Chapter 2
Elise's POV
This is…very strange…
Apparently there exist bipedal Salmonids. Elise led me towards them. Some had faces that resembled the structure of Inklings and Octolings whilst others had more Salmon-like faces.
Oh Cod, it smells foul in here…
"Hello, young Salmonlings!" Elise greeted them. "You have a new co-worker!"
All their heads perked up as they looked in our direction.
"Squid!" One shouted.
"This squid is here to work with you." Elise told them. "Not to harm you."
One then slowly walked towards me, occasionally on all fours, and got close to me, eyeing me all over. I believe it was a boy.
"Ummmm…" I stuck my hand out. "Pleasure to meet you?"
He looked at my hand for a few seconds before…smelling it…
He continued to sniff my arm. I looked at Elise.
"He'll stop when he's done." Elise assured me. "He's just making sure you aren't a threat."
I winced as he continued to smell and poke me all around. He then touched my skirt and I pushed him away.
He then stood up and looked me in the eyes, studying my face.
"Squid fine!" He told the others.
A few of the others came over, looking at me, occasionally poking me and smelling me.
"Is this…normal?" I asked Elise.
I then noticed Elise was being poked and sniffed all around as well. She didn't even bother to move or push them aside.
"Oh, indeed!" She replied. "Aren't they charming? You know Salmonids and their sense of smell!"
"I actually don't." I told her. "Well, not well as I've only read some about Salmonids. While my father allows Ink Battles, he said Grizzco seemed too shady and the manual labor was beneath me."
"Squid not with bear?!" A Salmon girl asked.
"Um…no…?" I replied.
"Yay!" She hugged me. "Squid-friend!"
Then as if they were some sort of hive-mind, they all joined in a large embrace.
"We appreciate the hugs," Elise told them. "But there's work to be done."
They all then broke the hug and went back to their stations.
Two Hours Later…
Ugh, these boxes are heavy!
I shouldn't be doing heavy lifting, Inklings aren't built for lifting this much!
Why can't they get a shark, or a whale, or Isopod, or large crustacean to do it? They're more built for it.
I need to find a way out…
Either that or hope I'll be rescued…
Or ransomed…no…father would never give anything to these cretins. And he shouldn't either!
Agh! The smell in this work area is unbearable!
And these so-called Salmonlings have zero concept of personal space!
I've been here a few hours and I already hate it!
"Alright workers," Some kind of large, living tentacle shouted. "Dinner time!"
All immediately dropped what they were doing and ran down to what I assumed was the nearest eatery.
I started walking after them when an Octoling guard stopped me.
"You'll be eating with the other Octarians." She told me. "Salmonlings can get aggressive around food when in large groups."
"I'd rather not observe their likely barbaric ways of eating their food, anyway." I replied.
"I'd keep that 'better than you' attitude to myself if I were you, Miss." The guard said. "People who act all superior like that don't last long here. Not anymore, anyway…"
I suppose I'll have to keep that in-mind…
Ten Minutes Later…
Well, the food's alright I suppose…it's definitely low-class, but that's fine…
What bothers me are the looks I keep receiving from these cretins. Everywhere I look, I see an Octarian looking right at me.
Of course the Elise girl took a seat next to me. I'm fairly certain that Sieg fellow wants her to keep an eye on me. If that's the case, he trusts her a lot…
She must also be very skilled in her own right if the black hair is a sign of anything. Most of these Octolings have red hair, some others have violet hair, and some, even the Commander himself, have black hair. Must show rank…
"I-isn't there some…Elite table you should be at?" I asked, desiring some space.
"There are only so many chances to observe an Inkling." Elise said. "I'll take every opportunity! Especially since our medical knowledge of Inklings has staggered in the past hundred years."
"I won't be your test subject!" I told her.
"Oh, I would never!" Elise replied. "You are not to be harmed or experimented on. I'm just passively observing."
I wish she'd 'observe' somewhere else…
"Do you think I can work somewhere that doesn't smell rancid?" I asked. "I swear those Salmonlings never shower."
"Oh, they hardly do." Elise confirmed. "They don't like smelling too different from each other. A pack community of a sort."
"Well, it smells awful." I said. "May I please move to a different place of work?"
"You'd have to ask Sieg." She told me.
Ask Sieg? He's the reason I'm here! Why would he ever listen to me?!
…I suppose it's worth a try though…
"Then can you take me to him?" I wondered.
"Oh, sure I can!" She smiled.
Shortly After…
"Ah, Elise." Sieg said as we entered the office. "I see you've brought Miss Alice. What did she do?"
"Nothing." I answered. "I'm simply ere to request that I work somewhere that smells better."
"I see…" He looked unamused. "I guess it was too much to assume you'd be able to work with the Salmonlings due to their…unorthodox nature."
"So may I work somewhere else?" I asked.
"Fine." He better not have rolled his eyes. "You'll work moving supplies with the Octarian civilians. I'll make the arrangements and you'll be moved tomorrow. For now, wash up and get some rest."
"Sounds good to me." I said. "I could use a shower after working with Salmon."
10 Minutes Later…
"Leave your clothes in this bin." Elise told me. "You'll be given a change of clothes and these will be ready for you when you are eventually returned.
Right…
I set them in the bin like she told me. I'd better get those clothes back. That's my favorite shirt.
Time to head in. Group showers…nothing I haven't seen bef-
"GYAAH" I ran back out.
"What's wrong?" Elise asked as she was about to go in.
"Th-th-there are boys in there!" I shouted.
"Oh, right…" She seemed to remember something. "Octarian showers are communal."
C-communal showers…?
"It's fine." She assured me. "It's nothing you haven't seen outside an anatomy class."
She's just fine with everything, isn't she?
"Come on." She grabbed my hand and pulled me in.
Just get it over with. Just get it over with.
A Few Minutes Later…
I don't think I will ever un-see the things I saw in there…
Just dry off, Alice…everything will be fine…
…Ugh…what clothes are these? Why are they all-black? Why only one sleeve? Why does it show off my midriff? What's with the short skirt?
I look like a harlot…
And what kind of bedroom is this? It's just a small door in the wall. There's a mattress and pillow inside, but hardly any room to move. It's like those old human depictions of a 'chicken coop.'
I'll…have to make due, I suppose…
I crawled in.
I'll be home before I know it…
Soon…I'll get out…
Be rescued…
Or otherwise…
Soon…