One of the creatures unhinges its jaw. Rows of decaying, needle-like teeth embed themselves in Y/N's arm. She screams, pain blurring her vision as she wrenches her arm away. Blood spurts from the wound, painting the water a dark red.

She stumbles away from the cavern wall as another attacker lunges at her, claws outstretched.

But it never reaches its target.

With a deafening roar, Lysanthir leaps from the depths, impaling the creature with his serrated nails. The other goblins begin to scurry away, shrieking as they scramble back up the walls.

Lysanthir shows no mercy. He rips another's throat out, black liquid oozing from the gaping hole in its neck as it lands in the water with a dull thud. A third is thrown against a rock, a sickening crack echoing, its spine bent in two. Y/N shakes uncontrollably, cradling her mangled wound as the carnage continues.

Silence finally returns, and she glances up hesitantly. Lysanthir is before her, torso and arms dripping with goblin blood, wild fury in his eyes.

In a second, his vice-like grip is around her, forcing her into his arms. His burning black eyes bore into hers. She can feel his body tense, trembling with rage.

When he speaks, he does so ever so slowly, seething as he enunciates each word.

"Don't ever do that again," His velvet tone glints with a vicious menace.

Y/N expected him to yell at her, but this is somehow worse. She can tell his anger is barely restrained. It boils just beneath the surface of his skin, so close to unleashing its horrors upon her.

"I'm—," she stutters, terrified that one wrong move will leave her dead, "I'm sorry."

At first, nothing changes. But then, she slowly feels the merman relax. His eyes, previously pools of venom, now crease with gentle concern.

"Are you alright?" He asks, genuine worry marking his features.

Emotion flooding her, Y/N buries her head in his chest, trying to restrain the sobs threatening to take over. She is exhausted, her failed escape attempt having drained any strength left in her body. Her arm throbs.

Lysanthir holds the trembling girl, and then dives with her, down into the dark depths.

~~~~~~~

Back in the big cavern, the murdukann lays Y/N down in shallow water. Giving into her fatigue, her eyes begin to close.

"Not yet, Y/N," Lysanthir says, tenderly caressing her cheek, "I need to heal you first."

Y/N watches wearily as he places both hands over the wound on her arm. She tries not to squirm at the touch, her injury stinging.

Then, the merman begins to hum quietly, and it is as if the world stops to listen. The eerie, beautiful melody reverberates across the cavern. She feels it within her soul.

Y/N is enthralled as she watches a shimmering incandescence begin to form under Lysanthir's hands. Warmth spreads up her arm, creating a tingling sensation.

When he finishes his song, the glow fades, and he removes his hands. Healthy, healed skin is revealed beneath. Y/N sits up, examining her arm. A faint scar is the only sign that her wound ever existed. She traces it with a finger, and no pain arises.

She looks up at Lysanthir in astonishment.

"A murdukann's song holds great power," he murmurs, "though it is not always used for good."

Y/N's mind flashes to tales of murderous sirens, their captivating songs luring sailors to watery graves. The thought makes her shudder. These beings hold far too much power.

"Come now," Lysanthir coaxes her to a flat rock, "you must rest."

Y/N lays down, and is about to close her eyes when she feels something being draped over her.

It is an aged fishing net, made of intertwining rope.

"This is what I had left to find for you", Lysanthir says, gesturing to the makeshift blanket, "So you wouldn't be so cold..."

He trails off. Y/N can't help but feel slightly guilty. The emotion is fleeting, but it's there.

"Thank you," she whispers. Disgusted with herself for feeling sorry for the monster, she rolls over, quickly drifting off to sleep.