Azalea fluttered up to the intimidating Orcarii woman.

"That was quite the stunt you pulled," the Orcarii commented.

"Ya, I wasn't sure it was going to work."

"I applaud your bravado. Not too many people have it in them to challenge him. He appreciates a true show of strength, regardless of size. Why'd you do it?"

"My lifemates over there needed the money."

"Money? Oh, the round metal things you exchange for other things. You sell my mate's seed for it?"

"Ya."

"You looked disappointed at the quantity," the orcarii said with genuine concern.

"Ah, well… I was just expecting a lot, you know, because of how large he is. I'm not saying that’s a bad thing! I suppose he's just really potent and doesn't need to produce a lot."

"I could see why people would think that. He does a good job of getting the females pregnant. If you want to see something impressive, there's a big guy outside."

"Outside?"

"Ya, a whalean couple is donating at the end of the building."

"Miss Fiskr is giving us a tour, so maybe I'll get a chance to see him."

"Well, I hope you get a lot for my mate’s seed for all the effort you went to."

"Me, too. Thank you!"

"You want some of my milk, too?"

"Really?! You are too generous."

"Nah, our pod has more than it knows what to do with. We were told that was one of the concessions for more territory closer to Merport, that all the females of our pod would induce our milk. I’ve got no one to feed back home, and frankly, it's kinda a nuisance. Makes it hard to fight."

"You… fight a lot?"

"Ya, during our war game practice."

"In that case, thank you."

"So, what are you?"

"I'm a fairy."

"Never heard of your kind. Though there is a lot about the land we don't know."

"Likewise! I'd never heard of an Orcarii." Azalea paused, then asked, "Could I try some of your milk?"

"Sure." The sahagins stepped back as she held a voluminous breast up for Azalea. Her nipple was as big as Azalea's head.

The orcarii lightly squeezed, causing several droplets to appear.

The orcarii milk looked thicker than most other milk the fairy had seen, akin to a heavy cream. Azalea leaned forward and sipped, coughing before she’d even swallowed. "It's… uh, unique."

"No need to be polite around me. I agree it doesn't taste great – Makes our young grow quick and large, but tastes a little fishy, sorta like liver. Which makes me wonder why the landwalkers want it."

"Cooking with it makes some delicious dishes, ma'am." Replied one of the nearby attendants.

"Ah, I've heard of this art of cooking. Maybe I can find a place to try such food."

"I'm sure you could."

"Give my little fairy friend here half of what you milk from me. Will ya?"

The sahagin nodded.

"Azalea!"

"My family's calling me. I need to go. Thank you again, Mrs...?"

“Miekkavalas... but you can call me Enni.”

“As you just heard, I'm Azalea Ebonplume.”

"It was worth coming, not only for the experience but also to meet such an interesting person as you. If you ever find yourself near the Syvät Vedet (deep waters) just ask for the Savage Currents gang.”

"I will! Bye!"

Azalea flew back to where the rest of her group was waiting to move on with the tour.

"Guess what, Life-mate! I acquired both that man's semen and his mate's milk!"

"Impressive display of bargaining, I have to say," Finnian lauded.

"We were concerned with your safety, Azalea! Right, Herd-mate?"

"Yes."

"I was never really in any danger. I figured he was the kind of person who respected a show of strength, and even if things hadn't worked out, I'm pretty sure I'd have been too fast for him. I was more concerned about everyone else, should he decide to rampage.”

"Well, we owe you quite a debt, Miss. Fairy."

"You do? Well, then, I'm told you have a whalean getting milked outside."

"I think I did see something about that on the schedule. You want to go see?"

Azalea nodded vigorously.

"If she wants to go, it's fine with us," Devin noted.

Reina pulled Azalea to her and hugged her. "Yes, she's our little star today."

Azalea giggled. "I just wanted to help… and also get a closer look at how amazingly huge his penis was!"

Reina hugged her closer and commented, "Of course, that'd be your side objective. As long as you're happy, I'm happy."

"I guess then, for the last of the tour, I'll show you where we acquire the goods from some of the largest demi-humans in the ocean."

They left the delphin milking chamber behind and approached a steel door at the end of the building.

"As per Miss. Fairy's request, you are about to witness a rare sight few landwalkers get to see!" Then she opened the door before them.

Having reached the end of the facility, they found themselves standing on a barnacle-encrusted pier jammed onto the end of the cannery's foundation.

A swathe of twinkling stars pressed down on the twilit sun, its squint-inducing orange glow barely peeking above the horizon. It illuminated a place typically reserved for ships to dock, except all the available space was already taken up with something very unboat-like.

Larger than anyone (or anything alive) Devin and their party had ever seen, the colossal whaleans towered over them. Though anatomically similar to the orcarii, they had denser skin with scabrous callosities deposited here and there and were colored differently. Their ventral half (underbelly) was as white as the foamy sea billows that crashed against the shore, and their dorsal (back) side was as dark blue as the abyss they called home.

Azalea and most of the others had no words. That excluded Suvi, who was already well aware of the ocean's denizens, at least in passing.

"Impressive, aren't they? At estimated ninety of the biggest centaurs in weight and roughly eighty-eight feet long, I give you the biggest demi-human possibly in the world!"

"Are… are they real?"

"As real as the eyes that are about ready to pop out of your little fae head!"

Devin pulled his coat higher around his neck and wrapped an arm around Reina for warmth. "I've heard of them, but seeing them in person truly boggles the mind."

