It was dark and cramped, and Cloud's teal and gold tail was beginning to hurt from being crammed in one position for too long. His fins felt pinched and they twitched with the desire to move.

"Can I come out yet?" Cloud whispered, he thought he felt his back spasm in protest. He just received a harsh shush from the large, dark mer that was carrying him on his back. The blond mer was beginning to feel nauseous from the rough jostling motion as Barret swam and he was hoping he didn't end up throwing up in the confined space, cause that would just be the worst.

He was being covertly escorted out of the Shira castle in a bag the kitchen staff used for collecting seaweed and kelp. It depressed Cloud that he was small enough to fit in the sack, even though omegas tended to be on the small side. Almost as if Tifa could sense his discomfort, she placed a gentle hand on the bag as she propelled herself forward with a ruby red tail next to Barret.

"Barret's right, we should make more distance from the palace before we can consider it safe."

Cloud nodded his head, even though he was sure the other couldn't see it. He could put up with the momentary discomfort if it meant he never had to see the inside of that room again. It was years since he had last been outside of the castle. In fact, the last time was with Aerith. He thought depressively. Since the incident, he had been locked away in a room since he was ten by Rufus Shinra, the current king of their territory and jealously guarded by an elite force called the Turks. He was to be kept there until he had his first heat and was able to be properly bonded.

"Glad that never happened." Cloud thought bitterly as he mindlessly toyed with decorated collar clasped around his mating glands. His mother had placed it on him with a spell shortly before her death to prevent any Alpha from forcing a bond with him. He managed to convince Rufus that it required a key that's location was known only by his mother. The king sent his Turks searching high and low for said key, but Cloud knew that they would never find it, and the young ruler was beginning to catch on. Which is why his best friend, an alpha female, had to rush her plans to break him out when she caught wind of King Rufus's suspicions. She feared the same fate which had befallen her beloved Aerith would ensnare her friend who was more like a little brother to her. Rufus's thirst for power would destroy the omega, she just knew it.

Tifa nearly collided with the burden on Barret's back when he suddenly stopped, though his rusted orange tail swished aggressively, and it immediately had Tifa on alert.

"What's wrong?" She whispered.

"Too quiet." He grunted out.

Tifa glanced around the darkened waters and noticed with a sinking feeling that he was right, even at night, there was always some kind of bustle from the sea life. Cloud overheard their brief conversation, and his heartrate peaked with sickening anticipation. But he had the good sense to stay quiet. Tifa's wine-red eyes narrowed when she saw a flash of red, more fiery than her own, slowly emerge from the coral.

"Reno." She growled lowly. Her alpha bristling with the proximity of the threat to an omega she cared dearly for.

"Tifa baby." He answered with a sleezy grin, tapping a metal rod against his shoulder. "I think you might have something that belongs to us." His tail lazily swishing around, but Tifa knew looks could be deceiving. No Turk was as cunning and quick as the red head.

"Ain't nothing here for you to see Shinra mutt, so go on home to your master!" Barret grumbled out and Reno's smirk grew.

"Well then, you won't mind us having a little looksie then." With that the red-headed Turk motioned with his head to his Partner Rude, who emerged from the opposite side of the coral. Trapping Tifa and Barret between them.

Cloud almost stopped breathing when he heard Reno's voice. It was over, they had been caught. He feared what kind of punishment the cruel king would come up with. Though he feared more for his friends than himself. He felt himself being moved and handed over to another's arms. So, Barret was turning him over. He couldn't blame him really. If he correctly recalled, Barret had a little mer-pup to look after, though being trapped in the castle, he never got to see her. He expected to hear Reno make a smart-alick comment, and he startled when he heard Tifa's voice instead.

"What are you thinking?" Tifa asked cautiously when Barret unstrapped the large bag containing the omega from his back, but she still accepted him into her arms with a feeling of dread.

"You know out of the two of us you are the fastest swimmer." He said, his meaning boring into her eyes.

"Barret…" She mumbled, horrified.

" 'Sides, I owe Spiky a favor." He added, motioning to his formerly missing arm now whole and functional. "I will try to buy you time to get to the East current, nobody will be able to follow you then."

