FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“Come on," urged Fern, her long, red hair billowing in the breeze. She waved him toward the water with one hand. In the other, she carried a bag overflowing with amenities. Food, drinks, beach towels. She was ready for an all-day adventure.

It was a Saturday in mid-July, and Tyler, already feeling the effects of the muggy, summer heat, looked up as he finished spraying himself with sun screen. The strongest SPF there was. He hated how it stuck to his skin. But at least I won't get burned.

“Tyler … "

“Just a second." The thirty-five year old pocketed the spray can while he put his plain-white t-shirt back on. It contrasted with the baggy, navy-blue swim trunks he was sporting. Looking ahead, he furrowed his brow when he saw what was tethered to the end of weathered, wooden dock. “You didn't mention anything about a motorboat."

“Didn't I?"

“Don't think so." He walked toward her, taking the sun screen out of his pocket and tossing it her way. The wood creaked under him, obscuring the sound of the water lapping at the dock's support columns.

She caught the canister and added it to her bag.

“You probably slipped it past me. I was under the influence."

“You had one glass of wine," she said, of dinner last night.

“It hits me fast. Or maybe that was you," he teased, putting his arms around her.

Fern, wearing a two-piece swimsuit, grinned and said, “If I was seducing you, you'd know." She pulled away from him so she could step into the boat. “What did you think I meant when I said I wanted to explore the lake?"

He shrugged, lingering on the dock. “A rowboat? Or a canoe? Or that we'd walk along the edge? A hike or something?" He pointed down to his sneakers.

“In these temperatures? We'd melt. Or roast." She looked upward, shielding her face with a hand. She pulled a pair of sunglasses out of her bag and put them on. “Depends on how much shade we're in." She looked to him, now exuding a higher glamour factor. “I'd rather take to the water." She motioned to herself. “I didn't put on this suit just to look good."

“You look great," he confirmed. “But I thought we'd wade around the shallows or something. Or swim closer to shore?"

“What difference does it make if we stay here or go out there?" she asked, stashing her bag under a cushioned bench and nodding at the expanse of blue. It shimmered invitingly.

“I'm just not a fan of deep water, I guess," he admitted sheepishly.

“That your number one fear or something?" They'd only been dating for two months. Long enough to know each other's general traits and quirks but not long enough to be cognizant of every single detail.

“No. It's in the top ten, though."

“Yeah? What are the top three?"

“I'm not telling." She might laugh.

She looked her boyfriend over. “You can swim, though, right?"

“Of course."

“Then there's nothing to be afraid of."

He made a face. “It doesn't work like that, Fern. Not being able to see the bottom? Or touch it? Having no idea what's down there? Realizing you couldn't reach the surface in time if you sunk all the way down?" he decided, letting it all add up. “It's creepy."

“Tyler," she stressed, “you'll be fine. There's no giant squids down there. This is _fresh_water. And you'll have a life jacket on, okay? I'll be with you. This is my father's boat! I've used it before. I know what I'm doing." She smiled casually, inching the sun glasses down her nose and peering over them. “It's just like driving a car."

“Except when you hydroplane in a car, you die."

“For the love of-" Fern sighed, rolling her eyes. She pushed the glasses back up. “Stop it. We have the place to ourselves all weekend," she said, of her family's vacation house. “Let's just enjoy ourselves, mm?"

“Yeah, I know," he mumbled. She's right. It would be fair to classify him as uptight. Or, at least, self-conscious. He had trouble embracing new experiences. Dating her has helped me come out of my shell. Good thing she likes taking the lead. “I'm sorry. I just-"

“Relax." She hopped back onto the dock, taking his hands and guiding him toward the boat.

“I'll try," he replied, getting a whiff of her shampoo. Something fruity. Something nice.

“Good." She stopped, turned, and gave him a peck on the lips, getting back into the boat before he could kiss her back. “Now, hurry up," she said.

“What's this mean, by the way?" he asked, of the ship's name. He pointed at the hull before stepping in. Contessa II, it said.

