It's almost a relief as the humans throw you, your frame weightless for a moment before plunging into the cold water. The sudden temperature change knocking the air out of your lungs, goosebumps rising across your arms. And while the shock of the ripples you'd caused rattles your bones, your tail thrashed nonetheless, instinct driving you away from the shadows leaning over the water's edge above. Their voices muffled against the rush of water flooding into your ear canals. Not that you particularly wanted to know what they were saying. You'd never trust humans again, not after the last time...

Your body aches with every twist as you swim away from the edge. Scars pulling uncomfortably, your skin still growing accustomed to the tightness they brought. Half-healed wounds, your permanent reminder of what humans were capable of.

Swimming further out into the vast body of water they'd released you into, it feels oddly quiet, aside from the odd small fish that scurries past. Not daring to linger too long lest it become a meal. Compared to your old home, teeming with wild hybrids, the silence here was almost startling.

However, when your lungs finally demanded air, you rose. Breaching the water with wary eyes, still facing where the humans stood, you found large grins on their faces; having 'helped' yet another poor hybrid who couldn't go back to the wild. Releasing you into a sanctuary where you could have freedom, but also have an eye kept on you.

"Looks like they've tossed another poor sod in," a voice rumbles behind you, making your tail trash in warning as you whirl around with a startled hiss. Laid upon the rocks nearby was a massive figure, his tusks glinting in the sunlight. Leaning forward, the Walrus hybrid regarded you, his whiskers twitching as his brown eyes narrowed. "Easy now, you're safe... name's Price. Ain't no one gonna hurt you here, got my word on that."

"Safe's a stretch, isn't it?" Another voice cuts in, drier and laced with something sharp. From the shadows of the bank, a broad form swam out of the shadows and hoisted himself up onto the ledge beside the Price. The Alligator's tail lashed once in subtle warning, fixing you in place. Hiss teeth flashing unconsciously as he continued. "Sanctuary's still a cage."

"Donnae spook 'em more then they already are. New one's already out there mind, aye? No need tah make it worse," a third figure popped up beside you, closer then you would have liked, with barely a ripple. Blue eye glinting with mischief, the Otter hybrid clearly wasn't the least intimidated by the Alligator's display. "Donnae mind him, spooky bastard's name is Ghost. Am Soap. Welcome to the Sanctuary."

Before you can react, a plume of bubbles bursts up from beneath you. Earning a panicked hiss as you swam a small distance away, only to see a Sea Lion Hybrid breach the surface where you'd been treading water. Laughing heartily, the droplets of water gliding down his darker skin reflecting the sun, his whiskers twitching similar to the Walrus'.

"Gaz" he introduced himself simply, flashing you a smile.

Four sets of new eyes on you was nothing to not be wary of. A herd, you quickly realised looking between the different aquatic hybrids. And a mismatched one of that.

You cling to the rock you'd swam up to in your haste to get away from the bubbles, chest rising and falling too fast to be considered calm.

"Oh, darlin', they've put you through the ringer haven't they?" Price cooed, shifting towards the edge of the rock he laid on as if contemplating diving into the water to soothe the younger hybrid. "We've all been there, whatever they did to you. Humans can be awful creatures... but its alright, you're safe now. We won't let them near you again, not without a fight, alright?"