It wasn't ideal, as the East current was violent, and only the strongest of swimmers took it, and if you didn't get off it in time, it would pull you into the deep sea where you were lucky to ever be seen again. Still, Tifa knew it was the only option available to them. She nodded her head determinedly and shot off, quick as a dart. Reno's smirk became predatory and he took off after her.

"Oh no you don't!" Barret yelled as he moved to intercept the smaller alpha, only to be blocked by the hulking mass of Rude. "Shit!" He cussed. Tifa was fast, but Reno was the fastest mer he knew. It didn't help things that she would be weighed down by her precious cargo. He could only pray that she would make it to the current in time.

Tifa felt him hot on her tail. She didn't even have to turn around to know that there were inches of space between them. It was pure adrenaline that was allowing her to temporarily outpace the other. That, and the suspicion that he was playing around with her. She felt a sliver of hope when she saw the rapid current up ahead that would either pull them to safety or drag them to their deaths.

"Shit!" She heard Reno cuss behind her, and a clawed hand grasp her tail. Apparently, he was done playing.

She immediately let go of her burden, wincing when she heard him whimper in worry, to promptly punch the other red-tailed alpha in his face. Temporarily stunned he let go, and the raven-haired mermaid wasted no time grabbing the omega and bolting for the stream. Just as she entered, she felt Reno grasp her tail, digging his claws in to drag her back.

"NO!" She screamed as the tumultuous current ripped Cloud from her arms and she could only watch in abject horror as he was swiftly swept away. There was no way he wouldn't be dragged down to the depths of the sea. She could only pray he would survive whatever vicious creatures he would face down there.

"Damn sweetheart." Reno winced as he wrenched Tifa's arms behind her back. "Now Rufus is going to skin all of us alive." But she couldn't respond, nor meet Barret's eyes when Reno dragged her back over to his partner. It seemed as though Rude was able to subdue the larger male.

"Trust me, Spiky would rather take his chances facing whatever is in Davy-Jones locker than being tucked up in Shinra's cage. You got me?" Barret said, deducing what had occurred from the female mer's desolate appearance. She looked up and managed to give him a small grin, determination settling into burgundy of her eyes.

"You're right." Besides, wherever he was now, Tifa resolved that she would find him.

Cloud knew something went horribly wrong when he heard his childhood friend scream, and a strong force drag him away, tossing him in one direction then another. There was intense pressure at all sides that prevented him from opening the bag and escaping, and eventually he relented himself to the rapid torrent that made him feel as though he was in the middle of a giant whirlpool. Usually, he would be nauseous with such a rough ride, but as it was, he was too scared to throw up. He wasn't sure if that was a positive or not. He began to shiver as the water against him became colder and ominously darker. He could hardly see his own hands he noted as he looked down. Blessedly the current slowed, and he felt himself drifting down till he came to a stop when he hit soft sand.

Cloud hadn't realized that he had fallen asleep until he heard the bag rustling at the top as it was being opened. He glanced up to see to eager glowing eyes, the iciest shade of blue, staring down at him. In horror he realized the creature was reaching a hand in towards him, and he promptly bit the offending limb. Luckily, the hand retreated as its owner let out a pained hiss. The voice sounded young Cloud noted with a tilted head, but he wasn't able to entertain the thought long as suddenly the omega's world turned on it's axis when the bag was reclosed and lifted. He was swiftly carted off in a way that way reminiscent of the rapid current.

Zack wasn't sure what he was expecting when he left the palace to go adventuring, but he counted his lucky stars when he noticed a large sack that looked to be made of same kind of skin, most likely seal. The bag in itself had value, but clearly it was stuffed full of some kind of treasure. Well, he hoped it was treasure anyway. When he opened the top, he nearly felt his heart stop when he glanced inside. It was the most angelic mer he had ever seen, with soft blond hair, and white skin that seemed shimmer as if someone dusted his cheeks with a gold dust. His nostrils flared as he inhaled and immediately the word "Omega" popped into his mind. His scent was just as delectable as his appearance. And when the omega opened his eyes, it was as if the clearest sky that he saw once when he snuck up to the surface was staring back at him. It was official, Zack was in love. And then love bit him, hard.