“Inside joke," she replied with a wink. “Remind me to introduce you to classic British comedy."

“Not until you watch all the Star Treks," he countered.

“That would take years."

“I'll narrow it down to the best ones."

“And then you'll change your mind about them being 'the best' and insist I watch the real best. It's a bait-and-switch. I'm already onto you. Nerd," she added.

He chuckled. “So, uh … what should I do?" He stood awkward on the deck as she prepared for departure. “I feel kinda useless."

“Just sit down and ogle me while I take command," she said, ribbingly. “Can you handle that?"

Tyler smiled. “Sure thing, captain."

Fern smirked. She was so confident and self-assured. He tended to worry and second-guess. Somehow, they fit together.

For all the chemistry, though, they still hadn't gone 'all the way.' They both worked a lot. They were often tired when they were able to meet. And, more to the point, both had been hurt in the past. No reason to rush things. But being alone here, together, all weekend? Refreshed and relaxed? It was the perfect recipe for romance. Tyler suspected the nature of their relationship would change by Sunday evening.

Just don't psyche yourself out. If it happens, it happens. It's no big deal. He wanted it to happen, though. Was that selfish to admit? How can it be? He was pretty sure she wanted it, too. Stop obsessing. You don't want your nerves to render you impotent when the time comes.

“So," he mentioned before they 'set sail.' “You said there were life jackets?"

“Below deck." She nodded, brushing her hair behind her shoulders. “We probably won't need them, but I'll get them."

“This thing is big enough to have multiple decks?" His eyes widened, watching her go down a short flight of stairs. _The way her hips move. Much better sight than anything I'm going to see on this lake. _

“It's nothing fancy. Or even comfortable. Pretty cramped, actually. A small couch, end table, and mini-fridge," she replied, out of sight, voice slightly muffled. She returned with neon orange floatation devices. She tossed one to him, easily slipping into the other herself. “Put it on. Pull it tight and tie it."

He nodded and did so, taking a seat as she unmoored them and started the motor. Behind the wheel of the sleek, white craft, she looked especially striking. Could you swoon any more, Tyler? Pace yourself. It's not even noon yet! He leaned back and smiled. She liked when I called her 'captain,' didn't she? I saw her face. Maybe we could do a bit of a roleplay …

Glancing over her shoulder as she turned the wheel, Fern grinned. “What?"

Tyler blushed, wiping the smile from his face and pretending to fiddle with his life jacket. “Uh, hmm? Nothing," he mumbled, barely audible over the sound of the now-revving motor.

“You were staring."

“Well … "

“You're cute," she told him.

This only intensified his bashfulness. “So are you."

“Heh." Hand on the throttle, she said, “Hold on, Ty."

He gripped whatever he could find as they surged forward, speed exponentially increasing, the still, summer air becoming a humid breeze and then a warm wind as they zipped through it, the bottom of the boat bouncing atop the lake's surface. He looked behind them to see the wake the motor was producing.

“How far out are we going?" he yelled. Not too far, I hope! I don't want to lose sight of the shore.

“Thought we'd go halfway, maybe? Cut the engine and float for a while." She skipped a beat. “Pass the time." She let that hang, as if implying something. “When we're done, we'll go to the other side of the lake. Find a place to swim, eat lunch. Then come back."

He blushed, fixating on 'pass the time.'

With no announcement, Fern scaled back their speed and finally cut the engine entirely, the boat coasting to a gentle, bobbing stop.

Tyler took a deep breath. _ _

She left the wheel and sat down beside him. “How you doing?"

“I'm okay. Wasn't as bad as I thought."

She leaned her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. “I told you … "

“You did," he admitted, hooking an arm around her.

She remained quiet, saying, after a moment, “Do you hear that?"

“What?"

“Existence."

There was the breeze. Distant birds. The water slapping against the side of the boat. There was even an airplane going by overhead. And, then, of course, the sounds of their own breaths. And that was only the start of it.

“I wish we could be closer to this," she breathed with reverence. “Permanently, I mean. It's so … refreshing."

