I followed the officer through water filled and air filled caverns. He seemed unperturbed by the constant morphing and un-morphing, well that being said sharks barely morph back. People tell a lot of tales, growing up I've heard my fair share of stories. Most of it seems like fairy tales, myths, historical fact contorted for the sake of entertainment. Fact; sharks and whales just barely morph, they start breathing through their mouths in air and breath through their gils in water, their skin changes texture and their fins absorb, well except their dorsal fin. Apart from that their water and air forms are almost identical. It makes more sense that there is little change. It's painful to change and the less change the better I would assume.
There are fairy tales about how we used to live on land and were cursed to live underwater. Bullshit. That's just because when we morph in air we resemble more the land dwellers, just means our species has been switching longer, because we're weaker. If we were as strong as the sharks then we wouldn't have to make air pockets or find them in caverns to hide from predators. We've always been here, living in and out of air pockets, keeping away from creatures that would kill us. Though it doesn't protect us from the invertebrates. They just destroy and eat... That's why I'm here as exchange for protection. Sharks are only born male and our village couldn't afford the fee so we agreed to the exchange.
I barely heard him when he told me we arrived at the cavern. We pass through a small alcove, where he gives me a bag filled with clothes and other essentials. He leads me to the biggest cavern i have ever seen. I've heard about them in stories about the cities, places filled with buildings and people so dense you could barely see the ceiling. homes attached and not attached.
"This is the lower housing quadrant. There are 2 other housing quadrants for upper level families, once you become pregnant you will proceed to the midlevel quadrant. The 4th quadrant is the market, you will be giving a monthly allowance for food and other essentials."
He guides me through streets and alley with houses that nearly touch the top of the caverns. Women and sharks walk through the streets rushing to get to there destination while other take their time watching others interact.
"The sharks live along side the women. When we began to establish this arrangement they were separate but it made more sense to have us co-exist. More opportunities for people to establish relationships. If you decide to be married and stay after giving birth you will be moved to the middle housing quadrant and will be provided a home more fitting a family. The upper quadrant is reserved for officer and ladies from wealthy families." he pauses and looks at me "they pay for better accommodations." he said a bit disgusted. "At least the officers earn them" he said underneath his breath probably thinking he was saying it in his head. The message was pretty clear women who came from money only wanted to be with officers so they paid and made sure they saw them as much as possible.
It was a pretty common tale that women of wealth married handsome elegant officers and women who were poor were matched with rough grisly abusive lower soldiers. The tales also told of houses packed with women with only room to sleep, which you also used to eat. The bathrooms were shared among many homes and were generally terrible. The sharks would go into the houses and rape you every night. These were complete fabrications.
He stopped and I kept walking forward.
"I had a feeling you stopped listening. Which is common enough when entering a new place. We have arrived at your new home."
I look at the home and it's bigger than my home from the village. It was two levels high with a front patio with a table and chairs perfect for watching the people walking by.
"This next part is very important so listen carefully. Inside your received bundle this is written if you need reference. The rules of courtship are as follows.
One may refuse a shark only after going on 3 dates, which must be formally made by the shark and recorded by the ministry. This is the responsibility of the shark. He will be given a form for you to sign. If he doesn't have the form the date is not official and you may refuse to see him. If the shark becomes violent or forces himself upon you, the date is void and depending on the circumstances the shark will lose any right to further dates. During the date you are not required to have any physical contact and should not be forced to have physical contact. Please be very clear at the beginning of each date you're level of comfort and make sure it is noted in the form you sign. This is very important even if you don't want any or are comfortable with more. If there are issues with the shark please bring all concerns to the ministry which is located in the market.
One may refuse a shark if one can show superior physical ability. The challenge must be formalized and a member of the ministry must be present during the challenge or the challenge must take place at the ministry office. This is rare but I'm mentioning this just encase. It's a technicality because we don't want physically strong women partnered with inferior men for breading purposes. When we first started women had to challenge the sharks before a relationship was official but we found if the women loved the shark they would lose on purpose thus defeating the reasoning all together.
One may refuse a shark if they physically assault you or another female. This must be reported immediately to the ministry in the market. We have zero tolerance for violence against the women in our communities please remember this. If you see another women being assaulted please inform the ministry."
He looked at the ceiling making sure he hadn't forgotten anything.
"You will be sharing this home with a women named Mal, she keeps to herself. So don't worry if you barely see her. It might even feel like you're living on your own. Her last roommate described it as such. This is where I take my leave. If you have any questions or concerns please go to the ministry it doesn't close."
He left me and I just stood there staring at the house. The door was made of wood, I think. Wood is pretty rare definitely in this condition but the sharks lived under a small island so maybe it grew trees. Most wood was taken from ship wrecks, even then it was in rough shape. I walked up and entered the house. As soon as I passed the threshold there was a kitchen with a eating and living area in the the same room then at the back of the room was a set of stairs that lead to a second floor. I stood in the doorway in shock as I tried to take in the grandness of the room. . I lived in a home with 3 others, we had a small bathroom and no kitchen. We had kitchens in the village but they were communal few had one in their homes. We definitely didn't have stairs. I'm drown to the stairs and make my way up. There are three doors, two open one closed. One was a washroom and the other was a bedroom.
"I guess the open one is mine?" I said to myself.
I walk through the open doorway and take it in. There is a bed and a window and shelves and a mirror with a small table underneatth. I've never had a mirror before I only heard about them in tales. The wall were bare and the bed had no covers. I place my bag on the bed and walk to the mirror. I stare at myself. I'm smaller and thinner than the previous time I saw myself. My hair is yellow and fine with a slight curl. My eye are tired with a glint or greyish blue. I touch my face, and fix my pale blue dress. I look dirty.
"the covers are in the back drying."
I turn around with my arms up in defence. Reflex. A tall lean women is standing like an elegant statue in my doorway. Her hair is black and long and her eyes are completely grey with long lashes. Her whole body was wrapped in bandages and she wore a light grey dress over it. Her face was blank of expression. Her presence was silent.
"Please stay out of my room." She said then glided down the hallways and into her room so fast I barely realized she left the doorway. I sat on the bed. I will let her keep to herself. The bed is firm but soft. I've never had my own bed before. I see the dirt on my hand brush off onto the mattress and quickly get up. I go straight to the washroom and try to clean myself. I pour myself a bath hoping to soak away all the dirt and hardships.
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