"This is Tarvala & Jökull Tidssång, from the Váidna girji – ‘Echo-books’ pod. They sometimes pass through during their seasonal migration."

Stretched out parallel to each other, the whalean couple was pointed in opposite directions, both with different parts of their body strung up and suspended by multiple cranes.

On their right, with his head pointed toward the ocean, was the unmistakably male whalean with his tail arched high and his tree-sized penis thoroughly extended and pointed downward.

Adjacent to him was his mate. She faced the group, her upper half held up similarly by a thickly corded rope harness, allowing her titanic breasts to hang free. Each twelve-inch inverted white nipple was popped out and ready for business.

"Mr. Jökull is a bit busy right now, as you can see, but Mrs. Tarvala is quite the conversationalist. Her accent takes a bit to get accustomed to, but she loves to learn about people if you'd like to talk to her.”

Azalea most certainly did, though she was also fascinated by how many employees it was taking to stimulate Mr. Jökull. "You should go make her acquaintance, Reina."

“Why me?”

“Cuz she’s looking at you, and I think you two might have a lot in common.”

"We do? How can you tell?"

"Just my spritely intuition. I'll join you in a minute." Azalea fluttered away, wanting to get a closer look at the titanically large penis.

Reina looked up at the large woman – not something she was used to doing. The moment their eyes met, Reina sensed this woman had a lot of presence, and not just because of her size. The calm, slow blinking gaze made her think this was a person who didn’t get riled up easily and perhaps spent a long, long time thinking about things.

The whalean matron smiled, compelling her to go over and at least be cordial. Moving within a polite distance, she announced, "Good evening, elder."

"Much peace and long life to you, Ms. Whitehorn. With whom do I have the pleasure of conversing?"

The deep, sultry voice made Reina's bones tremble. Not only could she hear it, but she could feel the weight of the woman's reverberating intonation resonating through her.

“Reina Ebonplume; mate to a traveling merchant, a fairy paintress, and a harpy owlchemist.”

“What a delightfully complex moniker! This certainly bodes well as a most glorious evening for auspicious meetings, I dare say. The phantasmal lights smile upon us, and the stars twinkle merrily."

Reina looked up at the sky. The mysterious phenomenon that painted the north sky around this time of year bathed them in energetic swirls of calming greens, enigmatic purples, and transformational magentas. Not an uncommon sight, its presence was often viewed as a sign of good luck whenever it appeared, not that she believed in such things.

She looked back at the woman. Her steady gaze was taking her measure. Reading her. Reminding her of the old mares in her family’s herd. She’d heard stories growing up of unbelievably large demi-humans living in the sea that were older than time and burdened with the wisdom of centuries. Reina was skeptical she was that old. The lines around her eyes were heavy with years, and she had no doubt that behind those depth-less pupils was much wisdom and knowledge.

"You know of my people?"

"I have not met them in person, but on occasion, I have seen your herds upon the shore during our migrations. Twice a year we pass by to attend a convocation in the south where we have a chance to socialize and catch up with other pods to share and memorize all the new songs we have learned."

A mis-squirt from the mammothly humbling breasts soaked one of the sahagin girls, momentarily distracting Reina. Out of all the assistance Reina had seen the sahagin attendants giving around the cannery, servicing the whaleans seemed to be less stressful than with the other tribes, and they didn't even need to help that much.

As an existence that was designed for the buoyant embrace of the ocean, the downward force exerted by gravity on Mrs. Tarvala’s breasts was enough to essentially pull the milk from her. All it took was the lightest squeeze for a fountain to burst forth.

Reina, remembering that she was in conversation, stuttered, "S…songs?"

Tarvala, patient, yet amused, elaborated. "The expression of emotions through music. We relay and store our history within a vocal tapestry, weaving a wonderful depth and narrative for future generations."

"That sounds like quite the art form. How many do you know?"

"Hmm. Counting sagas, historical accounts, tribal anecdotes… two hundred and sixty-four."

"Astounding!"

"A necessity to preserve all that Pelagian culture and history inherited from our ancestors – invaluable treasures we need and must pass onto those who come after. But, yes, the faculties and halls of the mind are truly amazing."

"You have a noble and commendable culture," Reina complimented.

"I am greatly pleased our paths crossed, Reina of the large family. I rarely have the opportunity to talk with the landborne, and I truly enjoy learning about the world beyond mine. You live such fascinatingly different lives from us. What brings you to such a place as this?"

"I am here with my herdmates," she said, gesturing to Devin and Azalea, “from Iceford to procure milt and caviar to sell for a trip we'll be taking."

"I’m glad to see such industrious youth. Could you describe this other place to me? Its history, its people. Do you enjoy living there?"

"I am still a new resident myself, but I can tell you a little."

While Reina did her best to give the collector of knowledge what she sought, one of the barrels was nearing full. The whalean matron stopped while a lid was placed over it, pounded in place, and carried away, all in synchronized movement with another sahagin attendant who put a new barrel in its place.

They talked at length until Reina couldn’t think of anything else about their home and asked her own question. "Are you compensated well for your milk?"

"Most generously. My remuneration for this sitting is not one but three songs!"

"You receive payments in songs?"

"A most tantalizing arrangement, is it not?”

“Given what you’ve told me, I can see the appeal. How did you come to involve yourself with the cannery?"