He lifted his head. “Closer to what?"

“Nature." She skipped a beat before adding, “We move through it, acknowledge it. But we're not really … connected with it? Are we? I think we'd be a lot happier if we were."

“You saying you'd like to move out of the city someday?"

“I wouldn't mind living out here," she said, eyes open again. She stared at the wooded horizon. Trees covered the shore of the lake on all sides.

“Well," he decided, speaking in a quiet, gentle tone, “I only wish to be with you. I don't care about the details. City or country. As long as we're together."

“Aw … I think that's the most romantic thing anyone's ever-"

Without warning, there was a light splash. And a wet, slick flop! A fish had leapt out of the water and landed on the floor of the boat!

“Whoa," Fern said, sitting up straight. Her green eyes widened. More fascinated than surprised, she took off her sunglasses and leaned forward to see what kind of fish it was. “Never seen that happen before! And, look … wow, look at this color." She got to her knees and hunched over it. “It's so vivid! Is that it blue or green? Or purple? It looks different with every ray of light."

“Um, I don't know," Tyler said awkwardly. “It's … it's a fish?" He didn't know anything about fish. At all. He was also a little flustered. We were having an intimate moment! What bad timing. “Shouldn't we put it back?" he asked. Even thought he fish had rudely interrupted them, he didn't want it to suffer, let alone die.

“Go ahead," she said, returning to her seat on the cushioned bench. “They don't bite."

“Who, me?" He froze, then asked, “Don't piranhas bite?"

“It's not a piranha."

“You said you didn't know what-"

“Tyler … "

He swallowed. “Right." You can do this. You're a big boy. He bent down and reached for it. It slipped through his fingers. “Gah! Stop it … hey, I'm trying to help you!" He frowned, dropping down and crawling after it.

Fern laughed. “Have to be smarter than the fish."

“I am, thank you." Tyler, panting, eventually caught the thing, sweat dripping down his forehead. Damn, it's hot. “Hah! See?" Panting, he looked to her. “Fern. Take a picture? Then we can see what kind it was."

“Good idea." She got out her phone and snapped a few shots.

He finally tossed it back into the lake, wiping his hands on his swim trunks and returning to his seat. “We can tell people I caught it bare-handed," he said, putting on a faux-tough guy air. He flexed an arm for show. “It's technically true."

Fern said nothing, thumbs tapping on her phone. “Hmm. Can't find what kind it is … I mean, it was nothing I'd seen before."

“There's a lot of fish in the sea."

“It's a lake," she corrected, not looking up from her device.

“I know. I'm joking. Don't I get a courtesy laugh?"

“Maybe it's an invasive species," she said. “People get tropical pets and release them in the wild, you know? Has to be something like that."

“Probably." He hadn't thought of that. But it makes sense.

“Yeah." She seemed to accept this as the answer but was still frustrated not knowing for sure. Putting her phone back in her pocket, she shook it off and said, “Well. We have a story to tell, at least."

“Hopefully, not the only one," he said.

“Oh, we'll have more. But some of them won't be for public consumption … " She scooted closer, moving in for a kiss.

“Mm." He tilted his head and their lips locked, smooth and wet. I think she's hotter than the sun.

She brought a hand to his cheek, sliding it down his neck, to his shoulder, and then up again and through his hair. “Mmh … " Their lips smacked apart. Her breath washed across his chin. “You forget to shave, Ty?"

He kissed her again. Little pecks to her cheek this time. “I just did, like-“ Peck. “Two days ago?" Peck. He normally shaved twice a week.

“Well, you're getting scruffy again."

He lifted his head and felt at his face. Huh. She was right. Already?

“Don't worry," she reassured, voice low and husky, grabbing his wrists. She cleared them from his face. “I like it." She kissed him again, right on his whiskers.

His pulse quickened, hands escaping hers and going to her sides. He started to fumble with her lifejacket, unbuckling it.

With Fern facing him, they were both oblivious to the dense, brown fur was sprouting up and down her spine, slowly inching in all directions along her back.

