about caring for her awful parents' kids anymore.

She smiled sadly at her past optimism. She wriggled herself into a sitting position, and looked about her surroundings again. It was a small circular hut around 30 feet across. The hut was made of clay or mud with a straw and dirt floor and a singular window across from her where the small lamp sat, flickering. She thought about coastal countries that still used huts. Thailand, Polynesian Islands… Fiji… thoughts of coastal islands and cute turtles brought her out of her terror.

'Perhaps I am in Asia somewhere. I could've been flown there or shipped by sea.'

She went to shrug her shoulders, but found she was still sore. As she winced in pain, the door swung open and away from her, announcing the stranger and a new companion.

"Female," Iris looked up at the stanger. "This is our elder, Kinsey." 

Behind the man swayed a rickety old woman with the same ears on her head and a tail swinging every few seconds behind her to help maintain her balance.

The elderly woman shambled in and lowered herself down slowly into a squat beside Iris. This lady reminded her of her own Grandma back home. 'Another comfort.' Thought Iris.

"Hi, dear. I hear you've had quite the trip." 

Iris nodded.

"And this big lump scooped you up without even asking." Kinsey hummed soothingly. 

Iris nodded more emphatically. "I- I don't know where I am. What country is this."

Kinsey's brow furrowed in confusion. "Country? This is the Otter territory. Otter beastmen predominantly live here. Do you know what clan you're from?"

Iris furrowed her brow as well. She shook her head with such force it caused her shoulder to grind and click.

Kinsey reached out slowly, as if approaching a wild animal. "Hmm, you may be more injured than I thought. Dear, do you mind if I remove the hide?" 

Iris whispered, "Elder, I'm naked though." 

The grandma chuckled and replied, "Oh, I've seen so many a naked babe in my time- nothing phases me. Though, Erin had better turn around. He seems quite flustered by you."

At this declaration, the strange man's face and chest blossomed bright red. "Grandmother!" He shouted before turning around quickly.

'So his name is Erin?' She thought to herself.

Iris laughed at the family antics, and relaxed a bit. The granny flexed her index finger and her nail extended into a long claw. She used it to cut through layers of kelp and pry the soft hide from Iris' battered skin.

Kinsey gasped.

"Oh dear, sweet girl."

Erin swung around in concern. "Is my, um… is she- are you okay?!"

Freed from the fur and kelp bindings, Iris saw herself for the first time since she'd awoken here. Her right ribs were black and purple just beneath her breast. Scratches and welts littered her stomach, and deep bite marks were sunken into her inner thighs.

"No." She whispered. "I am not okay." Latching onto the comfort the Elder exuded, Iris stood. Carefully, she tied the hide around her to make a skirt. Then she covered her breasts with her hands.

Elder Kinsey clucked her tongue like a mother hen. "Oh, dear. Let's get you some proper wrappings."

Erin felt torn as Grandma Kinsey took Iris about the shoulders and led her out of the hut. He was so excited to finally meet a girl aroundnhisnown age, he'd not even thought of anything besides getting her home.

He worried that she would fall ill from the damage her body had seen, and his ears wilted anxiously. Gathering shreds of his self, he too headed out.

-----

Erin did not fillow the women, but instead headed down a dirt path in the opposite direction. Away from from everyone, at the edge of the village, lived male tribe leader, his uncle.

His uncle sat on the porch of his home, and steasfastly ignored Erin as he approached. "Uncle Thomas?" Tried the young man.

There was no response.

"If you please, I need-"

"No!" Exclaimed the elderly otter. "I do not please, and you always need sonething."

"Sir, it's about wooing a woman."

Thomas guffawed loudly. "Why bother with hypotheticals, you'll never find one."

Erin beamed. "And say I had?"

Thomas glared suspiciously. "If you had, I'd ask why you're here with me instead of her. She find you ugly or something?"

Erin blushed and replied hotly, "No, she's just very shy."

"Hmm." Thomas pondered. "Perhaps then, she's one who needs looking after. Follow her rules, and see where it takes ya."

And with that, Thomas rose from his porch, and disappeared inside his hut.

----

When Iris returned to the hut, it was alone. She had been outfitted with a hide shirt to complement the hide skirt she already wore. It long and surprisingly light.

She saw immediately that things were different. Two straw mattresses lay side by side near the window. The lamp burned a bit dimmer, and some grilled fish lay in a heap at a small kotatsu where she and the raw fish had been previously.

"So, I am sorry for the rude start. I am Erin of the Otter. I only want to help you and keep you safe. Will you allow me to help, woman?" Erin's sincerity shone in his face an dhis tone.

Iris crossed the room, and curled into one of the beds. "Yes, we can try together. And... I'm Iris."

With that informal introduction, she dragged a blanket from the floor and laid herself to sleep.