“Forty years ago, Jökull and I came to Merport. We'd heard many fascinating accounts of a city cohabitated by residents of both land and sea and decided to vacation and see this wonder."

"Are such places of interaction rare?"

"In the past, they were. Now, there are more, but we don’t visit all of them. We avoid the humans to the south. They do not look favorably toward us and have even attempted to hunt us in the past. In the far south, though, where the water is warm and the beaches white, the humans are much more agreeable, and they enjoy a close-knit integration of demi-humans into their society.

"Merport was one of the more prominent places, and the cannery was easily accessible, as you can see. It's how we became acquaintances with Miss Friskr – a most diligent worker, even by sahagin standards.

“And when we saw how it was benefiting both cultures, my songmate felt motivated to make a donation. As you can see, it didn't stop with just one.” She glanced over at the sahagins and morayns doing their best to induce a modicum of pleasure to the inordinately immense phallus.

“Poor girls. He's a slow burn, so they have their work cut out for them. We made it a periodic venture. It was after I had my first calf that I decided maybe I should donate, too.”

“You have an impressive amount of milk. How many barrels can you fill?”

“Hmm. Tonight feels like a five-barrel day.”

“How much is that?

"On average, around fifty gallons a day (one hundred eighty-nine liters), Ms. Whitehorn," shared one of the sahagin workers who was, more than the others, getting covered with stray spurts of milk.

“Goodness! You must feel relieved afterwards.”

“Not as much as contributing to the happiness and well-being of others! Our milk is highly nutritious, and I hope whoever receives mine is well nourished. Do landborne also donate their milk?"

"Yes, many. Azalea and I are waiting for our milk to let down."

"You are? Wonderful, and Azalea is the name of that adorable little one over there?”

“It is.”

“Perhaps I may have an opportunity to engage her in conversation?"

"I'm sure she will after she's done satiating her curiosity."

"An endeavor I encourage. The satisfaction that comes with learning is rarely equaled."

"Well, the things she likes learning about are atypical, but I’m sure you two will find common ground since she's a good singer."

"I await with eager anticipation! Mayhaps we can sing a duet before the night is old."

Azalea's curiosity was certainly being sated. Her amorously infused study of whalean anatomy up close had yielded an interesting finding. As unrivaled size kings, the whaleans were not as girthy as she would have expected – relative to their size, that is. Long and thin, the gargantuan penis before her dangled to almost ten feet.

Azalea giggled to herself.

“Something funny?” asked Miss Fiskr, wandering over to stand next to the enthralled fairy.

“It's just, your girls are experiencing what it's like to be a fairy climbing all over him.”

“Size can definitely be a challenging factor.”

Azalea rubbed her belly. “But one that is definitely worth overcoming.”

"I agree,” affirmed Miss Fiskr, not realizing Azalea was referring to her being able to fit a human-sized penis inside herself. “His payoff is certainly worth the effort."

Azalea was doubtful. "Is it actually? Mr. Gang Boss didn't produce as much as I thought he would."

“I guarantee you won’t be disappointed this time. See those quarter casks there? He'll fill one and a half every hour – a good amount considering he is quite old and has a long refractory period."

"Really? How much do they hold?"

"Thirteen gallons (forty-nine liters)."

"I'll believe it when I see it," Azalea stated skeptically.

Making use of their entire bodies, each sahagin girl had claimed a section of the lengthy shaft, using butts, breasts, thighs, and whatever else they could to make him release his seed. Stationed above and below on scaffolding at the base and the tip were the two eel-woman team leaders using the full strength of their abilities. Between the two of them, they were able to create a continuous circuit along the entirety of his length. It was a tingly pleasantness that not only helped him, but made the sahagin girls quite drippy as they smeared and coated their designated regions with their own arousal.

Devin came over to where the two were talking. "I'm curious, Miss Fiskr. I overheard Mrs. Tidssång say they receive songs as payment?"

"They do. It's extremely generous of them to go out of their way and give so much of themselves for what we consider so little, but it's what they want. Their most preferred and ideal arrangement."

"It’s always fascinated me where and in what different people groups place value," expressed Devin.

"Quite. It's also a payment with an unexpected bonus toward helping them memorize."

"What do you mean?"

"What's one of the best ways to gain clarity?"

"If I were thinking of myself, I'd say waking up from a good nap, but given the context, are you referring to post orgasmic clarity?"

"Exactly! We pay them nearly right after they donate, when their minds are clearest."

Azalea had perked up at Devin’s question. "Do they want any song or specific ones?"

"Preferably, those songs that contain a tribe's history or some edifying story."

Devin took a step back as a sudden rumbling groan came from the massive whalean. The morayans, dedicated to their task, had had wrapped their flat tails around the whalean’s penis in a full-body hug.

“Miss. Fiskr, I forgot to ask earlier, but what do the Delphins exchange for?"

"Nothing. They just enjoy a good handjob."

Azalea giggled. "I should have guessed. Sounds like a much more humble exchange than the merfolk."

"I know I come across as rather critical and rag a lot on the merfolk, but it's mainly out of exasperation. We Sahagins are actually co-dependent on them. We complement each other and make up for what the other lacks. We take care of them, and in turn, we are enriched by their creativity.

“And not just us. Nearly all the Pelagian tribes consider them the cultural heart of our societies. Merfolk create and compose music and art as a means of self-expression. We sahagins keep things running, preferably with efficiency. Delphins’ curiosity and exploratory nature keep things light-hearted. Orcarri are disciplined, bold, and honorable, and would defend us if the need arose, and Whaleans infuse wisdom into our lives and keep our oral history and traditions alive.”