The very same fur, thick and soft, was also beginning to grow on Tyler's chest. Along his sternum and branching outward. He still had his t-shirt on and couldn't see it. He felt himself starting to itch but assumed it was nerves or something

Sometimes, when he was really anxious, he got hives. The itching was probably just that. Besides, being nervous was a good thing, right? It meant he cared. It meant he really liked her, that he didn't want to disappoint her. _I'm not going to let myself chicken out. This is too important. She's too important. _

Fern, wanting more of him, undid his own life jacket and moved her hands under that shirt. She rubbed her palms up and down. “Hmm." She paused. “I knew you had a hairy chest, but I don't remember your belly being hairy."

“Huh?" Nuzzling at her forehead, he let his arms surround her, hands on her-

Wait. What's … what's that?

“Something wrong?" she asked.

Why does she have a hairy back? She didn't when we were ashore!

“Why'd you pull away?"

“I … n-nothing."

She stared at him. “Tyler … "

Be diplomatic. “Fern, I just don't want you to get the wrong-"

“Your hair!" she said, voice rising in alarm.

“What about-" He ran a hand across his own head, and … it was soft? Incredibly soft. It didn't even feel like hair anymore. Feels like … fur? His eyes widened as he nodded at her.

“Me, too?" she said, eyes widening. She took out her phone and opened the camera, turning the screen to 'selfie' mode so she could see herself. She gasped. Her long, shiny red hair was turning muddy brown. And shrinking. “I don't understand!"

Tyler tried not to panic. He felt so itchy, now! It was impossible to ignore. He lifted his arms and ripped his shirt off. Or tried to. The stupid life jacket was in the way! Huffing, he tore that off first. Then the shirt. His chest heaved. His furry chest. He gaped. It was all over, and it was spreading, faster and faster. A light, coffee-with-milk brown on his chest and belly. Darker, muddy brown elsewhere.

Fern threw off her own life jacket and studied her arms, watching her skin disappear beneath an encroaching pelt.

“This can't be happening," Tyler finally whispered, as if that would wake him up. It didn't. And with how humid it was, he now felt like he was suffocating. Water. I need water. He desperately searched for Fern's travel bag. She has water bottles, right? She said-

He looked to the lake, almost by accident, and found he couldn't look away. It was suddenly, strangely compelling. It beckoned to him. A siren's call. Water … water …

No, not that kind of water!

But it's so fresh and-

“Ty, I'm scared."

“We're … we're losing our minds," he said, shaking his head. “Right? Maybe that fish was hallucinogenic."

“If that were true, why would we be imagining the very same thing?" Fern, trying to make an emergency call, dropped her phone. It clattered to the floor, screen-first, shattering it. “My … my hands!" She held them up, almost sobbing.

Tyler could only stare. They weren't hands anymore. Not really. Not only were they covered in the same fur that was enveloping her body, but her nails had turned white, becoming claws. Her palms developed pads. Webs now connected her fingers.

Webs?

“Otters," Tyler said. “I think we're … we're turning into otters!"

“But how? Why? That's … that's just not possible!"

“If you have a better-" _ _

“Tyler … " Fern suddenly doubled over, falling to her knees. The boat rocked a bit. “Uhg … " She coughed, as if she were going to throw up. But she didn't. Couldn't.

He put a now-webbed hand (paw?) on her shoulder. “Fern! Are you-" He didn't finish the sentence. The nausea hit him, too. His insides were being reorganized and reshaped. It was actually amazing it didn't hurt worse than it did. Small blessings.

Shortly after the queasiness began, the external changes kicked into higher gear. If he had felt uneasy at the cosmetic alterations, this next wave made having fur and paws seem tame. His skeletal structure began to shift and shrink. His ears became small and round, and his legs became short and stubby. His clothes billowed around him as his body got smaller, and he kicked and thrashed, desperate to escape.

Fern yelped as her tailbone extended, a long, rudder-like appendage taking form.

Tyler's was soon rocking the same tail.

