He was an otter. Lissome, silky, cute. Even in the day she liked him. At night –
At night it was another story.
“What if I had been a bear?” he whispered in her ear, as the sun fell and the blue lights of his caves began to dance.
“I could not have escaped from your large rough paws,” she answered, then twisted away and ran through the glittering gardens.
But he was an otter, and swift, even out of water. He placed his paws about her neck. “You can hardly escape now,” he whispered.
“Perhaps I let you,” she said, twisting again.
He spent his days near or in the water, in the stream that flowed by the caves, or in the small pool he had dammed in the extensive gardens, lined with smooth slippery rocks that gleamed in the sun. She spent her days reading, or dreaming, or plucking at a lute that seemed to not have a tune.
“Your parents might have taught you music,” he said once, splashing up from the water.
“They taught me other things,” she said.
“So they did,” he said, looking meaningfully at her breasts.
She flushed.
Sometimes he rose to nestle in her arms and breasts, and she busied herself stroking his fur. They rarely spoke then. And sometimes she followed him into the pool, splashing and diving, laughing as the sun sparkled in the water and her hair.
Each evening they dined in a great hall in the caves, shining with blue dancing lights and silver. She never knew how the food arrived; one moment not there, the next moment there. Exquisitely fine. The otter, too, dined, upon urchins and fudge. They chatted about this and that. She sampled desserts. And then the lights dimmed.
“Will you marry me?”
“No,” she whispered.
“A pity,” he said, before scampering off.
Her parents had tried to save her. They had, sending the otter two false brides bedecked in jewels and silks, their skins polished with oils and creams, their hands covered in silken gloves to hide their calluses, their families well paid with bags of gold. He had bitten both brides, leaving blood pouring down their legs. She had come to him, trembling, expecting to bleed. His teeth had done no more than graze her. He was only an otter. Supple. Cute. He had placed a necklace of diamond stars on her neck.
She reached her chamber door, trembling.
It was not a chamber, exactly, not truly, but another cave, with a low lying ceiling and a small tinkling pool, lined with dancing silver lights that showed the walls streaks of gold and green. She had no real bed, only a pile of furs, soft light and warm, and a pile of books and other things. She removed her dress and knelt by the pool, then placed herself down on the furs and trembled.
Slowly the silver lights dimmed and vanished, and she felt another hand take her own. Then a second hand moved beneath her chin, drawing her closer. She felt a pair of hard lips upon hers, felt his hands begin playing over her skin.
“We are not wed,” she said, not struggling. “And I do not love you.”
“This I can accept,” he said, still playing with her.
He had the otter’s fine tongue, that she knew. And his hair was almost as soft, almost as warm, and sometimes even seemed a little damp. She knew her tales. Confess her love, and all this would end: the caves, the fountains, the bubbling streams, the enchanted gardens buzzing with sprites, even his urchins and fudge. They would instead have a palace, royal duties and cares. Visits with her sisters; dresses of fine wool. And sunlight and candles of clear yellow light.
She pictured the caves wrenched into the earth, the dancing silver blue lights crushed under rock.
She stretched out beneath him, kissing his sleek human skin. She could not sacrifice those silver blue lights. Even to glimpse the otter’s true form.
Mari Ness‘ work has appeared in Fantasy Magazine, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Dog Vs. Sandwich, and numerous print and online markets. She keeps a disorganized blog at mariness.livejournal.com.
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18 Responses to “THE OTTER • by Mari Ness”
Comments
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May 7th, 2009 at 12:37 am
I’m afraid this fantasy piece didn’t do much for me. It was all too convoluted to be truly enchanting.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:10 am
I quite enjoyed this new take on Beauty and the Beast.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:23 am
This story started out typical and tiresome – nothing new there, and the stilted language of fable doesn’t help matters much. But then I was surprised at how much I liked the ending. Buried beneath the accouterments of overstylized form was a nice little story; well done.
May 7th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Very “out there.” Definately different from anything I’ve read. The ending really brings it all together and makes it an excellent story.
May 7th, 2009 at 5:25 am
I didn’t care for the actual story much (don’t like fairy tales), but from a visual standpoint, this is beautifully written. The descriptions are extremely well done and it is very easy to picture both the characters and the settings.
May 7th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Nice one Mari!
May 7th, 2009 at 6:11 am
I enjoyed this very much! Thank you. I was hooked from the beginning.
May 7th, 2009 at 6:42 am
I really enjoyed this, Mari. A sensual fairy tale for grown ups. Nice job.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:34 am
What turned the otter into sleek human skin if she did not “love him” and was not “wed?” She must be just one more for him in a line of sensuality.
I do not like the word “playing” in the line “‘This I can accept,’ he said, still playing with her.” Sensuality is quickly gone without love. I’ve heard it lasts through “duties and cares.”
May 7th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Not the best read, but, an interesting twist on the Frog Prince.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:08 am
I loved this; the impact of the ending, the realisation of what it might mean to her never to be able to tell him that she loves him… the mix of selfishness and sacrifice involved… that just blew me away. A very rare 5 from me.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:39 am
I loved this. It’s light at times and dark at times too. I loved your attention to detail, your description of every little thing was just amazing. I also loved the fact the otter was uch a well rounded character. He obviously loves her and yet he can be savage. Great writing!
May 7th, 2009 at 9:27 am
The word “cute” jarred me. It seems anachronistic and out of place in a fantasy story.
May 7th, 2009 at 10:37 am
It involves otters, so I likes. O:)
May 7th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I like the fairy tale aspect of fantasy and thought this was well-written and had a good voice and great flow.
–dj
May 8th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Interesting twist on the fable where the goal is to restore the hexed prince/princess. I enjoyed this one.
–John
May 14th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I really liked this — a fairy tale with an unexpected twist.
August 16th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
A fable on the pitfalls of growing up. Enjoyed.