20% The number hung over the sea otter’s head, his mind pounding at the irrational truth before him. 20% of the ocean has been explored. Standing at a workbench, the small lamp light clicking on, the anthro otter scrolled through his phone, the moon opening in the room flashed with white lights as the submarine powered itself on. The soft brown fur and light patchy bridge crest frilled up before softening back down with a sigh, “They lie! I have been down here for months! 20% is not the right number! It’s less than 10! Why do those arrogant bastards…” His flustered annoyance ruffled his fur before sighing, “Anyway… back to work.” 
        Leaving his workbench, the otter glanced one last time back to the pin wall. The picture of 2 small bundles of fluff, a smiling mother, and himself holding them all together brought on a soft smile as the otter checked his computers and pressure gauges. Samuel had been underwater, rocking with the waves and monitoring scans of the ocean floor for 6 months, 14 days, 12 hours, and 45 minutes. All the otter wanted to do was go home, “Just a little longer Marie, this voyage is almost over.” Smiling to the metal ceiling, Samuel huffed one last time before squirming his way into the one person vessel. Closing the bay hatch above and getting into place with the steering controls. 
        The pod was slim and heavily reinforced. Just big enough to let an otter fit snuggly, the job was made for such small species to navigate, it was a miracle anyone would have funded the project. To Samuel, it was fate. The flashing lights clicked on as the propeller started. The soft hum of the engine vibrated the vessel with a calm, rhythmic shake before fading away. All the scans and screens clicked on while Samuel stared into the deep, open void. The twilight zone drop off, a ledge holding the small underwater structure and the deep unknown. Only glimmers of the setting sun were barely visible, and the starved darkness awaited below. Taking in the day’s last light, the otter began his descent. 
        The lights seemed to only shine 3 feet ahead as the small sub made its way down. Samuel had done this hundreds of times. He’d mapped miles worth of underwater terrain, but every dive, every record, every new thought led him to a new discovery. From the rock types and ocean lines, wildlife and strange adaptations in such a biome. Even though Samule was sick of the ocean, his wonder and thirst to explore and understand the world fueled him to push through. 
        The scans on the sub pinged. The radar came back with a reading of a fast moving object. Eyes widening, Samuel checked the radar again, making sure it wasn’t a mistake. It wasn’t. 
        Watching the small green dot on screen, each sonar ping showed the small light getting closer. Closer. Circling the sub, the stranger seemed to keep its distance but watch intently. Seeing small bubbles rise from below and in the sides, Samuel moved his orbital lights to shine all around. A beacon in the darkness.






        The creature smirked, their own curiosity growing as it watched the strange fish from above move its glowing, snail like eyes all around. A light shrill of a purr escaped their mouth as they happily swam near the strange metal beast. Slowing their approach, the creature examined the bright lights of the mobile eyes, the round, clear stomach, and the… [i]Otter?[/i] 
        Safely tucked away in the beast, the otter piloted and chased after the slender grey figure. Iridescent scales fluttered in the dark waters, the bright lights showing off their beauty as the long fish tail fluttered away into the darkness. Picking up speed, the submarine was pushed into top gear, chasing after the strange creature as the otter pilot grinned ear to ear, “Yes! Another discovery! Please come back! I just need a picture!” Laughing to himself, the otter dover deeper. Curving around underwater mountains, volcanic jets of steam, and billowing pools of sand, he chased after the creature. Every corner, every turn, showed off a bit more. The tail was a bright iridescent pink, its frill fins gleamed a fine sea blue, while parts of the creature’s upper torso were sleek grey with strange webbed claws. 
        Every glimpse only gave the otter more questions than answers. Unable to contain himself, he chased after her even more. The sensors were shining with life, the radar and trackers refusing to lose their target. 
        The fish creature swam as fast as they could. Ducking behind corners and taking sharp turns, but the otter was persistent. The only pause he took was when he watched the anomaly swim into an underwater cave. Large blood red and deep blue crystals glimmered when his lights flashed by. Checking his scans and notes, the cave had never been charted, “20% of the ocean huh? Guess you missed a spot…” Smiling wider, he went inside. 
        Moving slowly, the small sub pod wandered around, pictures clicked with a bright flash, scans and maps were drawn, as the otter laughed with glee, excited to finally see something new for a change. His senses may have been dampened by the container he was in, but they were far from lost. The tense, prickling feeling of being watched filled him. Forcing the pod to turn around suddenly, the orb tube whipped about and saw his target in all of her glory. 
        A cat. A feline of sleek grey floated before him. Her arms outstretched from her sides, her tail curled and kept her suspended as her large black and red eyes widened. Both strangers took in the life changing view with smiles. Long strands of grey, silky hair floated and bobbed around her. Her head pushed them back to reveal the fishy frills that poked from her head and completed the mercat look. She was beautiful. 
        Stunned into silence, the otter held out his hand and took a single picture, the flash decorating her form, yet the image physically couldn’t do her justice. Snickering playfully, the mercat moved closer to the sub and laid against the glass. Both creature’s eyes were inches of glass apart as she raised one claw to her muzzle, smiled softly, and made a [i]hush![/i] motion before swimming away towards the exit. 
        The otter nodded to himself before following his new discovery outside. Curiosity burned through his body as he moved. Meeting the mercat at the mouth of the cave, she bowed under water and waved before pointing to the sub and directed it to go up. Blowing a playful kiss to the otter, she winked and swam back into her cave. 
        The otter was stunned with pure glee. Taking a long moment to compose himself before returning to his moon bay dock. Tubes interlocking, he squirmed his way out and checked the cameras. No clear pictures. Just bits and pieces out of frame. Moving to the last image, he smiled to see such a murky, yet clear picture of the mercat and her beauty. Writing up a report, he went to send his discovery off to the world before freezing. Heart racing, he sighed and closed his computer, the document never saved. “If I send it… she’ll be hunted… Some things are best left assumed. So have your 20% discovery world! This corner is my secret to hold!” Laughing to himself, he checked his calendar one last time. Just a little longer, then he’d go back home too. 




        Swimming into the deep cave, the mercat snickered to herself before splashing out of the water and wiggling her way towards a mighty crystal dragon. His crimson red body and turquoise crystal scales shimmered in the magical light of the cavern as he slept quietly beside the pool of water. Resting her head against his chest, she nuzzled up between his claws and smiled, “Sleep well honey, we had a guest visit! I’ll tell you all about it in the morning.” Closing her eyes, she smiled and rubbed the strong jaw-line of her beloved, happily purring in her safety. Another fun day, coming to a close.