“We can't just let this happen!" Fern cried. She tried to get up. Maybe she could restart the boat and get them ashore? But she no longer had thumbs. Her 'hands' could no longer operate a phone, much less the controls of a speedboat. Besides, she was now too short to reach anything. She growled in fear and frustration, almost sounding feral.

That's because she is almost feral. And so are you. Unless you can reverse this soon. Tyler found he could no longer walk on two legs. Not really. He could rise up and waddle, but as soon as he took bigger steps he fell back to fours.

And, then, finally, the discomfort stopped, immediately replaced by something … quite different. Wholly, pleasantly different.

Tyler shivered, feeling a tingling in his loins. A fuzzy sheath formed over his no-longer-human cock. His eyes, now dark instead of blue, rolled back. Fight it! Don't … don't enjoy this. Please, don't enjoy this. “F-fern … " He moaned. It was embarrassing, but he couldn't help it.

She spun to face him, fierce and stout, her underside a light brown and topside darker. They looked so much alike, now. The changes hadn't reached her genitals yet, so she was dismissive of what he was going through. “Focus! Keep it together! If we can figure out what triggered this, maybe we can reverse it."

“I don't know. Maybe … " He trailed off. The tingling lessened, and he was able to think again. For now. But he felt gripped by a strange afterglow. What's going on?

“Why are you making that face?"

“What face?"

“You're kinda … slack-jawed."

“I … I'd rather not say," he mumbled. I think I just came without … well, coming. “You're right, though. Let's … let's just focus." Then it hit him. The cause of all this, as well as the solution. “Hey! You wished for something, didn't you? Just before that strange fish jumped into the boat?" That stupid fish! I knew it was suspicious.

“Yeah, but-"

“You did!" he accused.

“I wished … I think I wished for, uh, for … " She shook her small, whiskered head. The changes finally reached her reproductive tract. She shivered with pleasure, much like Tyler had. But, unbeknownst to her, her changes went far deeper. A fire of sorts began to burn inside her, and she began giving off potent pheromones.

Tyler's black nose sniffed. His heart raced with excitement, whiskers stiffening. What … what's that? Whatever it was, he wanted more!

“I wished we could be a part of … nature," Fern remembered, trying to anchor herself. But it was hard. “Or closer to it. Live in it. Or whatever." She huffed. It was so hot! “But I meant as ourselves! Not as river otters! This isn't even a river!" Breathing faster, she pointed a webbed paw at him, “You made a wish, too!" As long as they were playing the blame game, he deserved an equal share.

“No, I didn't."

“Yes, you did! After I wished to be closer to nature, you wished to be with me … and that you didn't care about the details." She stood on her hind legs, spreading her stubby, otter arms. “Well, details are pretty goddamn important, Ty!"

“Like I knew this was going to happen?" He yelled back, voice getting squeakier. He felt a wave of animal aggression building with him. Is she challenging me? Does she want a fight? He barely caught himself in time. Stop it! We're in this together! “I'm sorry … " He backed away, rudder-tail curling, terrified he was going to attack her. “I'm so sorry, Fern."

“It's okay. I know we're both … not ourselves right now," she said, making the understatement of the century. “I shouldn't have blamed you. Come back to me. Please … you're all I have … "

He did so, gladly, nuzzling his lithe, sleek body against hers.

She chirped happily, the haze in her mind intensifying, fueled by that primal fire.

“You know whose fault his really is? It's that fucking fish," Tyler said. “Nothing happened until after it showed up."

“You're right," she agreed. “We didn't ask for this. I knew it was an invasive species. I just didn't know it was pervasive, too!"

“What if we wish everything in reverse?" Tyler suggested. “Maybe the fish will hear it and come back."

And then I'll eat it. Mm! Bastard. Serves it right.

Wait, what?! No! What the hell, Tyler. I'm not eating a raw animal. Especially one with magical powers.

