How to rescue a Merman

Lucrecia had been born in an ocean far away. He lived there with his parents until he turned thirteen years old when they were killed by passing pirates who attacked them while traveling through open waters one day after fishing for food on the seafloor. His mother managed to hide Lucrecia behind some rocks before she died but his father couldn't manage it so only him survived. The young boy watched helplessly at this happening even knowing that if only he could have helped somehow then perhaps everything would turn out differently.

After that, he tried living alone at first since no other fish would come near him due to being a foreign merfolk brought up from the depths of the ocean instead of the shallower seas closer to land like most others did. However, eventually someone came along and saved him from starving, it was the Chief of the Shallow Sea Tribe. The man took care of him in exchange he would be promised to someone of his choosing once he reached adulthood which happened when he turned 16.

By the time Lucrecia joined the Shallow Sea Tribe he was 14 and they taught him how to hunt and gather edible plants within the surrounding area of the village. However even though he had been accepted into the tribe he still felt very lonely because all of these people around him did not acknowlege him. He had a separate dwelling from the Chiefs family, This made him feel isolated and unwanted among those closest to him. He wanted to share stories of the past with his fellow villagers but nobody ever seemed interested beyond a certain point—they never asked questions. Even during meals or gatherings everyone else talked amongst themselves about trivial things while ignoring him completely except the chief's daughter who always smiled at him whenever she saw him. She didn't seem to mind too much either despite having many suitors vying for her attention.

He often wondered why he wasn't included more in conversations, maybe he was just something that Shallow merfolk weren't used to seeing? Perhaps they thought he wouldn't understand them.

It wasnt until he was about to come of age he understood, he was here as a sacrifice. Originally the tribe had a history of giving a bride from the Chiefs family to the Beast of the Ravine every few generations. Since Lucrecia was now sixteen, he would become the next offering. It was the reason the Chief took him in and it was the reason his daughter was also nice, because she knew her life would be saved because of him.

The night before his coming of age he was tied up in a cave to ensure he wouldn't escape. He was ignored throughout and they didnt spare him anymore food. Then late at night, the chief called all of the men to watch over him. They stood guard around the cave entrance.

They waited until daybreak to take Lucrecia and blindfolded him so he would not know his way back to the village, nor any landmarks nearby. At least three hours later they finally arrived at the ravines edge where the beast dwelled. They took him part way down into the ravine and tied him to the rock that jutted out of the cliff wall above the seabed below.

There were two guards watching him while the rest worked on preparing the bait in another direction to attract the beast. Once ready, they threw the dead body of a fish towards the water and got ready to leave. After leaving Lucrecia went silent, staring off into space unable to do anything but wait for what was going to happen.

Two days passed without incident. Finally, after sunset on the third evening, the so called beast appeared. Without warning, the creature suddenly leaped forward, grabbing hold of the rope tying Lucrecia to the rock. Lucrecia was weak at this point he hadn't eaten for days, he looked up at the monster in shock. Its eyes were blue, almost exactly like his own. Lucrecia couldn't hold on anymore and fainted.

The beast took hold of him then dragged him further down the ravine, deeper than anyone could have imagined possible. Soon enough they entered an underground cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites, there were crystals coming from the wall which made the room a faint purple and blue hue. It was an undergrown air pocket however it had enough moisture for merfolk to survive there.

The beast set Lucrecia down upon a bed of seaweed-like algae growing along the walls near one side of the chamber then dived again to continue its search for prey leaving an unconcious Lucrecia inside the cave alone.