"That's an amazingly complicated harmony you and the other Pelagians have hammered out for yourselves. Azalea, Reina, and I thank you for taking time out of your evening to lead us on this tour and tell us so much about yourselves."

The ardent fairy joined in, "Yes! Thank you for such a fun time!”

"It really wasn't anything special. It was fun taking a break from my usual routine. I'm glad you've enjoyed yourselves."

There was a sudden creaking from the cranes as the elder whalean strained against the ropes holding his tail, alerting everyone he was about to cum. The employees hastened their motions and readied themselves when a loud bellow heralded his eruption. The force was so strong that two sahagin girls had to hold the barrel steady as pump after enormous pump from what must have been massive testicles briskly filled the container.

Timing her motions just right, the morayan holding the spewing tip waited until the last moment before swinging the still pulsing penis to the next empty cask. Anticipating what was going to happen, Azalea darted into position as the exchange occurred and spun her body. Hence, she caught a mouthful (but mostly faceful!) of stray drops, saving them from being wasted on the deck.

After hastily swallowing, she battled Oozi to scrape the rest of the mess off her face.

"Good catch!"

"Sorry. I hope I didn’t interrupt your work. I have a thing about wasting cum."

The eel woman on the lowest level of the scaffolding dialed back the power discharging from her hands as the spurts slackened. "Yes, it would have gone to waste. Do you like it?"

"Um, well..."

"You can be honest."

"It tastes better than the Orcarii's."

The eel woman smirked. "Orcarri only eat seafood, so that's understandable.”

Finnian came over to inspect the collection. Scooping some with her finger, she noted, “This makes for a fine cream in a chowder."

“That sounds delicious. I wish we could stay long enough to try that,” lamented Azalea.

"Well, you’ll be happy to know I saw it on the order list, so I put in a request.”

“You did that, Lifemate?"

“If this is the same batch, you just had a taste of the proceeds."

“That would be accurate. This is the only whalean collection for another few months. You had good timing.”

“I can’t wait to try cooking with it!” Azalea buzzed around excitedly. “I'd given up hope after the orcarii, but his amount was incredible! I’ll have to ask some people for some tips on how to make it before we leave! Oh, it looks like Reina and the lady whalean are wrapping up their conversation. I'm going to go say hi!"

Devin chuckled as the hyper fairy dashed off again.

“Quite the family you have.”

“I’m lucky to have them. We haven’t been together that long, but I can’t imagine a day without them now.”

From the direction Azalea had flown, what sounded like a duet met their ears.

The whalean matriarch's husky voice echoed over the water.

“Are they singing?”

“Yes, though to shoreborne it probably sounds strange. I never learned to speak it, so I don’t know what's being said, but it carries for a very long way underwater.”

“It’s certainly unique.”

At some point, Azalea’s voice was added to the hauntingly somber sound. Her tinkling notes feeling for how best to harmonize with the unfamiliar sounds.

Reina, having excused herself, came over and circled around Devin, and wrapping her arms around him.

“Have a fruitful talk?”

“I did. I could see myself spending a lot of time with her if I lived in the sea.”

“What are they singing?”

“She mentioned it was a song about their experience here and the landwalkers. Azalea’s trying to learn it.”

“She speaks whalean?”

“No, but she was keen on at least learning the melody.”

—

They spent another half hour listening to the duet and discussing other aspects that interested them about the cannery with Finnian. Soon, they were on their way to exit the facility.

"That was so much more fun than I thought it was going to be, Life-mate!"

"It certainly was..." Devin paused.

"Educational?"

"I was going to say overwhelming jam-packed."

"I'm all winged out. I haven't been that physically active in a while."

"I enjoyed watching you live life to the fullest."

"Ahh, Life-mate!" Azalea kissed Devin all over and snuggled into his hand.

"It's getting late. Shall we head back to Seula's, Herd-mate?"

"Fine with me if Seula doesn't have any other place she wants to go?"

"Ah, um..." Seula's stomach growled.

"That answers that," laughed Azalea.

"We could go back to the Boil'n'Bubble, or would you all like to try something new?" Devin suggested.

"New, new!" cheered Azalea. "Not that I didn’t like your aunt’s cooking, but I've been smelling something good nearby for a few minutes now."

Reina sniffed the air. "Now that Azalea mentions it, I smell it too. Given how late it is, I wouldn't want to impose on Seula’s family."

"New place it is. Lead on."

Reina turned the sleigh in the general direction of the oily aroma. Between the fairy’s determination and the whitehorn’s superior sense of smell, they followed the cobblestone street past several raucous pubs.

"Since it's going to be a few days before the order is ready, what would you girls like to do to fill the time tomorrow?"

"We could look for souvenirs for Jeni, Suvi, Ky, and your sister."

Azalea kept sniffing the air before saying, "Great idea, Reina!”

Devin scratched his chin. "Mavis and Jeni would be easy to choose for, but I wouldn’t know what Suvi and Ky would like."

"Can't go wrong with food or sweet things. Perhaps we could even look for..." Azalea stopped mid-sentence. Leaping off Seula’s tail, she flew in a burst halfway down a side alley.

"Stop a moment, Reina."

Devin hastily placed Seula back on the ground and ran to catch up to where Azalea was hiding behind several empty barrels.