Fern, raising her fading voice, began to say, “I wish weee … ee … were … eek!" She blinked, pawing at her muzzle. “Chirp? Chip? Squeak!" Her tongue and vocal chords had changed, too. She could no longer use human language! She gestured madly at him, hoping he would try.

“Chirp-chirp-chip!" he went, in squeaky, melodic tones. Oh, no. No, no, no! He tried to say something in English, but only gibberish came out. It was too late. What are we going to do?!

In a blind panic, he rushed to the edge of the boat and nearly toppled over and into the middle of the lake. He froze. Not in fear, though. Oddly, he was no longer afraid of the deep. Or the mysteries it held.

Instead, as before, the water seemed to call to him. There was a gravity to it. Almost irresistible. He would've dove in without question if Fern and her increasingly distracting scent weren't keeping him aboard.

In gazing upon the water, Tyler saw his own reflection.

That's not me. Is that me? That's … that's not me. It can't be! I don't know who that is. That's an animal. An otter. I'm human! Human, human, hum-

In denial, he backed up and bumped into Fern, tumbling with her, her rudder-tail swishing right over his face. He felt as if he'd been hit by a brick. Her scent was like a perfume, clinging to her. And because of his close proximity, it clung to him, too. And it was beyond potent. He couldn't get it out of his nose. Couldn't stop breathing it. I feel dizzy.

Fern seemed dazed herself, laying on her belly, paws scratching at the floor of the boat. Her haunches raised, she stared Tyler down. A look of confusion was on her face. He could tell she was trying to fight the animal instincts that were now buttressing up against her human mind. But she was losing. Her willingness to embrace the moment and let things happen was coming back to bite her. Her mind was opening to the experience, even if just a smidge, and that's all the animal instincts needed to take over.

Tyler, always one to worry and hesitate, was more equipped to furiously resist the impulses that were bombarding him. He barked at her. Fern! Snap out of it! Bark! Please!

She continued to posture, though, flopping on her belly, rolling onto her back, chirping in a silly fashion.

He circled her, brushing his tail to hers, hoping to reach her somehow.

Fern chirped and bolted, bounding off in an undulating, otter-y fashion, retreating below deck, where it was cooler and the sun didn't reach.

Tyler immediately followed, sniffing the air. She was so easy to track. She was on the couch, curled up. He jumped up joined her. He wanted to speak to her. To hear her voice. To reassure her with his own.

I want her to know I'm still here. I'm still me. And she's still her, and love her. I do. I never told her that in direct words as a human. I should have. I'm so stupid. Now, I might never get the chance …

He was struggling to see a way out of this. The tide seemed like it would sweep them away at any moment.

If we can't speak, maybe … at least we could find that fish? But how? We'd have to go into the water ourselves.

Even though their new bodies were built for that, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack. One fish in a huge lake? And how would they get it to cooperate if they found it? Hold it hostage, threaten to eat it? If they followed through on that threat, then they'd definitely be stuck like this. The fish had the upper hand. Or fin. Or whatever.

What did we do to deserve this?

The universe didn't answer him.

Given the lack of options, it was best to stay put.

Someone will realize we're missing. Eventually. That's a fact. And if we stay on the boat, they'll find it and therefore us, and maybe we can write a message out with our paws or … or something! We're not really animals. Someone will recognize that.

But we're supposed to be gone 'til Monday. It's only Saturday. We can't stay here for three or four days with no food. I doubt otters can eat the snacks Fern brought in her bag.

As Tyler wrestled with all this, Fern, glassy-eyed, began to arch her agile body. She dug her claws into the couch cushions, rubbing her cheeks against it and chirping impatiently, lifting her back half. Including that sturdy tail.

Taking it as an invitation, he instinctively slid up her backside in a smooth, singular motion, grinding his loins beneath her tail. He almost didn't realize he'd done it until he felt her writhing beneath him. What … what are you doing? Tyler! Stop it!

He couldn't, though. He'd held on longer than Fern, but he was beginning to slip. I can feel it. The water. It's coming closer. If it felt bad, it would be easy to resist. But it felt good. So good!

