The cold water envelops your body—rushes over your skin and pulls you closer underneath. It’s chilling, both literally and figuratively, and it’s terrifying. Even as you call out for help, your pleas are met with silence. Complete, utter silence. Nobody’s there to help, nobody’s there to save you. You’re all alone, left to the mercy of the thrashing waters.

Of course, the normal human ear wouldn’t pick up on such faint of screams, and Mezou's own likely wouldn’t have noticed your desperate attempts to garner attention if not for being by the bank of the water, watching your body get dragged down the river. And for once in his life, he feels he may do something good.

Your eyes are tightly squeezed shut, small hands grasping for something, anything to hold onto, which is when you feel fingers—warm and comforting in this nightmare—grasp your wrist. Mezou's fingers.

Normally, Mezou wouldn’t dare to touch someone like this, let alone a child, but he couldn't let you drown. Despite his heteromorphic features, Mezo has a big heart, and regardless of the consequences, he’ll save anyone.

Which is what drives him to pull you out of the water, watching as you cough up what may have gotten into your lungs and then cling to his tentacle-like arms. For once, Mezou isn’t regarded with fear or hatred, someone is seeking comfort from him, and it brings a small smile to his face. No matter the consequences he’ll face for this action, he’s happy to have experienced making one person feel better.

And you’ve realized that maybe heteromorphs aren't so scary after all as you peer up at him with eyes wet with tears, not seeing the scary monster the village has described Mezou as, but simply someone kind enough to save your life.