"What are we looking at?"

"Shhh!" Azalea pulled Devin into a crouch and pointed to an outlined feminine figure crawling past a streak of light coming from a back door. Her back was toward them, and it wasn't till she reached the edge of the building that she suspiciously peered around the corner.

"Isn't that one of those royal ladies we saw in the square earlier?" whispered the fae.

Seula, having caught up to them, whispered back. "That's impossible. Lady Luciana never leaves the palace grounds without an escort."

"Well, they're certainly shaped like her, and that cloak she's attempting to disguise herself with isn't fooling anyone."

Seemingly satisfied no one was around, the mystery person bolted toward the nearest canal at the hurried speed a crawl would allow.

"Moves slow, too. If it really is her, this may be your big chance to talk to her one-on-one!" Azalea grabbed the selkie's hand and, with the strength of excited curiosity, dragged the unsure selkie with her.

"Helloooo, Mrs. Aristocratic lady ma'am!" Azalea's voice echoed down the empty street, startling the unsuspecting demi-human.

The figure spun around with wide eyes, bewildered at the sight of a puny flying creature dragging a much larger creature behind her.

Flustered, she pulled her cloak low over her face.

"Good evening, your ladyship! My name is Azalea Ebonplume, and this is Seula. Her last name is too hard to pronounce. She's wanted to meet you for the longest time!"

"I believe you have mistaken me for someone else."

"I'm sure I don't. I have a good eye."

"I must insist you do. It's preposterous to suggest that any lady of refined grace would ever be out this late."

"Oooooooh, I see." Azalea nudged the woman with her elbow conspiratorially. "We won't tell anyone, especially not Seula. She's amazing at keeping secrets… probably. Anyway, she's your biggest fan in the entire city! She has so many wonderful paintings of you in her secret room and goes on about how wond...grrrk!"

Seula grabbed Azalea out of the air and muffled her with her hands.

"I, er, your grace… I've wanted to meet you since I first laid eyes on you. You're the most wonderful person in the city to me. I'm there every time you make your weekly visits. Even when you sometimes look sad and lonely, I can't understand why, even though you're surrounded by so many people who look up to you. If… if I may be so impertinent as to ask, could I… could I hold your hand? Lust for a second. Just! Just for a second!"

Seula's arm shot out as stiff as a gangway connecting a ship to a foreign port. She could feel her heart pounding as she waited for the duke’s daughter to consider the request.

‘Maybe she won't do it. I wouldn’t blame her… Deigning to soil herself with a lowly selkie such as myself would certainly…!’

Time seemed to slow down for Seula as Lady Luci extended her hand. The moment didn't become real, though, until the delicately cold, slimy hand grasped her warmer, rougher, and clammier one.

Was she imagining this? She’d spent so much of the time in her own head fantasizing about moments like this… what she’d say and what she'd do... but now that the time had actually come, dozens of mental scenarios she'd practiced dissipated like the bay's mist when the sun rose.

Not knowing what else to do, but wanting to do something, she impulsively kissed her hand.

'This girl knows her etiquette,' the Tritonian royal thought. "It's, uh, it pleases me to see such a sweet young girl as one of our citizens. May the blessings of the sea’s bounties be upon you. N...now I must be going. The hour grows quite late."

"O...of course!" Seula replied.

Seula reluctantly let go and watched as the poorly concealed Tritonian less dove and more fell into the canal, allowing the current to whisk her away at a much faster pace than she could ever crawl.

Azalea burst her way out of Seula's grasp. "You should have said more, Seula!"

"I...I didn't know what else to say. My mind went blank."

"Hmm, well, you got to talk to her, and she knows your name now! Maybe she'll want to talk to you again!"

"Th...there's no way she's g…oing to remember m...me."

"You never know. If she rarely interacts with ordinary people, you might be the first and only, and when she sees you in the crowd, maybe she'll recognize you!"

"You m…might be right." Seula grinned and contemplated never washing her hand again. She brought it to her chest and savored the memory.

“There you are, Reina! You missed it!”

“Sorry, the alley was too narrow, and I had to find another way around. What happened?”

“We met Seula’s lady friend.”

"Really? How’d it go?”

“Not bad considering how unexpected their meeting was.”

“I s…still can’t believe it was h…her. She never goes a…anywhere without an escort. I w…wonder what she was d..doing."

"She came out of that building." Devin pointed at a single-story structure. "What kind of place is it?"

Seula didn't answer. Instead, she pushed past them and made her way around to the front. It wasn't that she didn't know; she had to visually confirm it to believe it.

Despite being salt-sprayed and beaten up by the wind and waves, the front was more inviting than the back. The roof was rounded with a slant, reminding someone of the top half of a fish or the underside of a boat. The three windows were too dirty to see through. Yet, they let through a hazy light that illuminated a swaying sign inside with two squiggly lines coming off of a steaming pot.

"This is the place I was smelling earlier!" Azalea confirmed excitedly.

"The Kelp's Hole?" read Devin. "Is it a restaurant?"

"S...orta? It's um, where..." Seula blushed, unable to continue the explanation.

Reina leaned down to read a flyer in the hyaline display. "’Hearken to the call of benevolence. By thine generosity, they may flourish. Support a Kelmari today. Donate inside.’ "This sign doesn't really clarify anything."