He may not have been human anymore, but he knew what having an erection felt like. And he had one, alright. I've never been so aroused! It aches. Would it really hurt to just … screw her? A little? Maybe even a lot? We were going to have sex, anyway, weren't we? We both wanted it. Still do. Sure, we're not human anymore, but we're still the same species as each other, so it's not like we'd be doing anything taboo.

We're good, right?

This is good?

Yeah …

Fern squeaked at him, becoming restless. Her need wasn't abating. She blatantly displayed her sex now, tail remaining raised, balancing on the edge of his vision.

He mounted the female otter. Just like that. Penetrating her from behind, he grunted lowly as he began to thrust. And, oh, it felt better than anything he could've hoped for! She was wet and smooth and hot as hell. He pushed and pumped, and he could hear himself taking her.

She purred, easing back against him, egging him on.

Tyler began to motor his hips, thrusting like mad. Yes … oh, yes …

If they were still human, he'd have gone nice and slow, sweet and sure. He would've whispered loving things to her, asked her how she was feeling. Try to make it last as long as possible. It would've been special.

But they were animals, now. And self-control was a foreign concept. He bit the scruff of her neck, right on the nape, and pounded her with abandon. He didn't want to be, but he was already close.

Fern squealed, fangs showing.

He growled, keeping her pinned down_. Almost … almost …_

In the back of his mind, he thought about how, as humans, they would've used protection. Didn't need it now, obviously. Or did-

She's in heat! My god! That's what the scent is! She's going to get pregnant if-

He came in her. Hard. Without warning. He cried out in intense delight, shivering, paws pressing her down, not wanting her to get away. He barked out, eyes squeezing shut.

She wiggled and yipped beneath him, wanting it all. And more than getting it.

Shaking, punch-drunk, Tyler eventually pulled out of her, seeing his seed oozing out of her sex. As good as it had and still felt, the weight of what they'd done was immediate. What … what did we just do? What did I do?

He chirped at her, nudging her with a paw and putting his face to hers. Fern. I'm so sorry. Not only were they trapped as otters, she was now going to have his pup! No, not pup. Pups. Plural. They have more than one, Tyler. Reeling, he pawed at her. We'll get through this. Somehow. I promise.

She looked into his eyes. If she were mad, he couldn't tell. If anything, she seemed … playful? She tumbled over him, pulling him across the couch. They both fell to the floor in a pile, upon which Fern got up and bounced toward the upper deck, disappearing into sunlight.

He cautiously followed, looking around for her. He saw her by the railing.

Get away from there!

The female otter swerved around the metal rails like a slinky, inches from falling overboard.

If we go into the water, we're never coming back! If we stay, someone will find us!

But, really, what could anyone do for them? At this point? We'd get put in a zoo, maybe. Doing tricks. Or end up in a lab, being studied and tested. But could they really leave their lives, their families? _They'll think we drowned. Can I live with that? _

Fern made the decision for him. She dove off the side of the boat, head-first, piercing the water with barely a ripple. When she surfaced, her head bobbed in the air, and she splashed at him with a paw, waiting for him to join her.

He hesitated.

Making a face that was very much like her old human smirk, she switched to a back float so she could flash her sex at him.

This got the male's attention. He dove in after her.

Fern chittered with mirth, allowing her tail to brush his cheek when he surfaced.

Embarrassed, Tyler splashed at her.

Fern allowed her rear half to sink back under.

He floated in the same fashion, paddling, head in the air. _ _

The water was crisp and cool but never cold, soaking into his pelt in the most wonderful, intimate way. What a relief! The sun had no hold on him, now. His previous fears of the invisible depths were gone. His body knew this environment. It was made for it. Made for hers. And hers for him. _ _

They exchanged lingering, affectionate looks.

Now what, my mate?

She motioned with her tail and peeled off, swimming away. He followed. They made for the nearest shore to start their new life (and family) together, both having gotten their incidental wishes. Together in nature, regardless of detail. A fishy trick, to be sure. And perhaps not ideal.

_But there are probably worse fates. _