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Vasz

Rock.

Rock.

Rock.

Ro—not a rock.

It’s moving.

I peer closer.

Since when do rocks move—?

A pincer clips onto my paw.

I yelp, flinging my arm to the side.

The crab goes soaring through the water and scuttles away from our battle.

It’s too late. The damage is done.

I bare my teeth at the cruel world, blue liquid trickling from the deep gash splitting my paw pad open.

“ Bad crab ,” I growl.

It disappeared behind the reef, too afraid to face me again.

Hmph. That’s what I thought.

I curl my arm so I can lick the grievous wound.

I could’ve died. I am so brave for surviving such a heinous attack.

I was a warrior in my last life, and in this.

Ordus will build a shrine in my name for protecting him from a vicious foe.

I glance toward him, holding my head high to receive his gratitude.

He dragged me to the mainland to see the human last night, made us sleep in the woods around her house.

Now, he’s making me wait around so he can watch his boring female.

Is this my prize for my loyalty?

Agony slices up my arm when I place my paw flat against the sand.

I choke back my whimper.

A mighty warrior stands tall, even at the risk of bleeding out.

I stay still, about to die from blood loss, patiently waiting to be showered with praise.

He doesn’t even look at me.

My ears flatten against my head.

How dare he not acknowledge me when I have just gone into battle for him?

The humans call a third of me man’s best friend .

Am I not his best friend?

The one and only companion of the king?

Yes.

Yes, I am.

And he will thank me.

That human he’s been watching is not more important than me.

Leaping up toward the warmer water, I wriggle my tail to gain momentum.

The suckers along the backs of my limbs pulse as I tuck my legs up against my chest, staying small to swim easily, using the fins along my back, stomach, and sides to steer.

A low growl starts in my chest. Ordus still isn’t looking at me.

My eyes narrow on one of his floating arms. It sways and wiggles, threading through the water to keep him afloat.

My jaw loosens, and I oh-so-carefully swim closer.

Maybe he won’t notice if I take one little nibble?—

“Vasz,” he warns.

“Think very carefully about whether you want to bite me right now.”

I snap my mouth and avert my gaze to the side.

Nope, not looking at him.

I wasn’t about to bite him.

I don’t know what he’s talking about.

“We must catch crabs to keep in the den for my mate.”

I blanch, haunted by the memories.

“Snapper too.”

This, I approve.

What was I here for?

Oh, yes. That’s right.

Untucking my arm, I show him the gaping wound on my paw pad.

“I was injured in your name.”

Ordus leans forward, and I put on my brave face.

I am a mighty warrior.

Scars are a symbol of my prowess.

“Where?”

My ears fall, pointing down to the sea floor.

Is he blind? I push my snout into the cut and almost die from the pain.

“ There .”

Ordus grabs my arm to take a closer look.

His eyes narrow, and he tips his head to the side.

“I don’t see it.”

The wound is half the size of one of those land ants and as thick as a strand of his hair.

How can he not see it?

That he would dismiss me after everything we’ve been through?—

Is that a coconut?

I snatch my arm and swim away.

Oh my.

Oh yes .

Look at her.

She’s beautiful, the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

I have never seen a coconut so amazing.

It’s green with a patch of yellow the same shade as the skin around my eyes.

There’s a spot in my quarters where it would?—

Not a coconut.

Crab. Crab. Crab. Retreat.

Spinning around, I move my tail as quickly as I can, darting back to Ordus before the crab can wound me again.

I’ve won one war today; I must heal before going into another.

I circle Ordus, enjoying the clean water.

I don’t know why we can’t live out here.

I could have a coconut farm, and I’d never need to travel so far to get a snack.

The water doesn’t taste yucky, and I can listen to the humans talk and play music and dance.

But all Ordus wants to do now is watch his boring human.

I huff, sigh, then huff again, staring at his tentacle, debating how fast I can run away if I bite it.

“I’m bored,” I declare.

He ignores me.

I snap at him, and then I dive down to the sand to sniff around for treasure before going back up.

Exploring the sea is no fun when we’ve been in the same place all morning.

His human’s seven legs—I can’t count—dangle over the edge of a board, and my ears perk up, my mouth watering.

I’ve hunted her eighty-five times in the past twenty-one days.

I deserve a reward after Ordus brought only nine coconuts back to the lair.

Her nice, thick thigh bone will be good.

I swim up to Ordus. “Can I eat her?”

“No.”

I lick my lips.

“A nibble? Please.”

“ No ,” he growls, showing me his teeth.

Ugh. “Okay.”

I wait for her to start flapping her arms in the water, and then I fly through a wave like I do back at the island.

Eventually, her three legs come back into the water.

“What about now?” I ask.

Ordus’ arm snaps out, and I dart away before he can catch me.

My tail moves fast as a light noon—or light thing?

Or…lighter? What did I hear the human song say?

My head shakes. It doesn’t matter.

I am a lone creature.

I do not need Ordus.

If I want to eat a?—

Legs.

I sniff the water.

Legs that don’t belong to Ordus’ female.

I scrunch my nose. Legs of a smelly human.

My tail slumps. A male with dirty feet.

I suppose I must find another meal.

The creature moves to lie flat on his board to give me a clear view of the coconut painted on the bottom of his toy. I’ve found lunch.