Azalea scrutinized the smaller print at the bottom. ''For a more 'gripping' experience, attendees are encouraged to arrive early. When you've had your fill of holes, come stuff your own with savory broth handmade with thanks by the girls themselves!"

They looked to Seula again, hoping she'd find the courage to share some additional explanation.

"T...this is a K...Kelmari charity hearth."

Azalea’s stomach growled this time. "So it's a place that serves soup?"

"P...partially."

"Good enough for me. Let's go in!"

Devin and Reina looked at each other and shrugged. Stomping the snow and ice off his boots, he held the door open for the girls.

Inside, the interior indicated the business didn't appear to be drowning in revenue. Rough cut benches lined both the left and right walls, and the floor was water-worn and stained with years of traffic. Effort had been taken to decorate and make it somewhat welcoming. Glued shell collages added color to the wall, and an employee-of-the-month chart gave it a close-knit feel.

Stationed at the far end of the room was a high desk with a Kelmari woman standing behind it, writing in a ledger. Putting down her quill, she assessed the group with a deadpan expression. Refusing, or maybe unable to speak, she pointed to three cards on the desk.

'Private Donation'

'Soup'

'Public donation with soup.'

"Curious options."

"Choose the last one, Lifemate! It's only right we should help those in need! Think of those poor, hungry kelpgirls! Surely you'd wish to donate to such a charitable cause!"

"She's really perfecting her puppy dog girl eyes, isn't she, Herd-mate?" Reina tittered.

"I’m not against it, but what's the difference between private and public?”

"Y...you don't donate m...money."

"We don’t? Oh..."

"Come on, Life-mate, keep up! You should have guessed by the name of this place."

"It could have been a play on words for hole-in-the-wall or something. Although now that I think about it, that also could be understood in a certain way."

"Exactly! So let's go fill our tummies and show some generosity!"

The Kelmari escorted them into the dining hall through an arched hallway behind her.

As the first of their kind that Devin, Reina, and Azalea had seen since arriving in Merport, they were surprised that she was able to walk. Unlike other plant demi-humans who were rooted to the place their seed had germinated, the Kelmari had complete freedom of movement.

She seemed gloomy. At least that was Devin’s first impression. Her eyes were dull and sunken. Long, faded green fronds hung limp from her head all the way to her ankles, doubling as clothes and hiding the majority of her naked, pale, bluish-green skin. Her shoes, or maybe they were her feet, were made of the same leafy material.

She was petite, but her proportions seemed off, as if she had shrunk. She rustled as she walked. Her slow, lethargic steps hinting that she was run down or exhausted.

Reaching the end of the corridor, they entered a driftwood-paneled room filled with a modest amount of customers. On one half of the neither lively nor subdued atmosphere was an open kitchen where another Kelmari woman, presumably the cook, wreathed in deliciously scented steam coming from three large cast-iron pots simmering on a wide brick hearth.

She was the complete opposite of the Kelmari from the front desk. Even though they were the same height, her fronds were lush and wavy, sticky and vibrant, with a dark green and glossy sheen. Her breasts, from what could be seen from the side, were larger and fuller than a loaded fishing net. When she shifted her weight, her butt rose like an ocean swell, supported by a wide set of hips.

Seating them near a corner, at one of the many reclining booths designed for Pelagians, the desk girl indicated she'd be right back.

Devin took off his coat and sat down. "Is she ok? I thought maybe that's what all Kelmari looked like, but she seems unhealthy."

"S...he hasn't eaten y...et. Their body s...shrinks when they a...are hungry. Their f...fronds shrivel and they t...tighten up inside, their throat and… other places."

The majority of the other diners were sahagins and humans, mostly men, but there were a few women mixed in.

Azalea sat down in the middle of the table and also removed her cloak. "See, Life-mate? It's a good thing we came. They are really in need of your generosity.”

She pointed to a group of three people several tables away. They were made up of a young, brawny male sahagin with metallic blue scales and two human men with grizzled beards, one of which had an eye patch. Each wore water-resistant tunics embroidered with shells, possibly sailors, given how salt-worn and leathery their skin looked. Each had a kelpgirl on their knees under the table, working eagerly to extract their alms.

"Doesn't seem like the most lavish of meals. Even with dozens of 'donations,' I can't imagine it'd fill them up," Devin uttered his doubt.

Reina tried not to stare at the bulging throats of the three plant women. “Shouldn't they feed off the sun?"

"During the winter t...they have to seek alternative n...nutrients elsewhere. T...this is just a s...supplement."

Devin didn’t need to look. The noticeably audible glucks were enough to make him stir in anticipation. "So the soup is a side business? Can I presume they shed their leaves, er, fronds periodically as a way to, what, recycle them?"

Seula nodded. "The s...soup is f...free and i...its supposed to be n...nutritious."

Azalea looked hungrily between the kitchen and the deepthroating girls. "What better way to build up stamina before and replenish after a big donation?"

The wilted Kelmari girl returned with a tray laden with wooden bowls filled with sliced kelp floating in a clear, oily broth.

Reina took the bowl offered to her. "This is the same soup I had at the Boil'n'Bubble."

Azalea adjusted Oozi so it was out of the way and dug in her bag for her utensils. "It is, isn't it? I didn't get to try it then, so I'm looking forward to it now!"

Setting the tray aside, their server got on her knees.

"Oh, she's ready to go! Right, um, do you take donations from girls too?" the eager fairy inquired.

She nodded.

"Do you want to start with Reina?"

"Why me?"

"Well, Life-mate is probably the main course and I'm the side dish!"

"So that leaves me as the appetizer," Reina groaned, unamused.

"It’s the perfect three course meal!" Azalea blew her a kiss.

"I don't mean to sound like I don't want to, it's just I don't think you're going to get much from me."

The kelpgirl waved dismissively.

"Alright. Uh, help yourself then?"

The kelpgirl shuffled around and ducked under the blanket covering Reina's backside, placing her cool hands on the Whitehorn's rump.

Reina gasped and covered her mouth as the starving girl wasted no time faceplanting into her pussy and licking with the intensity of a parched, marooned sailor.

The Kelmari couldn’t believe her luck. Whitehorns were rare to see in the city, and she'd never heard of one visiting one of their donation kitchens before. How lucky she was going to partake in such a rare occurrence!

She savored the earthy musk as she lapped and slurped at the moistening slit. The flavor was exotic compared to the fishiness of her usual Pelagian regulars. She didn't mind them, of course, but it was a treat to have something different once in a while.

Sahagin males were the primary donors, followed by human males, and next, surprisingly, human females. They were typically sailors, fisherfolk, and the like, brash and assertive. The soup was a local favorite because humans tended to exude liquid from their skin when working hard. She didn't understand it, but they often craved salt afterward.

She nibbled at the stray droplets occurring on the velvety lips and thought, ‘So soft.’

Ultimately, she preferred males, though, since their seed was delicious and richer. Girls didn't give her much satiation, unless they could squirt – that was better. Sadly, most couldn't. While she did appreciate their generosity, it was more of a way to hydrate than satisfy her hunger.

It didn’t take long before the Whitehorn shuddered, a simple and quiet orgasm. With one final lick to make sure she didn't miss anything, she reappeared moments later, wiping her mouth.

Azalea was rocked back and forth with her knees to her chest, having already filled her tiny belly with soup. "All done? Did she taste good?"

The kelpgirl nodded.

"Alright, I'm next! How would you like me?"

The Kelmari thought for a moment. Dropping to her knees, she pointed to the edge of the table.

"We probably should have done this earlier, but do you have a name? You can just finger write it on the table.”

M-e-r-i-v-i-i-t-a.

“What a pretty name! Mind if I call you Meri? I'm Azalea, and these are my lifemates, Reina and Devin.” Azalea rolled up the hem of her dress and sat down near the edge of the table. “I can squirt, so be ready for that.”

Lying back, she spread her legs far apart, wiped her hand across her pussy, and held it up to show how wet she was. "Lick away!"

Pulling the diminutive demi-human forward, Meri engulfed the entirety of Azalea's bottom in her mouth.

"Mmmm, that's good," the fairy chimed.

If the Whitehorn could be likened to an apple, sweet but not overly juicy, this fairy was a peach – ripe, drippy, and bursting with flavor. Just sliding her tongue between the thick pussy lips made her juices ooze out in an addictive, cloying sweetness.

Seula quietly ate her soup, unable to take her eyes off the explicit scene happening just across from her, impressed by how open and unembarrassed Azalea was about doing this.

Between hums of delight, Azalea brought up the question again. "We still haven't solved the question of why Lady Luci Long-name was here."

Reina collected herself and fixed her hair. "Maybe a periodic check-in to make sure the kelpgirls were being taken care of?"

"By herself, without any protection, late at night, with a poor concealing cloak? Dubious." Devin turned to Seula. "Are only kelpgirls employed here, or are humans or other demi-humans allowed to work here?"

"I d...don't know. I've never b...been here before."

The Kelmari was too invested in eating to answer, and she didn’t understand what they were talking about.

"Are you suggesting that she does… this?" Azalea stroked the kelpgirl's cheek and squirmed under the probing tongue.

"Impossible! Luciana Jalokivi Tritonia II is the epitome of grace and refinement and would never stoop to such sordid activities!"

Seula's sudden outburst grabbed the attention of the room, making her sink low in her seat in embarrassment. Immediately regretting it, she mumbled an apology.

"Ok, ok, but it would explain..." Azalea ran her fingers through her own hair as the kelpgirl found an especially satisfying spot. "...a lot. Should we try to find out? If she is visiting this place regularly, she might be here tomorrow."

Devin wasn't a fast eater, but he wanted to finish his food before his turn came. "We can do our shopping and swing by later in the evening."

"Don't you think it might be an invasion of privacy?" Reina interjected. "If she were trying to hide her appearance, she most likely doesn’t want anyone to know."

Before Devin could answer, Azalea raised her hips and pushed hard against the kelpgirls mouth. "I'm about to cum! Flick my clit!"

The kelpgirl did as instructed, zeroing in on the tiny stiff nub, which rewarded her with several squirts of clear fairy cum. She let the flavorful liquid linger on her tongue, savoring the sugary meal before swallowing. It was undoubtedly the best from a girl she'd ever tasted! The physical effects would take a while to be seen in her fronds, but she was already feeling less listless.

"Phew! That felt good. Sorry, I don't have more. I'm kinda a sponsor to someone else who keeps me pretty drained." Azalea reached over and patted Oozi.

Meri motioned that an apology wasn't needed and turned her attention to Seula.

Seula held her hands up defensively. "Uh, er, n...no, sorry, n...not today." It wasn't that she didn't want to help feed the hungry girl, but doing it publicly was just too much for her to handle.

Meri assured her she understood and glanced toward the main course.

"Alright, Lifemate! We whet her appetite, so now you're up."

Devin scooted back from the table and spread his legs to make room as the woman crawled underneath. Pulling down the front of his pants, she fished out his penis and balls, taking a moment to appreciate the rich, nutrient-filled orbs.

She looked up at him, opened her mouth wide, and stuck out her tongue. A while back, she learned some males liked it when she did this for whatever reason. Maybe it was to visually and mentally prepare them for what they were about to experience.

With him only partially hard, it was easy to take the entirety of him in her mouth. Instead of bobbing up and down, though, she primarily used her tongue. She could feel every beat of his heart plumping him up more, making him twitch, and slowly pushing the growing organ toward the back of her throat.

"How's she feel, Lifemate?"

Devin rested his hands on her head. "Unreal."

The meaning of the small text Azalea had read to them on the sign earlier became immediately apparent. The kelpgirl's throat was insanely tight.

The sensation and textures were far different from those of previous mouths or throats he'd been inside. Alveolate pockets, squishy and slickened with a coating of gelatinous slime pressed against him from all sides, creating tiny, bumpy nodules that dragged and scraped across every inch of his shaft.

Azalea re-arranged Oozi back around her body and smoothed her dress down. "So, thinking more on Luci's actions – and I'm not saying she was – but if she was 'working' here, wouldn't that mean she'd want customers? Maybe this place has been down on its luck, and she's trying to help bring in more people, through, if not her title and rank, perhaps her skill?"

"She has stiff competition then," groaned Devin.

The aquatic girl's tiny mouth and narrow throat felt like a vice that wasn’t going to let go until it got what it wanted – being completely filled. Devin was concerned. "Are you ok? Can you still breathe?"

Meri nodded. She breathed through her fronds, making deepthroating like this a non-issue. With him being fully hard and having no gag reflex to trigger of her own, she pushed forward all the way until her nose touched Devin’s stomach. Her mouth stuck to him like a Remorian, a Pelagian who was famous for having an oral suction grip like no other.

His smell reminded her of her first year on land. It'd been such an eye-opener. Her knowledge and understanding of the wide world increased so much that it was nearly overwhelming. It was nothing like the quiet, simple life floating around in the open ocean or latched to a rock. She learned her land cousins couldn't move around like she could, but she also learned they could talk! She couldn't. She didn't have vocal cords.

In the water, such verbal limitations had never been an issue. On land, though, it was more inconvenient for her since it was the dominant communication method. The thing known as writing had helped a lot, once she'd learned it, but there were so many rules, and she only knew the basics.

This was going to be one of the fastest orgasms of Devin's life. Meri began swallowing again and again, using her throat muscles and the mix of sensations to relentlessly encourage him to give up the meal she ravenously sought. Between the bizarre oral sensation and the constant tugging of the kelpgirl's throat demanding he pump every substantial drop into her stomach, he came hard.

His vision went white at the same time as the girl's tonsils did. As he painted her insides with his seed, she massaged his balls, doing her utmost to get him to squeeze out every last morsel.

The experience was far more intense than he was used to, and Devin slumped in his chair, feeling as if he had been drained of a few years off his life.

Reina and Azalea were still speculating about the noble woman. Devin had completely lost track of the conversation.

"In my estimation, people who live in that sort of upbringing are under strict etiquette and social rules. Perhaps she's feeling rebellious."

Devin tried to focus. ’Who was talking about what?’

Azalea contended, "We could speculate forever, but I vote we come tomorrow night and see!"

Devin rubbed his eyes. 'Oh, right. Seula's lady obsession.'

"Are you ok, Herdmate?"

"Y...yes."

"Here, have a drink of water."

Releasing his rapidly deflating cock, the Kelamari licked her lips in satisfaction.

"You're looking so much livelier now! Looks like Lifemate gave you lots!" Azalea sang as she peered over the table's edge.

Meri stood and brushed her hair back. She hadn’t changed size, yet, but a light sticky residue had begun to coat her fronds, and her previously perky, nippleless breasts now had more bounce to them.

Devin chuckled tiredly. "I didn't really have a choice in the matter."

"Good. I'd dislike it if someone said my Lifemate was stingy.” Azalea turned to Meri. “Also, thank you for the food. It was so savory! Was it made from your fronds?"

Meri shook her head and pointed to the chef.

"Give her my compliments! Do you have time to sit and stay with us a moment?"

Meri nodded and took a seat. For the next fifteen minutes, Azalea talked while the Meri listened, nodding or shaking her head to yes or no questions that Azalea posed. The fairy kept the conversation going while Reina and Seula finished eating, and the group learned more about the plant employees.

---

Satisfied with their choice of place to eat, and be 'eaten', they wished the Kelmari a good night and left.

"That was so much fun, Lifemate, Reina! Doesn't it feel good to help someone in need?"

Devin leaned on Reina for support as they walked back to their sleigh. "Not the only thing I'm feeling good about, but yes. I'm glad we could help."

"So then, have we officially decided to come back here tomorrow night and unravel the mystery? Seula should come, too!" Azalea suggested.

"I...I need to t...think on it."

"Sure. When does it open?" Devin asked.

"Pretty sure the sign said nine," responded Reina

"Ok. If you do decide to come, Seula, how about you meet us at the big statue in the middle of town around 8:45?"

“O…ok.”